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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2
AUGUST 5 - 11, 2016
WNY’s Summer Destination for Families, Food and Fun By Daniel Meyer
While other summertime festivals and celebrations to grow in popularity and add to the impressive array of “things to do” in Western New York, the Erie County Fair is still a showcase event in our region. This year is no different as the 177th edition of the 12-day experience prepares to take place in the Town of Hamburg starting next week. Located on the 265acre campus known as the
Hamburg Fairgrounds, the 2016 Erie County Fair begins Wednesday, Aug.10 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 21. While the traditional favorites such as the mile-long amusement park rides along the midway (by Strates Shows, Inc.), nightly entertainment at the Grandstand and live animal exhibits return to entertain the masses, there are some new features this year that are certain to attract people of all ages. “The Erie County Fair remains popular year after year for a variety of reasons, but one of the main attractions is our ongoing efforts to constantly introduce new exhibits and other exciting features that
have not been seen before,” said Martin Biniasz, director of entertainment and special projects who serves as the marketing manager for the Erie County Agricultural Society, the private not-for-profit membership organization that annually produces the Erie County Fair. “This year we are excited to be adding another component to our hands-on educational experiences about agriculture as we introduce what we are calling ‘Horse Headquarters,’ a brand new element to agriculture education that we believe will be a tremendous attraction, particularly for children.” Other new attractions include the opening of what will be known as the Erie County Fair Heritage and History Center. Located inside the famous 1885 Octagon Building, this permanent museum will help display nearly 200 years of agriculture, food, competition and anything else related to the history of the Erie County Fair, from its very early days to the present-day Fair. “This museum is sure to be a popular destination because of the rare artifacts we will have on display. The opening of the Heritage and History Center is See Erie County Fair page 4
SPVL Chamber Introduces New Website
By Colleen Mahoney
Community members looking for all things Springville and beyond will soon have a user-friendly website dedicated to the cause. The Springville Area Chamber of Commerce is updating its website to include local businesses, community events and tips for business owners. The website, www. SpringvilleAreaChamber. com, is expected to go live this coming week and will include a directory of local businesses as well as information for the towns and villages it serves. In total, 13 communities are served by the Springville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Director Jennifer Weber plans to highlight all of them. The website will include an “about” section for each community, highlighting the community and some history. “I want to offer a macro view, not micro view, of the
area,” Weber said. “People in Springville don’t just stay in Springville … so we’re exploring the area and what’s going on.” The website will feature a section highlighting community events and area happenings, which users can submit to Weber to be featured. It will have an easyto-read calendar showing area events, which will include major Chamber events and small community-run events.
Bringing tourism to each community they serve is an important part of what the Chamber does,” Weber said. By highlighting local events, she hopes people will attend events they might not have known were happening. “We’re definitely trying to expand where we serve,” she pointed out. “This is a good way to do it.” Annual Chamber events will be listed on the website See Chamber Website page 2
The Springville Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Ducky Derby will take place on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 5-7 p.m. at Shuttleworth Park, located just southwest of the municipal parking area to the south of Main Street between South Buffalo and Pearl Streets. Ducky “adoption” tickets are 1/$5. 3/$10 or 10/$25 and can be purchased at Concord Land Realty, Shamel Milling, Sheret Jewelers, Springville Hardware & Homewear, Inc., Springville Health & Fitness and Z&M Ag & Turf.
219 Bridge Project Update
Upcoming Events Springville Area
August 3-6 Springville community wide yard sale. Maps available at the Trading Post, 38 Franklin St. By Colleen Mahoney
The Miller Road - South Cascade Drive bridge is on budget and on time, according to New York State Department of Transportation Regional Public Information Officer Susan Surdej. Crews have been working to get the new bridge constructed since the old structure was imploded on June 2. The $16.9 million project is expected to be completed by Sept. 23, 2017. “Work is proceeding on the 219 bridge and it should be done by September 2017,” Surdej said. “We expect it to be open to traffic by June 2017,” she added. The project is being completed using “designbuild,” a procedure that allows the work to be done in an expedited fashion. The design-build strategy means that a team of designers and contractors work together throughout the project. Erdman-Anthony is the design firm working with the bridge and Cold Spring Construction is the lead contractor. Currently, there are four locations on the bridge that are being worked on – the north and south bridge abutments and piers one and two. Surdej explained that pier one, which is on the south side of the
bridge, was placed Aug. 5. It’s the first of nine concrete pours. Pier two, on the north side, was poured earlier this week, it’s the third of 10 pier concrete pours. The footers have been completed on both the south and north abutments. The lower and upper stems on the north abutments have been completed, the upper stem for the south abutment was placed this week. Surdej expects the concrete for the backwall – the vertical walls at either end of the structure – to be placed sometime next week. Once the backwall has been placed, the pedestals and wingwalls will follow. The steel for the deck of the bridge should arrive in early November, and the concrete deck is expected to be poured in April 2017. “We’re working as much and as quickly as we can to get this project done,” Surdej said. “We’re going to work through the winter … to keep it going.” Once completed, the new bridge will have two 12-foot lanes, two 8-foot shoulders and five galvanized steel bridge railings. There will be no weight restrictions on the new structure. At 183 feet tall, the structure will be solid concrete with a steel girder connecting
© 2016 Ellicottville Times / Keystone Designers Inc.
Erie County Fair
August 4-7 Eden Corn Festival August 6 Shuttleworth Park Festival and Ducky Derby, 5 p.m. in Shuttleworth Park August 10-21 Erie County Fair August 21 Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Fest September 24 Springville Oktoberfest Springville Chamber of Commerce October 1 Color Run Springville Elementary
the bridge deck to the piers, which are being manufactured to prevent erosion and rust. With regular maintenance, the bridge is expected to last 75 years.
New Building, Big Plans for Root 39 Salon & Spa
By Ashlee O akley
Outside Root 39 Salon and Spa, you get a view of well-groomed flowers and eclectic, rural-themed décor. A huge mural of beautiful, rolling hills, with a sign saying “Love You” greets customers as they are coming and going down the newly paved driveway. You walk up the stairs and are greeted by a warm, comfortable, and unique atmosphere, starting with their friendly receptionist and administrative assistant, Diane. You are offered a variety of refreshments, and a comfortable seat while you wait— there is plenty to look at, with fun, yet elegant, decorations and architecture. Taylor Glass, a hairdresser at Root 39 since 2011, gave me a tour of the salon and spa. She showcased their manicure and pedicure areas, a new esthetics room, a well-stocked and shining retail space, and an offset room looking out over the countryside, (gorgeous
for private bridal parties!), not to mention each employee’s interesting, colorful, and diverse station. Owner and American Board Certified hair colorist Ang Shaver was busily working for our interview, but after making sure it was okay with her customer, was happy to speak with me while she quickly and professionally performed a color treatment on a woman’s hair. “I just work here,” she joked. This motivated business
owner seems to live for breaking the glass ceiling. When asked what made her go into cosmetology, Shaver paused for a moment and smiled. “It was something I always knew,” she said. “It chose me, I didn’t choose it.” Shaver has been a cosmetologist since she got her start at Salon Kassel in Hamburg, before opening Root 39 Salon in 1997. Root 39 Salon, the name referring See Root 39 page 2