-Mother Nature has provided the area with a very generous amount of consistent snow and cold temperatures this year making it an ideal ski season.
Dash Hegeman, director of marketing at Holiday Valley, said this year is certainly shaping up to be a great one and everyone at the resort is very excited about it. He said this has been a fantastic season, so far, and the staff really hopes to continue that momentum all the way into early April.
“We’ve had cold temps here in Western New York. Mother Nature has blessed us with some really nice snowstorms, and people are traveling here to take advantage of the great conditions,” he said. “It’s been really fun to watch and we’re not even halfway through the season, yet.”
The planned opening date for Holiday Valley’s
ski season was Nov. 29 but, due to warm temps in late fall, the resort was not able to open until Dec. 6.
Hegeman said it hadn’t been cold enough to start making snow up until that point and the area hadn’t really gotten any natural snow either.
Hegeman compared this year’s ideal winter weather with low temps and lots of snowfall to the less favorable conditions of the last couple of years.
“By and large, the temperature has stayed below freezing for a lot of the season, so far, and that makes all the difference,” he said. “It allows the snowmaking process to go much more smoothly but, on top of that, we are getting a good amount of natural snow.”
Although Hegeman does not have an exact number for the overall hours the snowmaking system ran last year, compared to where they are at right now, he knows the Snowmaking Team had a lot of pressure on them last year to make as much snow as possible during some very short windows of opportunity.
He said this year is much different since they have been able to open the system up and let it run for some extended periods of time because it’s been consistently colder this season.
“Low temps and low humidity levels make for excellent snowmaking and
we’ve had a lot of that this year, which has allowed the team to be very efficient and effective in their efforts,” he said. “The team puts in some long hours and the work they do definitely isn’t for everyone. They are a special crew; no doubt about that.”
Besides below-freezing temperatures and low humidity levels, Hegeman said wind direction at any given moment is another element.
ACCORDING TO
Holiday Valley’s snow report earlier this month, the resort had a season total of about 150 inches of snow with an average base depth of 30 to 55 inches. All 12 lifts and more than 50 slopes were open. Hegeman said every lift has been running
and every slope has been open on the weekends.
“We had every lift open last season as well. The difference this year is that there’s just a lot more snow out there,” he said. “Last year, keeping the glades (trees) open was a struggle because the natural snowfall that is needed for them wasn’t consistent. This year, people are having a blast skiing and riding in the glades.”
Holiday Valley’s Snowsports School started up last month. Hegeman said this year has been a busy one for the school with lots of new beginner skiers and snowboarders who took advantage of the January Learn a Snowsport Month deal. He said night lessons have been packed with various school groups that come throughout the week.
“Living in this region gives everyone the perfect opportunity to do a lot of fun things outside all winter long, and being out on the slopes with family and friends is a fantastic way to enjoy the winter months,” he said. “Learning from a professional just makes skiing or riding that much more enjoyable because you are setting yourself up for success by getting coached on proper techniques and best practices.”
Holiday Valley has several events scheduled this month that will keep skiers, snowboarders and outdoor enthusiasts coming to the
slopes. The Penguin Paddle, Feb. 22; Intense Milk Rail Jam, also Feb. 22; Your Turn Women’s Clinic, Feb. 2425; and Telestock, Feb. 28.
The Penguin Paddle is one of Holiday Valley’s oldest and most beloved events. The all-day fundraiser draws families and other fun-loving people together to benefit the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program, helping individuals with disabilities experience the joy of skiing.
Hegeman said there is always live music to enjoy from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays at Edna’s at the Tamarack Club and après ski music Saturdays at the T-Bar, upstairs in the Main Lodge. For more information about events,
Photo courtesy Holiday Valley With plenty of snowfall
New Directions recognizes 4 with a combined 30 years of service
RANDOLPH — New Directions Youth and Family Services recently honored recipients of the agency’s Milestone Years of Service awards. These quarterly awards recognize individuals who dedicate their careers to helping Western New York children and families receiving New Directions services. Individuals from New Directions’ southern tier programs at Randolph Residential honored during the fourth
quarter of 2024 are:
• Marsha Ling – 15 years, Youth Support Specialist on call.
• Tina Adams – 5 years, Youth Support Specialist.
• Mason Hartzell – 5 years, Youth Support Specialist.
• Kaitlyn Snayczuk – 5 years, Senior Youth Support Specialist.
“We are grateful to our dedicated and compassionate team members for their commitment to children
and families at New Directions. We especially want to highlight staff who have reached milestone years of employment with us,” said Sarah Taylor, New Directions president.
“Your work exemplifies the heart of our mission, and we are inspired by your dedication to creating brighter futures. Thank you for being the cornerstone of hope and support for the children and families who need it most.”
For career opportunities, visit New Directions’ Facebook page or call (716) 358-3636 ext. 5290. Employment applications can be found at fosteringgood. org/employment.
Modern vehicles have surpassed their predecessors thanks to innovations that make driving and maintenance safer, easier and more convenient. In spite of the most impressive advancements, vehicle ownership still requires that drivers maintain their cars and trucks so they perform as designed. Such upkeep also helps to improve safety and save people money by heading off more costly repairs. Following a recommended maintenance schedule can ensure vehicles function properly. Below are some mileagebased guidelines related to vehicle maintenance, courtesy of CarFax and Advance Auto Parts.
• Every 3,000 miles: This is a good time to check up on all fluids in the car to be sure the levels are where they should be. These include coolant,
Vehicle maintenance schedule
brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, and engine oil, among others.
• Every 5,000 miles: Change the vehicle’s oil and fuel filter if using conventional oil. Vehicles using synthetic oil may be able to go further between changes. Many vehicles will use an internal computer system to alert when it is time to change the oil. This may be a good time to also change the cabin and engine air filters. Look under the hood and give the battery terminal a check, looking for any corrosion or loose cables.
• Every 10,000 miles: It’s time to take the car in to have the tires rotated. Rotating the tires at regular intervals helps avoid uneven wear and tear. The vehicle also may need a tire alignment,
especially if drivers notice it is pulling to one side. Brake problems tend to be self-alerting, but drivers also may want to visually inspect brakes at this time just to be sure there isn’t too much wear.
• At 36,000 miles: New vehicle owners may want to have their vehicles looked over thoroughly before the standard three-year warranty expires. This way they can have any issues corrected before they will cost more to repair.
• At 50,000 miles+: Inspect the exhaust, emissions and suspension systems at this time. One also can drain and replace transmission fluid. Tires may be in need of replacement at this time as well.
Tips
to make a living room a more comfortable, welcoming space
A kitchen is widely recognized as the most popular room in a home. Though it might be true that the hustle and bustle of home life runs through the kitchen, many a memory is made in the living room as well.
Living rooms tend to be go-to spaces for family movie nights, game watches with fellow fans and places to gather during holiday celebrations. That’s a lot of quality time spent in the living room, and those moments can be more enjoyable if the space is as comfortable as possible. With that in mind, people can consider various ways to make living rooms more comfortable.
• Prioritize comfort over aesthetics. In an era of Instagram, it’s
easy to fall head over heels with images when designing a living room. Aesthetic appeal certainly has its place in a living room, but it’s important to remember how much living will be done in these rooms when designing them.
Comfortable couches and furnishings like ottomans can make it easier to relax in the living room whether you’re watching a movie, cheering on your favorite team or reading a book.
• Ensure there’s ample seating. It can be hard to feel comfortable in cramped quarters whether you’re welcoming friends and family into your home or simply lounging around on Sunday mornings. If comfort
is your top priority, arrange the room so there’s ample seating throughout and people don’t feel like they’re sitting on top of one another when spending time in the room.
• Consider neutral paint colors. Furnishings are not the only things that can affect how comfortable people feel in a living room. The home improvement experts at The Spruce note that neutral paint colors
with warm undertones help to establish a cozy feel in a living room. Various shades of white, beige, tan, or even gray can help to establish a warm, comfortable vibe in a living room.
• Incorporate the outdoors into the room. The great outdoors can have a calming effect on anyone, so it makes sense that incorporating the outdoors into a living room can make
the space feel more comfortable. Furnish the room with plants and look for items with earth-toned furnishings to create a calm and comfortable vibe in the space. In addition, new windows that allow for more natural light and offer views into a yard can help lift spirits and make the room feel more comfortable. A comfortable living room is a space where people will want to spend their time. A few simple strategies can help create an inviting and comfortable vibe in any living room.
