2014 Silver ADDY Award Winner
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 11
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THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE AND THE TOWNS OF ELLICOTTVILLE, GREAT VALLEY AND MANSFIELD, NEW YORK
www.EllicottvilleTimes.com facebook/theEllicottvilleTimes
MAY 23 - 29, 2014
Your Hometown Newspaper Serving Ellicottville, Great Valley, Little Valley, Mansfield, Olean, Salamanca, Springville and Surrounding Communities
Calendar of Events
Ready, Set, Camp! Experience the Enchanted Mountains at Campgrounds, Parks and Glamping Resorts By Alicia Dziak
May 22-26 Loose Lips Sink Ships at Springville Center for the Arts
The weather has finally warmed up and it’s time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Camping season is here, and whether you prefer a tent, a camper, a cabin, roughing it, or something chock full of amenities, there’s something for everyone in the area’s numerous campgrounds. Are you the type who likes to be one with the outdoors? Sleep in a tent and cook all your meals over the campfire? The Enchanted Mountains region has so much to offer you. Numerous campgrounds offer dozens of campsites lakeside, creekside, deep in the woods, or in an open space next to a bunch of your friends. Check out websites to see maps of your favorites, call and describe what kind of site you’re looking for, or better yet, plan a quick visit ahead of time to pick the site that best meets your needs. “Glamping” is a term and activity that has been gaining popularity the past few years. It’s short for “glamorous camping,” and usually involves upscale tents or premium cabins with running water, electricity and other amenities. If having your own bathroom and a floor under your feet are more your speed, glamping may be for you. Many campgrounds offer upscale cabins, and some places, such as Franklinville’s The Woods at Bear Creek, offer the traditional “glamping” tents, with tent-like sides and ceilings, but with floors and furniture inside. If you want something between bare bones camping and glamping, rustic cabins give you that option. Many campgrounds offer cabins with or without electricity, some with a fridge and stove, and
May 22-25 Night Lights at Nannen Arboretum May 23 Holliday Valley Mountain Coaster Spring Opening May 25 2014 Late Model Special at Little Valley Speedway May 29 - 31 Closing Weekend Night Lights at Nannen Arboretum May 30-31 Loose Lips Sink Ships at Springville Center for the Arts May 30 - June 1 16th Annual Gowanda Hollywood Happenings May 30 - June 1 Allegany Nature Pilgrimage
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June 6-8 Cycling Weekend Holiday Valley June 6-8 Springville Dairy Fest June 7 Relay for Life Ellicottville Central School June 14 Mudslide Obstacle Trail Run Holiday Valley July 4-6 Summer Music Festival Ellicottville & Holiday Valley
See Ready, Set, Camp! page 6
Town Board Approves East Tank Bond Resolution Hears Highway Department Complaints
By Jann Wiswall
The Town of Ellicottville’s board approved a resolution to issue $1.4 million in bonds to cover the cost of the East Tank water district improvements after holding a public hearing on
the topic. No members of the public attended the Wednesday, May 21, meeting to comment. Town Engineer Mark Alianello said that bids for the project are being advertised this week and will be due by 10 a.m. on June 13. The board will open bids during a special meeting scheduled for June 17 at 3 p.m. Alianello also said that he had drafted new language for Section 7 of the town’s local water law to clarify some issues of responsibility. A public hearing on those changes will be held at the Town’s June 25 board meeting. Alianello also asked the board for its advice on a problem he discovered with the Glen Burn Trail development. Alianello had recommended that the property’s gas line be placed 5 feet away from the town’s water line; however, it was placed about a foot above the water line. The
Voters Approve $11 Million Budget Klein, Cortez Elected to Board Seats By Jann Wiswall
Residents of the Ellicottville Central School District voted to approve the proposed school budget of $11,070,000 for the 2014-15 school year on Tuesday, May 20. The vote tally was 185 Yes to 59 No, or
Whether you’re looking for inspiration or are up for a challenge, Ellicottville has something for everyone during the village’s
See Bicycle Weekend page 12
See ECS $11 Million page 11
Ken Brown 700 Club Lends Financial Support to Alley Katz
By Mary Fox
See East Tank Bond Resolution page 4
first ever Bicycle Weekend. This new event dedicated to “everything bicycles,” will provide biking enthusiasts with both see and do opportunities, from gravity-defying mountain bike performances by Chris Clark sponsored by the Wingate by Wyndham, to fantastic road biking opportunities of varying distances hosted by Holiday Valley. “We have two completely different events during Bicycle Weekend,” observed Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce executive director Brian McFadden. “And on top of that, we have hundreds of miles of great roads for ‘roadies’ and a nationally recognized trail system for mountain bikers right here in our backyard, so that you can divide your time between these events and doing your own thing.”
(149 for and 90 against). Two new board members were elected to fill the seats of departing board members Steve Crowley and James Wiley, and for the first time in Ellicottville memory, the
Village Celebrates Memorial Day at Gazebo Along with spring flowers have come the Alley Katz, digging up the dirt all over the village. No individual or other group has done more to make our village proud. While planting day is not until June 2, the Alley Katz have been working all week to have the village cleaned up for Memorial Day weekend, a beautiful tribute to our veterans who fought so we could enjoy the beauty of our village. Memorial
Get Pumped for Ellicottville’s Bicycle Weekend Inaugural Event for Bike Enthusiasts Takes Place June 6, 7, 8
76 percent in favor. In addition, voters approved the district’s lease of a new school bus (180 for and 60 against) and to increase the school’s annual support to the Ellicottville Memorial Library by $416, to a total of $28,916
See Village Memorial Day page 9
ASP Hosts Raccoon Rally June 28-29 A Tradition for More than 20 Years By Alicia Dziak
Road races! Trail races! Cycling fun for kids and adults! It’s all happening at the annual Raccoon Rally, June 28-29, at Allegany State Park (ASP). The beginning of ASP’s peak season will bring thousands of eager campers to the park to enjoy all it has to offer come
summer. Among the visitors will be cycling enthusiasts ready to tackle the challenging trails and roadways within New York State’s largest state park at the annual Raccoon Rally, brought to the park by Heartrateup.com. “For over 20 years, the Raccoon Rally has been the
highlight of all that is cycling at Allegany State Park,” said Mark Lawrence, part of the race crew from Heartrateup. com. “Today’s road races, trials competitions and mountain bike cross-country races continue to be focal point of hundreds of cyclists See Raccon Rally page 13