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VOLUME 4 ISSUE9
The Official Newspaper
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of the Village of Ellicottville, the Town of Ellicottville and the Towns of East Otto, Great Valley and Mansfield, New York
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FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 5, 2015
Your Hometown Newspaper Serving Ellicottville, East Otto, Great Valley, Little Valley, Mansfield, Olean, Randolph, Salamanca, Springville and Beyond
n i h c r a How M s You p e e K L V E Moving
Calendar of Events February 27 Telestock Day at Holiday Valley February 28 Play It Forward Vertical Challenge at Holiday Valley
The Best of Winter is Yet to Come By Eva Potter
March may signal the official beginning of warmer weather trends, but everyone knows that spring conditions on the slopes offer some of the best skiing and boarding of the season. It’s time to say goodbye to February with two fabulous events this weekend. Then check out the full schedule of on- and off-slope adventures that keep March in Ellicottville invigorating. Head for the Slopes Feb. 27 – Telestock Freeheelers gather to share their passion for telemark skiing at Holiday Valley. The event is sponsored by the City Garage and takes place at the upper level Champagne Deck at the base of Yodeler Lodge. The event features discounted lift tickets, demo equipment, tele rentals, a cookout, T-shirts, prizes from Scarpa and 22 Designs, and more. It’s also a great opportunity to talk with other free-spirited tele fans. Feb. 28 – Play It Forward Vertical Challenge Holiday Valley is hosting its newest event, Play It Forward (formerly Boarding for Breast Cancer) this Saturday. Check out outdoor and indoor family fun, on-mountain challenges, prizes, a vendor village, product sampling, auctions and a great après ski party. Proceeds from this skiing and snowboarding event benefit charities in the local Western New York area. More at www. holidayvalley.com/playitforward. March 4 Lounsbury Veteran’s Day Holiday Valley’s Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program, a not-forprofit organization, is preparing for its 27th annual Veteran’s Day
NEW DATE! March 1 Art Roscoe Loppet X-Country Ski Race at Allegany State Park March 5 Ski Day for United Way at HoliMont March 6 Telefest at HoliMont March 7 Ken Brown 700 Club Fundraising Party at Holiday Valley
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March 14-15 Mardi Gras and Winter Carnival Holiday Valley and the Village Annual Maple Weekends March 21-22 and March 28-29 March 22 Northwind Super-G Race at Holiday Valley March 28 Holiday Valley’s Pond Skimming
See March in Ellicottville page 5
Winter Carnival and Mardi ECS/WV Sports Merger Gras Weekend March 14-15 Has Community Support Entertainment, Parades, Contests and Lots of Beads! By Jann Wiswall
By Alicia Dziak
A dozen or more ECS parents and interested community members attended a public meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24, to learn more about the proposed West Valley Central Schools athletic program partnership with ECS. Representatives of the ECS coaching staff, board members and others were on hand to answer questions, as were representatives of West Valley’s board and staff. A detailed PowerPoint presentation was made, outlining not only West Valley’s rationale for partnering with ECS, but also explaining the benefits to ECS athletes of all ages. From West Valley’s perspective, decreasing enrollment is the primary reason for the partnership. K-12 enrollment at WV has fallen
Step right up for the annual Winter Carnival and Mardi Gras weekend, on the slopes and in the village, March 14-15. It’s sure to be a riproarin’ good time, and you’re invited! Holiday Valley is transformed into all things fun during this last festival weekend of the season. Enjoy a tasty pancake breakfast Sunday at the
See ECS/WV Sports page 5
Summer Music Festival Lineup Announced Mark your calendars for July 3-5 for the annual Ellicottville Summer Music Festival. The familyfriendly weekend will have something for everyone, including Grammy Award winning Blood, Sweat and Tears, led by American Idol runner up Bo Bice. See article on page 8.
See Winter Carnival and Mardi Gras page 9
Northrup Property, HV Road Get Planning Board OK By Jann Wiswall
The Town of Ellicottville’s Planning Board approved plans for changes to two buildings on a property on Rt. 219 owned by John Northrup. It also approved minor changes to the Holiday Valley Road realignment site plan. Northrup proposed making
some mostly interior changes no comments, and after to existing office space in one confirming that there is ample building in order to create a 2-3 parking designated for each bedroom rental apartment. The building, the board approved other building will become an the plan with the condition that indoor golf training facility run any future change in use for the by John’s son and golf pro Jake property would be subject to planning board approval. Northrup. In new business, Town Following a public hearing, during which there were See Town Planning Board page 9
Don’t Miss the Dummy Downhill By Alicia Dziak
The Dummy Downhill has become synonymous with Winter Carnival at Holiday Valley, and it’s one of the highlights of the weekend as people put their hearts and souls into building the most creative and all around best dummies on skis they can. The idea for this part of the weekend came about in the early 90s, the brainchild of Robin Bissel, who ran the Screaming Eagles at the time. From there, it’s grown into one of the wackiest parts of Winter Carnival, and if you’re See Dummy Downhill page 6