FREE! TAKE ONE! VOLUME 4 ISSUE 15
APRIL 17 - 23, 2015
The Official Newspaper of the Village of Ellicottville, the Town of Ellicottville and the Towns of East Otto, Great Valley and Mansfield, New York
American Advertising Awards 2014 Silver ADDY Award Winner Your Hometown Newspaper Serving Ellicottville, East Otto, Great Valley, Little Valley, Mansfield, Olean, Randolph, Salamanca, Springville and Beyond
Catch It!
THIS WEEK:
Spring Home Improvement Fever
This Week:
Fri •2 Guys Drinkin’ Beer• 9pm Saturday • JB Martin Band • 9pm Sunday • Bernie & Gail • 1 pm Wed • Wagner & Winston • 8pm Thursday • Fred & Tuck • 8pm
The snow has melted, the sun is shining and you don’t need to put on numerous layers to head outdoors. For homeowners, this time of year means it’s time time to get moving on those home improvement projects! Looking for inspiration, best practices and useful tips? What better place to find ideas for landscaping, DIY projects and decorating than the annual Olean Home and Garden Show, happening this weekend at the William O. Smith Recreation Center in Olean. Many area hardware stores are offering DIY workshops, which can take some of the guesswork out of projects. Do some research online to find one that might make tackling your special project a little more manageable. Now’s also a great time to check out the latest and greatest selections that home improvement stores have to offer. Springville Door and Window will be holding its annual open house on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with special pricing on everything from doors and windows to awnings. Whether you’re thinking of redecorating a room, building a deck, adding that water feature in the backyard, or preparing your gardens for planting, ‘tis the season to dive into projects, big or small! For more information, see our Home & Garden section on page 11.
20 Washington St • 699-2530
Friday •Krossfire • 9pm Saturday • Mick Hayes Band• 9pm 5 E Washington St • 699-1143
Calendar of Events
© 2015 Keystone Designers Inc.
April 17-19 Greater Olean Area Home & Garden Show
ECS Kids Opt In to Assessments Capital Project Construction Speeds Up
May 8 Sky High Adventure Park opens June 5-6 Cycling Weekend Holiday Valley June 20 Mudslide Obstacle Run Holiday Valley July 3-5 Summer Music Festival Holiday Valley
Great Valley Considers Solar, Mining Changes Playground Donations Sought By Jennie Acklin
By Jann Wiswall
All eyes were on area schools Tuesday when state assessments of student performance in grades 3-8 began for the 2014-15 school year. As many Erie County schools became political stages for legislators, teachers’ representatives and others who object to the testing, its implications and the Governor, in Ellicottville, teachers and administrators were preparing students for a positive experience, stocking classrooms with water and snacks and encouraging students to do their personal best. Ninety-three percent of ECS students were in school to begin the assessments Tuesday, the school board was told See ECS School Board page 9
Trace Adkins to Headline CattCo Fair! Tickets for the August 6 Trace Adkins concert during the Cattaraugus County Fair went on sale April 16 at 9 a.m. You may purchase tickets at the fairgrounds Corporate Building (green and white building with brick along the bottom, not at main gate) or by phone 716938-9146. Track seats are $35, bleacher seats are $30 and grandstand seats are $28. Concert tickets do not include gate admission ($7 presale or $10 on the day of the concert). The concert begins at 8 p.m.
The Town of Great Valley opened the April 13 board meeting with a public hearing on two petitions for rezoning which, if approved, will require amendment to the Great Valley comprehensive plan. The petitions address individual and utility-scale Solar Energy Systems and the Creation of Sand, Gravel and Clay Mining Overlay District. See Great Valley Board page 6
Village Eligible for Zero-Percent Loan Lawns and Trash Create Stink By Jann Wiswall
There’s great news for the village of Ellicottville! The board learned at its monthly meeting on Monday, April 13 that the village meets eligibility requirements for a 0 percent loan for its new, state-mandated, $4.9 million wastewater treatment plant. Construction on the plant is scheduled to begin in June.
The village applied for the NY Environmental Facilities Corporation loan last month. While final paperwork must be completed before the loan becomes official, the no-interest loan means taxpayers will save some $60,000 per year and, as a result, will see little or no increase in their sewer bills. See Village Board page 6
Enjoy Randolph’s Golf, Amish Trail, Mustangs and More! By Mary Heyl
Warmer days are here to stay, and with the better weather comes a variety of fun things to do with family and friends. Whether your interests lie on the golf course, on the Amish Trail, or on the open road in the car of your dreams, there’s a lot to do in Randolph this spring! Randolph is home to one of the most popular golf courses in the area, Cardinal Hills Golf Course. Founded in 1927, this 18-hole course is a microcosm of all that is admired about Cattaraugus County’s landscape: gently rolling hills, scenic See Things To Do in Randolph page 7