Home for the Holidays 2022

Hometown Holidays coming up in Wellsville

By Kathryn Ross

WELLSVILLE — There is a little new and a little old and a lot of fun when it comes to the Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce Hometown Holidays from Nov. 26 to Dec. 17.

The event will get started the Saturday following Thanksgiving and while other communities may still be gobbling their way through leftovers or trotting down the street, Wellsville will be welcoming that Jolly Old Elf to town.

The Lions Club’s Fantasy of Lights is located on the lawn of the David A. Howe Library. There indi viduals and groups, clubs, business es, and organizations have decorat ed more than three dozen Christmas trees, which only await Santa’s magic touch to illuminate them for the entirety of the holiday season. That will happen at the conclusion

of the Hometown Holiday Parade.

On Nov. 26 the Santa Claus parade will start at 5 p.m. near the Main Street fire hall. It is open to anyone who wants to celebrate the season. Lineup will start at 4 p.m. in the Bokman car lot.

Riding aboard a fire truck, Santa will bring up the end of the parade. Once Santa arrives at the library, he will disembark from his firetruck sleigh and proceed to the library’s front terrace. There he will flip the switch illuminating the Christmas trees.

Following the parade Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the Chamber office where they will take letters and talk to children about their holiday wishes.

At 7:30 p.m. there will be grand fireworks display clearly visible from much of the village and es pecially from the area around the library.

Karen Kania of the Chamber said there was a tremendous increase in the cost of fireworks this year, but Chamber members and the commu nity respond ed, and this year’s display will be as big as in previous years.

On Dec. 1 a new event will start when the Chamber hosts the first — or the first in recent memory — Residential Decorating Contest.

“A member suggested that we should do this, so we went with it,” Kania said.

The Residential Decorating Contest will be judged on Dec. 15 by a Chamber committee and Chamber Gift Certificates for first, second and third places will be awarded.

Signup is required either at the Chamber office or by emailing the application on the Chamber’s Face book page. There is no cost.

”We expect the entries will be in the spirit of the season and in good taste,” Kania said.

On Dec. 9 “The Nutcracker” ballet will be staged at 7 p.m. in the Nancy Howe Auditorium at the library. The event is free to the public. There will be an encore per formance at 2 p.m. Dec. 10th in the auditorium.

On Dec. 10, starting at 11 a.m., the library will host Holiday Fest with games, crafts, tree decorating and snacks.

Dec. 10 and 17 there will be a Holiday Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Library Exhibi tion Room.

The Chamber continues a tra dition it brought back last year, on Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m., the Santa Sprint. Runners are required to dress up in a holiday costume, such as Santa, and race from State Street to Pearl Street.

Kids will start the race at 4:30 p.m. followed by the adults at 4:40 p.m. Contestants may gather in the fire hall at 4 p.m. to register, sign a liability waiver and for costume judging. There is no cost. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and first place finishers.

On Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. the Andover Ecumenical Choir will perform in the Nancy Howe Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. author Amanda Wormer will present Creepy Christ mas Stories in the library audito rium. The event is free and open to the public.

Dec. 17 the David A. Howe Library will host “The Muppets Christmas Movie” at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium. The program is free to the public.

Also Dec. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m., Santa will be back in town cruising the village on top of his fire truck, waving to children, and wishing all a Merry Christmas.

File photo

The Wellsville Lions Club’s Fantasy of Lights located on the David A. Howe Library lawn brings joy throughout the holiday season.

Find unique, one-of-a-kind gifts during Small Business Saturday

By Daniella Langianese

Join the Chambers of Commerce, local business owners and residen tial shoppers throughout the Twin Tiers region for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26 to participate in the movement to help support the small businesses of the area.

“Shopping locally for Small Business Saturday is so important,” said Downtown Bradford Business District Authority representative Michelle Shaffer Baxter. “Not only can you find many unique gifts in our local downtown businesses but you will also be able to give back to your local businesses and commu nity.

“We need to help our local econ omy,” she added. “Without all you shoppers our businesses would not survive.”

Several retailers in Historic Downtown Bradford will be partic ipating including: Bradford Chocolate Factory, Cummins Country Charm, John Williams European Pastry Shop, The Grocery Stretcher, Julie’s Ever After, Little Fabric Gar den, Main Street Mercantile, Man’s World, Magic Bean Cafe, Michelle’s Flair for Hair and the Tin Ceiling Gift Shoppe, as well as area restau rants, such as Beefeaters, Kabob’s, Slice of the 80’s and more.

“Shop Small Saturday is really important to us,” explained Elm/ Main Street Coordinator Sarah Matzner. “Local shop owners, such as Nancy Graham, proprietor of Tin Ceiling Gift Shoppe on Main Street, who excels at making personalized gift baskets — she’s a great example of truly knowing area customers and catering to their wants.

“Our stores have items many people might not realize. For example, the Main Street Mercantile sells board games and the Tin Ceiling

Gift Shoppe has a baby section, and Man’s World has a great selection of coats for both men and women — plus Bradford Owls merchandise,” said Matzner.

In Olean, Meme Yanetsko, COO of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, echoed the importance of supporting small businesses.

“It’s always a good thing to shop local because that money spent in a local business stays here,” she said.

GOACC continues to offer its gift certificates, which may be used at some 260 businesses in the Greater Olean area.

Yanetsko added that the Olean Chamber is promoting Small Busi ness Saturday on its Facebook page and providing an outlet through which local businesses may high

light any promotions they may have for the day and for the shop-local effort.

This year’s celebration will be the 13th annual Small Business Saturday event, since its inception in 2010.

Shop Small Saturday was estab lished by American Express, so that shoppers, business owners and city leaders come together to support the family-friendly, locally owned small businesses, which in-turn helps the community thrive.

“The Main Street Program is proud to once again be a Neighbor hood Champion through American Express,” said Matzner.

“In 2011, the U.S. Senate unan imously passed a resolution in support of the day, and officials in

all 50 states participated,” recalled an American Express employee. “In fact, the resolution to approve the annual day even received a shoutout from President Barack Obama,” while he was still in office.

“Surprise gift ideas for the indi vidual who is nearly impossible to find a gift for, consider the purchase of gift cards for this year’s holiday season,” Matzner suggested. “I want people to consider grabbing their Mom a gift card to Michelle’s Flair for Hair for their next appoint ment, or cover a family night out by buying movie tickets and a gift card to Slice of the 80s for pizza to enjoy after the movie — or for a more fine dining experience post-movie, consider the purchase of a gift card to Kabob’s to cover dinner.”

Era file photo

Shoppers take advantage of Small Business Saturday in 2020 to stop by the Bradford Chocolate Factory for some treats.

Neighborhood School of Dance plans annual Christmas Show

OLEAN — The Neighborhood School of Dance will present its seventh annual Christmas Show at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Allegany-Lime stone High School auditorium.

The performance will follow a theme of “togetherness” — written by Kelsey Boudin — for the Holiday season. It will feature more than 100 dancers of all ages — toddlers to adults from both of NSD’s studios in Olean and Port Allegany, Pa. — in various genres from tap and ballet to hip hop and even a special waltz performance.

Tickets ($10) can be purchased online at www.tinyurl.com/yeer62cr. Those who can’t attend may view the livestream for free on YouTube.

“Togetherness just made sense for this year’s Christmas Show theme,” said NSD owner and CEO Brittany Thierman. “We may get together as families and friends for the holidays, but do we actually get together anymore? The season means so much, regardless of our different faiths and beliefs, but the season gets overshadowed by commercialism. This show gets back to basics: family and friends being together and connected.”

The show will feature 28 per formances brimming with holiday cheer. The youngest dance students are particularly excited. Santa may even take a break from Christmas prep to make a brief appearance, Thierman said.

“The little ones always absolutely steal the show,” she added. “We have such a great youth dance program. When you get a bunch of 2- and 3-year-olds up on stage, dancing their little hearts out with excitement for Christmas, it defi nitely brings a smile. And then as the kids get a little older — their

skills and moves becoming more refined — the real meaning behind the dance takes shape. We have Shelley Greene, our assistant direc tor of children’s studies, to thank for that.”

Allegany-Limestone will host an NSD performance for the first time. In the school’s decades-long recit al tradition, most midseason and year-end recitals have been held at the Olean High School auditorium,

which is currently undergoing renovations.

“We can’t thank Allegany-Limestone enough. We’re extremely grateful for their hospitality,” Thi erman said. “A-L can be our home away from home for the time being, or perhaps this could expand upon our model to share our passion for dance with our friends and loved ones in our communities who’ve supported us for so many years.”

While the recital is billed as a Christmas Show, she emphasized, it honors all faiths and cultures.

“From our youngest toddlers and high schoolers to grownup dancers and our wonderful instructors,” Thierman concluded, “we all love putting our collective heart and soul into this annual show. We’re proud to nurture a passion for dance expressed through a Holiday show with emotion and feeling.”

Photo provided

Neighborhood School of Dance performers are (from left) Ally Davenport, Kinsey McAfee, Chloe Grandusky and Ruby Chahal.

Gift Tree program continues evolving, making connections nearly 30 years on

By Kellen M. Quigley

For nearly 30 years, the commu nities of Olean, Allegany and surrounding communities have pitched in to make sure those in need have a wonderful holiday season through the Gift Tree program.

Co-sponsored by Interfaith Caregivers and the Olean Times Herald, the annual program connects dozens of families and individuals with area businesses, schools, organi zations and residents to provide holiday gifts for those they “adopt” in Cattaraugus program.

New in recent years, adoptees can apply for the program them selves rather than hope an agency sponsors them. Now in its 27th year, nearly 100 different families and in dividuals in need of help for holiday gifts and necessities were looking to be adopted.

Julie Hall, executive director of Interfaith Caregivers, said the group met its goal of better reaching the most rural areas of Cattaraugus County when building the list this year.

“Our community includes se nior citizens that have no family, friends or support systems,” she said. “Known as ‘shut-ins,’ we felt it was important to include them as well.” The list also includes disabled children and adults as well as local veterans.

New this year, Interfaith Care givers has partnered with The Salvation Army to facilitate the program since the mission and work of both organizations are similar.

By partnering, Hall said they could complete the application process with families over the telephone. Meaningful conversations occurred between the applicants and Captain Megan Moretz of the Salvation Army and Hall.

“We were able to make a connec tion with each individual or family that applied to be on the Gift Tree,” she said. “We listened to them, made referrals, talked about local resources and the WNY 211 Sys tem.”

When Hall approached her about joining the cause, Moretz said it seemed like a natural fit.

“I was happy to help her get organized and start the application process, which is what we’ve been

working on for the past month,” she said. “This being my first time doing the Gift Tree, I’m excited to see how the rest of it goes.”

Moretz said one of the greatest blessings of this program is being able to tell families that are struggling that it will be OK because the community cares and can help them.

“That was the message I tried to get across in my appointments with families and individuals,” she said.

“To see them light up when they heard that or the relief in knowing they don’t have to worry, it’s great.”

In response to community feedback from last year, Hall said they have asked families to be more specific about the kinds of clothing items and wishes that they are re questing. They also will have an ad ditional person working for two days after the list of families appears in the newspaper to answer the calls from adopters.

“I think it’s the perfect snapshot of the greater Olean community. It is a snapshot of the kindness, the generosity, the selflessness of the community,” Hall said of the program. “The Gift Tree, if it does one thing, it connects two worlds — the folks that have needs with the kindness and generosity and care we know we have.”

Moretz said she’s equally excit ed to see the drop-off and pick-up days in action. She said it’s an incredible feeling to be able to help so many people during the holiday season when stress is almost always heightened.

“I know this program is going to make a huge difference in the lives of all the families and individuals who applied,” she added. “And we’re going to see that all come together in the next few weeks.”

Gift Tree Headquarters will be located at Creekside Chapel, 2523 Five Mile Road in Allegany. Adopters will drop off gifts on Dec. 6 and 7 from 2-8 p.m. Gift pick up will take place Thursday, Dec. 8 from 2-8 p.m.

Donations can be made to Interfaith Caregivers, PO Box 319, Olean, NY 14760. Anyone interested in volunteering for the event, please call either Interfaith Caregivers at (716) 372-6283 or The Salvation Army at (716) 372-6740.

File photo

Donors of the annual Gift Tree drop off gifts for an “adopted” family during the 2021 program. This year’s drop-off/pick-up site is again the Creekside Chapel on Five Mile Road in Allegany.

Village, merchants preparing for Christmas in Ellicottville

ELLICOTTVILLE — Who needs all the hustle and bustle and stress of spending Black Friday at the mall when the whole family can enjoy the kickoff to the holiday sea son in Ellicottville? Thanksgiving weekend in the village has become a tradition for many locals and visitors alike.

The ski town’s downtown busi ness district offers a unique shop ping experience within a walkable four-block footprint, filled with festive attractions and plenty of hol iday cheer. Park the car and stroll the sidewalks lined with an abundance of eclectic shops packed full of holiday gift choices and dining options to keep you fueled through the experience.

“Christmas in Ellicottville will kick off Friday, Nov. 25 with a special lighting ceremony of Ellicot tville’s village lights and the iconic Ski Tree located in front of the Post Office,” said Jessica Wallace, busi ness development manager at the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce. “We encourage everyone to come out and witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Ellicottville’s Ski Tree. The moment those lights turn on is magical. Kids love it!”

Produced by the chamber, Christmas in Ellicottville will run all weekend long, Nov. 25-27, and feature a plethora of holiday-themed activities for kids and the kid at heart. Thanks to event sponsors, attendees can antici pate holiday music throughout the village streets, real live reindeer, visits with Santa — including fire truck rides with the big guy — horse and wagon rides, as well as kid’s crafts, cookie decorating and more, all for free.

Don’t forget Breakfast with Santa on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Bring a non-perishable

product to donate to the Ellicottville Food Pantry.

Can’t make it to Thanksgiving weekend? The chamber is planning to carry the Christmas in Ellicott ville celebration all throughout December. There’s always something going on in Ellicottville, especially this time of year with the holidays right around the corner.

“We had so many members wanting to be a part of this event and are so excited to continue this festive celebration,” Wallace said.

“We will be seeking out additional holiday activities each week, keep ing our calendar up to date with all the festivities. We’ll keep you in the loop as many of our shops are planning to offer specials.”

New this year, the chamber is sponsoring a window decorating contest, open to all downtown businesses. Merchants are encouraged to get creative with their storefronts — reason enough for visitors to make the trip to Ellicottville.

Posters with a QR code to scan

with a smartphone makes it easy for anyone to vote. The QR code will also be displayed on the Chamber’s website. The voting window will run from Nov. 25 through Dec. 6 with the winner announced at the chamber’s annual Christmas Party on Dec. 8.

For a complete schedule of activities, to learn more about sponsor ship or to register for the window decorating contest, visit ellicottvilleny.com or call the chamber at (716) 699-5046.

Photo provided

Horse-drawn wagon rides through the village streets are always a highlight of Christmas in Ellicottville. The annual celebration is scheduled for Nov. 25-27.