THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE TOWN AND VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE, NEW YORK THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF GREAT VALLEY, NEW YORK
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 31 FREE www.EllicottvilleTimes.com
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012
Octoberfest: Catch the Wave
A Cornucopia of Family Fun by Sue Whistler
Here it comes! Ellicottville is about to be engulfed by a human tsunami of fabulous, fun-loving Fall Festival fanatics and everyone wants to catch that wave. It’s Fall Festival Weekend in Ellicottville and time to head on down to the spectacular ski hills of the Southern Tier and hang ten for the biggest bash of the year! From Oct. 6–7, EVL’s historic business district will be cordoned off and transformed into a European-style, open-air market for the entire weekend with live music in the air, arts, crafts and carnival rides for the kids in the streets, fantastic fall food and drink on every corner, a ski swap, 5K run, mountain bike race, chairlift rides and a cookout on the hills. Last year’s festival was practically perfect in every way, from the weather to the most wonderful and respectful group of visitors to ever grace our quiet little village. According to Brian McFadden, executive director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, “Coming off the best Fall Festival we have ever had (in 2011), we have planned no significant changes. We have added portable ATM machines, thanks to M & T Bank, some additional restroom facilities and tweaked our traffic control. We have also brought back the popular Ellicottville Idol talent show sponsored by the Shults Auto Group. But other than that, everyone can expect a wonderful weekend with the trees approaching their peak color.” In other words, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Most events take place from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. both days. (Check out the Fall Festival schedule on page 14 inside.) Western New York is home to a talented and diverse community of artists and craftsmen, so be sure to take a leisurely stroll down Washington and Jefferson streets from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. to view and purchase some of their unique creations at the Arts and Craft Show. Virtually every retail boutique in town will have a curbside tent in front of their shop, a veritable cornucopia of bargains and great deals along Monroe Street and at the Visitors’ Center. The Carnival rides will run from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. both days. There will be games and all of your favorite rides, including the Ferris wheel. Kids of all ages will want to check out all the fun! Ellicottville Idol returns for its second year, back by popular demand! McFadden, said, “In our effort to continue to showcase the Fall Festival as a family-friendly event, the Ellicottville Idol is a perfect
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Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening in town.
FALL FEST 2012 addition. The competition showcases talented people from age 7–70 and is a great spectator event. Set up at the gazebo next to the food court, it’s a great resting spot for shoppers or a lunch getaway.” Registration is at 10 a.m. on Oct. 7 at the gazebo. The pre-qualification competition starts at 11 a.m. and the final competition begins at 3 p.m. at the gazebo. Applications and more information are available online at www. ellicottvilleny.com. If all this fun and excitement isn’t enough, there are two outdoor stages featuring some really hot rock n’ roll bands.
Check out all the musical events in our exclusive Entertainment section on page 3. Ellicottville Brewing Company has erected a stage out back where the music will be playing all weekend. Don’t miss Beatles Magic at 2 p.m. on Saturday, followed by Big Leg Emma and Hit and Run. Admission is free on Friday, with a $5 cover charge at the gate on Saturday and Sunday. Holiday Valley Resort is offering a full weekend of fall activities for the entire family. Jane Eshbaugh, marketing
SKI Magazine Ranks Holiday Valley 6th in NE Holiday Valley’s President, Dennis Eshbaugh said, “We are so proud of our 6th place ranking because it comes right from the skiers. The ranking is exciting coming off of a challenging natural snow year where people tend to be more critical. We’re especially proud of the #1 rank in service. Service is one of those intangible things; it is very delicate because there are so many points of contact with customers and every contact
See Octoberfest page 2
must be positive. Service is stressed in our yearly orientation meeting and throughout the year, but it is a step beyond everyone’s physical job so to be named number one is a great compliment to all our staff.” A survey sent to 40,000 SKI Magazine readers at the end of the 2011-2012 season resulted in a first place in the East for lifts and service. See Page 6
Can’t Find Your Favorite Shop?
Ellicottville has Been Playing ‘Musical Buildings’ By Sue Whistler
If you haven’t visited Ellicottville since the end of last ski season, you might feel as though you’re in a strange dream where everything looks vaguely familiar but places aren’t quite where or how you remember them. It’s OK. You haven’t fallen down the rabbit hole and you won’t see Alice having tea with the White Rabbit on the
sidewalk in front of Dina’s. It’s just that the village has been involved in a giant game of “musical buildings” over the past several months, and the changes are extensive and can be, well, a little disconcerting to the occasional weekend visitor. Here’s the 411 on the top 13 big moves in town: Nature’s Remedy and GadoGado have moved down Monroe
Street into the former home of the Double Diamond Saloon. Gretchen Mendell, owner of Nature’s remedy purchased the building last spring. She and Suzanne Roberts, owner of Gado-Gado, along with their army of local tradesmen, have done an incredible job renovating a wonderful historic building and turning it into a stunningg retail showplace. p
Kim Reading and Miguel Azcarate have packed up Mud Sweat N’ Gears and have moved down the road to the old Market Square building, the former home of Nature’s Remedy and Gado-Gado. They completely gutted the lower floors and renovated them into a fabulous new home for MSG. The new location opened in August with even more space including
their new Speed Factory tuning equipment, rental shop and expanded inventory of new lifestyle clothing lines, as well as all the usual great ski stuff. Now that MSG has switched “gears,” Arlene Solly and Kazoo II have made their move across Main Street into the beautifully remodeled space that MSG vacated. They reopened over the summer with a full arrayy of
beautiful and unique pieces of jewelry, home accessories and giftware. A Touch of Ellicottville has found a new home on the north side of Main Street (in the former jewelry store) with an expanded inventory, which will include the same great Ellicottville signature merchandise. We’re See Ellicottville’s Buildings Page 6
Photo P Ph Pho to o cou courtesy ourte ou rtte rt esy sy of Holiday Valley
A new Location for Gado Gado, Nature’s Remedy, Mud Sweat N’ Gears, a new Holiday Valley Lodge, a complete remodel of the Nannen Bat Factory, and a new Kwik Fill!