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Sneak PeekInside this Issue...

See “PeNGUIN” PaGe 11

Advertise All Your Upcoming Attractions &

Events Here Call: 716-699-2058

Email: info@thevillagerny.comwww.thevillagerny.com

Area Events

For more information on NY Parks visit parks.ny.gov

BLACK HISTORY MONTHFebruary 1st - February 28th

Across the United States

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESSFebruary 17th - February 22nd

Across the United States

LETCHWORTH STATE PARKOpen Daily • Till Dusk

Letchworth State Park, Castille

LONG POINT STATE PARKOpen Daily • Till Dusk

4459 NY-430, Bemus Point

KINZUA BRIDGE STATE PARKOpen Daily • 8-4pm

296 Viaduct Rd, Mt Jewett

ALLEGANY STATE PARKOpen Daily • 24 Hours

Allegany State Park, Salamanca

NANNEN ARBORETUMOpen Daily • Till Dusk

Town of Ellicottville, Ellicottville

EVL VILLAGE PARKOpen Daily • Till Dusk

Village of Ellicottville, Ellicottville

MIDWAY STATE PARKOpen Mon-Fri • 8-4:30pm4859 NY-430, Bemus Point

GRIFFIS SCULPTURE PARKOpen Daily, Till Dusk

Mill Valley Rd, East Otto

AMERICAN HEART MONTHFebruary 1st - February 28th

Across the United States

SCOBY DAM PARKOpen Daily, Till Dusk

Scoby Hill Road, Springville

ROCK CITY PARKOpen Daily • 9-5pm505 NY-16, Olean

See “CCIDa” PaGe 14

See “SPORTS” PaGe 15 See “SLOPeSIDe” PaGe 14

Celebrating Valentine’s Day8 Types of Love to Embrace Including Family & Pets

Frozen Feet Around Cassadaga Lake... Pg. 9

See “GROUNDHOG” PaGe 10See “VaLeNTINe” PaGe 8

2nd Annual 50K, This Saturday, Feb. 6 in Cassadaga

USPS, UPS or FedEx.. Pg. 12History of Differences Between Available Shipping Methods

Holiday Valley’s Adaptive Ski Program FundraiserVirtual Penguin Paddle 2021

How a Movie Made a Small Town Famous

February 4th - February 10th, 2021 Volume 16 ~ Issue 5A FREE Weekly Publication Serving Ellicottville and Surrounding Communities

Visit our website at: www.thevillagerny.comCHQ-CaTT CO’S COmmUNITy NewSPaPeRFREE

BEAT ON THE STREET:.......PAGE 13

Groundhog Digs Up More Snow

Can-Am Boarder Predicted to Open in FallHoliday Valley Builds New Lift

Many Activities Approved to Resume Feb. 1

Play On Western New York

Cassadaga will be hosting the 2nd annual 50K as part of the Winter Festival on Saturday February 6th.

EVL Chamber Spotlight: SlopesideBar & BBQ, Long Line of Family Business

Shipping and delivering to and from homes and businesses has always been vital to daily life and operations. Packages, whether care packages from family or large orders of merchandise, have to be passed along somehow from their point of origin to their intended final destination.

By carOL fishEr-Linn

Whether you are single, unattached, or very much into a relationship, this is the day to celebrate. Please don’t forget to love on your parents, your children and your faithful pets, too. Tina Turner asked, “What’s love got to do with it?” Just ask Adam and Eve who might have lived and loved forever had it not been for that darned bite of apple - (think Eden 209,000 years ago, according to Dr. Eran Elhaik from the University of Sheffield and by Professor

Dan Grauer from the University of Houston and the Tel Aviv University); Antony and Cleopatra (think the ultimate: dying for love - one by sword and one by asp bite) 41BC to 30BC; Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal (think a wee memorial to their love called the Taj Mahal - 1600’s); Romeo and Juliet (think star-crossed lovers caught in a blood feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. Doesn’t end well - 1600’s);

By shELBy TOTh

On Tuesday morning, February 2, 7:25am, Punxsutawney Phil decreed that we will endure six more weeks of winter. This marked the 135th celebration of Groundhog’s Day, and of course, the first event with very few

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club makes regular appearances in The Mardi Gras Day Parade in Ellicottville. They were sponsored by The Villager Newspaper for many years. Pictured here in Ellicottville’s 2019 parade is the club’s former President Bill Deeley (far left) and current handler.

Bottom terminal of New Yodeler Quad to be built this year. (See full story page 5.)

spectators in the crowd. Thankfully for Phil and his handlers, aka The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, virtual turnout for the event was fantastic. The live YouTube feed garnered over 250,000 views, and the Club’s

By JEssica schuLTz, sTaff WriTEr

Still living through the pandemic, a lot of regular events are postponed or sitting in limbo, have no fear, Holiday Valley and the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program are still bringing the

By JEssica MiLLEr

Not so long-ago, most activities had to be postponed or modified to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Workplaces, schools, and hobbies adapted their practices when able and paused when they couldn’t. Now that time has passed and more is understood about coronavirus prevention, many pastimes can be safely resumed. Some team sports have just been approved to resume in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, much to the delight of athletes and fans alike. The Chautauqua County Health Department and the Cattaraugus County Health Department will be

By shELBy TOTh

The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency held their Board of Directors Meeting on Tuesday, February 2. The group had multiple projects to discuss, with the last on the list taking up a bulk of the meeting’s time. First on the agenda was a new proposal for a new 5.0 MW

Community Solar Installation in Otto. The group proposing the project is Dimension Energy, based out of Atlanta, Georgia. The IDA Board from the Town of Otto has received a letter of support, and the group voted to set a public hearing for this project in roughly 12 to 13 days. The Board then moved to passing a resolution for a prior application.

By casEy BarBEr

Slopeside Bar & BBQ is a must stop at 6089 Route 219 in Ellicottville! Located directly next to Holiday Valley Resort, you will find delicious food and drinks with large screen TVs to watch live sporting events. You can’t beat that! I recently caught up with Katelyn Tekavec, who owns Slopeside with her husband, Bob Tekavec. Check out the interview! The Villager (V): What inspired you and your husband, Bob, to open Slopeside Bar & BBQ? Katelyn Tekavec (K): Ultimately, I would say

February 4 - February 10, 2021 ~ The Villager ~ ~ The Villager ~ February 4 - February 10, 2021 Page 2

Publisher’s Word“Great Things In Store!”

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EVL ViLLagE Park: OPEn DaiLy, TiLL Dusk : ViLLagE Of ELLicOTTViLLE, ELLicOTTViLLE

Karen MockManager, RE Broker Cell: 716-818-3200

David Blanchard Associate RE Broker Cell: 716-474-7024

Caitlin Croft RE Salesperson

Cell: 716-440-7933

Margaret Kandefer RE Salesperson

Cell: 716-244-0608

James Pierce RE Salesperson

Cell: 716-904-0394

Brooke Szpaicher RE Salesperson

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12 Monroe Street Ellicottville, NY 14731

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Happy BirthdayDrew Cerza “Wing King”... February 5th •

Katherine McIntosh... February 5th • Megan Merzac... February 6th •Sarah Bartz Smith... February 6th • Ryan Campbell... February 7th •

Annie Widger... February 7th • Bill Brown... February 7th •Jimmy Curtis... February 7th • Sue O’Neil... February 8th •

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June Gatewood Zipp... February 22nd

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The Village of Ellicottville will be accepting applications for a full time position in our Public Works Department. Please call 716-498-4140 for application information.

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Nettie’s Beaded EarringsOnohsagwe:de’ Cultural Center Features Beadwork of Nettie Hepner

Today, we continue to feature more work from Hodinöhsö:ni’ artists and craftspeople. For the next couple weeks we will be sharing beautiful beadwork by Nettie Hepner, owner of Netties Beaded Earrings. Nettie is Seneca, Wolf Clan from the Allegany Territory. Nettie began beading around the age of 12, after attending the Veteran’s Pow Wow in Salamanca, New York. During the Pow Wow, she states, “I ran into my Seneca language teacher (Tom Printup). He had a stand set up; he was selling beads. I was so attracted to all the different sparkly colors, varieties and textures of beads. I asked him if he could help me pick out some of the basic materials I would need to get started. Although

beading proved to be much more challenging than I had anticipated. I tried so hard for months. Still, I couldn’t finish a single project!” After about a year of “becoming so good at making knots”, her grandma Maxine Dowler told her about a class at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum. She continues, “I believe the class was taught by a lady named Kathy Mitchell. It was a 3-day class on barrette making. She was so encouraging! I FINISHED my first beaded project! It was a little pink hair barrette! It was far from perfect but I actually finished! I was so proud of that barrette! I actually still have it today!” A year later Nettie found herself back at the Veterans

Pow Wow where she purchased a pair of brick stitch earrings. She explains, “I brought them home and studied them. I eventually ripped them apart bead by bead. I figured out how to make my very own pair”. Nettie began making earrings for family members and started selling her work. After a few years she started getting more confident. She tells us, “I started going to Charla Bach’s beading group. I met a lot of talented ladies! Charla used to pick on me all the time saying, “You didn’t make that!” she was a character that lady! Before I knew it people would come from all over asking for my work! I needed a business name. I had one very loyal customer who always referred to her earrings as her “Netties”. I absolutely loved that! That’s where I got my name “Netties Beaded Earrings”…I have sold thousands of different pairs of earrings and projects. There are people from all over the world who own my jewelry. From Mexico to Alaska and so much more!” Today, Nettie has a large display at Mongillo Jewelers 10x the size of when she first started with much more than just earrings. You can see more of her work on Facebook at facebook.com/nettiegretti

National Technical Honor SocietyCABOCES Announces Students Inducted in 2021

Olean, NY – January 29, 2021 – Twelve Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from the CA BOCES CTE Center at Olean were inducted last week into the National Technical Honor Society in a special ceremony. The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) exists to honor, recognize, and empower students and teachers in Career & Technical Education. As the honor society for Career & Technical Education, NTHS serves over 100,000 active members annually in both secondary and postsecondary chapters across country. Since its founding in 1984, nearly 1 million students have become NTHS alumni. NTHS honors the achievements of top CTE students, provides close to $300,000 in scholarships annually, and strives to help connect education and industry to build a highly skilled workforce. CA BOCES Media Communications Technology teacher, Amber Christensen, organized the event and said that year after year it is a high point for students and their

families. “While we had to change our ceremony a bit due to COVID-19 regulations, we wanted to make sure to honor these students who work so hard to learn skills in their respective fields and who look forward to this special event.” CA BOCES CTE Center at Olean Principal, Cory Pecorella, said that he is proud of the new inductees and the opportunities that come from membership in the NTHS. “These students work so hard,” he said. “Their induction tonight will allow them to be connected to an organization that focuses specifically on helping students achieve their goals in future CTE education and careers.” New inductees included: Kaidyn West, Media Communications Technology, Olean Damien Sorvillo, Media Communications Technology, Portville Destiny Rung, Audio Visual Productions, Portville Lucas Smith, Criminal Justice, Portville Jordyn Harasta, Medical Professions, Franklinville

Maria DeGiglio, Medical Professions, Allegany-Limestone Brooke DeYoe, Early Childhood Education and Human Services, Portville Haylee Jozwiak, Criminal Justice, Hinsdale Cheyenne Herrick, Cosmetology, Hinsdale Hannah DeArmitt, Criminal Justice, Olean Nathan Armstrong, Audio Visual Productions, Hinsdale Alyssa Bushnell, Early Childhood Education and Human Services, Portville As the regional leader in education services, CA BOCES offers state-of-the-art programs for learners of all ages and abilities as well as cost-effective shared services for 22 component school districts. CA BOCES empowers students to achieve their maximum potential by offering a wide variety of innovative programs and support that include special education, career and technical education, adult and continuing education, technology support, and instructional support services. To learn more, caboces.org.

Drug Free Communities GrantSpringville Reg. Service Coalition Gets $600K for Substance Abuse Prevention

Springville, NY—The Springville Regional Service Coalition has been awarded a five-year, $600,000 federal grant provided through the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program. Collaboratively, coalition partners from The John R. Oishei Foundation’s Mobile Safety-Net Team, WNY United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse, the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the Prevention Resource Center, the Rural Outreach Center and the Springville Griffith Institute School District formed the grant writing sub-committee of the coalition. “The Village of Springville is extremely fortunate that the Drug Free Communities Grant was awarded to Springville Regional Service Coalition,” said Village of Springville Mayor William Krebs. “The Coalition working with the John R. Oishei Foundation and other regional groups has identified local drug problems, and now funded a program to target these problems in our Village. This is a good example of how partnership improves a Village. On behalf of the Village I extend our thanks to Community Coordinator Annie Todd and the entire Springville Regional Service

Coalition.” The Drug-Free Communities Support Program was created in 1997 by the Drug-Free Communities Act to help communities combat local youth substance abuse by providing them with federal grants. The program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About the Springville Regional Service Coalition (SRSC) The Springville Regional Service Coalition unites human resource

providers, public service organizations and individuals to improve the quality of life, including the prevention of substance abuse for youth, for the greater Springville community by facilitating cooperation, collaboration, communication and creation of initiatives. For more information about the Drug Free Communities grant or the Springville Regional Service Coalition, please contact: Annie Todd, Community Impact Coordinator at the Mobile Safety-Net Team, at (716) 553-7803 or atodd@MSNTWNY.org.

Representatives from the Springville Regional Service Coalition and the greater Springville community assemble for the announcement of the $600,000 federal grant provided through the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program.

CRCF Scholarship ApplicationsStudents Can Apply for Catt. Region Comm. Foundation Scholarships, Feb. 1st

OLEAN, N.Y., January 18, 2021 — The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation will open its scholarship application process to area students February 1. Students can apply using the online scholarship portal at cattfoundation.org/apply-for-scholarships. Students can complete one common scholarship application to become eligible for awards from some 65-scholarship funds. Scholarships are available to students throughout the region (including, depending on the criteria of each fund, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Chautauqua and McKean (PA) counties) for a multitude of interests and career/

educational goals. Awards are available to students at specific high schools, students with different majors, students with different career goals and more. New awards year include: Robert E. Hull VMD Memorial Scholarship – first preference for minority or female Olean High School students, Nelson M. Beard Memorial Scholarship – for graduating Salamanca High School students, Tim Bushnell Memorial Scholarship – for graduating Olean High and Portville Central School Graduates, Ginger D. Schroder Legislative Scholarship – for a graduating high school student residing in Cattaraugus County Legislative District 3 who will

pursue a trade degree or 2-or 4-year college degree. Kathy Jowsey Spirit Memorial Scholarship – for graduating Ten Broeck Academy/Franklinville Central School graduating students who have worked hard academically and embody school spirit. Applicants will apply entirely online and submit supporting documentation such as transcripts and recommendations from chosen references using the online portal. Applications must be completed and submitted by April 1. Students and parents may contact CRCF Database and Donor Services Manager at taylor@cattfoundation.org or 716-301-2723.

I’m looking forward to an extended winter season (Thanks Punxsutawney Phil!) and the upcoming President’s Day long weekend at the end of next week! It’s great that President’s Day coincides with Valentine’s Day, leaving no room for excuse not to take the time to

pamper yourself and the ones that you love. We have some insightful information about the romantic Valentine’s holiday on the cover this week, as well as of our neighboring furry friend Phil.

The weekend upon us is staged to be a good one as well with Super Bowl Sunday taking the stage. Whether you’re a Kansas City Chiefs or (cough, cough) a Tom Brady fan, Super Bowl Sunday is a day to celebrate! And don’t forget the best part of the game on Sunday – THE COMMERCIALS! Speaking of commercials, The Villager group offers a one-stop media shop for all your advertising needs (shameless plug). If you are looking to get your name in clients’ hands, please feel free to drop me a line at info@thevillagerny.com. Until next week, enjoy the read and the big game!… JCZ

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February 4 - February 10, 2021 ~ The Villager ~ ~ The Villager ~ February 4 - February 10, 2021 Page 5

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Holiday Valley Patrol Spotlight:Don Meyer, 27 Years On the Ski Patrol

Holiday Valley Weekly Update:New Yodeler Lift: COMING SOON

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By TraVis WiDgEr anD Dan BaLkin

Our HoliMont Snowsports Director, Travis Widger, is co-author of this week’s column. Travis is the fourth generation of Widgers skiing in Ellicottville. Great grandfather Jack helped clear Ellicottville’s original ski slope, Greer Hill. His grandfather Pete Widger was the Director of the Holiday Valley Ski School and long-time GM at HoliMont. At one time, Travis’s dad Mike Widger ran the Racing Program at Holiday Valley, and Travis’s cousin Jack Widger was the Race Director at HoliMont. As you might surmise from such a storied skiing history, running into a member of the Widger clan at Tops and asking about skiing is akin to someone bumping into DaVinci in Renaissance era Rome and saying “Leonardo, how’s it going with those paintings?” Skiing runs in the Widger family’s veins. Travis came up with the idea for an article about how to teach toddlers how to ski. This is not a theoretical exercise for Travis. He and his wife Laura

By hEaThEr canTiE “I was skiing with a friend and they mentioned they were going to do it, and I decided to give it a try,” said Don Meyer of his decision 27 years ago to join Holiday Valley Safety Patrol. “Plus, my son was just about run over by a skier when he was five, so that prompted me to go in that direction.” His son made it through the near miss and became a HV ski instructor while he was going to the University at Buffalo. Don relocated from Connecticut to work in Olean at Dresser-Rand, and stayed there for 43 years before retiring in May. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and then got another in Information Technology. “I graduated to the office eight or ten years ago. I take care of the computers,” he said. “We were writing things down, like when we come and go, and then putting it into an Excel spreadsheet.” So, Don used his IT knowledge, wrote a program to keep track of all things Safety Patrol. “There

are living it with their young ski family of Luty (2), Finn (4), and Jack (6). Travis had great insights about the entire ski experience for tots, not just how to get them turning. The ski experience starts at home: The first pair of skis Travis acquired for his kids were hand-me-downs from LL Bean. They were simple plastic skis with a single strap on each ski that snow boots could slide under to loosely secure the toddler to the skis. These skis familiarize kids with the greatest of humankind’s inventions – snow skis. The kids were set loose to clomp around the house and the snowy back yard. Travis then acquired real (teeny tiny) ski boots for his kids and just let them wear them around in the house. With these experiences, kids feel more at ease when they come to the ski area with real equipment for the first time. What age to start at the ski area? Travis: “If they can walk, they can ski. Don’t give the kids too many options – just go skiing. Even if it’s just one run, make it happen.” At first, you can start by just

is a computer in the office and each patroller will log in and log out and it spits out a report. The computer program keeps tracks of their lockers, their coats, the National Ski Patrol training requirements they have to complete, and the shifts they work at the cook-outs. And HV gets a benefit from better record keeping with a reduction in insurance!” Safety Patrol has been using his program since 2007. “I make the schedule of everyone’s shifts and the program tracks when they

holding the kids between your legs. The idea is to familiarize the kids with the experience of sliding on skis. Travis: “For the first experience, pick the day – the day matters – do it on a day when the sun shines.” Travis is obviously saying to make sure you have all the positive factors in play to turn your kids onto skiing. Travis: “Give the kids some leeway, when they’re done, they’re done.” The next part was also great, a philosophy of life, not just skiing. Travis: “Let them struggle – put on their own boots and ski clothes, carry their own skis, get up on their own.” Music to Travis’s ears: “Let me do it on my own dad.” Nice. Travis said to forget about teaching. Have the kids try to model what you do (obviously skiing in a wedge, or what we call a “pizza” with the kids at first, with the toes pointed in and the heels splayed out). Travis also said, “Priority Number 1 – just have fun!” Travis recalled that his dad would say to him, “Look at the bear on this side of the woods, look at the deer on the other side of the woods.” Kids will turn their skis in the direction they are looking. Travis also said you can say to kids, “follow your mom, follow your grandpa” – anything to make them turn. In the picture, Travis is skiing with two aspiring expert skiers, his daughter Luty (2) and family friend Easton Mcgee (3). They are using an ingenious device built by HoliMont expert instructor Mark Vivian off a design introduced to Snowsports by the Ulsrud family. Travis likes devices that operate from the waist down for kids because they promote more natural balance. Other devices one can purchase include the “Edgie Wedgie” which helps kids control their ski tips and a vest that slips over a toddler’s ski jacket with a strap to help a parent or instructor get them on and off chairlifts. Have fun – let the tots roam and ramble!

are supposed to be there,” said Don, who said that he just isn’t bribable for prime patrol shifts. “This year we are trying to spread the computer program to Ski Patrol as well.” Holiday Valley has had to make some adjustments for this season. “We need to make allowances for different things this year. We’re a lot laxer about making your shifts because we have to be,” he said. “On Sunday nights, we have eight people

on the roster, but right now two are out on medical issues, and then there are people who have to quarantine. We are running things, and we do what we can do with what we have available.” Things have changed quite a bit since he began. “Safety is a whole different animal than when I started. Back then, it was about enforcement of policies. We’ve morphed more into a service organization where education is the focus,” Don said. “A lot of people with that rigid mentality are now retired, so most of the people we have now know that it’s a service agency.” He is also part of the training program. “One

focus is how we want to approach a customer these days. We give them scenarios about different situations and talk about how to handle it. But no matter how many we do, they will find something new while they are out there! You can never anticipate everything. We hope to teach them that there are a set of rules, but no black and white,” he said. “You have to look at the situation you’re in and make decisions. We want to give them the tools to handle that. The office is there as a back-up. And we have a lot of years of experience!” Since retiring, Don has kept busy skiing in the winter with his wife and two sons - when they are in town and able to go - and biking in the summer, logging 1,000 miles last year. He is on the Olean Food Pantry Board of Directors

and is writing a new database for them to track their clients. “I’m in demand!” he said. “But Safety Patrol takes a lot of time – between training, and shifts and meetings. I am the NSP representative so have to keep that roster up to date.” Safety Patrol also takes care of lost and found, and stolen equipment. “Lost and found is the big thing,” Don said. “Most of my night is handling lost and found. Someone might lose a phone or lose their keys, or they left their skis somewhere and want us to check on them. They put their phone in their pocket and don’t zip it and next thing you know; it ends up in the snow somewhere. Hopefully we find it before the groomers do!” Mostly, Don wants people to know that they’re there to help. “Don’t fear the yellow jackets!”

weekLy COLUmN By BROOke SPaIzCHeR

As most of us know, Holiday Valley is constantly updating and keeping up with the times. Did you know this spring, a new high-speed chair is coming to the hill!? Yodeler is going to getting a completely new face “lift,” if you know what I mean! I took some time to talk with Holiday Valley’s, Jane Eshbaugh and Jim Curits, to learn more about the upcoming project that will begin after the winter ski season and brings us into spring. “This summer is going to be big; we are going to install a new Doppelmayr High Speed Detachable Lift at Yodeler. We are one of a few ski areas in the country that installs all our own lifts. It is a huge benefit because when we are finished installing it, we will know that lift inside and out. We have to remove the current Yodeler lift and get it ready to ship to the new buyer. We have to get the slope ready and regraded for new foundations for the new lift. We are changing the locations for loading and unloading for the new lift, it will load where the bottom lift hose is now and unload where the Champagne mountain warming hut is now. The warming hut will be moved to a new location. Along with the new lift, we must do all the normal maintenance on lifts, snowmaking, slope lighting, mowing slopes, grooming equipment, just to name a few.

We will be building two new lift houses and dealing with any electrical infrastructure that must be changed. It is going to be an extremely busy off season that starts the day we close!” Curtis explained. Jane continued to explain the importance of a new lift and how the Valley comes to the idea of purchasing and assembling one. The Villager (V): What makes it necessary for a new lift? Jane Eshbaugh (JE): It will be a better experience for the customer with faster ride times and fewer stops. Yodeler is one of our slowest traveling lifts except for Creekside, the beginner lift.(V): Who is behind the planning of putting in a new lift?(JE): It is a group effort from the Board of Directors, Holiday Management Team and Mountain Operations(V): It was mentioned that Holiday Valley is one of the few ski areas that installs their own lifts, why is this? (JE): It saves money and when you have an experienced staff it makes perfect sense. (V): What training goes into learning how to do this? (JE): It is more of “on the job” training; we have always installed all of our lifts and have a very experienced crew and continue to teach the younger team members.(V): Do you strictly use all Holiday Valley manpower, or do you have to contract out to local builders as well?

(JE): We will use local contractors for the concrete work, moving the Champagne Warming Hut, the construction of the new Lift Houses, site work, trees and grading and the crane company.(V): What are pros/cons of having your very own team build the lift? (JE): The biggest Pro is once our crew installs the new lift, they will know every part of that lift and its helps with the maintenance of the lift.(V): Are there other lifts or lift changes happening this spring for the upcoming 2021-2022 winter season? (JE): We are at the planning stages of possibly adding 10 bike carriers to the Spruce Lift for summer weekend operations. So, mountain bikers can buy a lift pass to load their bikes on the lift, then get off at the top of Spruce to ride the trails on the ridge line.(V): How do you think this new lift is going to benefit the upcoming winter seasons? (JE): It will help reduce the number of stops for beginners because it will load like Mardi Gras, Tannenbaum, and Morning Star (the other high-speed quads) at a slower speed thus making it easier to get on the lift. It is pretty exciting to see all the changes constantly happening at Holiday Valley. Stay tuned to the website (www.holidayvalley.com) and their social media accounts for updates of the upcoming project!

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SPCA Receives DonationSPCA of Cattaraugus County Auctioned Off Piece of Bills Art

OLEAN – The SPCA of Cattaraugus County has just closed their holiday store, Pawtique in the Olean Center Mall. It was a shop of a wide variety of items with all sales benefiting the animal shelter. Sheryl Anderson, a volunteer at SPCA had donated many items to the store. One in particular was a framed art piece towering height of 4’x5’ – it hung in the Anderson’s daughter’s bedroom for years. This item just wouldn’t sell. Sheryl, a huge Buffalo Bills fan as well as an avid painter/crafter, decided to create a Bills painted art piece. Sheryl connected with the

Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss ways of selling this item. A silent auction was the best route. It was placed on the Chamber’s Facebook site right before Christmas with it ending (the auction) on New Year’s Eve. Many bids were turned in such as a bid for $34 in honor of Bills Thurman Thomas. However, the winning bid that came in and was accepted was $251 from Ray and Jeanne Diffenderfer. Jeanne and Ray Diffenderfer, Olean residents, are big Buffalo Bills fans AND huge supporters of the SPCA – so it was a double win for

all! The funds donated from the Diffenderfers will to go towards the SPCA medical funds. Although the physical store has closed, their online store (https://spcapawtique.com/) continues to sell items with pick up options for purchases. GOACC also has some Buffalo Bills spirit items from the SPCA to sell at its office on North Union Street. Jason Berube, SPCA Shelter manager stated, “We thank all of our volunteers at the Pawtique and all you customers who continue to support the shelter. Sheryl and Galvin (Sheryl’s husband) are our jack of all trades volunteers – Galvin did the carpentry work on the Bills piece with Sheryl doing the draw/paint of it.” The SPCA has several ways that community folks can help: fostering – take animals into your home and provide them with nurturing and a comfy home until they get adopted; volunteering – anything from dog walking, facility cleaning, painting, grooming, etc.; donating – donations and fundraisers account for approximately 70% of their yearly income. For more information on the SPCA, please call Jason at 716-372-8492 or Sheryl at 716-244-1809. The SPCA In Cattaraugus County, is a private, non-profit, no-kill charity animal shelter, and was founded in 1905. They are dedicated to saving the lives of animals, and providing adoption services for homeless and neglected animals.

L to R: Jason Berube, Ray Diffenderfer, Sheryl Anderson (kneeling), Jeanne Diffenderfer and Galvin Anderson

We Support Local BusinessesDon’t forget to visit our local artisan shops

Career Exploration ProgramCABOCES Launches New Program Website for Students

Olean, NY – February 1, 2021 - Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES (CA BOCES) has announced a new program, with accompanying website, to help middle and high school students explore career options in technical fields – CTE Career Exploration. The new program and website provide a comprehensive look at career exploration and, with support of their home school guidance counselor, will allow students to take an interest assessment, explore career clusters, and view a variety of videos pertaining to program options at CA BOCES CTE Centers in Belmont, Ellicottville, and Olean. CA BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Outreach Coordinator, Thomasine Graf, said that the program idea was a direct result of closures due to COVID-19. “In a normal year, students are able to visit our centers, speak to our instructors, and get a

good feel for what each of our CTE programs looks like – COVID-19 changed that,” she said. “CTE Career Exploration allows students to explore career options and confidently decide if they want to embark on a CTE education as a part of their high school experience without physically entering a center or classroom.” In addition to the career exploration assessments, students will also have access to a professional discussion board with local professionals in the career fields associated with their preferences. “We are so fortunate to have both CTE alumni and volunteers from local community organizations, in a variety of fields, ready and willing to speak with our youth,” Graf said. “These conversations will be invaluable to students as they decide the potential paths they may want to pursue. We are grateful to both Dream It Do It and the Greater Olean Area Chamber of

Commerce for collaborating with us in gathering our local professionals for this venture.” Launched last week for sophomores at local school districts, participation will begin in the near future. When in-person tours resume, the website will be used for a virtual experience for students unable to visit the CTE centers. As the regional leader in education services, CA BOCES offers state-of-the-art programs for learners of all ages and abilities as well as cost-effective shared services for 22 component school districts. CA BOCES empowers students to achieve their maximum potential by offering a wide variety of innovative programs and support that include special education, career and technical education, adult and continuing education, technology support, and instructional support services. To learn more, visit: www.caboces.org.

New Officer Added to the ForceJamestown Police Department Adds Domestic Violence Comfort Dog to Team

The Jamestown Police Department is excited to announce the newest member of the force, Hope, an 8 week-old yellow lab, will serve as the department’s first comfort dog. Dogs can help victims of domestic violence and other traumatic events in the therapeutic process. Officer Emma Ward, JPD’s Domestic Violence Officer, said, “I am so excited to get Hope started. I know she will be a huge asset in our

work here. The connection between dogs and people is so great that in really difficult moments, Hope will be able to bring a sense of comfort to those who’ve experienced trauma.” Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety Tim Jackson said of Hope, “Seeing how other departments successfully utilized therapy dogs led to us to trying to start a similar program here. The connection between dogs

and people are so great and we are excited to have Hope available to the community with Officer Ward. Mayor Eddie Sundquist stated: “I am thrilled to have Hope join the City and know she will do a great job in her role comforting those who have been through so much. We are excited to introduce her to the community through social media, and events once we get out of the pandemic.”

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February 4 - February 10, 2021 ~ The Villager ~ ~ The Villager ~ February 4 - February 10, 2021

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Nominate your favorite small business owner. (One entry per person please) and if your recommendation is chosen, we will feature that small business owner in a special feature article on the cover of our publication. Deadline for this month is February 26th. All nominations can be made via e-mail to info@thevillagerny.com or to jessica@thevillagerny.com or by calling into the office at 716-699-2058. Vote and support your favorite businesses today!!

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Napoleon and Josephine (well, yes, she did have a tryst with Hippolyte on the side, but .. you know … love) 1800’s; In-for-the-long-haul, LGBTQ pioneers Stein and Toklas 1907-1946; Bonnie and Clyde 1930-1934 (short-lived but a wild ride); Cash and Carter 1968-2003 (turbulent but lasting). As you can figure out, love has EVERYTHING to do with it! But, did you know that love just isn’t just simply “love.” There are 8 types of love described in, of all places, FTD (Florists’ Transworld Delivery) by design (1/16/20): Philia (friends, family), Pragma (enduring love), Storge (familiar-parental/child love), Eros (romantic, hormonal love), Ludus (playful, flirtatious love), Mania (obsessive love – avoid this one), Philautia (self-love, appreciation) and Agape (selfless, unconditional love). Just as there are all kinds of love, there are many ways to celebrate love. You’ve got a week or more to make a plan.

Consider this article your little planning helper. Roses have special meaning. Get as many as you have years or months together and secretly scatter them all around, making a scavenger hunt out of it. It’s more interesting than just a bunch of roses in a vase to say, “be mine.” Of course, a tiny Sweetheart Conversation heart can say that too, and you can spend your dollars on a box of Watson’s chocolates, a fine dinner or a night/weekend at a B and B with a lot of off-line cuddle time. Yes, please, whatever you do, turn your phones off! Here’s a short list that you still have time to plan for: Kids would love to explore a new town or the one you are in, on foot, bike or snowshoes. Make a reservation at a museum, or tour one virtually together. Louvre, anyone? Volunteer together or stay in and bake bread, make fondue or create a romantic French-themed dinner à deux. Practice saying, “T’es l’amour de ma vie,” meaning, “You are the love of my life.” With so many wonderful restaurants in town, try to reserve for a round robin: have drinks in one, appetizers in another, salad,

entrée, coffee and dessert, etc. Might be difficult in these Covid times but imagine how impressed your love interest would be if you pulled it off! Raid a closet, grab her/his dress up clothes, then kidnap and blindfold your person and deliver them to a spa, even in sweats or jammies, and have them pampered, head to toe; then pick them up and take them out for a wonderful evening. I had this done for me 28 years ago and the memory still brings a grin to my face and a tug to my heart. Make a personalized card, send a new virtual card every day until the 14th, take a painting, welding (or whatever) class together; spend a day outdoors: ski, hike, snowshoe, ice skate, etc.; make a bonfire and have wine, s’mores and popcorn while snuggling in a sleeping bag under the stars, then breakfast in bed the following morning. Play a board game, give mutual massages, share your dreams/vision, sing romantic duets… propose? And finally, if you are so inclined, it’s a perfect day to go to EARS or the SPCA and rescue an older dog, or kitty or two. Whatever you do, we hope you all feel the love on Valentine’s Day!

Frozen Feet Around Cassadaga Lake2nd Annual 50K, Part of Winter Festival this Saturday, Feb. 6 in Cassadaga

Chautauqua Business Spotlight: GenresPop-Up Book Shop in Westfield Evolves to Permanent Store in YWCA

By JuDy shuLEr

It started as a booth selling books by local authors at Westfield farmers’ market, morphed into an indoor pop-up bookshop, outlived pop-up status and evolved into Genres Bookshop. Westfield’s newest bookshop offers gently used books in all genres and continues to showcase the work of local authors. Genres found its home in the Westfield YWCA, 58 S. Portage St. “The people at the Y have been very supportive and happy to have us there,” says author Shannon Reber, driving force behind the bookshop. “The fact that the Y was the location of the first library in Westfield makes it feel like the perfect place to

be.” She is staffing it with Ryan Bennett. “Ryan is one of my best friends and has worked with me through the whole process, helping me set the shop up, load books, rearrange the shop several times, and now we’re inventorying the shop.” Bennett came up with the bookshop’s name of Genres. Donations of books are always welcome, she says. They have a wide variety of books, and there are no discernible trends in what people are seeking. “People never buy what you expect them to buy.” “I had one woman come in last month who picked up at least five different books in the non-fiction section and tell me that she knew the person

in each book! Knowing one person would have been pretty amazing.” Genres’ on-line presence is via Facebook, at BookshopInWestfieldNY. “If you contact us through Facebook, we’re happy to even make deliveries, if you’re in the area.” Reber made her first on-line sale, a 50th anniversary edition of The Hobbit, through a Facebook posting of the shop on What’s Happening in Westfield. A huge J.R.R. Tolkien fan, the buyer “saw the picture and couldn’t resist.” Photographs by Karin Cockram on bookshop walls are for sale, along with a few other items. “But we’re a bookshop. My primary focus will always be on books.” Reber credits the idea for the bookshop to a friend, Julie Travis, owner of Jack’s Barcelona Drive-in. “I presented the idea to the local authors whose books I was already selling at the Westfield Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market during the summer and they wholeheartedly agreed. Once Ryan gave me the idea to also sell used books, everything started falling into place.” Local authors currently represented in the shop include Charles Freedom Long, Karin Cockram, Judy Shuler (yours truly), Edward McClanahan, Melinda Zook, Write Now Writers’ Group, Deb Madar, and Reber. Other local authors are invited to contact her. “We’re always open to adding more. So please, if you’re a local author, contact us and we’ll sell your books in the shop.” Reber is among the most prolific of writers. “I’ve honestly lost count of how many books I’ve published. I

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THINK I’m working on my 54th title but I’m not sure at all. I write fantasy. I take myths and legends and weave them into stories about life, death, and everything in between.

In my opinion, books are an escape from reality, so I offer the best escape I can come up with.”She doesn’t think post-COVID will change how they do things “other than that (when COVID is no longer an issue) we will be mask free and able to hug the people who buy our books. I’m

running things but it’s not just my shop. Whatever our group decides they’re up for, I’d love to try it.” Genres’ winter hours are Saturday, 11am-4pm.; the first Sunday of the month, noon−3pm; the third Thursday of the month, 4-7pm and by appointment through Facebook.

By kaTE BarTLETT

Cassadaga will be hosting the 2nd annual 50K as part of the Winter Festival on Saturday February 6th. This fun, no frills ultra-running event invites you to walk or run the 5K loop around beautiful lower Cassadaga lake up to 10 times, whatever you feel like doing on that day. There is no cut off times and entrance is only $10. Wilson Endurance Sports generously donates 100% of the proceeds directly to the Cassadaga Volunteer Fire Department and Fire Police. “They do so much for us all year that we love this opportunity to give back”, says Coach Mike Wilson. He typically runs one lap around the lake and then comes back to serve up pancakes until the last runner finishes. Don’t worry about getting cold, the warming hut has coffee and hot chocolate all day, whether you stop to take a break, nap, or relax after completing all your laps. Not many people complete the full 3.1-mile route, but it attracts athletes from all over the state.

The three finishers of the first 50K in 2020; Mark Desaulniers of Lily Dale, Milo Davis of NYC, and Bradley Poole of Little Valley with Coach Mark Wilson of Wilson Endurance Sports.

Last years finishers included ultra-endurance athletes from New York City. The event really is about getting out, having fun, being active, and enjoying the beauty of winter in lovely Cassadaga. The Villager spoke with Mike’s wife Tonia Wilson of Wilson Endurance Sports about this event: V: What was your inspiration behind it and how did you get involved? T: Wilson Endurance Sports started our events in Cassadaga in 2017 with the Southern Tier Tri Club Summer Tri Series. We fell in love with Cassadaga; grew from those first 4 events of the summer tri series, added a Kids Triathlon, a Kayak/Bike/Run Triathlon, and then last year added CassadagaMan which is the distance of a half ironman race. V: How many runners do you typically have? T: Last year, our first year, we had 65 runners. Our “winner” (it’s not really a race) of the full 50K was a young man that flew in from New York City the night before and then flew home the morning after

the event. V: What is special about this race? T: The fact that it’s fully a fundraiser as well as the option for anyone entering to do a 5K up to the 50K. There is no time limit. It a very “no-frills” event, no timing, no planned finisher medals. We wait all day for the last runners to finish. We make pancakes and offer Southern Tier Brewing Company brews. It is also the kick off event for the Cassadaga Winter Festival. V: What areas of the village does the route highlight? T: The roadways that circle the lake are a perfect 5K, 3.1 miles. So, most of the way you can see Cassadaga Lake. V: How is running different in the winter than during the summer months? T: Runners usually run much slower in the cold due to the contracting effect of their muscles in the cold weather. Dehydration is also very common in the winter due to the athletes not realizing how much they are exerting and sweating in the cold. Also, footing is quite different, as you have to deal with slush, ice, black ice, etc. so safety and speed are affected. V: What do you enjoy about it? T: The beauty of the surrounding nature in the winter is completely different than the same course in the summer. The Village of Cassadaga is such a fabulous place all four seasons. We loved this event so much in February 2020 that we added the Frickin’ Hot 50K in August. Same route, same ideas just a whole lot hotter! For more information on parking, race route, directions and how to register visit https://coachmarkwilson.com

2021 Teacher Fellowship WeekRobert H. Jackson Center Now Accepting Applictions Until February 15th

JAMESTOWN, NY–The Robert H. Jackson Center is calling all educators to design creative ways to educate students on the legacy of Robert H. Jackson. For the week of July 19-23, 2021, instructors will work with the Jackson Center Archives and local institutions to create meaningful and engaging educational experiences through the relevance of Justice Jackson’s body of work. Participants will be encouraged to empower and inspire students to discuss and reflect on the universal principles of equality, fairness, and justice. “2020 gave us the opportunity to test-drive our Teacher Fellow program in a hybrid format,” says Jackson Center President Kristan McMahon. “We’re excited to offer the fellowship week this year with options for in-person or virtual participation, expanding this program to educators nationally.” To be accepted into the program, educators must demonstrate excellence in the classroom and participation in community and professional organizations, as well as knowledge of the importance of Justice Jackson and his contributions to issues of civil liberty. The ‘immersion week’ is under the direction of the Jackson Center educational advisor, Michael Baronich. Fellows will be introduced to the Center’s archival collection of Jackson material, and lectures on Jackson’s relevance to the academic disciplines in which the teachers specialize. During the week, Fellows will develop their educational projects using research material available at the Center, through the Library of Congress, and various other resources. The Jackson Center

also invites leading scholars to speak with the Fellows to supplement their research. Fellows will have access to relevant programs and seminars provided by nearby Chautauqua Institution. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a $1,000 stipend, half at the conclusion of the Fellowship Week (Friday, July 23, 2021) and the remainder tied to providing feedback on the implementation of the developed educational resources. Educators will be asked to implement Jackson-related resources into their school settings during the 2021-2022 school year and provide a detailed reflection on its success. The Center will integrate the materials created on its website to share with educators across the world, and the projects will be available for use in schools, colleges, communities, or professional organizations. All work produced by the Fellows will become the property of the Robert H. Jackson Center.

Any certified elementary or secondary level educator, including building and district administrators, with at least three years of classroom experience, and who are scheduled to teach or administrate during the 2021-2022 school year are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates must submit a letter of interest, resume, and a short essay responding to one of these prompts: List and discuss two units of study in which the life and accomplishments of Robert H. Jackson can be integrated into your current curriculum. In what ways could your local community benefit from Robert H. Jackson’s legacy? Submit applications to i n f o @ r o b e r t h j a c k s o n .org. Applications must be submitted by close of business Monday, February 15, 2021. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Additional information on the application process can be found at https://www.roberthjackson.org/teacher-fellows/.

(From L to R) Michael Baronich, RHJC Educational Advisor, 2020 Teacher Fellows Ryan Barrett, Amy Thompson, Robert Fenster, Anne Walker (on screen), and RHJC President Kristan McMahon.

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website crashed from all the activity. Those watching online were treated to plenty of entertainment, including a video montage of all the club members and celebrity guest video appearances, such as Blake Shelton. And of course the star of the show was present, declaring an extended winter yet again. While the country watches Phil one day a year, being a member of The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is a year-round commitment. Bill Deeley was the President of the Inner Circle for 11 years before retiring in 2020. Before that, he worked as Phil’s handler for 16 years.“[I was] the guy who took care of him, cleaned up after him,” Deeley said. “The guy who pulled him out of the stump that morning and held

him aloft for the world to see.” Originally invited to the Inner Circle in 1986, Deeley recalled a time when Groundhog’s Day was a much more hyperlocal event. “What happened was we were a Tristate ceremony here until the movie hit in 1993,” Deeley explained. “And with that, it just went international, it was very popular, the movie itself overseas. We had a couple of weekends, and then off to the races, I mean we were just overwhelmed.” As Deeley mentioned, the film kick-started a growth for both the town of Punxsutawney and the Groundhog Club. The small Pennsylvanian town has grown into a multi-season tourist area, and the Club has enjoyed parades, school presentations, and TV show appearances. “I’ve done The Oprah Winfrey Show, ‘Small Towns That Became Famous’, I did that with her,” Deeley said. “I met Bill Murray. I met Harold Ramis, the guy who basically wrote the movie Groundhog

Day. One thing I did with Bill Murray that I totally regret today – he and I were there and I gave him my top hat to wear. And he was in a ski coat, ballcap, and I took his ball cap. And there I was with tuxedo, Bill Murray’s baseball cap on when he came to visit us here and just observe how we how we would do things. And one of the dumbest things I ever did, at the end of the day I gave back the ballcap he gave me back my top hat. I could have had the Bill Murray’s baseball cap if I was really truly thinking!” Hopefully next Mardi Gras in Ellicottville, we can welcome back The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club as a parade float once again. Until then, take a trip down to Punxsutawney to meet the locals and enjoy everything else the town has to offer, like distilleries, historical sights, and outdoor activity. Of course, it might be a good idea to wait until our six more weeks of winter are up.

sTOry frOM cOVEr

PenguinPenguin Paddle to 2021. It’s just a little different this year. The Villager got the chance to speak to Bill Bredenberg in regards to the newly modified event. The Villager (V): How did you decide to move forward with the Penguin Paddle this year? Bill (B): “With the COVID social distancing and crowd gathering restrictions, we reimagined the Penguin Paddle to be a week-long online event running Saturday, February 20 – 27, 2021 at LounsburyAdaptive.org. The traditional Raffle and Silent Auction will move forward as in years’ past, only virtually. The beloved Penguin Slide has been modified this year with a socially distant and family-friendly “Penguin Challenge.” V: What precautions will you be taking against Covid-19? B: “The annual event is now a virtual fundraiser, rather than in-person. We encourage our supporters to engage with us on social media to show their support and build awareness of the virtual 2021 Penguin

Paddle.” V: Do you feel that this event will be good for the community to participate in? B: “Absolutely. While the Penguin Paddle is virtual this year, the event relies completely on community participation to make it successful. As always, our generous local merchants have donated raffle prizes and auction items. We invite the local and Western New York communities to get involved by bidding on items such as Groomer Rides, Gift baskets, Ski Gear, Private Ski Lessons, Home Decor and more! Raffle prizes include a Holiday Valley season’s pass, high performance skis from The City Garage and $100 gift card to Lowe’s Home Improvement. Children (and those who are a child at heart), are encouraged to join the Penguin Challenge on social media.” V: Do you have any other events in the works? B: “Veterans Ski Day.” V: Anything else to add? B: “The money raised from the Penguin Paddle finances scholarships, specialized adaptive equipment for sit-down and stand-up skiers as well as training and certification to improve the skills of our pool of 100% volunteer

ski instructors. This year has been challenging for everyone involved and there is no doubt that we have had to adapt our fundraising to match the changing climate of the pandemic. We would like to thank Holiday Valley for their amazing amount of support in making this virtual event possible.” Here’s how to do the Penguin Challenge: 1. Make like a penguin and slide down a hill, slide, snow, or sand. Be creative and have fun! 2. Take a picture, share it on social media with #LASP #penguinpaddle #penguinchallenge. Tag “@LounsburyAdaptive” on Facebook & Instagram 3. Make a Penguin Challenge donation on the Lounsbury site or send a check to: Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program, Holiday Valley Resort, PO Box 370, Ellicottville, NY 14731 Follow @LounsburyAdaptive on Facebook and Instagram for more information and updates. Thank you, Bill, for taking the time to speak with us and thank you to both Holiday Valley and the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program for helping keep the winter season fun for the community during this ongoing situation.

“Medieval to Metal” Exhibit

Winter Wonderland 2021

Buffalo Museum of Science Welcomes Traveling Exhibit, February 13th

Ice Farm Presents at Hamburg Fairgrounds, Starting February 11th

Opening to the public February 13, 2021! Tickets on sale now at sciencebuff.org! We are excited to announce the Buffalo Museum of Science will welcome a new traveling exhibition on February 13! Medieval To Metal: The Art & Evolution Of The GUITAR celebrates the technological advancements

Coming to the Hamburg Fairgrounds for 5 days only, The Ice Farm presents I.S.M. ( Winter Wonderland ) an all new drive thru display incorporating 150,000 pounds of crystal clear ice blocks. Join us starting February 11 from 5-10pm. Over 90 lit individual hand

and artistic developments of the guitar. Developed by The National GUITAR Museum, the exhibition features forty instruments, ranging from the rare and antique to the wildly popular and innovative. Exhibit entry is included with Museum Admission and free for Members. Upon the exhibition’s opening we will expand our operating hours to

carved ice sculptures! Some of the best ice sculptors in the world are coming to sculpt these amazing larger than life displays that will celebrate Valentine’s Day, various classic sculpture styles and a tribute to our first responders. We invite you & your family to enjoy this drive thru

five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday. To learn more about the newest exhibit visiting WNY and to reserve your tickets, visit https://www.sciencebuff.org/medievaltometal. While operating at 25% capacity we will continue to require admission to be reserved in advance online or by calling 716.896.5200.

attraction from the safety of your car. Enter at the main gate on South Park Avenue! NOTE: We are limiting tickets available for each night to try to keep the lines reasonable. Reminder No Busses or Larger Group Vans. Only 1 ticket needed per vehicle. Due to COVID-19 this is a drive thru experience only. Please make sure everyone uses the restroom before getting in line, as we do not want to interrupt the flow of traffic to allow cars to exit. Thanks so much for helping us make this event a success. All Sales Are Final / No Refund Unless Event is Cancelled / We Plan to Move Forward Rain or Shine

Micheal A. Sirianni HonoredChautauqua Sports Hall of Fame Inductee #4

Following one’s father into his profession is one thing. Following one’s father into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame is quite another. Micheal A. Sirianni joins his father, Fran, in the Hall of Honor as an inductee of the CSHOF’s Class of 2021. Born in 1972, Mike Sirianni attended Southwestern Central School where his dad was a successful and well-respected coach. The Fran Sirianni Athletic Complex was dedicated at the Hunt Road School in 2015. Mike Sirianni earned 4 varsity letters in track and field, 3 letters in basketball and 2 letters in football as a Trojan. Following his 1990 graduation from SWCS, he enrolled at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. He was a 3-year starter at wide-receiver for the Purple Raiders including being a member of the 1993 NCAA Division III National Championship squad led by legendary MUC coach Larry Kehres. Sirianni was a two-time Ohio Athletic Conference All-Star player. He also was a four-year member of the Mount Union track and field teams, both outdoors and indoors. He was a four-time Ohio Athletic Conference Triple Jump Champion as he won that event in ‘93 and ‘94, both outdoors and indoors.

After graduating from Mount Union in 1994, he went to Ithaca College to earn a Master’s Degree. At Ithaca, Mike had his first taste of being a coach, like his father, when he served as a graduate assistant in the Bombers’ football program. He next returned to Mount Union as an assistant to his former coach, Kehres, in 1996 and 1997. The Purple Raiders were NCAA Division 3 National Champions both years. Sirianni then moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania where he served as offensive coordination at Wilkes University in 1998. Washington & Jefferson College then offered the offense coordinator and quarterbacks coach position to Mike. He worked in the role for the Presidents from 1999-2002. When W&J head football coach, John Banaszak, left after the 1992 season, Sirianni was hired to replace the former Pittsburgh Steeler great beginning in the 1993 season – he’s still there. His record in 17 years is 156-36. His spectacular 81% winning percentage ranks fifth among all active NCAA football coaches with at least 10 years of experience. His teams have won 9 Presidents Athletic Conference

titles and he has been named PAC Coach of the Year 7 times. In 2012, D3football.com selected Mike as South Coach of the Year and in 2017 the American Football Coaches Association named him Region 2 Coach of the Year. Not only did Mike follow his father Fran into coaching, so did his two younger brothers. Jay Sirianni won New York State Class C Football Championships for his alma mater Southwestern in 2008 and 2009. Nick Sirianni has been a coach in the National Football League since 2009. He was with the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts before taking his present position as the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. Michael A. Sirianni and his family reside in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.

Safe Paint N’ Fun EventAudubon Community Nature Center, February 17th, 5:30pm

Jamestown, N.Y. – Beginner to advanced artists are invited to enjoy a socially distant Paint n’ Fun Art Night at Audubon Community Nature Center on Wednesday, February 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Though the world is sleepy, it is still beautiful. As winter pulls us deep into reflection, join instructor Emily Rechin for a delightful evening. Rechin was a seasonal nature educator at Audubon and has experience painting with all mediums. She will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create your very own acrylic painting as well as information on the nature subject to be painted. Audubon’s COVID-19 safety precautions require face coverings for all visitors ages 3 and up for indoor programs. Since COVID guidelines recommend no indoor dining, food and drinks are not permitted. Each person will be seated at their own table placed six feet from other participants. All materials will already be at the table.

You will want to wear clothes you would not mind getting paint on and to bring a face covering, as they will not be provided.Tuition for the class is $30, $22.50 for Nature Center members. All materials are provided. Enrollment is limited. Reservations are required by Friday, February 12. You can register by calling (716) 569-2345 during

business hours or going to AudubonCNC.org and clicking on “Register for Upcoming Programs.” Walk-ins may be accepted if there is room; call for availability after the deadline. Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren, Pa.

No experience is necessary to participate in a Socially Distant Paint ‘n’ Fun Art Night at Audubon Community Nature Center, Wednesday, February 17. Step-by-step instructions, information on the nature subject to be painted, and everything needed to create your own nature-inspired masterpiece will be provided.

“The Fan Connection” Virtual PremiereThe 1891 Fredonia Opera House Hosts, February 12th, 8:45pm

BUFFALO – After winning the Audience Award at the 2019 Buffalo International Film Festival (BIFF) and moving audiences to laughter and tears in both Buffalo and Pittsburgh, The Fan Connection launches its virtual run with the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center Feb. 12-25. The Fan Connection is an intimate look at life in Buffalo told through the lens

of three die-hard Sabres fans. Join the director, Mary Wall, and producer, Eric Wojtanik, for an opening night virtual Q&A at 8:45PM on Fri., Feb. 12, hosted by Rick Davis of the Opera House. “The 1891 Fredonia Opera House is a cultural landmark in the Southern Tier. I am thrilled that they have added the Opera House Screening Room to their program line-up and have included

The Fan Connection. I have missed the audience interaction at screenings and am very excited to engage with audiences during the Q&A,” said director Mary Wall. Tickets are $12 and are on sale through the third-party event site, Show&Tell. Dates and Times: Watch the film Feb. 12-25; join the Q&A at 8:45PM EST on Friday, Feb. 12.

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February 4 - February 10, 2021 ~ The Villager ~ ~ The Villager ~ February 4 - February 10, 2021

Beat on the Street:What was a Great Turning Point in Your Life?

Whether Outside or In, Ellicottville is the Place to Be In

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EVL ViLLagE Park: OPEn DaiLy, TiLL Dusk : ViLLagE Of ELLicOTTViLLE, ELLicOTTViLLE aLLEgany sTaTE Park: OPEn DaiLy : aLLEgany sTaTE Park, saLaManca

215 Broad Street, Salamanca NY 14779 • www.wgwefm.com • Sales/(716) 945-5801 • Requests/(716) 945-3124

Classic Hits with a Native Twist • Music, News & Community

Must Wear Face Mask.

Open Wed-Sat • Bar Opens at 4:30pm • Dinner Begins at 5pm • www.TheSilverFoxRestaurant.com • Call 716-699-4672 for Take Out Orders

Thursday Night is Date NightChoose a four course meal from our date night

menu including 2 glasses of wine! TWO CAN DINE FOR $46

23 Hughey Alley, Ellicottville NY

ellicottville’s

only steakhouse

By chaD nEaL

We as intelligent beings often ponder on our memories and how we’ve come to the point we currently are at in our lives. Like most stories we are told - there is a point where the perceived timeline turns for the better or worse depending on the tale or person. As one can look back at the way their life has

Pat M. - Moving away from my wild party friends.

Jillian V. - My first would be moving to Ellicottville at the age of 10 and being introduced to the sport of skiing. This was a HUGE turning point in my life.

Jeanine Z. - Moving to Ellicottville was also a huge turning point in my life. What a wonderful and supportive community.

Campbell D. - Meeting Twan and The Gobbler the same week that I moved into my first place fresh outta high school. “Soup” was born! A wild ride Ellicottville was!

Matt G - 100% when I broke my knee. The consequence of that changed how I approach a lot of things

taken shape there is a story whether boring or grandiose that is a turning point. Life does a 90-degree turn good or bad and that switch-up is now the fate behind the life lived in the present. Controlling the point of turn is often the wonderful happy ending story we all love to romanticize on. What was a great turning point in your life?

Send Us Your Snapshots of You Reading The Villager: info@thevillagerny.com

What’s Shakin’ in E’VL

Kara M. - Finally finding mental health treatment that works! Freedom from suicidal ideation and other grueling emotions my bipolar brings on.

Discover your unique personal history! Ellicottville Memorial Library has a new resource that uses technology to make tracing family trees easier. Ancestry Library Edition, a Web-based reference tool distributed by ProQuest, will allow you to start exploring your roots by searching a surname. Anyone can come into the library to dig into Ancestry Library Edition‘s millions of records — as far back as the 1400s.

Ancestry Library Edition

CDC Says Schools are Not Areas of High Covid Transmission

This Week in Health & Science: Back to School

sEE “schOOLs” Pg. 15

By: MOuThsayTOnguE

This has been a great year for winter weather and both ski areas have excellent conditions along with great cross-country. snow shoeing and snowmobiling at Allegheny State Park or the miles of single-track trails around the village. The shops and restaurants are bustling and there’s music in the air. Let’s see who’s playing where. Rafi’s starts the never-ending weekend with Randy the Guitarist from 4:30-8:30pm. Randy plays a folk/Rock/pop set of covers to accompany a magnificent Mediterranean menu that will delight. Balloons will host Michael Nowak from 6-9pm. Michael plays a rock/pop/alt/prog set of covers and welcomes requests. Thursday is also Burger and Brew night, any burger, any draft beer, $10. Villaggio continues their Save Our Music Series from 6-9pm. $60 per person or $200 for a table for four gets you a four-course dinner, one cocktail and a 3-hour music show. This week features Tui Osborne and Chris Maloney. They’ll play a multi genre set of covers while you dine on the southern tiers finest Italian cuisine. Reservations required, call 716-699-2199 or online at SAVEOURMUSIC.VILLAGGIOEVL.COM FRIDAY: Rafi’s is first up

By cara BirriTTiEri

Halfway through the school year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have come to the conclusion that it is safe for kids to return to the classroom. Here in Western New York, most students have had this option since the beginning of the school year, mostly using a hybrid model of attending every other day. School systems in our region worked diligently over last summer to put state and federal required protocols in place to keep students and teachers safe. Other districts across the country have followed the same guidelines, and according to the CDC report, these efforts are working to keep transmission inside schools minimal. The CDC report finds there has been barely any spread of COVID-19 inside schools that opened this fall for in-person learning. According to the JAMA Network report, “There has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission.” The report highlights several U.S. school districts. These school systems found cases of Covid-19 were more often contracted outside of school rather than inside. Eleven districts totaling over 90,000 students and staff in North Carolina, were open for in-person learning for nine weeks this fall and the CDC says, “During this time, within-school transmissions were very rare (32 infections acquired in schools; 773 c o m m u n i t y - a c q u i r e d infections) and there were no cases of student-to-staff transmission.” Despite these latest

again with Tui Osborne from 4:30-8:30pm. Tui plays a pop/reggae/alt set of covers while you dine. All the kebobs are delicious but the tenderloin is my favorite. Balloons joins the party with my buddy Owen Eichensehr from 6-9pm. Owen plays a folk/pop/roots/country set of covers and originals and tells some good anecdotes while you dine on a fine pub food menu. The mahi taco is my fave and a nice selection of craft beers. The Gin Mill joins the fun with Ron K fro 6-9pm. Ron is half of Two Guys Drinking Beer so, One Guy Drinking Beer. Ron plays a folk/pop/rock/country set of covers. If your hungry try the pot roast, homemade and there’s always 26 beers on tap to add to your après experience. SATURDAY: Rafi’s kicks it off again with Randy the Guitarist from 4:30-8:30pm. Randy will play some background music to enhance your dining experience. The Paki Platter is a great way to familiarize yourself with Pakistani food and it comes with several, in house made sauces, my favorite of which is the chutney. We’re back at Balloons with The Girls of Grosh from 6-9pm. These ladies are two of Buffalo’s finest singer/songwriter/musicians you could hope to hear. This gets

findings some districts remain completely closed to in-person learning. Buffalo public schools have opened to only a small group of students as of February 1st. Students in pre-K to 2nd grade, and high school seniors will now be attending a hybrid model. That decision was challenged by the Buffalo Teachers Federation, which filed a restraining order to block the February 1st limited opening claiming the schools were not safe enough. A New York State Supreme Court judge promptly denied the request. Teachers unions elsewhere have been more successful in keeping schools closed and forcing students and families into remote-only learning. In Chicago, the teachers union and school district are in the midst of tense negotiations following threats of a teacher strike. After more than 70 negotiating sessions, one of the main sticking points is a plan for teachers and staff to access the Covid-19 vaccine. Most states have no mandate around school openings leaving the decision to the local districts to best mitigate the virus’ spread. This local control, while expeditious in some places, leaves others subject to conflict and

my, if you can only see one show, recommendation. Monday is wing night at Balloons from 3-10pm. 50-cent wings and the Sabres on the flat screens. They have a lot of craft beers on tap and the bartenders can whip up one of those umbrella drinks if you want one. Monday is also Asian night at Finnerty’s from 4-10pm. Chef Freddie whips up some sushi and Asian specials and there’s a great selection of NYS craft beers to wash it down. It’s Eville’s only sports bar with lots of TV’s for watching. We end it all with a Gin Mill tradition. Wings and Wagner, Wednesday from 6-9pm. Joe Wagner has been holding down this gig for 35 years. He plays a folk/Americana/blues/country set of covers while you chow down on some 75 cent wings and wash them down with 26 beers on tap. All venues offer music for its medicinal and educational benefits incidental to their food and beverages. The village requires wearing masks and social distancing as per state regulations; your cooperation is appreciated. Get outdoors and enjoy this wonderful winter and come back year-round with your family and friends but wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, PLEASE, ALWAYS SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!! All you have to do is listen.

indecision regarding safety measures. According to Education Week, only four states, Iowa, Arkansas, Texas, and Florida, have executive orders for schools to be open for at least partial in-person learning. Seven months ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics came out strongly in favor of opening schools for in-person instruction for the current