If all goes according to plan, that long-anticipated wind farm could be going up next spring in the Town of Allegany.  But there are several “ifs” and question marks along the way to say at this point exactly what is going to happen.  As is so often the case, timing appears to be a key factor with regard to the actual construction of 29 wind turbines among the hilltops, all contained within the Town of Allegany.

On Monday, May 14^th, Allegany Wind LLC asked the Town of Allegany Planning Board for a one-year extension of their special use permit and site plan approval, two of the components necessary to keep the wind project moving.  The current permit expires in July.  The Planning Board decided to table the company’s request for possible action at their next meeting, on June 11^th.   Planning Board Chairman Frank DiFiore said the board is not necessarily obligated to grant a one-year extension, and that the length of time is up to the Planning Board.

One of the subjects to come up during the May 14^th meeting involved roads to be used by the wind company to gain access to the wind farm sites.  Allegany Wind executive Kevin Sheen said that Chipmonk Road will not be used.  Residents who live along the road have long been concerned about truck traffic during wind farm construction.  The company still has four or five possible routes, but apparently nothing final has been decided.  Sheen indicated that the preferred plan is to use two different routes—one to bring in large wind turbine components, the other for trucking in sand, gravel, and other building materials.

Sheen also said his company would like to reach a road use agreement with the Town of Carrollton, noting that such an agreement is not now in place.  Residents and town officials in Carrollton have said frequently that they are unhappy with their roads and culverts being considered for heavy truck traffic generated by wind farm construction, since they were not built to handle the weight.

Because of legal action brought against the wind farm project by Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County, Allegany Wind LLC says they cannot proceed with the necessary financing to proceed with construction.  That’s according to environmental attorney James Muscato, who is representing the company.  Litigation against the Allegany wind project remains “active,” according to Barry Miller of the Concerned Citizens group.  Miller also said he’s concerned about the company changing to a larger, 117 meter rotor for the wind turbines, as opposed to using a 100 meter rotor.

Sheen once again stated that the failure of Congress to extend a production tax credit would doom all construction of new wind turbines in the U-S.  Sheen does not expect to see approval before the November election, which is what he told the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency last month.  Sheen also cited the price of natural gas as a concern to his company.  He said those are the “bigger issues” at this point when compared with litigation against the wind project.

This is the fifth year the Routes to Art program will provide a glimpse into a secret world of artists as they open their studios to you this weekend, Saturday, May 19- Sunday 20 from 10am-5pm. This Cattaraugus County Arts Council’s event was the winner of the 2009 Tourism of Excellence Award in Cultural Heritage from New York State Travel and Vacation Association. This year there are 45 participating artists. A brochure with a map of the artists trail is downloadable and available online at www.routestoart.com.

Ellicottville’s summer music scene is heating up, with an eclectic variety of music and fun for the whole family. The Gazebo Series, Ellicottville’s local musical event sponsored by Five Star Bank, takes place in the Village Gazebo right in the heart of the town. The concert series is free, and presents different musical acts 7 weeks in a row, beginning Saturday June 30^th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

After the first concert held on Saturday, each following show will take place Thursday evenings starting July 5^th, and will run thru Thursday, August 9^th from 7pm to 9pm.

Kelly Friel, Membership and Events Coordinator at the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, said that this particular event is geared towards the community. “While most of our other 10 events are geared to draw in outside tourists and visitors – and it’s great when we do – the Gazebo series is more for the members of the Ellicottville community,” she said. Kelly said that this event, which is in its 15^th year, is a favorite of the community. “It’s right after dinner, its family oriented and there’s a great variety of bands from week to week,” she said. “This event easily targets a wide range of demographics in the area.”

The Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce is different from most, as their primary function is to increase visitation to the village and help the local economy prosper. “At the same time, the Chamber’s mission is also to help make Ellicottville a great place to live”, McFadden said,” the Chamber does this event every year as one  part of that mission”, The Chamber also manages a health Insurance plan for local employers and donates annually to worthwhile causes in the community.

Dave Elder is in charge of selecting and booking the bands for the series each year. Elder said his goal each year is to find a group of bands that will appeal to everyone, no matter what their musical tastes are. “I pride myself in being familiar with the talent pools in Western New York,” he said. “Each year, I look for the outstanding talent and seek out those bands.”

Elder said it is an ongoing process to book the bands each year. “We’re always twisting the talent schedule with different possibilities until we’re able to finalize it all,” he said. “We’ve got a great group of bands this year. They’re all very interesting.”  This year’s talent includes an all-female band, a group specializing in Celtic and world music, a pop group, a classic rock and blues band and even a flamenco group.

McFadden said that he is excited to see the turnout for the Gazebo series each year. “We’ve got a great variety of bands; there’s a type of music that provides a little something for everyone,” he said.

All that’s needed to enjoy these free weekly concerts is a lawn chair, a blanket, a love of music and maybe a stop for ice cream or a coffee on the way to the show. So start counting down the days until this weekly music series starts. For more information on the Gazebo series and a schedule and list of this year’s bands, go the Chamber of Commerce’s website at www.ellicottvilleny.com.

The town board held its regular monthly meeting on May 16, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Ellicottville town hall. Being my first meeting, I was clueless on what to expect. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised with many engaging topics and proposals discussed by the board members.

Last month’s topic of water flowing issues between two neighbors was brought up. The problem has been fixed and the feud amongst them has thus been settled. According to the board members, the afflicted citizen is now very happy with the work that was put in to diverting the water flow coming from the neighbor’s pond and has no further complaints.

High-volume Hydraulic Fracturing

A public hearing was opened in regards to adding amendments to the Town of Ellicottville Comprehensive Plan. After further discussion, one board member voiced concerns about the environmental safety associated with the plan, but was quickly reassured that there are no dangers to the environment. There were no objections to the proposal, therefore the Board voted to accept the comprehensive Plan amendments as presented

Audit of Claims

Board members set a motion to pay the town’s bills and was promptly voted yes by all members.

Supervisor’s Reports

The supervisor’s April 2012 financial report was accepted by the board, and the quarterly report was deemed to be in good shape. The budget revenue present for the quarterly report was reported as $20,000.00 and we are already at $17,000.00 according to board members.

There has been no word on the notice of default letter to Mansfield regarding the WestMont Water District. This topic will be brought up again at next month’s meeting on June 20th.

On Monday at 11:00 a.m. there will be a meeting to discuss the Highway Barn sale, including the needed waterline materials and overall plans for the project. According to the board, the main problem that presented itself for this project is the transition; in other words, how we get out and the buyer gets in.

There was a small, triangular plot of land of 1,112 square feet that the town was interested in purchasing from the Department of Transportation. The DOT received a certified appraisal of the land for $4,300.00. No vote was made about following through with the purchase; more thinking time will be needed. Board members also suggested to foil a request for the appraisal on the property.

A program benefiting the elderly through the Department of Aging was brought up at the meeting. This program will allow meals to be prepared for the elderly and served to them twice a week at the  of the . There has been no new updates, however it was mentioned that a final petition needed to be submitted to the state to get the ball rolling.

A grant from the State Judicial Department will make it possible to transform the Ellicottville courtroom into a handicapped accessible establishment, along with repairing bathrooms and the foyer. Once the dollar amount of the grant is known, the board will retouch on this topic.

The supervisor was recently graced with a new computer. However, the older one was passed on to one of the board members and all data from both the old computer, and another smaller computer, owned by the Ellicottville police department, was transferred to the new one.

A painting bid for both the historical museum and the gazebo will be placed in the paper for this week.

The Supervisor received an email expressing interest in reestablishing burning natural gas for Ellicottville energy and it was discussed in the meeting. Board members determined that there was no advantage to this proposal and that there will be no reply to the original email.

Don Auge- Police Department

Officer Auge energetically told the board about the success of the four hour tazer training that he and some of his officers went through at the Salamanca fire department. However, they don’t plan on using this training until proper SOP’s have been written and distributed to the officers. Officer Auge plans to adopt the Salamanca police department’s current SOP’s for the tazers. In addition to successful training, the police department has also been receiving many compliments for their ongoing service.

Dave Golley- Highway Department

Three gravel bids have been accepted by the board to allow Mr. Golley the capability of flexible ordering. A new, computerized loader has arrived on the lot of the Ellicottville Highway Department. This loader contains a back up camera and a scale that is electronically connected to the bucket. The scale shows how much is loaded into the bucket, and will total the entire load after completion. Resale on the machine is expected to be quite good. A bid was placed for a dump body on a recently ordered one ton truck an was approved by the board. It is expected that the body will be received in six to eight weeks. Clean up of Northwoods is well underway, and they hope to be completed before Memorial day. Tomorrow on Hebdon road, there are plans to grind the road and replace over 1000 feet of drainage tile and pipes. The gas line at Bryant Hill is expected to be worked on and completed as soon as possible.

Mark Alianello, PE- Engineering Department

The water line extension to the Highway Garage is subject to negotiation. An estimated cost for the design tickets and surveyor is $2500 with another $7000 to be added for plans and the approval of the Health Department. Altogether the estimated cost is $9500. It will take approximately three weeks to complete. The Holimont water tank was brought into the discussion; Mr. Alianello mentioned that the inside coating of primer was still in good condition, but the outside layer of paint was chipping away. Some of these paint samples were sent off for testing to see if anything was wrong with them. It was suggested that the tank be power washed to blast the remaining paint off, then be given another coating that will last for approximately twelve years. In regards to the East Tank, Stuart Brown Associates stated that we will not qualify for a grant, which results in the need for a loan. Further discussion on this topic will take place at the Four Flushers meeting this Friday. It was determined that only a bid for construction of the Highway Barn will be placed. The bid will appear in newspapers next week; open bids start at 10:00 a.m. on June 8th. There is a scheduled special meeting on Wednesday, June 13th at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the possibility of a contract. As of now, there are no plans of bids for the Pole Barn.

As the meeting drew to a close, a few final topics were brought up to be discussed amongst the board members: the Code of Ethics will be updated next month, and both the Ellicottville Championship Rodeo and Nightmare Hayrides will receive noise and sign permits allowing them to conduct the businesses as usual. After these topics concluded, the meeting was adjourned.

Mayor Charles Coolidge was not present for the Village Board meeting on Monday night for family medical reasons, instead deputy mayor Robert Brogcinski ran the meeting.

DPW Report

Harold Morton gave his report.  Water meters are still being installed in the village, but the project is almost completed.  The crew has mulched the trees around the Village, and Mr. Morton reported that he has received many compliments on how they look.  The street sweeper had broken down, but has now been repaired.  Other general maintenance has been done including: sweeping, picking up brush, removing downed tree limbs, and painting the fire hydrants.  New trees have been planted replacing some trees that have died.  The planted island at the corner of West Washington and Elizabeth Streets has been replaced with concrete.  A letter was read from a citizen requesting advise on improving a retaining wall that is the on the boarder of his neighbors property.

Constables Report

Constable Howard Gifford reported he had issued 28 traffic tickets, and cited one person for an open container.  He recovered a dog that had been running loose and took the dog to the SPCA and the owner recovered.  There were no parking tickets issued during April, but $300 in previously issued tickets had been paid.  Mr. Gifford then brought up a subject that was not in his report. The FCC requires all 2-way radios used by emergency personnel be on narrow-band.  The Sheriff’s Department is also upgrading to digital technology in October or November of this year.  After that the radios used by the constable staff will not be able to communicate with the sheriffs.   The new digital radios are very expensive, but the village must purchase them to stay current.  The units cost $2,500 for a hand held unit, and 3,500 for in car units.  The new units are able to find a clear channel on which to broadcast, and the information will be encrypted. The constable showed various options available including shoulder mikes, and data screens.  The constable passed out a proposal for purchasing a quantity of four hand held and one car unit.  It was proposed that the paperwork for the purchase be started and the funds taken out of next years Constable budget. The motion passed.

Sewer Report

Gerard Stokes from the waste, water treatment plant, reported on a meeting he had with Holiday Valley.  It was a request to use a smaller, in floor grease trap in the restaurant.  Stokes said no and to use the trap as specified in the plans.  He inspected and laid out the lateral line for connecting Kabobs, in it new location, to the main sewer line.  During the engineers report Mike Smith stated that the state DEC is still checking the plans for the new water tank up by HoliMont.  The particulars of the agreement with HoliMont were discussed.

New Business

There was discussion about lowering the minimum usage for inflow to the sewer system.  The current minimum is fifteen thousand gallons per quarter.  The proposal is to lower that to twelve thousand gallons per quarter which would be the same as the current water usage. It was determined that a public hearing must be held to invite comment on the proposal, as it may change residents’ sewer bills.  The public hearing will be at the next regular meeting of the Village Board.

Permits are pending for the demolition of the Signore building on Jefferson.  It is scheduled for the first of June if all goes according to code.  It will not be a quick procedure, but the building is on its way out.  There will be a parade on the 28^th, the Monday of the Memorial Day weekend.  The meeting was adjourned to allow the board to go into executive session.

Ordinarily in this space we highlight a specific house for sale, but this week we are going to feature a new and creative building style that turns the old concept of home building on its ear.  In 1988 George Klemens built his first Timberbuilt style home.    He fashioned massive cross beams to support the roof and upper floors to give the home a ski lodge feeling.   Ten years later he was building four to five homes a year until he met up with his next client, Brian Kempisty and his wife Dawn.  Their home was built on a hillside overlooking Ellicottville, and Brian was so impressed by his new digs that he joined the company.

Although Brian is not a builder, he brought his marketing and computer skills to the company.  With computer generated plans and renderings Timberbuilt is now able to give clients a choice of 15 -18 Signature Plans to chose from.  Some are as small as 850 square feet, and some plans go up to 2,500 square feet and more.  Furthermore, customers can use bump-outs to add an extra room or rooms to their house.  By the time a couple of bump-outs are included and a basement and second story added to expand the structure vertically, you can have a lot of living space in fairly small footprint.  Their plans are completely flexible, Brian might suggest moving the mater bedroom to the East side of the house to accommodate a morning person.  An owner might want just the shell of the home built so they can finish and decorate it themselves.  Or, they can line up the contractor, supervise construction, and even paint, furnish, and accessorize the interior to create a complete turn-key experience.  As Brian explains, “We’re trying to give our clients a bit more of an edge.”  Dawns interior design company is available if the client desires. You don’t get that kind of comprehensive service with many other contractors

What sets Timberbuilt home apart from the rest of the average builders are the materials and techniques used in construction. Increased energy efficiency is provided by using SIP  (Structural Insulating Panels), instead of standard 2x4s and wall board.  The panels are fashioned at the factory with the doors and windows pre-cut.   Thicker SIP  boards are used in the roof to provide further insulation.  The homes make extensive use of reclaimed materials, mostly obtained from old barns and factories.  The character of the timbers is brought out through refinishing, and when assembled create interiors of remarkable beauty.  The beams are assembled with hand crafted mortise and tenon joints, allowing them nail free construction.  This combination of techniques results in homes so energy efficient they earn a US government energy star rating.  Owners of the homes have reported dramatic energy savings.  You couldn’t ask for much more in new home construction; a handsome energy efficient home, and the knowledge that you are doing something good for the planet.  For more information about Timberbuilt homes contact Am DeTine at ERA Team VP & HoliMont Realty ERA 716-583-3769

Now that spring is finally here in all its glory, we know that summer – and all the fun that comes with it – is right around the corner. In Ellicottville, that means enjoying the great outdoors, festivals, good food, music and much more, including Ellicottville’s Gazebo series sponsored by Five Star Bank. This series of free concerts kicks off on Saturday, June 30 from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and continues Thursday evenings beginning July 5 through August 9, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the Village Gazebo.

One of this summer’s highly anticipated acts is Buffalo band The Visitors, with Maria Sebastian. Featuring a set list that has something for everyone – from Neil Young to Coldplay and Lucinda Williams to The Cranberries – this four-piece cover band plays to packed audiences across Western New York.

About three years ago, Maria Sebastian and Jerry Augustyniak (drummer for 10,000 Maniacs) started the band. Due to the changing nature of most bands, they named the band The Visitors – a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that bands don’t often stick together for long. In addition to Maria and Jerry, band members included guitarist and singer Zak Ward (who has his own original band Son of the Sun) and bassist Rick Ryan (who has played with many classic Buffalo bands, including Weekend).

Over the years, schedule conflicts and logistical issues have given credence to the band’s name, with various artists subbing from time to time. From Buffalo’s West Side, Maria – who sings lead vocals and plays rhythm guitar – has a schedule just as busy as anyone else’s. After touring with 10,000 Maniacs as a backup singer last year, she has decided to stay local this year, allowing for more shows in the area – including Ellicottville’s Gazebo concert.

In addition to Zak Ward (a native of Niagara Falls) and Rick Ryan (from Tonawanda), the current lineup includes Rick’s twin brother Tom Ryan on drums. The Visitors gives this group of four talented and accomplished musicians – and friends – the opportunity to play the music they love together and share it with others.
Mark your calendars now – you won’t want to miss the chance to catch this free live performance at the Village Gazebo on Thursday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. For more information about the Gazebo series, visit http://www.ellicottvilleny.com/gazebo-series/.

These days, affording a college education is making the headlines.  How can students afford to attend college, in light of climbing costs and mounting student loan debt?  What has been the impact on community colleges, in particular, Jamestown Community College?

JCC is optimistic about their future.  Commenting on enrollment trends, Dr. Marilyn Zagora notes that over the past few years, JCC has seen a surge in enrollments as the economic downturn drove home the value of community colleges as affordable, top-quality educational institutions.  Dr. Zagora is Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at Jamestown Community College.  She says that JCC’s share of area high school graduates increased in both Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties, as area students chose the college to start their postsecondary education.  Dr. Zagora adds that more top students took advantage of JCC’s USA Scholarship, which guarantees free tuition for the area’s top 20 percent high school graduates.

Dr. Zagora says that in the past year, as the economy stabilized, enrollments have declined somewhat, “Though our share of area graduates continues to be extremely robust.”  She says that in 2011, 28 percent of the high school graduates from Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties chose JCC, certainly a greater percentage than any other college.”  She says that over forty percent of JCC graduates transfer to continue their education, “So we are also setting the stage for future academic accomplishments for a sizeable percentage of the population.”

Also on the subject of enrollment, Dr. Zagora notes that the establishment of residence halls in Jamestown has allowed JCC to attract a growing number of students from outside the area.  “They benefit and enhance the JCC educational process.  These students contribute to the regional economy as well.”

Looking toward the future, Dr. Zagora says, “We envision that JCC will continue to be the top choice of area students, and we anticipate growing numbers of students attending JCC from other areas as we  expand housing capacity.”

As for JCC’s academic programs, Dr. Zagora says JCC is a place where students can earn degrees which prepare them for continuing their higher education.  She says that, “Recent additions of transfer programs in biotechnology and environmental science reflect students’ growing interest in pursuing advanced degrees in these fields, which will position them for jobs in the regional and national workforce.”  JCC currently maintains a total of 350 partnership agreements with over forty colleges, all available through the JCC website.

Dr. Zagora says that JCC, like other colleges, faces a challenge in acquiring resources necessary to maintain a broad array of programs and services.  The college has put an emphasis on seeking grants and external revenue sources to complement student tuition.  JCC has been able to attract funds, “Which provide an extra infusion of resources.”  Sources include the Appalachian Regional Commission, the National Science Foundation, and federal Title III funds.

Dr. Zagora notes that, “We are extremely proud of the recent recognition as the top-performing public two year college in New York State by ‘The Chronicle of Higher Education,’ for this designation is based in part on JCC’s high graduation rates, reflecting the quality of the educational experiences we provide and the strong partnerships we forge with the students who choose JCC.”

Next Monday marks the beginning of the annual American Craft Beer Week, a week-long celebration across the nation for anything and everything involving craft beer. American Craft Beer Week, celebrated Monday, May 14^th through Sunday May 20^th, is an opportunity for small and independent craft brewers to celebrate the daily growing art of craft beer. Last year, the event was celebrated in craft breweries all over the US, and this year is expected to be the same.

The event, created by the Brewers Association in 2006, is steadily growing. From its start in 2006 up until last year, the number of breweries has increased from just over 100 to more than a thousand, respectively.

Locally, Ellicottville Brewing Company is all set to participate in the annual event. Peter Kreinheder, operator at the brewery, said this will be their fourth year participating in the annual event. For EBC patrons next week, there are several opportunities to enjoy their craft beer all while celebrating the week.  Throughout the entire week, complimentary beer samples of six styles of their beer will be available for customers who dine.

On Thursday May 17^th, EBC will be hosting a beer brewer’s program/mini-brew school. This includes a short course on the brewing process, a tour of the brewery and lunch, all for $50, starting at 11 a.m. There are a total of 30 spots, with less than half filled. Anyone interested in the mini-brew school can register for it at party@ellicottvillebrewing.com.

Also, on Sunday May 20^th, a one-hour tour and tasting will be done at the brewery at 1 p.m.

Kreinheder said that for EBC, the focus of American Craft Beer week is their already established customer base, instead of reaching out to the public. “For us, the week is a way to re-establish what we have with our customers,” he said. “We want to bring awareness to the existing clientele that we have.” Krienheder said this week also serves as a perfect opportunity to educate their customers, more than they would on any other week.

Kreinheder said that the upcoming event is also good for their staff. “It’s a great way for our staff to get re-focused on the beer and our mission here at EBC,” he said. “It’s a really fun week, and we’re excited to see the turnout for us for the events we have planned this year.”

For more information on the events happening at EBC next week, contact Peter Kreinheder at 716-665-2537. For more information on American Craft Beer Week in general and on events happening at breweries all over the country, visit the Brewers Association website at brewersassociation.org.