Home Investing In NY

Home Investing In NY

As the home investment craze sweeps the nation savvy investors are continually looking for the next best real estate deal. Investors in the Northeast know that the Upstate area of New York is a market that always pays off. The Upstate area is a hugely popular vacation destination with a huge demand for vacation and short-term rentals. This has created a need for quality homes by interested investors and due to this need the art of home investing is alive and well in Chautauqua Lake.

The first thing that an investor should consider when thinking about an investment in Upstate, NY real estate is whether they will be renting the home themselves or attempting to flip the home to another buyer or investor. Either way there are likely some changes that you will want to make to the home to make it perfect for renters or attractive to other buyers. The basics are a great place to start with upgrades. Things like new appliances really catch the attention of buyers and renters alike. Not only do cutting-edge appliances make the kitchen (in particular) look great but if you are renting the property yourself, they can save you money as new appliances are more energy efficient than older models.

Cleanliness is a major point of import for sales and rentals alike. It is hard to grab the attention of investors or clients in any positive way if the home is unkempt or messy. Also, the home should be in the exact condition that you advertise it in for sales or rentals. The last thing you want is people arriving to view or stay and finding something other than what they were expecting. Homes that aren't as they appear in ads can bring unwanted negative attention and reputation to a property.

Author: Craig Gleason, Real Estate Advantage Jamestown & Bemus Point, NY

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER

UNOFFICIAL START

5/27/2007 - With holiday weekend here, let season begin

Whatever the calendar may say about the official first day of summer, by long tradition Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the long stretch that makes winter snow and sleet tolerable.

We note this year once again that Americans are faced with record-setting gasoline prices just as the vacation season is here. And once again we declare with pride that no one living in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties has to break the bank to have as good a time as can be had anywhere. We can have it right here at home.

We who live here are often too caught up in daily living to appreciate fully the fact that the Chautauqua region is a premier vacation destination for people around the country. But we need only to lift our attention away from daily chores to drink in our beautiful surroundings and peruse a full calendar of summer events to realize why people flock here.

Tourists and we townies share common interests in many of the events — Chautauqua Institution has an inviting, invigorating and thought-provoking lineup this summer, for example, and concerts, dancing and the Chautauqua County Fair, which takes place the last full week of July.

Other events are more down home things that we do for ourselves, although tourists certainly are welcome and are encouraged to come — farmers markets, a Victorian Dazzle celebration in Fredonia, the World War II re-enactment in Dunkirk as well as the Fourth of July festivities and the Gerry Rodeo, to name a few.

We also offer our visitors fine dining, top-notch entertainment, an amusement park, swimming, boating, world-class theater and opera and symphonies — as well as the quiet of country roads and hiking trails, the splendor of deep woods and open meadows, and museums and libraries and places to just sit and watch a sunset.

We have those things for ourselves, too.

How fortunate we are that we need go no further than our own back yard to have a whopping good time.

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Bemus Bay Condominiums

Bemus Bay Condominiums

Bemus Bay will be a 40-unit condominium complex to be constructed on the shores of Lake Chautauqua, NY. The units will be contained in two identical 4-story buildings. All units will have decks with lake views, and each unit owner will have a boat slip in the adjacent marina. Final approvals are imminent and construction is scheduled for 2006-2007. The initial financing for the land acquisition and preliminary development activities was provided by National City Bank of Cleveland, OH. A $13,375,000 construction loan was secured from Jamestown Savings Bank, a division of Northwest Savings Bank. Flagship's partner is Lee Chilcote, a Cleveland-based real estate attorney.

Chautauqua Lake Idol

Chautauqua Lake Idol 2007 Hits the Floating Stage July 7th!

Published: 5/19/2007

Another year of Chautauqua Lake Idol is just around the corner. Come to the Floating Stage in Bemus Point this July and August as SE-93 brings you the region´s premier vocal competition. Preliminary Nights will be July 2nd and 9th, while the main competition starts July 23rd and continues July 30th and August 6th. Finals Night will take place August 20th. To learn more or to register, go to chautauquaidol.com

Chautauqua Lake & County

The Many Reasons People Flock Here

5/27/2007 - Whatever the calendar may say about the official first day of summer, by long tradition Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the long stretch that makes winter snow and sleet tolerable.

We note this year once again that Americans are faced with record-setting gasoline prices just as the vacation season is here. And once again we declare with pride that no one living in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties has to break the bank to have as good a time as can be had anywhere. We can have it right here at home.

We who live here are often too caught up in daily living to appreciate fully the fact that the Chautauqua region is a premier vacation destination for people around the country. But we need only to lift our attention away from daily chores to drink in our beautiful surroundings and peruse a full calendar of summer events to realize why people flock here.

Tourists and we townies share common interests in many of the events — Chautauqua Institution has an inviting, invigorating and thought-provoking lineup this summer, for example, and concerts, dancing, outdoor movies and Chautauqua Idol competition are scheduled for Bemus Bay all summer.

Other events are more down home things that we do for ourselves, although tourists certainly are welcome and are encouraged to come— farmers markets, county fairs, Thunder in the Streets in Jamestown and the Gerry Rodeo, to name a few.

We offer our summer visitors fine dining, top-notch entertainment, professional sporting events, a casino, amusement park, Skate Chautauqua, swimming, boating, world-class theater and opera and symphonies — as well as the quiet of country roads and hiking trails, the splendor of deep woods and open meadows, and museums and libraries and places to just sit and watch a sunset.

We have those things for ourselves, too.

How fortunate we are that we need go no further than our own backyard to have a whopping good time.

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Chautauqua Lake Midway Park

Midway Begins 109th Season, First As State Park

By LOREN KENT

A Grand Opening Above, children enjoy the helicopter ride at Midway State Park during Friday's grand opening. See additional photos at cu.post-journal.com. P-J photo by Loren Kent

5/26/2007 - MAPLE SPRINGS — Described as ''the Midway Park people have always known,'' officials from the New York state office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation gathered with state Council of Parks Chairwoman Lucy Waletzky and local elected officials to celebrate the grand opening of Midway State Park as the newest state park in the Allegany Region.

Initially opened as a trolley park in 1898, Midway is one of the longest continually operating amusement parks in America. Originally offering visitors trolley rides, playing fields, tennis courts, bath houses and a dance hall — the new state park offers a museum, gift shop, a historic carousel, concession stands, arcade games and amusement rides.

A clear sky and warm temperatures greeted hundreds of school children who packed the amusement park for its inaugural celebration. The paddle boats, giant slide, kiddie train and bumper cars were all jam-packed with happy youngsters as a large delegation of dignitaries gathered to offer remarks for the grand opening.

''State Parks offer such diverse recreational opportunities to residents and visitors here in New York,'' Mrs. Waletzky said. ''The addition of Midway Park to the list of impressive properties that the office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation manages is valuable, adding new dimension to this dynamic system of parks and historic sites.''

Midway State Park also offers several picnic shelters, which can be reserved for family gatherings and picnics. Accessible by the waters of Chautauqua Lake, the park is a place for fishing and free docking is offered for day visitors.

As the newly appointed regional state parks director, Mark W. Thomas, joined Mike Miecznikowski, Midway State Park director, in welcoming dozens of state park officials, local elected officials, park staff members, and other dignitaries to the grand opening ceremony.

The who's who of local elected officials included state Sen. Catherine Young; Assemblyman Bill Parment; Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards; County Clerk Sandra Sopak; County Legislator Richard Babbage; Ellery Town Supervisor Arden Johnson; Ellery Town Clerk Rebecca Haines, and a score of other officials.

''I am truly thrilled that New York state made an investment in Midway Park,'' Sen. Young said. ''There is a real heart and soul to Midway, and an economic value as well since it is an important local tourist destination.''

Sen. Young hailed Gov. Eliot Spitzer for his efforts to maintain Midway as an environmentally sound state park. She thanked everyone who fought to make Midway a state park and to preserve the parks 1,280 feet of shoreline along Chautauqua Lake.

''I can recall coming here for grade school picnics when I was young, and later I came here for shop picnics,'' Parment said. ''Children may out-grow the rides here, but the will always maintain the memories of the park.''

Parment mentioned the historic 1946 Allen Herschell carousel located at the park.

''This park meets all the criterion for becoming part of our state park system,'' Parment said. ''When the state purchased Midway, it already fit the bill as a park, recreation facility and historic site. It is a worthy challenge to keep this type of history alive and operating.''

Friday afternoon the Regional Park Commission held a meeting at Midway. Commission members took action to establish a Friends Group dedicated to the historic preservation of the Herschell carousel and other park assets.

''The state has already invested heavily in the parks electrical system and infrastructure. In the future we will look to renovate the park further, taking care of such things as the carousel roof,'' said Thomas, a former Chautauqua County executive. ''Today we are open and safe. Midway State Park is the Midway people have always known.''

For additional information about New York's 178 state parks, 35 state historic sites, and 19 heritage areas, visit www.nysparks.com.

 

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

 

Lucy-Desi Days

Lucy Desi Days Arrive

By PATRICK L. FANELLI

Lucy-Desi Days Highlights ¯ Legacy of Laughter Interactive Celebration and Exploration — 8 p.m. Saturday at the Reg Lenna Civic Center. Hosted by Lucie Arnaz. ¯ Lucie Arnaz In Concert — 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Reg Lenna Civic Center.

5/25/2007 - There's a buzz in the air leading up to the Lucy-Desi Days, which draws hundreds from all across the country to celebrate Jamestown's favorite native daughter, says Patricia Brininger, Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Canter associate director.

The festival kicks off today with events continuing throughout the weekend celebrating the life and legacy of television icons Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

''It's exciting,'' Ms. Brininger said Thursday. ''You can already tell the day before the festival. You can feel it.''

She didn't have updated figures, but nearly two weeks ago, she and Ric Wyman, Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Canter executive center, announced that tickets had already been purchased by fans from 25 states and three countries.

''Half the country is represented by fans at each festival,'' Wyman said.

Wyman and Ms. Brininger estimate that 95 percent of those who take part in the Lucy-Desi Days are from outside the area, which means most local residents do not participate in the city's Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz culture.

''People from all over the world go to Niagara Falls. But when you live there you never do,'' Wyman said. ''If you polled the Jamestown community, a good majority haven't visited (the Lucy-Desi Museum). ... It's not a bad thing — it's just reality.''

But the fact that an estimated 95 percent of festival goers come from out of the area means far more money pumped into the local economy.

Wyman believes the asset that is Jamestown's Lucy-Desi history can be an incredible engine for economic growth if it is properly tapped. He also believes the loyal fan base that descends upon the city every year to celebrate occasions like the Lucy-Desi Days isn't going anywhere.

''There's a misconception that 'I love Lucy' is for the baby boomers and beyond. That's a huge misconception,'' Wyman said, adding he knows many children who know the Vitameatavegamin speech better than some of the die-hard fans.

Numerous events will take place all weekend long, culminating in two separate appearances by Lucie Arnaz, daughter of the iconic television stars. At 8 p.m. Saturday at the Reg Lenna Civic Center, Ms. Arnaz will moderate a discussion of the healing power of laughter — and at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Reg Lenna Civic Center, she will perform in concert to celebrate her father's legacy.

In addition to the events that will be taking place all weekend long, the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation will be adding to the festival atmosphere by hosting food and novelty vendors along Third Street between North Main and Spring.

''There will be something for everyone to enjoy this weekend,'' said Tiffani Reynolds, DJDC special projects manager.

Windstream's antique truck will also be on display with free giveaways and a football toss.

''Hopefully, it will bring more of a local draw to Lucy Fest,'' Ann Mason of Windstream said at a recent DJDC meeting.

Send comments to pfanelli@post-journal.com.

 

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

 

Chautauqua County Events

5/25/2007 - Hot Dog Wagon , Quality Markets, Main & 4th Streets, Dunkirk , Chautauqua County  11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.  Cost is $1.00 for a hot dog and can of pop. , More Info. at: 716-934-4494. 130

5/26/2007 - Falconer Festival In The Park , Falconer Park, Falconer , Chautauqua County  On Saturday May 26th , the Falconer Rotary will host its 3rd annual Festival in the Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, a Duck Race in the creek, games for all ages, entertainment, a Chinese Auction, a Baby Parade, all kinds of food, clowns, and demonstrations from local police and fire departments.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: 716-483-2862. 129

5/28/2007 - Sheridan Historical Society - Open House , Town Hall, Corner of Route 20 and Center Road, Sheridan , Chautauqua County  Sheridan Historical Society Open House. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sheridan Town Hall, corner of Route 20 and Center Road. Also open the second Sunday of June, July, August, and September, 1 - 4 p.m., and by appointment. All are welcome. Call 672-2201. Spring 2007 newsletter, NOW AND THEN, and past issues available.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: 716-672-2201. 132

6/16/2007 - Summer 2007 Events , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County  10 a.m. to Noon. Mr. Lincoln's War - A Father's Day event. All children and their fathers, grandfathers, uncles welcome to learn about the Civil War in Chautauqua County.  Cost is Minimal admission. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 98

6/16/2007 - Cheers to Little Valley wine tasting , Little Valley VFW Post 8734, LittleValley , Cattaraugus County  7:00 pm, Featuring Merritt Estates Winery, Music by Joe Wagner and Friends, raffles and door prizes, Tickets on sale at Cattaraugus County Bank, Thurnbird Origianls, and The Village of LIttle Valley Municipal Building.  Cost is $6.00 for 1 or $10.00 for 2 presale, $8.00 at the door.. , More Info. at: 716-938-9151. 87

6/17/2007 - Summer Solstice w/Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  7 p.m. Celebrate summer with a special program of traditional American and Celtic folk music. Mandolin, tin whistle, dulcimer, banjo, guitar, limberjack and a variety of other instruments combine with Appalachian clog dancing and French-Canadian footwork for a Father's Day evening of folk music, fun and frivolity.  Cost is $10. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 72

6/18/2007 - Fun Fair , Fenner Elementary School, Falconer , Chautauqua County  The Annual FunFair for the students of Falconer Elementary School and their families will be held at 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 18th. The entire community is invited to participate. There will be games, crafts, inflatable rides for the children, and a Chinese auction for the adults.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: 716-665-6627. 128

6/23/2007 - Old Home Week Parade , Main Street, Allegany NY, Allegany , Cattaraugus County  This is the final night of Allegany's Old Home week which runs from Tues 6/19 - Sat 6/23. Following the parade, there will be carnival rides, refreshments available at the food and beer tents and a band at the carnival lot pavilion. Anyone interested in participating in the parade can contact the parade committee at PO Box 95, Allegany, NY 14706.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: www.allegany.org. 10

6/23/2007 - Summer Exhibit , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County  June 23 - October 20: "Noble Barns": Explore the beauty, nostalgia and stories of the barns of Chautauqua County. Photographs, art and more.  Cost is Museum admission cost. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 99

6/24/2007 - Tommy Dorsey Orchestra , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County   7 p.m. Recognized as one of the best all-around dance bands of the Big Band Era, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra led by Buddy Morrow continues to tour the world creating warm, sentimental and always danceable music.  Cost is $25 , $23 Opera House members. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 73

6/30/2007 - Red, White and Blue: A Tribute to our Hometown Heroes , Crown Theater, Jamestown , Chautauqua County  7:30 p.m. "Red, White, and Blue: A Tribute to our Hometown Heroes". Celebrate through music, dancing, re-enactors and heartfelt stories of the Civil War, WWI, and WWII from our hometown soldiers and sailors.  Cost is $15 per person , $25 per couple , $5 discount for members.. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 100

7/16/2007 - Camp Brown Boot Camp , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County  1-4 p.m. Camp Brown Boot Camp for students entering 4-6th grades. Learn about the 1862 Civil War Boot Camp in Chautauqua County.  Cost is $50 per week. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 101

7/21/2007 - Mike Randall is Mark Twain Live , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  7:30 p.m. Mike Randall has been bringing America's greatest humorist and author to life for more than 30 years. Three hours of make-up combined with Twain's own words and mannerisms create a startlingly realistic portrait of "America's original stand-up comedian."  Cost is $15. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 74

7/30/2007 - A Day In the Life , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County  "A Day in the Life": live in the Victorian times through the eyes of a variety of children from the city, country and everywhere in between. For students entering 1st through 3rd grade  Cost is $50 per week. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 102

8/11/2007 - Fenton Old Fashioned Day , 67 Washington St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: "Fenton Old Fashioned Day"- a Day of Living History in Beautiful Walnut Grove at the Fenton Mansion. Have you ever seen a real civil war rifle or bayonet? Are you curious about how to make your own thread? Can you play "hoops" or "graces"? See and try them all. The event, now in its 3rd year, will have food, kids' games and crafts, old-time motors, spinning and weaving. New this year will be other old-time crafts such as blacksmithing, basket making, broom making and chair seat weaving. The Fenton Museum (free admission) and Museum Gift Shop are open all day.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 106

8/13/2007 - A Day In the Life , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County  9a.m. to Noon or 1-4 p.m.: "A Day in the Life": live in the Victorian times through the eyes of a variety of children from the city, country and everywhere in between. For students entering 4th through 6th grade.  Cost is $50 per week. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 107

8/17/2007 - An Evening of Comedy & Magic , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  7:30 p.m. It's contemporary vaudeville on the Opera House stage! Marvel at the magic and illusions of Rob & Carol Allen. Laugh at the comedy of Nick Siracuse and juggling antics of Nels Cremean; and watch in awe at the talents of bubble man Doug Rougeux. Fun for the whole family!  Cost is $12 , $10 seniors, $5 students/children. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 79

8/18/2007 - 10th Anniversary of Operation Equip India , Midway Park, Maple Springs , Chautauqua County  Operation Equip India - 10th Anniversary Celebration , Midway Park, Jamestown , Chautauqua County 10th Anniversary Celebration of the ministry of Operation Equip India, a disability ministry of Joni and Friends reaching India's disabled. The ministry was founded by Jamestown native Tim Swauger and his wife Aruna and is supported by many churches and individuals in the Chautauqua County area. Contact Dave Rishell for more details. Cost is FREE , bring dish to pass.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: 716-665-6517. 118

9/19/2007 - Chad & Jeremy , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County   8 p.m. The famed 60s pop duo with hits including Yesterday's Gone, Summer Song and Willow Weep For Me, on tour for the first time in 30 years. One of the most successful of the British invasion acts, Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde still deliver the lush sound that made them folk pop royalty!  Cost is $22 , $20 Opera House members. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 80

9/23/2007 - Folk in Fredonia Free-for-All , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  3 p.m. Fredonia Folk music favorites Dick & Carmen Gilman gather friends from throughout the state for a great afternoon of fun folk music and dance.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 81

10/20/2007 - The Ying Quartet , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  8 p.m. The quartet-in-residence at the Eastman School of Music, the Ying siblings have been performing together for nearly 15 years and are one of the nation's most sought-after string quartets.  Cost is $15 , $12 Opera House members, $10 students. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 82

11/10/2007 - Fieldstone , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  8 p.m. This trio from northeastern Pennsylvania gives Celtic music an artful American twist by mixing traditional Irish and Scottish tunes with Old Time and Appalachian influences.  Cost is $15 , $12 Opera House members. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 83

11/14/2007 - Anything That Floats, Allegheny River Raft Race , Rt.62, behind Wildwood Inn, Tidioute , Warren County     Cost is $5.00 per person. , More Info. at: 814-730-9351. 120

12/14/2007 - Dufflebag Theatre's A Christmas Carol , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  7 p.m. It's interactive theater at its finest when Dufflebag Theatre presents the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his visits with three Christmas spirits. Because it's interactive, unsuspecting audience members are called upon to play some of the tale's key roles.  Cost is $10 , $8 for seniors and students, $5 for children 12 & under. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891.

Peek'n Peak Condos

Peek'n Peak: A $250M expansion

Business First of Buffalo - May 18, 2007

by James Fink

Business First

The new owners of Peek'n Peak Resort and Conference Center are moving ahead on the first phase of a $250 million expansion.

In early July, construction is expected to begin on a six-story condominium tower that will overlook the picturesque ski and golf resort in Chautauqua County. The tower will have 30 condos, with sale prices expected to start at more than $300,000.

 

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

 

Chautauqua Lake Idol

Ready, Set, Sing  Local radio station WWSE 93.3 FM will hold an open audition for the coming Chautauqua Lake Idol competition in June. Submitted photo   5/14/2007 - Chautauqua Lake Idol Competition Gets Under Way With Open Audition By NICHOLAS L. DEAN Before fans start pouring into Bemus Point this summer for the 2007 Chautauqua Lake Idol, organizer SE93 must first choose contestants for the annual vocal competition. Media One Group radio station, WWSE 93.3 FM will announce the details of this year's Idol audition on-air today. Scheduled for Saturday, June 16 at the Chautauqua Mall, the open registration runs from 9 a.m. to noon with singing beginning promptly at 11 a.m. Unlike previous years when SE93 held multiple auditions throughout the county, the June 16 audition at the Chautauqua Mall will be the one and only opportunity for singers to audition for the 2007 SE93 Chautauqua Lake Idol competition. Now in its fourth year, SE93"s Chautauqua Lake Idol brings thousands of people from Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania into Bemus Point during July and August. On average 3,000 people or more line up the Bemus Point shoreline each Monday night to see local contestants compete on the Floating Stage. ''We never thought that it would have taken off like this,'' said Andrew Hill, Media One Group program manager and host of the event. Begun in 2004, Hill said he remembers juggling his way through the first year of Chautauqua Lake Idol — not knowing what to expect of the event. Though the first competition was small in comparison to the last two years, the event is obviously of interest to area residents — as attendance has only continued to grow each year. ''By the second year, we realized that we had something going for us when they had to shut down the street between the Surf Club and the Floating Stage,'' Hill said. ''We really knew we were on to something big in the third year because we had crowds that were almost as large as the annual Sunday Bemus Pops Events.'' See CHAUTAUQUA IDOL On Page A-3 In addition to the onshore crowds, Hill said that as many as 30 to 40 boats anchor in Bemus Bay for the event. ''The thing that's amazing is the fact that it's a Monday night,'' Hill said of the event's attendance. ''It's not even a weekend. I guess we're just proud to be the station that extends everyone's weekend.'' In search of the ''best singers around,'' SE93 will select 20 people from the open audition to perform as part of the stations summer-long competition. When the contest begins on July 2, the hopeful contestants will be separated into two groups of 10, with one group performing in each of the first two nights of competition. Following that, the contest is comprised of a series of competitive theme nights. Past themes include Motown and show tunes to '70s, '80s and '90s music, each theme night ends with the elimination of some performers. Following in the footsteps of past winners Susan Waite, a fifth grade Southwestern middle school teacher, and Marla Harris, an MRC employee, the winner of the 2006 Chautauqua Lake Idol competition was Lauren Cecchini — an 18-year-old SUNY Fredonia student from Jamestown. During the competition, singers perform on the Floating Stage with a four-piece stage band and have the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes. ''It was a really great experience,'' said Ms. Cecchini of her participation in the 2006 competition. ''It's just a great community event that brings people together to enjoy their Monday nights on Chautauqua Lake. It's a ton of fun to watch and to participate in, so if you are up for a good summertime competition, this is for you. It is a fun experience and people should make the most of it.'' The SE93 Chautauqua Lake Idol winners were also given the opportunity to be featured during the Bemus Bay Pops ''End of Summer Orchestral Finale'' on Labor Day weekend, broadcast live on SE93. In addition to organizing the event, Hill will again host Chautauqua Lake Idol this year. ''It's become almost like an extended family,'' Hill said. ''Each summer is a reunion of judges, band members, people behind the scenes, and of course the fans that help make the show successful by returning each year to support us.'' For the June 16 audition, singers must arrive prepared to sing a 60-second song acappella in front of a panel of Idol judges. The contest is open to singers ages 18 and older. Anyone who turns 18 by Aug. 20 is eligible to audition. For the official rules and to pre-register for the audition, visit ChautauquaLakeIdol.com, or stop by the SE93 Studios at 2 Orchard Road, Jamestown during regular business hours. For additional questions call SE93 at 487-1151. Send comments to ndean@post-journal.com.   For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Hot & Cold Real Estate Markets

The 5 Hottest and Coolest Real Estate Markets

by Brenda Spiering – RealEstate.com

Remember the old adage about the three most important things when it comes to real estate? "Location, location, location." It seems it's still true. While home sales in many parts of the country may be down from what they were a year ago, in some regions they're still booming.

What are the hottest and coldest real estate markets in the country? According to the February 2007 National Association of REALTORS® home sales report, the percentage change in the median sales price of existing single-family homes between the fourth quarter of 2005 and the fourth quarter of 2006 was as follows:

Metro areas that increased in value the most in 2006
1. Atlantic City, New Jersey +25.9%
2. Salt Lake City, Utah +22.7%
3. Trenton-Ewing, New Jersey +18.9%
4. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas +15.1%
5. Salem, Oregon +14.9%

Metro areas that dropped in value the most in 2006
1. Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida –18%
2. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida –17%
3. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida –11.7%
4. Springfield, Illinois –10.4%
5. New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, Louisiana –9.3%

But before you assume the average homeowner in Atlantic City has just made a small fortune and those in Sarasota have just lost their shirt, it's important to understand a few things. First of all, the National Association of REALTORS® report based its stats on median home prices. While those numbers can be useful in tracking general real estate trends, they can be misleading when used to pinpoint specific peaks and valleys.

Take the two hot New Jersey areas, for example. Jeffrey Otteau, president of the Otteau Valuation Group, a real estate consulting firm in the region, points out that in both Atlantic City and Trenton, a significant number of new upscale townhouses were completed and sold last year. Assuming these units sold for considerably more than the more modest housing they replaced, they would have pushed up the overall median price of homes in the region, even if the price of many homes remained relatively flat.

It's also fair to assume the sharp drop reported in certain regions of Florida may have been due to the reverse effect. If, during 2006, enough high-end properties with over-inflated values adjusted to more realistic levels, it would have caused the median price of homes in those areas to drop significantly even if, once again, the price of more modest homes remained far more stable.

So, while zeroing in on the hottest and coldest housing regions in the country may be interesting, it doesn't necessarily give you a picture of the nation's overall real estate market. The National Association of REALTORS® reports that the percentage change in the national median sales price of existing single-family homes between the fourth quarter of 2005 and the fourth quarter of 2006 was down 2.7 percent: from $225,300 to $219,300.

It's also useful if you look at housing trends that have occurred over a longer period of time. Even in areas with recent price declines, most home sellers achieved healthy gains on the value of their home over the last five years. National Association of REALTORS® President Pat Vredevoogd Combs says "a broader view of home prices is necessary because housing is a long-term investment." And while he isn't predicting a big change in the immediate future, Coombs does expect to see "a gradual rise in sales and home prices that will be good for the overall housing market."

 

Published on April 23, 2007

 

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

 

Canadaway Creek Chautauqua County

Canadaway Creek is a revenue stream for Chautauqua County

 

5/21/2007 - A recent survey has revealed that Canadaway Creek, a tributary feeding Lake Erie that traverses Northern Chautauqua County through Fredonia, is a Mecca for fly fishermen — and therefore a potential boon for the local tourist industry and the economy.

The survey was conducted by SUNY Fredonia Assistant Professor Tim Strakosh, his student Josh Rucinski, and Jim Markham, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) steelhead biologist for Lake Erie.

The researchers presented their findings at the 9th Annual Student Research and Creativity Exposition at SUNY Fredonia, on April 26 in the Williams Center.

What the survey revealed is that anglers from all over the United States —and even as far away as Europe — travel to Canadaway Creek in hopes of landing a hefty, hard-fighting fish known as the steelhead trout. The researchers determined that on average each non-resident angler spends $64 per day in Fredonia and other parts of the county. With the prime steelhead season running from September to December, and again from February to April, that could add up to an impressive flow of dollars into the county's economy.

Only 4.7 percent of non-resident fishermen said they would travel to Chautauqua County if they were not fishing, which the researchers said indicates that sport fishing is attracting money that would not otherwise be spent in the county.

"Economic assessments like this are important in the development of local economic and tourist programs," said Dr. Strakosh. "It's exciting to note that our own Canadaway Creek is drawing people here from a long distance."

Rucinski, an environmental sciences major from Glenmont, N.Y., who has since graduated, collected the data for the survey from fly fishermen at various access points along Canadaway Creek from October to December 2006.

Of the anglers surveyed more than half were non-residents, both from foreign countries — Canada and France — and from 11 different states, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia and Utah.

"This influx to Chautauqua County is a testament," Dr. Strakosh said, "both to the popularity of fly fishing, and the exhilarating experience of catching a steelhead, which in Canadaway Creek can average 12 pounds and measure as long as 30."

Steelhead, which are a type of rainbow trout, originated in the Pacific Northwest. Their presence in the Lake Erie region is the result of efforts by the NYSDEC and other groups to establish a major Great Lakes fishery through stocking steelhead in Lake Erie tributaries, first in the early 1950s and again in the 1980s. The steelhead population grew so rapidly that outdoor writers quickly dubbed the network of tributaries from Cleveland to Buffalo "Steelhead Alley."

In 1984, the NYSDEC stocked 38,000 steelhead in Canadaway Creek, and every spring and fall that legacy is evident in the large number of steelhead that venture from Lake Erie into the creek in search of warmer waters (ideally about 54 degrees Fahrenheit) in which to live and spawn.

 

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

 

Lucy Days in Chautauqua County

The Lucy-Desi Museum in Jamestown, N.Y., contains vintage costumes and other memorabilia from the famous comedy couple.

Click to view a larger picture

One-Tank Trip / Jamestown

Jamestown visitors get plenty to love about Lucy

By Hal Smith - SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
Updated: 05/20/07 6:42 AM

 JAMESTOWN — If you think the late Lucille Ball, the "first queen of comedy," wasn't much more than the bird-brained redhead she played on television, consider this: She was the first woman to head a major Hollywood studio (Desilu).

Her sitcom, "I Love Lucy," in which she starred with husband Desi Arnaz, has been continuously broadcast all over the world for 56 years — a feat that probably will never be topped.

Today, Arab, Turkish and Chinese couch potatoes — and viewers who speak one of 18 other languages — are watching dubbed reruns of the show centered around her endearing character. After five decades on television, more people have seen her face than any other person who ever lived, according to TV Guide, which did its part by putting Lucy on its cover more than 45 times.

That explains, in part, why thousands of her fans will descend on Jamestown, her proud hometown, for the annual "Lucy-Desi Days" festival over the Memorial Day weekend.

Some will be diehard pilgrims from one of more than 75 countries that air "I Love Lucy." Others are simply out for some fun, remembering how they howled with delight as they watched Lucy stuff herself sick with chocolates as candy streamed by relentlessly on a conveyor belt.

Whoever they may be, visitors will not want for diversion. A nine-page printout of the festival's events includes screenings, memorabilia shows and auctions, tours of the city (including Ball's childhood home and gravesite), a boat cruise (related to a sitcom episode), "laughter yoga" workshops, musical revue, reunion picnic, comedy improv troupe, masquerade party, contests, photo ops with impersonators, and a concert by Ball's daughter, Lucie Arnaz.

The center of all this Lucy madness is downtown Jamestown, which includes three facilities operated by the Lucille Ball-Desi Center:

• The Lucy-Desi Museum is a pleasant storefront building that opened in 1996 and covers the personal lives of the comedy couple, including her youth in Jamestown and their married lives in Hollywood. Ball, who died in 1986, was very loyal to her hometown and insisted that the world premiere of one of the couple's feature films take place there. Jamestown references frequently appeared in "I Love Lucy" and she decorated her Beverly Hills home and TV set with furniture manufactured in the area, once renowned for the work of its Swedish-American craftsmen.

Changing exhibits may include wardrobes, costumes, props, awards (she won four Emmys), family photos, etc. Much of this is provided by the couple's two children, Lucie and Desi Jr., leading members of the Lucy-Desi Center's board.

• The Desilu Playhouse is fully devoted to the "I Love Lucy" show. It displays memorabilia (virtually all donated by fans) and exact replicas of studio sets, including the fictional Lucy and Ricky Ricardo apartment in New York City, and the Hollywood hotel suite where she pantomimed with Harpo Marx and set her nose on fire while trying to deceive William Holden.

Opened in 2005 in a former department store, the playhouse was established by major donors William Rapaport, a computer science professor at the University of Buffalo, and his wife Mary, a cancer survivor who believes that Lucy-brand laughter was among the best medicine in her recovery. In fact, the Lucy-Desi Center's mission is, in part, to "enrich the world through the healing powers of love and laughter."

• The Lucy-Desi Center Gift Shop offers about 800 items and tries, apparently with much success, to carry every Lucy-Desi bauble, blanket, book, board game and tchotchke available. If, for example, you are in the market for a set of Lucy-Desi wine glasses from which to quaff an insolent cabernet, this is your kind of place. How about a bottle of Vitameatavegamin, the fictional alcoholbased elixir that got the best of Lucy during multiple takes when filming the product's commercial?

Merchandise revenue, together with admission sales, enable the celebrity center to remain in the black without government support.

If any TV-based fan phenomenon were loosely comparable to "I Love Lucy," it would probably be the Trekkies' adoration of "Star Trek." Interestingly, it was Ball who greenlighted the science-fiction show when she was president of Desilu, which became the largest film studio in the world. (It also created "Mission: Impossible," "The Untouchables," "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and many other classics gone to rerun heaven.)

It's long been fashionable to decry television's influence on American culture. But although TV is usually slavishly derivative, it also breaks ground. "I Love Lucy" was, for example, the first show to feature an interracial marriage (Ricky Ricardo was a Latino); and Ball was the first pregnant actress playing a pregnant woman on television when Little Ricky was born — though censors still banned uttering the word "pregnant." (In 1953, an "expectant" woman was "in a family way.")

So, as much fun as it may be to "people watch" and surrender to all the silliness at Lucy Days, a visitor might learn as much about TV history and pop culture as about the redhead Newsweek called the top female entertainer of the 20th century.

If you go

The Lucy-Desi Center manages three visitor facilities. All are open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. They are open daily except Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day and New Year's Eve and Day.

• The Lucy-Desi Museum, 212 Pine St., Jamestown. Admission: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 ages 6-18.

• The Desilu Playhouse, 2 W. Third St., Jamestown. Admission: $10 adult, $9, seniors, $7 ages 6-18.

• The Lucy-Desi Center Gift Shop, 300 N. Main St., Jamestown. No admission charge.

"Lucy-Desi Days" events: The full list of special events taking place Friday through next Sunday can be found at www.luci-desi.com. They include: • "A Very Special Tribute to Vivian Vance," 10 a.m. Saturday in the Reg Lenna Civic Center, 116 E. Third St. Vance's sister, Lou Ann Graham, is the special guest. Tickets are $20.

• Lucie Arnaz moderates the fourth "Legacy of Laughter" (LOL) at 8 p.m. Saturday, in the Reg Lenna Civic Center. Arnaz will lead the panel and audience through an interactive celebration and exploration of the healing powers of humor.

• "Lucie Arnaz in Concert: A Daughter's Tribute," 7:30 p.m. next Sunday in the Reg Lenna Civic Center. Tickets are $30.

Lucy's childhood homes:

Lucille Ball's birthplace and childhood home are both nearby. Her birthplace is 69 Stewart Ave., Jamestown; her childhood home is 59 Lucy Lane (formerly Eighth Street), Celoron.

Murals:

Be sure to look for the works of local artist Gary Peters Jr. while you're in Jamestown including the Lucy-Desi Postage Stamp Mural on the Prendergast Avenue side of the Jamestown Post Office on the corner of Third Street and a 7-foot-tall bottle of Vitameatavegamin on the elevator tower of the Spring Street parking ramp, the corner of Third Street.

Information: (877) LUCYFAN (582-9326); www.lucy-desi.com,www.tourchautauqua.com.

 

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

 

Chautauqua County Events

5/18/2007 - David Mallett Folk Music , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County
 8 p.m. The award-winning folk singer/songwriter from Maine "has the warmth of a flannel shirt, the comfort of a quilt and the heart of a poet."  Cost is $15 general Admission . , More Info. at: 716-679-1891, www.fredopera.org. 5

5/18/2007 - Dunkirk 2007 , Chautauqua County Fair Grounds, Dunkirk , Chautauqua County
 Over 800 vendor spaces fill all the all buildings and outdoor space. Two car corrals with beautiful autos, trucks, motorcycles to see and buy. Delicious food to sample. Antique Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Parts, Tires, Sheet Metal, Tools, and more for Antique or Special Auto Enthusiasts.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: patnpl@hotmail.com. 96

5/18/2007 - Simple Gifts Trio , St. Luke's Episcopal Church, corner of 4th & Main Sts., Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 8:00 p.m. Three women play twelve instruments in a variety of ethnic folk music -- Irish jigs, Klezmer melodies, Balkan dances, and original compositions on violins, mandolin, concertine, banjolin, recorders, psaltery, hammered dulcimer, guitar, piano, and percussion!  Cost is $20-adult, $15-senior, $7.50 college, students 18 & under free w/ paid adult. , More Info. at: 716-487-1522 , www.jamestownconcertassociation.org. 94

5/19/2007 - BIG BLUE Spring Garage Sale , Clark and Liberty Streets, Warren , Warren County
 Event is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: www.warrenpamainstreet.org. 126

5/19/2007 - Genealogy Workshops , 210 Fourth Avenue, Warren , Warren County
 Learn techniques to find your family history, with workshop leaders from the Warren Public Library, the Seneca National Museum, and the Warren County Historical Society. Light refreshments included. 9 a.m. to noon. Call the historical society for pre-registration - space is limited.  Cost is $10.00. , More Info. at: 814-723-1795. 97

5/20/2007 - Mad Hatter's Tea Party , Celebration Hall - 2 Academy St. - Old Mayvillel High, Mayville , Chautauqua County
 Mad Hatter's Tea Party kicks off at 3:00 p.m. Emcee of the event will be Chautauqua County's very own Jim Roselli. A fashion show and sale of products to be provided by Sue Sawyer's "All About Me". Come and learn about tea, enjoy the entertainment and shop all while having fun and supporting a worthy cause.  Cost is $15.00 per ticket. , More Info. at: 716-484-8236. 114

5/20/2007 - Chicken Barbecue , St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall, Fourth Street, Dunkirk, NY 14048, Dunkirk , Chautauqua County
 Meal includes 1/2 BBQ Chicken with Chiavetta Marinade, mashed potatoes and gravy, tossed salad, roll and butter, cake and beverage. Child's meal includes 1/4 chicken with all the fixings. Adults $7.00 Child $5.00 pre sale tickets available at the Parish Rectory Office, Washington Ave, Dunkirk for $6.50 Adult and $4.50 Child. Take-outs will be served ato ur CURB SIDE PICKUP - no need to even leave your car if you are in a hurry!! There will also be Live Music, Raffle Drawings of over 90 prizes and Basket Raffles.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: 716-366-1750. 86

5/20/2007 - Music Salon , 1255 Prendergast Ave., Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 7:00 p.m. , "From Method to Madness" , Chris Babbage- Piano and Voice , Michelle Buhite- voice  Cost is FREE- Donations accepted for future salons. , More Info. at: 716-488-1902. 113

5/20/2007 - Chicken 'n Biscuits Dinner , 2987 Johnson Street, Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 Dinners include salad, beverage and homemade desserts and will be served from Noon to 5 p.m. in the chruch hall.  Cost is $5.00 for Adults, $3.00 for Children. , More Info. at: www.stjamescatholic.net. 121

6/6/2007 - Wild Rib Cook Off & Music Festival , Exact Location TBA, Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 On June 6 - 9 the landscape of downtown Jamestown will once again transform into a colorful, exciting, fun filled community festival. Five Professional Award Winning National Rib Cooking Teams will converge in downtown Jamestown (exact location to be announced) proudly offering the finest in BBQ cuisine. A selection of delicious festival foods, arts and crafts, merchandise vendors and informational booths will compliment this event. Both regional and local bands will enhance the venue as well as the "Kid ZONE" an area hosting fun activities for children with soft rides, inflatables and games. Educational displays are being planned and both corporate and non-profit informational groups are invited to participate. Spaces are available. Please contact us for details on how your business or group can become a part of this much-anticipated community event.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: www.PerformanceAndEventMgt.com. 9

6/6/2007 - Amanda Rice Fundraising Dinner , Bellinger Hall Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua , Chautauqua County
 There will be a fundraiser dinner for Amanda Rice on June 6 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Bellinger Hall on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution. Amanda, an occupational therapist with Lutheran Social Services, was badly injured in a wintertime car accident on the I-86 bridge. The fundraiser is intended to help pay some of the very substantial costs of her care and recovery. The dinner will feature a menu of spaghetti and meatballs, bread, salad, drinks and deserts. Donation is $8 for an adult, $4 for children age 3-12 and free for kids under 12. There is a family ticket available for $20. There is no charge for admission to the grounds or parking. Tickets are available at the Chautauqua Bookstore - 357-2151, the Chautauqua Institution Ticket office - 357-6250, and the Smith Memorial Library. For further information, call Amanda Trisket 397-6937, Dreux Dominick 640-5351, Earl Rothfus 499-5450.  Cost is $8.00 for adults , $4.00 for children , $20 for a family ticket. , More Info. at: 716-357-6464. 123

6/8/2007 - Bach & Beyond Baroque Music Festival , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County
 Fri. & Sat at 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. A lively celebration of Baroque music performed as it was intended. Three concerts over three days.  Cost is $18/concert or $48 for subscription to all three concerts. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 71

6/9/2007 - Relay For Life of Falconer/Jamestown , Falconer Central School Track, Falconer , Chautauqua County
 12:00 pm - 5:00 am. The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a celebration of hope and survivorship. Team members take turns walking or running around a track for 18 hours to fight cancer. The event opens with a Survivor Lap, as the community, family and friends honor survivors of all forms of cancer. At nightfall, hundreds of luminaries are lit, each bag dedicated to a loved one who either won the battle with cancer, or remembering those who have been lost to the disease.  Cost is $10 registration fee per person. Community is welcome to stop by to show their support.. , More Info. at: 1-800-ACS-2345 , www.acsevents.org/relay/ny/jamestown. 11

6/9/2007 - Comedian Matt Jernigan , Lakewood Baptist Church Family Life Center, Lakewood , Chautauqua County
 Come see Comedian Matt Jernigan at Lakewood Baptist Church June 9th at 7:30 p.m. Matt does hilarious song parodies and will have you doubled over in laughter. Good, clean fun for ALL ages!  Cost is $5 tickets in advance; $7 at the door. , More Info. at: http://www.lakewoodbaptistny.com , 716-763-9621. 122

6/9/2007 - Relay For Life of Dunkirk/Fredonia , SUNY Fredonia Outdoor Track, Fredonia , Chautauqua County
 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a celebration of hope and survivorship. Team members take turns walking or running around a track to fight cancer. The event opens with a Survivor Lap, as the community, family and friends honor survivors of all forms of cancer. At nightfall, hundreds of luminaries are lit, each bag dedicated to a loved one who either won the battle with cancer, or remembering those who have been lost to the disease.  Cost is $10 registration fee per person. Community is welcome to come and show their support.. , More Info. at: 1-800-ACS-2345 , www.acsevents.org/relay/ny/fredonia. 13

6/16/2007 - Summer 2007 Events , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 10 a.m. to Noon. Mr. Lincoln's War - A Father's Day event. All children and their fathers, grandfathers, uncles welcome to learn about the Civil War in Chautauqua County.  Cost is Minimal admission. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 98

6/16/2007 - Cheers to Little Valley wine tasting , Little Valley VFW Post 8734, LittleValley , Cattaraugus County
 7:00 pm, Featuring Merritt Estates Winery, Music by Joe Wagner and Friends, raffles and door prizes, Tickets on sale at Cattaraugus County Bank, Thurnbird Origianls, and The Village of LIttle Valley Municipal Building.  Cost is $6.00 for 1 or $10.00 for 2 presale, $8.00 at the door.. , More Info. at: 716-938-9151. 87

6/17/2007 - Summer Solstice w/Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County
 7 p.m. Celebrate summer with a special program of traditional American and Celtic folk music. Mandolin, tin whistle, dulcimer, banjo, guitar, limberjack and a variety of other instruments combine with Appalachian clog dancing and French-Canadian footwork for a Father's Day evening of folk music, fun and frivolity.  Cost is $10. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 72

6/23/2007 - Old Home Week Parade , Main Street, Allegany NY, Allegany , Cattaraugus County
 This is the final night of Allegany's Old Home week which runs from Tues 6/19 - Sat 6/23. Following the parade, there will be carnival rides, refreshments available at the food and beer tents and a band at the carnival lot pavilion. Anyone interested in participating in the parade can contact the parade committee at PO Box 95, Allegany, NY 14706.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: www.allegany.org. 10

6/23/2007 - Summer Exhibit , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 June 23 - October 20: "Noble Barns": Explore the beauty, nostalgia and stories of the barns of Chautauqua County. Photographs, art and more.  Cost is Museum admission cost. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 99

6/24/2007 - Tommy Dorsey Orchestra , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County
  7 p.m. Recognized as one of the best all-around dance bands of the Big Band Era, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra led by Buddy Morrow continues to tour the world creating warm, sentimental and always danceable music.  Cost is $25 , $23 Opera House members. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 73

6/30/2007 - Red, White and Blue: A Tribute to our Hometown Heroes , Crown Theater, Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 7:30 p.m. "Red, White, and Blue: A Tribute to our Hometown Heroes". Celebrate through music, dancing, re-enactors and heartfelt stories of the Civil War, WWI, and WWII from our hometown soldiers and sailors.  Cost is $15 per person , $25 per couple , $5 discount for members.. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 100

7/16/2007 - Camp Brown Boot Camp , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 1-4 p.m. Camp Brown Boot Camp for students entering 4-6th grades. Learn about the 1862 Civil War Boot Camp in Chautauqua County.  Cost is $50 per week. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 101

7/21/2007 - Mike Randall is Mark Twain Live , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County
 7:30 p.m. Mike Randall has been bringing America's greatest humorist and author to life for more than 30 years. Three hours of make-up combined with Twain's own words and mannerisms create a startlingly realistic portrait of "America's original stand-up comedian."  Cost is $15. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 74

7/30/2007 - A Day In the Life , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County
 "A Day in the Life": live in the Victorian times through the eyes of a variety of children from the city, country and everywhere in between. For students entering 1st through 3rd grade  Cost is $50 per week. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 102

Bemus Bay Pops

Bemus Bay Pops Marks 10th Season

By NICHOLAS L. DEAN

Decade Of Pops The Bemus Bay Pops will mark its 10th year this summer when the 2007 concert series starts on Sunday, June 24. Submitted photo

5/18/2007 - BEMUS POINT — Ready to entertain area residents and visitors to Chautauqua County throughout the summer, Dan Dalpra, Bemus Bay Pops chairman, will announce the organization's schedule of events today.

What started as a rooftop performance by the Bemus Bay Pops Orchestra on Labor Day in 1998 has grown into a summertime tradition in Chautauqua County with music, movie, dance and comedy events happening weekly as part of the annual entertainment series.

This year, the Bemus Bay Pops will feature music of every popular genre as well as movies, comedy events, a murder mystery and more.

''It keeps improving each year,'' Dalpra said. ''This is the 10th year for the Pops and we have a great schedule, which will definitely benefit the area. The success of the program brings people back and it's easy to see how the series has evolved over the years into what it is today.''

Since the orchestra first performed atop the Italian Fisherman restaurant in Bemus Point, the Bemus Bay Pops has grown into a summer-long series of events.

Now a not-for-profit organization, the Bemus Bay Pops has increasingly attracted more and more visitors to the area. With an estimated 4,000 people in attendance in 1998, the Bemus Bay Pops Summer Series has grown to have as many as 10,000 people attending the series in recent years.

''The cultural side of it is the fact that all these shows are free to the public and that has opened the doors up for a lot of people to come out and enjoy a variety of events,'' Dalpra said. ''It certainly has instilled a great interest in the arts and has provided everybody with an opportunity to be a part of something.''

In 2003, the organization built the Floating Stage — which now serves as a venue for world-class musicians and other performers throughout the summer. Located on Bemus Bay, the Floating Stage allows for viewers to watch events from land or by boat.

See BEMUS BAY On Page C-3

''Getting the stage was a real milestone,'' Dalpra said. ''We've been able to watch the program grow since then and the effects of the program have impacted the whole area. I mean, it has really made a significant difference. People are putting a little more energy into the community now and I think there is a new awareness level from both developers looking to build and people wanting to reinvest in the community. I think this has been part of the stimulation for that.''

In addition to providing a sure source of entertainment for local residents throughout the summer, the Bemus Bay Pops Summer Series has become a tourist destination — helping to fill area hotels and bring additional income into the area.

''It has had a great impact regionally, in terms of the economics for everybody,'' Dalpra said. ''It has helped to increase the marina side of things and surely helps fill the hotels and sell real estate.''

As the organization is a not-for-profit group, Dalpra thanked the many patrons and sponsors who have continued to make the series possible throughout the years.

This season's Bemus Bay Pops series starts on Sunday, June 24 with two shows.

At 9 a.m., the Bemus Point United Methodist Church will host a ''Praise on the Lake'' event and at 2:30 in the afternoon, the Germaine & Pappalardo Swing Band will perform a tribute to Louis Prima and Keeley Smith. Billed as a ''classy start to the 2007 Bemus Bay Pops Concert Summer Series,'' the Germaine & Pappalardo Swing Band will perform songs by Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Sinatra, Glenn Miller and more.

In addition to musical performances, the 2007 Bemus Bay Pops Concert Summer Series will again feature non-musical events — such as Lake Night at the Movies. A free movie-screening event which happens weekly at the Floating Stage, Lake Night at the Movies will feature a variety of films this summer — including ''March of the Penguins,'' ''Guardian,'' ''Invincible'' and others.

Similar to the movie screenings, the Bemus Bayfront Theatre will present two murder mystery events this summer — once on Friday, July 6 and once on Friday, Aug. 3. An interactive event, the murder mystery puts participants on the set of a movie being filmed. The idea is that those participating have been hired as extras in one of the big scenes. However, something deadly happens which is not in the script and the participants must sleuth out the truths behind the mystery.

The comedy troupe In All Seriousness will also perform as part of the summer series. Billed as ''Thinking man's comedy,'' the work of In All Seriousness blends sketch comedy, improv, political humor, song and commercial parodies for a unique evening of entertainment. The shows are scheduled for July 7, July 20 and Aug. 17. Additionally, the comedy event ''Whose Line on the Bay'' will again be held. An interactive event modeled after the popular television show of a similar name, ''Whose Line on the Bay?'' relies on audience suggestions to make up the material for the show.

For more on the Bemus Bay Pops or to view a complete listing of concerts, visit BemusBayPops.com.

Send comments to ndean@post-journal.com.

 

For more information on Chautauqua Lake real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

 

Cassadaga Lake Chautauqua Lake

Cassadaga Lake

Introduction

Cassadaga Lake is actually three interconnected lakes, located in northern Chautauqua County. All three lakes provide angling for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge and several species of panfish. Public boat launching and fishing access is provided at a DEC operated site located at the north end of Middle Cassadaga Lake. Anglers should note that these lakes experience oxygen depletion below depths of 12 feet -15 feet from June-September.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

Bass in Cassadaga Lakes are managed by DEC with a special regulation called a slot limit. This regulation requires anglers to release any bass they catch between 12 and 15 inches in length. Bass less than 12 inches and greater than 15 inches can be kept. The statewide daily creel limit of five bass and the 3rd Saturday in June opener is also in effect.

This unusual regulation is utilized as a way to reduce the density of young bass and increase the growth rate for all bass, thereby increasing numbers of bass in the protected slot length (12 inches - 15 inches). Also anglers will have the opportunity to harvest a trophy size bass (more than 15 inches). This regulation went into effect in 1994, and recent surveys indicate the regulation appears to be meeting its objectives. Cassadaga Lakes extensive, natural wetland shoreline offers excellent cover for largemouth bass and anglers shouldn't pass up these brushy shoreline areas. Bass anglers have success with spinner baits, surface plugs, plastic worms, crank baits and live bait, such as crayfish and shiners.

Muskellunge, Northern Pike and Walleye

Northern pike, which reproduce naturally, and muskellunge, which are stocked as fingerlings by DEC, provide anglers with the opportunity for a true trophy. Muskellunge in Cassadaga Lakes can exceed 40 inches in length, while northern pike over 30 inches can be caught. Large, live minnows and 8 inches - 12 inches imitation baitfish lures will take some nice fish. Walleye are found in limited numbers in Cassadaga Lakes, but legal size fish are caught occasionally.

Panfish

Panfish provide plenty of action for the angler on the Cassadaga Lakes. The most common species are bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, yellow perch and brown bullhead. Panfish are caught year-round and ice fishing is a popular winter activity. Live baits such as minnows or worms usually produce the best catches, but small jigs and lures also work well. When sunfish are on their spawning beds in the spring, try using an 8 foot, 3-4 weight fly rod with surface poppers or wet flies. They can provide some fast and fun action. Bullheads are most active after sunset and can be taken using nightcrawlers or scented baits.

 

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Blue Heron Music Festival

THE GREAT BLUE HERON MUSIC FESTIVAL
Event Type:	Festival
Event Description:	July 6, 7, and 8 have been announced as this year's dates for the 16th annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival, held each year since 1992 near Sherman, NY in Western Chautauqua County. The event will feature performances by 26 regional, national, and international acts, embracing many styles, including rock, folk, blues, bluegrass, celtic, old-time, country, and Cajun/zydeco. This year's edition will be a reunion of sorts, featuring many of the festival's recent fan favorites. Those scheduled to appear include perennial headliners Donna the Buffalo, national recording artists The Horse Flies, and The Avett Brothers, whose star continues to rise, playing sold-out shows from coast-to-coast. Also returning, will be Vancouver, BC celtic rockers The Town Pants, and Philadelphia lap steel rock/hip-hop hybrid Slo-Mo. Also returning will be African/reggae-influenced roots rockers The Sim Redmond Band, and percussion and horn-driven jam rockers Entrain. Other former Blue Heron bands will also be represented this year: Rusted Root vocalist Jenn Wertz will bring her latest project, Isabella to the stage, while original member Jim Donovan will host drum workshops. 10,00 Maniacs co-founder John Lombardo and former lead vocalist Mary Ramsey, along with their band, The Valkyries will also perform. Continuing the festival's tradition of presenting the leading names in Louisiana Cajun/zydeco music, the legendary Willis Prudhomme will host a late-night party in the dance tent, backed by Redline Zydeco. Along with The Avett Brothers, North Carolina will also offer up the everybody-join-in vibe of multi-instrumentalists Bombadil, and retro-country group Kelly & the Cowboys. Others appearing this year include local ambassadors to the national music scene, Big Leg Emma, as well as The Tiger Maple String Band, Boy With a Fish, Buffalo Zydeco, The Chicken Chokers, and regional favorites Smackdab. Also on hand will be Crow Greenspun, Shoot the Moon, The Talk To Me's, Pine Ridge, and Yankee Zydeco. Representing Jamestown's Infinity Project again this year will be The Bruce Peterson Blues Project and Steel Pan Alley. In addition to the main-stage performances and virtually around-the-clock dances in the tent, the festival offers performer-hosted music workshops, organized children's activities and supervised swimming, hiking & biking, drum circles, dance instruction, and dozens of food & merchandise vendors. Also featured will be the official opening of the newly-constructed coffee house in the woods. Organizers attribute the success and longevity of the festival, mainly, to its attractive rural setting and the entertainment's appeal to a broad range of ages and tastes. The site includes hundreds of acres of parking and campsites, both wooded and open, which include family-friendly locations designated as "quiet areas". The festival will be staffed by over 600 volunteers who donate a set amount of time in return for a weekend pass. Children under 12 will be admitted at no charge. A youth ticket is available, allowing those aged 12-15 to attend, with their families, at a reduced rate.
Start Date:	07/06/2007
End Date:	07/08/2007
Time:	Gates open at 9:00am, Friday (no public admittance before that time) Music starts at about 3:00pm that day. The festival ends at dusk on Sunday. No camping will be allowed that night.
Venue:	Western Chautauqua County
Venue Address:	Wait Corners Road
Venue City:	Sherman, NY, 14781 Show Map
Cost:	Weekend tickets can be ordered by phone at: 716/484-7070. They can also be acquired in person at The Reg Lenna Civic Center box office, Hollyloft Ski & Bike, both in Jamestown; and at Terrapin Station in Buffalo, and Grasshopper in Erie, PA. One-day passes and vehicle-camping permits are available at the gate only. There is no charge for tent-camping in designated locations. Those interested in more information can contact the festival by phone at: 716-487-1781, or by e-mail at: gbhfest@netsync.net. More details, including artist profiles, onsite photos, and directions can be found on their website: greatblueheron.com where on-line tickets are also available.
Contact:	Great Blue Heron
Contact Phone:	716-487-1781
Contact Email:	gbhfest@netsync.net
Event URL:	http://www.greatblueheron.com     For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Chautauqua Events

5/19/2007 - Genealogy Workshops , 210 Fourth Avenue, Warren , Warren County  Learn techniques to find your family history, with workshop leaders from the Warren Public Library, the Seneca National Museum, and the Warren County Historical Society. Light refreshments included. 9 a.m. to noon. Call the historical society for pre-registration - space is limited.  Cost is $10.00. , More Info. at: 814-723-1795. 97

5/20/2007 - Chicken 'n Biscuits Dinner , 2987 Johnson Street, Jamestown , Chautauqua County  Dinners include salad, beverage and homemade desserts and will be served from Noon to 5 p.m. in the chruch hall.  Cost is $5.00 for Adults, $3.00 for Children. , More Info. at: www.stjamescatholic.net. 121

5/20/2007 - Mad Hatter's Tea Party , Celebration Hall - 2 Academy St. - Old Mayvillel High, Mayville , Chautauqua County  Mad Hatter's Tea Party kicks off at 3:00 p.m. Emcee of the event will be Chautauqua County's very own Jim Roselli. A fashion show and sale of products to be provided by Sue Sawyer's "All About Me". Come and learn about tea, enjoy the entertainment and shop all while having fun and supporting a worthy cause.  Cost is $15.00 per ticket. , More Info. at: 716-484-8236. 114

5/20/2007 - Music Salon , 1255 Prendergast Ave., Jamestown , Chautauqua County  7:00 p.m. , "From Method to Madness" , Chris Babbage- Piano and Voice , Michelle Buhite- voice  Cost is FREE- Donations accepted for future salons. , More Info. at: 716-488-1902. 113

5/20/2007 - Chicken Barbecue , St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall, Fourth Street, Dunkirk, NY 14048, Dunkirk , Chautauqua County  Meal includes 1/2 BBQ Chicken with Chiavetta Marinade, mashed potatoes and gravy, tossed salad, roll and butter, cake and beverage. Child's meal includes 1/4 chicken with all the fixings. Adults $7.00 Child $5.00 pre sale tickets available at the Parish Rectory Office, Washington Ave, Dunkirk for $6.50 Adult and $4.50 Child. Take-outs will be served ato ur CURB SIDE PICKUP - no need to even leave your car if you are in a hurry!! There will also be Live Music, Raffle Drawings of over 90 prizes and Basket Raffles.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: 716-366-1750. 86

6/23/2007 - Summer Exhibit , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County  June 23 - October 20: "Noble Barns": Explore the beauty, nostalgia and stories of the barns of Chautauqua County. Photographs, art and more.  Cost is Museum admission cost. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 99

6/23/2007 - Old Home Week Parade , Main Street, Allegany NY, Allegany , Cattaraugus County  This is the final night of Allegany's Old Home week which runs from Tues 6/19 - Sat 6/23. Following the parade, there will be carnival rides, refreshments available at the food and beer tents and a band at the carnival lot pavilion. Anyone interested in participating in the parade can contact the parade committee at PO Box 95, Allegany, NY 14706.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: www.allegany.org. 10

6/24/2007 - Tommy Dorsey Orchestra , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County   7 p.m. Recognized as one of the best all-around dance bands of the Big Band Era, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra led by Buddy Morrow continues to tour the world creating warm, sentimental and always danceable music.  Cost is $25 , $23 Opera House members. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 73

6/30/2007 - Red, White and Blue: A Tribute to our Hometown Heroes , Crown Theater, Jamestown , Chautauqua County  7:30 p.m. "Red, White, and Blue: A Tribute to our Hometown Heroes". Celebrate through music, dancing, re-enactors and heartfelt stories of the Civil War, WWI, and WWII from our hometown soldiers and sailors.  Cost is $15 per person , $25 per couple , $5 discount for members.. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 100

7/21/2007 - Mike Randall is Mark Twain Live , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  7:30 p.m. Mike Randall has been bringing America's greatest humorist and author to life for more than 30 years. Three hours of make-up combined with Twain's own words and mannerisms create a startlingly realistic portrait of "America's original stand-up comedian."  Cost is $15. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 74

7/30/2007 - A Day In the Life , 67 Washington St., Jamestown , Chautauqua County  "A Day in the Life": live in the Victorian times through the eyes of a variety of children from the city, country and everywhere in between. For students entering 1st through 3rd grade  Cost is $50 per week. , More Info. at: www.fentonhistorycenter.org. 102

9/19/2007 - Chad & Jeremy , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County   8 p.m. The famed 60s pop duo with hits including Yesterday's Gone, Summer Song and Willow Weep For Me, on tour for the first time in 30 years. One of the most successful of the British invasion acts, Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde still deliver the lush sound that made them folk pop royalty!  Cost is $22 , $20 Opera House members. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 80

9/23/2007 - Folk in Fredonia Free-for-All , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  3 p.m. Fredonia Folk music favorites Dick & Carmen Gilman gather friends from throughout the state for a great afternoon of fun folk music and dance.  Cost is FREE. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 81

10/20/2007 - The Ying Quartet , 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia , Chautauqua County  8 p.m. The quartet-in-residence at the Eastman School of Music, the Ying siblings have been performing together for nearly 15 years and are one of the nation's most sought-after string quartets.  Cost is $15 , $12 Opera House members, $10 students. , More Info. at: www.fredopera.org , 716-679-1891. 82