Jamestown Christmas Parade

Parade Is This Evening With Tree Lighting To Follow By Patrick Fanelli pfanelli@post-journal.com  Evening With Tree Lighting 12/7/2007 - The annual holiday parade has been months in the making, but it has finally arrived — the official start of the holiday season in Jamestown. With little precipitation in the forecast and with temperatures expected just under the 32-degree freezing point, the Downtown Jamestown Development Corp. expects the event to go off without a hitch. Roughly 100 entries are expected to participate, and the parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is expected to finish its trek to Tracy Plaza for the Christmas Tree lighting approximately one hour later. ''It's certainly one of the biggest parades in Western New York,'' said Lee Harkness, DJDC executive director. ''We have people coming from all over the county, from Bradford, Warren, Olean. It's one of the most premier activities of the holiday season.'' State Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, will lead the holiday host in her post as parade grand marshall, and William Daly, Chautauqua County planning and economic development director, will be the event announcer. In addition, Ben Blood, 2007 Chautauqua Lake Idol winner, will be singing this year's National Anthem. The floats will span a variety of Christmas films and elements. Films on which some of the floats are based include ''A Christmas Story,'' ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas'' and ''Polar Express.'' A variety of activities will take place before and after the parade. Ballerinas will be featured at 19 W. Third St. from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Pre-parade entertainment will begin at 6:15 p.m. provided by the Reg Lenna Civic Center's Drama Enrichment Program in front of Tracy Plaza on Third Street. Candy will be handed out — not thrown, which has been prohibited for safety reasons — along the parade route, which spans all of Third Street from across the bridge all the way to Tracy Plaza. In addition, U.S. postal carriers will be picking up letters to Santa Claus, and live reindeer have been transported to Jamestown and will be featured across the street from the Reg Lenna Civic Center. The first-ever Snowball Drop, sponsored by the Jamestown Cycle Shop, will take place between the lighting of the Christmas tree at Tracy Plaza and the start of the fireworks display, according to Ms. Reynolds, and it will consist of dozens of ping pong balls being dropped into the street from 50 t0 75 feet up in the air. ''The lights will go on, the snowballs will drop and the fireworks will go off. At least, that's the plan,'' Ms. Reynolds said. ''There will be discounts, sales stuff, free giveaways. ... You collect them and redeem them at the specified business or restaurant.'' Participating businesses include the YMCA, Jakes Uptown Grill, Jamestown Dance Supply, Roberto's, Liscandro's, Lander's Men's Store, Suburban Blend, the Reg Lenna Civic Center and the Basket Company. ''It's really a family event,'' Ms. Reynolds said of the parade. ''We want to instill memories — long-lasting memories.''   For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

 

Bemus Point Condos Go Vertical

December 6, 2007 at 9:04 am
  
    A typically nice fall kept construction on schedule for Chautauqua Lake's
newest condominium development. Vertical construction of the 40 homes, half of
which have already been pre-sold, is now well underway. The project is expected
to be completed by spring of next year allowing homeowners to enjoy the
Chautauqua Lake and Chautauqua Institution summer season. (PRWeb Dec 6, 2007)
  
  For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit:
www.chautauqualakehomes.com
  

Holiday Valley Ski Area

Holiday Valley Packed For Opening Day

Cheap lift tickets for 50th anniversary bring in the crowds

YouNewsTV™

Story Updated: Dec 5, 2007 at 7:06 PM EST

By Jennifer Stanonis

Watch the story

It was a busy opening day for Holiday Valley with lines everywhere on Wednesday. Traffic was backed up almost a couple miles and hundreds of people bought lift tickets and got on the slopes.

To celebrate Holiday Valley's 50 year anniversary the first people to ride a chair lift sat in a gold painted chair. Ticket prices were lowered for about an hour Wednesday morning, from around $45 down to $4, which was the price 50 years ago. "We drove from Ohio," Julia Marijak said after buying her four dollar lift ticket. "Four dollars is probably better than you'll ever spend, we'll never ski that cheap again."

Shirley Hurtubise may've thought the same thing when she first hit the slopes there half a century ago. "I know we skied down here then, I just don't remember if we made opening day," Hurtubise said.

There have been a lot of changes since the ski resort originally opened with only three slopes back in the 1950's, now there are 56 runs. "Oh, so many more runs and the snow making is excellent," Hurtubise said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, eight of the slopes and three chair lifts at Holiday Valley are open for this year's season. The ski area is planning to open more slopes this weekend.

 

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

 

Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club

Brocton approves snowmobile bridge

 

By MICHAEL RUKAVINA

Submitted photo The Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club built this bridge in Brocton.

12/2/2007 - OBSERVER Staff Writer

BROCTON — Snowmobilers rejoice in Brocton. A safer means of travel was approved by the Brocton Village Board when they gave permission to the Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club to erect a bridge.

"We retained permission to create a snowmobile trail across the watershed property, and we have to build a bridge over the creek to make it safe, so we were looking for permission before we built it," said club Vice President Steve Smith of Brocton.

The village granted permission of snowmobilers to use the village-owned land as the group carries its own insurance. The only provisions by attorney Sam Drayo were for the village to name themselves as a secondary insurance, and to give themselves authority to take the bridge down if they see fit.

Since its approval back in November, the Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club has constructed the bridge that will benefit the Secondary 45 from C4B in and out of Brocton, and the Corridor C4B -Mayville to Brocton to Stockton trails. Corridor C4B starts at an intersection with Corridor 4 approximately 1/2-mile northeast of State Route 430. The first part of Corridor C4B is essentially the old Penn Central Railroad line from Mayville to Brocton. 

The Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club season starts after the end-of-season party and its annual election of officers (normally around the end of April). The new snowmobiling season starts with lots of trail maintenance, new trail development, new bridge work and maintenance, and trail signing that occurs before the snow flies.

Volunteer workers actually spend more than 1,000 man hours between spring, summer and into late fall.

The club is associated with NYSSA — New York State Snowmobile Association — and has a 100 percent membership rate to support voices across the state and in Albany. The mission is to develop new trails and maintain existing trails during the off months, groom, and ride the trails during season.

For more information on trails and the club, visit www.chautauquasnow.com.

 

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

 

ELLICOTTVILLE, HOLIDAY VALLEY

Holiday Valley Opens Today By Robert Rizzuto rrizzuto@post-journal.com  Holiday Valley will open its 50th season at 9 a.m. today with a first-hour offer of $4 lift tickets. Submitted photo 12/5/2007 - ELLICOTTVILLE — The crew at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville has been hoping for a storm which would provide the consistent cold and snow necessary to open. Their wish has been granted. Holiday Valley will officially begin its 50th season today at 9 a.m. with its 1957 lift ticket price of $4 available for the first hour only. ''We thought it was a great way to kick off the whole season,'' said Jane Eshbaugh, Holiday Valley marketing director. ''We will have five to seven slopes open and possibly open another black diamond.'' Steve Crowley, mountain operations director, said the resort began making snow on Nov. 17 and continued as temperatures allowed. He explained that the longer the snow 'cures' on the mountain before grooming, the deeper the base, which results in it holding up better for Holiday's skiers and riders. ''We're expecting a great run of snowmaking this week,'' he added. ''Additional lifts and slopes will be opening very soon.'' This season, Holiday Valley will be hosting events and showing off improvements made across the resort, all in celebration of its ''Golden Anniversary.'' Among the $2.9 million spent in renovations is the Spruce Lake Quad Chair Lift and service to three new slopes, according to Ms. Eshbaugh. Holiday Valley also spent $25,000 on new rails for the terrain park and renovated the guest rooms at the Slope Slide Inn. Although some locals might not appreciate the recent burst of cold and snow, Ms. Eshbaugh said she looks forward to it. ''Keep sending all the cold and lake-effect snow to Ellicottville,'' she said. ''If you're going to live in Western New York, you might as well enjoy it.''   For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Chautauqua Belle Is Back In The Water

Chautauqua Belle Is Back In The Water
Originally uploaded by bill.fu

If you have never done so in 2008 take a ride on this. Very enjoyable experience for your family and friends.

Rick McMahon
www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Peek'n Peak Chautauqua County

Christmas Light Display Highlights Opening Weekend At Peek'n Peak

By Robert Rizzuto rrizzuto@post-journal.com

Light Up Your Night Peek'n Peak's ''Trail of Lights'' can be seen any day between 6 and 9 p.m. until Dec. 23. A 20-minute ride on a ski lift to view the display costs $5. P-J photo by Robert Rizzuto

12/1/2007 - FINDLEY LAKE — Peek'n Peak will officially begin its 44th season today with eight trails, two lifts and a packed-powder surface base, and of course, the colorful and unique spectacle known as the ''Trail of Lights.''

The ski slope-long animated light montage is definitely not your average display of Christmas decorations, and is the first of its kind in North America.

Standing at the bottom of the Finsbury Field ski slope next to Pizzaiolos Italian Restaurant, Christmas music fills the air. The whole hill is visible for free from the bottom, but a $5 ticket buys a ride the lift up the decorated mountain-side and back down again, experiencing the display from above as was intended through its design.

The scale of the display is best grasped through experience, but in short; it's massive.

Santa makes several appearances along the lit-up trail with his reindeer running down the hill while elves play catch and package gifts. A moose skis by below as you stare off into the nutcracker castle near the mountain top. A collage of traditional Christmas toys comes to life as the jack-in-the-box springs from its colorful base.

''The Trail of Lights gives non-skiers another reason to think of The Peek in the winter,'' said Chip Day, Peek'n Peak vice president of brand management. ''The 20-minute ride will leave riders with an everlasting memory of Peek'n Peak.''

''The ''Trail of Lights'' was a massive project,'' Day said. ''It consists of more than 80 animated LED displays and 100,000 bulbs, all of which had to be hand-screwed into the units.''

''It took a crew of about 12 people working straight for a week,'' Day added. ''It was definitely a labor of love.''

The ''Trail of Lights'' isn't the sole source of holiday spirit at Peek'n Peak. Almost the entire resort is decked out with lights in addition to a number of homes on the adjacent Canterbury Drive displaying a variety of lit-up holiday scenes. At the Inn, the Peek'n Peak crew has also finished setting up and decorating the massive 24-foot Christmas tree.

The Trail of Lights can be seen any day of the week between 6 and 9 p.m. until December 23. Day advises that people dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy footwear.

For people planning on riding the trails in the days to come, Day said they plan on making snow for the next 10 nights as the weather forecast predicts conditions will be ideal. He added that additional slopes will be open as weather permits and a $5 discount on lift tickets will be in effect until that happens.

For more information including pictures of the trail and live, streaming video of the slopes, visit The Peek's Web site at www.pknpk.com.

 

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

 

Chautauqua County Snowmomobiles

'Winter road trip'  OBSERVER File Photo by Patrick Fanelli Snowmobiles line up during the fourth annual Ride-In event in February organized by the Chautauqua County Snowmobile Federation.     12/2/2007 - An overview of snowmobiling for beginners By   JESSE SHERWOOD OBSERVER Staff Writer Snow is starting to fly and for most people, that might mean rough road conditions and the approach of the holidays. But for some, it brings to mind snowmobile season. Snowmobiling is a unique sport and activity limited to places like Western New York where snow is usually plentiful. "It's one thing I love about winter. It's really something fun to do that gets you outdoors in the winter time," said Hanover resident Christopher Raczka, who has been snowmobiling since he was a child. Yet for those who have never engaged in this winter amusement like Raczka, but wish to start, here is a brief guide to getting started. Buying and maintaining a snowmobile The fist thing a would-be snowmobiler must do is buy a machine, often called "sleds" by seasoned riders. Dave Packler, the shop foreman at Gowanda StarCraft, which offers Arctic Cat and Yamaha snowmobiles, said the first consideration should be size and skill of the rider. "There's a lot of different sizes. For younger kids, you'd want to go with the smallest models, like 120s. But a lot depends on your experience with riding," he said. The sizes Packler referred to — such as 120 — are the cc, or cubic centimeters of the engine. The bigger the number, the bigger the engine. Packler said that there are two types of engines that also come into play when deciding on what kind of sled to buy. "I would suggest for people just starting to snowmobile that they get a fan-cooled engine. They're a little cheaper and they are usually a little smaller," he related. "But, for more experienced riders, you could go with a liquid cooled sled because they have better performance and are often bigger." Unlike other types of recreational motor-sport vehicles, such as ATVs and dirt bikes, Packler said snowmobiles are usually easier to maintain. "Most snowmobiles are virtually maintenance free. You can get a couple thousand miles out of them with just basic maintenance like lubing," he said. But, Packler said that beginners and experienced riders alike should check their snowmobiles out at least once a year. "I would recommend taking it to a shop once a year before the season starts for general maintenance, unless you know how to do some of that stuff yourself, like changing the oil in a four-stroke engine," he said, referring to the two types of engines, two-stroke and four-stroke. Two-stroke engines, like those also in ATVs and dirt bikes, do not need oil changes since they run on a gas-oil mix. Four-strokes, which are like car engines, run on gas alone and need oil changes. There is one thing that novice sled riders often do wrong, Packler said. "The biggest thing is during the early season when there's still water and mud around, that stuff gets up in the suspension and can freeze it up. So try to keep them somewhere where they can thaw out," he recommended. To learn more about snowmobiles and order a buyer's guide, go to the American Snowmobiler magazine Web site at www.amsnow.com. Trails and clubs There are more than 11,000 miles of trail systems in New York state, so once you have a sled, there are plenty of places to go. Rick Engasser, the groomer coordinator for the Cherry Creek Sno-Goers Club, is one of the many who maintain local trails. The Clarence native, who comes to Chautauqua County to snowmobile, said that the grooming of trails begins when the season starts. "The trails typically open on Dec. 18, if there is adequate snow. We need around a foot to start grooming and riding," he said. Engasser said that there is some work that goes on all year, such as clearing and grating trails and building bridges where necessary. Signs must also be put up in the trails to help the riders once the season gets into full swing. During the winter, though, Engasser and his fellow groomers use grooming tractors, which he said have tracks to make them maneuver better in the snow. "The groomer pulls a drag behind it that packs down the snow and makes the snow on the trails harder so they are easier to ride on," he said. Before hitting the trails, there are formalities that must be taken care of, just as when getting a new car on the road. Snowmobiles have to be registered and insured. Snowmobiles may be registered at the local Department of Transportation, where there are proper forms. However, those who join a local snowmobile club, like the one Engasser is a part of, can receive a discount on registration. There are many snowmobile clubs available to riders all over Chautauqua County, and all welcome new members. Besides the discount on registration, there are also many other benefits to being in a club, such as having experienced people to begin riding with. To find out more about the clubs, visit the New York State Snowmobile Association's listing of Chautauqua County clubs at www.nyssnowassoc.org/clubs/chautauqua.htm. The experience Whether you choose to join a club, you still must have your sled registered and insured to ride legally. And once that is done, you can get out on the trails and start experienceing the joy this winter activity has to offer. Raczka, who has also been an avid ATV rider for most of his life, said that snowmobiling is different than other forms of motor-sports. "I think it's a little different because it's cold out. You're riding around all bundled up with the chilly wind all around you and gliding on the snow. It's really a great feeling," he said. When talking about the longer trips on the area trails, Raczka said that it feels almost like taking a trip. "I mean, you're out there all day and sometimes all night. The trails go all over the county, and into other counties. And there's resturants, bars and stores on the trail, so it's almost like a winter road trip. Except in this case, I guess you'd call it a trail trip," he related. The proximity of trails to places of business is indeed helpful for long rides. And business owners often welcome the extra customers. Rob Daniels, the owner of the House of Jack — a beer, liquor and food store in Bemus Point — said that he sees a definite increase in patrons during the snowmobile season. "Our business picks up during the season. We get a lot more clientele coming in from all over — the long distance riders from Allegheny, Cherry Creek, Cassadaga and stuff," Daniels said. Raczka said that having the businesses around the trail was particularly interesting when he was younger. "Well, before I was 16 and could drive, it was really cool being able to drive around on the trails and go places," he said. "It was almost like I was a grownup driving around in a car." Daniels said that the increase in business always depends on snow. "We're right by the trail, so if we get snow, we get sleds," he said. "If we get sleds, we get customers." Raczka said that snowfall is sometimes the only thing that can be challenging. "If it doesn't snow enough, you can't ride. But if there's enough snow this winter, I'll be out there. And if there's enough snow, I recommend to anyone that hasn't tried it to get a sled and hit the trails. It really is a great time." Comments on this article may be sent to trzepka@observertoday.com.   For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

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This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Our first Year on Chautauqua Lake

At November 30, 2007 7:42 PM, Stephen said...
November 30, 2007

Hi! We're just completing our first year of owning a cottage on Chautauqua Lake and would love to share with you some thoughts about our first year on the lake. And, since Rick and Julia McMahon were so helpful in our search for lakefront property, we're glad to contribute to the blog….which is bookmarked on my computer!.

We have really enjoyed our waterfront cottage located near the village of Bemus Point. Our first year has been a busy one, with lots of cottage improvements, but it has also been a great adventure. As retirees, we were able to spend about six months of 2007 on Chautauqua Lake, and the time just flew by. We've been able to enjoy the unique beauty of each season on the water, from the snow and ice of January, to the greening of the hillsides in spring, the beautiful breezy summer days boating on the lake and finally, the yellow, orange and brown colors of fall. We haven't even had time to begin to take in all the recreational activities around the lake, which makes the Chautauqua Lake community a great place to live. We can enjoy the peaceful and relaxing surroundings of our cottage, or within minutes, take advantage of nearby restaurants, retail shops, movie theaters, the Chautauqua Institute or nearby parks. There is always something interesting or fun to explore and enjoy!

As a cottage owner, I can't say enough about how helpful local people and businesses have been. Everyone seems genuinely pleased to help you and take care of your needs. Some great local businessmen have been so easy to work with when we needed to get our docks in the water, a new natural gas line installed, and some carpentry work done on the cottage. We even received "Welcome Back" notes from our mailman! And our special neighbors, who are longtime residents, have been so helpful in learning about our cottage and many aspects of cottage ownership and maintenance.

Another great experience has been meeting our new neighbors. Our cottage is located on a nice street with properties owned by some wonderful people. Having a summer cottage provides such a great place for enjoying old friends as well as new ones, and when you say your goodbyes at the end of the summer, you are already looking forward to the next vacation season.

If you haven't spent some time on Chautauqua Lake…….plan to do it soon!

Stephen Brasure

 

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