Historic Bemus Point Business Changes Hands

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For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living Visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/

Win A Trip To Chautauqua

Chautauqua: An American Narrative captures the unique environment and opportunities provided by the venerable institution. With an incredibly rich history and a vibrant present-day, it is a uniquely American experience with a pervasive, yet sometimes forgotten, place in American culture and history. Don't you want to visit?? Read on for details! Monday, March 7th at 8pm, WXXI-TV, Cable 11 & 1011, DT 21.1 Membership Gift Options: $75 – DVD of the program $120 – DVD plus the WXXI MemberCard Click here to make your pledge! Details on the trip giveaway: We're giving away a trip for two to the opening weekend of the Summer season at Chautauqua Institution, June 25-26! The package, courtesy of Koning Day Tours, includes lodging at the Anthenaeum Hotel, round trip transportation via deluxe motorcoach, a performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and meals! You can pledge in any amount to enter the drawing automatically. Just click 'yes' to the question on the pledge form. There is no pledge necessary to enter. To enter without making a donation, call our membership office at (585) 258-0200. For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/

5 Big Reasons to Love Your Small House + Storage Tips

Richard, need storage ideas for small spaces? Read more

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	What's Hot Mortgage Deduction Myths 5 Real-Life Up Houses Repaying 2008 Tax Credit 8 Tips to Add Curb Appeal

Hello Richard, Living in a small home doesn't mean you can't live large. A small home gives you more money and time to enjoy your home -- and life! We know storage is the #1 issue, but we've got tips, including kitchen storage ideas, to help maximize your space. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: A look at the toll this winter's snowstorms took on home owners. More. 5 Big Reasons to Love Your Small Home From lowering your tax bill to having more free time. See more. • Maximize Your Storage Space • Making Space for a Home Office • Small Kitchen Space-Savers • Tips on Adding a Small Bath Richard, sign in to access your binder, which allows you to: • Plan and organize your projects. • Create to-do lists and reminders. • Set goals and measure your progress. Put lamps in corners, and use lower wattage bulbs. You'll have more light and save money. • 7 Tips for Saving Energy with Home Lighting • Under Cabinet Lighting: Your Kitchen Task Masters Keeping tabs on your energy consumption with home energy monitors. See all Podcasts » MOST ADDED TO BINDERS THIS MONTH 10 Tips For a Low-Cost Kitchen Facelift Home Improvement Apps for Your Phone MOST COMPLETED THIS MONTH Repair Wood Floors and Erase Scratches Green Cleaning Products for the Bathroom Ready to do some home improvements or tackle home maintenance tasks? Our project finder will help you prioritize projects based on level of effort, costs, and what you want to accomplish. • Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour Hits the Road • 5 Stories of Real-Life "Up" Houses • Vacant Homes: 8 Ways to Make Sure They're Maintained • Do Neighborhood Watch Groups Cut Crime and Insurance Costs? What's at the top of your to-do list this spring? Organizing    Gardening    Cleaning Last month's results: 31% said the kitchen is the room in their home that needs a little love. NEXT ISSUE SNEAK PEEK: The Frugal Gardener: Tips on saving money and making your garden work for you. Thank you for reading the HouseLogic newsletter. For more great tips and information, visit our site.

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ADVERTISEMENT To ensure that you continue to receive email from HouseLogic.com, please add http://www.blogger.com/Newsletters@mail.houselogic.com to your email address book. To change your email address or view your contact preferences, please sign in and go to Your Profile. To unsubscribe from future e-newsletters, tips, and more from HouseLogic, please click here. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 430 N. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 800.874.6500 www.HouseLogic.com © Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Will strong season ease debt issues at Peek'n Peak?

By ROBB FREDERICK, Erie Times-News http://us.mc1147.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=robb.frederick@timesnews.com The Willis kids have been waiting for this. Their membership in the Meadville Snow Leopards group allows them to ski at Peek'n Peak Resort and Spa every Sunday. They haven't missed a week. Beginning Monday, the girls' passes are valid every day. It's one way the resort, about four miles south of Findley Lake, N.Y., acknowledges that spring is coming. "We're hoping for another storm," said their mother, Chris Norwood. "We're snow people. And this has been a fabulous winter." The Peak's managers think so, too. "The snow has been great," said Robert Swenson, the resort's president. He's hoping for cold weather through March 27, when the resort hosts the East Coast Snocross finals. "After that," he said, "we'll have to play it day by day." The Peak needed a big winter. The resort's owner, Ohio-based Kiebler Recreation LLC, filed for bankruptcy protection in May, claiming debts of $28 million. The bulk of that money -- $15.6 million -- was owed to Huntingdon National Bank. The bank attempted to foreclose on the property, only to back off in December, giving the Peak another ski season to generate income. The arrangement requires monthly payments over a period of 25 years, with a balloon payment at the end of the fifth year. Swenson would not discuss the specifics. "There is nothing to report at this time," he said. "It's moving forward. And it really has not affected us at all." New York state regulators added another hurdle in December. A court motion by the state's Department of Environmental Conservation noted violations at the Peak's sewage-treatment facility, and at three gas wells owned by the resort. The wells had been abandoned but not plugged, the department alleged. The sites were not marked. State regulators say those problems have been corrected. They have not alleged that any pollution occurred. "The facility has been extremely cooperative and responsive," said Lori Severino, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Conservation. "That's worth noting." The sewage issue has not yet been settled. A state permit issued in 2007 required the resort to design improvements to its on-site treatment plant, which discharges into French Creek, according to the court filing. The permit was modified in 2009. The resort's operators had decided not to expand -- a move that would have stressed the existing sewage system, according to the court records. The records were filed in Ohio, where Kiebler Recreation is based. The state still required design improvements to the sewage plant. The Peak's operators said the bankruptcy filing had delayed that. "Our resort has experienced a couple of devastating financial years, due to many factors," General Manager Brad Gravink wrote in an undated letter to the Department of Environmental Conservation. "Once we emerge from this, we will be in a position to engineer, seek approval and install the required improvements." A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for March 15. The financial issues at the 1,150-acre resort could have an effect on all of Chautauqua County. No company brings more business to the county in winter, said Andrew Nixon, the executive director of the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau. "They've had three good ski seasons in a row," Nixon said. "This year probably has been the best because of the consistency of the snowfall. "If they didn't have that debt," he said, "they'd have been wildly profitable in the last couple years." Swenson, the resort's president, said his focus is on the future. When the seasons change, the Peak's income will shift from lift tickets to greens fees. "Everybody's still thinking 'ski'," he said. "But we're pretty much in golf mode right now." ROBB FREDERICK can be reached at 870-1733 or by e-mail.  For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/

Lakewood Board Approves Wine Retailer

March 5, 2011 - By Dennis Phillips, dphillips@post-journal.com Save | Comments (2) | Post a comment | LAKEWOOD - If everything proceeds as planned, there will be a new wine and liquor store along Chautauqua Avenue this summer. On Monday, the Lakewood Village Board approved a special-use permit application for Samuel Whitmore of Lakewood. Whitmore is in the process of opening the store to mainly sell wine at 119 Chautauqua Ave., Lakewood. Duane Anderson, village trustee, said Whitmore is planning to carry wine vintages that are not currently available in the area. Whitmore was not at the meeting to give comment on his new business. However, according to the minutes of the village's Feb. 16 Planning Board meeting, Whitmore said he is going to provide a different, more specialized selection of wine. Whitmore, who said he has worked in the wine business for many years in California, hopes to appeal to both the tourist from Chautauqua Institution during the summer months and local residents year round. Whitmore said he is going through the application process for a liquor licenses and wants to be able to open his new business by the end of May. He plans to renovate the building for his new wine shop by redoing the floors and installing wood shelves. He said one to two part-time employees also may be hired. The planning board also approved the special-use permit application. For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/

Chautauqua Lake Real Estate Is Off To A Great Start

Data is only considering single family Lake Front homes based on Chautauqua County multiple listing systems (MLS). Comparing the first 50 days of 2010 to the first 50 days of 2011 Chautauqua Lake Front home sales have soared. In 2010 January 1st to February 19th , based on the Chautauqua County MLS there were 4 recorded closed transactions. In 2011 from January 1st to February 19th the Chautauqua County MLS system recorded 15 closed transactions. This accounts for a 250 percent JUMP in closed listings for the first 50 days of the year. Compared below is the average closed price. 2010 AVERAGES: List Price  Closing Price  Bedrooms Full Baths Half Baths Est Sq Ft DOM  $566,250       $444,750       4.0   2.0  1.0 2,425   243 2011 AVERAGES: List Price  Closing Price  Bedrooms Full Baths Half Baths Est Sq Ft  DOM  $448,000      $410,250       4.0 2.0 1.0 2,313   141 Please note Days on market (DOM) has shortened by 42 percent from 2010. Buyers are feeling much more confident in the market and are looking to get on board prior to prices going up. For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/

Still plenty of time for ice fishing

Picture Courtesy: www.grizzlygary.com

February 24, 2011 - By GENE PAUSZEK, OBSERVER Outdoors Columnist Save Post a comment There is still a lot of safe ice on Chautauqua Lake with about 12 inches reported away from the shoreline. Yellow perch and bluegills are the target species, but walleye hits are becoming more numerous. Crappie activity is usually a low light bite. Lake Erie ice fishing has centered around the Hamburg area. With the warm spell last weekend, area tributaries opened up a bit, but cooler temperatures have restricted creek fishing for awhile. Look for the trout to make a break upstream when the mouths of the creeks open up. It won't be long now. Trout continue to be caught off the Dunkirk pier with spoon casters and bait fishermen doing progressively better. Brown trout sizes have reportedly been bigger and anglers can expect the bigger rainbows to appear soon. For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/

CLA Continues Accepting Ice Pick Guesses

February 5, 2011 - By Sharon Turano sturano@post-journal.com Save Post a comment About $6,000 has been raised so far for the Chautauqua Lake Association by those guessing when the ice on the lake will break, but residents can keep guessing. The Chautauqua Lake Ice Pick is a fundraiser where people predict the time and date when a tripod placed on the ice will fall into the lake this spring for a $5 donation to the lake association. Peter Sullivan, event organizer, adopted the idea after visiting Nenana, Alaska, where an event was held to predict when the ice breaks. The Alaskan tradition began when people awaited Alaska's Tanana River's ice break to signal the start of when boats with supplies could reach them. He adapted the event for Chautauqua Lake, and the local fundraiser asks people to predict when a tripod, placed on the ice near Stow will fall into the lake this spring. The contest has its own website at http://www.clakeicepick.org/, where predictions can be made via credit card or by sending a check. Guessing will take place through Feb. 28. All online guesses must be submitted by midnight in order to qualify. All offline guesses must be sent in envelopes postmarked by Feb. 28. The winner will be for the first date beginning March 1. If there is no ice after March 1, the contest, with guesses intact, will carry over to 2012. Last year's ice broke March 20. Sullivan invites people to continue to guess, or just donate to the association. His goal for this year's event is to raise $10,000 total. "We need the public to jump in; anybody can help us get there," he said. The Chautauqua Lake Association works to protect and improve the quality of Chautauqua Lake, striving to ensure the natural beauty, safety and utility of the lake as a recreational resource. For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/

Chautauqua County Housing Sales Up In December

February 4, 2011 - By Dennis Phillips, dphillips@post-journal.com Save Post a comment The numbers of houses sold in December 2010 in the county increased when compared to November and December 2009. The state Association of Realtors monthly housing survey indicated that 83 single-family homes were sold in December, which was an increase of seven from November when 76 houses were sold. Also, December saw a yearly increase of eight more homes being purchased in the county when compared to December 2009, when only 75 units were sold. The increase in houses being purchased in December 2010 followed a productive November when 75 properties were purchased, which was 12 more than in October. Even with the increases in houses being sold at a ''historically'' affordable time to buy a house with low mortgage rates, numbers usually tend to be down during the winter months, said Jan Murray, county board of realtors executive officer, in December. ''It is a seasonal slow down,'' she said. ''We do expect it to be slow at the beginning of the year, but that is normal.'' Ms. Murray said the county's housing market does have some tourist buyers from people who like winter activities. However, not the same activity realtors see with summer homes. ''We have some buyers, but not as many as in the summer,'' she said. ''We do have winter buyers that like both the winter and summer season.'' Ms. Murray said numbers will probably continue to be down until other economic factors pick up as well, like employment. Even when housing sales are down, Chautauqua County doesn't see drastic changes in the housing market like some other areas of the state, like New York City. ''I've seen that through the 30 years I've been in real estate,'' Ms. Murray said. ''We don't have the highs and we don't have the lows. We just keep plugging along.'' For the year 2010, the federal homebuyer tax credit and low mortgage rates did help bring consumers to the housing market, particularly in the first half of 2010. As a result, 74,718 existing single-family homes were sold in New York state in 2010, a decrease of 4.6 percent from 2009. ''Without the federal homebuyer tax credit, we would undoubtedly be telling a much different story about the Empire State's 2010 housing market,'' said Duncan R. MacKenzie, state Association of Realtors chief executive officer. ''The tax credit, low mortgage rates and large inventory combined to help New York State homebuyers overcome larger concerns about the economy.'' MacKenzie said with little chance of another federal housing credit incentive, the future of the housing market in the state rests with the decisions made by state lawmakers who are addressing a state budget deficit, struggling economy and high property taxes. ''New York's realtors are hopeful and supportive of Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo's efforts to cap property tax growth, and efforts to revitalize the state's economy and create jobs will be a significant factor in the future of the housing market,'' he said. ''(State Association of Realtors) joint consumer research project with the Siena Research Institute shows the majority of New Yorkers value homeownership as part of the American dream and that they are optimistic about the housing market going forward in 2011. We believe that for this optimism to be fully realized our leaders in Albany must enact a property tax cap, provide mandate relief and create homebuyer savings programs.'' For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/