For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Public Comment Now Being Accepted for Herbicide Use in Chautauqua Lake, Meeting Scheduled for March 1
A map from the SEIS scoping document being used to pursue state permission to treat areas of Chautauqua Lake with herbicide.
The Town of Ellery and Chautauqua Lake Partnership (CLP) have requested permission from the state to treat invasive weeds in expansive areas of Chautauqua Lake later this year with four different types of herbicides.
According to CLP and other advocates for herbicide use, they feel it is the best way to remove a large amount of invasive weeds that have become a recurring problem on the lake during the summer months. They feel that if left untreated, the weeds will have an adverse economic impact on the lake and region, due to visitors no longer wanting to come and stay on the lake during the summer.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available for viewing at the Town of Ellery website.
A public meeting to accept comments on the statement will be held on March 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fluvanna Fire Hall.
Written comments will also be accepted until 4 p.m. March 12.
The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) has come out against the plan, stating on its Facebook page that the project – as proposed -threatens the wetland vegetation in the lake and along the shoreline at the Conservancy’s Loomis Goose Creek Preserve and along the Conservancy’s three-quarter mile-long Outlet Greenway, stretching from Fluvanna toward Jamestown.
According to CWC, Chautauqua Lake has serious nutrient and sediment problems that are fueling its excessive algae and aquatic plant conditions. The conservancy claims that by killing plants over large areas, there is the increased chance the lake’s serious harmful algae blooms (HABs) will increase. This is due to nutrients formerly absorbed by plants helping to fuel even heavier algae blooms.
The conservancy said it will be researching other threats as well and will likely comment on them before the deadline, in order to minimize potential negative impacts on fish and wildlife, human health, and other species.
For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
Sunday, January 21, 2018
The benefits of living in a winter wonderland
Winter sports encompass more than just skiing. Snowboarding, ice fishing, ice skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, winter hiking, and snowmobiling are all winter sports that not only provide activities for people, but also support our local economy. Numerous restaurants, lodging, and retail establishments all rely on winter sports enthusiasts to help boost attendance and revenue during the winter months.
We are fortunate here to have a number of events and venues that cater to those seeking winter pursuits. Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer is a prime location for skiing and tubing. Cross country skiing is popular at the Audubon Community Nature Center near Jamestown and at a variety of parks around the county including Lake Erie State Park at Brocton and Long Point State Park near Bemus Point. Chautauqua County features over 200 miles of snowmobile trails, all groomed by dedicated snowmobile club members. Ice fishing is as convenient as walking your equipment onto one of our frozen lakes: Cassadaga, Chautauqua, or Findley Lake.
Not only do we find things to keep us busy during the winter months here, we actually celebrate the season! The annual President Day Weekend Winter Festival is scheduled for its 31st year from Feb. 16-18 at Lakeside Park in Mayville. Organized by the Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce, this marquis event draws thousands of people each year to participate in family-friendly winter games, enjoy a nighttime bonfire, and view fireworks near a specially built ice castle. Anyone who wants to volunteer to assist during this year’s Winter Festival is welcome to contact Mayville-Chautauqua Chamber Coordinator Debby Marsala at 753-3113 or at dmarsala@chautauquachamber.org.
The Snowflake Local Living Festival will be held at the Audubon Community Nature Center February 3 from 10am-4pm with fun for all ages including sled dog demonstrations, crafts, and exhibits. Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the grounds of Chautauqua Institution weekends through the month of February.
If you’re a photographer or painter, professional or amateur, Chautauqua County is a prime spot in the winter. The natural beauty in our landscapes creates beautiful pictures to be captured on canvas or camera.
Even if you have never tried winter activities there are easy ways to start, with many local retailers offering show shoe rentals, and with ice skating rentals available at the Northwest Savings Arena. Give it a try! The only thing you have to lose is winter boredom.
Jamestown Chamber Salute to the Finest
set for Feb. 5
The Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce Salute to the Finest will be held on Monday, Feb. 5 at Shawbucks Press Room. The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and program to follow at 6 p.m. This event is sponsored by Lake Shore Paving and Elegant Edibles. Awards will be presented as follows: New Business of the Year, Crown Street Roasting Company; Young Business Leader of the Year, Justin Hanft; Restaurant of the Year, Forte; Manufacturer of the Year, Anderson Precision; Business of the Year, Honest John’s Pizzeria; Service to Humanity, James Prendergast Library; Pride of Jamestown, Babe Ruth World Series Committee; and presentation of the 2017 Community Service Award to John Williams. Event registration is available on the Chamber website at www.chautauquachamber.org or by calling the Chamber at 484-1101.
Fredonia Chamber Annual Banquet
is Feb. 8
The Fredonia Community Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Fredonia Beaver Club. Awards will be presented as follows: Business of the Year, Domus Fare; Retailer of the Year, Concord Pharmacy; Community Service, Lakeshore Humane Society; Service to Humanity, Partners in Kind; Spirit of Fredonia, Melanie Mann; and Lifetime Achievement, Dick Golden. This event will open with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., with dinner to be served at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. Event registration is available on the Chamber website at www.chautauquachamber.org or by calling the Chamber at 366-6200.
Chamber Congressional
lunch March 2
Mark your calendar now to attend the annual Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Federal Congressional Luncheon on March 2. We encourage members to come with questions for Congressman Tom Reed during this event. The venue will be announced soon.
Save the Date: Tech and Manufacturing Expo June 19
The 2018 Technology and Manufacturing Expo will be held June 19. This is a great opportunity for manufacturers to showcase their company, network with other manufacturers in the region, build their supply chain and identify new customers. This event highlights additive manufacturing including 3D printing, 3D scanning and 3D CAD. The expo will include a wide variety of manufacturing related vendors showcasing safety, automation, tooling, hydraulic & pneumatic technologies and customized machine building.
For more information contact Steve Myers at Allen Industrial Sales at 581-0321.
For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
Friday, December 29, 2017
Let’s Ride – Carefully
Some, But Not All, Snowmobile Trails Are Now Open
The Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club announced
this week that four of its snow groomers are currently down, but that
the majority of the county’s snowmobile trails are now open for
snowmobiles.
AP file photo
After a month of weird weather ranging from unseasonably warm
temperatures to above average snowfall, Chautauqua County’s snowmobile
trails are now open only a week behind schedule.The Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club announced this week that the trails were open as of Thursday, just eight days after the originally planned opening date at the beginning of snowmobile season on Dec. 20. The delays came first in the form of a lack of snow and exceedingly muddy trails, but consecutive weeks of harsh and heavy snowfall transformed the trails into a snowscape requiring many man hours and equipment to clear.
“CLSC trails will be open (today), but ride with caution,” the club announced in a statement. “Snow is deep and wet underneath. It may also be hiding branches or fallen trees. Snow banks at road crossings are a major safety concern, some nearing 6 feet high. We are trying to open them up. Some signs may be hidden in the snow. There are still a few gates we are trying to get open. Please stay on the trails. Our landowners have been more than generous.”
The announcement added that the trail to Busti is still closed, and four of its 10 groomers are currently down, making for difficulty in getting all the trails as navigable as they could be.
“Grooming will be limited and some trails have not been checked, so ride safe and with a partner,” the announcement concluded.
The county offers over 450 miles of snowmobile trails, which take riders across rolling foothills, open meadows and forestlands.
These trail systems are the result of a strong collaboration among Chautauqua County’s five snowmobile clubs: Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, Cherry Creek Sno-Goers, Ellery Sno-Cruisers, Lake Effect Trailbreakers and Sunset Drifters; and hundreds of landowners, volunteers and other key stakeholders.
Snowmobile registration can be done at any of the County’s three Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices and registration is $45 for snowmobile club members and $100 for non-members. DMV offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday and each office has one day a week where they are open until 5:45 p.m.
The Dunkirk office is open late on Mondays, the Mayville office is open late on Wednesdays and the Jamestown office is open late on Thursdays.
To learn more about the county’s snowmobile clubs, and to keep updated on trail conditions, visit chautauquasnow.com, cherrycreeksnogoers.com, ellerysno-cruisers.org, trailbreakers.com and sunsetdrifters.net.
For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Chautauqua Lake Funding A Small Step In The Right Direction
The money can’t come soon enough.
Last summer likely won’t be remembered as a good one for Chautauqua Lake. Blue-green algae blooms popped up for much of the summer and fall. Weeds and vegetation have been a recurring problem for nearly two decades, with last year no exception to the rule. There is no single fix to the lake’s algae and weed problems, but improving septic and sewer systems around the lake is one of the best ways to remove phosphorus and other nutrients that are part of the cocktail that create blue-green algae from the lake.
It has been estimated that completing a new sewer system around Chautauqua Lake will cost about $81 million. There is obviously not that much money in Chautauqua County’s collective couch cushions to pay for that, nor is there an ability to take out loans for that big a cost. Roughly a year ago, Rolland Kidder, a Stow resident and former state Assemblyman, wrote an op-ed to The Post-Journal detailing the difficulties over the years getting state support for sewer and water projects because they lack the “sizzle” of bigger projects. The cost and lack of sizzle have left some wondering if completing a sewer around Chautauqua Lake is a pipe dream.
The state’s investment of $5 million for a sewer extension in North Harmony and $1 million to help the Chautauqua Heights Sewer District Wastewater Treatment Plant project is only about 7.5 percent of the total cost of sewering Chautauqua Lake. More importantly, the size of the grants are a sign from the state that they realize the importance of Chautauqua Lake environmentally and economically to Chautauqua County.
The five townships that surround Chautauqua Lake constitute 40 percent of the property value of the county with a total assessment of $2.7 billion. Protecting that asset is just as important as shiny new buildings. And it is good to see the state come to the realization that a healthy Chautauqua Lake will bring more tourists to Chautauqua County than any new building.
For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
Thursday, December 07, 2017
Western New York's Cockaigne ski resort to reopen in 2018 with new owners
Updated ; Posted
A popular winter destination for Northeast Ohio skiers, Cockaigne was known for its laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere and abundant natural snow. It sits on several hundred acres in Chautauqua County, New York, about 20 miles south of Lake Erie and 150 miles east of Cleveland.
The resort has been for sale for six years, since shortly after a fire in January 2011 destroyed the resort's iconic lodge, which was built as the Austrian Pavilion for the World's Fair in New York City in 1964.
Enter Adam Pirtz and Isaac Gratto, who met years ago while working together at nearby Peek'n Peak resort. They had talked for years about buying Cockaigne.
The sale was official this week and work on the $3.5 million renovation project begins immediately.
Related: Where to ski near Cleveland: A snow lover's guide to 12 winter resorts in Ohio, surrounding states
The first order of business is to rebuild the lodge. Plans call for a 20,000-square-foot facility, which will house ticket sales, a rental facility, food service, restrooms and more. Pirtz said work on the building will begin as soon as possible, and should be completed by summer 2018.
The new owners plan to make Cockaigne a year-round destination, with concerts, festivals and other family-friendly activities during the warmer months and skiing, along a new snow tubing course, during the winter.
Much of the resort's old equipment and infrastructure will be replaced, including rental skis and snowboards, grooming and snow-making machines, lighting, parking areas and more.
But Pirtz said some of the existing equipment still works, including four lifts -- three two-person chairlifts and a J-bar. The park will add two new conveyor belt lifts to the beginner area and tubing park.
When it closed, Cockaigne had 14 slopes. The new owners plan to add two more, for a total of 16 next winter.
Gratto said the resort will keep the trails' sweet-treat names: Cracker Jack, Marzipan, Kandy Kaigne and Peppermint Twist, among others.
Interestingly, neither Pirtz, a native of Cortland, Ohio, nor Gratto, who grew up in western New York, has ever skied at Cockaigne. Both grew up skiing at nearby Peek'n Peak.
Pirtz said the community reaction to the resort's reopening has been overwhelming.
"It's been unbelievable. The feedback and the support is more than we could have anticipated," he said. "It's everywhere - locally, from groups in Ohio, ski shops. It's unreal."
For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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