This holiday season is different. Creativity mixed with “different” sparked the creation of a holiday season of safe, family-friendly activities for all to enjoy in the nearby Allegheny National Forest Region of Pennsylvania. 

With winter on our doorstep, daylight savings time turning day to night by 4:30pm, and the continuing effects of Covid-19, staying motivated to do anything more than curl up on the couch can be a real struggle.

The Christmas season is here, and so is your opportunity to find a special and unique gift for the art lover in your life. Welcome to “25 Days of Minis”, an online gallery of affordable artworks from 45 talented artists.

Holiday Valley announced that UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (UBMDOSM) will open an office in the Ellicottville Medical Center at 6133 Rt. 219 South, Ellicottville. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 5th at 10:00am at the Medical Center.

Woodland in the City (Woodland) and the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC) have created the 14th edition of the Woodland in the City Squirrel Calendar for 2021.

‘Bob McCarthy’s’ Irish Christmas, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ellicottville, is normally held as a live event at Ellicottville Brewing Company in late November/early December. “It is an honor to continue this tradition for Bob, who touched so many in our community”…

ERA Team VP Real Estate & Vacation Rentals are teaming up with Toys for Tots and local charities to celebrate Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1st. Toys for Tots donation boxes can be found in all ERA Team VP Offices, where donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off.

The annual Ski Tree & Village Lighting ceremony took place Friday evening in downtown Ellicottville.

Even though this holiday season is not going to look the same, there is still holiday spirit all around. A committee was formed by the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce to see how to get even the most Grinchy heart glowing with joy.

Nick Pitillo (Osteria 166/Villaggio) and Russell Salvatore (Salvatore’s Grand Hotel/Russell’s Steaks, Chops & More) team up to deliver meals to frontline workers working this Thanksgiving.

The start of shotgun season for deer has officially opened in New York State, sending a record number of hunters into the woods.  The COVID-19 pandemic has launched a surge of new licenses for the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce is selling Family Four Packs for the holidays! Bring a donation of a toy valued at $10 or more to the Chamber office (301 N. Union St., Olean, NY) and receive your pack.

One of the best ways to describe downtown Ellicottville in the Christmas season is that it is nothing short of your favorite Hallmark movie.

When Kaleigh Wilday tragically passed away in 2002, support for the fund that Skip and Greta established to honor the legacy of their daughter, the Kaleigh Wilday Endowment Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, came from long and far, but a significant part of that support, then and now, came from Ellicottville, said Skip Wilday. 

Whether it’s opening the largest present under the tree or dressing up in your favorite red and green outfit, many of us who celebrate Christmas are fortunate enough to enjoy a fulfilled and healthy holiday. Some families, however, are faced with difficult and costly realities that dim the holiday spirit. 

I’m not going to lie … this pandemic has me tired.  Tired of making sure I have my mask before I walk out the door every day (and that my kids have theirs as well).  Tired of sanitizing every time I touch something. Tired of keeping my distance from friends and family. 

Cathie Nason has made teaching students personal finance at Ellicottville Central School her mission. The Business and Computer Science teacher has been with the school for five years now, and has taught the personal finance course for as long. 

Service Stores, also known as Park & Shop and owned and operated by the Mahar Family, have been operating and thriving in the greater Olean area for more than 95 years. They have been selected to receive the Enterprising Business award from the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce this year. 

With cooler temps setting in and everyone busy “re-imagining” the holidays, the Santa Sheriffs are gearing up for their busiest year in a long time. The Santa Sheriff Program is a coalition of sheriffs, school resource officers and office employees.

It seems like as soon as the leaves change color and the temperatures drop, my appetite/hunger is on the rise.  So, I decided to research this phenomenon and see if it was just me or if there was something to this.