Ellicottville’s Alley Katz
Beatifying Our Village Since 1979

By Carol Fisher-Linn

   Have you ever wondered how the Alley Katz, that energetic team of women who beautify our village every year got their name? It all started waaay back in 1979 when then Mayor, Edna Northrup and her perennial sidekick, Jody Bentley were taking a morning spring walk through the village. In the aftermath of a new tree planting program, they found heaps of dirt and stones surrounding them. Being doers and not lookers, they decided to clean that up a bit and as is typical with any project, as soon as they sweetened up that side of the street, the other side called to them. Eventually, several local women offered to help. One project spilled over into the next; the following summer Clean Up Day came into being, and they found themselves eventually cleaning the alley. Are you getting the picture? They worked over that alley like a team of alley cats, hence the moniker – Ellicottville’s beloved Alley Katz.

    As with any endeavor, one awesome move led to another and before they knew it, they were planning planting and upkeep projects which, of course, needed funds. Getting into action they sponsored bake sales, made (in their spare time) and raffled off quilts, made and sold P.I.E. (Pride in Ellicottville) buttons and pies, sold fall mums and even designed and ordered bright yellow t-shirts to identify the eager, cheerful “Katz” ambassadors of good will, as they worked around the village every Tuesday morning (and have since and forever gotten their generous morning pick-me-up afterward, compliments of Dina’s.)

    A search through old files comes up with names of some of the early members: Jody and Edna, Rita Schroeder, Mary Duszynski, Joyce Evans, Panje Graux, Darlene Calarco, Pat Bouche, Bert Brunell, Lorraine Laidlaw, Ruth Rivers, Judy Gresham, Barb Lavtar, Betsy and Doris Peyser, Marcie Hazard, Marilyn Keelock and Carolyn Widger who still uses her green thumb magic every week. Since then, the roster has swollen with so many more people becoming Katz or alumni.  Today, there are even a few Tom Katz adding diversity and muscle to the ranks.

   What began as a hand’s-out, help-us-get-started organization (which, through the generosity of local merchants, banks and industries along with Bud Knapp and his crew who built the greenhouse, and Nancy Branham who kept the plants watered, etc., Fox Valley Florists, and endless list of others who helped them get a leg-up) has grown into a 501c3 non-profit of volunteers that plant, weed, water, and maintain the gorgeous hanging baskets, barrel planters and permanent garden beds in the village. 

    Currently there are 59 hanging flower baskets, and 20 flower barrel containers throughout the village. In a memo from Debbie Yantomasi, Alley Katz President for the past 15 years, their current projects, aside from the baskets and barrels are the Gardens at the Veteran’s Memorial, Creekside beds and adjacent bed by Katy’s, the clock tower and the Alley Katz Garden; 4 seasons of Gazebo design and decorating, historical building garden cleanup, Episcopal Church garden maintenance on Rt. 219 side and the incredible, knock-your-socks-off stunning gardens and designs at the entrance to our beautiful and beloved Ellicottville Library (as Debbie says, “thanks to Laura’s persistence!”)

     With almost thirty volunteer Katz, they have ambitious plans depending, of course, upon donations.  Here’s what’s on their wish list: Metal planters to replace wooden barrels, historical building additional garden redesign/planting; Episcopal Church added garden redesign/planting and library back garden and signage area redesign.

    You can help do your part in keeping our village as vibrant and beautiful and welcoming as it is. Of course, you are asked to respect the hours of work and energy and creativity that has gone into these attractive planters. If you see someone damaging them, say something, or report it to the village office.  As a 501c3 your contributions are tax deductible so why not consider a donation to keep this program alive and well? Remember, The Alley Katz are all volunteers, and depend solely on donations to survive. Checks payable to Alley Katz can be mailed to PO Box 1407, Ellicottville, NY 1473. You can also schedule recurring “billpay” contributions though your financial institutions (set it up and let it go!). Guaranteed, you will feel so good doing this. And you can scan the QR code. Of course, everyone is always welcome to join the Katz team of volunteers – help when you can – a few hours per week, spring through fall. For more information, contact Debbie at evlalleykatz@gmail.com or check them out on FaceBook at Alley Katz of Ellicottville Inc and Instagram at alleykatzevl.