Happy New Year 2026!
Ringing In the Year Ahead with Highlights from ‘25

By Carol Fisher-Linn 

Issue 1. Mill St. Sports Pb (Brenda Smith and Audrey Snow) reopened what was (Bill) Fin-nerty’s (2016). What was cool is that Finnerty’s grand opening coincided with the hiring of Sean McDermott and the amazing run the Bills had started. He called the opening of Mill St. Sports Pub the Miracle on Mill Street. And yes, Bill Finnerty was back behind the bar on game days. Stop in to a hello. Go Bills!

Issue 2 – WJTN Radio in Jamestown celebrated 100 years of broadcasting. Weather was perfect for old fashioned sleigh rides in Chautauqua.

Issue 3 – A new Family Court judge, Peter Johnson, was appointed in Chautauqua County. He can serve until he chooses to retire. Lucky day Homestead, Ellicottville Historical Museum and the Harold L. Olmstead Art Gallery in Springville were featured. Art, history and creativity fill the air.

Issue 4 –  Guiness Book of World Records Carver and Food Network Champion, Eric Jones, spent the month creating his phenomenal magical snow sculptures throughout Ellicottville. Ellicottville phone directories through The Villager became available. HoliMont’s magic, Holiday Valley’s Snowmakers, Ollie and Marcy Hazard from HoliMont were all featured.

Issue 5 – Cassadaga had its winter /festival, HoliMont held it’s Men’s Day, Mud Sweat and Gears sponsored their Women 2 Women Project and Buffalo’s Sydney Sterlace was featured for coming in third in this season of The Voice.

Issue 6 – Fredonia Opera house renovated after 30 years. EBC announced a new Guest House in Ellicottville located directly behind EBC.

Issue 7 (Feb. 13-19) – Evl’s Watson’s Chocolate, Fredonia’s Chai’s Chocolates and Jame-stown’s Ecklof Bakery were featured, along with an interesting FB page called Shoot and Share Chautauqua. Great Lakes Flight Center in Jamestown was recognized for its high standard of accomplishment in flight training by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associa-tion, the world’s largest aviation association.

Issue 8  (Feb. 20-26) – Penguin Paddle at HV for Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program (since mid 80’s) and 7th annual Ellicottville Winter Music Jam took top billing. The Ellicottville-GV Trail began movement toward the design phase.

Issue 9 (Feb. 27-March 5) – Getting ready for Mardi Gras parade nest weekend. Promoting HV Ski Patrol food Drive for Ellicottville Food Pantry. Rocket Cup Coffee launched a premium roast coffee to benefit St. Bonaventure University and we all had a chuckle over memories of Gladys the Pink Cadillac and the odd characters and places of the old Ellicottville.

Issue 10 (March 6-12) – The pages were filled with Spring happenings on the ski hills and in the village. Winter Carnival at Holiday Valley, and a spotlight on Kate Welshofer who retired as news anchor for Chennel 2 news to become the Communications and Content Director at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown. Of course, there was much ado about the Mardi Gras parade and weekend in the village.

Issue 11 (March 13-19) HoliMont celebrated its Phoenix Adaptive Program, Pond Skimming had great weather for its Holiday Valley and HoliMont tradition, we celebrated Women’s His-tory month and St. Patrick’s Day and featured a closeup on Christine Wictor from Falconer, who won the 2025 Buffalo Business First’s Power Broker of WNY Award.

Issue 12 (March 20-26) Last days of skiing, Pond Skimming, final chance to catch the Ice Vol-cano at Letchworth and sneak peeking spring with the Winter Farmer’s Market in Jame-stown.

Issue 13 – (March 27-April 3) Featured an Easter visit to the Broadway Market in Buffalo, Sprague’s Maple Farms in Portville, farewell to the Ellicottville Deport Restaurant and spot-lights on Tony Casetta and Seneca Artist, Carson Waterman.

Issue 14 (April 4-11) A history lesson about the old Dineen farm and the connection to Bud Timkey, Alpine Meaows, and the Boardroom. Presenting Bemus Bay Water Toys Tiki Tours, Lakewood’s Shabby Shrub Shop and National Library Week.

Issue 15 (April 10-16) Celebrating Earth Day; Revealing the volunteerism of the ECS students running the school’s Caring Closet, sneak peeks at Holiday Valley’s summer festival events and preview of Grapes and Hops Festival in Jamestown.

April 17-23. Celebrating Earth Day. Remembering Kathy Weishan. Celebrating 150 years of Buffalo Zoo. Celebrating changes and early opening of Ellicottville Historical Museum, and Native resilience through Art at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum.

April 24-30 – Arbor Day and Mother Earth held our attention at the end of month time. We celebrated small businesses spotlighting Westfield’s C.K. Natural Fruit Juices LLC.  We were delighted to report that the Village of Cattaraugus was awarded $10 million in funding as the WNY winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. We reported that Alpine Bistro and Ellicottville Bake Shop were in the process of getting their liquor li-censes.

Issue 18 – May 1- 7  Celebrating and giving thought to Mother’s Day and CincoDeMayo. En-ticed to go to Bemus Point for Bemus is Blooming and met the new owner Sydney Zuech, of So Last Season Vintage Shop opening on May 10th on the corner of Washington and Monroe Streets.

Vol 20 – May 8-14. News about the revitalization of Hotel Lenhart in Bemus Point slated to be a year-round, upscale waterfront destination. We celebrated Artscape in Jamestown, and Healing for Heroes Disabled Veterans Retreat providing a free retreat-style stay on their 20 acre property in Bemus Point. Holiday Valley revealed $5 million in improvements with the assistance of CCIDA grant. And Carol Fisher suggested some day trips for a quick getaway.

Vol 21 – May 15 -22.  This Memorial Day edition honored our heroes of the many American wars leading to Memorial Day.  The new short-term rental law was outlined and discussed. Notice of progress of the Ellicottville Inclusive Playground. Spotlights on the Chautauqua County NFL flag Football League playing at Southwestern Central School in Lakewood, Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto, and the Ieda Family annual classics concert at their home on Horn Hill Road in Ellicottville.

Vol.   May 22-28. We shared news of Jamestown’s National Comedy Center beginning its sev-enth season celebrating their involvement in community events and their excitement over the successful results of their CCS-TV programs focusing on students aged 13 to 18. El-licottville Farmer’s Market began its 8th season, Bemus Point Inn celebrated 16 years, the El-licottville Distillery is getting ready to celebrate its 9th, and Jane Eshbaugh helped readers understand the good works that Roswell Park Cancer Center does by Riding for Roswell, and then earning more donations in the weeklong Empire State Ride. We were informed that Evergreen outfitters has a new location in Lakewood NY and visited La Cocina Della Nonna in Jamestown.

Issue 22 May 29-June 4. Readers were introduced to the Bemus Sky Bar at Lenhart Hotel in Bemus Point and informed of the $2M renovation for the Wingate by Windom in Ellicottville to be transformed into the Huntley House Hotel. Information was shared about the Springville Art Crawl, Celeron Ribfest, and Merritt Wintery Celebration and we learned about the Memory Cafes offered monthly by Griffis Sculpture Park in Ashford.

Issue 23  June 5-June 11. We invited readers to discover the delights of Chautauqua Institu-tion open for the summer season. Anticipated the annual Holiday Valley mudslide next week and the Italian American Charity Golf tournament. We introduced readers to Bemus Point Market, historic Gentner’s Market in Springville and alerted to the Annual Yassou Greek Fes-tival in Jamestown.

Issue 24 June 12-June 18. We honored the American Flag on flag day, Celebrated with EBC for their 30th anniversary, anticipated Allentown’s Art Festival and looked forward to the Haunted History strolls at Griffis Park in Ashford.

Issue 25 June 19-June 25. We celebrated the reopening of the Holi Mont Bike Park for the season. Invited readers to the Sunset Bay Beach Club in Irving, explored Encore Restaurant in downtown Jamestown, looked forward to the Holiday Valley Cabana Bar Sumer Music Se-ries and the Great blue Heron Music Festival, and met local author Christy Rounds and learned of her new book, Messages from Mom. We looked forward to the Springville-Concord garden walk and the 2025 Eddie Spaicher Golf Classic.

Issue 26 June 26-July 2. Prepared for the excitement of the Fourth of Jul in Ellicottville and the Summer Musical Festival. We Learned about Alexandra’s local boutique connection to Stitch Buffalo and the empowerment it delivers to refugee and immigrant women.

Issue 27 July 2-July 9. Rock the Lake Summer Concert series hit Lakewood NY.  While in Lakewood we were introduced to the Truffle Honey Restaurant, got ready for the Lakewood Firecracker 10K race and celebrated with a big hurrah that Jillian Vogtli, who grew up on the hills of Holiday Valley and went to ECS was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame. Kudos, Jillian.

Issue 28 July 10-July 16. We applauded the $1 million grant from Empire State Development that Ellicottville received for the infrastructure surrounding the 1887 Building. Gave a shout-out for historic summer walking tours hosted by Ellen Frank of the Ellicottville Historical society

Issue 29 July 17-July 23. Chautauqua Blind Association held their annual fundraiser.  Bemus Point will be holding its Summer Fest. Gerry rodeo is celebrating its 80th year. We shared cul-ture and traditions of the Seneca Nation of Indians at the Marvin Joe Curry Veteran’s Pow Wow, invited readers to the 5th annual HillTAP Festival at Holiday Valley, celebrated the histo-ry of the Gin Mill and announced it’s for-sale status for $9.5M.

Issue 30 July 24-30. Announce Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, and Taste of Ellicottville coming up in august, and Ellicottville Jazz and Blues Fest this coming weekend.

Issue 31 July 31-August 6. We began celebrating famous individuals from our two county re-gion: Lucy, Ray Evans, Louis Zamperini, Robert H. Jackson, Chuck Christ. Celebrated the 185th Erie County Fair, Eden Corn Festival, Griffis Sculpture Park festival and Annual Mayville Bluegrass Festival. We introduced readers to newly opened Bear Creek Lake Resort in Frank-linville.

Issue 32 Aug 7-Aug 13. We celebrated the Taste of Ellicottville on a hot 80 degree day. Read-ers met some world famous faces who hail our local counties: Dr. Christiane Northrup, NF Commissioner Roger Goodell and Ellicottville’s home grown comedian, Brian Dunkleman. We looked forward to the third annual Frank Pitillo golf tournament.

Issue 33 Aug 14-20. We invited readers to the Jamestown Regional Celtic Festival Aug 22-23, The Findley Lake Harvest Festival Aug. 29, Buffalo Zoo’s Zoomagination Lantern Fest running through Oct. 5 and the Gooseneck Hill Waterfowl Sanctuary annual open house on August 24. We looked at more famous WNY faces: 10,000 Maniacs, the Case Knife family, Mitchell Anderson, Jamestown’s Roger Tory Peterson and Ellicottville’s Olympian, Jillian Vogtli.

Issue 34 Aug 21-27 The Ellicottville Arboretum introduced Plantsoon offering visitors an in-teractive experience. Enchanted Mountains Canna opened at 24 Washington Street along-side Blue Collar Workwear. We celebrated pick your own The Flower Stand on Vaughn Street in Springville and upcoming one-year anniversary of Anzivino’s Sweets and Boutiques at 8 Washington in Ellicottville. Famous faces this week included NBC’s and Buffalo native Tim Russert, sometime resident Mark Twain, Buffalo Born John Rzeznik and his GooGoo Dolls, and Olympian and Fredonia native Jenn Suhr.

Issue 35 Aug 28- Sept 3 Labor Day was celebrated with The Buffalo Wing Festival in Sahlen’s Field, The Nick Pitillos and Villagio Restaurant were getting ready to celebrate its 10th anni-versary, the 2026 opening of Pumpkinville (57th season) on September 13 was announced, the Chautauqua Lake Erie Art Tour took place this weekend, a spotlight was shined on the Bemus Point Inn and it’s long history of hospitality and we looked at more famous Western New Yorkers: Actor Christine Baranski, Amherst native and NFL star, Rob Gronkowski, Jamestown’s founder, James Prendergast and Seneca Nation’s Jesse Cornplanter. 

Issue 36 Sept. 4-10.  We announced the Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis due to local CF survivor Brad Poole’s involvement. It was suggested participants wear appropriate outfits since it is happening during Ellicottville’s annual Rock and Roll weekend. The first Sips and Wine Festival at the Allegany Casino was announced. Fredonia hosted its annual Red, White and Blues Festival and the upcoming 20th annual Cuba Garlic festival on 20-21 was announced. WNY faces included Willis Carrier who invented A/C, Cheektowaga native and actor/producer William Fitchner, Dunkirk native and Nashville country music star Sean Pat-rick McGraw and told of Buffalo ties to the famous and beloved Martha Stewart.

Issue 37 Sept. 11-17.  This was rock and Roll weekend in Ellicottville (for more than 20 years), Bemus Point had its fall festival, Ellicottville hosted its 8th annual LaCrosse Festival, we looked forward to Buffalo’s 42nd annual Curtain’s Up September 19, announced the Good for the Soul Comedy Show at HoliMont to help with mental health awareness. Announced the 23rd annual Music is Art Festival at Buffalo Harbor. This week’s WNY famous faces were Anna Botsford Comstock of E. Otto, Larry Griffis Jr. of Griffis Park and Buffalo, and Chelsea Cam-eron (Noble) of Cheektowaga, star of Growing Pains, and broadcaster Irv Weinstein.

Issue 38 Sept. 18-25. The 8th annual LaCross Tournament took place this week in Ellicottville at Holiday Valley and Town Park. Players from Cleveland, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Canada took part. Raven and Rune Tavern opened in Jamestown. 6th annual Doors Open Bufalo was held on September 20. 3rd annual Grape Fest was held September 19-20 in West-field. The 13th annal night lights was lit up on September 19. Celebrated Western New York-ers included Jamestown’s Reg Lenna, Buffalo cartoonist Adam Zyglis, and Buffalo Bills Alumni Steve Cristie.

Issue 39 Sept. 25 to Oct. 25.    Reminded readers about Ellicottville Distillery 9th anniversary celebration on October 4, Salamanca Seneca Falling Leaves festival 48th year Oct. 4-6, Pana-ma Rocks Foliage Festival 4th and 5th, and Lakewood Fall Festival’s 2nd annual event, Oct. 4 This week we celebrated these people with WNY roots or connections: Writer F. Scott Fitz-gerald, MLB star Orel Hershiser and ZONTA founder, Marian Forest. Honorable mention went to Robert Redford, Tom Cruise and Tommy Hilfiger.

Issue 40 Oct 2-8.  Enjoying the fall season was the theme these days. WNY Southtowns Sce-nic Byways announced their 4th annual photography contest, EA2EVL Fonda had its 5th an-nual 42 mile biking fundraising event to support the Erie-Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Peek n’Peak held its 37th annual fall festival. Amherst singer and songwriter, Cami Clune ang the Anthem at the Buffalo Bills game and visited Ellicottville at Mill Street’s Sports Pub. Local faces cele-brated included EBC’s and past NFL player, Topper Clemmons. We refenced L. Frank Baum (The Wizard f Oz) from Richburg, gave a nod to Buffalo born songwriter Harold Arlen (Somewhere Over the Rainbow), Hotel Lafayette architect, Jennie Louise Bartholomew Be-thune and Buffalo born George Hormel (Hormel Foods) who gave us SPAM.

Issue 41 Oct 9-15.  Celebrating the 49th annual Ellicottville Fall Festival.  Revealed Revolution Rail Co. Rail Bike tours out of the village of Cattaraugus for the month of October. Writer Kate Bartlett shared EVGV Trail updates. Celebrated with Mila and Trey Clauss as they com-pleted the purchase of The City Garage Building on Monroe Street. Announced upcoming Pumpkin Smash on November 1 in Allegany and Salamanca. We celebrated, with the Seneca Nation of Indians the release of a rehabilitated eagle after it suffered life-threatening inju-ries. WNY related individuals celebrated this week were Singer Rick James, writer Joyce Car-ol Oates, Broadcaster Ira Joe Fisher, and gave a nod to James McGraw (McGraw Hill publish-ing) and 20th century suffragette, Kate Stoneman.

Issue 42 Oct. 16-22. Mud Sweat N’Gears celebrated their 25th anniversary. A reminder went out for Southtowns Scenic Byways Photo contest deadline November 30.  13th Annual W.I.L.M.A. event took place at the Cattaraugus Fairgrounds. Looking forward to the E’ville Half Marathon and the Thriller Dancers coming to Villagio for their 10th annual “flash mob” dance and the reopening of the CFA Springville Mongerson Theater with folk band, Hey Ma-vis. We added a salute for Dennis Eshbaugh highlighted in National Ski Blog October 2025. Faces included Wolf Blitzer, Artist Sylvia Lark and Actor Gabby Hayes, with honorable men-tion to legendary actress Katherine Cornell and science fiction writer, Robert Franklin Young.

Issue 43 Oct.23-29 Go Bills! Mill Street Sports Bar was approved to become an official Bills Backer Bar! We shared the good news that The beloved Ellicottville Depot has been pur-chased by the Crook family, owners of the Bar-Bil Restaurant in East Aurora. We announced that Authentic Italian food (Trattoria Partenope) was scheduled to come to Ellicottville by mid-November at 14 Washington St. A spotlight was shone on Vince the Tree Guy (Vince Liuzzo) of Jamestown. Faces included Father Nelson Baker of Lackawanna, writer Mason Winfield from East Aurora, Miss USA Kimberly Presser from Franklinville, and Reuben Eaton Fenton from Frewsburg.

Issue 44 Oct. 30-Nov.5. We celebrated Native American Heritage month, Lake Erie Wine Country invited guests to enjoy autumn, the annual Punkin’Chunkin’ was announced at the Ellicottville Distillery, we shared the news that Holiday Valley was ranked #4 Ski Resort by SKI magazine Readers Survey 2026. The Old Library Inn in Olean celebrated new ownership; scheduled to reopen 2026. Featured Tuscany Market and Deli in Fredonia and Holiday Valley Beer and Wine Fest featured Second Hand News this year.

Issue 45 Nov 6-12.  Writer Barbara Arnstein reported that the Carol Mongerson Theater has recently reopened. This re-purposed church is located on 37 No. Buffalo Street in Springville. This week was the third Holiday Valley Crawl Outa Fall Event aka Beer and Wine Festival. The fourth annual Ellicottville Turkey Trot was announced for November 27th. The scond Pine Wood Derby is returning to Madigan’s on November 23. Arts, Cloth and Crafts presented a fashion show at the Reg Lenna Theater in Jamestown. Local people mentioned were Benjamin Goodrich, Ely Samuel Parker, and Patricia McGee.

Issue 46 Nov. 13-19.  NYS Ski Racing Association (NYSSRA) announced appointment of El-licottville native, Caitlin Croft as Executive Director. The annual Rock out for Hunger event, 11/18-11/25 with 97 Rock’s DJ Jickster set the stage to collect food and money for the hungry in WNY. Jamestown’s Chophouse on Main, Eden’s Eagans Regal evergreens and Salaman-ca’s Bits and Bricks were featured. Famous faces included Pullman car designer George M. Pullman, actress/musician Erika “Riki” Lindhome, and writer Alice Jane Chandler Webster.

Issue 47 Nov. 20-26 On November 23, 42 North Brewing Company and Mud Sweat n’Gears hosted the 5th annual Gear, Beer and Movie premier. Buffalo’s Food Nerd (Sharon Cryan) won the 43 North $1M grand prize and $25,000 People’s Choice award for its Nutrient Lock Cold Processing technology. Upcoming Small Business Saturday on November 29th was an-nounced along with the MTA presentation of A Christmas Carol in December at the Robert J. Jackson Cappa Theater in Jamestown and the 20th annual Bob McCarthy Irish Christmas was announced for Dec.5. Famous influencers in WNY included Chautauqua Institution founders Miller and Heyl, William P. Letchworth, and writer Taylor Caldwell.

Issue 48 Nov. 27-Dec. 3 The annual Christmas in Ellicottville was celebrated, we received a sneak peek of the Bob McCarthy Irish Christmas, Kate Bartlett told us about the successful projects for the year in Cattaraugus County through the CCIDA, Darlene Brace gave a list of the holiday festivities in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties including Santa Claus Lane in Olean on the 28th.

Issue 49 Dec. 4-10.  The Villager and the entire Ellicottville community mourned the death on December 5 of John D. Northrup founder of JD Northrup Construction and chairman of the board of Holiday Valley. We announced the upcoming 38th annual Ellicottville Christmas Stroll (Dec.13), Holiday Valley opened the ski season on December 5, and Jamestown pre-sented its 4th annual Empty Bowls Project, where handmade bowls or cups were either wrapped or filled with nutritious soup. We featured the Rusty Rooster Farm family owned shop in Portville, announced Christmas in the Village in Lakewood and Olean’s Jingle Bell Jubilee on December 13. We introduced St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ellicottville new pas-tor, The Rev. Mark Swanson. People of Influence were Ellicottville WWII hero, Daniel Siriani, and Lockport actor Albert MacFayden.

Issue 50 Dec. 11-17. We announced the record breaking results for the 9th annual Cattarau-gus Gives 2025 which raised $370,341to date. Holiday Valley Demo Day, HoliMont opening, and the 30th annual Ellicottville Christmas Stroll took place on December 13, and the annual Christmas Cantata was presented at Holy Name of Mary Church on December 14. The Chau-tauqua Regional Youth Ballet offered The Nutcracker at the Reg Lenna Theater in Jame-stown.

Issue 51 Dec. 18-25. Winter Solstice was welcomed with snow measured in feet, a full page of photos from the Ellicottville Christmas Stroll were featured as well as photos of opening day at HoliMont. The new ECS Superintendent, Tiffany Giannicchi was introduced. She will assume her new duties on February 2. Winter activities at Allegany State Park were explored and we discovered why shopping small has economic and community benefits. Charitable programs like the 18th Street pantry in Jamestown and Pay it Forward in Salamanca were promoted.

Wishing everyone a new year filled with hope, peace, joy, happy memories and gratitude. Welcome 2026!