Carol Fisher Linn
The last summer hurrah is upon us. School is about to resume, and families are doing their best to squeeze in a final week of summer fun. The Southern Tier of WNY is a favored destination for all things fun from golf to hiking and biking at Holiday Valley. Sky High offers an Aerial Park, a Climbing Forest, a Mountain Coaster and Gem Mining plus chairlift rides and mountain biking! The largest in New York State and 3rd largest in the US, Sky High is a series of platforms, obstacles, bridges and ziplines built in a 5-acre section of the woods and the challenge is to navigate through all the platforms of a course. There are 13 courses with varying levels of difficulty. If you want something more relaxing, take a chair lift ride to enjoy the mountain.
HoliMont Ski area offers miles of open hiking, biking, and ski trails to enjoy for 12 months of the year. They offer Dry Camping, Paddle boards, Kayaks, Disc Golf and more. Their lifts are open from 12 noon- 7pm every Friday until September 2nd. And don’t forget, for those of you who just want to dine and stroll in one of the sweetest yet coolest villages in Cattaraugus County, spend some time visiting the unique shops and incredible restaurants in Ellicottville. Remember to grab a selfie at the giant ski tree by the Post Office. The Village of Cattaraugus presents their 4th Annual Labor Day Car Show Saturday at 10am. A fleet of classic cars will be on full display at 5 Washington St, the entry is free. Vendors, chicken BBQ, food trucks, music, cornhole, bonfire.
In Chautauqua County there is still time to enjoy Bemus Point on Chautauqua Lake, stroll through the Chautauqua Institution, Lily Dale or look for Lucille Ball in Lake View cemetery in Jamestown, or at the Comedy Center. It’s a perfect time to tour a lighthouse, visit a winery or park, or stroll through the quaint communities, visiting a diverse choice of art galleries (lots of them) and quaint shops. The weekend events include a Great Ball Drop at Bemus Golf Club Saturday, NSAA Art Trail Hub Crawl Saturday and Sunday, Labor Day Weekend featuring 24 participating artists, and a Labor Day party in Sherman on Sunday.
Here’s a quick review of why we are celebrating the working persons this weekend. The U.S. Department of Labor informs us that Labor Day “is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.” After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. Individual states and labor activists recognized the need for this acknowledgement long before Congress and the Federal government, which finally, on June 28, 1894, passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal national holiday. Incidentally, the Department of Labor (DOL) was established in 1913 by a reluctant President William Howard Taft, the defeated and departing incumbent, just hours before Woodrow Wilson took office, in response to years of lobbying by organized labor for a voice in the federal government that would improve the welfare of working people. The push to establish a DOL began after the Civil war. As per all things government, it took a while. What’s good about a Labor department is it covers workers on many levels: Employee Benefits, Employment and Training, Mine Safety, OSHA, Disability, Veterans, Wages and Hours, and Women’s Rights to name a few.
The workforce in America has gone through some drastic changes since the pandemic, causing what uschamber.com calls ‘The Great Resignation’ with more than 47 million workers quitting their jobs. They go on to clarify that it might be more a ‘Great Reshuffle’ because “hiring rates have outpaced quit rates since 2020. So, many workers are quitting their jobs—but many are getting re-hired elsewhere.”
Relish your extended weekend but please take a moment to thank those who labor during this holiday weekend to serve you, assist you with purchases, keep you safe on your adventures or in any way respond to your needs. Be safe and enjoy.