Gift Guide 2015

OLEAN TIMES HERALD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015 PAGE1Gift Guide

Kate Day Sager/Olean Times HeraldPat Hull, manager of the Bon-Ton store in the Olean Center Mall, shows off Star War items that are expected to be very popular with young children and teens this holiday season.

By KATE DAY SAGER Olean Times Herald

OLEAN — When it comes to holiday trends for teens and young adults, there are plenty of sought-after clothes and gadgets that will be appreciated by their young recipients, said Pat Hull, manager of Bon-Ton in the Olean Center Mall.

For the young person who prefers clothing, there are plenty of fashion items to choose from, both for warmth and style, Hull said.

“Leggings are still the big push, and tunic wraps are really big this year,” Hull

said of fashions for girls and young women. “The faux fur is also big, and sweater dresses are very big this year across the board.”

Clothing that can be worn in layers, such as long sweaters under jackets and coats, are also very trendy for girls, she said. Boots of all heights, especially high boots, are also a popular amenity for an outfit with leggings, Hull added.

Holiday sweaters with snow-man and reindeer glitter designs, as well as lightweight, packable down jackets, are also

quite popular for older girls. In comparison, “critter sweaters”

that display animals such as rabbits and owls, are con-sidered a must-have for younger girls.

As for the boys, denim and activewear are popu-

lar for older boys, while younger boys enjoy T-shirts with popular characters from movies such

as Jurassic Park and SpongeBob SquarePants.

“Another thing that is going to be huge (this holiday season) is Star Wars,” the store manager predicted. “We have a whole Star Wars

setup for kids, men and women.” She noted the newest movie in the

series, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” will be released in December, just in time for the holidays.

“I think Star Wars is going to be a big trend for all the retailers; everybody has it,” she added. “Our (Star Wars merchandise) has sold well so far, for kids and men — we have hats, toys, mugs and regular cups. We even have Jelly Belly candy.”

Other merchandise that will likely go over well this season are drone devices for kids of all ages. Light-up reflective wrist-bands that can be worn as safety items and fashion by walkers are also expected to be popular. Also expected to be trendy are toys from the Melissa and Doug brand,

Buying for teens, young adults? Use the forceNOVEMBER 2015 OLEAN TIMES HERALD

Star Wars among popular choices for toy, clothing gifts

Associated Press Please see Gifts, page 2

By KELSEY BOUDINOlean Times Herald

OLEAN — The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC) gift certificate program has gar-nered nearly $6.5 million in local spending since 1995.

Not only do they support local businesses, they also can be the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for loved one on your list this holiday season, said Meme Yanetsko, GOACC chief operating officer.

“Usually in the month of December we sell over half of our certificates for the year,” Yanetsko said. “I think everybody enjoys it. They can pick a (monetary) denomination. They have a wide variety of choices to go to. You’re not stuck with one store or one restaurant.”

Certificates are available in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $25 and $50, and they are redeemable at roughly 250 locations in and around Olean.

The program started out humbly.

“We probably had just a handful of members on there, and I think we sold about $9,000 that first year,” Yanetsko said. “Since then it has grown. The highest it brought in was just shy of $500,000 purchased in a year.”

In 2014, $371,675 in gift certificates were purchased and spent, according to the chamber’s annual report.

“The big thing is keeping all of that money local. We’re helping the locals; we’re helping the small ‘mom and pops,’” Yanetsko said. “All that money stays here and provides salaries for their employees.”

They also make for great gift ideas for companies giving holiday bonuses to employees, she said.

“Some companies give out turkeys for Thanksgiving or hams at Christmas,” she added, “but some also

choose to give out a denomi-nation out of our gift cer-tificates because that way they don’t have to worry about turkeys being used. Employees can pick up whatever they might need for a holiday dinner them-selves.”

Many companies also use the certificates as tokens of appreciation for employee retirements and anniversa-ries.

But there’s a misconcep-tion, Yanetsko said, that the certificates are only available around the holidays.

“They’re available for purchase all year round,” she added. “It’s just that the majority are done in December and redeemed in January.”

Gift certificates can be purchased at the chamber office, 120 N. Union St., or by calling to place an order at 372-4433. As an advisory, look for the GOACC logo designating a business is associated with the chamber and participating in the pro-gram.

The following locations will accept certificates:

GROCERY STORESCosta’s Supermarket,

Eldred, Pa.; Market on Main, Allegany; Park & Shop Service Stores; Ried’s Food Barn; Tops Supermarket, Olean.

HAIR SALONSA Hairstyling Encounter;

A Jason Clemons Salon; Continental School of Beauty; Dawn’s Hairstyling, Cuba; GLOW Tanning Salon; Hello Gorgeous; JCPenney Salon; L’image Salon & Spa; NY Style Salon & Spa; Ray’s Hairstyling & Barbershop; Stylista Salon/Victoria Gayton.

RESTAURANTS3rd Base Bar & Grill;

A&J’s Subs Pizza & Grill; Angees Restaurant; Applebee’s Bar & Grill; Attard’s Restaurant; Beef ’n’

Barrel; Bird Cage, Allegany; Brickhouse, Allegany; Broken Wing Pizzeria & Grill; Brothers Bistro; Burger King, North Union and West State streets locations; Century Manor; Chuck Wagon Restaurant; Dave’s Diner, Ceres; Domino’s Pizza; Dunkin’ Donuts, East State Street location only; EB’s Eatery, Allegany; East End BBQ and Catering Co.; Eddie’s State King; Four Mile Brewing; Friendly’s Restaurant; Good Times of Olean; Homeplate News, breakfast and lunch; Ice Cream Island, Portville, sea-sonal; JD’S Smokin Grill n Bar, Hinsdale; McDonald’s; Mickey’s Restaurant; Mio Gelato/Renna’s West; Mirchi Bar-N-Grill; Napoli Pizza, Olean; New Tasty Twirl; Oishi Sushi & Hibachi; Perkins Restaurant; Pit-Stop Restaurant; Pizza Hut WingStreet; PizzaLand; Ponderosa; Randy’s Fireside; Randy’s Up the River; Red & Trudy’s; Renna’s Pizza; Sparky’s Pizza and Subs; Sprague’s Maple Farms, Portville; St. Bonaventure Clubhouse, Allegany; Subway, Portville, North Union Street, Wal-Mart loca-tions; Tasta Pizza, Olean and Bradford, Pa.; Tim Hortons, West State Street location only; Twist & Shake, season-al; The Y Bar & Grille, Duke Center, Pa.

RETAIL STORES‑SERVICES

6V Sales and Service, Bradford; A-1 Rent All; AKT Combatives Academy; Airgas (Abbott Welding); Al Lemon’s Service; Allegany Beverage & Redemption; Allegany Eye Associates; Allegany Massage Therapy; Allen’s Liquor Store; American Red Cross; Amore’s Cars & Repairs; Animal Mania; Anne’s Market On Main, Allegany; Archbishop Walsh Academy; Armor Building Supply; Ashley Furniture; Ask Design Jewelers;

AT&T, West State Street; Austin Locksmithing & Security; BJ’s Wholesale Club; Backyard Bargains; Belle Ruche Bridal Boutique; Balloon Lady Designs; Besecker & Coss; Best Western Plus University Inn; Both, Branch & Hendrix; Brad’s Blacktop Sealers; Bradford Creative & Performing Arts Center; Brittani’s Country Loft; Buckles Allstate Agency; Cabinet World; Canticle Farm, Allegany; Carpet Express; Carpet Town/Carpet One; Cattaraugus County Arts Council; Cayas Canopies; Close’s Lumber Inc.; Coatney Massage Therapy; Comfort Zone; Council Optometric; Countryside Wine & Spirits, Randolph; Country Inn & Suites; Covered Wagon Tours; Crandall’s Memorials; Crosby’s Dairyland; CUTCO/Ka-Bar Visitors; CVS Pharmacy; Dan Horn Pharmacy; Dana Boser, LMT; Dance Arts; DataBranch; Dr. Dave’s Computer Clinic; Barkley Daugherty D.M.D.; Dunn Tire; ecreative; Eade’s Fitness; Eades Wallpaper; East Side Garage, Belmont; East State Wine & Spirits; Enchanted Mountain Awnings; Enchanted

Mountain Eyecare; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Fischer’s Auto Service; Friends Of Good Music; Gallets Bed & Breakfast; GOACC office; Gowanda

Harley-Davidson; H&R Block; Hammonds Furniture Store; Hampton Inn; Handmade-by Shelby;

PAGE2 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015 OLEAN TIMES HERALDGift Guide

as well as Smithsonian and Discovery Kids toys.

“There are a lot of great stocking stuffers,” she added.

AT JCPENNEY, store manager Rob Devantier also shared his predictions on what will be in demand this season.

“Electronic items are always big; the iPhones and accessories (and amenities for selfies) are year-round trends,” Devantier said. Other popular items for younger guys include any athletic apparel.

“It used to be that peo-ple used to wear athletic

apparel just for athletics, but now they’re buying Nike and Bills and Sabres stuff, which are huge right now,” Devantier said. “I think the reason being is that the Bills are a decent team this year, and the Sabres have their new rookie.”

He said other trends include the “slides” shoe, which are slip-on, backless Nike or Adidas footwear.

“They wear them year-round … they’re almost like a slipper and are conve-nient to slide on and off,” Devantier explained. “Boots are also a year-round thing, especially with girls who wear them as an accessory.”

Another popular acces-sory for girls and women are

the “infinity” loop scarves which can be worn in a vari-ety of styles and with all out-fits. He noted that leggings or “jeggings” worn under skirts are also extremely popular at the store and in demand by girls and young women.

“The old-reliables are still popular, too,” he added. “Women like the cable-knit sweaters, which sell really well.” He said ponchos are also popular with girls and women.

Faux-fur vests, which can be added to layered outfits, are also being grabbed up by girls and women this season, he concluded.

(Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at [email protected])

giftsContinued from page 1

Chamber gift certificates a hot holiday sellYanetsko touts vast gift options available by buying local

Olean Times Herald file photoBetty Burrows of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce holds chamber gift certifi-cates during the 2014 holiday shopping season. The certificates are available year-round, but the majority are sold as Christmas approaches, chamber officials say.

Please see Chamber, page 4

By RICK MILLEROlean Times Herald

OLEAN — Reggie Dallaire is wor-ried.

The Allegany resident, in his 26th year as heading the Olean Toys For Tots campaign, is worried there won’t be enough toys to cover applications again this year.

And the need is greater than ever, Dallaire points out.

Dallaire, who began his long association with Toys For Tots as an active-duty U.S. Marine in London 47 years ago, began placing dozens of Tots For Tots collection boxes in local banks and businesses in mid-October.

On a Thursday afternoon in early November, Dallaire was shopping at Kohl’s in the Olean Center Mall with employees from Stroehmann’s Bakery in Olean, who recently collected more than $1,000 for Toys For Tots. The bak-ery’s parent company, Bimbo Bakeries USA, donated $2,000.

“The employees will take up another collection and come out and do this shopping again,” he said.

For several years, Toys For Toys has been serving about 2,000 children, Dallaire said.

“Last year we were a little low and ran out of toys,” he noted. “We had to turn some people away, something we had not had to do before.

“(There was plenty for) kids in the middle, but we ran out of toys for children ages 12 to 13 and kids 2 and under.”

DALLAIRE, 70, WHO with his white beard displays a hint of Santa Claus, said he’s grateful to all the groups and individuals who pitch in to help Toys For Tots. BOCES is another big supporter, Dallaire said.

“They usually fill six boxes with toys,” he said. “They’ve been fantas-tic.”

Olean’s Toys for Tots has spent about $31,000 from the Marine Corps Toys For Tots Foundation. That total doesn’t doesn’t include what Toys for Tots gets from the community.

“This year we have $15,000, so we’re down by half at this point,” Dallaire said.

What can people do?“They can buy toys and stick them

in a white Toys For Tots collection box,” Dallaire said. “We’re still in the process of getting out the boxes.”

Also, checks can be mailed directly to Olean Toys For Tots, 201 N. Union St., Suite 709, Olean NY 14760.

“We get that money instantly,” Dallaire noted.

People can also go online at www.toysfortots.org and make a contribu-tion with their credit card. Dallaire recommended that contributors ask to earmark those contributions for the Olean Toys For Tots program so 100 percent of the funds go to the local program.

“All of the money donated goes for toys,” Dallaire said. “There’s no money for salaries at the local or fed-eral level. If you send the money to us directly, we get 100 percent of it. At the end of the year, I don’t have a penny left.”

Besides covering Olean and most of Cattaraugus County, Toys For Tots also serves the western part of Allegany County and some of Bradford, Pa. Toys For Tots also looks to put a book in each child’s gift bag, Dallaire said.

Dallaire, who works part time in the office of CPA John Mucke in the Community Bank, N.A. building, is thankful to have time to spend on Toys For Tots at this time of year. Another local Marine, St. Bonaventure University professor Dr. Greg Privitera, is helping Dallaire this year.

The boxes, which are emptied as necessary, will be collected Dec. 15 and taken to Trinity United Methodist Church for separating, Dallaire said. They will be distributed to families who applied to Toys For Tots on Dec. 19.

Applications are available at Tops Markets, Olean Mayor Bill Aiello’s office and the office of Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda.

Tops schedules a winter carnival each year when Santa arrives, and donations are sought for Toys For Tots by local Marines. Giglio also has an annual office party where the admis-sion price is a new, unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots.

(Contact reporter Rick Miller at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter, @RMillerOTH)

Hearing Aid Shop, Bolivar; Henry H. Hill NAPA Auto; Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Bradford; Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Salamanca; Home Depot; Hull Electric; Immanuel Christian Child Care; The Ink Well; J&R Auto; Jacque’s Spas & Pools; JCPenney; Jamestown Community College book-store, Olean; Janice Randall Agency; John Ash Cleaners; Johnson Distributing; Jordan Photography & Consulting; Kmart of Olean; Kellner Water Systems; Kevin’s Custom Creations & Repairs; L.A. Wedding Rental @ GLOW; Lamb & Webster; Landworks; Lee’s Wine & Beer Supplies; Leisure Time Powersports, Limestone; Lester ’s Shoe Store; Liberty Tax Service; Little Blessings Children’s Resale; Little Chicago Distilleries; Little Snuggle Bugs; Luca’s Lawn & Gardening; Luckless Clothing; LydiaHawley@Stylista Salon & Spa; Mallery’s Auto Body; Mandy’s Flowers; Maple Ridge Bison Ranch; Martin Studio of Photography; Mastel Ford Lincoln Mercury; McCarthy's Emporium; McFall Does It All; Microtel Inn & Suites, Olean; Miller ’s Farm Market; Mineo Marketing; Neighborhood School of Dance; The New Lantern Motel; North Pro Hardware/Portville Concrete; Old Toad Wood Creations; Olean Child Day Care Center; Olean Class Cars; Olean Community Theatre; Olean Creative Mailing; Olean General Hospital gift shop; Olean Housing Authority; Olean Times Herald; Olean Toastmasters; Olean Union Sales; Olean Veterinary Clinic; On The Side Liquor; Owl Homes; Oz Homestay B&B and Freefall/Oz Skydiving Center; The Paper Factory; Paragon Interior Designs; Paver

Web Design & Publishing; Petruzzi Insurance Agency; Pfeiffer Nature Center; Pinekroff Kennels; Pleasant Valley Greenhouses; Poor Cow Leather; Positive Moves Consulting; Premo Limousine Service; Prizel’s Pharmacy; Pumpkinville, seasonal; Quality Quick Lube; Rain Fresh-Laundromat; Raymour & Flanigan; R.E.A.P. farmers’ market at JCC, seasonal; Regina A. Quick Center for Arts; Reiki for Life with Heather; Rick Bokman Inc.; Rick’s Golf World; Riverhurst Park Campground; Rock City Park; Ron’s Smoke Shop; Salvation Army Thrift Store; Saunders & Sons Flooring Inc.; Scott’s Lawn & Landscaping; Seasons; Sherwin Williams; Sisson’s Chain Saws & Stoves; Skin Deep Tattoo & Piercing Lounge; Smooth Facials & Waxing; The Sound Track; Southern Tier Catholic School; Southern Tier Diesel football; Southern Tier Electric Supply; SPCA in Cattaraugus County; Sports Locker; Sprout’s Drug Store; St. Bonaventure University; Stayer’s Greenhouse; Stephen’s LawnCare & Property Management; Storm Athletics, Olean Center Mall; Studio 4 East; Team Chevrolet, Inc.; The Framing Shop; Time Warner Business Class; Total Tan; Triple “K” Quarter Horses; Twin Tiers Contracting; Uptown Florist; Valley Tire; Valu Home Center; Verizon Wireless; Vic Vena Pharmacy; Wal-Mart, Allegany; Wayne Paving (snowplow-ing); West End Beverage Redemption; Western New York Glass; Whitetail Country Sports; William O. Smith Recreation Center; Willoughby’s Furniture & Gifts; Windows By MacNeal; Wingate by Wyndham; Worth W. Smith, Olean, Salamanca and Bradford; Wrapped in Dough; YMCA, Olean.

PAGE4 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015 OLEAN TIMES HERALDGift Guide

chamberContinued from page 2

Collection fell short last year

Olean Toys For Tots hopes to get back on track in 2015

Olean Times Herald file photoOlean Toys for Tots head Reggie Dallaire (left) shakes hands with Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda, during last year’s campaign. Giglio’s office each year holds a party for which the price of admission is the donation of one new toy to the charity.

By KELSEY BOUDINOlean Times Herald

OLEAN — The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC) gift certificate program has gar-nered nearly $6.5 million in local spending since 1995.

Not only do they support local businesses, they also can be the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for loved one on your list this holiday season, said Meme Yanetsko, GOACC chief operating officer.

“Usually in the month of December we sell over half of our certificates for the year,” Yanetsko said. “I think everybody enjoys it. They can pick a (monetary) denomination. They have a wide variety of choices to go to. You’re not stuck with one store or one restaurant.”

Certificates are available in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $25 and $50, and they are redeemable at roughly 250 locations in and around Olean.

The program started out humbly.

“We probably had just a handful of members on there, and I think we sold about $9,000 that first year,” Yanetsko said. “Since then it has grown. The highest it brought in was just shy of $500,000 purchased in a year.”

In 2014, $371,675 in gift certificates were purchased and spent, according to the chamber’s annual report.

“The big thing is keeping all of that money local. We’re helping the locals; we’re helping the small ‘mom and pops,’” Yanetsko said. “All that money stays here and provides salaries for their employees.”

They also make for great gift ideas for companies giving holiday bonuses to employees, she said.

“Some companies give out turkeys for Thanksgiving or hams at Christmas,” she added, “but some also

choose to give out a denomi-nation out of our gift cer-tificates because that way they don’t have to worry about turkeys being used. Employees can pick up whatever they might need for a holiday dinner them-selves.”

Many companies also use the certificates as tokens of appreciation for employee retirements and anniversa-ries.

But there’s a misconcep-tion, Yanetsko said, that the certificates are only available around the holidays.

“They’re available for purchase all year round,” she added. “It’s just that the majority are done in December and redeemed in January.”

Gift certificates can be purchased at the chamber office, 120 N. Union St., or by calling to place an order at 372-4433. As an advisory, look for the GOACC logo designating a business is associated with the chamber and participating in the pro-gram.

The following locations will accept certificates:

GROCERY STORESCosta’s Supermarket,

Eldred, Pa.; Market on Main, Allegany; Park & Shop Service Stores; Ried’s Food Barn; Tops Supermarket, Olean.

HAIR SALONSA Hairstyling Encounter;

A Jason Clemons Salon; Continental School of Beauty; Dawn’s Hairstyling, Cuba; GLOW Tanning Salon; Hello Gorgeous; JCPenney Salon; L’image Salon & Spa; NY Style Salon & Spa; Ray’s Hairstyling & Barbershop; Stylista Salon/Victoria Gayton.

RESTAURANTS3rd Base Bar & Grill;

A&J’s Subs Pizza & Grill; Angees Restaurant; Applebee’s Bar & Grill; Attard’s Restaurant; Beef ’n’

Barrel; Bird Cage, Allegany; Brickhouse, Allegany; Broken Wing Pizzeria & Grill; Brothers Bistro; Burger King, North Union and West State streets locations; Century Manor; Chuck Wagon Restaurant; Dave’s Diner, Ceres; Domino’s Pizza; Dunkin’ Donuts, East State Street location only; EB’s Eatery, Allegany; East End BBQ and Catering Co.; Eddie’s State King; Four Mile Brewing; Friendly’s Restaurant; Good Times of Olean; Homeplate News, breakfast and lunch; Ice Cream Island, Portville, sea-sonal; JD’S Smokin Grill n Bar, Hinsdale; McDonald’s; Mickey’s Restaurant; Mio Gelato/Renna’s West; Mirchi Bar-N-Grill; Napoli Pizza, Olean; New Tasty Twirl; Oishi Sushi & Hibachi; Perkins Restaurant; Pit-Stop Restaurant; Pizza Hut WingStreet; PizzaLand; Ponderosa; Randy’s Fireside; Randy’s Up the River; Red & Trudy’s; Renna’s Pizza; Sparky’s Pizza and Subs; Sprague’s Maple Farms, Portville; St. Bonaventure Clubhouse, Allegany; Subway, Portville, North Union Street, Wal-Mart loca-tions; Tasta Pizza, Olean and Bradford, Pa.; Tim Hortons, West State Street location only; Twist & Shake, season-al; The Y Bar & Grille, Duke Center, Pa.

RETAIL STORES‑SERVICES

6V Sales and Service, Bradford; A-1 Rent All; AKT Combatives Academy; Airgas (Abbott Welding); Al Lemon’s Service; Allegany Beverage & Redemption; Allegany Eye Associates; Allegany Massage Therapy; Allen’s Liquor Store; American Red Cross; Amore’s Cars & Repairs; Animal Mania; Anne’s Market On Main, Allegany; Archbishop Walsh Academy; Armor Building Supply; Ashley Furniture; Ask Design Jewelers;

AT&T, West State Street; Austin Locksmithing & Security; BJ’s Wholesale Club; Backyard Bargains; Belle Ruche Bridal Boutique; Balloon Lady Designs; Besecker & Coss; Best Western Plus University Inn; Both, Branch & Hendrix; Brad’s Blacktop Sealers; Bradford Creative & Performing Arts Center; Brittani’s Country Loft; Buckles Allstate Agency; Cabinet World; Canticle Farm, Allegany; Carpet Express; Carpet Town/Carpet One; Cattaraugus County Arts Council; Cayas Canopies; Close’s Lumber Inc.; Coatney Massage Therapy; Comfort Zone; Council Optometric; Countryside Wine & Spirits, Randolph; Country Inn & Suites; Covered Wagon Tours; Crandall’s Memorials; Crosby’s Dairyland; CUTCO/Ka-Bar Visitors; CVS Pharmacy; Dan Horn Pharmacy; Dana Boser, LMT; Dance Arts; DataBranch; Dr. Dave’s Computer Clinic; Barkley Daugherty D.M.D.; Dunn Tire; ecreative; Eade’s Fitness; Eades Wallpaper; East Side Garage, Belmont; East State Wine & Spirits; Enchanted Mountain Awnings; Enchanted

Mountain Eyecare; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Fischer’s Auto Service; Friends Of Good Music; Gallets Bed & Breakfast; GOACC office; Gowanda

Harley-Davidson; H&R Block; Hammonds Furniture Store; Hampton Inn; Handmade-by Shelby;

PAGE 2 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015 OLEAN TIMES HERALDGift Guide

as well as Smithsonian and Discovery Kids toys.

“There are a lot of great stocking stuffers,” she added.

AT JCPENNEY, store manager Rob Devantier also shared his predictions on what will be in demand this season.

“Electronic items are always big; the iPhones and accessories (and amenities for selfies) are year-round trends,” Devantier said. Other popular items for younger guys include any athletic apparel.

“It used to be that peo-ple used to wear athletic

apparel just for athletics, but now they’re buying Nike and Bills and Sabres stuff, which are huge right now,” Devantier said. “I think the reason being is that the Bills are a decent team this year, and the Sabres have their new rookie.”

He said other trends include the “slides” shoe, which are slip-on, backless Nike or Adidas footwear.

“They wear them year-round … they’re almost like a slipper and are conve-nient to slide on and off,” Devantier explained. “Boots are also a year-round thing, especially with girls who wear them as an accessory.”

Another popular acces-sory for girls and women are

the “infinity” loop scarves which can be worn in a vari-ety of styles and with all out-fits. He noted that leggings or “jeggings” worn under skirts are also extremely popular at the store and in demand by girls and young women.

“The old-reliables are still popular, too,” he added. “Women like the cable-knit sweaters, which sell really well.” He said ponchos are also popular with girls and women.

Faux-fur vests, which can be added to layered outfits, are also being grabbed up by girls and women this season, he concluded.

(Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at [email protected])

giftsContinued from page 1

Chamber gift certificates a hot holiday sellOfficials tout vast gift options available by buying local

Olean Times Herald file photoBetty Burrows of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce holds chamber gift certifi-cates during the 2014 holiday shopping season. The certificates are available year-round, but the majority are sold as Christmas approaches, chamber officials say.

Please see Chamber, page 4


By RICK MILLEROlean Times Herald

OLEAN — Reggie Dallaire is wor-ried.

The Allegany resident, in his 26th year as heading the Olean Toys For Tots campaign, is worried there won’t be enough toys to cover applications again this year.

And the need is greater than ever, Dallaire points out.

Dallaire, who began his long association with Toys For Tots as an active-duty U.S. Marine in London 47 years ago, began placing dozens of Tots For Tots collection boxes in local banks and businesses in mid-October.

On a Thursday afternoon in early November, Dallaire was shopping at Kohl’s in the Olean Center Mall with employees from Stroehmann’s Bakery in Olean, who recently collected more than $1,000 for Toys For Tots. The bak-ery’s parent company, Bimbo Bakeries USA, donated $2,000.

“The employees will take up another collection and come out and do this shopping again,” he said.

For several years, Toys For Toys has been serving about 2,000 children, Dallaire said.

“Last year we were a little low and ran out of toys,” he noted. “We had to turn some people away, something we had not had to do before.

“(There was plenty for) kids in the middle, but we ran out of toys for children ages 12 to 13 and kids 2 and under.”

DALLAIRE, 70, WHO with his white beard displays a hint of Santa Claus, said he’s grateful to all the groups and individuals who pitch in to help Toys For Tots. BOCES is another big supporter, Dallaire said.

“They usually fill six boxes with toys,” he said. “They’ve been fantas-tic.”

Olean’s Toys for Tots has spent about $31,000 from the Marine Corps Toys For Tots Foundation. That total doesn’t doesn’t include what Toys for Tots gets from the community.

“This year we have $15,000, so we’re down by half at this point,” Dallaire said.

What can people do?“They can buy toys and stick them

in a white Toys For Tots collection box,” Dallaire said. “We’re still in the process of getting out the boxes.”

Also, checks can be mailed directly to Olean Toys For Tots, 201 N. Union St., Suite 709, Olean NY 14760.

“We get that money instantly,” Dallaire noted.

People can also go online at www.toysfortots.org and make a contribu-tion with their credit card. Dallaire recommended that contributors ask to earmark those contributions for the Olean Toys For Tots program so 100 percent of the funds go to the local program.

“All of the money donated goes for toys,” Dallaire said. “There’s no money for salaries at the local or fed-eral level. If you send the money to us directly, we get 100 percent of it. At the end of the year, I don’t have a penny left.”

Besides covering Olean and most of Cattaraugus County, Toys For Tots also serves the western part of Allegany County and some of Bradford, Pa. Toys For Tots also looks to put a book in each child’s gift bag, Dallaire said.

Dallaire, who works part time in the office of CPA John Mucke in the Community Bank, N.A. building, is thankful to have time to spend on Toys For Tots at this time of year. Another local Marine, St. Bonaventure University professor Dr. Greg Privitera, is helping Dallaire this year.

The boxes, which are emptied as necessary, will be collected Dec. 15 and taken to Trinity United Methodist Church for separating, Dallaire said. They will be distributed to families who applied to Toys For Tots on Dec. 19.

Applications are available at Tops Markets, Olean Mayor Bill Aiello’s office and the office of Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda.

Tops schedules a winter carnival each year when Santa arrives, and donations are sought for Toys For Tots by local Marines. Giglio also has an annual office party where the admis-sion price is a new, unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots.

(Contact reporter Rick Miller at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter, @RMillerOTH)

Hearing Aid Shop, Bolivar; Henry H. Hill NAPA Auto; Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Bradford; Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Salamanca; Home Depot; Hull Electric; Immanuel Christian Child Care; The Ink Well; J&R Auto; Jacque’s Spas & Pools; JCPenney; Jamestown Community College book-store, Olean; Janice Randall Agency; John Ash Cleaners; Johnson Distributing; Jordan Photography & Consulting; Kmart of Olean; Kellner Water Systems; Kevin’s Custom Creations & Repairs; L.A. Wedding Rental @ GLOW; Lamb & Webster; Landworks; Lee’s Wine & Beer Supplies; Leisure Time Powersports, Limestone; Lester ’s Shoe Store; Liberty Tax Service; Little Blessings Children’s Resale; Little Chicago Distilleries; Little Snuggle Bugs; Luca’s Lawn & Gardening; Luckless Clothing; LydiaHawley@Stylista Salon & Spa; Mallery’s Auto Body; Mandy’s Flowers; Maple Ridge Bison Ranch; Martin Studio of Photography; Mastel Ford Lincoln Mercury; McCarthy's Emporium; McFall Does It All; Microtel Inn & Suites, Olean; Miller ’s Farm Market; Mineo Marketing; Neighborhood School of Dance; The New Lantern Motel; North Pro Hardware/Portville Concrete; Old Toad Wood Creations; Olean Child Day Care Center; Olean Class Cars; Olean Community Theatre; Olean Creative Mailing; Olean General Hospital gift shop; Olean Housing Authority; Olean Times Herald; Olean Toastmasters; Olean Union Sales; Olean Veterinary Clinic; On The Side Liquor; Owl Homes; Oz Homestay B&B and Freefall/Oz Skydiving Center; The Paper Factory; Paragon Interior Designs; Paver

Web Design & Publishing; Petruzzi Insurance Agency; Pfeiffer Nature Center; Pinekroff Kennels; Pleasant Valley Greenhouses; Poor Cow Leather; Positive Moves Consulting; Premo Limousine Service; Prizel’s Pharmacy; Pumpkinville, seasonal; Quality Quick Lube; Rain Fresh-Laundromat; Raymour & Flanigan; R.E.A.P. farmers’ market at JCC, seasonal; Regina A. Quick Center for Arts; Reiki for Life with Heather; Rick Bokman Inc.; Rick’s Golf World; Riverhurst Park Campground; Rock City Park; Ron’s Smoke Shop; Salvation Army Thrift Store; Saunders & Sons Flooring Inc.; Scott’s Lawn & Landscaping; Seasons; Sherwin Williams; Sisson’s Chain Saws & Stoves; Skin Deep Tattoo & Piercing Lounge; Smooth Facials & Waxing; The Sound Track; Southern Tier Catholic School; Southern Tier Diesel football; Southern Tier Electric Supply; SPCA in Cattaraugus County; Sports Locker; Sprout’s Drug Store; St. Bonaventure University; Stayer’s Greenhouse; Stephen’s LawnCare & Property Management; Storm Athletics, Olean Center Mall; Studio 4 East; Team Chevrolet, Inc.; The Framing Shop; Time Warner Business Class; Total Tan; Triple “K” Quarter Horses; Twin Tiers Contracting; Uptown Florist; Valley Tire; Valu Home Center; Verizon Wireless; Vic Vena Pharmacy; Wal-Mart, Allegany; Wayne Paving (snowplow-ing); West End Beverage Redemption; Western New York Glass; Whitetail Country Sports; William O. Smith Recreation Center; Willoughby’s Furniture & Gifts; Windows By MacNeal; Wingate by Wyndham; Worth W. Smith, Olean, Salamanca and Bradford; Wrapped in Dough; YMCA, Olean.


chamberContinued from page 2

Collection fell short last year

Olean Toys For Tots hopes to get back on track in 2015

Olean Times Herald file photoOlean Toys for Tots head Reggie Dallaire (left) shakes hands with Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda, during last year’s campaign. Giglio’s office each year holds a party for which the price of admission is the donation of one new toy to the charity.


By CHRISTOPHER MICHELOlean Times Herald

OLEAN — Santa Claus Lane, a long-standing local holiday tradition for downtown Olean, is back this year. And yes, the ongoing $8.85 million over-haul to North Union Street has affected how it looks.

Like in past years, the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled the parade for 7 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27.

“The parade route will be the exact same as it always has been,” Meme Yanetsko, the cham-ber’s chief operations officer, said last month. “It will start and end in the same places.”

But because of the ongoing construction to down-town Olean and the layout difference of the north and south ends of North Union, those on the cham-ber’s Santa Claus Lane Committee have opted not to decorate the street as they typically have.

“The city did say we were welcome to hang garland across North Union, but given that one half of the street is different than the other, we felt that it would be better to not decorate like we did in the past because things would just look incomplete,” Yanetsko said.

North Union will not be devoid of holiday decorations completely.

“The city said that at some point in the next week or two, they’ll be putting in trees in the center medi-an on the north end of (North Union),” Yanetsko said. “We’ll be putting some colored spotlights on them. We also won’t be putting up our sign across North Union by the fire department because it didn’t light up half the time anyway.”

The chamber has encouraged North Union Street merchants to decorate their storefronts. It has also decorated other parts of Olean as it always has.

Thirty-two illuminated snowflake and Christmas tree decorations will be affixed to light poles lining State Street.

On Nov. 7, the chamber led a decorating of Lincoln Park with the light displays, inflatable decorations, and the more than 150 strands of lights that festoon trees and bushes in the pub-lic space. Volunteers spent most of the day on the project. Decorations also went up in War Veterans Park and on the fencing along Bradner Stadium’s northern side.

THE CHANGE IN Santa Claus Lane’s appear-ance will be the latest iteration of how North Union is decorated for the holiday season.

During the last several years, the chamber has altered how North Union is decorated, primarily because of safety concerns.

Last year and the year prior, chamber officials coiled garlands down North Union’s light poles,

as there were concerns that draping the decora-tions across the street could cause a pole to fall. Many of North Union’s light poles have rusted at their bases, jeopardizing their integrity.

“Next year, we are planning to hang something across the street — that doesn’t mean green gar-lands, it means Christmas lights or some type of decoration,” Yanetsko said. “We’ll also be getting more snowflake and Christmas tree decorations for State Street, and we’re planning to light up all the trees in the center median next year, too.”

This year will be a test run of sorts for Santa Claus Lane 2016.

The beginning of this year’s parade, which starts near Delaware Avenue, will go through a portion of the newly renovated section of North Union en route to Lincoln Park.

“We’ll have all the people marching in the parade use one side of the street where there is a center median, and then when they get past that and the roundabout, everyone will march down

the center of the street,” Yanetsko said. “We’ll see how it works.”

But given the new layout the entire length North Union Street will have next year — two traffic lanes, a center median and several round-abouts — chamber officials are considering instead having the parade travel down State Street to Lincoln Park.

“With there being a median down all of North Union, we’re not sure if there is going to be snow on it. If we use one side of the street for the parade, we’re not sure where people will be or if people would actually be able to see the parade because of snow,” Yanetsko said. “We’ll see how this year goes, and our commit-tee is going to meet right after to talk about how everything went.”

(Contact City Editor Christopher Michel at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter, @OTHChris)


Christopher Michel/Olean Times HeraldChris Kenyon (from left) and George Nasuta, city parks department employees, carry a holiday decoration Nov. 6 in Lincoln Park. The next day, volunteers helped decorate the public space for the upcoming Santa Claus Lane parade.

Santa Claus Lane parade returns this yearChanges in store for attraction

17th Santa Claus Lane ornament available

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce has unveiled its newest Santa Claus Lane orna-ment, a depiction of the Red & Trudy’s restaurant in Portville.

Through the ornament sales, holiday lights are funded and can be lit in Olean from November to early January. The ornament, part of a series created by artist Kathleen McDonald, is $20.

The new ornaments are available at the Chamber office at 120 N. Union St., at Red & Trudy’s and at Seasons at the Olean Center Mall. Ornaments can also be shipped outside Olean for an additional $6 per orna-ment.

For more information on the ornament or Santa Claus Lane activities, call GOACC at 372-4433, stop in the office or email [email protected].

Photo submittedRed & Trudy’s in Portville is the latest area business to get the ornament treatment from the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce.

ELLICOTTVILLE — A month of Christmas in Ellicottville will kick off with an annual tradition, the Chamber of Commerce Gift of Lights celebration, Nov. 27 to 29.

Those interested can bring the kids out to ride a fire truck, meet Santa and pet a real reindeer.

The celebration will get underway at noon Nov. 27, with fire truck rides start-ing next to the Village Hall

on Jefferson Street. Horse and wagon rides

from Coffee Culture will start at 1 p.m. Children can go to the Wingate by Wyndham to make holiday decorations at 1:30. Santa will join them at 2:15 p.m.

At 5 p.m., Santa’s rein-deer will make their appear-ance at the 1887 Building lawn, near the village Christmas tree.

Santa, with carolers, kids and adults in tow, will

make his way down to the lawn of the 1887 Building, where he will give a count-down to the tree lighting at 6 p.m. Lights in trees lining the village streets will light up at the same time.

On Saturday, Santa will be present for a pancake breakfast. For the donation of nonperishable food items, the breakfast, sponsored by Sysco and held at Villaggio, will benefit the Ellicottville Food Pantry.

At 1 p.m., fire trucks and horses and wagons will be set to give rides. The Wingate will host Santa’s elves making Christmas decorations at 2 p.m., with Santa coming back around to visit with the children at 3:15 p.m.

The village will be filled with the sounds of carol-ers starting at 1 p.m., and Santa’s reindeer will appear in the 1887 Building lawn for another appearance at 3:30 p.m.

Santa is set to come back to Villaggio on Sunday morning to have breakfast with children at 9:30.

Santa will then head rover to the Wingate to spend time with the chil-dren as they make decora-tions at noon. Santa’s elves will get a jump on the decorations at 11:30 a.m. The horse-drawn wagon will be ready for riders at

noon, and Santa’s reindeer will make a final stop at noon as well.

As a part of the Christmas in Ellicottville Gift of Lights celebration, businesses will deco-rate their buildings in the theme of a favorite Christmas song. All of

them are vying for a prize.Visitors can win a

prize by taking a pic-ture and posting it to the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page — www.facebook.com/Ellicottville — with the hashtag of #ChristmasinEville.


Christmas in Ellicottville kicks off Nov. 27

Photo submittedHorse and wagon rides are a popular part of Christmas in Ellicottville. Festivities this year will kick off with the Chamber of Commerce Gift of Lights celebration from Nov. 27 to 29.


Thanks in no small part to the utter dominance of mega-artists like

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, women have ruled the music landscape in 2015. And, if Adele’s long-awaited “25” hits store shelves before the holidays, it will go down as one of the best years of all time for women in music. No matter the preferred genre of the music fan on your gift list, there’s a new album arriving guaranteed to please. Nearly every album here also comes available on back-in-vogue vinyl – which comes with a free digital download – making for a substantial, collectible present for any audiophile.

1. PATTY GRIFFINServant Of Love (Thirty Tigers, 2015)

2. LINDI ORTEGAFaded Gloryville (Last Gang Records, 2015))

3. JANET JACKSONUnbreakable (Rhythm Nation/BMG, 2015)

4. FKA TWIGS M3LL155X (Young Turks Recordings, 2015)

5. JOANNA NEWSOM Divers (Redeye Label, 2015)

STOCKING STUFFERS: MUSIC

10 hot albums from music’s most talented ladies

Women who

Rock6. CHVRCHES Every Open Eye (Glassnote Entertainment Group, 2015)

7. CARRIE UNDERWOODStoryteller (Sony Nashville/Arista, 2015)

8. KACEY MUSGRAVESNatalie Pageant Material (Mercury Nashville, 2015)

9. LANA DEL REYHoneymoon (Interscope Records, 2015)

10. DEMI LOVATOConfident(Hollywood Records, 2015)

Step up their selfie game with one of these snap-it-yourself gifts

Have yourself a selfie little Christmas DayBy Carley LintzCTW Features

Got a selfie queen or king in the family? Treat them to the perfect gift for this holiday season: a selfie stick. These extendable camera holders allow the user to get a wider shot, ideal for group photos or travelers looking to

capture a picturesque background.Price – they can range from around $15 to more than $100 – is just one factor

to consider when shopping for a selfie stick. It’s important to know what type of smartphone and/or camera it’s compatible with, the length of device and also how it takes the picture, such as via Bluetooth, an app or a camera timer. Here, six pop-ular sticks that would please the selfie enthusiast in your life.

LOOQ DG ($20)This third-generation monopod is perfect for taking selfies anytime, anywhere. It works using a continuously updating app and requires no battery, Wi-Fi connec-tion or Bluetooth, making it super easy to use. It also comes in three colors: blue, green and pink. Extends from 8 inches to more than 40 inches. Compatible with most iOS/Android smartphones.

CTW Features

CTW Features

CTW FeaturesGOPRO 3-WAY ($70)Versatility is this extension pole’s specialty. The mount can be used in three ways: as a camera grip, extension arm or tripod, making it perfect for a wide range of dynamic footage. Waterproof, lightweight and extendable up to 20 inches, it’s the ideal adventure-travel companion. Compatible with all GoPro cameras.

QUIK POD SMARTPHONE SELFIE POLE ($30)From the inventor of the first modern selfie pole, the Quik Pod operates by using your phone’s built-in camera timer or with a downloadable app. It’s also water-proof and comes with a hiking clip, wrist strap, carry bag and tripod legs. Compati-ble with most iOS/Android phones.

THUMBSUP CLICK STICK ($13)The Click Stick allows you to capture a group portrait that rivals Ellen’s Oscars selfie. Simply plug your smartphone into the headphone jack and get to click-ing, no Bluetooth or batteries required. Extends to about 39 inches and is com-patible with most iOS/Android phones; Android users must download an app.

POLARPRO POWERPOLE SELFIE STICK ($100) Durable, lightweight and splash resistant, the PowerPole is equipped to handle any adventure you take it on. Not only does the pole extend your camera’s reach up to 30 inches, the integrated battery – the first of its kind – allows you to film for up to 10 hours. The PowerPole is compatible with all GoPro camer-as.

CAMKIX EXTENDABLE SELFIE STICK ($15)Fill your Instagram feed with perfectly composed selfies with the simple and affordable CamKix selfie stick, which extends a full 40 inches. You also can buy a Bluetooth remote to make snapping photos even easier. Big phones be aware, though: The CamKix only is compatible with phones up to 3.25 inches wide.

By Jessica Royer OckenCTW Features

This holiday season your local Target is sure to be decked out in red and

green, but not so much in pink and blue.

Over the last few months, so shoppers don’t “feel frus-trated or limited by the way things are presented,” the retailer has eliminated many of the gender-based labels in their stores, including in the toy section.

But rather than causing gift-gathering pandemonium, this move may actually be irrelevant to the best kind of holiday shopping, which keeps the individual child — not their gender — in mind.

Selecting a great gift is about “finding out what a child naturally gravitates to,” says toy expert Chris Byrne, content director for TTPM, a website that offers toy reviews and price compari-sons.

“I wasn’t a kid who would sit and do Legos. I wanted to be physical,” Byrne says. “That [sort of preference] var-ies as much as gender prefer-ences.” And it’s likely to be a more useful shopping guide for parents.

“Both of my kids like what they like regardless of their gender,” says Norma Lopez, a mom of a second-

grade daughter and fourth-grade boy in Oak Park, Illinois. “My daughter in par-ticular has never liked typical ‘girl’ toys. We would have missed Legos, for sure, if we had lived in that girl section, but because our son is older we never even had to walk down one of those aisles. We’ve always shopped in the ‘boys’ Lego section for both kids.”

Obviously, if there’s something you’d prefer your child not play with, that’s your choice as a par-ent, Byrne notes. But “play lets kids explore, express themselves and have new experiences,” he adds. So selecting toys that the chil-dren in your life will love means finding “the things that help them do that,” he says.

And there are lots of possi-bilities on the toy shelves this season that will bring smiles to girls and boys alike.

GO ARTSYIn contrast to all the tech-

nology out there, look for arts-and-crafts supplies and kits that can interest all kinds of kids, Byrne sug-gests. An easel, a batch of crazy markers, a book of ready-to-make paper air-planes or an assortment of colored/patterned paper may be just the thing to kick-

start a grand creation. (Lopez vouches for this option, too.)

HELP THEM START A COLLECTION

Collecting is a popular play pattern for kids, Byrne reports, and the sheer range of items available and waiting to be gathered makes collectibles — whether they’re Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or dino-saurs or Minions or cats or Dis-ney characters or pencils or stickers — a good gift choice for all sorts of personalities.

GO WILD WITH ANIMALSAnimal-related toys are

another option with broad appeal. Lopez says both her kids like stuffed animals. “It’s their way to have more pets,” she says, and there are near-limitless varieties of animal-focused figures, puzzles and games.

As you’re shopping, just be sure to think more about the small person who will be unwrapping the gift you choose than the likely full-sized adult who developed the season’s marketing ploys. “At TTPM, we always say the ‘hot toy’ is only hot if it’s hot for your child,” Byrne says. “All these things are being promoted and advertised, but if your child isn’t into it, if it doesn’t resonate, it doesn’t matter.”


As retailers move to non-gendered signs for aisles, remember that toys will be toys

BOYS’ GIRLS’

KIDS’ TOYS

CTW Features

2015 CALDECOTT HONOR BOOKS

“NANA IN THE CITY,” Written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo (Clarion Books, $17)

“THE NOISY PAINT BOX: THE COLORS AND SOUNDS OF KANDINSKY’S ABSTRACT ART,” Illustrated by Mary GrandPré and written by Barb Rosenstock (Alfred A. Knopf, $18)

“SAM & DAVE DIG A HOLE,” Illustrated by Jon Klassen and written by Mac Barnett (Candlewick Press, $17)

“VIVA FRIDA,” Illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales (Roaring Book Press, $18)

“THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS,” Illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, $17.50)

“THIS ONE SUMMER,” Illustrated by Jillian Tamaki and written by Mariko Tamaki (First Second, $18)

STOCKING STUFFERS: AWARD-WINNING KIDS’ BOOKS

2015 NEWBERY MEDAL WINNERTHE CROSSOVER

by Kwame Alexander (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17)

2015 CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER“THE ADVENTURES OF BEEKLE: THE UNIMAGINARY FRIEND”

Written and illustrated by Dan Santat (Little, Brown and Company, $17)

It’s OK to judge a kids’ book by its cover.

When you see that shiny medal badge on the jacket, sig-nifying the title is winner or honoree of the Newbery Medal (tops in kids’ literature) or the Caldecott Medal (best in kids’ picture books), you know it’s going to be good. Here are the distinguished books for 2015:

2015 NEWBERY HONOR BOOKSEL DEAFOWritten and illustrated by Cece Bell (Amulet Books, $11)

BROWN GIRL DREAMINGby Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books, $17)


Documents

Gift Guide 2015