Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2010 Volume 05 ~ Issue 04

John harvard’s Brewhouse at the tamarack cluB: see their Full menu . . . pages B-4 & 5

CONTRACTOR’S DAY: JANuARY 29 ~ HOliMONT Ski AReA

A FREE Weekly Publication Serving Ellicottville and Surrounding CommunitiesVisit our website at: www.thevillagerny.com

CATTARAuguS COuNTY’S COMMuNiTY NewSpApeR

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See TOwN pAge a-9

EBC Vies For Bemus Bay LocationMeets with Village Board to Discuss Additional Waterfront Property

Sneak PeekIn This Issue . . .

See CASiNO pAge a-9

New Convenience Store ProposedHawley Development Approaches Town Board with Interest to Open a Gas Station in Ellicottville

Salamanca RevitalizationChamber Hosts Luncheon; Discusses Urban Renewal in ‘The Year of the Cowboy’

The ‘Host of Kentucky’ Comes to EllicottvilleLast Wednesday Colonel Michael Masters and his wife, Margaret Sue flew into Ellicottville from Kentucky to host a Bourbon tasting at the Silver Fox Restaurant on Friday, January 22, 2010. While here, they enjoyed some authentic Ellicottville experiences, including dancing to Party Squad at Madigan’s on Thursday night and a ride in one of HoliMont’s new snow grooming machines. See photos of Friday’s Bourbon Tasting at the Silver Fox on this week’s Photo Page.

Music Notes

20 Monroe Street ~ 699-4162Saturday, Jan. 30th, 5-9pm

THE STRANGERSClassic Rock & Party Hits!

26 Monroe Street ~ 699-8990

Every Monday, 10pmMONDO MONDAYS

With Jack Darvaset

Saturday, Jan. 30th, 9pm-1amWHITE LIGHTNING

20 Washington Street ~ 699-2530Every Thursday, 7-11pm

KUK & FREDDIE

Every Wednesday, 9pm-1amWAGNER & WINSTON

Every Monday, 7-10pmBLUE MULE BAND

Thursday, Jan. 28th, 9pmSUDDEN URGE

Every Thursday NightPARTY SQUAD

36 Washington 699-4455

Friday, Jan. 29th, 9:30pmZEPHYR

Saturday, Jan. 30th, 9:30pmOCTOBER ROSE

Every Sunday NightKARAOKE

With Bluesman Ferris

Salamanca, NY ~ 1-877-553-9500Friday, Jan. 29th, 8pm

GARY ALLENCountry Rock Singer

Tickets on sale at all Seneca Casino box offices, Ticketmaster.com and

all Ticketmaster locations.

By gary dulanski

Walking into the Seneca Allegany Casino Events Center Meeting Room where the 2010 Kick-Off Luncheon for the Salamanca Chamber of Commerce took place, one felt more like celebrating the New Year, complete with trimmings and even noisemakers at the tables which, it turns out was to be the theme of the day, fitting in perfectly with discussions of urban renewal and revitalization. The Keynote Speaker for the day was Mr. Lee Harkness, Executive Director for the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation, who gave an excellent speech about the recent new developments in Jamestown, New York. Before lunch I had the opportunity to talk briefly with Mr. Harkness when he discussed the heart of his impending speech, saying he was going to keep it as interesting as possible. Mr. Harkness spearheaded the revitalization of Jamestown through the acquisition of funds through the Gebbie Foundation and numerous

See SAlMNCA pAge a-9

During last Friday’s luncheon held at the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel, keynote speaker Lee Harkness, Executive Director for the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation, opened his speech with a statement about how “driving tourism involves strategy.” He mentioned Salamanca’s railroad history and how Salamanca is “rich in foundations,” tying in his efforts in Jamestown with that of the Main Street Partnership in Salamanca.

By Jeanine Zimmer

Bemus Point may soon see a taste of Ellicottville on the bay. This past Tuesday night, Ellicottville Brewing Company owner Peter Kreinheder, with the support of Steve Gortreau of the Boston Culinary Group which operates the new John Harvard’s Brewhouse in the Tamarack Club, and Brent Marzec and Dan Minner of the Brewery, presented to the Village Board of Bemus Point his desire to take over the expired contract of the Village Casino.

For the past seven years, Steve Carlson (who also operates Wing City franchises) has been on contract with the Village, retaining the building and running the restaurant/club at a low fixed amount of $1400/month. Mayor of Bemus Point, Bryan Dahlberg explained the rent was so low because the building was in need of much repair, repair Carlson took upon himself to do such as wiring and plumbing upgrades. But now that such needs were met, the board “is not going to give it away (rent the building) for $18,000 a year,” notes Dahlberg. He

continued to explain, the board came up with a basic formula to calculate an idea of what a fair rent for such a property would be. They did this based on phone calls made to similar area businesses, tracking their rent, square footage and cash flow. The number they came up with is $4,000. “I realize this is excessive,” Dahlberg adds. “It’s a starting point.” The negotiations will be folded into the percentage of the money to be rolled back into the building – a 1929 structure. The two candidates, Professional

Hospitality LLC run by Carlson’s stepson David VanEss and son Andrew Carlson, and Ellicottville Brewing Company owned by Kreinheder will meet in front of the board again this Thursday, January 28, 2010 to give their final proposals. Carlson’s contract expires this October, and the new contract will be for five years. Professional Hospitality has offered in writing a rent schedule of $3,000 for the first three years and $4,000 for the last two with a total

Peter Kreinheder of the Ellicottville Brewing Company is presenting his case to the Bemus Point Village Board to run and operate business out of the current Village Casino location in Bemus Point, New York. The building is currently under contract to Steve Carlson also of Wing City franchise. When the contract comes up in October, Carlson’s stepson David VanEss, and son Andrew Carlson’s corporation “Professional Hospitality LLC” is also looking to win the new 5-year term contract. The decision by the board should be made by next Tuesday.

By ian Biggs

John Burrell started Wednesday evening’s monthly Town Board meeting with good news, speaking of the moves made within Town Hall. “There are a few more things to do.” The police department has moved downstairs and has “turned out well.” The mayor’s office will be moving downstairs also. Tom Abriatis’ office will be moving into the DPW Garage on Mill Street. Toni Higgs supplied the sales tax report, and tax revenues are up from 2008. The minutes were approved for the

December special town board meeting and regular town board meeting. The organizational meeting and special meetings in January were also accepted. In the supervisor’s report, the Town ZBA appointed Jack Kramer Chair and Cindy Dayton Vice Chair.

Zoning Changes Bob “Obie” Obenauer had the Privilege of the Board, and asked to open some dialog about the changes recently made to the Comprehensive Plan Map in regards to his property in the Poverty Hill area. Obenauer would like to have the commercial zoning classification re-established which he feels is a better future use

of the property in that area, and it was discussed that the planning board should be asked to make the decision on that. Town Engineer Mark Alianello talked about the Comprehensive Plan Map and said that depiction of a commercial zone on that Map “is a precursor to what may be commercial land in Ellicottville in the future,” as the town board would ostensibly like to expand the commercial zone. He noted that a comprehensive zoning plan “is flexible.” Alianello spoke that the Commercial designation of the properties in question had been in place since 1990, until the recent

change to low density residential. A decision behind the proposed commercial expansion back then was the possible action of Poverty Hill ski area going into business. At Burrell’s suggestion the Board referred the issue of Obenauer’s request regarding commercial zoning to the planning board.

Highway Report Dave Golley of the Highway Department spoke of the bridge on Sommerville Valley Road. He received over $7,000 from FEMA for winter repairs. The Town has given