NOW this… by Brenda
NOW this… by Brenda
Change of Seasons
How are you celebrating the final days of summer? Bike rides, bonfires, one or two more outdoor concerts before the weather turns, ice cream no matter what the temperature is outside?
Warm days and cool nights call for dressing in layers. Our village certainly has a variety of outfitters to help you update your fall wardrobe … or as I like to call it, “hoodie season”. And with the cooler weather comes the excitement of - yep - ski season! Local ski/snowboard shops have been busy receiving and organizing new inventory for the upcoming winter. NOW is a great time to pop in and see what’s trending for 2023!
Hold that thought of carving fresh corduroy; let’s back the train up and remember to enjoy and appreciate summer’s transition into fall. For parents of school-aged kids, that transition means the start of a new school year - a NORMAL school year! Organized sports are already in full swing and classes have begun fundraising efforts towards various goals. On Wednesday, Sept. 14th, the Class of 2023 will be serving up Wendel’s Chicken BBQ outside the ECS high school entrance starting at 3:30pm. For $15 fill up on a 1/2 chicken, roll with butter, macaroni salad and beans. Your support will help offset the cost of graduation caps and gowns, senior shirts, senior class trip and prom expenses.
New on campus: This year, the Ellicottville School District introduced the addition of a School Resource Officer. Kids entering ECS on the first day of school were welcomed by Officer Amber Graham who is providing law enforcement services on school grounds each day that school is in session. I had the chance to get to know Officer Graham last month during the Ellicottville Police Officers Association’s (EPOA) annual fundraiser … Just a few hours of hanging out with Amber and I can assure you she is a perfect fit as Ellicottville’s SRO!
Following years of hosting golf tournaments, the EPOA decided to switch up their fundraiser to a corn hole tournament, held at the Village Park. What a fun day! It was a great opportunity for community members to meet local law enforcement as well as officers and firefighters from outside agencies. Although my corn hole skills are about as good as my golf skills (welcome to the loser’s club), it was an event full of sunshine and laughter, all while showing support for our local men and women in blue. I’m already looking forward to next year’s shenanigans!
What else am I looking forward to? … PUMPKINVILLE! Who’s with me? The fall family attraction is set to open up for the season on September 17th. I can already smell the fresh pumpkin donuts and apple cider. How lucky we are to have this kind of adventure right in our backyard!
What’s your favorite Pumpkinville attraction? From the hayrides and jumpin’ pillows to gem mining and apple blasting, it’s truly an experience for all ages. I myself am looking forward to getting lost in the corn maze (it happens every year), riding the express train, and meeting the new baby goats. And of course, picking out the perfect pumpkin. (Pumpkinville literally has thousands of pumpkins to choose from!)
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time online, which is highly recommended if you plan to visit on a weekend, as many weekends do sell out. Plus, you’ll save $2.00 when you purchase online. If you’re a Pumpkinville fanatic, perhaps a Season Pass is the way to go, also available for purchase online. Learn more at pumpkinville.com.
Other must-experience activities this fall: Ellicottville’s Rock N’ Roll Weekend (see page 04), chairlift rides at Holiday Valley (go to holidayvalley.com), the Grand Opening celebration of Thrive IV Lounge Sept. 17th (Thrive has teamed up with EVL Ink for some really cool giveaways!), and the opening of 12 Gates Brewing Co.’s new location in Ellicottville (read the full release on our website at ellicottilleNOW.com).
Want more? Keep tabs on ellicottvilleNOW’s FB and IG pages (@ellicottvilleNOW). See you out and about!
