Shults enters a new spotlight

Written for The Villager

Shults Auto Group takes their business to a new level. A new commercial is up and running on Time Warner Cable, but you may notice something new.

For the first time, Shultsy will be broadcast to TV’s throughout Southern Tier New York and Northern Pennsylvania

However, the cute little car won’t just sit there, he’ll talk, wink, beep and make viewers everywhere put a smile on their face.

Golf tournament drives a cause into the spotlight

Written for The Villager
            Having a good time to help a good cause, ERA Vacation Properties hosted their first annual “Agents of Hope” Scramble Golf Tournament on Wednesday to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), specifically the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Division.  Throughout the golf tournament, ERA raised $15,000.

“We exceeded our goals and are thrilled to present $15,000 to the ALS Division of MDA,” Hanna Soffel wrote in an e-mail.

The event not only had a business reason behind it, but a personal one as well.

Taking art into a new form

Written for The Villager

September 17 to 19, The International Festival of Arts and Innovation will be coming to Chautauqua Institution for the second time this year.

The festival comes to Chautauqua to introduce people from all over to the arts in a way they may not usually experience, said co-founder Margret Johnson.

Dunkirk brings in the blues

Written for The Villager

   Get the hips swinging and the music playing because this Saturday, August 14 the Boats, Blues and BBQ Festival will be rockin’ the Dunkirk pier.

   Music begins booming and ribs begin ablazing at 2 p.m., but the festival starts a bit early with a garden walk at 10 a.m. But then as promised, at 2 p.m. the BBQ begins cooking when local restaurants and “weekend warriors” start up the grills, said Kory Ahlstrom, director of planning and development. There will be all kinds of chicken, pork, ribs and sausage as well as homemade brisket.  All the food is available until sold out. To go along with the massive amounts of BBQ is a “Budweiser Beer Garden,” sponsored by Spike Dailey’s Pub, which will be opened from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

An American Story: The journey of a neighborhood game

Written for The Villager

   In 1974, a high school kid, bored of playing basketball just for fun decided to play for money, and soon more and more kids wanted to play, more and more towns and soon the nation was swept away by 3-on-3 basketball.

   “Before this no one had ever seen a half court basketball tournament,” said founder Scott McNeal. The first of its kind, The Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournament opened the floodgates to a phenomenon led by a kid from Lowell, MI. 

A new business comes flowing in!

Written for The Villager   

   Last Thursday, the 29, a new business opened its doors to the village of Ellicottville, along with some bottles of wine.  The new winery called “The Winery of Ellicottville” was opened up by co-owners Sam Sheehy and Dominic Spicola.

   The two entered upon this venture because of their shared experiences with wine.  Sheehy, who is Spicola’s son-in-law, worked at a winery for two years and was a hobby winemaker since his college years. Spicola, born in Sicily, was raised in a winemaking family, making wines starting at a young age.  When the Spicola family came to America in 1968, he continued the tradition of making wine that has lasted all the way till now.

Who says playing in the mud is only for kids?

Written for The Villager

   Get down and dirty next summer when the Columbia Muddy Buddy Ride rolls into town.

   Founded 11 years ago, the Muddy Buddy Ride has been offering people the opportunity to once again act like kids and roll around in the mud. The Muddy Buddy Ride is a family event that involves teams of two riding in a leapfroggish way. “One teammate bikes a mile, does an obstacle and starts running. The other teammate runs a mile, does the obstacle and begins riding the bike and they switch on and off like that through the race,” said founder Bob Babbitt. “Then at the end, they wait for each other and go through the mud pit together … Because of the way it’s set up, anyone can do it because you are only running and riding three miles of each.”

Soup For You!

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   Grab your spoon along with an empty stomach and get ready to fill it at the third annual Souper Summer Event, formally known at the Empty Bowl Lunch.

   For $10 people will receive a commemorative bowl and enjoy three soups from among your choice of over 14 different soups from local restaurants.  The event is hosted by and benefits the St. Susan Center Soup Kitchen. For 26 years, the kitchen has been providing thousands of meals a week to their guests, increasing more with every year.  “We’re open seven days a week 361 days a year … we provide a hot meal filled with protein, fruit, dairy, starch, vegetables and juice,” said Sue Colwell, director of the St. Susan Center.  “We try to provide as healthy and balanced of a meal as we can.”

Wine’s a flowing across the county!

Written for The Villager

   Uncork some bottles and enjoy the music! That’s what 2,000 people are expected to do Saturday August 14 and Sunday the 15 at the third annual America’s Grape Country Wine Festival. The festival will be taking place in the heart of this wine region at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.