Wine lovers unite!

Written for The Villager

For two weekends in November wine lovers can enjoy a relaxing time in New York’s wine country. The Lake Erie Wine Country, formally known as the Chautauqua/ Lake Erie Wine Trail, is hosting its 10^th annual Harvest Wine Weekend.

November 6-7 and 13-14, take a drive up to wine country and enjoy all the delicious wines, and their parings, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Twenty wineries will be participating in the wine weekend, celebrating the end of the harvest season.

This year, for $35 per person you will receive a complimentary wineglass, a gift, food, a recipe book, a $5 wine voucher and wine with a food pairing at each winery. Designated Drivers will receive a $15 discount, as well as a wineglass, recipe book, gift and food during the weekend.

Each ticket is valid throughout the entire weekend it was purchased for.

“It’s an excellent value for a really nice weekend,” said Julie Pfadt, executive director of Lake Erie Wine Country.

Randolph Area Community Development Corporation: helping new business grow in a hard time

Written for The Villager

Operating since 2003, the Randolph Area Community Development Corporation (RACDC) has been promoting its downtown area, catching the eyes of not only locals, but tourists too.

The RACDC received its 501-C3 status from the IRS 7 years ago, allowing it to run as an official not-for-profit organization. The RACDC’s 12-member board wanted the corporation to run not only as an organization serving businesses, but one that serves the community as a whole.

“We function partially as a chamber of commerce, but we are involved in other aspects of the community as well,” said Tonia McAllister, executive director.

However, the goal of the corporation goes even further than that.

Just in time for the big game hunting season

Written for The Villager

Since 1991, the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department has been holding the Sportsman Show as one of its biggest fundraisers.

Twice a year, the department holds the event and showcases some of the latest firearms, hunting and fishing equipment as well as some antiques.

Eighteen years ago, Jim Miller suggested the idea to the department as way to fundraise. The show started out with just 13 vendors and 23 tables on display, but now the show has grown to 45 vendors with 155 tables.

Miller, the chairman for the past 18 years, has been in the department for 25 years and believes that this show will be just as good as the others.

“It’s another good show like the rest of them,” Miller said. “I mean, all the shows have been good and this one is turning out to be the same with the vendors that I have. (People will) be seeing the same high quality that I’ve had at the other shows.”

A rare experience right in Ellicottville

Written for The Villager

Way up on Bryant Hill, past Holiday Valley Tubing, you may find yourself stumbling upon a farm, but be guaranteed this is not your usual farm but a horse farm.

Point Break Farm breeds, trains and holds lessons on Friesian horses.

“Friesians are a rare breed of horse,” owner Lisa Williams wrote in an e-mail. “They are known for their fairytale appearance.  Their personality is very sweet and willing.”

Williams and her husband both own the farm, but she is more involved.

“I just grew up horse crazy and it (the farm) was just my dream,” Williams said.

Local artist’s series heads off on a world tour

Written for The Villager

One of Ellicottville’s most well known local artists Shad Nowicki soon will be hitting the big leagues as one of his collections goes to LAX.

His five-part paint series “Evolution of the Modern Age of America” shows how the United States has changed over the past century.

The series features five different animals surrounded and immersed in a different aspect of America’s development. The bunny with claws represents fortitude, the bird represent aviation, the chimp with a scorpion’s tale shows the progression of corporations, the tortoise with a helicopter blade attached to it signifies innovation and the fifth piece is an elephant wearing heels, which embodies culture.