New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Christmas ’08 is now a memory, but now begins the New Year’s Eve celebrations and into the New Year!

Holiday Valley will once again host their Annual Torch Light Parade that starts at 11:30 pm followed by the traditional fireworks at 11:45 pm.  The Valley expects to have all 56 slopes operating, weather permitting.

All of the area restaurants are gearing up for the New Year’s festivities and most will have special menus.  Try Surf ‘N Turf at The Barn Restaurant, or crab legs and prime rib at The Birdwalk.  Tips Up is also planning to serve special New Year’s food items.

You can always expect some special entertainment during the holidays.  Balloons Restaurant and Nightclub will be offering live music by Mo’ Porter from 5 – 9 pm followed by a DJ until 4 am.  The Double Diamond will be featuring one of the best bands in the area with The Tripper Harrison Band.  The Gin Mill will be heading into the New Year with The Headers from 9 pm until 1 am.  These are just a few of our local establishments that will be providing us with entertainment, be sure to check out all the others.

January 1 - Polar Bear Polar Bear Series of Runs & Walks - 5K Run/Walk
Special event coordinated by The Olean YMCA and held on January 1st at St. Bonaventure University. Check out the Olean YMCA’s website at www.oleanymca.org for all the details and registration form.

January 5-9 - Canadian Friendship Week
The year 2009 begins with our annual Canadian Friendship Week which starts January 5 and runs until January 9.  A week for our friends across the border! Holiday Valley will be accepting Canadian money at par for lift tickets.

January 5-31 - National Learn to Snowsport Month
Perhaps you made a New Year’s resolution to exercise more.  Well if you or a friend would like to learn to ski or ride, now is the time.  Beginning January 5 is National Learn to Snowsport Month.  Holiday Valley is offering a buy one, get the second for half price learn-to package through January 30.  Dick’s Sporting Goods is also supporting this learn a new snowsport.  Check out this website www.skiandrideny.com,  to get all the information on National Learn to Snowsport Month.

January 9 & 10 - Winter Rhythm & Blues Festival
This fun filled weekend features great rhythm and blues music at over a dozen restaurants and bars throughout the village of Ellicottville.  Be sure to check the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce’s website at www.ellicottvilleny.com to print the festival’s entertainment schedule.

January 10 at 8 pm - Greg Allman at the Seneca Allegany Casino The Seneca Allegany Casino says “As a member of one of the most important American bands of all time, Gregg Allman influenced a generation of musicians and forever changed the landscape of Rock n’ Roll and Blues. Now an acclaimed solo talent, Gregg Allman gives audiences memorable concert experiences with his beautifully soulful and distinctive voice, amazing songwriting and brilliant keyboard and guitar playing. Don’t miss this natural talent and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer as he performs only at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel” See their website at www.senecaalleganycasino.com to get all the details on how to get tickets to this great show!

January 18 -Racer X Series at Holiday Valley Resort
For our younger skiers, up to age 12, have a fun day trying out racing in a fun and supportive environment at Holiday Valley Ski Resort.  The event takes place on the Nastar Course on Cindy’s Run and the cost is only $5.  Registration takes place at the top of the course.

January 22 Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble at St. Bonaventure University
Friends of Good Music and The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts invite you to “The Spirit of Music and Dance”. Kevin Locke is known throughout the world as a visionary Hoop Dancer, preeminent player of the indigenous Northern Plains flute, traditional story teller, cultural ambassador and recording artist. The Ensemble is a troupe of experienced and highly regarded dancers, singers and musicians whose heritages are inter-tribal.  For more information email fogm@friendsofgoodmusic.com or check out their website at www.friendsofgoodmusic.com.

Neighborworks Home Resources is now accepting applications for its newest home repair program.  The program is funded through the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal’s Residential Emergency Services to Offer (Home) Repairs to the Elderly (RESTORE) program.  RESTORE offers money to pay for emergency repairs to eliminate unsafe conditions in homes owned by the elderly when the repairs need to be completed quickly.  The household income limit to be eligible is 80% of median for Cattaraugus County.  For example, a two-person household can have a maximum gross household income of $33,700.  At least one of the homeowners must be age 60 or older and must live in the house needing the emergency repair.  Examples of expected repairs include fixing a leaking roof, repairing or replacing a broken heating system, repairing an electrical hazard, or repairing an emergency plumbing problem.  For an application, please contact NeighborWorks Home Resources 209 N. Union Street, Olean, NY, 716-373-4100, or www.nwhomeresources.org.

There is a parking ban in Ellicottville each winter on Washington Street (between Jefferson and Mill Streets) and on Monroe Street (between Elizabeth and Martha Streets) from 4 am until 6 am beginning December 1 and ending March 31.  This ban is applied consistently throughout the designated time period regardless of the amount of snowfall received.  Residents and visitors are reminded not to block sidewalks when parking near intersections in the Town/Village, as they will be ticketed.  Access to the sidewalks is required for the sidewalk plow to be used effectively as well as for the safety of pedestrians.

Holiday Valley Ski Resort is open today and reports that 12 of their 12 ski lifts are open.  They have not received any new snow over the past 48 hours.  The base depth is 8” and the surface conditions are machine groomed, loose granular.

New Year’s Celebrations

Christmas ’08 is now a memory, but now begins the New Year’s Eve celebrations and New Year’s Day activities.

Holiday Valley will once again host their Annual Torch Light Parade that starts at 11:30 pm followed by the traditional fireworks at 11:45 pm.  The Valley expects to have all 56 slopes operating, weather permitting.

All of the area restaurants are gearing up for the New Year’s festivities and most will have special menus.  Try Surf ‘N Turf at The Barn Restaurant, or crab legs and prime rib at The Birdwalk.  Tips Up is also planning to serve special New Year’s food items.

You can always expect some special entertainment during the holidays.  Balloons Restaurant and Nightclub will be offering live music by Mo’ Porter from 5 – 9 pm followed by a DJ until 4 am.  The Double Diamond will be featuring one of the best bands in the area with The Tripper Harrison Band.  The Gin Mill will be heading into the New Year with The Headers from 9 pm until 1 am.  These are just a few of our local establishments that will be providing us with entertainment, be sure to check out all the others.

January 1st - Polar Bear Series of Runs & Walks - 5K Run/Walk

Special event coordinated by The Olean YMCA and held on January 1st at St. Bonaventure University. Check out the Olean YMCA’s website at www.oleanmca.org for all the details and registration form.

January 5th – 9th - Canadian Friendship Week
The year 2009 begins with our annual Canadian Friendship Week which starts January 5 and runs until January 9.  A week for our friends across the border! Holiday Valley will be accepting Canadian money at par for lift tickets.

It’s fair to say that here at Mellon & Co. we are jacks of all trades, so to speak. We’ve worked with banks, chambers of commerce, real estate agencies, manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and the list goes on. With each new industry we delve into, comes a new challenge. And each challenge brings with it a new opportunity to further expand our deep warehouse of unique and custom-built web tools and talents.

The recent launch of the Cellofourte website highlights such an opportunity. A dynamic cello quartet based in Pittsburgh, PA, quickly on its way to the national scene, needed to upgrade its Wordpress-based website with a content management system-based web presence that they could easily manage on their own—a trend among many of our clients.

The challenge? Media. As a band, it’s important for Cellofourte to tickle the senses of its fans. Highlighting its music was a must, of course, but showing off the unique style of Cellofourte was vital to capturing the true essence of a band that blurs the lines between rock and classical music. Video was also important. What band has made it big without being able to rock a live audience? And take it from us, Cellofourte does not disappoint a crowd.

So we created a website at cellofourte.com that is truly a multi-media showcase of Cellofourte. A custom audio player can be launched from each page and travels with you so you never lose the music. A video page houses music videos and live performances and the photo gallery gives you a good look at the style of Cellofourte, allowing you to meet each one of the members. And the best part is that Cellofourte has complete control over each of the elements. Quick edits are a cinch, all thanks to the genius of our web developers in customizing our Mellon EditPro CMS to work with the band’s needs. Cellofourte blogs regularly and keeps fans up-to-date on where it will be rocking next, on both the website and in an email mailing list (that you can sign up for on the website, of course).

We can’t forget to mention that Cellofourte has released its second album: Combustion. You’ll notice a striking resemblance between the album artwork and their new website. It’s a great example of integrated marketing, and the Mellon & Co. professional philosophy, at work.