Announcements : American Red Cross Holiday Blood Drive Food Drive

“Blood Drive Food Drive” to be Held in Olean
Blood Donors Encouraged to Give The Perfect Gift

The American Red Cross Blood Services, New York-Penn Region is encouraging the Southern Tier community to give The Perfect Gift this holiday season. A “Blood Drive Food Drive” will be held on Monday, December 10, from Noon – 6pm at the Elks Lodge at 209 West State Street in Olean. The Red Cross will collect blood to help save the lives of hospital patients, and will also collect non-perishable food items that will be distributed to the Olean Food Pantry.

All presenting donors at the blood drive will receive a free holiday t-shirt and be entered to win a pair of tickets to see the Buffalo Bills game against the New York Jets on December 30. In addition, all donors will be entered for the grand prize drawing for a pair of roundtrip JetBlue airline tickets (some restrictions apply). There will also be a live WPIG radio broadcast at the blood drive.

During the holidays, everyone searches for the perfect gift. Is it the half off sale across town? Or maybe at the store that opens at 5 A.M.? The more money saved, the more there is to spend. Still, many of us struggle to find the perfect gift. The Red Cross reminds people that when you give from the heart, the answer is simple. The perfect gift – a lifesaving blood donation – costs nothing but about an hour of your time. By giving blood, donors give a hospital patient in need the most precious gift of all – life.

The Red Cross hopes all eligible blood donors can take time from their holiday festivities and donate blood at this year’s “Blood Drive Food Drive.” Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood; and the need for blood never takes a holiday. The New York-Penn Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to 120 hospitals and must have 1,200 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source. Now is the perfect time to show your support and give back to the Olean community, as Red Cross is the primary supplier of blood products and services to Olean General Hospital.

Eligible volunteer blood donors are asked to please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make appointments. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to give blood. Identification is required at the time of donation.

Announcements : Sharing Nature

Pfeiffer Nature Center has an opening for a Naturalist/Program Coordinator. This position gets to share their love and enthusiasm for all things natural - salamanders, bees, birds, trees, sunsets, snow - you name it. The Naturalist/Program Coordinator will lead some programs directly and will identify topic experts to lead others. Additional responsibilities include program marketing, public education, and assistance with property management.

This is a part-time position with flexible hours and available benefits.

Download a complete job description. Resumes are mailed to Pfeiffer Nature Center, PO Box 802, Portville, NY 14770.

Announcements : Sports/Rec Show Set For January

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce announced that the 4th annual Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show will be held January 2013 at the Daniel Carter Events Center, 2383 West Five Mile Road Extension in Allegany (on exit 24 ramp off I-86). The show dates and times are Saturday, January 26, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, January 27, 10 AM to 4 PM.

Vendor booths are now available for the annual sports show. At least sixty of the region’s leading businesses are expected to exhibit their wares and services at the upcoming show. The Sports Show brings the passion for the outdoors–indoors–by bringing outdoor sports enthusiasts of all ages to view the latest in hunting and fishing gear, shop for ATV's and snowmobiles and plan and book hunting and fishing trips with outfitters.

NEW THIS YEAR – BABES WITH BULLETS Camp Director Deb Fern will appear both days of the show. The Babes with Bullets ™ camps started in 2004 at the Louisiana home range of head instructor, Kay Clark Miculek, who is a several time World Champion in handgun competitions along with a 14 time National Champion in multi-gun events with handgun, rifle and shotgun. Deb Ferns was one of Kay’s campers in the 2004 event and is also active in handgun and multi-gun competitions. While Kay started shooting at a very young age with a family that is still building custom firearms, the “gun bug” did not start with Deb till she shot a handgun for the first time on her 45th birthday.

According to Deb Ferns, “There has been over 2,000 women participate in the program since 2004 with the majority of them having little or no exposure to firearms prior to camp.” Ferns made note that the age of the campers typically spans from 18 to 78 and most look at this event as “part pajama party, part adventure camp, and part firearms training.”

Ms. Ferns will have two presentations each day of the show and then will also have individual Handgun 101 demos (with a plastic replica Smith & Wesson M&P .9mm) at her booth throughout the show hours. Babes with Bullets features action shooting camps on the Outdoor Channel and the show was the winner of the Outdoor Channel Golden Moose Award “Best Online Series” 2012!

Deb Ferns is also chair of The Women’s Outdoor Media Association, host with the Outdoor Channel, columnist of “Outside My Comfort Zone”, and member of Outdoor Writers Association, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Second Amendment Sisters, Ducks Unlimited, and United States Practical Shooting Association.

The Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sport Show is offering outdoor retailers, associations & outfitters the best opportunity to sell merchandise, secure leads, book trips and interact with the outdoor community. Use this show to establish relationships with current and new customers. Exhibitor space is limited. You can secure your booth(s) for the event with a deposit of $100. GOACC members will receive discount booth space. For more information on the Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show or other Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce events and activities, please call GOACC at (716) 372-4433 or email events@oleanny.com.

Announcements : Fourteenth Santa Claus Lane Ornament Now Available

Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce has unveiled its newest Santa Claus Lane ornament, a depiction of The Chuck Wagon Restaurant. Through the ornament sales, holiday lights are funded and can be lit in Olean from November to early January. The ornament, the fourteenth in a series created by artist Kathleen McDonald, is $20.00.

Ten of the thirteen previously made ornaments are still available with a limited inventory. The first to be unveiled, the Olean Municipal Building in 1999 is sold out and not available. In 2000, the Fannie E. Bartlett House was depicted, followed in 2001 with St. Mary of the Angels Church. Olean High School came next in 2002 (and is sold out at GOACC but is sold by the OHS Alumni Association), St. Stephen’s Church in 2003 (sold out), St. Bonaventure University in 2004, and in 2005, a depiction of Santa Claus Lane. In 2006, the Olean General Hospital was created, in 2007, the ornament was the Olean Post Office, 2008 was Community Bank, NA 2009 was Ivers J. Norton, 2010 Castle Restaurant, and last year was the St. Francis Hospital. These past ornaments are available at the Chamber office.

Every year, the Santa Claus Lane committee chooses the landmarks to be designed on the 3 1/2 inch circular resin ornament. The artist sketches the layout from photos provided by Chamber officials and a prototype is created. Once the prototype is approved, work begins with the process of pouring and hand-painting each piece. The ornaments arrive in Olean, individually boxed and numbered, with a brief description of the ornament.

The new ornaments are available at the Chamber office at 120 North Union Street, at Seasons at the Olean Center Mall, and at The Chuck Wagon Restaurant on the North Union Street Extension in Olean. Ornaments can also be shipped outside Olean for an additional $6 for shipping/handling charges per ornament. For more information on the ornament or Santa Claus Lane activities, please call GOACC at 716/372-4433, stop in the office, or email santa@oleanny.com.

Announcements : Rally Raffle

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce and the Olean Area Motorcycle Enthusiasts are raffling off Not One Harley, but TWO HARLEYS! in recognition of the 10th Annual Rally in the Valley! The raffle ticket offers FIRST PRIZE of Harley Davidson 2012 Big Red Sportster Seventy-Two; SECOND PRIZE of Harley Davidson 2012 Red Sunglo Sportster SuperLow; THIRD PRIZE -- 2012 CarMate Enclosed Two Bike Trailer; FOURTH PRIZE – a rifle from Slugg’s Guns; plus a host of other prizes!

Tickets are available for $20 with a limit of 2,500 tickets to be sold. The drawing will be announced on Sunday, August 26. The motorcycles were partially sponsored by Gowanda Harley-Davidson, a major supporter/sponsor of this year’s Rally in the Valley. Tickets are available to purchase before the event at the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, Poor Cow Leather, the Taste of Olean and Gus Macker, various Rally committee members and during the Rally event.

The 2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy-Two XL1200V is a bare bones radical custom. From front to rear, the Seventy-Two sports a bold, vintage look that recalls classic bobbers and the styling of 1970s choppers. With its big flake paint, peanut tank, round retro-style air-cleaner cover, ape-hanger handlebars, and brilliant whitewalls, the Sportster Seventy-Two boasts a one-of-a-kind custom style that's full of attitude.

The 2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow XL883L has all the motorcycle features you want for easy handling. The Harley SuperLow features: Sportster tank, longer travel rear suspension, low seat height, and comfortable rider ####pit.

Dennis Jones, Randy Langdon, Larry Penman, and Alan Roth spearhead the Rally Committee. “2012 represents our 10th motorcycle event and we plan on having a great event – additional music bands, possibly fireworks, commemorative Cutco Knife, themed days, more giveaways, more games!” said Rally Co-Chair Dennis Jones. The charities that will benefit this year include the Dempsey Club; Allegany Youth Football; American Cancer Society; ReHabilitation Center; Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center; and Southern Tier Military Support Group. For more information on the Annual Rally in the Valley, call Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-372-4433 or email rally@oleanny.com.

Announcements : Area Restaurants to Serve Up Scrumptious Fun in July!

Restaurant applications for this year's Taste of Olean are now being accepted. Over 50 restaurants in the greater Olean area have been mailed applications for the 22ndAnnual Taste of Olean scheduled for July 29, from 11 AM - 5 PM on the Cattaraugus County Campus of Jamestown Community College. The Taste of Olean is co-sponsored by the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, its 47 Corporate Sponsors, and National Grid Co. For restaurants to qualify, they must be a public eating-place, whose primary commercial function is to serve food on a retail basis, offers seating at the principle place of business and is open year round in the greater Olean area. Regional and specialty foods, if interested in participating, will need to be approved by the Taste committee.

“GOACC is encouraging restaurants to participate in the Taste. This is a great opportunity to promote the restaurant's famous dishes, as well as introduce a new menu item,” stated Meme Krahe Yanetsko, GOACC Chief Operating Officer. For the 'Tastes' segment of the event, the committee is encouraging restaurants to present “tastes” of foods, not whole meals or sandwiches - smaller portions with affordable costs between 50 cents and $3.50.

The Taste committee will include additional activities and entertainment to draw people to the fun filled event. Cattaraugus County Arts Council currently accepting applications from regional artists to participate in the 63rd Annual Art in the Park celebration, to be held in conjunction with Taste of Olean on Sunday, July 29th on the JCC Campus in Olean. Olean Theatre Workshop will be hosting a Taste of Talent showcasing local talent entertainment. The Olean Family YMCA will bring their inflatables for the younger crowd to enjoy.

The sixth annual Hospitality Wall of Fame will be awarded at the Taste. The Hospitality Wall of Fame recognizes individuals and/or businesses who have made a significant contribution and given exceptional service to the food service/ hospitality industry in the past and who may continue to do so.

The cost for a restaurant to vend at the Taste of Olean is $100 for GOACC Members and $150 for Non-GOACC members. There is also a small portion of ticket sales for event expenses. Taste of Olean is a festival for the entire family - food, music, activities, art, and fun. For more information on the Taste of Olean, call Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-372-4433 or email taste@oleanny.com.

GOACC

Announcements : Foundation to honor scholarship founders

Seldom does a young man of 19 leave such a legacy that even community members who never met him know of his positive attitude, determination and ability to deal with challenges.

Jonathan Teuscher was that kind of person.

A scholarship created in his memory has supported more than 48 students since 2000 and the force behind that scholarship – Jonathan’s family and friends – will be honored this year by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation board of directors with its Friend of the Foundation award, which will be presented at the annual luncheon in July.

Committee members to be honored include Jonathan’s parents, Steve and Donna Teuscher of Portville; his brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Paula Teuscher of Cuba; his aunt, Kim Teuscher of Olean; and family friends, Gregg Prockton of Allegany, Dr. Colleen Taggerty of Olean, and Dave and Karen Todd of Portville.

Each year one graduating senior from Allegany-Limestone Central, Hinsdale Central, Olean High and Portville Central schools and Archbishop Walsh Academy receive an award from the Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship at the foundation. Currently that amount is $625 per year for up to four years and total award of $2,500.

To date the fund has awarded more than $95,000 for students to pursue higher education.

“The inspiration to start the scholarship came from Jonathan,” Mr. Teuscher said. “He felt that life was about helping others.”

Although he was born premature and diagnosed early with cerebral palsy, Jonathan didn’t let his physical limitations hinder his pursuits. A 1998 graduate of Portville Central School, he was a member of the school’s football and track teams. He loved fishing, hunting and the outdoors.

Jonathan worked at Tops in Olean and was pursuing a degree in marketing and management at St. Bonaventure University when he died in an automobile accident Dec. 12, 1999.

His family and friends remember him for his constant smile, his desire to help and his ability to inspire others to do their best, having led by example.

“Jon was a delightful young man,” noted Larry Sorokes, CRCF board member. “I met him while he was in high school. He was in a business program at BOCES when I ran the Little Apple Enterprises business through BOCES. Jon was a really nice, quiet kid who rarely said much. But when it came time to start writing descriptions of our products for marketing, advertising, and sales brochures, he emerged as an incredibly talented writer! He really came into his own from that point.

“Jon was disabled, but it never defined him or held him back,” Mr. Sorokes continued. “I was happy to see how the community embraced the family when they developed a plan to honor Jon’s memory with the scholarship.”

“Jonathan’s actions in life spoke volumes about what a role model should be,” said David Todd, Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship committee member and Jonathan’s youth football coach. “He was a living example that ‘life is about helping others,’ a statement that has made its way into the criteria of scholarship eligibility.

“His selfless attitude, his perpetual smile, his love of life and his magnetism will insist that he is remembered as a giant among men of this community,” Mr. Todd added. “No exaggeration. Jonathan didn’t make any big deal about overcoming adversity, though that’s exactly what he did. He simply ignored his shortcomings.”

It was Jonathan’s unfailing positive attitude that inspired community members to help remember him through a scholarship fund.

According to Mr. Teuscher, the scholarship committee and volunteers organized a series of five annual fundraising events in order to grow the fund beginning in July 2000. Through these events, the committee raised more than $60,000.

“One policy that we had for all the fundraisers was that every dollar that was raised went to the scholarship – all expenses, including hall rentals, food, beverages, etc., were either donated or paid for by the scholarship committee and the community,” noted Mr. Teuscher. “Our community was very generous and for that we’re still thankful.”

As well as organizing fundraisers, the committee helped to select scholarship recipients nominated by their schools and held awards presentations for the recipients.

“The presentations, review of the recommended recipients and the fundraisers provided an opportunity to meet and understand the recipients and get to know them better,” Mr. Teuscher said. “We felt this personal contact was an important part of the scholarship.”

“The Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship has made a world of difference for so many young people in our community since it was founded in 2000,” said Carol Stitt, Community Foundation board president. “Jonathan’s memory lives on through the dozens of students who have received, and who continue to receive, awards from this fund.”

“On behalf of the board of directors I’m pleased the Community Foundation will recognize Mr. and Mrs. Teuscher and members of the Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship committee for their extraordinary commitment to our community’s students at this year’s Friends of the Foundation Luncheon,” Mrs. Stitt added.

“Their fund has given hope to so many students, some of whom otherwise may not have been able to attend college,” said Karen Niemic Buchheit, CRCF Executive Director. “They specifically stated in their award guidelines that recipients do not have to be top scholars, but they should, like Jonathan, demonstrate that they’ve done everything to the best of their ability even in the face of adversity.”

Mr. Teuscher said the committee developed the scholarship criteria to reflect Jonathan’s spirit. Candidates should, among other qualities, have faced challenges while maintaining a positive attitude, done their best to keep a smile on their face and to make others smile and through their quiet determination have inspired others to do their best.

More information on the Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship criteria is available at www.cattfoundation.org/scholarships.

Established in 1995, The Community Foundation is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in our region. Grants from the foundation support many areas including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service and youth development. To learn more, call, email or visit us online at www.cattfoundation.org

For more information, contact the Community Foundation at (716) 372-4433, email foundation@cattfoundation.org or visit www.cattfoundation.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cattfoundation.

Announcements : Gus Macker Looking for Some Assists!

The Olean City School District Foundation and the Olean Sports Booster Club are co-sponsoring the Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament in Olean August 17-19, 2012. They anticipate having 350 teams and 10,000 spectators from a 100-mile radius to attend the 3-day event and see this as a great opportunity to showcase Olean. Last year, two hundred ninety four teams played with 1,176 registered players.

OCSDF and the Sports Boosters are looking for businesses and/or individuals to become sponsors in an event that will benefit the entire city of Olean. Sponsorships include City Corporate Tourney, Special Event, Corporate, and Official. Sponsorships range from $175 as a Team Sponsor up to $2,500 for a Events Sponsor. Sponsorships can be monetary donations or partially in-kind. Some benefits of sponsorships may include: name/logo will appear on the players T-shirts, promotion on the tourney registration forms; banners at Gus Macker events in Olean, promotion in newsletters and news releases.

The tournament is proud to recognize three area companies, Park Centre Development, CUTCO/Ka-Bar Visitors Center, and the Kinley Corporation, who have stepped up and become the Charter Members of the Tournament. Other businesses/organizations that are committed as tourney sponsors to date include: A-1 Rentall; Adams Septic Service; American Red Cross; Bantelman Agency; Bysiek CPA PLLC; Casella Waste
City of Olean, Linda Witte; DBP Realty; Don Sue; Duggan & Duggan; GOACC; Hampton/BestWestern/Country; Key Bank; Milo's Village Green; Olean Area Federal Credit Union; Olean Medical Group; Olean Physical Therapy; Premo Limo; Ray's Hairstyling; Rotary Club of Olean; Scooters Restaurant; So. Tier Health Care System; US Air Force; and the WalMart Foundation.

Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball is America's largest outdoor basketball tournament. Please consider becoming a sponsor and remember all proceeds will benefit the youth of Olean through the Olean City School District Foundation or the Olean Sports Booster Club. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact either David Carucci at (716) 372-9289 or Meme Yanetsko, (716) 372-4433.

-JUMP BALL-

Announcements : The Rally is Seeking Retail Vendors

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking food, retail, and craft vendors to participate in the 10th Annual Rally in the Valley event, August 22-26, in Olean. The five-day event is a motorcycle rally with the proceeds benefiting a host of community organizations: Dempsey Club; Allegany Youth Football; American Cancer Society; ReHabilitation Center; Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center; and Southern Tier Military Support Group

The “Rally” is expected to draw several thousand motorcyclists from across the region. GOACC would like to offer companies an opportunity to take a vendor booth at the event. This year, the event will open for vendors with a FRIDAY KICK OFF to the RALLY with a Bike Parade and regional music entertainment. Saturday’s event will include bands, and contests: slow ride, ball drop, tire toss, hot dog. Sunday’s activities will consist of music, a dice run starting at 11 am and the raffle of a Harley Davidson 2012 Big Red Sportster Seventy-Two and a Harley Davidson 2012 Red Sunglo Sportster SuperLow. The three events will all be held at one location -- vendors will not need to move and set up their spaces like in the past.

Past retail vendors showcased jewelry, motorcycle accessories, clothing, sunglasses, leather wear, motorcycles, even a truck/trailer to haul your motorcycle! Vendors must apply to be considered. Vendors will be selected based on minimum qualifications, as well as experience, quality of service, variety, cleanliness, and availability. Vendors supply their own tables, canopies and materials. Electricity is available for the food operators. There will be overnight security at the stadium both Friday and Saturday nights. Deadline for applications is Friday, June 29. Although the Rally is a five-day event, vendors will not display/sell Wednesday, August 22 or Thursday night, August 23. For more information or for an application, stop in at the GOACC office, check the Rally website, www.oleanny.com, or call (716) 372-4433.

RALLY 2012

Announcements : Have no doubt, I’ll knock you out! Red & Gold Rumble This Saturday

The First Red and Gold Rumble will be LIGHTS OUT this Saturday, April 21, 2012. This international boxing match featuring USA-sanctioned boxers will be held at the Olean High School, 410 West Sullivan Street, Olean. The bouts will start at 6 PM, with doors opening at 5 PM. The ages of these boxers are 11 – 24 years old, male and female athletes.

Tickets are $10 General Admission (bleachers open seating in balcony/in gym) and $20 Ringside (chairs on the floor of the gym closest to the ring). Tickets are available at the Olean High School Athletic Office, 410 West Sullivan Street, Olean; Sports Locker, 711 West State Street, Olean; and the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, 120 North Union Street, Olean.

This family fun event will benefit both the Olean High School Sports Boosters and Western New York Boxers. The Red & Gold Rumble’s card will feature between 12 and 15 amateur bouts with members of boxing clubs: St. Catharine’s Boxing Club (Canada); St. Martin’s Boxing Club (Rochester, NY); Casal’s Boxing Club (Niagara Falls, NY); Baden Street Settlement (Rochester, NY); Geneva Boxing Team (Geneva, NY); Knockout Factory (Salamanca, NY); St. Johns International Boxing Club (Buffalo, NY); Syracuse Westside Boxing Club (Syracuse, NY); Erie East-side Fighting Eagles (Erie, PA); Bomb Squad (Buffalo NY); and University at Buffalo Boxing Club (Buffalo, NY).

This event is being coordinated and assisted by OHS students in Mrs. Chris Stavish’s Sports & Entertainment Marketing class. The Bel Canto Choir from Olean High School will sing the National Anthem and Dawn Elizabeth will sing the Canadian Anthem. Dan Shembeda and Jack Morton will emcee the event.

Sponsors of the event include: Olean Medical Group, the Olean Permanent FireFighters Association, Brown Chiari, Stavish’s Parkwood Tavern, A Jason Clemons Salon, Enchanted Mountain Martial Arts Academy; Both, Branch & Hendrix, Petruzzi Insurance, and Sports Locker. For more information on the Rumble, please contact Meme Yanetsko at 716-372-4433 or by email to meme@oleanny.com.

KO 4 OHS