Harvest season takes center stage September 18 and 19 as the 4th Annual Westfield Grape & Wine Festival brings two days of family fun, food, music, grape traditions and local wine to the heart of one of America’s great grape-growing communities.

More than simply a festival, the weekend is a celebration of the farmers, families, traditions, and agricultural heritage that have shaped Westfield and the Lake Erie grape region for generations.

Admission is free. Friday festivities run from 3-8 p.m. in downtown Westfield’s Moore Park and at the Grape Discovery Center (GDC). Saturday begins with the GrapeFest 5K Walk/Run at 8 a.m. at Welch Field, followed by Festival activities in Moore Park and the GDC from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday offers a lively start to the weekend with food and vendors, children’s activities, grape juice and wine tastings, craft beverage sales, live music, and local dignitaries, teachers, and student grape-stomping contests. Patterson Library will add to the family fun with a children’s art show and a kids’ movie.

Saturday brings a full day of activities throughout downtown Westfield. Visitors can enjoy the Farmers Market, food vendors, live music, children’s activities, wine tasting and craft beverage sales, the Blessing of the Grapes, grape-stomping activities and contests for children and adults, pie-eating contests, a grape pie and grape dessert baking contest, plus hands-on grape-themed classes and workshops.

Food and grape lovers will find plenty to experience, including Cooking with Grapes, a children’s baking class, a grape pie baking workshop, an alternative grape dessert contest, a food-and-wine pairing workshop, and a wine tasting class.

Activities extend beyond Moore Park. Patterson Library will offer children’s programming and a petting zoo; the Presbyterian Church will host children’s activities; the Lakeshore Art Center will feature a grape photo booth, grape exhibit, and movie; and a scavenger hunt will take place at local businesses.

At the Grape Discovery Center, visitors can explore the museum and shop, sample regional wines, take a vineyard tour, enjoy a kids’ train ride and bounce house, and relax to live music on the patio. A trolley will operate Saturday between Festival locations.

Westfield sits at the heart of the Lake Erie grape-growing region, where the lake’s moderating climate, well-drained soils and generations of farming knowledge have created ideal conditions for Concord, Niagara and wine grapes. The Festival celebrates that agricultural heritage while giving visitors an opportunity to experience the community and traditions behind the region’s vineyards.

Visitors are encouraged to make a day — or a weekend — of their trip. Explore historic downtown Westfield, stop into local shops and restaurants, visit area wineries and vineyards, and take in the Lake Erie shoreline while enjoying the Festival.

Whether you’re stomping grapes, cheering on a pie-eating contestant, learning something new about the region’s grape industry, sampling local flavors, or simply enjoying music in the park with family and friends, the Westfield Grape & Wine Festival offers something for every generation.

The 4th Annual Westfield Grape & Wine Festival takes place Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19, 2026. Admission is FREE.

Schedule

Friday, September 18th (3:00-8:00):

Moore Park

• Vendors and Food Vendors (3:00-8:00)

• Bounce House/Kids Activities – Kids’ Tent (3:00-8:00)

• Wine Tasting & Craft Beverage Sales (3:00-8:00)

• Grape Juice Tasting & Activities – Kids’ Tent (3:00-8:00)

• Teacher Grape Stomping Contest (4:30-5:00)

• Student Grape Stomping Contest (5:00-5:30) (Pre-K-5th Grade)

• Dignitary Grape Stomping Contest (5:30-6:00)

• Open Grape Stomping (6:00-6:30)

• Music (DTO) (5:00-8:00)

Patterson Library

• Kids Movie – Super Mario (4:00 – 5:45)

Grape Discovery Center

• Museum and Shop (11:00-8:00)

• Wine Tasting (11:00-5:00)

Saturday (8:00-5:00):

Welch Field

• Grape Fest 5k Walk/Run (8:00-10:00) – Pick Up Packets (7:00-7:45)

Moore Park

• Farmer’s Market (9:00 – 5:00)

• Business Scavenger Hunt – See Welcome Tent for Details (9:00-5:00)

• Bounce House / Kid Activities / Kids’ Tent (9:00- 5:00)

• Wine Tasting & Craft Beverage Sales (9:00 – 5:00)

• Grape Juice Tasting – Kids’ Tent (9:00-5:00)

• Food Trucks & Vendors (9:00 – 5:00)

• Grape Stomping Fun (9:00 – 5:00)

• McClurg Mansion (11:00-2:00)

• Trolley (10:00- 4:30)

• Blessing of the Grapes (9:00 –9:30)

• Jamie Luli – Guitar Music (10:00-12:00)

• Kids’ Grape Stomping Contests (10:00-10:30)

• Kids Pie Eating Contest (Ages 6-8) (10:30-10:45)

• Kids Pie Eating Contest (Ages 9-12) (10:45-11:00)

• Youth Pie Eating Contest (Ages 13-17) (11:00-11:30)

• Adult Pie Eating Contest (11:30-12:00)

• Kids Baking Class (11:45 – 12:45)

• Ron Fitch – Music (12:00-2:00)

• Adult Grape Stomping Contest (12:00-1:00)

• Grape Pie Baking Contest (1:00-1:45)

• Cooking w/Grapes Class – Erin Holt (1:00-2:00)

• Daniel Siracuse Jamie - Music (2:00-4:00)

• Grape Pie Baking Workshop (2:15-3:00)

• Alternative Grape Dessert Contest (2:00-2:45)

• Food and Wine Pairing Workshop – Erin Holt (2:30 – 3:15)

• Wine Tasting Class (3:30-4:15)

Patterson Library

• Library Games & Coloring (10:00-2:00)

• Petting Zoo (11:00-1:00)

Presbyterian Church (In Front of Church)

• Presbyterian Church Children’s Activities (12:00-5:00)

Lakeshore Art Center (South Portage Street Entrance / Presbyterian Church)

• Grape Picture Booth (9:00-5:00)

• Photography Exhibit – Giraffes, Grapes and Great Apes (11:00-2:00)

MakerSpace Kids’ Bike Decorating and Bike Parade (93 East Main Street Next to CJ’s Pizza)

• Grape Picture Booth (All-Day)

Grape Discovery Center

• Museum and Shop (10:00 – 5:00)

• Food & Drink (10:00 – 5:00)

• Wine Tasting (10:00-5:00)

• Vineyard Tours (10:00-5:00)

• Kids Train Ride (10:00-5:00)

• Bounce House (10:00-5:00)

• Obstacle Course (10:00-5:00)

• Live Music on Patio – Michael Nowak (2:00-5:00)

About the Westfield Grape & Wine Festival: The Westfield Grape & Wine Festival is a family-friendly harvest celebration centered on Westfield’s grape-growing heritage, agriculture, food, music, local history, downtown community, and Lake Erie wine country. The Festival invites residents and visitors to celebrate the harvest and discover Westfield through experiences for all ages.

On its 59th birthday, the Silver Creek Festival of Grapes is wishing the United States a happy 250th birthday! Opening ceremonies and Grape Stomping contest beginning at 5:00pm Thursday September 17.

New this year:

Something special for the Lucy Lovers in the community! Since our beloved Lucille Ball came from our grape-growing area, and one of her most famous episodes of “I Love Lucy” included a hilarious grape stomping scene, this year’s festival will invite all Lucy Lovers to enter a Lucy Lookalike contest.

This requires no pre-registration, just pre-paration! Dress up in your best Lucy costume, ready to compete for a chance to grape stomp, and come to the opening ceremonies, Thursday Sept 17. Register at the Festival by 5:00pm and receive a tag for judging.

The three best Lucies will be selected by audience response to compete against each other in a grape stomping competition and the winner of that heat will be invited to be featured in the parade on Sunday September 20 as the 2026 Honorary Lucy.

Also new: The festival is introducing a chance for attendees to purchase raffle tickets at the festival headquarters which they can take around to the vendor booths and enter for prizes at the participating booths. (Headquarters will be staffed during festival hours)

Returning to the Festival will be:

• The traditional grape stomping contest, with opportunities for audience and Lucy winners’ participation. There will be 10-12 heats, which will include at the end, several heats drawn from the audience via lottery drawings.

• The exciting midway rides, games and concessions by Amusements of America

• Live music, Friday night “Crush, Crush, Crush” and “Bear the Bronz” from 6:00 to 9:30 in lower park; Saturday afternoon from 2-4pm in the gazebo, Paul Alguire; and Saturday night “Nashville North” from 6:30 to 9pm in lower park.

• Craft booths and the local food vendors that everyone knows and loves every year, local wineries will be represented

• Festival parade begins at noon on Sunday

Festival Hours:

Thursday: Craft vendors 3-7pm • Concessions & wine tent 3-9:30pm • Rides 5-9:30pm

Friday: Craft vendors 10am-7pm • Concessions & wine tent 10am-9:30pm • Rides 5-9:30pm

Saturday: Craft vendors 10am-7pm • Concessions & wine tent 10am-9:30pm • Rides 12-9:30pm

Sunday: Craft vendors 10am-5pm • Concessions & wine tent 10am-5pm • Rides 12-5pm

A message from the Festival of Grapes Board of Directors:

The Annual 59th Festival of Grapes will take place in Silver Creek on September 17–20, 2026. Enjoy four days of crafts / food vendors, rides and entertainment scheduled for everyone.

The Festival of Grapes has been an enormous success over the years, made possible by a tremendous community effort completed in a limited amount of time. To preserve these fun activities and traditions, the original organizers formed a corporation dedicated exclusively to continuing an annual festival. The major agricultural grape industry supports our community and the Festival of Grapes continues to promote it in return.

During these 59 years, the organization has seen people come and go in our community, along with many changes within the village of Silver Creek. We love our community. Many of us can remember our first Festival of Grapes: what games we played, and which rides made us smile; and what souvenirs we purchased to help us to bring the memory of that first visit to the forefront of our mind every time we see it.

Who doesn’t like the smell of concord grapes at harvest season or the view of endless grape vineyards that surround our village countryside. As we continue this festival, we hope that festival goers will reflect on the memories of their first Festival of Grapes and we look forward to the many new festival goers who will experience this event for the first time. Come down and enjoy all the events, especially the community spirit when the grape stompers twist and turn while stomping grapes as they begin to squeeze the grapes into grape juice — while laughing as their feet turn purple!

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating our proud history with our many vendors in the park and the free live entertainment provided — and stroll yourself down memory lane of the traditional Festival of Grapes in Silver Creek, New York.

For additional information about the festival events go to our festival website at www.festivalofgrapes.org or the festival Facebook page. Mark your calendar for this weekend of fun and remember to grab your chairs and line up for our traditional Sunday parade that will be starting at Noon.

We look forward to celebrating our milestone 60th year in 2027, and invite you to come back again and again!

Come have a GRAPE WEEKEND with us!

Celebrate the changing seasons at Bemus Point’s Annual Fall Fest, happening September 18-20. The weekend is full of activities that show off the best of autumn in our lakeside village.

Street Market

Stroll down Main Street and explore the Fall Fest Street Market, open Friday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Vendors will stretch along Main Street from Lakeside Drive to the Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House, with the food area located in the Bus Garage lot.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can shop a wide variety of handmade goods, artwork, jewelry, pottery, apparel, home décor, baked goods, specialty foods and more. Many vendors will also be set up on Friday, so there is plenty to see all three days of the festival.

Shopping & Draw-a-Leaf Discounts

Local shops will be open throughout Fall Fest weekend, with many offering seasonal sales and the popular “Draw-a-Leaf” discount, where customers pull a leaf at checkout for savings from 5% to 50%.*

Spend some time browsing around Bemus Point and enjoy shopping at Alpacaville, Bemus Point Pottery, Petals & Twigs Gifts and Children’s Shoppe, Skillmans, The Ugly Peacock, Lakeside Arts & Furniture, G.I. Threads and Illustrious Order of Makesmiths. From gifts and apparel to pottery, artwork, home décor and one-of-a-kind finds, there is plenty to explore throughout the weekend.

*Draw-a-Leaf discounts are available at participating stores only.

Food & Drink Specials

Fall Fest is also a great excuse to eat your way through Bemus Point. Bemus Point Inn Restaurant will feature a pumpkin waffle with whipped cream cheese, sliced banana and pecan praline sauce, along with Apple Cider Mimosas for the season. Bemus Point Market will feature Perry’s Cider Mill and Pumpkin Pie Premium ice creams, along with Birdshack Chicken & Deli favorites inside the market, including jumbo French toast filled donut bites, popcorn chicken and corndogs.

Coppola’s Pizzeria will set up a pop-up tent outside with a special fall menu, including discounted Buffalo Bills logo pizzas. Ellicottville Brewing on Chautauqua will launch a brand-new fall menu for the weekend. Guppy’s Restaurant & Tavern will feature Jägerschnitzel with hand-breaded pan-seared pork, homemade spaetzle, warm mushroom gravy, crispy onions, warm homemade applesauce and garlic bread, plus pumpkin bread pudding, fall cocktails, fall beer and fresh maple fluff cotton candy. 14 Main will serve hot dogs and hamburgers on the See-Zurh House porch.

Visitors can also enjoy a beautiful waterfront dining experience at Trattoria Partenope on the Lake and Splash, stop by The Happy Cow, or grab a fun fall drink special from Lake Life Café. Sweet Aleda’s Delightful Treats & Dirty Sodas will also be part of the Street Market, giving visitors another sweet stop during the weekend.

Fall Fest Beer Garden

The Beer Garden at the Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House will be open throughout Fall Fest weekend, with seasonal craft beers, fall cocktail specials and live entertainment. It’s a great area for the whole family to enjoy music outside and settle in for a while between shopping, food and everything else happening around the village.

Live Music & Entertainment

Friday kicks off with Cowboy Hat Happy Hour at the Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House from 4-9 PM, followed by GoldiRocks from 6-9 PM. Ellicottville Brewing on Chautauqua will also have Erica & Jesse performing from 6-9 PM. Saturday is packed from morning through evening. The Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House starts the day with Sunshine & Strength HIIT with Jess at 9 AM and Yoga & Brew at 10 AM. Mikey’s Famous Chicken BBQ begins at 1 PM, while supplies last, DJ Carmello plays from 1-4 PM and Black Widow Band takes over from 6-9 PM.

At The Village Casino, the annual Help Us Drink the Beer Party will feature half-off select beers, with Randy Graham and Jamie performing from 6-9 PM. Ellicottville Brewing on Chautauqua will keep the night going with DJ Zac Mac from 8 PM to close. On Sunday, head back to the Tap House for Bloody Marys & Burgers beginning at noon.

Classic Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In

On Saturday, September 19, the Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House will host its Classic Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In from 1-5 PM. It is a great afternoon stop for anyone who wants to check out the cars and motorcycles while enjoying the rest of the Fall Fest atmosphere.

Open Houses

The Bemus Point Historical Society will be open Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM. The Lawson Center will be open Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM with free admission. Visitors can explore exhibits on local boating history, and Ship Store merchandise will be 20% off, excluding books.

Take a Ride on the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry

Fall Fest weekend is also the last chance of the season to take a ride on the Historic Bemus Point-Stow Ferry. The Ferry will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12-8 PM, with Sunday, September 20 marking the final day of the 2026 season.

Family Fun at The Musky Mall

The Musky Mall will be a family-friendly stop on Saturday and Sunday, with both face painting and the petting zoo available from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Village Casino will also offer free pumpkin painting for kids on Saturday and Sunday, and Guppy’s Restaurant & Tavern will have wooden pumpkin painting for kids as well.

Parking & Getting Around

Parking along Main Street will be blocked off during Street Market hours to help keep the area safer and easier to navigate for visitors. Guests are encouraged to park along Sunnyside Avenue near the school and tennis courts or near the Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House. Miss Joanie’s Shuttle will operate throughout Fall Fest weekend, making it easy for visitors who park farther away to get into town. To arrange a ride, call (716) 338-5095.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

A big thank you to this year’s Fall Fest sponsors, Dave Warren Powersports, Bemus Point Business Association and Auer & Associates, UBS Financial Services Inc. Their support helps make Fall Fest possible.

Meet Us in the Middle of Chautauqua Lake

Fall Fest in Bemus Point is all about celebrating the season and the community. With something for everyone and the backdrop of Chautauqua Lake, it’s the perfect way to spend a September weekend. We can’t wait to see you there.

Visit our Facebook page for more info: www.facebook.com/VisitBemusPoint

An event entitled Crafted in Clay will be hosted by the Fluvanna Community Historical Society and the Pearl City Clay House at 220 E. 2nd Street in Jamestown on Thursday, September 17, at 6 p.m.

During the first part of the event, Vince Martonis, Hanover Historian and resident of Gerry, will present a PowerPoint program about the three 19th century potteries in Chautauqua County.

Following this, attendees can try their hand at making pottery vessels by participating in an optional hands-on pottery workshop. They will create an historic pottery piece of their own by using clay from Fluvanna. The workshop will include a modest fee to cover the cost of materials, kiln firing, instruction, and the local clay used.

The pre-1825 settlers of Western New York were very much in need of pottery vessels to help them handle daily life. These included cups, saucers, mugs, plates, jugs, crocks, pots, milk pans, and candle holders. Such items were made from the local clay which was found in abundance in the area.

Local clay resulted in redware, also called earthenware, not stoneware. Stoneware clay at that time was mainly found in the Long Island area or New Jersey. It fires at a much higher temperature and is much stronger than redware. It had to be transported into the area, which didn’t occur for the most part until the Erie Canal was finished to Buffalo in 1825, and it was costly.

In Chautauqua County, there were only three redware potteries which had significant production in the 1800s. The earliest was the Fenton and Whittemore pottery in Mayville, Jamestown, and Fluvanna, which produced ware from 1812 to about 1860. The Haven and Kenyon pottery was along Route 20 in the Town of Sheridan from 1818 to 1828. The Caleb Mathews pottery was in the Town of Gerry from 1821 to about 1860.

Martonis, a pottery historian and a resident of Chautauqua County for 73 years, published books on the Haven and Kenyon pottery and the Caleb Mathews pottery in March and April of 2024. His book on the Fenton Pottery was published in April. He has studied all three potteries since the early 1980’s and collected thousands of sherds from the potteries. The sherds enable him to understand production glazes and forms the potters used, and thus he is able to identify unmarked pieces of pottery.

His Haven and Kenyon book contains 15 color photos, as well as other graphics, and traces their history back to c. 1800 in Oneida County. Four identified pottery pieces are shown and discussed, including one owned by a botanic physician from Forestville and Sheridan. Sherds showing an array of glaze colors are also shown in photos. Martonis includes a basic explanation of redware, as well as the critical elements of provenance, form, and glazes.

The Caleb Mathews book contains 30 color photos and other graphics. Mathews’ work at the Paul Cushman stoneware pottery in Albany during the seven years prior to coming to Gerry in 1821 is also detailed. Martonis explains how Mathews experimented with using a mix of both local and stoneware clays. He also created more functional handles for lifting the pots and crocks, pictured in photos in the book.

The Fenton/Fenton & Whittemore book contains 17 color photos. The pottery benefited from Jacob Fenton’s early years of potting in various locations in New England and then later in Burlington, NY, also from Samuel Whittemore’s New England experience. So both had more than basic experience when they potted here. After a short time in Mayville, Jacob and his son William came to Jamestown at the request of James Prendergast who helped them build both a pottery and a tavern. Whittemore partnered with William later.

For the time being, the books are available at the Fenton History Center in Jamestown and the Barker Museum in Fredonia.

People can sign up for the Pearl City Clay House pottery making at (https://www.FluvannaHistory.com) or they can call for more information or ensure they have a reserved spot by calling +1 (716) 804-7163.

When my wife and I moved to Chautauqua County three years ago, we came from the South.

For retirement.

Yes, that’s right. We voluntarily moved to the snow belt.

As we began meeting people, we discovered that one question came up with remarkable regularity:

“Why did you move HERE?”

There was usually a little emphasis on the here, as though perhaps we had taken a wrong turn somewhere around Charlotte and were too embarrassed to admit it.

Our answer was—and remains—pretty simple.

We like it here.

Maybe being newcomers gives us an advantage. We haven’t had enough time for the remarkable things around us to become ordinary.

That’s one of the strange things about familiarity. The more often we see something, the less likely we are to really see it. The lake becomes the lake. The vineyards become something we drive past. The hills are simply what lies beyond the windshield on the way to the grocery store.

Meanwhile, someone has driven three hours to see them.

SEEING WHAT VISITORS SEE

Think for a moment about what surrounds us.

We live beside one of the Great Lakes. There are evenings when the sun drops toward Lake Erie and the entire western sky seems determined to show off.

A short drive away, Panama Rocks rises through an ancient forest, with enormous formations, passageways and crevices created by geological processes that began hundreds of millions of years ago. People have been coming to see the rocks as a tourist attraction since 1886.

Drive west and there is Presque Isle, a peninsula reaching into Lake Erie with beaches, trails, wildlife, boating and some of the most beautiful shoreline anywhere on the Great Lakes. It is Pennsylvania’s only “seashore,” but those of us who live nearby can decide on an ordinary Tuesday that we’d like to spend the afternoon there.

And the experience changes with the seasons.

Summer gives us boating, swimming, fishing, kayaking and long evenings near the water. Autumn turns the hills into color and brings harvest to the vineyards. Winter—which admittedly makes a rather forceful case for itself here—also gives us skiing, snowshoeing and landscapes transformed by snow. Spring eventually arrives with the particular joy that only people who have survived a lake-effect winter can fully appreciate.

There are horses to ride, trails to walk and lakes to explore.

But the richness of this place isn’t only outdoors.

EXTRAORDINARY THINGS IN ORDINARY REACH

In Jamestown, we have the National Comedy Center, the nation’s official cultural institution devoted to comedy, with more than 50 immersive exhibits. A few blocks away, the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum celebrates two people whose work changed American television—and Lucy happens to have been born right here.

People travel considerable distances to experience both.

We can go after lunch.

We also live in the home territory of Roger Tory Peterson, one of the most influential naturalists of the 20th century. The Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown preserves that legacy while using art to encourage people to look more closely at the natural world around them. Nearby, the Audubon Community Nature Center offers trails and outdoor exhibits that are open year-round.

And perhaps Peterson’s example contains part of the lesson. You don’t necessarily need to travel farther to discover more. Sometimes you need to look more carefully at what is already around you.

History is everywhere here, too.

At the Robert H. Jackson Center, we can explore the life of a local man who became a United States Supreme Court justice and chief American prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials.

Along Lake Erie, the history becomes maritime. At Barcelona Harbor stands a lighthouse completed in 1829—the first lighthouse in the world illuminated by natural gas. It still overlooks the water nearly two centuries later.

Continue toward Erie and the story reaches the War of 1812. Presque Isle sheltered Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s fleet, six of whose eleven vessels were built in Erie before the Battle of Lake Erie. Today the peninsula’s lighthouses and harbor still connect visitors with the Great Lakes’ maritime past.

And then there are the places and experiences so familiar that we may barely think of them as attractions at all: our village centers, farm stands, wineries, local restaurants, festivals, music, Chautauqua Institution, and mile after mile of vineyards hugging the Lake Erie plain.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO AWAY TO GET AWAY

Perhaps that’s the part I’ve come to appreciate most.

We tend to treat enjoyment as something that requires planning.

Someday we’ll take that trip. Someday we’ll have more time. Someday we’ll finally visit that place we’ve driven past for fifteen years.

But a good life isn’t made entirely out of big vacations and carefully planned occasions.

Sometimes it’s an afternoon.

It’s deciding to drive along the lake instead of taking the fastest route home. It’s stopping at a place you’ve passed a hundred times. It’s walking through the woods without needing to accomplish anything. It’s sitting beside the water long enough to watch the light change.

It’s going to a museum in your own hometown.

It’s spending a Saturday at a festival in the next village over.

This September, for example, Westfield will hold its annual Grape & Wine Festival. For a visitor, it can be an introduction to grape country. For those of us who live here, it can be something slightly different: a reason to stop and celebrate a landscape, an agricultural tradition and a community that are easy to take for granted precisely because they are ours.

Being a tourist in your own backyard doesn’t require pretending you’ve never been here before.

It requires curiosity.

THE PRIVILEGE OF FAMILIARITY

I understand why people ask us why we moved here.

When you have spent your life in a place, you know things about it that a visitor doesn’t. You know the February mornings when the driveway has disappeared again. You know the economic challenges. You know the businesses that have closed, the buildings that need attention and the ways you wish your community were stronger.

Loving a place doesn’t require being blind to any of that.

In fact, perhaps the opposite is true.

A place doesn’t have to be perfect to be precious.

And familiarity has another side. It means we don’t have to cram everything into a three-day weekend. We can see Lake Erie in every season. We can watch the vineyards move from bare canes to green leaves to harvest. We can return to the same trail and discover that it isn’t really the same trail at all.

Visitors get the excitement of discovery.

We get the privilege of returning.

After three years, I’m sure there are still dozens of places around Chautauqua County and the Lake Erie region that I haven’t discovered. I hope that remains true for a long time.

But I’ve learned something from being the newcomer who moved north for retirement.

When people ask, “Why did you move here?” perhaps my answer should be another question:

Have you looked around lately?

Not glanced.

Not driven through.

Really looked.

Take an afternoon. Turn down a road you normally pass. Visit the museum you’ve been meaning to see. Walk beside the lake. Climb the lighthouse. Listen to the birds. Go to the festival. Watch a sunset without doing something else at the same time.

You don’t have to travel very far to be a tourist.

Sometimes you just have to look at home with the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time.

The 33rd Annual Daniel Feather Memorial 5K, hosted by Chautauqua Striders, was held Saturday, September 5 at Bergman Park. The race, in honor of Daniel Feather, Striders co-founder, Jamestown Police Officer and avid runner, brought together 60 runners and walkers, as well as 16 participants for the inaugural Ron Graham Memorial 1K Kids Fun Run. Ron Graham, Striders co-founder, dedicated his life to empowering local youth, holding the position of Chautauqua Striders Executive Director and Coach from 1979 to 1990.

Congratulations to the overall finishers.

Top 3 Overall Male Finishers

1. Cody Kent, 16:57

2. Matt Jimerson, 20:54

3. Rafael Barrera, 21:24

Top 3 Overall Female Finishers

1. Megan Churchill, 24:07

2. Gabby Hart, 24:41

3. Judy Porpiglia, 24:53

Police Officer Division, 1st Place: Jennifer Cornell, 27:09

5K Walk 1st Place Overall: Rodney Daum

Striders sends a heartfelt thank you to all runners, volunteers, and supporters. Sponsors of the event include Advanced Manufacturing Technology; Jamestown Kendall Club; Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union; Southern Auto Exchange; Live CHQ; Howard Hanna Holt Real Estate; R. Thomas Rankin, Attorney at Law; Jamestown Mattress; Jamestown Spine; ERA Team VP Real Estate; Slone Melhuish Insurance; and the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame. Immense gratitude to the family of Dan Feather, including brother Mel Feather, sister Nancy Feather, and wife Verna Feather, for their support year after year.

The Runner of the Year Series, sponsored by UPMC Chautauqua, continues with the Stomp Out the Stigma 5K, September 26; Yeti Dash, October 17; and the Amy King Run & Turkey Trot, November 26. The ROTY Series provides local runners with the chance to earn points and win awards by competing in various races throughout the county with the Chautauqua Striders Athletic Club. Interested individuals are encouraged to learn more: https://runsignup.com/stridersathleticclub

It is not too late for eligible graduating seniors to apply for the Daniel Feather Memorial Scholarship, supporting a student involved in cross country/track & field or Striders programming. Visit Chautauqua Strider’s website for more info: https://chqstriders.org/races/

As students return to school, health experts from Tobacco-Free Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany (TF-CCA) are encouraging families to have conversations not only about the physical dangers of vaping and nicotine use, but also their impact on mental health.

The majority of young people report turning to vaping to manage feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, or other emotional challenges. However, research has shown that nicotine can worsen mental health symptoms over time. While some teens may believe vaping provides relief, nicotine dependence can increase anxiety, affect mood regulation, and make it more difficult to cope with stress.

“Many adolescents start vaping because they believe it helps them manage difficult emotions,” says Jonathan Chaffee, Youth Outreach Coordinator at TF-CCA. “The reality is that nicotine can contribute to a cycle of dependence that may worsen anxiety and other mental health concerns.”

The adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to nicotine’s effects. During the teenage years, the brain is still developing, especially areas responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Nicotine exposure during this critical period can alter brain development and increase the risk of addiction.

Health experts at TF-CCA are also raising concerns about the growing popularity of nicotine pouches among young people. These small packets, placed between the lip and gum, are often marketed in appealing flavors and are easier to conceal than traditional vaping products. While they do not produce visible vapor, nicotine pouches can still deliver high levels of nicotine and expose users to substances that may pose health risks.

Because nicotine pouches are discreet, parents, teachers, and caregivers may be less likely to recognize when a young person is using them.

As the school year begins, experts encourage parents and caregivers to:

• Talk openly with children and teens about vaping, nicotine pouches, and mental health. Help having conversations can be found at TalkItOver.org and Stanford Medicine’s “Becoming a Trusted Adult: Foundations for Effective Drug Education.”

• Watch for signs of nicotine dependence, including irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating and cravings.

• Encourage healthy coping strategies for stress, anxiety, and depression, such as physical activity, social support and counseling.

• Seek professional help if a young person is struggling with mental health concerns or nicotine addiction.

The New York State Quitline is also available to help with quitting vaping. Their latest texting service, DropTheVape, supports young people and young adults in their efforts to overcome nicotine addiction. Registration and more information is available at DropTheVape.org.

The start of a new school year offers an opportunity for families, educators, and communities to work together to support both the physical and mental well-being of young people.

New York State’s pledge to reducing smoking-related death and disease

The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control funds TF-CCA to increase support for New York State’s tobacco-free norm through youth action and community engagement. Efforts are evidence-based, policy-driven, and cost-effective approaches that decrease youth tobacco use, motivate adult smokers to quit, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. TF-CCA is a program of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Jamestown Farmers Market’s eight-week fall community-supported agriculture (CSA) program is open for signups now through October 2. Participants will receive a weekly share of produce from local farms and farmers with two convenient pickup times on Wednesdays at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 410 N. Main.

CSA participation is a great way to get fresh, local produce in your fridge or pantry on a weekly basis in one convenient pickup. It’s a perfect option for busy individuals or families who may not have time to shop at the farmers market but still want to support our region’s farmers, eat seasonally, and get fresh produce. JFM aggregates produce from participating farms and farmers at the Saturday market to build weekly shares.

The fall season runs for eight weeks from October 7 through November 25. Several share options are available, including full or half shares with an organic option. Participants can also purchase add-ons, including bread, chicken, eggs, meat, or mushrooms.

Payment options include a one-time purchase for eight weeks of produce, or weekly payment plans. SNAP is accepted as a payment option (select “pay offline” with the weekly option at checkout). SNAP customers will receive 50% off the cost of all produce shares, including the mushroom add-on, thanks to JFM’s participation in the Field & Fork Double Up Food Bucks Program.

Sign up now for the fall CSA at bit.ly/JFM-fall-CSA-26.

In Tony (Wed., September 16 at 7 p.m.) A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life. Tony is rated R and is 106 minutes long.

Super Troopers 3 (Fri., September 18 at 7 p.m.) is the latest film from comedy troupe Broken Lizard. When Farva’s wildly over-the-top Indian engagement to Thorny’s sister spirals into chaos, the Super Troopers must navigate Thorny’s schemes to break up the relationship, while trying to crack a pernicious new drug ring — all to save the day and maybe the wedding itself. Super Troopers 3 is rated R and is 104 minutes long.

Upcoming movies at The Reg include: a free showing of Reelabilities: 25 Prospect Street presented by The Resource Center (Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.) Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson in Jane Schoenbrun’s (I Saw the TV Glow) satirical surrealist slasher film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 30 at 10 p.m.), Cat Video Fest 2026 (Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.), and a screening of A Christmas Story (Nov., 21 at 6 p.m.) hosted by one of the actors from the film — Scott Schwartz — who played “Flick.”

Tickets for most Movies at The Reg are $8 in-person at the box office and $10 online (reglenna.com) & by phone — 716.484.7070. Family showings are $7 in-person at the box office and $9 online & by phone. Special engagements are priced differently. The theater and box office at The Reg are located at 116 E. 3rd St. in Jamestown, NY. The box office is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 12 - 5 p.m. and one hour before movies and events.

It’s already Week 2, but the wait is finally over.

After months of anticipation the Buffalo Bills are ready to open the doors of the new Highmark Stadium for their regular season home opener and fittingly they will do it under the lights against one of the NFL’s most respected teams as the Detroit Lions come to town on Thursday night.

For the Bills Mafia, this is much more the second game of the season. It is the beginning of a new chapter and another chance to finally fulfill those Super Bowl aspirations.

Detroit presents a serious early season test for a Bills team whose motto might as well be “Super Bowl or Bust.”

The Lions, coached by Dan Campbell, are known for their physical style and a willingness to play aggressively behind QB Jared Goff and RB Jahmyr Gibbs. This is not the type of opponent the Bills can overlook, especially with the spotlight shining so brightly on Thursday night.

For Buffalo, the new stadium isn’t the only thing making a debut.

Head coach Joe Brady in his first season following Sean McDermott’s controversial firing. Quarterback Josh Allen, widely regarded as one of the best players in the NFL, enters his ninth season as the centerpiece of the franchise. The Bills added WR D. J. Moore, and after his trade from Chicago was complete, GM Brandon Beane cemented his trust in him with a 4-year, $110 million contract. Moore gives Allen a legitimate number one threat, and with returning RB James Cook the expectations surrounding the Bills have not changed. If anything, they have grown.

Buffalo has reached the point where a winning season is not enough. The Bills fans want the same thing every year: to play in the Super Bowl.

Highmark stadium is new.

The stage is enormous.

The opponent is tough.

The slogan has always been where would you rather be than right here, right now?

Go Bills

The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) invites the community to its annual Flapjack Breakfast and Basket Raffle Fundraiser on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s on Vineyard Drive in Dunkirk.

This community event supports NCCF’s Service Learning Grants Program, which provides grants to local teachers for classroom projects that connect learning with hands-on community service. Since its inception, the program has empowered students to learn by doing—building civic responsibility and strengthening community ties.

Breakfast tickets are $10 and available online at nccfoundation.org or at the door. The basket raffle, the highlight of the morning, features a wide variety of prizes donated by local businesses and supporters. Basket raffle tickets will be sold at the event for $10 per sheet of 25, along with two Premium Prize tickets for $5. Guests are welcome to participate in the raffle even if they don’t attend breakfast.

The fundraiser brings together neighbors, educators, and supporters for a morning of fun, good food, friendship, and community spirit—all while raising funds that help students make a difference in their communities. Every ticket purchased helps provide opportunities for students to learn through service and strengthen local connections.

For more information, contact the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation at 716-366-4892 or visit www.nccfoundation.org.

Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union (SCFCU) recently announced it had made a $15,000 corporate sponsorship contribution to The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based non-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges in Chautauqua County. This is SCFCU’s third consecutive yearly contribution of $15,000.

As a corporate sponsor, SCFCU receives recognition as a sponsor of the annual fund-raising events organized by The Resource Center and Filling the Gap. Those events include the Ability Awareness Awards, TRC Golf Classic, Laurel Memorial Run/Walk, ReelAbilities Film Festival, and Mark Pacheco WOW Fund Lip Sync Battle.

“The Resource Center makes a tremendous difference in our community by helping people with disabilities live fuller, more independent lives,” said John Felton, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union. “Their work strengthens both the human condition and the local economy through the opportunities they create for individuals and families. SCFCU is proud to support an organization that has such a meaningful and lasting impact on Chautauqua County.”

“On behalf of all those supported by The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc., I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union for its continued sponsorship and support,” said Kelly Dimitri, Chief Operating Officer of The Resource Center. “The generosity of local organizations such as Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union plays an important role in helping us provide opportunities and resources that enable people with disabilities to live fulfilling and meaningful lives. We are also extremely thankful for John and his team and all they contribute to making our community a stronger place.”

Senator George Borrello joined New York Medical Center officials and local leaders last week for a ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of a new inpatient addiction recovery and behavioral health facility at the former Lakeshore Hospital campus in Irving.

The opening marks an important milestone for Senator Borrello, who led the fight to keep the hospital open six years ago and, following its closure, worked to see health care services ultimately returned to the site.

“Lakeshore Hospital was an important health care provider and major employer in this community, which is why we fought so hard against its closure. We knew losing the hospital would mean losing not only critical health care services, but good jobs that had supported local families for generations,” Senator Borrello said.

“When it became clear that the closure was going forward, our focus shifted to making sure this facility did not remain vacant and that health care would ultimately return to this site. Over the years, there were a number of possibilities for the property that ultimately did not move forward, but we never gave up on the goal of returning health care services to this facility. I stayed engaged in those efforts and worked with the new owners and our local officials to help move this redevelopment forward,” he added.

He underscored the fact that when Lakeshore Hospital closed in 2020, the region lost more than a hospital. It also lost critical inpatient behavioral health and chemical dependency treatment beds, deepening a mental health care “desert” across northern Chautauqua, southern Erie and Cattaraugus counties.

“The addiction crisis has touched families in every community, and access to inpatient treatment can be especially difficult in rural areas. Having these services available here in northern Chautauqua County will provide another option for individuals and families seeking help while restoring health care jobs to a site that was built for that very purpose,” he added.

New York Medical Center will begin its first phase of operations on Monday, September 14 with 20 inpatient substance use disorder treatment beds and five detoxification beds. Future phases over the next two years will add behavioral health services.

Senator Borrello said seeing healthcare services return to the site is particularly meaningful.

“This is a tremendous start, and we look forward to seeing New York Medical Center continue to grow and expand the services available at this campus,” Senator Borrello said. “We also know there is strong community interest in restoring emergency or urgent care services at this location. That remains a priority, and we will continue working to explore every opportunity to bring those services back to northern Chautauqua County.”

The redevelopment by Main Rd Med Group represents an investment of more than $42 million in the 173,000-square-foot former hospital. When fully complete, the health care facility will have 180 beds as well as other medical office and commercial space. The completed project is projected to create approximately 300 permanent health care-related jobs within three years.

Earlier this year, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency approved a package of incentives supporting the reuse of the property, including a 15-year PILOT agreement, sales tax abatement and mortgage tax exemption.

“A lot of people have worked hard to get us to this point,” Senator Borrello said. “I want to thank New York Medical Center CEO Raymond Manning and his leadership team, Main Rd Med Group, Chautauqua County and our local officials for staying committed to this project. There is more to come, but today we have health care returning to Lakeshore and new life in a facility that this community fought hard to preserve.”