Are You Ready?

It’s that time of year — the leaves are changing, there’s a chill in the air, and the sun is setting a little earlier each evening. Autumn is here, and that can only mean one thing: it’s officially football season!

Whether you’re cheering on your local high school team, a college football powerhouse, or your favorite NFL team, there’s nothing quite like football season here in Chautauqua County. And when it comes to getting ready for game day, you don’t have to look far — our Chamber members have you covered.

Start with the food, because no game day is complete without it! With more than 70 Chamber member restaurants, there are plenty of local options to satisfy every craving. Pick up pizza, wings, subs, burgers, appetizers, or all those game-day munchies that somehow disappear before kickoff. Whether you’re feeding the family or hosting a house full of fellow fans, you can make your game-day spread a local one.

Need to show your team spirit? CHQ Chamber member retailers have you covered there, too. Find everything from hoodies and hats to signs, gloves, and plenty of other gear to help you represent your team in style. Whether you’re supporting your hometown team, your favorite college, or NFL team, you can find plenty of ways to represent your team — and support a local business while you’re at it.

That’s one of the best things about living and cheering here: our local businesses are part of the community, too. They help make our neighborhoods vibrant, support local jobs, sponsor teams and events, and give us plenty of reasons to shop, eat, and gather right here at home.

Looking for a local business to help with your game-day plans? Visit the Chamber’s online member directory at chqchamber.org to find a local business for just about everything on your game-day checklist.

So, whether you’re hosting a watch party, heading to the stadium, or settling in at home for kickoff, shop local and make your game day a CHQ Chamber member game day! Our members have what you need to eat, gear up, gather with friends, and cheer your team on all season long.

Now, who’s ready for kickoff?

Business After Hours at RTPI

Business After Hours is back for the fall at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown on Thursday, September 24 from 5-6:30pm. There will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Chamber members can send two people free of charge. Additional members or non-members are $10 each. This Business After Hours is sponsored by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, LaBella Associates, Phillips Lytle, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, and State University of New York at Fredonia. Registration is open now through the CHQ Chamber’s online calendar.

Made in Falconer Slated for September 26

Returning for a third year, the CHQ Chamber presents Made in Falconer. Take tours of local manufacturers and stop to shop or dine at local businesses.

Manufacturing Tour stops include:

• Ellison Bronze

• Hanson Sign Company

• Stuart Tool & Die

Tours will begin every half hour at each site.

In addition to the participating manufacturers, a number of local retail businesses and restaurants are participating as well. We hope you’ll visit them during Made in Falconer! This event is sponsored by: the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Choose CHQ, Live CHQ, Cattaraugus County Bank, West Main Mercantile, Persnikkity Pies and Falconer Vacuum and Polywood Shop.

Chamber Business Awards Banquet

Join us for an evening of celebration as we honor this year’s awardees and milestone recipients and recognize their outstanding contributions and achievements. Guests will enjoy a delicious buffet dinner featuring a carving station with roasted turkey breast and Virginia baked ham, penne pasta primavera with Alfredo sauce, seasonal grilled vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes, seasoned bread stuffing, mixed green salad, and assorted desserts. The evening will also feature local beverage tastings and a cash bar, with a complimentary bottle of local wine provided at each table. Tickets are $75 per person. You may also reserve a full table of 8 for $550 (a savings of $50).

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

• Business of the Year — DFT Communications

• Business Champion Award — Chautauqua Lake Dental

• Emerging Business of the Year — Westfield Makerspace

• Not-for-Profit of the Year — Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation

• Service Business of the Year — Sanfilippo Solutions Inc

• Producer of the Year — Wells Enterprises

• Hospitality Business of the Year — 3 Lakes Cafe

Milestone recognition will go to Chamber members celebrating significant milestones including: 200 years — State University of New York at Fredonia & The Post Journal; 160 years — Community Bank N.A.; 135 years — 1891 Fredonia Opera House & Lake Shore Bank; 125 years — Jamestown Mattress Company; 95 years — Putnam Record Insurance Agency; 90 years — Johnny’s Lunch; 75 years — Elizabeth Warner Marvin Community House; 70 years — Jamestown Container Companies & JRSC Digital; 60 years — Alliance Financial Network, Inc; 50 years — The Wine Cellar & U.S Steam Lines LTD, The Chautauqua Belle; 45 years — Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame; 40 years — Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Southwest Region Small Business Development Center & Springville Door & Window; 30 years — 3 C’s Catering & Festivals Fredonia, Inc; 25 years — Robert H. Jackson Center & Thru the Grapevine Travel; 20 years — Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center; 15 years — Bag & String Wine Merchants & Portage Pie; 5 years — Art Cloth & Craft, Ballgame Heroes & Buddy Brewsters - Lakewood.

The social hour will begin at 6 pm, with a buffet dinner starting at 6:45 and the program beginning at 7:15 pm.

This is the largest gathering of businesspeople in Chautauqua County each year. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating all of the awardees and milestone recipients.

The Awards Banquet is sponsored by: AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital, Brooks TLC Hospital, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Glenora Radio Network, Lake Shore Bank and SUNY Fredonia.