Dena J. DiOrio

A public forum on the Ellicottville-Great Valley Trail (EVGV Trail, for short) took place last month at the Ellicottville Town Center. The forum was attended by community members, business owners, planners, town board members, and those interested in hearing more about the proposed project. EllicottvilleNOW caught up with Kate O’Stricker, Senior Development Specialist for the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism, and EVGV Trail board member, for comments...

It is that time of year again! Time for the snow to melt, time for the flower buds to pop, and time to warm our bellies with a bowl full of homemade soup for charity! Need more reason to celebrate? The annual Soup Bowl Fundraiser benefiting Connecting Communities in Action is accepting pre-orders now for the event which will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 from 10:00am-2:00pm. ellicottvilleNOW caught up with Jacob Fellows, the newly appointed Director of Nutrition Services at CCA for an ...

There may still be snow on the ground, but spring is just around the corner! With the change of seasons comes the inevitable task of spring cleaning. Newcomer Zen Oasis Cleaning Co, founded by Jamestown native Jessa Pace, is here to revolutionize the process, one deep clean at a time. Already one year into her business, Pace’s concept is a game changer. She exclusively uses her homemade, all-natural, eco-friendly multipurpose spray to clean and shine, well,...

There is no doubt about it - roller derby brings the heat! That’s what’s cooking next Friday at Daily City Train (DCT), Ellicottville’s exclusive indoor skatepark at 2 Bristol Lane (next door to Tim & Bonnie’s Pizza). If you’ve ever been curious about the sport, mark your calendars for February 7th at 6:00pm for the Enchanted Mountain Roller Derby Showcase during DCT’s regular ladies’ night skate. In anticipation of this event, ellicottvilleNOW caught up with Jennifer Pavlock, sponsorship & dues chair and league secretary who goes by her derby name "Belle of the Brawl." We chatted about ...

Dawn Murphy’s nut butters whizz and blitz their way to becoming a local smash hit.
There are some people who like peanut butter, and then there are some people who LOVE peanut butter. Dawn Murphy, founder of local nut butter sensation Whizz-n-Smash and the recent recipient of the Emerging Business of the Year award from the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, falls into the latter category.

While whipping up her own homemade peanut butter for a recipe, the Fredonia native stumbled upon...

Profile piece on the owner of Whizz-n-Smash natural nut butters as featured in the Edible Spotlight section of this quarterly regional publication.

Halloween just passed but winter is certainly around the corner! With the extended boating season going on through late fall, now is a good time to consider your boat winterization preparations, or for those who boat in the winter, it’s time to start putting together your wish list for winter boating. We’ve rounded up our top blogs on boat winterization to take the guesswork out of it! When is it time to store your boat for winter? That depends on the region in which your boat is stored and...

Encouraging healthy reading habits from an early age is paramount to child development. The second-grade teachers at Ellicottville Central School are taking the lesson one step further by adding life skills such as thank you letter writing and practicing gratitude with its book donor program. “It’s really the cutest thing you’ve ever seen in your life,” said Brain McFadden, Executive Director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, who tipped off ellicottvilleNOW to...

My latest post for a travel series I created called On The Road.

Ellicottville is about to get a new club – a market update coffee club, that is! Spearheaded by Mr. Jim Coupe, CEPA®, an Edward Jones financial advisor by day and rock guitarist by night, Ellicottville’s first-ever market update coffee club – which he is calling the Ellicottville Coffee Club – will hold its inaugural session on Wednesday, October 30th at 9:00am at the Ellicottville Bake Shop. The coffee club meetings ...

Updated blog post highlighting the 12th annual Summerville Italian Feast in Summerville, South Carolina.

As many cities and towns in South Carolina grow rapidly, municipalities have realized the need for creative funding and design solutions to enhance their fire protection offerings. A long-standing issue for local governments, securing adequate funding and incorporating modern design with functionality are some of the most pressing concerns. Many modern fire stations and headquarters are equipped with state-of-the-art training facilities, separate decontamination washrooms, and spacious living...

Fall is officially here, and with it brings all the fabulous autumnal colors! Just in time for the change of season, the Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway (WNYSSB) recently announced its third annual photo contest, running now through November 30, 2024.
You may have seen signs around Cattaraugus County for the Scenic Byway and wondered what it is all about. For those unfamiliar, the WNY Southtowns Scenic Byway is a 108-mile-long loop of highways connecting the suburbs of Orchard Park and East Aurora south of Buffalo to the charming towns and villages...

Article that appeared in the 9/5/24 issue of ellicottvilleNOW newspaper discussing Jamestown Paranormal Investigator's fourth ParaCon paranormal convention at Gowanda's Historic Hollywood Theater in Gowanda, New York and includes an interview with JPI's founder.