By Darlene Brace       Every year on May 5, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States in many restaurants, bars, and festivals. Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo (which translates in English to May 5) is not the Mexican Independence Day. The Mexican Independence Day is actually...

By Carol Fisher-Linn      May as Mental Health Awareness month was established over 75 years ago, with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration finally recognizing it twenty years ago to increase awareness of mental health and the role it plays in overall health. Each year, National Children’s Mental...

Carol Fisher-Linn     Mother’s Day 2024 is May 12. Let’s explore why the founder grew to hate it.     It started with this prayer: “I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field...

By Miles Hilton     Sarah Brown-Millspaw is a celebrated local watercolor artist whose joyful, simplified style is easily recognizable. In fact, I’ve interviewed her for The Villager before, last fall, when she and three other artists participated in the joint exhibit Natural Selection at Pearl City Clay House in Jamestown....

By Darlene Brace    If you're looking for something delicious to eat in the downtown Jamestown area, you should try the award-winning HotSpot Café. The HotSpot Café is located at 100 East Third Street on the corner of Third and Pine Street. It is owned by Hector Alverio and his...

By Kate Bartlett      Owner and co-founder Michelle Turner is turning over the keys to the popular Lakewood restaurant Group Ther-Happy this Friday, May 3. Bartending Manager Jeremy Mescall and his girlfriend Erica Simpson are thrilled to be taking ownership of the restaurant and look forward to maintaining this local...

By Kate Bartlett Shea’s Buffalo Theatre is celebrating a successful season with their Broadway Series with a family favorite coming May 16-19: Shrek the Musical. Based on the hit DreamWorks animated film, Shrek the Musical is a hilarious fairy tale adventure with a cast of vibrant characters for all ages....

By Kate Bartlett     The Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its first annual Par for a Purpose golf tournament, sponsored by Labatt, at Holiday Valley on Monday, May 20 th . It's the perfect time to kick off the golf season while raising money for the 11 Day...

Carol Fisher-Linn   “Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.”–J. Sterling Morton.    Arbor Day, much like Earth Day (first celebrated in 1970), is a holiday that celebrates nature. A popular Arbor Day tradition is to plant a tree – sometimes it is a community...

By Kate Bartlett    Webb’s Resort, an iconic year-round resort in the heart of Chautauqua, recently came under new ownership. Partners and long-time friends Jay Patel and Vishal (of no relation) are excited to announce their acquisition of Webb’s, and are looking forward to updating this historic hotel, while still...

By Miles Hilton Marcia Merrins opens her artist’s statement with the sentence, “when I make something with my hands, I put my heart into it too.” Merrins, a ceramicist who works and sells pottery as Kniti Griti Works, is passionate about process. Her pieces display at least three firing processes...

By Kate Bartlett     Pool Mart is celebrating 50 years of business in the Western New York Region, with five locations in the area including Olean, Depew, Lockport, Tonawanda and Orchard Park. The Olean location serves five counties in both New York and Pennsylvania and will be offering year-long specials...