There is something for everyone! Visit Ellicottvilleny.com and find information on everything from Amish trails to area casinos and nightlife, exhibits and museums, and a variety of sports.

Through photo galleries and videos, site users will discover all that Ellicottville and the surrounding areas have to offer on the new Web site recently commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce and designed by Mellon & Co.

This new, well-organized site, Ellicottvilleny.com, is an efficient tool for locals as well as tourists—something everyone should take advantage of.

Site visitors can easily navigate the site and quickly find information on local events, businesses, dining, and shops.

Out-of-town guests can browse through the “Accommodations” section and find a place to stay for a night, a vacation or longer by searching through a wide range of bed-and-breakfasts, camp grounds, condos and hotels and motels.

The business directory feature allows site users to search using categories and access the contact and address information and even directions to the place they are looking for—whether that is a restaurant, hotel or spa.

To stay on top of Ellicottville happenings, news and information, users can sign up for the Chamber newsletter by simply entering their e-mail address on Ellicottvilleny.com using a secure form.

For more information on the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, visit Ellicottvilleny.com or contact them directly, at (716) 699-5046.

For more information on Mellon and Co., visit mellonco.com or contact Rachel Blovsky, marketing director, at (716) 372-5996.

If you’re looking for something to do this summer, you won’t have to look far. The Southern Tier is on the verge of a busy, fun-filled summer. There’s something for everyone, including music, festivals, great food, art, history, sports and more!

Here’s a short breakdown of some of the popular events this summer:

Don’t just celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, check out the Ellicottville Championship Rodeo July 3-5. Sponsored by Sommerville Valley Riding Stables, enjoy a professional rodeo at affordable prices, or just come for the Western trade show, chicken barbecue, concessions and crafts. Tickets are available by calling (716) 699-4839.

The Gazebo Series also starts on July 3 and runs through August 6. Every Thursday from 7-9 p.m., enjoy a free concert at the Village Gazebo. Bring a blanket and the family, sit outside and enjoy the fresh summer air. If you wish to be an entertainer call David Elder at (716) 833-3281.

The first week of June is a busy week! Take a drive to Cuba to celebrate Dairy Week June 3-6. Treat yourself to a carnival, tractor pulls, games, food, music and fun. A parade will be held on June 9. For more information, call (585) 968-2530.

If dairy isn’t your thing, play golf with the Bonnies at Bartlett Country Club in Olean at St. Bonaventure University’s Athletics Department will host its annual Golf With The Bonnies tournament. To sign up or for additional information, contact Barb O’Keefe at (716) 375-2282 or e-mail bokeefe@sbu.edu.

On July 17 and 18, take a short drive and visit the Zippo Fan Fest at the Zippo Case Visitors Center in Bradford, Pa.

On your way, stop at the Wellsville Balloon Rally on July 17 at Island Park on Route 417. The event runs through July 19. The hot air balloons are a site you won’t want to miss. Visit www.wellsvilleballoonrally.com for more information.

What would summer be without golf, golf, and more golf? For all you golfers and fans, check out the Ellicottville Golf Classic at the Holiday Valley Resort July 21-22. Enjoy a wine and European beer tasting, uptown barbeque, great entertainment and a Fantasy Casino Night. Call (800) 349-9099 for tickets.

During August 8-9, treat your taste buds to the Taste of Ellicottville. There you can sample the best of 22 fine restaurants. The event will take place throughout the village from 12-4 p.m.

To experience a world-class competition, visit the IBO World Bowhunting Championships at Holiday Valley August 12-15. This event will bring 2,000 competitors and their families from over 20 countries. Call (716) 699-2345 for more information.

And to experience some more local competition, cheer on the teams at the Gus Macker Tournament in Olean August 14-16. The three-day event will be organized by and benefit both the Olean High School Sports Boosters and the Olean City School District Foundation. For information on sponsorships, and volunteer opportunities, contact John Irving at (716) 397-8223 or Meme K. Yanetsko at (716) 372-4433.

That was just a preview of things to add to your summer to-do list. For a complete list of events in the Olean area, visit oleanny.com, and to check out all the summer happenings in Ellicottville, visit ellicottvilleny.com. Don’t miss out on all the fun!

12 months. 12 songs. 1 goal.

In January, Mae, an American rock band formed in 2001, released its fourth album, “The House That Fire Built.”

But it’s not just an album or song title. It’s a mission.

Mae has teamed up Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that believes every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live and has built more than 300,000 houses around the world. The band will donate all of the album proceeds to build a home for Rhonda Floyd and her three children in Newport News, Virginia.

Mae and Mellon & Co. are asking you to help by visiting whatismae.com. You will write the story, follow the roadmap and, last but not least, donate and download.

Each month, Mae will release a song. Web site visitors can listen to the songs for free or donate at least $1 for a download. Since Jan. 1, the band has released two songs, “The House That Fire Built” and “Boomerang,” raising over $12,000. Over the course of the next 10 months, the band hopes to reach $65,000.

In the meantime, fans will get to know the Floyd family, watch the progress as their home is built and by next December have collected all 12 songs to complete the album.

But Mae doesn’t plan on stopping with this project. With the help of Mellon & Co., the band is committed to funding humanitarian projects around the world and plans to keep their fans updated through whatismae.com.
“Like a fire that spreads without boundaries, we can ignite a change in this world if we work together,” Mae posted on whatismae.com. “Take this music and this mission and run with it.”

Mae started when Jacob Marshall, drums, and Dave Elkins, vocals and guitar, wrote their first song, “Embers and Envelopes,” in Marshall’s living room. The band’s name is an acronym for Multi-sensory Aesthetic Experience based on a college course taken by Marshall.

In 2003, the band signed with Tooth and Nail Records and released its first album, Destination: Beautiful. In 2005, Mae released its second album, The Everglow, which peaked at No. 51 on The Billboard Top 200.

The band split from Tooth and Nail in 2006. Mae released its third album, Singularity, with Capitol Records in 2007. Singularity peaked at No. 40 on The Billboard Top 200.

In 2008, Mae split from Capitol Records. The band is currently run independently. Current members include: Marshall, Elkins, Zach Gehring on guitar and David Pogge on drums.

To check out Mae’s project and listen to its music, visit whatismae.com. Download any of their songs for a small donation, or tune in to the media player located on the page.

Mellon & Co. is doing its part the best way it knows how—integrated marketing communications. The Olean, N.Y.-based company has agreed to partially fund the What Is Mae project by developing the Web site and other marketing communications projects.

Join the cause, make a difference and help spread the fire. Visit whatismae.com.

For more information on Mellon & Co., visit mellonco.com.