As the trees increasingly shed their leaves, we realize what a beautiful autumn we have enjoyed, despite a short-lived snowfall in mid-October. It’s been a great time to enjoy fall festivals and outdoor activities including hikes, bicycling, and more. But as November approaches out thoughts are likely turning to the season ahead, with comfort food in the oven and fireplaces crackling.

We were fortunate to be part of a ribbon cutting recently for a new outdoor equipment store in Cassadaga, opened by a family that saw a need locally and wanted to fill it. Outdoor recreation is part of the fabric of our communities including hunting, fishing, hiking, and more. And for those who love the great outdoors, Chautauqua County really is a place for all seasons. Our amazing summer season is just a start, featuring plenty of waterways for kayaking, power boating, water skiing, swimming, and more. Our summer sports stretch into fall with golf courses galore, picturesque hiking trails, and campgrounds. The onset of winter brings hunting season, followed closely by snow sports such as skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. And the spring we start all over again with fishing and horseback riding.

But outdoor recreation is just a start. Our amazing location also provides a fertile agricultural zone for all types of crops including grape growing. Wineries abound along the Lake Erie shoreline, and in recent years they have been joined by a growth spurt in breweries and distilleries, creating a burgeoning beverage production economy countywide.

We are also home to a variety of extraordinary museums, so as the weather changes if you’re more of a fair-weather outdoor enthusiast you can move indoors to enjoy the National Comedy Center, local history museums, art galleries, and more. For shoppers, we are fortunate to have a broad variety of local boutiques and gift shops throughout Chautauqua County offering merchandise to suit all tastes and price ranges. Don’t even get us started on the dining options, as our local restaurant scene is a treat for all senses!

No matter the season, Chautauqua County is home to a range of festivals and special events, from the annual Mayville Winter Festival on Presidents Day Weekend to downtown history walks in the spring and summer, to autumn cemetery tours, a Celtic celebration, live music celebrations, lectures and entertainment at Chautauqua Institution, and a long list of other opportunities.

Want to know more? We always encourage visitors to make their first stop tourchautauqua.com for the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau and its in-depth local calendar of events. But it’s also there for residents to peruse and make weekend plans. We hope you’ll check it out. And maybe this coming winter you’ll try out a new activity, restaurant, or shop, and see why Chautauqua County is always in season.

CHAMBER SEEKS COALITION BUILDER AWARD NOMINATIONS

Each year the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce recognizes the spirit of our first President with the Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award. Pam was a countywide leader with a knack for bringing together people and organizations to further economic objectives for all. This award recognizes an individual in the region who has worked hard to bring groups of people together around a common goal or objective. It is presented to an individual who has helped move the region forward in a positive direction through collaboration and by building partnerships. The award is particularly focused on those who have done their work consistently and often in the background. A typical awardee may be an ‘unsung hero’ in the community. The Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award includes a $500 stipend to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Our Board of Directors will accept nominations through November 4 and the award will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting to be held December 2. Email submissions including a short narrative about why you are nominating someone to dheitzenrater@chautauquachamber.org no later than November 4.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS SOUTHERN TIER BREWING IS NOVEMBER 8

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to bring back its perennially popular Business After Hours event at Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, Tuesday, November 8 from 5-6:30pm. These Business After Hours events are designed for businesspeople to stop in following their workday, meet some other businesspeople, and then head home or to dinner afterwards. Chamber member businesses can send two people at no charge, and non-members or anyone above the first two pays just $10 per person. Admission includes appetizers, a cash bar, a chance for door prizes when you submit your business card, and great opportunities for networking with other local businesspeople. Business After Hours at Southern Tier Brewing is sponsored by Southern Tier Brewing Company, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, DFT Communications, LaBella Associates, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. Space is limited so we recommend that you register early. Learn more or register online through the chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETING IS

DECEMBER 2

Register now to attend the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting at noon, Friday, December 2 at Webb’s Captain’s Table in Mayville. This event offers a great opportunity to help celebrate all the successes of the Chamber throughout 2022. Additional details will be announced shortly. The annual meeting features presentation of the Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award and election of a slate of board members and officers for the year ahead. The price is $28 for a delicious lunch at Webb’s including soup, salad, and sandwich options. The Chamber Annual Meeting is sponsored by Brooks-TLC Hospital System, DFT Communications, Jamestown Community College, Law Offices of Sheila Starkey Hahn, Small Business Development Center at JCC, ServPro, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, and Artone. Register online before November 28 through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.