There is no bad day spent on the golf course, and that becomes abundantly clear to us each year when we hold the annual Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament. This year’s event was stellar: comfortable and dry weather, a well-manicured golf course, and a terrific day spent interacting with colleagues and friends on the Upper Course at Peek’n Peak.

We could not accomplish this event without significant planning by our Director of Member Services Becky Voty, and an extraordinary all hands on deck moment from our team with help from Shannon Biekarck, Staunzie Grady, Dave Kleparek, Carrie Swanson, Denise Szalkowski, and Sheila Webster. In addition to our staff, the annual Chamber Golf Tournament is planned by a volunteer committee including Jim Pullan of Jamestown Mattress Company, Courtney Curatolo of the Small Business Development Center and Kris Maytum of DFT Communications. Special thanks go to our volunteers: Cathy Kerr, and Rich Grey from M&T Bank, Rick Syper from R & R Property Management, and community volunteers Jane Chambers, Joanna Dahlbeck, and Steve Mahony.

The First-Place winning team from Jamestown Containers Companies consisted of Larry Lodestro, Colin Lodestro, Evan Owens, and Tom Trinchi. The Second-Place team from A Automotive included Kris Brown, Bill Loomis, Marcus Lutgen, and Kevin Maytum. The Third-Place winning team from Express Employment Professionals was Peter Brown, Drew Brown, Drew Schober, and Abe Rak. Winner of the closest to the pin for men was Todd Conklin playing for The Post-Journal and for women, Andrea Eckman playing with Century 21 Turner Brokers. Longest drive for men was Brian Martin with Shults Auto Group, and for women Andrea Eckman.

Par sponsors for this year’s Golf Tournament were A Automotive, Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, Calvert Pearson Insurance Group, Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company, Community Bank, N.A., Dahlstrom Roll Form, DFT Communications, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Container Companies, Jamestown Mattress Company, Jamestown Plastics, Inc., Koester Associates, Lake Shore Savings Bank, National Grid, Nestle Purina PetCare, OBSERVER, Payroll Services, The Post-Journal, R & R Property Services & Landscaping, Shults Auto Group, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, and Westfield Nursery & Garden Center. Lunch and tee-sign sponsors were Brooks-TLC Hospital System, LaBella Associates, M&T Bank, Southern Tier Environments for Living, AHN/Westfield Memorial Hospital, Chautauqua Marina, Chautauqua Sign, DoubleTree by Hilton, Fancher Chair, Northwest Arena, Phillips Lytle, Small Business Development Center, Arther R. Gren Company, Crown Snack Foods, Farm Fresh Foods, Jim Pullan, Pepsi, Tops Friendly Market in Dunkirk, Jamestown Pro Hardware, and Stewart’s Mayville Hardware. Numerous other businesses donated raffle prizes as well.

Our hats are off to the great team at Peek’n Peak. Their staff is friendly and helpful, and they keep the golf course in great shape. Our members are happy to play that incredible course!

This exceptional event is a fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce. The work we do year-round to help connect businesses with customers, peers, and resources is made possible through the gracious sponsorship and assistance of so many. If you have not participated in a Chamber function in a while, we’d love to see you soon. Even if golf is not your game, we have a number of events coming up this fall!

CONGRESSIONAL BREAKFAST SET FOR AUGUST 30

The chamber’s annual Congressional Breakfast featuring our guest, Representative Nick Langworthy, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 30 at 9am at Shorewood Country Club, 4958 West Lake Road, Dunkirk. All are invited to attend. The price for breakfast is $25 for Chamber members or $29 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. If you registered for the previously scheduled date, there is no need to re-register. Please respond through the Chamber’s online calendar at www.chqchamber.org by August 23. The Congressional Breakfast is sponsored by Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, Chautauqua Institution, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal.

CHAMBER GRAND OPENING AUGUST 31

All are welcome to attend the grand opening of the beautifully refurbished building at 300 North Main Street in Jamestown which serves as offices for the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce as well as a downtown visitor information center. This special celebration is planned for Thursday, August 31, with a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. followed by an open house until 7pm. The facility is owned by the Gebbie Foundation which has invested in a new facade and interior improvements to create a welcoming space for both tourists and local businesspeople and residents in the heart of downtown Jamestown.

HOPS & POPS IS SEPTEMBER 15

Our Community Chamber Committees in Dunkirk and Fredonia are holding their second annual Hops & Pops event September 15 at the Beaver Club in Fredonia. This event is open to the entire community and will be held from 5:30-7:30. Tickets are $20 per person and will get you beer and wine tastings, appetizers, as well as entries into the cash prize and other drawings to be held throughout the evening. Hops & Pops is sponsored by Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Farrell Roofing, National Grid, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, KeyBank, DFT Communications, AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital, Cattaraugus County Bank, Community Bank, and HBKS Wealth Management. You can buy tickets through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chqchamber.org. Proceeds support scholarship funds for the Chamber in Dunkirk and Fredonia.