There’s no doubt it’s been a wet spring here in Chautauqua County, but that’s about to turn around now and it’s time to get outdoors for all the projects and activities we plan for all winter. As the unofficial start of the summer season locally, Memorial Day weekend is a time to both reflect on the sacrifices of our service men and women, and also to gather with family and friends.

If you’re planning a get-together this weekend and need a few things, we encourage you to shop locally, and you’ll find just the right item. Looking for a new grill or some outdoor furniture? Check out our local hardware stores like ADD Lumber in Dunkirk, Irving or Westfield, Everyday’s True Value in Jamestown, Service Hardware in Dunkirk, or Stewart’s Mayville Hardware.

Garden centers, greenhouses and nurseries are stocked and ready to help with your planting. Check out Brigiotta’s Farmland or Peterson Farms in Jamestown, Haff Acres in Mayville, or Westfield Nursery in Westfield. For bigger projects you might want to reach out to a landscaping or hardscaping company such as Chautauqua Hydroseeding, Loomis Landscaping, or Stone & Outdoor Living Center in Bemus Point, Greenbriar Property Management in Dewittville, Monte’s Small Engine Repair in Fredonia, Hanft’s Landscaping in Jamestown, R & R Landscaping in Mayville, Turftenders in Fredonia. Lawn tractors and other equipment are available through 3 Seas Recreation in Mayville, LandPro Equipment in Falconer, and Larry Romance & Son in Sheridan. If you’re in need of help with trees, contact Kravitz Tree Service in Fredonia or Maple Springs Tree Service in Bemus Point.

When you need some great garden advice there is help available through the Master Gardener program at Cornell Cooperative Extension. Their help desk is open Wednesdays from noon-2pm through September at the JCC Carnahan Center in Jamestown, or you can call them at (716) 664-9502 ext. 224 or email them at chautauquamg@cornell.edu. It’s a free service. Cornell Cooperative Extension also holds a series of LEAF classes annually to help people learn more about gardening and more.

If you have bigger projects that may be beyond your DIY capacity, please check our online Business Directory for lists of contractors and other building tradespeople. The CHQ Chamber is proud to count a wide variety of businesses among its more than 900 members throughout our county. They are in business to serve you.

If you’re looking for great entertainment this summer, there are numerous opportunities. Jamestown Tarp Skunks season begins Thursday, May 29 at Russell E. Diethrick Jr. Park. Tailgating starts at 5 with a bounce house, food truck and a concert featuring Porcelain Bus Drivers before the game at 6:30.

Concerts abound, with summer long series in a variety of locations. Dunkirk’s Music on the Pier begins June 12 and runs through August. A few select Dunkirk concerts will be held at Memorial Park. The Lakewood Community Development Corporation presents Rock the Lake at Hartley Park on Sunday afternoons in July and August.

The CHQ Chamber is proud to present Music in the Green at the Village Green in Mayville starting June 18 with Osborn Nash and continuing July 16 with Dirty Shirley and then August 13

with Charity Nuse (And Her Band.) These events are aimed at promoting local businesses in the Mayville business district before, during, and after the concerts.

In Jamestown, Jumpstart to Third Thursdays will feature street entertainment and activities, special pop-ups at local businesses, and numerous opportunities to experience downtown retailers and restaurants as a prelude to the free Third Thursday concerts at Winter Garden Plaza.

The CHQ Chamber is also proud to present First Fridays in Westfield again this year beginning June 6, highlighting open businesses, vendors, food trucks, and entertainment.

For a complete list of summer events, festivals, and activities visit the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau online calendar at www.tourchautauqua.com.

Business After Hours with the Tarp Skunks

Join us this month for a special Business After Hours event with the Jamestown Tarp Skunks! You can mingle with the baseball players and other local businesspeople, enjoy a complimentary hotdog courtesy of 3 C’s Catering, enjoy a cash bar, and get a free personalized baseball card with your name and picture on it – taken by a professional photographer. Then, stay after if you’d like to watch the Tarp Skunks practice. This event will be held Tuesday, May 27 from 5-6:30pm at Russell E. Diethrick Jr. Park, home of the Jamestown Tarp Skunks. All local businesspeople are welcome.

This event is proudly sponsored by Phillips Lytle LLP, Jamestown Tarp Skunks, 3 C’s Catering, AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, LaBella Associates, National Grid, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, Observer, and The Post-Journal.

Official Introductions Combines Networking and Advocacy

The CHQ Chamber is pleased to help local businesspeople connect with their elected representatives in a brand-new way. We have restructured our advocacy events this year to provide an improved experience for all involved. One of the new events we are trying out is an informal networking event designed to allow businesspeople to have one-on-one conversations with local elected officials during a program we’re calling Official Introductions. This reception-style event will be held at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, 10 Dunham Avenue, Celoron, Tuesday, June 17 from 5-7pm.

This is a tremendous opportunity for businesspeople to meet directly with their representatives. The CHQ Chamber is not creating a heavily structured agenda for this program. Instead, we want to foster direct communication between the business community and our government officials. This event directly meets our mission to build vital connections, provide professional resources, and champion our local businesses in Chautauqua County.

The price to attend is just $35 per person. Your registration includes heavy appetizers and a cash bar, as well as support for the year-round activities of the CHQ Chamber. Registration is open now through our online calendar at www.chqchamber.org. Please RSVP by June 10.

Official Introductions is sponsored by Brooks-TLC Hospital System, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Corporation, DFT Communications, LaBella Associates, National Grid, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, UPMC Chautauqua, Jamestown Community College, The Media One Radio Group, Observer, and The Post-Journal.