Each year our CHQ Chamber Golf Tournament seems to get better and better. We have some dedicated golfers who play each time, and then we get new people participating to create new connections and enjoy a day of recreation and camaraderie on the course. With 30 teams on the course this year’s tournament was another resounding success!

Congratulations to the first-place team from Allstate Insurance: Bill Farr, Royce Swan, Bud Winkey, and Ted Winkey. Coming in second place was the team from Lake Shore Bank: Josh Hilliker, Jeff Nelson, Tim Kasperek, and Charlie Civiletto. The third-place team was from Express Employment Professionals: Peter Brown, Abe Rak, Andrew Schober, and Doug Trolley. Special prizes were awarded to Royce Swan for the men’s longest drive and to Andy Proctor for men’s closest to the pin.

The CHQ Chamber Golf Tournament is our largest fundraising event of the year, allowing the Chamber to meet its mission to build vital connections, provide professional resources, and champion our local businesses in Chautauqua County. The funds we raise during this – and other – events throughout the year go to create services and programs that are meaningful to local businesses including Business After Hours networking events, Business Builder Workshops, Advocacy events, our ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card, and much more.

None of this would be possible without our tremendous sponsors. Sincere thanks to our Tee Gift Sponsor, the Basil Family of Dealerships, and to our Par Sponsors: A Automotive, Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, Cattaraugus County Bank, Charle’s Auto Center, Chautauqua Patron’s Insurance Company, DFT Communications, DoubleTree by Hilton, Great Lakes Insurance Services Group representing Erie Insurance, Jamestown Container Companies, Jamestown Mattress, Koester Associates, LaBella Associates, Lake Shore Bank, National Grid, Nestle Purina PetCare, Shults Auto Group, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, and Westfield Nursery & Landscaping. Our lunch sponsor was M&T Bank, with product donations from Arthur R. Gren Company, Curtze Food Service, Farm Fresh Foods, Jim Pullan, Marra Distribution (Tony Marra), Pepsi, and Tops Friendly Market in Dunkirk. Tee Talk Sponsors were AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Peek’n Peak Resort, and West Main Mercantile. Tee Signs were sponsored by Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, Dahlstrom Roll Form, Falconer Power Sports, Jamestown Plastics, Phillips Lytle, Putnam Record Insurance Agency, and Western Division Federal Credit Union.

Our new Bottle Bonanza game on the course was sponsored by Mazza Chautauqua Cellars/Five & 20 Brewery & Spirits and by TW Biggins Wine & Spirits. Raffle prizes for the day were generously donated by Blue June Blooms, Chautauqua Gazette, CK Natural Fruit Juice, Chautauqua Marina, DFT Communications, The Eclectic Bird, Face Paint by Patti, Falconer Power Sports, Full Strength Coffee Company, GG My Love, Ghostfish Brewing, Good Neighbor Bookstore, The Green Door Tavern, Jacks Barcelona Drive In, Jamestown Mattress Company, Merritt Estate Winery, Mulligans on Fairmount, Northwest Arena, Opera House Home & Gifts, Pea Pod & Juniper, Peek’n Peak, ProForma a Trusted Name, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Sweeterson Farms, Westfield Ag & Turf, Westfield Boatworks, West Main Mercantile, Westfield Nursery & Landscaping, and Whizz-n-Smash.

Sincere thanks to our Golf Committee Chair Jim Pullan of Jamestown Mattress and to Kris Maytum of DFT Communications for their efforts. Carrie and Ken Blitz of Hartson Holdings were spotters for our Shults Auto Group Hole in One. Kathy Kerr and Rich Gray from M&T Bank were spotters for our Ring of Fire. Additional volunteers on the course were Aimee Rogers from Imagine Forestville and Steve Neilans from Panama Rocks. Our staff couldn’t do this alone, and their help made the day run smoothly.

We also want to thank Peek’n Peak for hosting our event. Their staff is a pleasure to work with, and they perfectly accommodated our guests throughout the day.

We strive to create events and programs throughout the year that make a difference for our member businesspeople, and we know that participation is the key to getting full value for your membership in the Chamber of Commerce. If you haven’t golfed with us in the past, we hope you’ll consider it next year. Thank you to all for an outstanding event!

Join us for First Friday in Westfield September 5

First Friday in Westfield is fun for the whole family! Enjoy open businesses along Main Street along with street vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, and more!

For the third summer in a row this traditional street party in Westfield spills into the street as the CHQ Chamber has secured a permit from the New York State Department of Transportation to close Route 20 in the village during the event. Route 20 (East Main Street) will be temporarily closed to all traffic from Portage (Route 394) to Union Street, with limited traffic from Union to Pearl Street. First Friday will run from 5-8pm, Friday, September 5.

Many thanks to our series sponsors this summer: Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital, Full Strength Coffee Company, Larson Design Group, and the Village of Westfield.

Business After Hours at Liberty Vineyards is September 11

The next CHQ Chamber Business After Hours will be held at Liberty Vineyards & Winery, 2861 Route 20, Sheridan, from 5-6:30 pm on September 11.

Business After Hours is a great opportunity to make new professional connections. Designed as a relaxed networking event, the CHQ Chamber provides a Who’s Who in the Room list for all pre-registered guests. There are complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Chamber member businesses can send two people at no charge. The cost is just $10 for non-members or anyone above the two-person limit. We always encourage the exchange of business cards for networking.

This Business After Hours event is sponsored by Liberty Vineyards & Winery, Brooks-TLC Hospital Systerm/Kaleida Health, DFT Communications, LaBella Associates, National Grid, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, and by Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, Observer, and The Post-Journal.

Register online now through the web calendar at www.chqchamber.org.