The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer in Chautauqua County, and a great time to take a look at what lies ahead for the season. As we spend a moment this weekend reflecting on those who have served our Country to protect our freedoms, and as we enjoy the first barbecues of summer, this is a reminder to put some key items on your calendar now.

The Lincoln Festival has been revived in Westfield and will be held June 7-9 this year. The weekend will kick off with the Westfield-Barcelona Community Chamber of Commerce First Friday – a street fair along Main Street that features live music and numerous vendors, games, and more. The festival continues through the weekend with historic reenactments, carriage rides, entertainment, and much more.

The LECOM Health Challenge will be held again this year on the fabulous Upper Course at Peek’n Peak in Findley Lake. This Web.com sanctioned event is a prelude to the PGA tour ticket for many golfers, and is an amazing opportunity for local golf enthusiasts to see some high level play on a beautiful and challenging golf course. This year’s LECOM Health Challenge is July 4-7.

The Wild America Nature Festival is Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28 at Panama Rocks in Panama. This event is coordinated annually by Panama Rocks and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and features nature-inspired art and crafts, wild animal demonstrations, locally grown foods, and lots more for the whole family.

The annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is set for August 7-11 in downtown Jamestown with more than 50 events and 30 artists. This huge festival attracts thousands of visitors to the community including some of the largest names in comedy today.

In Dunkirk the 2nd Annual Great Lakes Offshore Grand Prix will be held August 16-18. Professional powerboat racers compete in this world class event that is open to spectators along the beautiful Dunkirk harbor and beachfront viewing areas.

The Chautauqua Gran Fondo will be held Saturday, August 24. Starting in Mayville, this cycling event features a 20 mile social ride, a 40 mile fitness ride, or a 60 mile challenge ride. Designed for cyclists at a variety of skill levels, the Gran Fondo features rest stops at notable historic destinations around Chautauqua Lake.

The 2019 season at Chautauqua Institution runs June 22-August 25 with a tremendous variety of cultural, educational, and religious programming throughout the summer. The Lily Dale summer season also offers a variety of programming from June 21-August 24.

There is much more, but these highlights demonstrate the wealth of opportunities available to local residents in Chautauqua County each year. These events are open to residents as well as summer visitors, as are our beautiful natural resources including waterways, hiking trails, picnic areas, and other local attractions. We hope you will attend some or all this summer.

Chamber County Executive Breakfast is June 7

Each year the Chamber of Commerce provides an opportunity for its members to meet directly with the County Executive and ask questions. County Executive George Borrello will be our special guest for this event, which will be held at 8:30am, Friday, June 7 at Chautauqua Suites, 215 West Lake Road, Mayville. We encourage businesses to come prepared with questions for the County Executive. Our sponsors for this event are: Chautauqua Institution, DFT Communications, Jamestown Mattress Company, Lawley Benefits Group, the Law Offices of Sheila Starkey Hahn, Media One Radio Group, Nestle Purina PetCare, OBSERVER, Phillips Lytle LLP, The Post-Journal, Serta Mattress Company, Southern Tier Environments for Living, and UPMC Chautauqua. The cost is $18 for Chamber members or $21 for non-members. Advanced registration is appreciated. You can call the Chamber at (716) 366-6200 or (716) 484-1101 or sign up online through our events calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

HR Compliance Tools for Chamber/MAST Members

Since its inception just a few weeks ago, the Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers Association have signed more than 100 businesses on to our newest offering: a human resources compliance toolkit that meets the requirements of the New York State Workplace Sexual Harassment Law. This new online platform provides a round-the-clock human resources package featuring compliance recommendations, tools and video solutions for real world employee situations. Access to the online compliance system is a quick and easy way for businesses to meet the state requirements. Many businesses may not realize that the New York State Sexual Harassment Law applies to them, but it is crucial that all businesses comply under the state Department of Labor regulations. There is no additional cost beyond the annual membership investment to access the HR compliance tools and the sexual harassment compliance video. Our staff is happy to discuss this in more detail. For information, visit the member benefits section of our website at www.chautauquachamber.org or call our offices at 366-6200 or 484-1101.

Take a Riverboat Cruise on the Chautauqua Belle

The Chamber will close its annual spring membership drive with a special Chadakoin River cruise on the Chautauqua Belle June 20. Departing from McCrea Point in Jamestown at 5 p.m., the two hour cruise will include hors d’oeuvres provided Elegant Edibles Catering and a cash bar. The cost is just $18 for preregistered members or $20 for walk-ins (if space is available.) All new and current Chamber members are welcome. This event is sponsored by ERA Team VP Real Estate & Vacation Rentals. You can register online or call the Chamber at (716) 366-6200 or (716) 484-1101 to reserve your space.