CASSADAGA — New beginnings seemed to be the unspoken theme at the year-end village of Cassadaga Board meeting. A series of new updates were discussed and introduced, as well as a new hire for board itself. Attorney Joe Calimeri from Wright, Wright, and Hampton Law Firm in Jamestown was approved to become the new village attorney for Cassadaga.

Calimeri attained his bachelor’s in political science and government from SUNY Geneseo before attaining his doctor of law at Ohio Northern University — Claude W. Pettit College of Law. He has done work for approximately five different municipalities, including Jamestown Public Utilities. Calimeri has also worked with the District Attorney’s Office. Officials said his familiarity with zoning and code enforcement, as well as litigation in particular made him the ideal candidate for the position. Although Calimeri himself wasn’t in attendance at the meeting, his retainer agreement was once more examined by the board, before they voted him in. “I spoke with him (Calimeri) today,” Trustee Bill Astry said of Calimeri’s absence at the meeting. “He’s obligated elsewhere tonight.”

In other news, the Citizens for a Better Cassadaga (CBC) announced they were the lucky recipients of a highly coveted arts grant. “We’ve received a grant from the Tri-County Arts Council for $570,” said Cindy Flaherty, second Vice President of Citizens for a Better Cassadaga. “That will help with concert programming this summer.”

The grant was enough to cover the cost of an award-winning bluegrass band, “South 79,” for a performance on the floating stage this summer. “South 79” has previously recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, and Stockton’s own Toby Hammond is a band member. Flaherty also noted the date for those interested via Facebook; “Mark your calendars for June 30th (at) 5 p.m. on the floating stage.”