Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Hochul will be the keynote speaker for the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting on Friday, Dec. 9, at Shorewood Country Club, Dunkirk. Prior to her election as lieutenant governor, she served New York’s 26th Congressional District from 2011-13. Before being elected to Congress she was Erie County clerk from 2007-11, and earlier was a Hamburg town councilmember for 14 years. The lieutenant governor will address economic development issues in Western New York.

Each year the county chamber pays tribute to our late president and CEO, Pam Lydic, by presenting the Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award. This year that award will go to Carol Lorenc. Carol was executive director of the Jamestown area chamber of commerce in the 1990’s and earlier served as assistant to former Gebbie Foundation Executive Director John Hamilton. In 1999, in partnership with SUNY Fredonia and Dr. Len Faulk, she helped to form and then worked for the Center for Rural Regional Governance, which performed research and furthered efforts to advance regional collaboration, shared governmental services and efficient government. She served on the Board of the Arts Council and contributed significantly to the expansion of arts in Chautauqua County. She also served as president of the board of The Resource Center during a period of significant expansion of the organization. Throughout her career, Carol was involved in a variety of organizations that worked with youth. She served on a variety of boards including as president of the board of the YWCA. In recent year’s Carol has been actively involved the development of equestrian trails throughout Chautauqua County. Carol is the former owner of Fox Farm Bed and Breakfast and recently managed a company that took visitors on tour groups titled Amish Flair Tours. We are very pleased to be presenting this award to Carol Lorenc for all of her efforts over the years in building consensus and coalitions and helping to move Chautauqua County forward.

The 2016 Chamber Annual Meeting is sponsored by E. E. Austin & Son, Inc., Fredonia College Foundation, Jamestown Mattress Company, M&T Bank, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Star Media Group and Univera Healthcare Southern Tier.

The cost for lunch is $20. The meeting will be held at noon, Friday, Dec. 9 at Shorewood Country Club, Dunkirk. To make reservations, please call the Chamber at 484-1101 or 366-6200, or register online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events.

SHOP SMALL SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26

We all have a tremendous opportunity this Saturday to make a difference for locally owned businesses! Small Business Saturday promotes the values of shopping locally, and the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and our six community chambers are proud to help promote this nationwide event. Dozens of local businesses will be participating by welcoming shoppers on Saturday, Nov. 26 with specials and with unique gift items.

Participating Chamber members include: Attractions/Museums/Gifts: Fenton History Center, Jamestown; Lucy Desi Museum & Center for Comedy, Jamestown; Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, Jamestown; and Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Jamestown; Automotive: Kaczar Collision, Jamestown; Books: Novel Destination Used Book Emporium, Jamestown; Carpet & Flooring: Pucci’s Carpet One Furniture, Fredonia; Clothing/Gifts/Specialty: Skillmans, Bemus Point; Florist: Girton’s, Jamestown; Food/Specialty: Reverie Creamery, Mayville; Westfield Fisheries, Barcelona; Gifts: Chautauqua Miniatures & 2 Chixx Gift Shoppe, Mayville; Grape Discovery Center, Westfield; Imagine! of Bemus Point, Bemus Point; Patients Pharmacy, Jamestown; The Coffee Exchange and The Gift Exchange, Jamestown; Webb’s Candies and Webb’s Cottage Collection, Mayville; Grocery Stores: Bemus Point Market, Bemus Point; Lighthouse Point Grocery; Mayville; Hardware Stores: Mayville Hardware, Mayville; Weiss Hardware, Dunkirk; Sports & Recreation: 3 Seas Recreation, Mayville; Jamestown Cycle Shop, Jamestown; Wellness: Chautauqua Health & Fitness, Dunkirk; The Personal Wellness Studio, Silver Creek; and Restaurants: Andriaccio’s, Mayville; Belle-View East, Falconer; Blasdell Pizza, Dunkirk; Chautauqua Harbor House, Mayville; Colony Seafood & Steakhouse, Irving; J & B Mayville Diner, Mayville; Lakeview Hotel & Restaurant/The Docks Restaurant, Mayville; Tom’s Family Restaurant, Irving; Village Restaurant, Dewittville.

In addition, The Dunkirk Community Chamber of Commerce will celebrate Small Business Saturday at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Lake Shore Drive, East, featuring free coffee and muffins and shopping from a number of vendor booths including Chamber members Tastefully Simple and Younique. Enjoy this indoor small business experience, purchase Shop-Tauqua Chamber Gift Checks, Dunkirk Chamber Christmas ornaments, and stay for the Dunkirk City Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.

MANUFACTURERS CAN MEET

PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES DEC. 1

Local manufacturers are invited to participate in a meet and greet with students who are currently pursuing occupational degrees at Jamestown Community College. On Thursday, Dec. 1, local manufacturers will have breakfast with and meet students who are working towards degrees in Welding Technology, Mechanical Technology, Engineering and Industrial Equipment Technology. The Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier is proud to be partnering with JCC on this event. Employers will meet with local students, collect resumes from them and identify students who may be able to fulfill part-time employment now and full-time positions when they have completed their programs. Manufacturers must register for this event by contacting MAST at 484-1101.

CHAMBER GIFT CHECK PROGRAM

NOW FREE FOR MEMBER PARTICIPATION

If you are a Chamber member business in a retail, restaurant, or service industry, you are now eligible to accept Shop-Tauqua Chamber Gift Checks absolutely free of charge. In the past we had to charge an annual administrative fee for all member businesses participating. Now, thanks to a major sponsorship from the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, we are able to offer this program free of charge to our members and provide an even greater return on your Chamber investment. Accepting Shop-Tauqua Chamber Gift Checks is simple; they are deposited with your daily receipts like any other check. If your business is not currently participating and you would like to get involved, please contact the Chamber for more information at 484-1101 or 366-6200.