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WALK THE VILLAGES PROGRAM TO BE JUNE 1 - OCTOBER 1
ALDEN CHAMBER ANNOUNCES EXCITING TRIP TO CHINA
10TH ANNUAL TASTE OF ALDEN A HUGE SUCCESS
CHAMBER HOLDS SPRING MEMBERSHIP & ELECTION DINNER MAY 13
BUSINESS BINGO PLAYED BY MANY
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK 2007 ENJOYED BY ALL
2007 ALDEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLIDAY LIGHTING CONTEST WINNERS
ALDEN ADVERTISER NAMED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AT 6TH ANNUAL LUNCHEON
4TH ANNUAL MEMBER APPRECIATION HOT DOG ROAST SEPTEMBER 29
LARGE GROUP ATTENDS THE 4TH NETWORKING MIXER
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WALK THE VILLAGES PROGRAM TO BE JUNE 1 - OCTOBER 1
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The Alden Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Alden will again be participating in the Walk the Villages campaign sponsored by Senator Dale Volker.
This year’s villages in Area 2 are Alden, East Aurora, Ellicottville, Hamburg, Lancaster, Orchard Park and Warsaw. There will be an evening walk of the Alden Wednesday, July 16 during the performance of the Niagara Frontier Fiddlers at Fireman’s Park. Other evening |
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walks are being held by the other participating villages throughout the summer. This year’s villages in Area 2 are Alden, East Aurora, Ellicottville, Hamburg, Lancaster, Orchard Park and Warsaw. There will be an evening walk of the Alden Wednesday, July 16 during the performance of the Niagara Frontier Fiddlers at Fireman’s Park. Other evening walks are being held by the other participating villages throughout the summer.
In the packets of information is a bound booklet of village information and tours, and coupons for prizes as incentives to walk. Walkers become eligible for local prizes by getting their free entry coupons stamped by 4 participating merchants. There are also Grand Prize coupons that one merchant from each of the 7 villages stamp a special entry form. Alden’s Grand Prize will be 4 season passes to Darien Lake Resort and Theme Park for the 2009 season.
This fun program combines both the healthy benefit of walking and the chance of possibly winning a prize. Pick up your booklet and a list of Alden merchants who will be stamping the prize coupons along with a listing of the prizes they are offering at these locations: Alden Pharmacy, 13203 Broadway; Alden Village Municipal Building, 13336 Broadway; Alden Village Market, 13256 Broadway; Carbone’s Pizzeria, 13114 Broadway; and Weber’s Grille, 13193 Broadway. Completed coupon entries may also be dropped off at the above locations.
In addition, booklets (only) may be picked up at the Chamber office, 13500 Broadway or the Farmers Market at the former Ames Plaza on Saturdays.
Participating merchants offering prizes and stamping entries are ACTS Beacon Café, Alden Advertiser, Alden Automotive, Alden Chamber of Commerce, Alden Farmers Market, Alden Pharmacy, Alden Pools & Play, Alden State Bank, Alden Village Market, Bontrager Real Estate, Carbone’s Pizzeria, Cooke & Steffan Attorneys, Curves (Alden), David Pajak Attorney, Deborah Naybor Land Surveying, H & R Block, Henry’s Candy & Gifts, John & Mary’s Restaurant, Neill & Strong Attorneys, Pizza Hut, Sitzman’s Maytag, Torrelli Chiropractic, and Weber’s Grille.
For more information about the program go to: www.senate.state.ny.us/sws/WALKTHEVILLAGES/volker_index.html
or call the Chamber office at 716-937-6177.
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ALDEN CHAMBER ANNOUNCES EXCITING TRIP TO CHINA
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The Alden Chamber of Commerce is offering the opportunity to travel to China again this year. The 9 day trips will leave on November 8, 9, and 10, 2008. This well organized trip is priced at a low $1699 per person, based on double occupancy. The price includes air fare (from JFK), hotel stays, three meals a day, bus tours with English speaking guides, admission to tourist attractions, and airport taxes throughout the trip.
The trip will offer unique opportunities to learn about the business system in China. Tours include many ancient and modern sites such as Tiananmen Square, the Ming tombs, the Great Wall, Buddhist pagodas, and classical gardens. You may watch as fibers from cocoons of silk worms are extracted to produce silk garments, see how Oriental rugs are made, and enjoy many other cultural attractions of the Chinese. Visit Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou on this nine day trip. Wear comfortable shoes!
Side trips to see the Xian (Terra Cotta Warriors) or Guilin will be available for an additional fee.
Through the WNY Chamber Alliance and the Alden Chamber, this trip is an exceptional value. Pre-tour briefings will be held in mid June in Batavia and Buffalo.If you would like more information, please call the Chamber office at 716-937-6177.
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10TH ANNUAL TASTE OF ALDEN A HUGE SUCCESS
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 A hot sunny afternoon brought a large crowd to attend the 10th annual “Taste of Alden” on Thursday, June 26. Sponsored by the Alden Chamber of Commerce, this event kicked off Alden Hook & Ladder Fire Company’s Heritage and Reunion Weekend and was another great success. A huge variety of foods were offered - from pizza to ribs, Chinese to Greek, hotdogs to pulled pork, a large variety of desserts and much more by sixteen participants.
Volunteers manned the Chamber booth where tickets were sold to the hungry attendees, as well as tickets for the Chamber’s July 26th basket raffle and tickets for a 50/50 raffle. The winner of the 50/50 raffle was Bob Hy of Alden with winning ticket number 589773.
Vendors for this event were A.J. & Son’s Catering & Pig Roast, Alden Hook & Ladder Fire Company and the Ladies’ Auxiliary, Alden Meals on Wheels, Alden Presbyterian Church, Carbone’s Pizzeria, China King, D&L Bakery, Don’s at the Hilltop Inn, Elma Town Grille, Hennessey’s Bar & Grill, Kernel Kettlecorn, Magavin’s Restaurant & Pub, John & Mary’s Restaurant, Pizza Hut, and Tops Market of Alden.
The Taste of Alden would never happen without the tireless efforts of Chamber Board member and event chairperson Donna Carbone. Thank you Donna!
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ALDEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPRING MEMBERSHIP & ELECTION DINNER MAY 13
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Members and guests of the Alden Chamber of Commerce enjoyed dinner and an evening together at the Whistle Stop Inn on Tuesday, May 13, for the Chamber’s Annual Spring Membership and Election Dinner. Among the guests were family and friends and members of both the Alden Historical Society and the Ewell Free Library, all in celebration of the awarding of the 2008 Distinguished Citizen of the Year to Karen Muchow. A beautiful plaque,from Laser Ace Custom Engraving, was presented to Karen by Chamber Vice President Jennifer Strong. |
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| Karen has volunteered for numerous organizations, giving freely of her time, expertise, and commitment. As a volunteer for the Ewell Free Library, she could be found donating time to book sales, creating new signage for the bookshelves, rearranging the Library Collection, planning and teaching the story hour, running the Summer Reading Program, teaching "school" in the Henske Road School House as part of the recreation program, serving on the Board of Directors, and writing the “Friends of the Library” Newsletter. As the curator of the Alden Historical Society, Karen was instrumental in having the Museum open every Saturday. She has spent hours cataloging, rearranging and changing monthly exhibits at the Historical Building. She also contributes to the Historical newsletter each month and has written articles for the Alden Advertiser highlighting some of the Historical Society's collection and Alden's history. |
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Chamber President Christopher Gust spoke of the Chamber’s accomplishments during the past year and outlined future plans to be completed. After thanking the retiring directors for their service to the Chamber over the past three years, he introduced the director nominees for a three year term. They are Brooks Bowman (Elwood-Jordans Agency), Christopher Dundon (MaGavin’s Restaurant & Pub), Nancy Webster Hughes, Jennifer Strong (Neill & Strong, Attorneys), and Steve Weber. The vote in favor was unanimous. |
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After a presentation of a gift of appreciation to Christopher Gust for his three years of service as Chamber president, acclaimed Western New York family entertainer, magician Ted Burzynski, next dazzled the crowd with an assortment of tricks and illusions, using several people from the audience as his assistants. Ted’s last trick included the surprise appearance of a live dove, much to the delight of the crowd, and the dinner drew to a close. |
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| The Chamber met May 15 for its monthly Board of Directors meeting and elected new officers for 2008-2009. Nancy Hughes will serve a one-year term as the Chamber’s new President, and Susanne Galbraith from The Missing Sock, will serve as Vice President. Christopher Lukowski, from Lumsden & McCormick LLC, will remain as Treasurer. Directors for 2008-2010 are William Dabb (Laser Ace Custom Engraving), John Drogi (Drogi & Sons Automotive), Myrna Foss (James N. Foss Inc.), Paul Henry (Henry’s Candy & Gifts), and Tom Ulbrich (Ulbrich’s Garden Center). Directors for 2008-2009 are Donna Carbone (Carbone’s Pizzeria), |
| Susanne Galbraith (The Missing Sock), Earl Gillen (Gillen’s Expert Auto), Nicole Savage (Greatbatch Inc.) and Ronald Smith (Alden Pharmacy). The Chamber extends a big thank you to retiring Directors Gary Wagner (Kohl Construction) and Christopher Gust (Alden State Bank). Chris will remain on the Chamber board for one additional year with a past-president provision. For information on the Alden Chamber of Commerce and its activities, see their web site at www.aldenny.org. |
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BUSINESS BINGO PLAYED BY MANY
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Business Bingo, part of the Alden WinterFest festivities, concluded February 9, 2008 with a drawing for the contest winners during the Snowball Dance.
Winners were Norma Balcerzak, Corfu($75); Dorcas Nice, Alden ($50); Cindy Donovan, |
Alden ($25); Sherry Spaich, Corfu ($25); and Lisa Nice, Lancaster ($25). Thank you to all who visited our Chamber businesses to play the game.
A big thank you also to our participating merchants: Alden Advertiser, Alden Automotive, Alden Medical Supply, Alden Pharmacy, Alden Pools & Play, Alden State Bank, Carbone’s Pizzeria, Cooke & Steffan Attorneys, Curves (Alden), David Pajak Esq., Forget Me Not Candles & Gifts, Geoffano’s Pizzeria, Gillen’s Expert Auto, H & R Block, Henry’s Candy & Gifts, John & Mary’s Restaurant, NAPA Auto Parts, Naybor Land Surveying, Neill & Strong Attorneys, Petschke Inc. Sitzman’s Maytag, Tan-fastic Dan’s, Tops Market (Alden), Wagner’s Agway, and Weber’s Grille. |
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CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK 2007
Though the weather was cold and blustery friends and family enjoyed an event-filled afternoon Saturday, December 1 at Alden’s annual Christmas in the Park. During the afternoon, ACTS carolers sang while strolling the streets in period costumes, there was a living nativity performed by ACTS at the Beacon Cafe, and horse drawn wagon rides, sponsored by Gillen’s Expert Auto, traveled around Firemen’s Park. The Alden Kiwanis provided kettle corn and pictures of little ones sharing their toy lists with Santa. To help keep warm, at Firemen’s Memorial Park, the Alden Lions Club provided hot cocoa with cookies donated by Tops and St. Aidan’s Church had free chili.
The Alden Historical Society was open for visiting and children’s Christmas stories were read at the Ewell Free Library. Many Alden businesses offered special discounts and free refreshments. Holiday music, played by the Carnival Kids Steel Drum Band and sponsored by CMK Builders of Alden, could be heard throughout the Village. Mike Randall, famed local meteorologist at WKBW-TV, gave two splendid one-person recreations of Charles Dickens presenting “A Christmas Carol” at the Beacon Café.
The Alden Town Recreation Department presented a full program of fun at the Town Park. Two live reindeer delighted old and young alike while at the Community Center over 200 children were busy with holiday craft projects throughout the afternoon.
Photos courtesy of L. Weisbeck |
The Alden Art Club provided the opportunity to paint a square on a community mural that will be displayed at the Alden State Bank. Tours of the renovated Historic Henskee Schoolhouse were also offered.
Cub Scout Pack 117 and the Alden Area Ecumenical Choir, accompanied by the Carnival Kids Steel Drum Band sang Christmas songs to begin the lighting of the decorations and trees at Firemen’s Memorial Park. Ten trees were beautifully decorated by area organizations and were announced and lit one by one. Winners of the tree decorating contest were as follows: 1st place judges’ vote was Crittenden Presbyterian Youth Group; 1st place popular vote was Alden Girl Scouts; 2nd place judges’ vote was Cub Pack 160; 2nd place popular vote was Crittenden Presbyterian Youth Group; 3rd place judges’ vote was Alden Community Scholarship Foundation and 3rd place popular vote was Cub Pack 160. Consolation prizes were awarded to Alden High School Student Congress, Alden’s Meals on Wheels, Daucher’s Childcare and Development, Precious People Daycare, St. John the Baptist School and Townline Lutheran Youth Group. The Alden Chamber of Commerce provided all prizes.
The Alden Chamber of Commerce, the Alden Town Recreation Department and ACTS sponsored Christmas in the Park this year and they would like to thank all the wonderful folks in Alden who helped make this annual event another successful and enjoyable day.
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2007 ALDEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLIDAY LIGHTING CONTEST WINNERS
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Judging all the beautiful lighting display entries this year was a challenge, as always. Choosing winners is very difficult when so much effort and time has been put to use in creating the brightly lit displays. There were sixteen residential and four business contestants in this year’s contest, sponsored by the Alden Chamber of Commerce. The judges wish to thank all those who entered their own or another’s display to be judged. All prizes are awarded in Alden Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificates.
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Winning $100.00 each for first place were NAPA Auto Parts, 12691 Broadway for the business entry and Donna Pautler/Kevin Wienckowski, 12482 West Main St. for the residential.
Second place awards of $75.00 each were won by Alden Hook & Ladder Fire Substation #2, 11856 Broadway for the business entry and Tom & Sue Roetzer, 1068 Three Rod Rd. for the residential.
$50.00 third place awards each were won by Naybor Land Surveying, 1490 Church St. for the business entry and James Kropidlowski, 2257 County Line Rd for the residential. |
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With only three prizes awarded for residential entries, judges chose two additional residences for honorable mention of their display. They are Jeff & Jackie Mullins, 52 Two Rod Rd. and Barb & John Maxwell, 12005 Clinton St.
The residential entries were:
Paul Alessi, 2067 Townline Rd; Mark Bushen, 13252 Mt. Vernon Dr; Dorothy Duszkiewicz, 3542 North Millgrove Rd; Helen Giczkowski, 11790 Broadway; James Kropidlowski, 2257 County Line Rd.; Paulette/Alan Lund, 200 Sullivan Rd.; Barb/John Maxwell, 12005 Clinton St.; Maryann Mezydlo, 1387 Chestnut St.; Jeff/Jackie Mullins, 52 Two Rod Rd; Cathy Neyman, 3235 Wende Rd.; Donna Pautler/Kevin Wienckowski, 12482 West Main St.; Brigitte Pennell, 11246 Broadway; Dick Retzlaff, 1286 Exchange St.; Thomas/Susanne Roetzer, 1068 Three Rod Rd; Mary Stone, 3806 Crittenden Rd; and Monica/Kevin Zielinski, 880 Exchange St.
Business entries were:
Alden Hook & Ladder Fire Substation #2, 11856 Broadway; Alden Pools & Play, 12890 Broadway; NAPA Auto Parts, 12691 Broadway and Naybor Land Surveying, 1490 Church St.
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ALDEN ADVERTISER NAMED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AT 6TH ANNUAL LUNCHEON |
 The Alden Advertiser was awarded Business of the Year by the Alden Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 at the Whistle Stop Inn.
The award was presented to Leonard A. Weisbeck (Lee) Jr. publisher of the newspaper by Chamber Vice President Jennifer Strong. The Alden Advertiser is one of the oldest continuing businesses in Alden.
The paper was purchased by Lee’s Grandfather Joseph A. Weisbeck Sr. in 1932 but was in operation since October 1914.
The award was given for contributions and extensive coverage of the happenings in the community and for their award winning articles and photos with the New York Press Association.
Lee, a third generation owner, became publisher, taking over from his father Leonard Sr. in 2000. His daughter BonnieLee James is the fourth generation Weisbeck in the newsroom.
A welcome was given by President Christopher Gust and the Invocation by Paul Henry.
Erie County Legislator Kathy Konst presented the Alden Advertiser with a Certificate of Merit for their contributions to the community.
A presentation of the Alden Economical Development Committee’s new DVD promoting the benefits of doing business and living in Alden was viewed followed by guest speakers, Kathy Konst (D) and Tom Ulbrich (R), candidates for the Erie County Legislature, District 5.
Each made a presentation on their election platform with a question and answer period following.
Nancy Hughes, 2007 Farmers Market Coordinator was presented with a thank you gift from the Chamber for her efforts.
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4TH ANNUAL MEMBER APPRECIATION HOT DOG ROAST SEPTEMBER 29
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Come and join us! The Alden Chamber of Commerce will host their 4th annual Member Appreciation Hot Dog Roast on Saturday, September 29, 2007, during the Farmers Market at the former Ames plaza, Broadway, Alden from 11 am – 1 pm.
Members will be offered hot dogs, chips and a drink when presenting a coupon, the coupon can be found in their newsletter.  The coupon is limited to four.
Magician Ted Burzinski and a costume and pet parade will be at the Farmers’ Market for your enjoyment. The Greyhound Adoption group will be present. Also winners will be drawn for the two Chamber raffle baskets! Come and enjoy this fun filled event.
The Alden Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank its members for their continuing support. Our Chamber members working together help make a strong business community. See you there!
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LARGE GROUP ATTENDS THE 4TH NETWORKING MIXER
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 Another successful Chamber networking mixer was held on Wednesday, August 22 at the Alden Pharmacy, 13203 Broadway and Alden Medical Supply, 13185 Broadway, Alden. Graciously hosted by Ron Smith, the evening featured a history and tour of both businesses, drawings for prizes, and a catered buffet.
Networking mixers are an excellent venue to exchange business cards, concerns and ideas with other business owners. If your business would be interested in hosting an upcoming Networking Mixer please contact the Chamber office at 937-6177.
A big thank you goes out to Ron and his staff for all of the hard work involved in planning the pleasurable event and for hosting this mixer.
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