In just a few shorts weeks, thousands of avid skiers, snowboarders and outdoor enthusiasts will make their annual pilgrimage to the quaint Village of Ellicottville in Western New York’s southern tier for some excitement on the slopes. And for those not interested in conquering the hills, the shopping, restaurants and nightlife aren’t too bad either!

But Ellicottville isn’t completely about the snow season. In fact, there are some fantastic sights and sites to be enjoyed year-round, especially during the cool and crisp autumn months. From incredibly colorful fall foliage to a variety of roadside stands selling produce, pumpkins and other seasonal favorites, Ellicottville is a treat 365 days a year!

Senator Mark Grisanti (R-60) today announced his sponsorship of bill (S-6664) to establish a real property tax exemption of thirty five percent for a period of no longer than twenty years for homes that meet certain specific National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.  The goal of this legislation is to incentivize builders to invest in green homes which are typically more expensive to build.

Builders will have to ensure that the lot is located near mass transit, protects high value vegetation, soil improved with organic mulch, low flow showers and toilets mandated, energy star rating of 3.0 or higher, at least one renewable energy for the house, rain barrels provided at no less than 2 downspouts and over fifty percent of the internal components must be green certified products. These are some but not all of the requirements spelled out in the legislation.

HAMBURG, NY - Neighbors, town board members, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Erie County all have questions about a proposed 50-house subdivision on Taylor Road.

Does Hamburg need another subdivision, and if so is this the right place for it? Post your comments below.

Read the whole story in the Hamburg Sun.