Ellicottville Resident,
LTC Mark Kneis, Retires after Highly
Decorated Military Service

LTC Kneis enlisted in the US Army in 1983, graduated from West Point in 1990, and served our country in Desert Storm/Desert Shield & Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received numerous distinctions during his career, including the Bronze Star Medal. He has also earned the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Wings, and the Air Assault Badge. Following his retirement LTC Kneis, his wife Heather (Lavtar), son Mark and daughter Kieran will reside in Colorado Springs where he will continue his service to our nation as a Global Strike Planner for the Army Space and Missile Defense Command / Army Forces Strategic Command.

Thanks so much for your faithful service!

Full Steam Ahead With Maple Sugaring
at Ellicottville BOCES

With the cold nights and warming days the students in the Natural Resources program at C-A BOCES’ Ellicottville Career and Technical Center have been busy with maple syrup production. The maple trees in the 100 acres behind the center are tapped and the lines drained downhill into a collection tank. The tank is then transported to the sugar house by student-operated fork lift. From there it is run into the sugar house to be reduced to syrup in their large stainless steel boiler. Officials say it has been a good year, with 50 gallons of syrup produced from approximately 2,500 gallons of sap.