SPECIAL SHORTS
(04/17/2009) By Gerlind Dubey

ATTENTION, ECS Alumni Association, former Classmates and friends! Circle your calendar for Friday, July 17, 2009. This year’s Alumni Reunion Dinner will again be held at the Tannenbaum Lodge, Holiday Valley, beginning at 6 p.m., and the Committee is busy with plans for another wonderful evening. Details, including reservation information, menu, etc., will be published in the near future. Each year, more people from more classes enjoy the festivities, and we’d like to see you there, so plan now to attend.ECS Alumni Committee, PO Box 1033, Ellicottville, NY 14731
The Ladies of Elkdale Country Club celebrates the start of the golf season with an opening dinner on Tuesday May 5, 2009. The 2 Ladies League starts play on Tuesday May 12, while the Thursday night Men’s League STATRS May 7.

With the seasonal opening of the Double Diamond Golf Course at Holiday Valley Resort, the game of golf becomes a new adventure- Now that the course is ready for play, I have visions of those dreaded monster sand traps my ball seems to hone in on. Buried bunker shots are one of the shots that really frighten amateur golfers, especially me. In fact any bunker shot makes me sweat! PGA Pro Hank Haney says and I quote; “It’s not that hard of a shot if you know how to play it. The sand wedge is used a little differently than it is for a normal bunker shot. Normally you have the face open, so that you use the flange of the club, but here we are going to use the leading edge, the digging part of the club. So when you play a buried bunker shot, in order to get the ball out of the trap you are going to play with a square clubface. This will allow the leading edge of the club to dig down into the sand. So first, square your clubface. Then your ball position for a buried shot is more towards the middle of your stance. Then pick the club up quickly with your wrists, and then set it down into the sand with a steep angle of approach. The clubface will dig underneath the ball and send it out on to the green. Ball in the middle of your stance, weigh to your front side just a little, cock the wrists up quickly and then set it down into the sand. The leading edge will dig the ball right out of there and this shot won’t be as hard as you think.” Yea Right! This all makes sense to me but in order to carry out this buried bunker shot tip I have to take a lesson from one of our local Pros Seeing and feeling the shot is believing!

The Cattaraugus County Arts Council announces… a Contemporary Acrylic Painting with Nance Jackson, the newest in the lineup of morning classes offered at the Arts Council. The morning painting class will be a great way to wake up your creativity and will run on Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 9am-11am. This class is designed for all levels of painting ability and Nance will guide participants in infusing their work with contemporary style and technique. Participants will explore texture, paint mixing, brush stroking, scumbling, sanding, bold colors, and more. The cost is $50 for Arts Council members or $60 for nonmembers. All supplies will be included. For more information call 716-372-7455

Cattaraugus/Allegany Co-op celebrates Gardening Day…Novice as well as seasoned Gardeners will profit from the Master Gardeners of Cornell University Cooperative Extensions, FREE class to be held at Ellicottville Central School on Saturday April 25, 2009. Preregistration Is Required. For more information call Carrie at Busekist at 716-699-2377 extension 125.

Next Friday Aril 25 is National Arbor Day. Plant a tree with someone you love! Ellicottville celebrates its 27th year as an honored Tree City USA. To qualify for Tree City USA, a town or city must meet four standards established by The National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, which, thanks to Jodi Bently continue to be met. the Tree City USA signs at community entrances tell visitors that our village cares about its environment. It is also an indication to prospective businesses that the quality of life may be better because of trees.