'Very successful' Walk the Villages wraps up
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

As Walk the Villages 2007 draws to a close, a successful year is being celebrated by participating businesses and patrons.

"It was very successful," said Susan Klepadlo, Williamsville Walk the Villages chairman and assistant vice president of Five Star Bank. "The nice part is there's been a great outpouring of positive feedback."

Walkers were asked to submit comments and suggestions upon completing the tour. Klepadlo said that the majority of the comments praised the friendly demeanor of the village's merchants and the variety of stores in the village as well as Williamsville's aesthetic beauty.

"Love everything about the village," said one walker.

"Love the village; everyone was nice. Beautiful parks and waterfalls. So many small stores," said another.

"Very interesting village. It was fun - nice people," commented a third.

During the course of the event, which was sponsored by Sen. Mary Lou Rath, R-Williamsville, a total of 370 coupons were deposited and a total of 22 zip codes were represented.

"It brings in people who normally wouldn't discover Williamsville," Klepadlo said. "There have been increased traffic and sales with the merchants."

Klepadlo noted that the advantages from the event were not just for merchants but also for the participants.

"Aside from the health benefits, many people use it as a family activity," she said. "Others use it when family or visitors come from out of town as sort of a tourism mechanism."

Also celebrating are the various prize winners.

Winners and their prizes include:

• Marie Sutton of Williamsville, a $100 shopping spree from the Village Preservation Foundation.

• Pat Healy of Amherst, a one-year subscription to the Amherst Bee.

• Amy Thompson of Batavia, a $50 gift certificate to Ed Young's True Value Hardware.

• James Peck of Amherst, a $25 gift certificate to the Glen Park Tavern.

• Tina Mogavero of Kenmore, a $30 gift certificate to the Pizza Plant.

• D. Zadoria of Buffalo, a $100 savings bond from Five Star Bank.

• Ray Filsinger of Williamsville, a one-day use of the Island Park Pavilion during the 2008 season from the Village of Williamsville.

• Rita Scott of Williamsville, a $100 Dicks gift certificate from Credex America.

• Marsha Guillaume of Amherst, a $100 Family Night Out package from Amherst Development Group.

• Scott LaFalce of Kenmore, winner of the Village Trivia Contest, won a dinner for two at the Eagle House Restaurant.

While the 2008 Walk the Villages is currently in the planning stages, Klepadlo said that the committee is looking forward to adding more locations throughout Western New York as well as New York State. And as far as next year goes, Klepadlo said that she and the Walk the Villages committee are looking forward to expansion.

"We only hope it gets bigger and better."