About 75 people were on hand last night for the first of four public meetings hosted by Jamestown Mayor-elect Eddie Sundquist to get input on how to deal with challenges facing the city.....
The nearly two-hour long session was held at Jefferson Middle School and focused on economic and business development issues. Sundquist was pleased with the turn-out... and, the input residents offered.
Sundquist says the big take-aways from the forum were bringing more "technology companies" into the city... and, the need to work more with the Hispanic community -- especially from a business stand-point. Another big issue raised was the need to move to a more up-to-date "forms-based" city code... which allows businesses that conform to other buildings in that part of the city to be located there. Sundquist says the second of four public input meetings will be held next Tuesday night at Washington Middle School at 6:30 PM... and, will deal with Housing and Public Safety. He also says people with ideas can e-mail them to Transition@eddiesundquist.com.
The city of Jamestown's annual Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration is set for Friday night... and the weather is promising to be "Christmasy."
The line-up for the parade will begin at 5 PM on the east side of the Third Street Bridge... and, the procession begins at 6:30 PM. It's being put on again this year... by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation... and, Spokesman Zach Agett says they're ready to go.
Mayor Sam Teresi will again be on hand to make some remarks... and, help light the 50-foot tall tree for the holiday season. Since he leaves office at the end of the year... this will be his last parade as mayor. Teresi admits it's going to be a bit bittersweet... but, he says it'll be mainly "sweet" because it's a great celebration. At last word... Agett said they have at least 85 units that will take part in the annual parade... and, they'll continue accepting others that would like to join up to parade time.
For the 15th year, The Resource Center is sponsoring tonight's parade in Jamestown, and is encouraging parade goers to take new, unwrapped toys with them, to donate for Toys for Tots.....
The agency organizes the annual drive in Chautauqua County. One of the coordinators, Terri Johnson, says the short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas means this is 'crunch time'. She estimates they'll need around 6,000 toys for the program this year... all collected by Friday, December 13th. In addition to taking toys to the parade, there are Toys for Tots barrels at many locations around the county.
A man from Falconer has been accused of damaging another resident's person's property, and brandishing a dangerous instrument at that person....
Ellicott Town Police say they were called to the undisclosed scene late Wednesday, and arrested Anthony Triscari on charges including second-degree menacing, and second-degree harassment. Officers say Triscari struck the person with a television in front a of a child... causing injury. For that... he was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He was taken to the county jail pending arraignment.
Sixty-Seven percent of School Superintendents across New York say the mental health of their students is a top-priority that needs to be addressed and funded by the state....
Speaking recently with our Noel Blackhall... Jamestown District Superintendent Bret Apthorpe says the results are part of a recent survey conducted by the state Council of School Superintendents.
Apthorpe's comments come less than 12-hours after a board meeting where over 100 people attended to address their concerns surrounding student behavior. At this time, the Superintendent says 40 students in grades 9th and 10th, have been identified as chronically absent or have run-ins with discipline, for placement at the Tech Academy. They will receive personlized learning programs including life-skills and socio-emotional skills. Apthorpe says the board is committed to helping students that are struggling in a school environment get the help and support they need.
Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone says he doubts the state will delay criminal justice reforms that are set to go into effect on January 1st....
Quattrone says he expects the reforms to be implemented despite an effort to have them delayed for a year by several state lawmakers, including new State Senator George Borrello.
Quattrone says law enforcement officials have held several meetings with County District Attorney Patrick Swanson to discuss the changes... with Swanson's key concern being the new, 15-day discovery law. He says getting all the documentation on alleged crimes to the D-A's office will be critical there. Prosecutors adds the discovery law reforms will even include traffic tickets.
A nationally-known auto glass repair and replacement service officially opened it's doors for the first time yesterday in the Greater Jamestown Area....
Safelite AutoGlass now has a repair shop at 345 Livington Avenue in Celoron -- near the city line -- next to Brigotta's Greenhouse. Shop Manager -- and former City Development Director -- Vince DeJoy... says he's pleased with the location... and, says they'll be open everyday except Sunday.
DeJoy says they have two-bays to do in-shop repairs... and, says their six technicians also go out into the field to replace windshields and car windows that need to be replaced or repaired. In fact... he says he needed some auto glass work on his car last May, and his insurance company got hold of one of Safelite's regional offices. DeJoy says their customer service was great... and, he decided once he left city government employment... he wanted to open up a local shop. DeJoy says they are on-line, and on Facebook. Safelite's phone number is 483-0009.
