Rushdie talks about stabbing at Chautauqua, and premonition of attack on 60 Minutes...
World-renowned and controversial author Salman Rushdie says he had a dream that in hindsight may have been a premonition of his horrific stabbing at Chautauqua Institution in August of 2022.  Rushdie sat down for his first televised interview since the attack that nearly cost him his life on CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" Sunday night.  In the dream two days prior... Rushdie says he was being attacked in a Roman Empire type amphitheater with a spear.  He was rolling on the floor trying to get away from the person before waking up in a start.  However... he decided to go to Chautauqua for the lecture and interview.  Rushdie says many places that you go to lecture have a "certain degree" of venue security... but -- "In this case, there wasn't any."  After 18 days in an Erie, Pa. hospital... and three weeks in rehab... Rushdie was released.  He says one of the surgeons that saved his life said to him "first you were really unlucky... and then you were really lucky."  Rushdie asked "what's the lucky part?"  The surgeon replyed, "well the lucky part is that the man who attacked you had no idea how to kill a man with a knife."  That attacker... 25 year-old Hadi Matar of New Jersey... remains in the Chautauqua County Jail pending the start of his attempted murder trial.

Accidential fire destroys house in Bemus Point...
Flames have destroyed a home in the village of Bemus Point.  Sheriff's Department fire dispatchers say Bemus Point fire crews were called to the scene at 40 Lincoln Rd. just after 6:30 p.m. Friday... and, mutual aid was called in to help truck water to the scene.  Bemus Point fire officials say Ashville brought a tanker.... and, deployed their pond for water dumps.  Crews also used a hydrant a short distance away to help with fill the tankers.  A second alarm was later put out for more tankers and interior firefighters.  However... a partial roof collapse forced them to revert to an exterior attack.  Officials add that high winds and heavy rain hampered their efforts.  County fire investigators determined the blaze began in a wall due to "compromised" electrical wiring.  No one was home at the time... and, no injuries were reported.

Two public hearings on tap for tonight in Lakewood...
A pair of public hearings are on the agenda for the Lakewood Village Board tonight.  One will be on the proposed 2024-25 budget proposal... and, the other on short-term rentals.  That from Mayor Randy Holcomb... who says new budget includes a slight tax rate increase to $8.17 per $1,000.  Tonight's meeting... which begins at 6:30 p.m., will be held at the Busti Town Hall.  Holcomb says he's satisfied with how the budget turned out... given the village's major loss of assessment in court for the Chautauqua Mall.  That came out of a recent court case brought by the mall's owner.  He says the village board will likely vote on their next scheduled meeting on Monday, April 22... as the budget is due by May 1.  The public hearing on the budget begins at 6:45 p.m., while the hearing on a local law regarding where short-term rentals will be allowed begins at 7 p.m. 

Wendel and Quattrone say Total Eclipse drew good, but "underwhelming" number of visitors to the county...
While it's not known at this time how many visitors Chautauqua County had for the total solar eclipse, two county officials believe the county fared well when it came to the tourism and safety aspects surrounding the celestial event.  Even though viewing conditions were less than ideal, with clouds covering much of the county during the time of totality, County Executive P.J. Wendel, who saw a lot of activity in the Jamestown area, says there were still hundreds of people at multiple eclipse gatherings... one at the Jamestown Airport, another at Jamestown Community College, and the third in Dunkirk along the Lake Erie shoreline.  Meanwhile... Sheriff Jim Quattrone believes the county was "overprepared and underwhelmed" for the event, and added that it will also serve to prepare the county for future emergencies, and major events.

Ellington's Bicentennial Celebration begins...
A brisk breeze blew across the Ellington town square Saturday morning, but there was a warm feeling close by at the fire department as the town’s 200th birthday celebration got underway.  At a breakfast hosted by the Town Picnic Association and library, County Executive P.J. Wendel talked about the significance of places like Ellington "that are really the fabric of not only our county, but, the state and this great country."  Wendel said Ellington has a couple of very unique characteristics.  It's a small and safe community that looks out for each other.  The breakfast was the first in a day long series of open houses, and other special events concluding with a chicken barbeque at the Ellington Rod & Gun Club.

Ellington Fire Dept. takes advantage of Bicentennial kick-off to host recruitment event...
Last Saturday’s kick-off of the Ellington Bicentennial celebration coincided with the annual ‘Recruit NY’ effort to get new firefighters.  Ellington Fire Department Chief, Steve Rexford, was hoping a mid-day open house at the fire hall might yield some candidates.  He says they've gotten a few the past couple of years... but adds it's still a struggle.  Rexford’s had two stints as fire chief in Ellington, totaling 25 years.  He’s more optimistic about recruitment now than he was even a few years ago.  There are incentives that help... including state financial incentives for completing necessary training.