It appears that all four candidates running for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge will have party lines for the November 4th general elections. However... that could change depending absentee ballots. That from Republican County Elections Commissioner Brian Abram who says all the results from the primary elections are unofficial.
There is a question about whether the results in the Green Party race will stand. Abram says Michael Sullivan of Fredonia leads James Spann of Westfield by one vote, 3-to-2. He says there is a real possibility that the Green Party winner could change due to the small number of voters involved. According to the unofficial results -- again... Jeffrey Piazza has won the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines. Sally Jaroszynski defeated James Spann for the Democratic party line... and, Spann has won the Working Families Party line.
Governor Cuomo's bumpy win in New York's Democratic primary is energizing his general election opponents. Republican Rob Astorino told Talk 1300 Radio Wednesday that liberal Zephyr Teachout's 34 percent showing exposed big problems for the governor within his own party. Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins says disaffected Democrats should support him in the November election. Cuomo won 62 percent to win Tuesday's primary after spending much of the race publicly ignoring Teachout.
Several thousand mourners were at a downtown Rochester arena yesterday for funeral services for a city police officer killed in the line of duty last week. Daryl Pierson's funeral began shortly before noon Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial. Authorities say the 32-year-old officer was fatally shot last Wednesday night by a man wanted for a parole violation who fled from a traffic stop. Pierson's partner shot and wounded the suspect.
The Jamestown Public School year is off to "a great start." That from Superintendent Tim Mains to the school board at Tuesday night's meeting. Mains reported that he had been able to get to all the school buildings by last Friday... and, was pleased with what he saw. He says he was back at another school this morning. Mains says this year's opening went smoother than his first opening when he became Superintendent in August of last year. As for overall school enrollment... he says the numbers appear stable right now... though there has been some fluxuation in the elementary schools. Mains says there are some "large Kindergarten" classes at one school... and, they're talking with the principal about shifting some personnel. The Jamestown District held a half-day of classes for everyone last Wednesday to provide another half-day of staff development before the first full day of school last Thursday. Mains says the district did a lot of staff development during the Summer to prepare teachers for the second full-year of Common Core instruction.
The Jamestown School District has received a 623-thouands dollar grant to help coach and mentor teachers and principals to help students meet the new, "rigorous" learning standards. The district's director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Jessie Joy, applied for the 'Strengthening Teacher, and Leader Effectiveness-3 Program' grant. During Tuesday night's school board meeting... Joy outlined the grant... and, program the district has put in place to provide 'on-the-job' training for those needing help. With that... Joy says two teachers have been taken out of teaching entirely... and, will focus strictly on working with teachers and educational leaders on teaching Common Core. She says their salaries will be paid for the year through the grant. Joy adds there are others who will continue teaching... but, will also work with staff... and, do one-on-one mentoring. They will receive stipends for their added responsiblities. Joy says some 22 teachers are involved with this aspect of the program. She adds they are still working on a program for the district's school principals.
Gas prices in the Jamestown-area remain at about 3-dollars-72 cents a gallon this week. That from the Triple A's Regional Fuel Gauge Report... which says the price was a fraction of a penny over last week's price for regular, unleaded, based on reports from 19 area service stations. On the National scene... with just one week remaining before many parts of the country begin the switch to cheaper winter-blend fuel... the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is 3-dollars-43 cents per gallon. Triple-A says the national average price for retail gasoline historically declines in the weeks after Labor Day.
The Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities has announced the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day scheduled for this Saturday, September 13th, in Falconer, has been cancelled. DPF Director George Spanos says the hazardous waste drop off was to run from 9 AM to 2 PM at the department's building at 454 North Work Street. Spanos says "due to a change in contractors, we are in the process of rescheduling the second Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day for 2014." He says the events have been "a great opportunity for residents to safely dispose of hazardous items around their homes for free." He adds that once they have the event rescheduled they will inform residents. For more information about the county Department of Public Facilities Division of Solid Waste, call TJ at 985-4785... extension 203.
