Innovation isn't magic.  It's something successful businesses do on an on-going basis...  

 

That was the message Ben Rand brought to the annual meeting of Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier Thursday night.  Rand, President of Insyte Consulting in Buffalo, says businesses often wait for innovation to strike like lightning.  As an alternative, Rand outlined a process to help generate new ideas and bring them to production.

 

Rand told the group free help is available for small and medium size maufacturers in the region who want to innovate at shiftmfg.com.  It's paid for through phase-two of the Buffalo Billion. The MAST annual meeting was held at the Moonbrook Country Club. 

 

 

A local maker of wooden baby and kid's furniture items in Jamestown served as the backdrop for next week's start to Small Business Week across the city and nation...  

 

Mayor Sam Teresi was at El Greco Woodworking on East First Street in Jamestown Thursday to issue a proclamation, making May 6 through May 12 'Small Business Week' in the city.  Teresi says kicking off the week at El Greco is exciting because it's been a fixture in downtown Jamestown for the past 43 years.

 

El Greco has been a true success story, having lost it's original site on First Street in a major fire 14 years ago.  The final assembly and shipping facility is now located on Allen Street.  El Greco's long-time owner, and founder, George Theofilactidies expressed his appreciation to the city for it's support during good times and, bad.  Theofilactidies' daughter -- Alexis Singleton -- is also a co-owner of the business.  She says they originally made furniture for home and office.  Alexis says they started making baby and kids items in the 1990s and, went to all kids and baby furniture in 2008. 

 

 

A Republican from West Ellicott is looking into a run for the office of New York State Attorney General...  

 

Randy Elf annnouced his intentions Thursday night at a gathering of community leaders.  Elf says Republicans and Conservatives across the state have talked to him about putting his name in.  Elf has a law degree from Syracuse University.  He's practiced privately and before the Federal Election Commission.  Elf says he also has extensive experience conducting hearings on the constitutionality of political-speech law.  The current Attorney General is New York City-area Democrat Eric Schneiderman.

 

 

A city man is accused of holding a city woman against her will early Wednesday morning... and, damaging her cellphone...  

 

Jamestown police were called to the scene at 10 Linwood Avenue shortly after Midnight and, learned that 27 year-old Christopher Belin had allegedly thrown the unidentified woman's phone out a second-story window.  Officers later found Belin hiding in the attic, where he was arrested for third-degree criminal mischief.  He was jailed pending arraignment.

 

 

A familiar face to local Democrats will be the keynote speaker at this year's Chautauqua County Democratic Banquet to be held at Chautauqua next month...  

 

Democratic Committee Chairman Norm Green says retired State Assemblyman Bill Parment will headline a full evening of speakers for the gathering on Wednesday, June 13, at the Athenaeum Hotel.  Green says this will give the local party a chance to hear from him for the first time since his decision to retire in the Summer of 2010.

 

Green says the now-75 year-old Parment has been living in recent times in the Ithaca area, largely because of the recreational hiking opportunities there.  In addition to Parment, Green says all five remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination for to run for Congress will also be there -- just before their June 26 primary.  He adds Sheriff Joe Gerace, and their Assembly candidate, who has yet to announce, will also be there.  The banquet on June 13th begins at 6 p.m., with a social hour preceeding that.  To register, go online to CHQDEM.org.

 

 

The state Assembly has voted to reduce the state's role in teacher evaluations...  

 

The Democrat-led body passed legislation late Wednesday would allow local school districts to set their own teacher evaluation rules.  The measure would also eliminate a state mandate that required such evaluations to reflect student performance on standardized tests.  The measure was praised by teachers unions, who say it will reduce what it called an over-reliance on standardized testing.

 

 

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, the presumptive Republican nominee for New York governor, has released his 2017 tax return...  

 

The joint tax filing released by his campaign Thursday shows the 42-year-old Molinaro and his wife, Corrine Adams, earned $174,048 last year, most of it from his nearly $140,000 salary as the top elected official in Dutchess County.  The couple, who live in the town of Red Hook, paid just over $24,000 in federal taxes and, received a just over $2,000 federal tax refund. 

 

 

A drug-raid at an apartment in the city of Olean led to the discovery of over half-a-pound of marijuana and, the arrest of three people inside...  

 

A search warrant was issued for the lower apartment at 15-08 West Henley Street last Thursday following an investigation by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office.  Police say residents 28 year-old Steven Ertell and 29 year-old Billie Ferraro were allegedly found to be in possession of over 25-grams of pot and, were charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marrijuana.  Fifty-four year-old Robert Kennedy-- of Colorado-- is accused of possessing over eight-ounces of cannabis and was charged with felony criminal possession of marijuana.  Each was issued an appearance ticket for Olean City Court next Wednesday morning. 

 

 

The Jamestown City Council Parent-Teacher Student Association is holding a Candidate's Forum next Monday for the Jamestown School Board... 

 

Officials say there are two seats on the ballot for the May 15 election, each for a three-year term beginning in July. The three candidates running for election include incumbants Dan Johnson and Nina Karbacka and, challenger Brianna Fadale. The forum will include a brief introduction of each candidate followed by an opportunity for the public to ask questions beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administration Building on Martin Road.