Several local schools begin classes today, including Falconer and Southwestern...
Today is the first day of school for several districts in southern Chautauqua County... including Southwestern. Superintendent Maureen Donahue says there will be a new 'traffic light' cellphone policy taking effect in the middle and high schools. Red is 'no phone' zone... yellow is teacher discretion... Green is okay for use. Work at the Southwestern auditorium is expected to be complete this fall. The new gym addition is set to open by December. The superintendent at Falconer, Stephen Penhollow, says school opens there today for grades K through 12, as well. At the high school, they've updated the engineering lab... and have designated specific times for STEM education in Kindergarten through 8th grade... with some arts added in. As a first step in a building project, there's a new roof on the Falconer-Middle High School building. Penhollow also reminds those driving to the main campus to watch for new traffic patterns... and pay attention to the new light at Main Street and East Avenue. Several other districts open today. Others will start school Wednesday or Thursday.
Clymer to being school year with new Sheriff's Department Substation...
A rural Chautauqua County school district is joining a growing number of schools that will house a law enforcement substation. County Sheriff Joe Gerace says his deputies will use their office at the Clymer Central School to do paperwork and interviews while maintaining a law enforcement presence at the school. Gerace calls the arrangement a win-win for the district and deputies who gain a strategic location from which to work. The school, which has about 450 students, is about 20 miles from the sheriff's office headquarters. Law enforcement substations are growing increasingly popular around the country as authorities work to improve security in the age of school shootings.
Labor Day Festival includes local and state recognition for Ritzer Award winner...
The area's biggest labor award included some pagentry this year... as the George Ritzer Labor Award was given to a recipient for the second-time for the first-time ever last Sunday. Retired Jamestown City Councilman George Spitale got this year's award... and, for the first time in recent memory... the recipient was also honored by the governor's office. Governor Cuomo's Deputy Director of Upstate Labor Affairs, Chris Borgadi, spoke during the presentation... and, offered comments from the governor and himself... calling him an "invaluable asset to your labor community, Jamestown and Western New York." Mayor Sam Teresi also praised Spitale... who is also his cousin. Other recognition was given by Assemblyman Andy Goodell... who was represented by Jamestown office Manager Elisabeth Rankin. Teresi also praised the current workforce at City Hall... especially in dealing with inclement weather earlier in the day Sunday. Teresi also proclaimed it as "Labor Appreciation Week" in the city from September 2nd through the 8th.
Cuomo to hold 15 "listening sessions" on proosals to legalize recreational marijuana...
In New York state government news... Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced 15 so-called "listening sessions" to gather public input on proposals to legalize recreational marijuana. The 15 sessions will be held around the state beginning with one Thursday in Albany. State officials say public comments at the sessions will be taken into account as proposals to legalize pot are drafted. Lawmakers expect to consider the issue after they reconvene in January. None of those will be in Chautauqua County. Meanwhile, former Vice President Joe Biden is backing Cuomo over former "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon in the September 13th Democratic primary.
Sixth-annual Kallie's Krusade another big success...
The 6th annual "Kallie's Krusade" fund-raiser in Lakewood was another success. Well over 100 motorcycles took off from the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club abot 10 a.m. yesterday for the annual "Krusin' for Kallie" that's part of the foundation's event. The Krusade events are organized by Kallie's parents, Tara and Shane. They welcomed the crowd, and spoke before the motorcycles left. Tara says they had more motorcycles than last year... thanks to the organizer for that event... the Jamestown Police Department's Tim Jackson. No final numbers were available Monday morning. In addition... they had shirts with the names of children battling pediatric Cancer their foundation has been able to help on the back. Tara Swan says they have their "Kolors for Kallie" 5 K Run Walk again this year... along with raffles, a bounce house, and chicken barbecue. She says they also received a "Blue Buffalo" from Roswell Park in Buffalo because they were part of the Cancer institute's "Herd's of Hope" Cancer program.
Chestnut again wins Buffalo Chicken Wing Eating Contest...
Competitive eating titan Joey "Jaws" Chestnut has downed more than 200 chicken wings in 12 minutes to notch a repeat win in an annual championship in Buffalo, New York. The National Buffalo Wing Festival tweeted the results of Sunday's contest... saying that Chestnut ate 206 of the wings. Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, Massachusetts, took second place by eating 194 wings. Darron Breeden of Orange, Virginia, came in third with 182.
