The National Comedy Center in Jamestown will celebrate it's first anniversary this coming Thursday and, so far the first year has gone very well....
That from Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson, who says they've received rave reviews from several national publications, and officials. Gunderson says having the center open at the end of the tourist season last year, and have some downtime in the Winter, allowed them to gear up for the 2019 tourist season and, she says it's been a busy one.
Gunderson says it's gratifying because the question of "would people like it?" had lingered as the project took eight-years to develop. She says they've been very happy with the reviews. Gunderson says they'll talk with their consultant A-E-COM about the final attendance figures for year-one and, see where they should be for the center's first "stablized year." Normally, she says that would be the third-year of operation. A-E-COM projected the National Comedy Center should draw between 100,000 to 114,000 visitors in the first "stablized year."
A busy two weeks of comedy in Chautauqua County gets underway today at Chautauqua Institution with a Week-Six theme of "What's Funny?"
That from National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson, who says the 'groundbreaking' Smothers Brothers will lead things off in the Amphitheater at 10:45 this morning. Gunderson says this year marks the 50th anniversary of the cancellation of their controversial show "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour".
Tom and Dick Smothers have been the most enduring comedy duo in history, having professionally performed together since 1959. After today's program the brothers will be in Jamestown to cut the ribbon on a new exhibit about their work at the Comedy Center. On Tuesday, Director, Producer, Writer and performer Frank Oz will be on the Amphitheater stage, and will be interviewed by CNN Documentary Series Executive Producer, Stephen Morrison. On Thursday, David Steinberg and Lewis Black will do a program highlighting the work of legendary comic, Robin Williams. Steinberg managed Williams' career for 43 years.
Two Chautauqua County communities are receiving about 1.1-million dollars from the state Health Department's Lead Line Replacement program for homes....
Governor Cuomo says 18 communities state-wide, including the town of Ellicott and city of Dunkirk, are receiving a share of $10-million from the program's second-round. Cuomo say each will receive $561,880 dollars and, adds the program has already awarded $20-million to communities to help offset replacement costs and is a key component of New York's $2.5-billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017. The current budget continues New York's historic multi-year investment in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, with an additional $500-million commitment, which includes $10-million in funding for this program.
Things got a little 'wild' at the Wild America Festival at Panama Rocks, Sunday,as a brief hail storm occurred.....
Festival organizer Jonathan Weston said he was concerned, but none of the works of the 40 artists on display was damaged. The event is put on in conjunction with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. RTPI President Twan Leenders said some 3 thousand people attended to enjoy 'fantastic speakers', 'wonderful programs and demonstrations', and the 'great art show'. The goal of the annual festival is to get people of all ages to re-connect with nature.
It was the right move for this year's annual World Series of Wheels fundraiser for the local Bath Ruth World Series events....
That from Committee Vice-President and, director of the Public Relations Division, Kim Ecklund, who says the weather was perfect for Saturday's event. It was moved this year as a way to provide a "rain date" in case the program was rained out. As it was... it's rained Sunday. Ecklund told out Matt Warren they had a great turn-out of cars and other vehicles.
In fact, Ecklund says they expected a record number of vendors this year. They also had several kids events and programs, in addition to the new motorcycle run put on by the professional firefighters "Axemen" group. Ecklund says Saturday's event was a major fund-raiser to help the Babe Ruth Committee put on the 2020 13 year-old World Series in Jamestown. It will be the 40th anniversary of the 1980 13 year-old series in Jamestown, the first for that age catagory.
Police say a skydiver was killed in western New York when his parachute became tangled after it opened....
New York state police say 68-year-old Richard Cordero and three other skydivers flew out of Perry-Warsaw Airport in Wyoming County at about Noon Saturday. All four jumped from the plane. Police say Cordero's parachute opened normally but then became tangled. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other three skydivers landed safely. Police say Cordero had more than 45 years of skydiving experience. An e-mail seeking comment was sent to Rochester Skydivers, the company that operates skydiving flights at the airport.
