WAPO story says Reed is accused of sexual misconduct in 2017 incident...
A Washington Post story today is reporting that a former junior lobbyist for an insurance company has accused local Congressman Tom Reed to sexual misconduct during a gathering in 2017. The Post reports that Nicolette Davis was 25 at the time... and, was with Reed at an Irish pub in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a day of ice fishing. Davis says she texted a friend saying "A drunk Congressman is rubbing my back." She then later texted "HELP HELP.” Reed is then accused of putting his hand outside her blouse, and moving his hand to her thigh. The Corning Republican refused to be interviewed for the story... but, did issue a statement through his chief of staff, saying "this account of my actions is not accurate. I stand by my record." Reed has been in the spotlight recently because he is considering a possible run for New York governor.
Carl Reiner's professional, personal archives being given to the National Comedy Center...
The National Comedy Center in Jamestown has announced that it will soon be the new home of late comedic legend Carl Reiner’s personal and professional archives. Reiner's son, Rob, announced on NBC's Today Show today that his family is donating the archives to the Center. Rob Reiner says the Comedy Center will get his fathers rare creative papers, scripts and artifacts spanning Carl Reiner’s seven-decade career in comedy as a writer, director, and performer will be preserved. He says his emmys, scripts, and other items are being given for a new wing of the center. The younger Reiner says "it's very exciting." Comedy Center officials will formally name its ongoing work to preserve comedy’s heritage in honor of Reiner, who was a founding Advisory Board member for the Comedy Center. The Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation will serve as the central hub for all archival and preservation work within the Comedy Center, as it continues its mission to present the history of comedy and preserve comedy’s heritage for future generations. Carl Reiner passed away last June at the age of 98.
Comedy Center says it will again be a Ward-Three polling site in 2021...
The National Comedy Center in Jamestown has announced that it's reached an agreement with the Chautauqua County Board of Elections to again be a polling site this year. In a statement issued this afternoon... center officials said "we are pleased to have reached an agreement so that the National Comedy Center can serve as a polling site for Ward 3 in 2021. We appreciate the spirit with which this has been resolved, and the Board of Election's understanding of the challenges for the center’s business operations during voting days." They add the board addressed their concerns regarding the state law on polling sites with a liquor license, and will use its best efforts to adhere to all Comedy Center “LaughSafe” health and safety protocols while those precautions remain in place. The center has been a Ward-Three polling site since it opened in August of 2018.
Democratic City Council candidates announced during Zoom video conference...
There are seven Democrats running for seats on the Jamestown City Council this Fall... and, four are newcomers. However... one incumbant will not be seeking re-election. During the city Democratic Committee's Zoom announcements Thursday night... it was revealed that at-large Councilwoman Tamu Graham-Reinhardt will not seek another term. She says she's been able to do what she wanted to get done... and, it's time for someone else with new ideas to run. Three newcomers are seeking at-large seats... including Alyssa Porter... who is Youth and Family Programs Director at Chautauqua Institution. The other two newcomers running at-large are long-time Jamestown resident, Ellen DiTonto... and former State Assembly candidate, Christina Cardinale. DiTonto is currently the executive director of the Jamestown Community College Faculty-Student Association. There are three veteran lawmakers running for ward seats... including Ward-Four incumbant Marie Carrubba. Carrubba feels being part of several community boards and committees helps keep her finger on the pulse of the community. She says they include being a member of the Board of Public Utilities. She is the director at Southern Tier Environments for Living. The other ward candidates including Third-Ward incumbant Vickye James... newcomer Doug Lawson in Ward-Five... and, in the Sixth-Ward, incumbant Tom Nelson.
Green confirms that incumbant County Legislature Minority Leader, Chuck Nazzaro, is not seeking re-election...
The Zoom announcement last night also revealed the names of four Chautauqua County Legislature candidates. But... one of them is not a long-time member who has most recently been Minority Leader. County Democratic Chairman Norm Green did confirm that Jamestown's Chuck Nazzaro is not seeking another term. In his place... Green says local community activist, Billy Torres, is running for that seat. The other candidates include newcomer Heather Fagan... and incumbants Bob Whitney and Paul Whitford.
County reports 42 New COVID Cases, one death on Thursday...
There was an uptick in the number of daily coronavirus cases in Chautauqua County the past day... with 42 new confirmed cases Wednesday. There are now 7,902 total cases to date... with 7,611 recovered. There was also one new death the past day... increasing that number to 141. The county's Health Department reports the most cases... 12... were reported in Dunkirk. Falconer had 8 and Jamestown 7. Officials say there are now 150 active cases... and nine of those are hospitalized. The local infection rate is back up to one-percent.
