JHS Class of 2024 holds graduation for nearly 300 at Chautauqua Institution...
High School Commencement is most often referred to as a ceremony that starts the "rest of your life."  However... members of the Jamestown High School Class of 2024... in many regards... were taken back in time during the program at Chautauqua Institution's Amphitheater.  The nearly 300 graduates were recognized for both their many academic and athletic achievements.  However... Thursday night's keynote address was given by retired teacher Barbi Price... who had many of them in her class.  Price talked about the importance of having a good attitude... no matter what life has in store for you.  She says "I know that not all of you were A+ students, but, my hope for you is that you will become A+ people."  Price was a long-time English and Public Speaking teacher in the Jamestown District.  Other speakers also picked up on the life-long learning theme... including School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker... who referred to the book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten."  He says those truths are "simple, but profound..." and include sharing, playing fairly, and not hitting people among others.  Dr. Whitaker added three more of is own... "don't stare... make eye contact and say good morning or hello and smile... and, if someone greets you... return the greeting and smile back at them."  The Valedictorian Address was delivered by Carson Bane... while Ella Storms delivered the Salutatorian speech.
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There were some touching moments during last night's commencement... one occured early in the program when long-time Class Advisor and Government Studies Teacher Tony Dolce was recognized for all he had done in the district -- especially the annual commencements.  Dolce is retiring at the end of the school year after 30-plus years of service.

City woman arrested for threatening two people with pellet gun...
A woman from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly threatening two people with a black pellet gun that appeared to be a long-gun on the city's northside earlier this week.  Jamestown police were called to a report of a "person with a weapon" shortly before 6 p.m. last Tuesday... and, on arrival learned that 21 year-old Anikyn Fuller had pointed the gun at both victims... then verbally threatened one by saying she was going to shoot them in the face... while brandishing the weapon.  Fuller ws arrested on two counts of second-degree menacing... and, jailed pending arraignment.

Gillibrand pushes for passage of funding for Lyme, and other tick-borne disease research and treatment...
With the start of the Summer season... so too is deer tick season... and, New York's junior U.S. Senator is pushing for funding to support Lyme Disease research.  During a video press conference... Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand pointed out the fact that a record, 62,000 cases of Lyme Disease were reported in the U.S. in 2022.  Gillibrand says she's requesting nearly $200-million for four programs... including $30-million for the CDC to further it's work, and the 2019 act that required the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a national strategy for dealing with tick-borne diseases.  In addition... Gillibrand is calling for $9-million for the Department of Defense's tick-borne disease prevention program because several military bases are in more heavily-infested areas.  She says there's also $130-million for Lyme and tick-borne disease research at the National Institutes of Health.  Gillibrand says she wants to see researchers find better ways to diagnose, and treat the infection.  In fact... Gillibrand herself has had Lyme Disease... and, she had to be on anti-biotics for four-months to get it out of her body.  She says the largest nmber of Lyme Disease case in the country in 2022 was 16,000 in New York state.

Goodell says State Leg. will have Special Session soon to deal with $1-Billion deficit in MTA's current budget...
The New York State Legislature will have to return to Albany shortly to take action on a projected one-billion dollar shortfall in the New York City mass transit system.  That means at least one more session for retiring State Assemblyman Andy Goodell... who also serves as the GOP floor leader.  The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's deficit was recently created when Governor Kathy Hochul temporarily suspended the unpopular Congestion Pricing for all traffic south of 60th Street in Manhattan.  While the Congestion Pricing program in lower Manhattan will likely return at some point... the MTA has also racked up about $15-billion dollars in total debt.  Goodell says... in many regards... it's been a self-inflicted wound.  He says about 40% of the people who ride the trains and buses aren't paying for it.  He says the problem has been exacerbated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's refusal to prosecute those people who don't pay.  Goodell blamed New York City Democrats... some of whom have been facing primary challenges... for pushing Hochul to suspend Congestion Pricing... and, creating the new shortfall in the MTA budget.  How exactly the legislature will deal with that hasn't been made clear. 

Borrello pleased to see Northeast Medical announcement about new use for former Lake Shore Hospital...
There are plans to reopen the site of a former hospital in northern Chautauqua County that has been closed for more than four years.  State Senator George Borrello is hailing the announcement that Northeast Medical will repurpose the former Lake Shore Hospital building in Irving into a behavioral health and addiction recovery center.  Borrello, who has been a leading advocate for repurposing the building, says it's fantastic news for the area.