County Legslature to have busy year-end meeting tonight...
It won't be a routine agenda tonight for the Chautauqua County Legislature... which holds it's final meeting tonight in Mayville. Among the items on the agenda is the appointment of a new, Democratic lawmakers in District 4. The party has selected Fredonia's Tom Carle to replace Susan Parker... who recently resigned from the panel. Carle is familiar because he mounted a challenge to incumbant Republican Congressman Nick Langworthy this year. He will serve out the rest of Parker's term. In addition... two reports will be given to lawmakers. One regards the potential of office space in the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood... which is losing two more stores by the end of the year. The second regards an Airport Service Study done for the county. Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
Despite efforts to keep Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics in Jamestown, parent company announces move to Ohio...
A local maker of parts washer technology is relocating it's Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics division from Jamestown to Cinncinati, Ohio. In a brief press release recently... Cleaning Technologies Group, LLC, which also provides custom-engineered machinery, has begun moving those operations... and plans to expand them in Ohio. It's very disappointing news to Mayor Kim Ecklund... who says her administration and Development Director Crystal Surdyk had met with them on a number of occasions. Ecklund adds they also had other people working with them on issues such as the homeless situation along the Chadakoin River in that area. Most disappointing, she says, was the fact the company announced the move on social media. The company says the expansion will allow Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics... which is a global provider of industrial and precision ultrasonic cleaning technology... to increase its manufacturing capabilities. Officials add it also allows them to share resources with the company's two other U.S.-based divisions... which are both located in the Greater Cincinnati area. Ecklund says they were initially told that Blackstone-NEY was keeping it's building on South Main Street... but, that recently changed when the property was marketed for sale. Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics will maintain a sales and service office in Jamestown. Ecklund made her comments on last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group stations.
County dispatch reports Kabob Road closed between Rt. 380 and Waterman due to flooding...
Our thawing conditions the past few days has led to some flooding in the central part of Chautauqua County... and, that's led to part of a road being closed. Sheriff's Department dispatchers say the South Stockton-Cassadaga Road -- otherwise known as Kabob Rd. -- has been closed between Waterman Rd. and Route 380 in the town of Stockton. Dispatchers say the closing occured late Tuesday afternoon... and, will remain closed until further notice.
Cipolla resigning as WACS superintendent to take new position elsewhere...
The Superintendent of the Westfield Academy and Central School District has announced his resignation. Michael Cipolla made the announcement in a letter to the school district community on Tuesday. In the letter... Cipolla stated that he has accepted an opportunity to serve as superintendent in another district. Cipolla says he and the district still have "several weeks" together, and more information is forthcoming about the transition to a new superintendent. Cipolla has served as Westfield's Superintendent since January 2020.
United Way head Rohler receives CHQ Chamber of Commerce's Lydic Award...
The head of the United Ways of Chautauqua County says she's honored that CHQ Chamber chose her to receive its Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award for 2024. Executive Director Amy Rohler received the award during the Chamber's recent, annual meeting at the White Inn in Fredonia. Rohler says while she never knew the late Pam Lydic... she knows many people who respected her "so deeply." She also knows others who have received the award, and heard how much it means to them. Rohler was named this year's Lydic Award recipient for her work in bringing together the two United Ways in Chautauqua County. She thanked several people involved in that process. One of them was Adam Dolce, former Executive Director of the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County, for helping lay a lot of the groundwork through collaborations, and partnerships for the merger before one was even considered.
Gas price down about a dime in Jamestown-area...
A nationwide increase in gasoline production has helped ease fuel prices in the Jamestown-area and Chautauqua County this week. That from the AAA East Central's Gas Price Report... which says the price late last week fell to just under $3.50 a gallon for regular, unleaded gasoline. Last week's price was just under $3.60 a gallon. AAA says the average price, nationally, is actually up a penny to $3.02 this week. However... officials say it's been close to the $3 level the past five weeks... and, 31 states already have averages below $3. The Energy Information Administration reports that demand rose just a bit from 8.73-million barrels per day last week to 8.81-million... but, that's about 50,000 barrels per day lower than the same week in 2023. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks rose from 214.6 million barrels to 219.7, while gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10-million barrels daily.
