Former Deer Management Group member Tom Nelson addresses Jamestown City Council (April 10, 2023)

A former member of the Jamestown Deer Management Group is questioning what the City of Jamestown is doing in regards to the city’s deer population.

Former Council member and current County Legislator Tom Nelson questioned council members about what’s been done, what’s going to get done, and if a committee has been formed regarding deer in the city, “I know many times you get people coming to council meetings complaining they don’t have a solution. I think many of you know I put forward a solution in September of 2021 which was rejected by many members of this council. So, my question to you is, you didn’t like that plan, what is your plan?”

Council had voted down a proposal 2 to 7 at the September 2021 voting session that would have allowed 8 bow hunters to receive licenses with the two sites for hunting limited to Jones Memorial Park and the wooded area behind the Allen Park Ice Rink. This was the proposal suggested by Council member at large Jeff Russell to replace an initial proposal to allow 15 licensed hunters to take down up to 4 antler-less deer between November 1st and December 31st in five designated areas of Jamestown.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said he still supports efforts to reduce the deer population in the city, “Typically, some kind of hunt.. that is the recommendation from the DEC (State Department of Environmental Conservation). Can’t do sterilization because it has to be tied to a university and program, and other methods are just way too expensive or not going to be allowed by the state. So, whatever you guys want to do, let me know. I remain steadfast in supporting reducing the deer population as a resident of Ward 6 who sees a lot of it, and now we’re hearing from Ward 5 and others.”

Councilmembers Randy Daversa, Andrew Faulkner, Russell, and Brent Sheldon had mentioned at the October 3, 2022 City Council work session that they had met with each other to discuss the issue, but no follow-up meetings were ever announced.

Council member at large Kim Ecklund said on Monday that whatever that work group moved forward with should be a multi-pronged approach, “When Andy Liuzzo was on council, he was adamant about a deer program and actually worked with the town of Ellicott to issue more permits. I never heard the result of that. We never got a ‘Did it work? Did it not work?’ But, living on the edge of the town, there are more deer. There’s a lot of reasons why there is more deer and you can ask many hunters. There’s less people hunting. There’s more posted property for people to not be able to hunt on.”

At the October 2022 meeting, Council member Marie Carrubba said the deer group should include not just city council members but an attorney, people in favor of a hunt, as well as people with other options for handling the deer population.

The free event will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Council President Tony Dolce said it will be located on the Riverwalk behind the National Comedy Center and Board of Public Utilities between the two pedestrian bridges from Panzarella Island to the Washington Street Bridge, “And they’ll have all kinds of fun things of games and hay rides and costumes and I’m sure candy. All that fun stuff. As you know, this year because of the Allen Park Ice Rink being rented or leased out the (Frewsburg) Soccer Club, we aren’t able to have the indoor thing that we’ve had several years there.”

The City’s lease agreement with the Frewsburg Soccer Club states that the City will have use of the former Allen Park Ice Rink for the Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween Fun Fest. Dolce said the Parks Department wanted to try something different and hold the event outdoors this year.

For more information about the event, contact the Parks Department at 716-483-7554.

At the start of this year the club began using the facility for both practice and tournaments. That initial lease agreement for using the rink was for $1 a year for four years, but also with the understanding the club would be paying for the much-needed roof and lighting upgrades, along with heating improvements to the facility.

Mayor Sam Teresi said since the agreement went into place in February  the club has exceeded the city’s expectations in terms of improving and caring for the facility.

“The Frewsburg Soccer Club has been doing a terrific job – absolutely terrific. They’ve exceeded expectations in every sense for what they’ve done up there – the money they’ve raised, the improvements they’ve made, their day-to-day operations, the maintenance of the facility, the programming of activities, and their sensitivity to neighborhood around them. This is beyond our expectations,” Teresi said.

As a result of the success the group has had using the Ice Rink, it’s now signed a four-year lease extension to continue using the building, which goes along with the initial four-year lease signed at the start of 2019. That means the club will continuing using the facility until at least the end of 2026 – although an additional four-year option was also added.

The announcement of the extension came Wednesday during a signing ceremony at the ice rink.

Attached Picture (left to right): Jamestown Cycle Shop Mike Donner, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Rhonda Johnson; Fessenden, Laumer & DeAngelo Mary Schiller; Allen Park Women’s Club Sandy Forsberg, Honest John’s John Raymond, Allen Park Women’s Club Audene Jarosz, Mayor Sam Teresi, Parks Commissioner John Bauer, Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley, Parks Manager John Williams (submitted photo)

JAMESTOWN – The 34th Annual Citywide Halloween Fun-Fest will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the former Allen Park Ice Rink. The event has been planned to offer a safe, fun and no-cost alternative to trick-or-treating door to door. The event is for children 12 years of age and under. Individuals over 12 years of age must be accompanied by a child, and children under 6 years must be accompanied by a parent or an adult.

The evening will feature games, a haunted house, refreshments, two costume judging contests (at 6:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.), and musical entertainment by Take 2. There will be two grand prize winners who will receive bicycles donated by the Jamestown Cycle Shop.

This year’s Fun Fest is presented free of charge through the generosity of the City of Jamestown and various community sponsors.

Special thanks go to students from Jamestown High School Key Club and Jamestown High School National Honor Society who helped fill candy bags. Other volunteers and members of the City’s Parks, Recreation & Conservation Commission will also be adding their support to the event.

For more information about the Halloween Fun Fest, contact Julia Ciesla-Hanley at (716) 483-7523 or visit the City’s website at www.jamestownny.net.

2018 Easter Egg Hunt jpg (left to right): Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley, Parks Manager John Williams, Sertoma Club Marilyn Mills, Council President Marie Carruba, The “Easter Bunny,” Allen Park Women’s Club Carol Drake, Allen Park Women’s Club Sandy Forsberg, Parks Commissioner Russ Diethrick, Allen Park Women’s Club Sandy Gulloti, Mayor Sam Teresi, Parks Commission Chairwoman Cindy DiNapoli, Council Member Andy Liuzzo

JAMESTOWN – The City Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department has scheduled the 71st Annual Easter Egg Hunt to take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 31 at Allen Park. This free event will be held inside the Allen Park Ice Rink due to park and weather conditions.

Children will be allowed into the hunt one age group at a time, starting at 10:30 a.m. Once a group has found all the eggs hidden for their hunt, volunteers will hide the eggs for the next group. The first age group allowed in will be children 4 and under, followed by children ages 5 to 8 years, and finally children 9 to 12 years of age.

Over 3,000 eggs filled with candy will be “hidden” in the Hunt area. In addition, 33 toy prize eggs and two Gold and two Silver eggs will be hidden. The two Gold egg prizes will be bicycles donated by Sertoma Club of Jamestown and a donation in Memory of Mark Hess. The two Silver egg prizes are also donations in Memory of Mark Hess. The Child Advocacy Program is donating 3 stuffed animals to be given away as prizes as well. The Easter Bunny will arrive by fire truck to kick off the event.

Also assisting in the sponsorship of the Hunt is the Sertoma Club of Jamestown, Allen Park Women’s Club, Kendall Club, Jamestown Bowling Company, McDonald’s, Media One Group, and Esquire Cleaners. Girl Scout Troop 20029 helped fill all 3,000 eggs with candy.

All children 12 years of age and under are invited to attend. For more information, contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 483-7523.

JAMESTOWN – The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention will be honored as the spotlight charity by the Warrin’ Wrecking Dolls roller derby team at their upcoming bout on Saturday, Aug. 5 as they continue to break down stigma and raise suicide prevention awareness.

Last year the Wrecking Dolls rattled some cages by rolling away with an undefeated inaugural season, and this year they hope to shake things up for a different reason.

The Warrin’ Wrecking Dolls, or “Dolls” to their fans and supporters, have changed the commonly named trackside seating from “Suicide Seating” to “The Wrecking Zone.”

In roller derby, trackside seating is considered some of the best seats in the house. It was cheekily coined “Suicide Seating” as it would be considered “suicide” to sit there. With no barriers or other safeguards to obscure the view, fans brave enough to sit in trackside seating are rewarded with a sensory-stimulating experience; hearing every grunt from each hit delivered, the chatter of the teams communicating on the track, the blare of the whistles, the breeze left by players as they whip by, and sometimes a derby skater in their lap.

Why should something as exciting and thrilling as front row seats at a roller derby bout be linked to something as negative and heartbreaking as suicide?

“It doesn’t,” said President and Founder of the Warrin’ Wrecking Dolls Amylynn Delgado, known on the rink as “Goblynn.” “What’s nice is, if something does not seem right, we have the ability to change it. The name Suicide Seating somehow glamorizes suicide, as if it is something daring and cool to do and this isn’t the type of message we wanted to support.”

Warrin’ Wrecking Dolls

The decision to change the name came about at the end of last season.

Jill Arrance, known as “Peace of This,” and Head of the Warrin’ Wrecking Dolls Community Outreach, put the wheels of change in motion. Having personally been touched by suicide, she found the term “Suicide Seating” to be offensive and a painful reminder of her lost loved ones.

When asked what this name change meant to her, Arrance said, “I know my family will appreciate the change because they have attended my roller derby bouts and felt this sadness as well. I cannot express enough how touched I am, with the league’s support, that we were able to change this common terminology.”

The league soon recognized that many of its members had been affected by suicide and a change needed to be made. Jami Kramer, also known as “Ariel Attack,” said she hopes this change will influence other leagues to do the same.

“We want derby to be an escape not a sore reminder. They can show friends and fans the importance of being there for others, you never know what someone is feeling inside. By simply changing this name, we may remove a painful trigger.”

Victoria Patti, Coordinator of The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention said she is pleased the Dolls have taken steps to raise awareness around suicide prevention.

“We are so thankful that The Warrin’ Wrecking Dolls reached out to us and expressed their interest in supporting the cause, we want communities to think outside the box and have an increased understanding in how people struggle, and what may be a trigger. The idea of changing ‘Suicide Seating’ to ‘The Wrecking Zone’ is a perfect example of this.” Patti added, “This will be a new way for us to provide outreach to those in the community who may need help that we haven’t yet had a chance to interact with. We look forward to providing local resources, giveaways, and overall support at the Allen Park roller derby bout in August.”

The bout starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Allen Park Ice Rink in Jamestown where the Dolls will be battling Central Ohio Roller Derby and a special Lucy and Desi costume contest will be held at halftime.

Please visit www.WarrinWreckingDolls.com or the league’s Facebook page for further information.

For information or support regarding suicide prevention, please contact The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention at 716-753-4519 or email Victoria Patti at pattiv@co.chautauqua.ny.us

Among the items discussed was health insurance – including a program that could save money on prescriptions as well as a wellness program that could reduce the cost of insurance. The task force is also considering consolidating fleet management between the city DPW and Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, as well as several other recommendations pertaining to contingency budgeting, debt service and janitorial services.

The task force also discussed the Allen Park Ice Rink, weighing the cost of continuing to operate the facility on a limited basis vs. the demolition of the facility. Officials say that they’ve tried to find increased usage for the building but so far they’ve had little luck. In addition, it is in need of significant repair that could cost as much as $1,000,000.

Despite the discussion regarding the ice rink, the task force stopped short of finalizing any recommendation on how it should be handled in the future.

At the start of this year, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi created the task force – which is comprised of both city and BPU officials – to review and evaluate 35 ideas suggested as cost-saving measures for city government from members of the BPU, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier.

It will meet again Monday, July 13, and will continue to go through the list. Eventually, a report will be put together and presented to the mayor and city officials for their consideration.

Pictured Left to Right: Parks Manager John Williams, Mayor Sam Teresi, Easter Bunny, Sertoma Club’s Cosmo DeMaio, Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley

JAMESTOWN – Due to weather and park conditions, the City of Jamestown’s 68th Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be moved inside the Allen Park Ice Rink on Saturday, April 4th. This free event is for children age 12 and under.

There is a significant difference in the way the children will be allowed into the hunt. The age groups will remain the same, but only one group will be allowed inside the Ice Rink at a time starting at 10:30 a.m. Once a group has found all the eggs hidden for their hunt, volunteers will hide the eggs for the next group.

The first age group allowed in will be children 4 and under, followed by children ages 5 to 8 years, and finally children 9 to 12 years of age.

Over 1,000 eggs will be “hidden” in the Hunt area along with over 5,000 pieces of wrapped candy. Two Gold and two Silver eggs that are sponsored through a donation in memoriam of Mark Hess will be hidden in addition to 30 other prize eggs. The Easter Bunny will arrive by fire truck to kick off the event.

For more information, contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 483-7523.

The bout will take place at Allen Park Ice Rink and feature the Babes battling the Niagara Roller Girls, from Niagara Falls, Ont.

If you find your lack of tickets disturbing, $8 pre-sale tickets are available at Labyrinth Press Company (12 E. 4th St., Jamestown NY), Sharp’s Russell Roller Rink (7385 Market St., Russell PA), or can be purchased from your favorite derby girl! $10 tickets will be available at the door the night of the bouth.

The Babes will also be holding a drawing, and matching funds to donate to the Reg Lenna Civic Center’s Digital Projector Fund.

The evening will feature games, a haunted house, refreshments, two costume judging contests and musical entertainment by Emerald City. There will be two grand-prize winners who will receive bicycles donated by Jamestown Cycle Shop.

TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS

• Jamestown: 6 to 8 p.m.
• Celoron: 5 to 8 p.m.
• Lakewood: 6 to 8 p.m.
• Falconer: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
• Frewsburg: 6 to 8 p.m.
• Sinclairville: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Kennedy: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Ellington: 5 to 7 p.m.
  Panama: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Sherman: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Mayville: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Westfield: 6 to 8 p.m.
• Ripley: 6 to 8 p.m.
• Findley Lake: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Fredonia: 5 to 8 p.m.