A bookbinding class held as part of the Murray L. Bob Education Initiatives

The James Prendergast Library will present a photography class in May as part of the Murray L. Bob Community Education Initiative.

Local photographer and Infinity instructor Cathy Panebianco will lead “Artistic Photos with Just a Smartphone” at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 9 at the library. The class will offer participants an opportunity to improve cellphone photography skills by learning the basics: settings, techniques, lighting for exposure, and composition.

A smartphone is needed for the class. To register, call (716) 484-7135 Ext. 226.

The Jamestown Public Market will be at the library with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s SNAP-Ed program on May 16th from 5:00-7:00PM for “Cooking Fun with Fresh Herbs.” Attendees will learn how to grow herbs at home, identify them at the local community garden or nursery, and incorporate them in to easy and delicious meals. Participants will be able to smell, taste, and enjoy various herbs that grow well in WNY such as cilantro, sage, parsley, and basil. This program is supported in part through a grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Additional Bob programs are scheduled throughout the year. Children’s Music Studio will hold Music Exploration classes in July and August for kids ages 6 and under and their caregivers. Children will sing, dance, and explore basic instruments during these free classes.

To learn more about the Murray L. Bob Community Education Initiative and find a full list of events, visit prendergastlibrary.org/bob-programs.

Cameron Hurst

Jamestown Public Schools has announced the appointment of a new Public Relations Specialist as they also say goodbye to their longtime Communications Coordinator.

The Jamestown School Board approved the appointment of Cameron Hurst as the new Public Relations Specialist. He will take over at the end of September from current Communications Coordinator Cathy Panebianco, who is retiring.

JPS Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker recognizes retiring Communications Coordinator Cathy Panebianco (August 30, 2022)

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker thanked Panebianco for her work over the past 22 years with the district, “You have done incredible work, as you clearly know, as all these people know. But the thing they don’t know is, 10 o’clock at night, and 3 o’clock in the morning, and crazy hours at all hours of the day for events that are highly stressful and highly emotional. And you always come through and you always write great prose. And you’re always open to editing, which is really nice [crowd laughter], from my perspective, and the messages that you craft are always caring, heartfelt, and informative.”

Panebianco said there was no better place to work than Jamestown Schools and that it is a real place of joy.

Cameron Hurst is a 2016 graduate of Jamestown High School. He currently serves as a public relations specialist for the Springville-Griffith Institute and Pine Valley central school districts via Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES. Hurst received his bachelors degrees in journalism and music from St. Bonaventure University. He currently lives in Jamestown.

WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Local photographer Cathy Panebianco, who is publishing her first book entitled “Holding Time.”

“Holding Time” is a love story about family. By using her dad’s Kodak slides taken in the 1950s and 60s and physically holding them in her home and around Jamestown, Cathy literally melded her past with her present. This might be her family’s story, but it’s really every family’s story.

The book became available for presale in January and will continue to be for sale until Feb. 16 at www.kickstarter.com/projects/holdin…me/holding-time.

The presale is an opportunity to purchase the book in advance of publication and purchase special, presale-only rewards, including the opportunity to have your family and your pet photographed by Cathy.

In addition to winning awards and participating in local and regional photography exhibits, Cathy has also been a long-time supporter of the Chautauqua County Humane Society as past president and as a volunteer by photographing the adoptable dogs to help them find their forever families.

Cathy will donate 50% of her proceeds from Holding Time to the Chautauqua County Humane Society and Infinity Visual & Performing Arts.

According to school communications coordinator Cathy Panebianco, “District buildings were placed on lockout Thursday morning at 9:55 a.m. due to an implied threat to the district. As a precautionary measure, district buildings were secured from outside visitors through the lockout.”

Panebianco also said that the police were involved with investigating the incident and the lockout was lifted a short time later.

The lock out is designed to prevent any unauthorized individuals or individuals from entering school property. In the meantime classes withing the schools continue as normal.

According to Jamestown Police, at approximately 9 a.m. Washington Middle School administrators received a tip from a concerned parent of a possible threat to Jamestown schools. School staff immediately notified the assigned School Resource Officer (SRO) who informed Jamestown Police Command Staff.

Specific details about the threat were not disclosed.

Police say an immediate investigation was initiated while administrators from the School Superintendent’s Office and Police Command Staff coordinated safety measures. The lockout for all schools in the district was initiated until all individuals involved in the possible threat were located by police. Within an hour of the lockout the individuals were in police custody.

The investigation is ongoing with Juvenile Detectives and the Middle School SRO from the Jamestown Police Department. Due to the age of the individuals involved with the threats the identities of all involved are being withheld.

“As the Jamestown Public Schools’ number one priority is the safety of our students and staff, we will always err on the side of caution in any situation,” Panebianco said.