Last month the idea of installing a splash pad and renaming the park were both introduced at the August 19 Jamestown City Council Work Session. During the meeting city resident Wanda Cooper spoke to city officials about changing the name of the park to honor the late Isabelle Jackson and Lula and Vivian Taylor. She said the name of the new park would be Jackson Taylor Park.

During the same meeting, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi made a pitch to the City Council saying Jamestown could open a splash pad similar to the one in Dunkirk if it is able to secure funding to pay for the project.

Tuesday’s commission meeting will take place at 5 p.m. in the DPW Conference Room “A,” 4th floor, City Hall and is open to the public.

The Jamestown City Council held its September voting session Monday night on-location at Chadakoin Park.

JAMESTOWN – In spite of the cool temperatures and noticeable winds the Jamestown City Council held its September voting session outdoors at Chadakoin Park on Monday night.

Among the items that came up, Shawn Shilling – the president of Jamestown Professional Firefighters Local 137 – spoke to the council to draw attention to two issues of concern with local firefighters. One was the ticketing of vehicles parked downtown belonging to firefighters when they are on an emergency call. He also voiced concerns about the conditions at the downtown fire station (Fire Station 1) since a leak developed in the summer due to construction work on its roof. The construction work is part of the $1.66 million Tracy Plaza Phase 2 construction project.

Also during the meeting, a resident on Eagle St. appeared and voiced concern about a nuisance property that neighbors wanted demolished. The concerns included a man living in a tent on the property who claimed he had purchased it for $1 while in jail from another inmate. The property was scheduled for demolition until last week, when city councilman Andrew Liuzzo requested a halt to demolition on behalf of the purported owner.

Local landlord’s association president Harold Whitford thanked the Jamestown City Council and mayor Sam Teresi for the appointment of a new constable on Monday nigh at Chadakoin Park.

And a resident from the Chadakoin Park neighborhood raised concerns about tractor trailers that deliver to a nearby parts store. The trucks have reportedly been making delivers and leaving their trucks running during overnight hours, affecting the 11th street residents who live next to our near the store.

Among the items that were voted on was the unanimous approval of an appointment of a new constable to fill a full a vacant opening. Local landlords have been publicly requesting the appointment since the Spring. The council also approved  a change order for one of the contractors involved in the Tracy Plaza Phase 2 construction project, though councilman Liuzzo voted against it, saying that because of the leak problems in the fire station and the Police Station a year earlier, he didn’t feel the company – Greenman-Pederson – should be paid any more money. The amount was $2,850 for the Tracy Plaza Phase 2 Renovations and Master Plan Design contract.

The outdoor meeting was scheduled as an outreach effort by the council, to hold meetings in specific areas of the city so and give residents in those neighborhoods a chance to participate without having to go to city hall. Council President Marie Karrubba apologized for the weather, noting the forecast had called for fairly pleasant condition until 9 p.m., but the cool weather arrived a bit earlier than expected.  The weather didn’t prevent about a dozen community members from attending, along with nearly a dozen people playing games of pickup in the nearby basketball courts.

More detail on Monday’s meeeting during the WRFA Tuesday Morning News Update at 7, 8, and 9 a.m.

The Jamestown City Council during its meeting on Aug. 28, 2018

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown City Council will hold its September voting session at a special location and time.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24 at the Chadakoin Park pavilion, just off of 10^th street.

Among the items to be acted on is an extension of the CARTS bus hub on Pine Street until mid-October.

The meeting is open to the public. A work session meeting will be held prior at 6 p.m. People driving to the meeting can use 10th and 11th streets to find parking.

A coyote walking through a field (image from NY DEC)

JAMESTOWN – A member of the Jamestown City Council is reminding residents to be vigilant against coyotes within the city limits.

During Monday night’s city council work session, Councilwoman Maria Jones – who also chairs the council’s Public Safety committee – said a city resident had recently shared details about a coyote sightings in Chadakoin Park, including an incident where the wild animals stalked and eventually took down a deer that was also in the area.

“They saw a deer running out and three coyotes running out behind it. Two of them flanked the deer and the third one circled in front and turned the deer around so it would go back to where it came from. It went out of sight for a minute or two, and then came blasting out of the woods again and there were three more coyotes behind it. In all they took this deer down in about five minutes in the park, and people stood there and watched this play out, like they were watching Animal Planet or something. Of course, the coyotes dragged it off for dinner, I guess. It was pretty spectacular to hear that,” Jones said.

Councilwoman Jones also shared another story of a resident on 18^th street who let their small dog out one evening to relieve itself. The owner heard a yelp and the dog never came back, leading the owner to suspect a coyote had made off with their pet.

“So the concern is obvious. Now that we have so many deer in the city, more coyotes are coming in, I suppose, to feed on them,” Jones said.

The issues of coyotes was also discussed in July 2017 by the city council and at that time, Jamestown police chief Harry Snellings said at that time that there isn’t much the police can do to prevent Coyotes from coming into neighborhoods, but said the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is aware.

City Councilman Andrew Liuzzo told his colleagues that an increased number of deer permits will be issued by the DEC this upcoming hunting season and perhaps that will help control or reduce the local deer population, which in turn could help keep the local coyote population in check.

DEC INFORMATION ON COYOTES

An Eastern coyote radio-collared by
researchers at DEC and SUNY ESF

According to the DEC, the type of coyote found in our area is the eastern coyote, which is firmly established in New York.

Eastern coyotes look similar to German shepherd dogs, yet are half the weight. Coyotes have long, thick fur. Their tails are full and bushy, usually carried pointing down. Ears are large, erect, and pointed. They are 4 to 5 feet in length from nose to tail and weigh 35 to 45 pounds.

The Eastern Coyote lives in New York as an integral part of our ecosystems. People and coyotes can usually coexist if the natural fear of people that coyotes have is maintained. Pets and young children are typically most at risk.

Recommendations

Below are steps you should take to reduce and prevent coyote problems from occurring. For additional information see our wildlife damage control page.

• Do not feed coyotes and discourage others from doing so (also see “Feeding Wildlife: a wrong choice“).
• Unintentional food sources attract coyotes and other wildlife and increase risks to people and pets. To reduce risks:
  • Do not feed pets outside.
  • Make any garbage inaccessible to coyotes and other animals.
  • Eliminate availability of bird seed. Concentrations of birds and rodents that come to feeders can attract coyotes. If you see a coyote near your birdfeeder, clean up waste seed and spillage to remove the attractant.
• Do not allow coyotes to approach people or pets.
• Teach children to appreciate coyotes from a distance.
• If you see a coyote, be aggressive in your behavior – stand tall and hold arms out to look large. If a coyote lingers for too long, then make loud noises, wave your arms, throw sticks and stones.
• Do not allow pets to run free. Supervise all outdoor pets to keep them safe from coyotes and other wildlife, especially at sunset and at night.
• Regulated hunting and trapping increases the “fear” coyotes have towards people.
• Fencing your yard may deter coyotes. The fence should be tight to the ground, preferably extending six inches below ground level, and taller than 4 feet.
• Remove brush and tall grass from around your property to reduce protective cover for coyotes. Coyotes are typically secretive and like areas where they can hide. See “Tips to Eliminate Wildlife Conflicts” for more information.
• Contact your local police department and NYSDEC regional office for assistance if you notice that coyotes are exhibiting “bold” behaviors and have little or no fear of people.
• Ask your neighbors to follow these same steps.

Coyotes and People

Coyotes provide many benefits to New Yorkers through observation, photography, hunting, and trapping; however, not all interactions are positive. While most coyotes avoid interacting with people, some coyotes in suburbia become emboldened and appear to have lost their fear of people. This can result in a dangerous situation. A coyote that does not flee from people should be considered dangerous. Coyotes in residential areas can be attracted to garbage, pet food, and other human-created sources of food. Coyotes can associate people with these food attractants. In addition, in some cases human behavior has changed to be non-threatening to coyotes (running into your home after seeing a coyote is behaving like prey). In short, people may unintentionally attract coyotes with food and people may behave like prey. Add to the mix people intentionally feeding coyotes and the potential for a coyote attack becomes very real.

Children are at greatest risk of being injured by coyotes. If a coyote has been observed repeatedly near an area where children frequent, be watchful for coyotes and do not let a coyote approach anyone. Follow the steps outlined above.

Potential does exist for coyote attacks in New York. However, a little perspective may be in order. On average, 650 people are hospitalized and one person killed by dogs each year in New York State. Nationwide, only a handful of coyote attacks occur yearly. Nevertheless, these conflicts are bad for people, pets, and coyotes.

Coyotes and Pets

Of great concern to many people is the interaction of coyotes with cats or dogs. Do coyotes kill cats? Absolutely, but so do foxes, dogs, bobcats, vehicles, and even great horned owls. Cat owners need to be aware that cats allowed to roam free are at risk from many different factors. To protect your cat, keep it indoors, or allow it outside only under supervision. Coyotes in some areas appear to become “specialists” at catching and killing cats.

Do dog owners need to be concerned about coyotes? The answer is maybe. Conflicts between dogs and coyotes can happen any time of the year, but are more likely in the months of March and April. It is during this time that coyotes are setting up their denning areas for the soon-to-arrive pups. Coyotes become exceptionally territorial around these den sites in an attempt to create a safe place for their young. In general, coyotes view other canines (dogs) as a threat. Essentially it comes down to a territorial dispute between your dog and the coyote. Both believe that your yard is their territory.

Owners of large and medium sized dogs have less to worry about, but should still take precautions. Coyotes, with an average weight of 40 lbs., know they are overmatched by large dogs and will yield part of their territory (your yard) to the dog. A confrontation may occur between a mid-sized dog and a coyote. Such confrontations, however, usually do not involve physical contact between the two animals, but coyotes may challenge or chase mid-sized dogs.

Owners of small dogs have cause for concern. Small dogs are of greatest risk of being harmed or killed by coyotes. Small dogs are at risk when left unattended in backyards at night, and should be supervised by owners. Coyotes have attacked and killed small dogs unattended in backyards. Coyotes may approach small dogs along streets at night near natural areas, even in the presence of dog owners. Be alert of your surroundings and take precautions such as carrying a flashlight or a walking stick to deter coyotes. While rather uncommon, people that have picked up their small dog to protect them from coyotes have been injured (scratched or bitten) by coyotes.

Coyotes and Livestock

Problems with coyotes and livestock do occur in New York. Most problems involve sheep or free ranging chickens and ducks. Most problems can be avoided with proper husbandry techniques. It is much easier to prevent depredation from occurring than it is to stop it once it starts. Contact your Regional DEC Wildlife Office or the USDA APHIS – Wildlife Services, 1930 Route 9, Castleton NY 12033, Phone (518) 477-4837 or visit their web site for more information (see off-site link in right-hand column).

Please see “Nuisance Species” for helpful links for preventing or alleviating conflicts between people and coyotes or other wildlife, or to find a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO).

Community members and city officials gather on Aug. 14 to unveil the design for the new playground at Chadakoin Park and to urge the community to volunteer some time to help build the park on Saturday, Aug. 25.

JAMESTOWN – Volunteers are needed to help build a new playground at Jamestown’s Chadakoin Park on Saturday, Aug. 25.

Volunteers from the community will join city workers and representatives from KaBOOM! on Aug. 25 to transform an empty site into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art playground.

The entire process is expected to take just six hours, as long as 300+ volunteers show up to help out.

Chadakoin Park is heavily used by the neighborhood for family events, a gospel festival, Juneteenth Festivals and other gatherings.

The new playground is based off of drawings from local children.

In 1997, a community group raised the funds and brought together volunteers to build the current playground at Chadakoin Park. With that playground structure reaching the end of its life, the community group came together again over the last few years to start raising funds to replace that structure.

Funding for the $250,000 project comes from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation as well as local fundraising efforts by various groups on the city’s north side.

In June, kids from the surrounding community came together to draw their dream playground. The playground is based off their drawings and will provide more than 600 kids in Jamestown with a great, safe place to play.

Also, a bike path located on the west border of Chadakoin Park that’s part of the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk that opened this summer provides a link to the new playground for even more residents and visitors.

Anyone interested in helping to build the playground is asked to show up on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 8:30 a.m.  Food and refreshments will be made available for all who volunteer their time.

This is the second playground to be built as part of a broader effort led by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Built to Play initiative intended to give kids in Western New York and Southeast Michigan more opportunities for free play.

Through the creation of unique playgrounds and the Play Everywhere Challenge this year, the Built to Play initiative will create more than 20 new play spaces for kids that reach thousands of kids in Western New York and Southeast Michigan.

WHEN: Saturday, August 25

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Kick-off ceremony
• 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Best viewing of playground construction
• 1 to 2:30 p.m. Final construction phase
• 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony (Times approximate)

WHERE: Chadakoin Park
10th and Washington Streets
Jamestown, NY 14701

WHO: Hundreds of community volunteers

A photo from Google Images showing the currently wooden playground equipment in place at Chadakoin Park.

JAMESTOWN – On Monday night the Jameson City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a letter of intent to enter a $150,000 grant agreement with KaBoom! Inc. for the purpose of funding construction of a new playground in Chadakoin Park.

The effort to upgrade the playground equipment has been underway for a couple years now with councilwoman Vicki James (D-Ward III) helping to spearhead the effort. She said she new equipment is needed at the park.

Chadakoin Park has the last wooden playground in the city of Jamestown. It has been grandfathered in and I believe the grandfather clause will expire in a year or two, so [the new playground] will be right on time,” James said.

James said the grant hasn’t been approved yet, but she’s hopeful Kaboom! Inc. will sign off on it.

“We had a 90-minute interview with them, probably two or three weeks ago, and everything looks really good. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and, like I said, we’ve got the lord on our side,” James said, referring to the widespread community support for the project that includes pastors from two local churches.

James also thanked the numerous individuals who’ve helped with the effort to secure the funding, including city Parks and Recreation staff members John Williams and Julia Ciesla-Hanley.

Kaboom! Inc. is a national foundation to help communities pay for playgrounds across the country. If the grant is approved, James said the city would have to pick up the local share of about $10,000, which is being raised through fundraising efforts, with about $8,000 already raised.

The city council will act on giving approval to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency to acquire a long-time dilapidated property on Lakeview Ave.

Last week, city development director Vince DeJoy and attorney Ben Haskin said JURA is looking to acquire the property, located at 402 Lakeview Ave.,in order to help see it renovated into an owner-occupied home.

The house, which has been abandoned for almost five years, will be acquired by JURA through a new state tax law that allows zombie houses to be transferred to home municipalities when certain criteria is met. Once the city owns the property, requests for proposals will then be sent out to potential developers to purchase, rehab and either live in it or sell it.

Potential developers will be able to use the city’s new Local Property Tax Abatement Incentive for redeveloping vacant and condemned properties, as well as historic tax credits, to help restore the house.

Among the other items being voted on is the application for a grant to fund new playground equipment for Chadakoin Park on the city’s north side. The costs associated with the new playground equipment is projected to be around $200,000.

The council will also vote to accept a grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for $136,000 for the West Second Street public piazza project in front of the National Comedy Center. The $700,000 project will provide a pedestrian-friendly area as motor vehicle traffic through the street being blocked off. The closure and use is expected to take place only during special events and activities during certain times of the year.

Monday’s meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the city council chambers of city hall and is open to the public.

A promotional image of Old South, a documentary film about community, racial divides, and a common theme that helps to pull opposing groups together.

JAMESTOWN, NY – Jamestown’s 2015 Juneteenth Celebration begins Friday and wraps up on Sunday with a variety of events and activities set to take place.

Among the activities is the presentation of the documentary “Old South” on Saturday night, June 20 at Chadakoin Park on the north side of town.

“Old South” is a by documentary filmmaker Danielle Beverly and focuses on a community in Georgia that brought two racially diverse groups – a longstanding black neighborhood and an all-white fraternity from the University of Georgia – together through a series of community garden projects, much like community gardens found throughout the City of Jamestown.

Beverly is an award-winning independent filmmaker, professor, and freelance artist who typically works as a one-person crew. During a recent interview with WRFA, Beverly explained that even though the film focuses on a situation in Georgia, it actually focuses on themes that can be found in nearly every community across the united states.

Filmmaker Danielle Beverly will show her film Old South in Jamestown at Chadakoin Park on June 20, 2015 as part of the city’s Juneteenth Celebration.

“It’s a film I shot over three years in Athens, Ga and takes place on one block. And while it is a southern story, it actually has a lot of things in it that can resonate with a lot of American communities. It really looks at the underlying racial dynamics of the community which, unfortunately, resonates in other communities as well,” Beverly Explained.

“Old South” will be featured at Chadakoin Park on June 20 at 8:30 pm in the pavilion at the corner of 11th and Lafayette Streets. It is free and open to the public. In addition to the film being shown, Beverly will also be in attendance for a meet-and-greet and to answer questions from the audience.

The film is being presented through a collaborative effort of the Jamestown Juneteenth Committee and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, with support from the College Gardens at JCC, NYS Council for the Arts, and Beverly’s film company, Petunia Productions.

A rain location for the movie will be inside the Lillian Ney Renaissance Center at 119-121 W. Third Street.

Several Juneteenth events are scheduled to take place at Chadakoin Park.

JAMESTOWN – Community members in Jamestown will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the end of slavery this weekend with the annual Jamestown Juneteenth Celebration, taking place from Friday through Sunday at various locations in the city.

The celebration will kick-off Friday at 6 p.m. with the King & Queen Dance at the Lillian V. Ney Renaissance Center. The dance is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

On Saturday, the Pride Parade will start at 10 a.m. along seventh street, with the opening Juneteenth ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. at Chadakoin Park. The day will also feature a three-on-three basketball tournament, food and craft vendors, and a showing of the documentary film ‘Old South” at 8:30 p.m.

On Sunday, a continental breakfast will start at 8 a.m. and will be followed by Worship in the Park at 9 a.m. The basketball tournament and vendors will resume at 11 a.m. The Carolyn Louise Pennamon-Faison Gospel Festival will be at 3 p.m.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers led by Union General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, TX with news that the war had ended and that all slaves had been set free.

Jamestown City Councilman Rev. Alfonso Pagan announced Monday during the council’s monthly voting session that Warren will not be expanding his Washington St. business by way of using a portion of Lafayette St. the decision comes after numerous north side resident voiced their concern over the expansion, saying it would encroach on their use of Chadakoin Park and create a possible public safety issue by limiting access to the park.

City development director Vince DeJoys says that while Warren will not be expanding his business onto the abandoned section of Lafayette St – which is between 10^th and 11^th streets and runs parallel with Washington St – the dealership owner will be looking at other options for expansion..

“He is looking for other alternatives,” DeJoy said. “He sent an email that basically outlines his position – basically that out of respect for the concerns expressed by the neighborhood that he’s withdrawing [the plan]. He will eventually find another way of expanding his operation.”

DeJoy added that his department will continue to work with Warren to help identify other possible options for his expansion effort.

More than two dozen residents – primarily from the north side – attended both the January and February city council meetings to voice their concern over the expansion project. Councilman Pagan was working on holding a public meeting with the residents to provide more details on the expansion plan and that meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday. But now that the plan has been scrapped, the meeting has been cancelled.

Jamestown City Council President Greg Rabb said that the decision to withdraw the expansion plan was a good example of community-in-action.

“I think he heard loud and clear from the community, as did we, that they didn’t want him to do it. That they would hope that he would stay and expand his business, but that he would find another way to do it,” Rabb said. “I think it’s good for everybody involved. I think that Mr. Warren will hopefully still invest in the city and the neighbors will still have access to the park. I like that fact that all those folks came out two meetings in a row and talked to us to tell us what to do, and I think we all listened.”