Chautauqua Safety Village Executive Director Jessica Dayton and Jamestown Fire Prevention Officer Rob Smith

The Chautauqua Safety Village and the Jamestown Fire Department have received a $2,000 grant to help give away smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to county residents.

The money is coming from the Lake Shore Savings Bank Community Reinvestment Fund and will be used to purchase the alarms. The Jamestown Fire Department will distribute alarms to city residents with those living outside receiving their’s from the Chautauqua Safety Village.

Jamestown Fire Department Fire Prevention Officer Rob Smith said since December 2020, 138 smoke alarms and 16 carbon monoxide alarms have been distributed to 88 city residents.

To receive a free smoke and carbon monoxide alarm for your home, city residents may contact the Jamestown Fire Department at (716) 483-7597. Those who live outside the city may contact the Chautauqua Safety Village at (716) 338-0170.

The event will take place from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Chautauqua Safety Vilage on Route 394 in Ashville. It’ll feature pictures with Santa, cookie decorating, a stationary Christmas Parade, make a craft, and Whoville-themed decorated village.

Admission is $5 per person, with children 2 and under free. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Jamestown City Council

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said CSEA represents clerical staff in city hall, which is the lowest of the salaried units, “In addition, it does raise the healthcare wages for this unit up to 21% by the end of the contract. It also increases insurance deductibles for each member, both for individual and family as well as prescription co-pays, which brings this unit in line with our many others.”

This is the first of six contracts that are up for renewal to be passed this year. Sundquist indicated his staff is trying to get contracts approved with the other five unions before the end of 2021.

Council also voted to contract with Stark Tech Group for $918,173 to illuminate the Washington and South Main Street bridges and the BPU Coal Silo. Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said the project originally had $325,000 allocated to it, but when it went out to bid, the funds weren’t enough.

She said the state allowed the city to reallocate Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds for a train project that wasn’t ready to go toward the illumination project, “The solution was, because of the time frame we needed to spend the DRI funds within, to reallocate the $670,000 that was set aside for that project into the Riverwalk Experience Project which includes the illumination, some kayak launches, and a safety boom at the Warner Dam.”

Surdyk said work will begin as soon as materials are available and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Other items passed by City Council last night included a resolution to allow Medicare-eligible city retirees to voluntarily move to a Medicare Advantage plan. Council Member at Large Jeff Russell said the potential savings to the city could be up to five-figures a year.

And a $36,680 grant from FEMA for fire prevention and safety training was passed. The Jamestown Fire Department and Chautauqua Children’s Safety Village will use the funds to provide more public education regarding fire safety including an ad campaign to promote fire safety in homes and businesses.

Jamestown City Council

After a presentation at last Monday’s work session, the proposed resolution was amended to only allow 8 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.

Council Member at Large Jeff Russell had suggested to Council member Tom Nelson that maybe the program could be limited to Ward 6, since most of the deer complaints had come from that Ward. Ward 5 Council member Grant Olson said he’d welcome deer hunting in his ward as well.

Under the resolution, hunters would be allowed to take down 4 antler-less deer between the hours of sunrise and sunset, seven days a week, between November 1st and December 31st.

Also under new business, Council will vote on a contract with the Civil Service Employees Association, or CSEA. The agreement runs from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.

Council vote on a resolution to contract with Stark Tech Group for $918-thousand-173 dollars to illuminate the Washington and South Main Street bridges and the BPU Coal Silo. Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds will be used for the project.

Other resolutions on the docket include an agreement to allow Medicare-eligible city retirees to voluntarily move to a Medicare Advantage plan. Council Member at Large Jeff Russell said the potential savings to the city could be up to five-figures a year.

And a $36,680 grant from FEMA for fire prevention and safety training will be voted on. The grant will allow children from around the county to be educated on fire safety and that free smoke alarms will be provided to children as well. The grant allows for an ad campaign in conjunction with the Chautauqua Children’s Safety Village to promote the classes, fire prevention and safety more broadly.

Parks Manager John Williams, Sertoma Club Member Roger Edborg, Mayor Samuel Teresi, Allen Park Women’s Club Member Sandy Forsberg, The Easter Bunny, Allen Park Women’s Club Member Carol Winterburn, Parks Commission Chairwoman Cindy DiNapoli, Allen Park Women’s Club Member Audene Jarosz, Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley

Easter is this weekend and several local communities have Easter Egg Hunts and other events scheduled to take place.

JAMESTOWN

The City of Jamestown Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department has scheduled the 70th Annual Easter Egg Hunt to take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Allen Park.

The free event will be held in the upper level of the park where the playgrounds are located. That area will then be divided into three separate age groups.

Over 3,000 eggs filled with candy will be “hidden” in the Hunt area. In addition, 36 toy prize eggs and two Gold and two Silver eggs will be hidden.  The Silver and Gold egg prizes are sponsored through a donation in memoriam of Mark Hess. The Child Advocacy Program is donating 6 stuffed animals to be given away as prizes as well. The Easter Bunny will arrive by fire truck to kick off the event.

There is a chance for rain in the forecast, and an announcement will be made by 9 a.m., Saturday if inclement weather necessitates changing the location to inside the former Allen Park Ice Rink.

The location change announcement will be posted to the city website at www.jamestownny.net, as well as the Parks & Rec Facebook and Twitter pages.

LAKEWOOD

An Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the Chautauqua Mall starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Children divided into four age groups: 0-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. The event is part of the Autism Awareness Event coordinated by the mall and The Resource Center, which is taking place from 10 a.m. to noon.

CELORON

The Village of Celoron will hold its annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday in the Lucille Ball Memorial Park.  One bike will be given away in each of the four age categories.

Registration begins at 9 a.m.  The Easter Bunny will arrive on a Celoron Hose Company No. 1 Fire Truck at 9:30 a.m.  The Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 10. a.m.  A rain date has been scheduled for April 22.

ASHVILLE

The Chautauqua Children’s Safety Education Village is hosting its 7th Annual Easter Carnival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Safety Village, located at 2695 Rt 394 in Ashville (next to BOCES).

The Easter Carnival and the Touch-A-Truck events will be held Saturday from 10am to 1pm at the Safety Village, located at 2695 Route 394 in Ashville (next to BOCES).

The Easter Carnival is an annual event hosted by the Children’s Safety Village that provides games, food, a Chinese auction, train rides, face painting, pictures with the Easter Bunny and more.

The Easter parade starts at noon with prizes for the best dressed. All proceeds made from the Carnival go directly to supporting the important fire, traffic and bike safety classes held at the Safety Village for children in our community.

Touch-A-Truck allows organizations and industries to showcase their unique vehicles and come together to let kids investigate them.

This special afternoon will allow people of all ages to be “up close and personal” with vehicles they may not have had a chance to see before, ranging from specialty vehicles, trucks of all sizes and uses and farm equipment.

For more information on the event, call 716-499-8138.

Congressman Brian Higgins

As we welcome one representative in Congress, we say goodbye to another. Congressman Brian Higgins – the Democrat from South Buffalo who’s represented Chautauqua County since winning election in 2004 – took time out Thursday to thank the residents of the County for the opportunity to represent them in Congress.

Higgins said that it is difficult to express in words the fondness he has for Chautauqua County and how he will miss representing the good people in the 27 towns, 15 villages and 2 cities that stretch across that region.

Higgins also pledged to continue to work with Chautauqua County’s new representative, Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning), on matters critical to the region.

Congressman Higgins also outlined the accomplishments he helped to deliver to Chautauqua County during his eight years of serving the region:

• Tourism/Economic Development:
  – Nearly $300,000 toward construction of the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator
  – $500,000 to restore and improve Bemus-Stow Ferry landings
  – Significant federal support toward the recently opened $8.5 million project transforming the historic Erie Lackawanna Train Depot in Jamestown

• Outreach/Community Development:
  – More than 840 Congress on Your Corner events in Chautauqua County alone including specialized events for local veterans and small businesses
  – Over $310,000 toward rehabilitation of the Sinclairville Senior Center for improvements to the kitchen which facilitates Meals on Wheels and changes to make the facility handicap accessible

• Transportation/Infrastructure:
  – $17 million federal investment in reconstruction of the Washington Street Bridge in Jamestown
  – Over $10.5 million toward improvements to the Dunkirk and Jamestown Airports

• Public Safety:
  – Over $1.8 million for Construction of & Improvements to Children’s Safety Village
  – Over $4 million in federal fire grants to fire departments in Chautauqua County including funding toward the purchase of a new truck at the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department

• Health:
  – Close to $400,000 to provide state-of-the-art equipment and training for nursing students attending Jamestown Community College
  – More than $26 million to various WNY partners, including Chautauqua County Health Network, working to expand and improve electronic medical records at local doctors’ offices and hospitals
  – Federal grant to provide a new “S-miles to Go” van, which serves the dental needs of elementary school children in Chautauqua County.

Congressman Higgins most recent visit to the site was on January 6, 2012, when he joined Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace for a tour and an update on programming and activities. 

“We are thrilled to have received this funding,” added Sheriff Gerace.  “It will assist the Safety Village with providing life-saving education to our children. I speak for our entire board of directors in thanking Congressman Higgins for his support to the CCSEV and his desire to help keep our children safe. The site also received $1.76 million in funding for construction through the federal Recovery Act.

Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division coat of arms

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards is urging residents to show their support for the men and women who have served our Country tomorrow morning. Edwards says 40 soldiers from Fort Drum’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) will arrive in Chautauqua County to thank residents and give back to the community that supported them through letters, hundreds of care packages, thoughts, and prayers during their time overseas.

The soldiers, who returned to the United States on March 17, 2012, spent a year in Afghanistan near Kandahar City working to build roads, set up clinics, strengthen local government, and open schools.

The 40 soldiers of unit Alpha Company 710th BSB, led by Second Lieutenant Vincent Fye, a 2007 graduate from Panama Central School, are expected to arrive around 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 7 and will be escorted by fire trucks and police cars from Hogan’s Hut to the Chautauqua Children’s Safety Education Village in Ashville, where they will be working with students from Dunkirk School 5 and Vo Tech students from BOCES.

Any residents who are interested in donating yellow ribbon for the event or organizing a group to line the route please contact the County Executive’s Office at (716) 753-4211.

Nana the Saint Bernard is credited with saving her family’s life during a fire that took place earlier this year. Sadly, Nana – along with the family cat – perished during the incident. On Monday, May 14 the Children’s Safety Village plans to commemorate Nana for her action. (submitted photo)

“Nana,” a 2yr old St. Bernard, lost her life in a tragic fire while saving the lives of her owners. On January 17th, 2012, Menash Petscher was awakened at 12:30 am by Nana relentlessly licking his face, something she had never done before. As he would soon find out, she was alerting him that there was a fire in the Petscher family’s two-story home. Menash managed to get to his wife and daughters, who were sleeping upstairs and escape the growing fire.

Unfortunately, Nana and two of the Petscher’s cats did not make it out of the house. The Petscher family believes she was either trying to find her feline companion, “Gracie”, or she became confused with all of the smoke in the house and died from smoke inhalation. Her body was found when the house was torn down. Her family was filled with both immense grief and gratitude.

Three months prior to the fire, Madelyn Petscher, age 6, attended a field trip with Holy Family Catholic Academy to the Children’s Safety Village, unbeknown to her father. He recalls that one day when she came from school she insisted that they practice their escape plan and determine their meeting place in case they ever had a fire in their home. After relentless pleading, her father gave in to her insistent wishes. As a family, they talked about what they would do if there was a fire and where they would meet. Menash opened their escape ladder, which had been in its original packaging and tucked safely under their bed. He even fastened it to the bedroom window and climbed down it, something he had never done before.

Madelyn Petscher, age 6, learned about fire safety and what to do during a fire at the Children’s Safety Village. It’s believed that what she learned through the program helped her family when a fire broke out in their home. (Submitted Photo)

It was not until after the tragic fire that took the life of their hero, Nana, that Menash discovered the reason Madelyn had insisted on practicing a fire escape plan. Through a conversation with friends, Dr. Bill and Kay Toms, Menash came to the realization that Madelyn had attended a field trip to the Children’s Safety Village that particular day. There, she had the opportunity to practice, first-hand, a fire escape plan and was strongly encouraged to create one with her family when she got home from school. Thanks to her persistence, the family was prepared for the emergency which would later, devastatingly, take their home.

Officials at the Children’s Safety Village were so touched by the heroic efforts of Nana that they will be displaying a plaque with her picture and the title “A True Fire Hero.” In addition, They will display a photo of Madelyn and her family next to the plaque of Nana to commemorate Madelyn’s diligent efforts, which saved the lives of her family.

The Petscher family’s story particularly gripped the hearts of the members of the Board of the Children’s Safety Village. After 15 years of planning, followed by our official opening in 2010, the Petschers are the first example of safety village teachings at work. This single story makes all of the efforts worthwhile and officials are pleased that this family is with the community today.  They are proud of Madelyn and thrilled to have been a part of her training.

In addition, the Invisible Fence Company of Erie, Pa. will be donating a pet resuscitation kit to the Children’s Safety Village to be given to one of the local fire departments that responded to the Petscher rescue call. They first learned of Nana’s efforts after receiving her picture and story as a submission to the Chautauqua County SPCA’s Cool Cats, Hot Dogs Contest that the Invisible Fence Company was sponsoring. The Petscher family won the contest. The Invisible Fence Company’s owners and staff were so touched by this story that they wanted to make the donation of the Pet Resuscitation Kit in Nana’s honor, in the hope that it will someday save the life of a pet.

Please feel free to join officials at the Safety Village in acknowledging Nana and Madelyn and encouraging other families to follow their example.