Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s Twan Leenders presents to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation board (March 15, 2023)

The Jamestown Local Development Corporation board has approved over $360,000 toward Chadakoin River bank stabilization and debris removal.

Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Conservation Director Twan Leenders presented a request for $362,925 in American Rescue Plan funding to remove debris in the Chadakoin River basin as well as do bank stabilization work on the basin’s north shore as well as the north and south shores between the Warner Dam and Main Street Bridge.

Leenders said with the city receiving funding to activate the Chadakoin River basin, there are other projects that should take place first, “It involves items like the existence of tree stumps and vertical spikes in the basin. If you go down to the Chadakoin basin right now, with the water level being as low as it is, you’ll see three, four-foot spikes sticking up out of the sediment. You’ll see tree stumps sticking up. And, you know at this point the dam is still open because it’s on the winter regime, so it’s mostly for flood control just getting water from Chautauqua Lake, melting water, rain water, to feed it out as soon as possible.”

Leenders said the dam will close on May 1, causing water levels in the basin to rise to the same level as Chautauqua Lake and hiding those spikes from boaters. He recommended the debris removal be done as soon as possible given that water levels are low and the DEC will prohibit work in the river come April 1 when fish spawning season arrives.

Leenders said Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District would be contracted to do the work for all of the projects.

JLDC broke up CWC’s request by approving $35,000 for the debris removal project so that that project could begin immediately. They then approved a second resolution for the remaining $327,925 for bank stabilization work.

City Council will review the $327,925 funding request at its work session on Monday, March 20th where Leenders is expected to present on the request.

Council previously approved $277,750 from the Water, Sewer and Broadband funds category to fund phase one of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Chadakoin River Stabilization Project. Phase one, which involved the CWC removing debris and clearing trees out of the lower Chadakoin River, was completed in Summer 2022.

Chautauqua Institution‘s Symphony Orchestra was granted $50,000 in Downtown Programming funds for a concert at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.

The program will be “The Music of Billy Joel featuring Michael Cavanaugh with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra” and is scheduled to take place Thursday, August 17.

This will be the first time the Chautauqua Symphony performs off the Institution’s grounds. Their previously scheduled performance in 2020 was canceled due to the Pandemic and the performance scheduled for August 2022 was canceled after author Salman Rushdie was attacked at the Institution’s Amphiteatre the same day.

Salman Rushdie

New York State Police are investigating an attack on author Salman Rushdie prior to a speaking event at Chautauqua Institution.

Chautauqua Institution

The 10:45 lecture series will focus on “More than Shelter: Redefining the American Home.” The 2 p.m. Interfaith Lecture Series tackles a similar topic with “Home: A Place for Human Thriving.”

The week, which concludes August 13, features guests such as world-famous writers Sandra Cisneros and Salman Rushdie, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond, the British vocal ensemble VOCES8, and The Washington Ballet.

The program also features a special Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra performance at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts — the ensemble’s first appearance off the Institution grounds in its 90-plus-year history.

The Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens is the general Minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, and will be serving as this weeks Guest Chaplain.

For more information, visit chq.org

On Monday officials with the orchestra announced its members voted to approve the latest 4-year contract offer from the Chautauqua Administration, thereby assuring continuation of the 88 year old tradition in Chautauqua.

According to the Save Your Symphony website, he agreement increases compensation by 12.12 percent over four years and maintains the ensemble’s current size of 74 members. The agreement was reached following 9 months of negotiations.

With a newly constructed amphitheater opening this summer, orchestra officials say they can now look ahead with renewed enthusiasm to performing at Chautauqua.

Jonathon Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

BUFFALO – The two homeless men who are accused of killing a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra during a home burglary will be held without bail. That after both 43 year-old Jonathan Conklin and 30 year-old Charles Sanford appeared in Buffalo Federal Court Thursday for a detention hearing on federal charges related to carjacking, using a gun during a violent crime and bringing a stolen vehicle across state line.

According to an article in Friday’s Jamestown Post-Journal, prosecutors used the hearing to provide details into the crime and convince the court that bail should not be given. The two have not yet been formally charged with murder, as a county grand jury is still considering state murder charges.

However, according to today’s report, County Sheriff Joe Gerace has said that both men have confessed to committing the crime against 61 year-old Mary Whitaker, a concert violinist from New York City who spent her summers at Chautauqua Institution and lived off grounds at her home on Titus Rd. in the town of Westfield, just north of the village of Sherman.

The two stand accused of showing up at Whitaker’s home during the early morning of Aug. 20. Conklin hid out of sight while Sanford knocked on her door and when she answered, he claimed that his car had broken down. When Whitaker let him use her cell phone, Conklin is accused of coming out of his hiding spot and shooting Whitaker in the Torso. She was also shot a second time in the leg. Authorities also accuse Sanford of then stabbing Whitaker in the neck. After leaving Whitaker for dead and making off with her credit cards and vehicle, the two men returned to Erie. They were arrested in Erie two days later following an investigation.

Both Conklin and Sanford had previous run-ins with the law. Conklin has been arrested in the past for burglary charges, while Sanford is a convicted sex offender, convicted of statutory sexual assault in 2012.

According to Friday’s article, a preliminary hearing for the federal charges has been scheduled for Sept. 9.

Jonathan Conklin (left) and Charles Sanford (right).

MAYVILLE – One of the two men arrested in connection with the shooting death of Mary Whitaker – the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra violinist found dead Aug. 20 inside her Westfield Home – is facing a new charge on an unrelated burglary case that took place earlier this month in Sherman.

Chautauqua County Sheriff Deputies say 43 year-old Jonathan Conklin is accused of entering Murdocks Family Restaurant on Aug. 3 and taking $1,150. He then traveled to Erie to avoid police. On Wednesday, Sheriff deputies charged Conklin with grand larceny in connection to that case. Investigators add that more charges are also possible.

Conklin and 30 year-old Charles Sanford were both arrested in Erie on August 22 for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of the 61 year-old Whitaker. They have since been charged with stealing property, taking it across state lines and carjacking. They were scheduled to reappear in Federal Court in Buffalo Thursday Morning for a detention hearing.

A grand jury is deciding whether or not the two will also be charged with murder in connection to the Whitaker case.

Investigators say the two men tried to rob Whitaker at her Westfield home during the early morning hours of Aug. 20 and ended up shooting and stabbing her to death. At the time of the murder, a warrant was already out for Conklin’s arrest.

Both Conklin and Sanford are currently being held in the Chautauqua County jail without bail.

According to news reports, Sheriff deputies Friday afternoon named both 43-year-old Jonathan M. Conklin and 30-year-old Charles Sanford as suspects in the case. Sanford’s residence is listed as an Erie address while Conklin’s residence was unknown at the time of his arrest. The two were arrested separately in Erie, Pa. following a two-day investigation, with authorities locating Conklin’s car in Erie and also learning that her credit cards had been used in the hours following the shooting. Authorities went to the businesses where the credit cards had been used and were able to place one of the suspects at the location where the card had been used.

The two will be charged with stealing property and taking it across state lines, car jacking and murdering its owner and using a firearm during a crime of violence. They face up to life in prison if convicted. They were to be arraigned Friday night in Federal Court in Buffalo.

Chautauqua County sheriff deputies began their investigation into the shooting death of Whitaker immediately following the discovery of her body at her residence. Authorities say she was shot twice, once in the leg and once in the chest. Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace said during the news conference that Whitaker was likely being forced to give information at the time of her murder.

Whitaker was a long-time member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra at Chautauqua Institution, where she played violin. She stayed at the Titus Rd. home during the summer season and lived in New York City the rest of the year.

In addition to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office working on the case, investigators with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania are provided assistance, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Titus Road is located just north of the village of Sherman and a section of it is located in the town of Sherman. However, according to the news report, the scene of the crime was on the section of the road that lies in the town of Westfield.

Mary Whitaker (Image from Westchester Philharmonic)

UPDATE (2:50 p.m., Aug. 22, 2014): Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace and District Attorney David Foley will hold a press conference in Mayville at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22 for all available media regarding the homicide. More details on the case are expected to be released at this time.

WESTFIELD – The Buffalo News is providing new details into the shooting death involving a musician who performed with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.

According to a report released Friday by the Buffalo News, the vehicle believed stolen from the home of Mary Whitaker has been found in Erie, Pa. In addition, authorities believe that credit cards belonging to Whitaker were also used in Erie as well, after she had been shot.

As a result of the latest evidence, investigators with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office are working under the theory that Whitaker may have interrupted a burglary on Tuesday night, following her return from a performance at Chautauqua Institution.

Chautauqua County sheriff deputies began their investigation into the shooting death of the 61-year-old Whitaker on Wednesday following the discovery of her body at her residence at 8448 Titus Rd. Police were called to the scene after a report came in of an assault victim at the residence who was possibly deceased.

Whitaker was reportedly a long-time member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, where she played violin. She stayed at the Titus Rd. home during the summer season and lived in New York City the rest of the year.

In addition to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office working on the case, investigators with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania are also providing assistance, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Titus Road is located just north of the village of Sherman and a section of it is located in the town of Sherman. However, according to the news report, the scene of the crime was on the section of the road that lies in the town of Westfield.

Mary Whitaker (Image from Westchester Philharmonic)

WESTFIELD – The name of the victim in the homicide that took place in the Town of Westfield has been identified. Sheriff Joseph A. Gerace Thursday afternoon announced today the name of the victim of as 61-year-old Mary E. Whitaker of 8448 Titus Road in that town and also of New York City. Gerace also said the Whitaker was identified following an autopsy, where the cause of death was ruled a homicide by an apparent gunshot wound.

Chautauqua County sheriff deputies began their investigation on Wednesday following the discovery of the body of Whitaker at 8448 Titus Rd. Police were called to the scene after a report came in of an assault victim at the residence who was possibly deceased. According to the newspaper report, Gerace had said Whitaker was the sole victim and others in the area were not in danger, although he would not go into any detail about a possible suspect or motive.

Whitaker was reportedly a long-time member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, where she played violin. She stayed at the Titus Rd. home during the summer season.

Titus Road is located just north of the village of Sherman and a section of it is located in the town of Sherman. However, according to the news report, the scene of the crime was on the section of the road that lies in the town of Westfield.