Infinity Visual and Performing Arts will be starting a new afterschool teen program this Fall.Executive Director Shane Hawkins said funding for the new program came from a grant called “Generator Z” that was put out by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. She said the Foundation asked teenagers in Western New York and Michigan what they wanted in an afterschool program, “Then they actually paid these teens to help them create this grant RFP, request for proposals. So the teens came back with what they wanted. They released that to people who wanted to provide afterschool programming and then we had to write grants based on what the students were asking for.”
Artistic Director Jamie Lee Bonfiglio Davis said she’s concentrating on bringing in teens to find out what they want, “I’m super excited to get started and get their thoughts and opinions. And I’m going to let them take the lead and go from there. In addition to letting teens design any time of program they want here, we also have a really cool option to do some field trips with teenagers. So we’re not only going to say ‘Hey! What type of programs do you want to see here at Infinity?’ but we’re going to say, ‘What do you want to see?'”
Tune to “Community Matters” at 5pm tonight on WRFA to learn more about the new teen program and other things happening at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts.
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PJ Wendel
The Chautauqua County Legislature will hold a special workshop in September to discuss proposed projects to be funded by the American Rescue Plan.
County Executive PJ Wendel, while appearing on WRFA’s “Community Matters,” said he’s been meeting weekly with staff to discuss how to allocate the funds.
He said one of the items being considered to be funded is a body scanner and mail scanner for the County Jail, “We’ve had issues with contraband coming into our jails. If we’re able to prevent that with two pieces of equipment totaling about $370,000, would that prevent the death of an inmate in the jail? Certainly. And is that money well spent? Without a doubt.”
Wendel said other investments using American Rescue Plan funds could include digitizing all the county archives and investing in large equipment capital purchases for the Department of Public Facilities, “Such as a long-arm excavator that we would be able to use instead of having to rely on other departments outside of Chautauqua County should we need to clear out the mouth of Silver Creek to prevent flooding or help with some of the problems we have in Barcelona Harbor with excessive material that’s been dumped there after storms.”
Wendel added they do have projects that are infrastructure related they want to fund but they’re waiting to see what the county may receive once the Federal Infrastructure bill is passed. That’s expected to happen in September.
The Legislature’s special workshop will take place at 4:30pm, Wednesday, September 8th in the Legislature Chambers in Mayville. It will be livestreamed on the County’s Facebook page as well.
They’re expected to act in September on a resolution that outlines the projects to be funded by the American Rescue Plan.
]]>WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Chautauqua County executive PJ Wendel to get an update on COVID 19, as well as discussing Marijuana Legalization in New York State and the likelihood of him running unopposed for a full 4-year term in November.
PJ Wendel
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Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel gives an update on the vaccination effort in the county, along with challenges local residents are experiencing in trying to get vaccinated. He also talks about his future hopes for Chautauqua Lake, including an updated Memorandum of Understanding for all lake stakeholders, along with the future of the Lake District.
PJ Wendel
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Congressman Tom Reed talks with regional media to discuss the recent GOP Congressional Caucus meeting involving the selection of leadership positions for the new congress, as well as whether or not to take action against embattled Republican Congresswoman Margorie Taylor Green. Reed also responded to recent comments made by the Cuomo administration, after he and other members of New York’s Republican Delegation called on the US Attorney General’s Office to investigate Cuomo’s nursing home policies…. among other issues as well.
Tom Reed
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George Borrello
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Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist offers gives us an update on COVID-19 and its impact on city operations, as well as his reaction to the state’s highest court deciding not to hear an appeal from the city focusing on the Police Union Arbitration case. Plus he offers thoughts on the city’s precarious financial position and some of the things that can be done to help address it.
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WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel to get an update on the COVID-19 situation in the county, now that the holiday season is now underway.
PJ Wendel
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Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist offers his thoughts on the 2021 city budget that was approved by the Jamestown City Council on Monday, Nov. 30. The budget included 16 different changes to the initial spending plan presented by Sundquist in October.
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WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Jamestown City Council President Tony Dolce to preview the 2021 budget that will be voted on Monday night, Nov. 30, 2021. Dolce talks about pulling a proposal by Mayor Eddie Sundquist that involved switching retirees to a new healthcare program, where things stand with downtown parking heading into the new year, and the challenges of working on a budget during COVID-19.
Tony Dolce
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