• READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HEAR

Senator Catherine Young (R-Olean)

MAYVILLE – Senator Catharine Young and the head of the State Senate’s Education Committee will be in Mayville today to tour Chautauqua Lake School.  Senator John Flanagan of Long Island is the chair of the committee that deals with high school education in New York State, and Senator Young has introduced legislation calling for the creation of a more regionalized approach to public education in Chautauqua County.  According to Senator Young’s office, the bill comes at the suggestion of several local districts and BOCES, who cite declining enrollments, shrinking tax bases, overburdened taxpayers and escalating costs as the reason for looking into the regionalization of school districts. Senator Young and Senator Flanagan will tour the Chautauqua Lake Central School building beginning at 10 a.m. this morning.

MR. SALVAGE STORE TO SHUT ITS DOORS

JAMESTOWN – A local retail operation has announced it will be closing its doors in the coming week. Jim Sirianno – owner of the Mr. Salvage store at the former Evans Skateland building on Steele St. – says he’ll be closing down the retail arm of his business. In an article in today’s Jamestown Post-Journal, Sirianno said he’s closing the operation because a business like Mr. Salvage isn’t the right type of business to go along with the new riverwalk and park. He added that he wants to continue to operate his salvage collection business and to possibly open a new location elsewhere. Sirianno, who also owns JP Diamond in Falconer, said the JP Diamond Cash & Carry will continue normal operations.

As for the future of the current Mr. Salvage location, Sirianno says he still plans to maintain ownership of the property and anyone interested in operating a business to enhance the city’s riverwalk should contact him at 203-1592. Meanwhile, Mr. Salvage will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with merchandise available at a discount of 80 percent.

SUNY FREDONIA PROFESSOR NAMED TO LIST OF TOP GLOBAL THINKERS

FREDONIA – A Chautauqua County resident and member of the SUNY Fredonia faculty has been named by Foreign Policy magazine to its “Top 100 Global Thinkers” list of 2011. SUNY Fredonia Geosciences professor Dr. Gary Lash was anmed to the list for the pioneering research he conducted into the sedimentary rock formation known as Marcellus black shale, which is believed to contain vast reserves of natural gas and oil.

Others included on the list include President Barack Obama, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft Founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda.

Lash, together with Penn State colleague Dr. Terry Engelder and Texas oilman George P. Mitchell, can be found at number 36 on the list.

Published by the Slate Group, a division of the Washington Post Company, Foreign Policy is a global publication devoted to economics, politics and ideas.

 JCC TO HOST FUNDRAISER FOR CLASSMATE ON FRIDAY

JAMESTOWN – When students at Jamestown Community College returned to classes this fall, they did so without one of their classmates. Aaron Fileger, of Warren P.A., was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, caused by a rare genetic disorder called Lynch Syndrome. Lynch Syndrome causes colon cancer in 85 percent of those who have it, and is found mainly in younger men.

The cost of treatment has forced Aaron to drop out of college. His medical bills are estimated to be more than $130,000. In addition, Aaron won’t be able to receive disability payments until March of next year. Unable to work, making ends meet has been a difficult task for Aaron, who has a 10-year-old daughter currently in remission of pediatric Leukemia.

When students at JCC’s Human Services Club heard Aaron’s story, they jumped right in to help him out.

They’re hosting a spaghetti dinner this Friday, December 2nd. All proceeds will benefit Aaron and his family and will hopefully help them get through this troubling time. The event will be held from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Student Union, located on Falconer Street in Jamestown. Dinner ia $6 per person. Children are welcome.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO BE FOCUS OF NEXT AUDUBON LUNCH BUNCH

JAMESTOWN – The Pacific Northwest in all its glory will be the subject at the Audubon Center and Sanctuary’s next First Friday Lunch Bunch. On December 2, photographer Michael Weishan will present a “Photographic Tour of the Northwest.”

A resident of Cattaraugus County, Weishan serves as photo archivist at Jamestown’s Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI).  Following the 11 am presentation, coffee and tea will be provided for a Bring-Your-Own brown bag lunch. The fee for attending is $5 for Audubon members and $7 for non-members.  For more information, call (716) 569-2345 or visit www.jamestownaudubon.org.