The screening of “Mask” takes place at 7pm, Wednesday night at the Reg Lenna Center For the Arts. Tickets are available at reglenna.com or at the box office.

Forte owner Peggy Kaltenmeier said the restaurant, which has been closed for 17 months due to the pandemic, will be reopening for dining on Tuesday, August 17th. The restaurant, located on 114 East Third Street, has been open for 17 years.

Thompson said he believes the city will see a significant increase in sales tax revenue for the second quarter of 2021 relative to 2020.

The City Fire Department is exploring ways to move their reporting to a digital platform. Deputy Fire Chief Matt Coon reported to the City Council Finance Committee that the department is looking at New World software, which is similar what what law enforcement uses, “This provides us with interoperability with the County 911 system the CAD software the dispatchers use. And it’ll also be a little bit interoperable with the law enforcement portion of it. So as far as our fire investigations go, our actual fire reporting and doing our electronic patient care reports will be convenient to that as well.”

Coon said the records would be located at the County Sheriff’s office, who have used the software for 35 years. He added the fire record management software would not give fire officials any access to criminal records.

Forte will be moving ahead with adding seating outside its restaurant on East Third Street. The new seating will be located on the sidewalk and allow for 6-feet of foot traffic access, which is one-foot more than required by the City. Owner Peggy Kaltenmeier said she hopes to open indoor dining first after some major indoor construction, “Even if it’s at reduced capacity, we’ve been out of the practice for about year now, so we’re going to take it slow the first couple of weeks. But this outside dining will almost increase our occupancy for diners by 50%.”

Kaltenmeier said once she has State Liquor Authority approval, she hopes to start constructing the parklet space in the next four to six weeks.

Thompson said he believes the city will see a significant increase in sales tax revenue for the second quarter of 2021 relative to 2020.

Council will review a one-year lease renewal for office space with the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation. Under the lease, JRC will pay the city $500 a month for 668 square feet of space on the third floor of City Hall. This represents an increase from $200 a month last year.

Council also will review a telecommuting policy for city employees at its work session tonight. The resolution report said the creation of the policy was needed after employees worked from home during the pandemic.

Also on the agenda are a number of special event permit applications for upcoming events. There also is a request by downtown restaurant, Forte, to install a parklet as well as a request by Shawbucks owner Kurt Johnson to purchase a city right-of-way in order to build a 3-story deck onto the building for outdoor seating.

The committee meetings start in person at 6:45pm with the full work session beginning at 7:30pm in the Third Floor Conference room. All meetings are open to the public.

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown city officials spent a great deal of time Monday night responding to a series of complaints about downtown noise and entertainment raised by a city resident during the past few months.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, City Attorney Peter Larson, and Zach Agett from the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) spent 40+ minutes during the Jamestown City Council’s work session responding to a series of recent complaints and allegations of code violations brought forward by downtown resident Gary Templin.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi discusses recent complaints from a downtown resident regarding outdoor music events during the city council’s June 3 work session.

Since February, Templin has attended several city council public safety committee meetings to voice his displeasure about outdoor events that feature amplified music, saying they are in violation of city code. He’s also said the city’s special event permit process that allows for outdoor events is in violation of the city zoning law.

The most recent complaints brought forward by Templin included an 11-page letter to the public safety committee in May, in which he not only lays out his charges of code violations by the city, but also is heavily critical of city officials – past and present – along with the JRC. The letter also tried to connect downtown events to a decline in downtown business, claiming they’ve resulted in more businesses leaving downtown because of the street closures that are required for some of them.

Teresi said several of the items listed in that letter were flat out wrong and incorrect, including the claim that events are driving businesses and development away from the downtown area.

“What killed retail in downtown Jamestown? Was it the advent of suburbs? Shopping malls? Big box stores in a no-growth economy? Was it the advent of Internet shopping? Or was it a few public events a year in which a street might have been closed down for a matter of a few hours?” Teresi asked rhetorically.

Teresi also pointed to over $250 million in private and public investment in downtown development during the past 15 years, saying it illustrates that there is a renewed interested in the downtown and recent years and part of that relates to the activities and entertainment that it provides.

“It’s being driven, not by a desire to be out on Walden Pond some place, but the investment in downtown residential is being driven by people wanting to be downtown because of what downtown currently offers and what downtown has the potential to offer,” Teresi said.

Peter Larson discusses his interpretation of city code, as it pertains to entertainment events in downtown Jamestown, during the city council’s June 4 meeting.

Larson also addressed Templin’s alleged code and zoning ordinance violations, saying he disagrees with Templin’s interpretation of the law, though he couldn’t get into to many specifics during the public portion of the meeting because of the possibility of litigation.

“I am of the conclusion that the practices of the council and the public safety committee, as it has been, is within the code,” Larson explained. “I will go into more detail in executive session because i do have to, at this point, consider Mr. Templin a potential litigant to the point that I don’t think the city should discuss potential strategy in open session.”

While the city feels it is on legal ground to continue having downtown events with amplified music moving forward, Teresi acknowledged that it may be time to update the city code as it pertains to downtown entertainment activity to ensure there is no confusion about what can and can not be permitted.

“There’s language that may not be applicable for today, such as ‘amusements.’ That’s a term from the 50s,” Teresi said. “Amusements conjure up an amusement park, circuses, the firemen’s gala days. Not a folk music concert series or a public market that runs for a limited time or ends before everybody is going to bed.”

Currently there is no mention of amplified music or musical entertainment in the city zoning law and instead, the only thing that is mentioned is restriction on where Amusement Enterprises can be located.

Meanwhile, Teresi concluded he feels city officials are doing the right thing to help improve the quality of life for residents and businesses in the community and they will continue to allow downtown entertainment activities to continue in the future.

“We try very hard and in some cases you’re not going to make everybody happy, but if the bulk of the community is in agreement and is benefiting. And the business community is happy, that’s what we can shoot for so just keep doing what we’ve been doing and try to be the best at it,” Teresi said.

Agett was and said that by and large, the downtown businesses his organization has talked to have all said they appreciate downtown entertainment activities, even if some lead to temporary street closures. He shared positive comments from two downtown businesses – both Forte Restaurant and Full Moon Rising Bakery. In addition, representatives from Crown Street Roasting Co. were also in attendance and said there business benefits the downtown events and hope they will continue in the future.

Templin was not in attendance during last night’s meeting.

The Dining Out For Life fundraising raises money to support the comprehensive spectrum of services provided by Buffalo-based Evergreen Health, a not-for-profit organization providing HIV services since 1983. ALL the money raised through this event stays right here in WNY, helping those in our community affected by HIV and their families.

There are 84 participating restaurants this year in Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Chautauqua counties.

Local restaurants include:

• Forte! the Restaurant – (716) 484-6063 – Donating 33% Dinner
• Andriaccio’s Restaurant – (716) 753-5200 – Donating 25% Dinner
• Brazil Craft Beer & Wine Lounge – (716) 708-2471 – Donating 25% Dinner
• Ellicottville Brewing Company West – (716) 679-7939 – Donating 25% Lunch, Dinner
• Labyrinth Press Company – (716) 708-2471 – Donating 25% Breakfast, Lunch, Late Night
• Landmark Restaurant – (716) 720-5633 – Donating 25% Dinner

This event has raised over $1.2 million over the last 15 years, and we are hoping to continue that lucky streak this year – with your help.

• MOBILE APP USERS: LISTEN HERE

The year’s biggest night of local music is happening in downtown Jamestown this weekend.

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts will hold its 14^th annual Local Music Showcase (LMS) fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Dubbed “The Night Music Reigns,” LMS will take place throughout 9 venues in Downtown Jamestown and features nearly 50 local musical acts. Events begin at 6 p.m. and will last into the night, ending at 2 a.m.

This year’s venues include: Brazil, Forte, Labyrinth Press Co., MoJo’s, Shawbucks, The Pub, The Q, The Wine Cellar and the Infinity Arts Café.

It takes over 200 individual volunteers from the community to make Infinity’s annual Local Music Showcase event a success. All funds raised directly benefit Chautauqua County students and support music and arts education for area young people at the Infinity Center through private lessons, group classes, hands on learning experiences, and performance opportunities.

Pre-sale tickets for Local Music Showcase are currently available at a discounted rate of $10. They can be purchased online or in person at the Infinity Center until Friday, September 8.  Wristbands for $15 will be available at two ticketing kiosks on the night of the event. Kiosks will be open at Shawbucks (212 W 2^nd St) from 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. or the Infinity Arts Café (300 East 3^rd St) from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

For a full schedule of acts for each venue please visit www.infinityperformingarts.org or find Infinity’s 14^th Annual Local Music Showcase on Facebook!

A total of 15 restaurants throughout the county are signed up for this year’s promotion, including:

• Andriaccio’s, Mayville;
• Bemus Point Golf Club, Bemus Point;
• Coach’s Chatterbox, Greenhurst;
• Forte, LaScala, and Shawbucks, Jamestown;
• The Scallion Bistro and Pizza Hut in Lakewood.

Restaurant week features restaurants partnering with the chamber to promote special offerings and prices during the next seven days.

For more information, visit www.chautauquachamber.org.

The annual Dining Out For Life fundraiser for Evergreen Health Services is happening at eight participating restaurants in the Southern Tier this year. They Include:

• Alfies Restaurant – (716) 488-7410 – Donating 50% – Dinner
• Brazil Craft Beer and Wine Lounge – (716) 490-0487 -Donating 50% – Dinner
• Andriaccio’s Restaurant – (716) 753-5200 – Donating 25% – Lunch, Dinner
• Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, Patria Restaurant – (877) 873-6322 – Donating 25% – Dinner
• Forte! the Restaurant – (716) 484-6063 – Donating 25% – Dinner
• Scallion Bistro – (716) 763-0051 – Donating 25% – Dinner
• Ellicottville Brewing Company West – (716) 679-7939 – Donating 25% – Lunch, Dinner
• Landmark Restaurant – (716) 720-563 – Donating 25% – Dinner

Each restaurant will also be staffed with ambassadors who helped those dining with any questions.

For more information on Dinning out for life www.diningoutforlife.com/WNY. For more information on AIDS and HIV services in the Jamestown and WNY area, visit visit www.evergreenhs.org.