Author and SUNY Fredonia Professor Christina Jarvis joined WRFA’s Anthony Merchant in studio to discuss her new book on Kurt Vonnegut’s Planetary Citizenship called “Lucky Mud and Other Foma”, teaching a class on Vonnegut, how creativity strikes Christina, rediscovering books from your youth and how the messages change and much more

https://www.sevenstories.com/books/4452-lucky-mud-and-other-foma

https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-liberal-arts-sciences/english/faculty/Christina-Jarvis

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel provides an update on the COVID-19 situation in the county as it saw a surge in new cases during the past two weeks – including two separate clusters of cases at Fieldbrook Foods in Dunkirk and SUNY Fredonia.

PJ Wendel

The Hope and Healing Conference of Western New York (WNY) will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at Fredonia State University of New York.

The two-day event will include keynote speakers, informational wellness tables, and interactive educational workshops on mental health and chemical dependency topics in Chautauqua County and our region.

The two featured key-note speakers are Dr. Davina Moss-King who will give a presentation entitled, The New Millennium: Providing Hope and Healing While Simultaneously Treating Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health.

The other speaker will be Emma Fabian of Evergreen Health, who will focus her talk on The Crucial Role of Persons with Lived Experience in Shaping Programs and Communities That Serve Them.

Other presentations and workshops throughout the two-day event will include overdose prevention and Narcan administration, Medical Assisted Treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders, mindfulness, harm reduction, and many other topics to inform and promote wellness in our community.

Presenters will highlight local resources, programs, and other initiatives in prevention, treatment, and recovery.

This event is open to the public, and registration is required. Lunch and refreshments for both days is included in the registration fee of $40. To register call 664-3608.

Fredonia State professor and researcher Dr. Sherri Mason speaking to the County Legislature in September 2015, prior to its vote on a local law banning the sale of products containing microbeads.

FREDONIA – The Heinz Family Foundation named SUNY Fredonia professor Sherri Mason the recipient of the 23rd Heinz Award in the Public Policy category.

Mason is recognized for her research identifying the presence of microbeads and microfibers in fresh water, and for raising awareness of the potential impact of microplastics and associated contaminants on the food chain and human health, resulting in state, federal and international policy change.

As part of the accolade, Mason will receive an unrestricted cash award of $250,000.

This year’s big read book is “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich.

A kickoff event, featuring a community public keynote and celebration of Native American Culture, will take place Wednesday, March 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Seneca-Allegany Casino & Resort Events Center in Salamanca.

The event will feature Liselotte Erdrich, author, educator and sister of acclaimed author, Louise Erdrich.

There will also be traditional Seneca Nation dance and song, as well as a buffet dinner, including some Seneca delicacies. The event is free and open to the public on a first come, first serve basis for the first 200 guests.

The NEA Big Read in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties is presented in partnership with all 36 member public and association libraries, SUNY College at Fredonia, SUNY Jamestown Community College, St. Bonaventure University, Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES & Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES.

For more information on this event and the 2018 Big Read, visit www.libraries.cc.

Dr. Sherri “Sam” Mason (left) and Rachel Carson

JAMESTOWN – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the James Prendergast Library, coordinators of the Greenup Jamestown initiative, will present Dr. Sherri “Sam” Mason, Professor of Chemistry, and Chair, Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences at Fredonia State University of New York, on Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m. in the library’s Community Room.

• RELATED: Listen to our GreenUp Jamestown Interview

Mason’s slide lecture, “Silent Springs Eternal: A Perspective on the Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson,” will reveal Carson’s lifetime achievements as a writer, naturalist, scientist, US Fish and Wildlife Service editor-in-chief, and author. Her book, “Silent Spring” merges Carson’s poetic and scientific writing as a means to change public policy to heal Earth. “Silent Spring” has been recognized as one of the most significant nature books of all time.

A noted environmentalist herself, Dr. Mason is helping to transform public policy to heal the Great Lakes ecosystem—the largest fresh water source on the planet.

“Micro-plastics can affect fish, birds, and other wildlife if ingested, causing internal blockage, dehydration, and death in these species,” said Dr. Mason.

Fredonia State professor and researcher Dr. Sherri Mason speaking to the County Legislature in September 2015, prior to its vote on a local law banning the sale of products containing microbeads.

Dr. Mason’s team’s research spearheaded new legislation in Erie, Chautauqua County, and New York State, and contributed to Congress’s Microbead-Free Waters Act. Visit TEDx “Beads of Destruction” to hear Mason’s story.

Dr. Mason’s talk also kicks off the Prendergast Library’s county-wide Eco Read, featuring Rachel Carson’s first book, “Under the Sea-Wind (first subtitled “A Naturalist’s Picture of Ocean Life”).

The presentation provides an opportunity for grandparents, parents, and children to understand how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) play a crucial role in understanding the nature of Nature. Critical thinking and imagining, and scientific methods are essential tools for separating truth and reality from logical fallacies and fishy facts. High school and middle school students interested in biology and environmental studies are especially welcomed and encouraged to attend this presentation and to participate in the EcoRead.

Wednesday’s event is free and open to the public. The first 50 attendees will receive a free copy of The first 50 folks to show up to the lecture get a free copy of  “Under the Sea Wind” thanks to a generous grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. 

About GreenUp Jamestown: Greenup Jamestown is a collaborative partnership of several local organizations that is intended to unite community members who support conservation and sustainability, and who advocate clean renewable energies, economies, and jobs. The group has worked to organize a series of excellent programs to optimize teaching and learning experiences and encourage citizens to make green pledges at home, school, and work. The talks, workshops, and interactive events will be held throughout the spring at a variety of locations, culminating with an “Art Happening Event” hosted by St. Luke’s and the Jamestown Concert Association and featuring the Percussion Group of Cincinnati, on Earth Day, April 22, 2017.

For more information about Greenup Jamestown, including a list of upcoming events, visit https://www.greenupjamestown.com/ or call St. Luke’s at 716-483-6405.

Susan McNamara

JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has selected Dr. Susan McNamara as the recipient of its 2015 Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award. The Award will be given at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting at noon, Friday, Dec. 11, at Moon Brook Country Club, Jamestown.

Dr. McNamara is Assistant Professor of Management at Fredonia State University of New York and is also an executive coach and business consultant. She teaches Strategic Management, Organization Behavior and Entrepreneurship. McNamara was previously Executive Director of Chautauqua Works, worked in the Chautauqua County Department of Social Services, and had a corporate career with Motorola.  She is also the adviser for the Fredonia Enactus team, which uses entrepreneurial approaches to address social, environmental, and economic issues in the community.

The Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award recognizes an individual or organization in Chautauqua County that has worked to bring groups of people together around a common goal or objective and has helped move the region forward in a positive direction through collaboration and by building partnerships.

According to Chamber president Todd Tranum, the chamber was especially impressed with Dr. McNamara’s work with Enactus. “We view Enactus as a way to bring together an array of student groups to work on current projects, while also developing leadership skills with a focus on service in a new generation of prospective business people,”Tranum said. “It truly teaches community service and community building on a basic level, demonstrating that business and community go hand-in-hand.”

Through her work connecting Fredonia students to local businesses and non-profits, McNamara brings an experiential approach that allows students to apply their academic learning through critical thinking to deal with a community need or business challenge. Under her leadership, Enactus at Fredonia has grown from 10 to 77 members including students in 19 different majors. To date, 130 local organizations have worked with business capstone students to solve a strategic challenge or opportunity. McNamara has also worked with 15 student researchers and coached 25 student entrepreneurs for Regional Entrepreneurship business plan competitions.

Formal invitations for the Chamber Annual Meeting will be mailed to all Chamber member businesses. For more information about the event or the chamber, call 716-484-1101.