Jamestown Area Central Labor Council President Gary Swain, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, State Assemblyman Andy Goodell, 2022 George Ritzer Award Recipient Karen Fucillo Olson, County Executive PJ Wendel, Central Labor Council member George Spitale

The Jamestown Area Central Labor Council honored Karen Fucillo Olson with the 39th Annual George Ritzer Labor Award on Sunday.

The award ceremony that included local labor representatives and elected officials took place as part of the city’s Labor Day Festival at Bergman Park.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said Olson has been “part of the fabric of labor for a long time, “Not only has she received the Mason Community Service Award back in 2011, but she served as the secretary of the Celoron Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, she served as the treasurer of the United Auto Workers Local 338, she’s retired from TRW-MRC-SKF, all of the alphabet at this point, and she has really been instrumental in the work that has been done here in the community.”

Sundquist said Olson has also served on the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council since 2002.

Central Labor Council President Gary Swain took a moment to focus on the history of Labor Day, which has been celebrated in the United States since 1882, “And was finally recognized as a federal holiday in 1894 when then President Grover Cleveland signed it into law on June 28. Labor Day is celebrated to honor and recognize the American labor movement. Here in Jamestown, our local labor leader was George Ritzer. George served as president of the Jamestown Central Labor Council for over 20 years.”

The George Ritzer Memorial Labor Award is given to an individual who volunteers and contributes toward the labor movement, and who volunteers time to community organizations.

Collaborative Children’s Solutions owner Pat Smeraldo is organizing this year’s event in conjunction with the city of Jamestown. The festival has been on hold for the last two years due to the Pandemic.

Smeraldo said the Dan Feather 5K will be in the morning with the Arts & Craft Show starting at 11:00 a.m., “And then at noon is when the entertainment begins and the food vendors begin. So, the park will be open at 11 but at noon is when the entertainment will start and not only music but Randy Grey with Southern Tier Wrestling and Mike Baron‘s magician shows, petting zoo, Scott Mekus will be up there doing kids games and bingo.”

Smeraldo said the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4:30 p.m. on the main stage.

The fireworks show by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale will take place about 8:30 p.m.

While admission to the park is free, parking for the event is $5 with proceeds going toward the festival.

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JAMESTOWN – The Labor Day weekend is upon us and there’s a variety of activities and events in store to keep people busy all weekend long, including the 39^th annual Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival will be held Sunday, April 2 at Bergman Park.

The day begins with the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5K run, organized by Chautauqua Striders, with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

At noon the festival events begin, providing residents with a day of food, music, and other events for the whole family, including a professional wrestling event beginning at 1 p.m. and provided by Southern Tier Wrestling.

At 4 p.m. the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present former City Councilman and retired DPW employee George Spitale with the George Ritzer Labor Award.

The day will wrap up with a fireworks extravaganza, beginning shortly before 9 p.m.

There is no cost for the event, although there is a $5 fee for those who wish to park their vehicles in the Bergman park parking lot.

All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate.

Attendees should also keep in mind that all tobacco products, including chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes, are prohibited at the park under city law.

The use of private fireworks and sparklers are prohibited in the City of Jamestown and, thus, the Labor Day Festival. Pet owners are advised to leave their pets at home for both their safety and the safety of others.

For more details on the Labor Day Festival, visit the city of Jamestown website’s Labor Day Festival page.

Bonnie Peters, speaking during the May 2017 Chautauqua County Legislature meeting.

JAMESTOWN – An individual who’s helped organized labor in Chautauqua County for the past dozen years has been recognized with the 34th annual George Ritzer Labor Award.

On Monday during the 38th annual Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival at Bergman Park, the Jamestown Area Labor Council AFL-CIO awarded Bonnie Peters of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 807 with the award.

The George Ritzer Memorial Labor Award is given to an individual who volunteers and contributes toward the labor movement, and who volunteers time to community organizations.

Peters started working with Chautauqua County in 2000 and became involved with the CSEA in 2004. She is the third woman to receive the Ritzer award.

The final holiday weekend of the summer has arrived and there’s plenty going on throughout Chautauqua County, including here in Jamestown.

On Sunday, the 37th annual Jamestown Labor Day Celebration will take place at Bergman Park to honor the area’s labor force. The event is free and open to the public with a variety of food, entertainment, and other attractions taking place from noon to 9 p.m.

“This is to celebrate what we feel is the miracle of hard work and the greatest labor force that you’re going to find anywhere in the country, starting with the good folks who work for the city of Jamestown,” Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi explained during this week’s Community Matters program on WRFA. “The origins go back to 1979 when city officials decided to create a major festival for the community, on Labor Day, to make it a safe, non-travel holiday weekend and give everyone an opportunity to come together and celebrate the meaning of the holiday.”

In addition to live music featuring eight different acts including the Bogarts, Two for Flinching, and We Speak Canadian, there will also be a professional wrestling event – The Bergman Brawl – presented by Southern Tier Wrestling. The bouts will take place on the Babe Ruth Baseball Field from 1 to 3 p.m.

At 4 p.m. the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present Joe Sweeny with the George Ritzer award. Mary Ellen Decker will be accepting the award on Sweeny’s behalf.

And while the event is free, there is a $5 fee for parking. But anyone parking their car at Bergman Park will receive a $5 raffle ticket for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift card sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric. There will also be two chances to win a season ticket for the Jamestown Jammers.

The day will culminate with a fireworks extravaganza by Zambelli Fireworks International, slated to light up the sky at 8:30 p.m.

For local fitness enthusiasts,  Chautauqua Striders will hold the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5k Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.

For more information on all events and attractions at the city’s labor day festival, go online to Jamestownny.net.

Swain has been a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17 since December 1991.

The award is named after local labor leader George Ritzer, who served as president of the Jamestown Area Labor Council for over 20 years. He organized and served as president of the Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1.

The Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival is a community celebration designed to honor the labor force of the city and surrounding area. All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate.

Committee organizers are recommending that festival participants get to the park early enough to reserve a prime location on the lawn in front of the main stage in order to be in the middle of the fireworks extravaganza by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, which begins when the final band, Two For Flinching, finishes its performance around 8:30 p.m.

“Get to Bergman Park early Sunday, September 6th. Pick your spot on the lawn in front of the main stage. Get some food. Visit the vendors and crafters. Take the kids to play some games. Then enjoy the biggest fireworks display the region has to offer. The only way is to be right in the middle of all the action,” said Mayor Teresi.

People parking their cars at Bergman Park will receive a ticket to enter into a drawing at the Information Booth for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift card that is being sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation. Ahlstrom Schaeffer provides electrical services for industrial, commercial, institutional and construction businesses. There will also be two chances to win a season ticket for the Southern Tier Xpress Hockey League games. Parking is $5.00. The prize drawing will take place at on the Main Stage just prior to the fireworks show.

Live music begins at noon and will be featured on two stages. The lineup includes:

Main Stage

• 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. The Bogarts
• 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Teachers, Preachers & Trent
• 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. We Speak Canadian
• 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Two For Flinching

Second Stage

• 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Jamestown Harmony Express
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Razz & the JCC Band, featuring Victoria McIlvain on vocals
• 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Davis & Eng
• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. No Limit

The Food Court opens at noon with all profits from the concessions benefitting not-for-profit organizations in the Greater Jamestown Area. All organizations will be selling Pepsi products. In addition, there will be a wine and beer dining tent sponsored by Game Time Sports Bar & Grill for attendees 21 and older.

Chautauqua Striders will hold the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5k Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.

The Arts & Crafts fair begins at 11 a.m. and will feature over 20 vendors from all over Western New York and some vendors from Pennsylvania. All vendors are required to sell hand-made items.

Free Pepsi Bingo games will take place in the main pavilion starting at noon. Free kids carnival games including a bounce house by Eventz by Scott will start at 2 p.m.

The Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present a deserving member of the area workforce the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4 p.m. on the main stage.

Sponsors of the Labor Day Festival include the City of Jamestown, Media One Group, Ahlstrom-Schaeffer, Pepsi of Jamestown, IBEW Local 106, and Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO.

For more details on Festival events, visit the City’s website at jamestownny.net or call the Parks Department at 483-7523.

Valerie Hagglund

JAMESTOWN – The wet weather over the weekend forced the city of Jamestown to move its labor day festival from Sunday to Monday. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of 2014 George Ritzer Labor Award, given this year to Valerie Hagglund of Jamestown.

Hagglund is a paraprofessional for the Jamestown Public Schools District and has been active in her union for the past 18 years. According to a media release, Hagglund has negotiated five contracts and is in the process of another contract negotiation. She is also active attending labor rallies for the Jamestown Labor Council.

The Ritzer Award is named after the late George Ritzer, who served as president of the Jamestown Labor Council for more than 20 years. The first award was presented in 1984 and is given each year in Ritzer’s memory to an individual active in the labor movement.

The Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival is a community celebration designed to honor the labor force of the city and surrounding area, widely recognized as the very best in the nation. All money raised is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate.

As with past years, there will be a fireworks extravaganza by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale at the end of the festival, which begins when the final band, Two For Flinching, finishes its performance around 8:30 p.m.

The Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will present a deserving member of the area workforce the George Ritzer Labor Award at 4 p.m. on the main stage.

And Chautauqua Striders will once again hold the annual Dan Feature Memorial 5k Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.

The Food Court opens at noon with all profits from the concessions benefitting not-for-profit organizations in the Greater Jamestown Area.

Live music will be provided throughout the day at two stages and will feature songs from various acts – including The Jamestown Harmony Express, Razzer’s Jazzers, the Bogarts, Cindy Love, We Speak Canadian, and Teachers, Preachers and Trent – along with the aforementioned Two for Flinching.

People parking their cars at Bergman Park will receive a ticket to enter into a drawing at the Information Booth for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift card that is being sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation.

For more details on Festival events, visit the City’s website at jamestownny.net or call the Parks Department at 483-7523. WRFA will also talk with festival organizers during the Aug. 28 episode of Community Matters.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says the festival is a community celebration designed to honor the labor force of the Greater Jamestown area, widely recognized as the very best in the nation. The mayor adds that all money raised during the festival is used to directly fund festival activities and support the host of non-profit community service agencies who participate.

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The festival is organized by several city employees, led by Recreation Coordinator Julia Ciesla-Hanley, who says the event will once again feature a wide variety of live entertainment and events throughout the day. At 4 p.m., the annual George Ritzer Labor Award will also be awarded by the Jamestown Area Central Labor Council AFL-CIO.

The festival is bookended by two annual events. Starting at 9 a.m. in the morning, the annual Dan Feather Memorial 5K run, benefiting Striders of Chautauqua County, will take place. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and more information can be found at the Striders website. Also at 9 p.m., the annual Fireworks display will take place, with Mayor Teresi boasting that it will probably be the best fireworks display to take place in Chautauqua County throughout the entire year.

Both Teresi and Ciesla-Hanley made their comments on Thursday during WRFA’s Community Matters program. An encore of the show will run this Sunday at noon right here on WRFA.