Dr. Stephen Tuloweicki’s presentation will include maps of several native tree species and where they were located within Chautauqua County, including this map illustrating the distribution of black ash trees, mostly in the county’s flatlands and other low-lying, river and stream valley areas.

JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Historical Society is partnering with the Jamestown Audubon Center to give residents an opportunity to learn more about how the region appeared more than 200 years ago.

On Saturday morning, Aug. 15, the historical society and the Audubon Center will co-host a free presentation entitled “Exploring the Pre-settlement Forests of Chautauqua County.”

The presentation will be given by Dr. Stephen Tulowiecki, a Western New York native and Adjunct Lecturer of Geography at SUNY Geneseo.  The free program will take place on Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Jamestown Audubon Society and will begin at 10 a.m.

For more information call 569-2345.

Raising egg-laying chickens in the backyard is fun, self-sufficient and educational. The audience is invited to come with questions for the Panelists, who will be from both New York and Pennsylvania to hopefully cover the various local regulations and rules about poultry in backyards, and all have numerous years of raising chickens small-scale.

Fee for participation is $16, or $12 for Friends of the Nature Center.

Reservations with payment are required before March 11, 2015: call (716) 569-2345 to reserve and pay by credit card or click on “Backyard Chickens” at www.jamestownaudubon.org to reserve and pay online.

Doors Open Jamestown 2015 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Jan. 17 with 15 different participants. According to event co-coordinator and Fenton History Center executive director Joni Blackman, the day will provide residents with free admission to a number museums and attractions in and around the city.

“It’s a great way to get people in the door that normally wouldn’t come,” Blackman said. “For some reason, our admission is a barrier to a lot of lcoal people and I think for some they think we’re always going to be here, so we’re not high on their priority list. So when Doors Open provides free admission, it seems to get everybody out and about and going to all the attractions.”

Blackman said that in 2014, more than 600 people stopped by the Fenton for Doors Open Jamestown and she’s expecting just as many this year.

The Fenton History center is one of the 15 participants this year, and Blackman explained that folks who stop by the museum will be able to see the museum’s 2014 Holiday exhibit one last time before it gets taken down.

The former Fenton Mansion, home of the Fenton History Center in Jamestown NY.

“That is our big enticement to have people come in,” Blackman said. “Also, all the sites are doing a free raffle and we’ll be giving away a popular book from our gift shop, along with a couple of other small things to go along with it. And we also have a raffle that’s $3 per ticket or two for $5 for a $150 gift certificate from the Hollyloft.”

Other attractions taking part this year include:  Busti Grist Mill, Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame, Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, James Prendergast Library, Jamestown Audubon Center & Sanctuary, Jamestown Gateway Train Station, Jamestown Savings Bank Arena, Lucile M. Wright Air Museum, Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Center for Comedy, Lucille Ball Little Theater, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, Robert H. Jackson Center, and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.

In addition to the attractions, many local restaurants will be open with specials offered for customers that day. Doors Open Jamestown runs at various times throughout the day. For more information visit Facebook.com/DoorsOpenJamestown.