The opening day of the festival saw several events take place throughout Jamestown, including a sold out performance by comedian Lewis Black at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.

Today the festival continues with several events planned, including a roundtable discussion with the children of comedy legends Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and George Carlin, as well as a sold out show featuring Daily Show host Trevor Noah.

More events are planned for Saturday, including a stand up performance by Brian Regan at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena and a stand up showcase at the Reg Lenna Center for the arts, plus a rountable discussion with the Farrelly Brothers – directors of the movie Dumb & Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, Kingpin, and more.

For a complete list of events and activities, visit www.LucyComedyFest.com.

The Southern Tier Xpress (2-3-1) will be sporting pink socks in support of breast cancer awareness as they face-off against the Pittsburgh Vengeance (3-2-0). This NA3HL rivalry will commence with a ceremonial puck drop at 5 p.m. 

Tickets are only $5! For more information on Pink the Rink or to purchase tickets, please call 716.484.2624, visit www.jamestownarena.com, or join the Pink the Rink Facebook event. Breast cancer awareness: will you get credit for the assist? Without you, it will take longer!

Grants were awarded from the Laurie Baer Olympic Hopeful Fund and Axel W. Carlson Memorial Fund.

Tickets for Saturdays 3 and 7 p.m. performances are still available and may be purchased at the arena. For more information on the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, or to make a tax-deductible donation to any of their funds, contact the Foundation office at 661-3390, or visit online at www.crcfonline.org.

More information on the Lucytown Marathon, including how to register, can be found at http://www.lucyrace.com

JAMESTOWN – Organizers are hoping it will be one of the biggest annual sporting events in Chautauqua County. Representatives from the Chautauqua Striders, Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, and the Lucy-Desi Center for Comedy held a media conference Thursday afternoon to announce the inaugural “Lucy Town Half Marathon and 5K” – scheduled for Columbus Day weekend in Jamestown.

In addition to organizing the biggest running event in Chautauqua County, organizers are also planning to host a couple other events during the weekend of Oct. 12 and 13, including a sports expo and “Night of Comedy” – both to take place at the ice arena.

• LISTEN TO THE FULL MEDIA CONFERENCE

Ice Arena General Manager Kurt Silcott said that although they’ve only gone public with the event this week, it’s actually something they’ve been working on for the past six months.

“We all got in the room and started kicking this idea around. To see the energy and excitement on all the group’s faces is what personally got me going and I think its what got everyone going,” Silcott explained. “We’ve been kicking this around, looking at other races and what other people have done in other communities. We’ve been taking all the good ideas and we’ve just been building and building. And we finally said okay, we can finally go out and start talking to other people about it.”

Chautauqua Striders Running Series Coordinator David Reinhardt said they are hoping this event will attract runners from not only Jamestown and the Chautauqua Region, but from other areas as well, including Erie and Buffalo.

“We know that there’s a lot of runners out there that just don’t do the weekend five-Ks, and there’s a lot of half-marathoners and marathoners in this area that go to other places,” Reinhardt said, adding, “So we wanted to include a half-marathon in our runner series and it’s taken a long time for us to get everything worked out, but we are ready to go.”

And Lucy-Deci Center Executive Director Journey  Gunderson said there were three reasons why her organization wanted to partner with the Ice Arena and Striders to help organize and promote the event.

“There’s no shortage of research and the health and healing benefits of laughter, and so that made good sense for us because it perfectly in line with our mission, which is enriching the world through the healing powers of laughter,” Gunderson explained. “Secondly, I think through the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival that we produce, we saw a lot of economic impact around here. After our festival we went around to the local businesses in Jamestown and one of the main comments we heard was, ‘Wow. This was a fantastic weekend and it was a big money-maker for us. If only there were more of these weekends throughout the year.’ And last I would say that we’ve seen there is a demand for comedy and comedic entertainment here.”

Gunderson added that they are still working on getting a headliner for the Night of Comedy, with more details expected later this year.

As for the half Marathon, the route will take runners through Jamestown and east along Jones & Gifford Avenue to Celoron – Lucille Ball’s childhood hometown – before heading over to Lakewood before looping around and heading back on the same route. Reinhardt says because the course is flat, it should be fairly accommodating for both competitive runners as well as those looking to participate in their first half marathon.

The organizers are hoping for anywhere between 400 to 1,000 runners participating in the inaugural year, although they hope over time, it will involve thousands of runners, similar to the annual Boilermaker half-marathon in Utica.

Race registration is available at LucyRace.com. The early registration cost to enter the half marathon is $55 for half marathon participants, and $20 for the 5k participants. Proceeds from the event will go to support future half-marathons, as well as all three not-for-profit organizations.

Univera Healthcare has also signed up as the main financial sponsor of the event. In addition, any Univera Healthcare member will receive a $5 discount to register for the half marathon and a $2 discount for the 5K.

Chautauqua Striders says they will also need 100s of volunteers, so anyone who is not running is encouraged to help in that capacity.

For additional information on the Lucy Town Half Marathon and 5K, contact Phil Genco at (716) 484.2624 or visit LucyRace.com.

All proceeds will go to support of the Laker’s Sled Hockey Team. The game starts at 5:00 PM and ends at 7:00 PM, tickets will go on sale from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM for the Chinese auction, winners posted by the conclusion of the game.

In addition, from 7-9 PM the Porcelain Bus Drivers are playing at Sawbuck’s to help support the fundraiser, tickets are $5 at the door or $4 if purchased during the game.

The Laker’s Handicap Sled Hockey Team was formed in 2003 from both cooperate and community sponsors, the goal was, and continues to be, ” No out of pocket expenses to the families “, thus giving every special needs athlete the opportunity to play.

The cost of Ice time, travel expenses and the maintaining of the equipment continues to skyrocket, forcing the team to seek the help of the community and from local businesses.

Three of the more than 40 different skateboard decks that are available for purchase via silent auction at the Arts Council for Chautauqua County’s 3rd on 3rd Gallery. The auction closes Friday night, July 13. View more images at WRFA’s Facebook Page.

JAMESTOWN – Today is the last day the community will have an opportunity to support a local park in Jamestown and also walk away with a piece of artwork. The All Decks on Hand art exhibit at the 3rd on 3rd Gallery in Jamestown is having its closing ceremony tonight. With that, it is also the last day the silent auction to purchase a skateboard deck that has painted and designed by local and regional artists. All proceeds for the exhibit will go toward the upkeep and possible renovation of the Jamestown skate park in Chadakoin Park. The Arts Council for Chautauqua County is one of the agencies involved with sponsoring the exhibit and Program Coordinator Len Barry says so far the silent auction is coming along well.

“It’s looking very good. I think we’re going to break [last year’s] All Decks on Hand auction total,” Barry said. “Several of the decks are at the minimum of $20, maybe going up to $40 or $60. But we have a handful of decks that are pushing northward of $200, $300 and $400 bids, so it’s going to be a nice little cash haul for the park.”

One of the decks up for auction in the 2012 All Decks on Hand exhibit. All proceeds benefit the skate park in Jamestown, NY.

In addition to auctioning off the skate deck, closing reception will also feature auctioning of items form the collection of the late Jason Bryan, a well-known skate enthusiast from Jamestown who passed away in the mid 1990s. His family held on to his skate and music collection, and all those items will be made available for bidding, with all proceeds again supporting the skate park.

The closing reception will begin at 5 p.m. in the Gallery and continue until 9 p.m. There will also be live music from Matt Homan & the Bluegrass Disciples, beginning at about 8 p.m.  The exhibit was made possible through the help of Suburban Blend, the Active Artist Alliance and the Arts Council for Chautauqua County.

Hear more from Len Barry – along with Matt Hanson from the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, Conor McGibbony from the Galactic Systems Headquarters and members of the band Fallen Union –later today during Arts on Fire at 1 p.m. on WRFA.

JAMESTOWN – A 49-year-old woman is in police custody after she allegedly robbed a bank in downtown Jamestown Wedensday afternoon. Jamestown Police say the woman, who’s name has not yet been released, is accused of robbing the Lakeshore Savings Bank branch on East Fourth Street shortly before 4 p.m.

According to police reports, the lone robber entered the Lakeshore branch and demanded money from a teller, then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police said they quickly arrested the woman and recovered some of the stolen cash.

Bank surveillance film helped police quickly determine the identity of the bank robber and the woman, who police say they know from previous run-ins with the law. She was jailed pending her arraignment Thursday in City Court.

BARONE APPOINTED AS NEW COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

MAYVILLE – Attorney Ned Barone is now the Chautauqua County public defender. The Chautauqua County Legislature last night approved Barone as the public dfender in an 18 to 7 vote. The appointment of Barone as public defender came after a failed vote to return E. Thomas Rankin to the position. Rankin has served as the county’s public defender since January 2011. For the second time in less than a month, the vote to reappoint him as public defender failed 13 to 12. The first vote came on Jan. 3 during the legislature’s reorganizational meeting.

Also during the meeting, a proposal to contract with the Center for Governmental Research was passed by the legislature.  The study to be done by the Center for Governmental Research will assess the County Home while the firm Marcus & Millichap continues its advertising of the facility.

JFD BATTLES EARLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT BLAZE

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a fire at 643 E. Sixth St. on Wednesday. According to an article in today’s Jamestown Post-Journal,  Firefighters were called to the home shortly before 7:30 p.m. Flames showing from the rear of the home prompted first responders to call in an off-shift contingent of 12 firefighters and one officer. Firefighters were told everyone was out of the house, which allowed firefighters to focus on putting the fire out. The cause of the fire has not been released.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TODAY TO DISCUSS FILING VACANT SEAT

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown School board will be meeting this afternoon in a closed session to discuss candidates who are being considered to fill an empty seat on the board. The district had 12 people express interest in filling the open board seat until the May 23 school board election. In order to find out more about the candidates, a short survey was sent.  The board will meet today to discuss the surveys and to provide direction for the board, so that it may be able to vote and appoint a new board member at the next regular meeting, which will be held Feb. 7.

The board announced in December that it would appoint someone to fill the seat of Barbara Piazza, who resigned after being charged with third-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing money from her employer.

‘PINK THE RINK’ RETURNS TO JAMESTOWN SAVINGS BANK ARENA

JAMESTOWN – “Pink the Rink” is returning to Jamestown. Officials at WCA Hospital have announced that the second “Pink the Rink” of the season will take place Next Friday Feb. 3 at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena – in conjunction with LINKS Charity and the Jamestown Ironmen.

To honor the courage of breast cancer patients, the Ironmen will once again wear custom-made hockey jerseys and encourage everyone in attendance to join them by also wearing pink.

To mark the occasion, The Jamestown Ironmen are conducting a Charity Auction featuring these game-worn jerseys, pink hockey sticks, and other pink items autographed by Ironmen players and coaches, as well as NAHL alumni and current Buffalo Sabres Ryan Miller, Nathan Gerbe, and Thomas Vanek. A silent auction featuring these one-of-a-kind items will take place before and during the game, and a live auction will follow the game.

All of the auction proceeds, as well as $2 from the purchase of every “Pink the Rink” ticket, will benefit LINKS Charity and local breast cancer care at WCA Hospital.

For pre-sale tickets, please call the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena at 716-484-2624 or visit www.JamestownArena.com.

MAYVILLE – Taxpayers in Mayville, Westfield, Ripley and Brocton could save as much as $3,700,000 a year if a centralized school was created between those communities. That’s according to Roy McMaster, the municipal financial adviser and vice president of Capital Markets Advisors LLC, who spoke during the Chautauqua Lake School board’s workshop meeting last night.

According to today’s Jamestown Post-Journal, McMaster presented the board with enrollment, staffing and financial factors – along with incentive possibilities in creating a regional high school. The information is based on several broad assumptions, and officials were quick to point out that many steps still have to be taken.

State Senator Cathy Young recently proposed legislation for a regional high school – which was unanimously passed in the state Senate. A similar bill has not yet been voted on by the state Assembly.

YOUNG URGES GOVERNOR TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR RURAL SCHOOLS

ALBANY – Senator Young is continuing her effort to provide assistance to rural schools. The Olean republican is helping to spearhead an effort with other Senators who represent upstate districts, asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to give rural schools extra consideration in the upcoming state budget. Senator Young joined 14 of her colleagues in signing a formal letter, requesting a significant boost to rural school aid. Governor Cuomo will release his 2012-13 Executive Budget proposal on January 17.

In December, legislation supported by Senator Young and area Assemblymen Andrew Goodell and Joseph Giglio was passed and signed by the Governor, ensuring a four percent — or $800 million — education increase in the upcoming budget that will be distributed to school districts across the state based on an existing formula that gives poorer districts more dollars per student.

SENATE REPUBLICANS CRITICIZED FOR ADDING EXTRA UPSTATE SENATE SEAT IN REAPPORTIONMENT PROPOSAL

ALBANY – A Democratic member of the state task force charged with drawing new political lines for Senate and Assembly seats in Albany is calling the process “A farce and a waste of money.”

According to an article in Yesterday’s Albany Times Union, Sen. Martin Malave Dilan, D-Brooklyn, is claiming that state Senate Republicans acted quietly and unilaterally to add a seat in the chamber during a recent reapportionment meeting.  Dilan is accusing the GOP of doing its math “working backwards” to manufacture another seat in upstate New York where a Republican would have a chance at winning.

In addition, Dilan says that dispite 14 weeks of public hearings, not once did a member of the public request an additional seat be added to Senate, yet that is what the task force has set out to do.

Dilan and other senate democrats are now urging Gov. Cuomo to veto the lines that are presented by the task force. Cuomo has joined good-government groups in criticizing the reapportionment process, and vowed to veto “lines that are not drawn by an independent commission that are partisan.”

The task force is controlled by the Democrats who dominate the Assembly and Republicans who hold a slim majority in the Senate.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF WNY ANNOUNCES 2012 CAMPAIGN GOAL

BUFFALO – Catholic Charities of Buffalo, one of Western New York’s largest human services agencies, will try to raise $10.6 million through its 2012 appeal. The announcement came yesterday from Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

The goal is about the same amount raised in 2011, when Catholic Charities was able to reverse a four-year slide in giving.

McKNIGHT TICKETS NOW ON SALE

JAMESTOWN – Tickets are now on sale for next month’s show in Jamestown featuring a multi-platinum selling R&B Singer.

“An Evening with Brian McKnight” will take place Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena. McKnight has completed 13 albums with over 20 million albums sold throughout his career.  Born in Buffalo, he has played host to his own talk show: “The Brian McKnight Show” and was a major contestant in Donald Trump and NBC’s  “Celebrity Apprentice” television show.

Tickets start at $30. For more information, visit jamestownarena.com, or call the box office at 716.484.2624.

JCC HOSTS ADVISEMENT AND REGISTRATION SESSIONS THURSDAY, FRIDAY

JAMESTOWN – Advisement and registration for individuals who plan to enroll for the spring semester at Jamestown Community College’s Jamestown Campus will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. on January 12 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 13.

Advisement and registration at the Cattaraugus County Campus will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on January 12 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 13.

The Jamestown Jets team, which played in three diferent junior hockey leagues in three consecutive seasons, was evicted from the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena earlier this year to make way for a team from the more established NAHL.

BUFFALO – A lawsuit filed by the owner and coach of the Jamestown Jets junior hockey team has seen dismissed by a state district court in Buffalo. Last Thursday afternoon, Judge John Michalek moved to dismiss the case filed by Dennis Canfield, who was suing the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and the Motor City Metal Jackets – now the Jamestown Ironmen – for financial damages related to what he claimed was a breach of contract. Following the Jets 2010-2011 season, the Jets team was evicted from the ice arena to make room for the new Ironmen team from the NAHL. Canfield claimed the eviction violated a contract that was put in place three years earlier by the Jets’ previous owner Barry Soskin.

Judge Michalek dismissed the case on the grounds that a lease agreement between Soskin and the Ice Arena was void after Soskin sold his share of the Jets to Canfield. The ruling effectively stated that Soskin’s made his agreement with the arena as an individual and not on behalf of the Jets franchise, meaning it was nullified after he sold his share of the team to Canfield.

The decision was made without prejudice, meaning Canfield will have an opportunity to file another lawsuit against all parties involved. Local attorney Charles Hall – who serves as the vice president of the Jamestown Center City Development Corp. which serves as the oversight board for the arena – says the board is obviously pleased with the court’s decision to dismiss the case.

CITY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO MEET

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Public Safety Committee will have a light agenda when it meets tonight for a work session in city hall. The panel will review two special event applications – one for the JHS Homecoming Parade and the other for the American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

The panel will also discuss a change in the city code regarding parking, along with the establishment of a neighborhood watch group in an area of Forest Avenue.

FUNDING SOURCES HELP JACKSON CENTER CONTINUE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING

JAMESTOWN – The Robert H. Jackson Center will continue its various high school outreach and education programs, thanks in part to funding from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and an attorney who recently moved into the area.

The Jackson center will use the funding to retain both Andrew Beiter and Joseph Karb, both eighth-grade Social Studies teachers from Springville. The two work to coordinate the Center’s networking efforts among schools, to facilitate workshops for teachers, and to administer educational outreach programs that will benefit students.

The fellowships and educational endeavors are being supported with a $5,000 Community Service grant from the Community Foundation. In addition, attorney Clayton Sweeney of Bemus Point has provided additional endorsement of this program through a recent pledge of $10,000 which he has offered as a 100% matching gift for others to match by December 31st. The learn more or to make a donation, call 483-6646.

UNITED WAY’S ‘WALK UNITED’ RAISES $1,100

JAMESTOWN – Several community members recently joined the United Way partner agencies for the 3^rd annual “Walk United.” The walk is put on each year by Chautauqua Striders and took place last Thursday. This year’s event was held at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, where walkers raised just over $1,100 to help support the 2011 United Way Campaign.

According to officials, over $242,000 has been raised so far for the United Way Campaign, which officially kicked off in September at the Jamestown Boys & Girls Club in Jamestown.  For more information on the 2011 Campaign, you can visit www.uwayscc.org.

ALTERNATE PARKING NOW IN PLACE FOR JAMESTOWN

JAMESTOWN – Now that we are in October, the city’s Daily Alternate Parking policy is now in effect. Automobiles must park on the Odd-numbered side of the street on odd-numbered days and the even-numbered side on even-numbered days. The police will remain in effect until April 1, 2012.