The campaign began Friday, August 19, 2022, and continued through Monday, September 5, 2022.

It resulted in a total of 217 vehicle stops, 184 tickets issued and 54 arrests.

This event is funded by a 2021-2022 grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and is part of a national High Visibility Engagement Campaign effort.

The Chautauqua County STOP-DWI Program is funded by drinking and driving fines collected from convicted drunk drivers.

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.

Labor Day

The Bemus Point Golf Club and Tap House is holding a Chicken BBQ on Saturday afternoon with live music followed by “The Great Golf Ball Drop” at 4pm. The Ball drop will feature a helicopter carrying hundreds of marked golf balls that will be dropped onto the golf course. Whichever ball lands closest to a pin has a chance to win up to $10-thousand dollars. Proceeds from the event go to the Bemus Point’s Volunteer Fire Department and the Bemus Point Business Association.

On Sunday, September 5th, a fireworks display will be held at 9pm from the golf course. Organizers say it will be visible from various spots on Chautauqua Lake.

And Monday, September 6th will feature the Kallie’s Krusade Karnival Fundraiser from 8am to 2pm at the Golf Course.

The day will begin with a Motorcycle Kruise for Kallie and the Kolors for Kallie run. Participants can pre-register online or the day of, registration for both events will begin at 8AM.

The fundraiser will feature a petting zoo, face painting, a photo booth, carnival games, food, music, and more.
This fundraising event provides financial relief and community support to families stricken with childhood disease through Kallie’s Krusade.

JAMESTOWN – Mayor Sam Teresi and the Labor Day Festival Committee have announced that the 38^th Annual Greater Jamestown Labor Day Festival will be held Sunday, September 3, 2017, from noon until 9 p.m. at Bergman Park.

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.

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 3^rd. 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 Mastercard Gift card that is being sponsored by Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation.

There also will be two chances to win a box seat pass to the 2018 Babe Ruth World Series. The passes are being donated by the Babe Ruth World Series Committee.

Additionally, there will be two chances to win a season ticket for the Jamestown Jammers donated by an area baseball fan. Parking is $5.00. The prize drawings will take place at 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. TPT
• 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. Pearl City Jazz
• 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Take 2
• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. No Limit

Labor Day Festival Committee meets for final time at Bergman Park.

The Food Court opens at noon with all profits from the concessions benefiting 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.

There will be a cheerleading demonstration by XPlosion All-Stars at 3:30 p.m. on the Big Babe Ruth Baseball Field. Cheerleading demonstrations by Westside Midget Football Cheerleaders also will take place on that field. In addition, there will be a mini-disc golf course on the Danielson Softball Field from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. by Blue Dog Disc Golf. Blue Dog Disc Golf will be accepting donations to benefit the Chautauqua County Humane Society.

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. Sun-Dance-Kids Farm will have a petting farm from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. as well.

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. David B. Arthur Chapter 865-Vietnam Veterans will be conducting the opening ceremony for the award.

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.

Please Note: The event, as it takes place on city property, is a tobacco-free event by law. All tobacco products including chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes, are prohibited. 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.

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.

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.

The event will once again feature plenty of food, music and other entertainment, the George Ritzer Labor Award, and a fireworks extravaganza by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale.

New this year will be the “Bergman Brawl” wrestling event presented by Southern Tier Wrestling from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on the Babe Ruth Baseball Field.

In addition, the 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 details on Festival events, visit the City’s website at jamestownny.net or call the Parks Department at 483-7523. Representatives from the city will also join us on the air on WRFA’s Community Matters program, Thursday Sept. 1 at 5 p.m.