Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel spoke with WRFA for his monthly interview about a variety of topics including comments on the recent mass shootings, changes to the County’s Worker’s Compensation Plan, and Memorial Day activities.

PJ Wendel

On Saturday, The Blue Star Mothers, New York Chapter 4, will again host its annual Gold Star Memorial Remembrance. That ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park on West Third and Logan streets in Jamestown.

On Sunday, town of Gerry will hold a Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at 2:00 p.m.

On Monday, the United Veterans Council of Jamestown will hold its Memorial Day Parade in the city. The parade line up will still begin at 9:00 a.m. on West Fourth Street beginning at Washington Street. The parade will step off promptly at 10:00 a.m. It will travel down Fourth Street to Prendergast Avenue, and continue to East Sixth Street to Lakeview Avenue, continuing down Lakeview to Buffalo Street.

In Falconer, their Memorial Day parade will take place at 10:15 a.m., Monday on West Main Street.

And in Lakewood, the Lakewood American Legion will hold a parade beginning at 10:45 a.m. that goes from Southwestern High School to Sunset Hill Cemetery. A service will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the cemetery.

Photo by United Veterans Council of Jamestown – Memorial Day Parade 2018

The United Veterans Council of Jamestown is looking for participants for the 2022 Memorial Day Parade on May 30.

Interested groups are encouraged to honor the U.S. Military and no hand outs are requested.

Parade line up begins at 9:00 a.m. on West Fourth Street beginning at Washington Street. The parade steps off promptly at 10:00 a.m. and will travel east down Fourth Street to Prendergast Avenue and continue to Buffalo Street and to Lakeview Cemetery.

Individuals and organizations who wish to participate can register at this site: https://forms.gle/7A8ca1VcYMBcoxo68

Memorial Day

Other Memorial Day observance ceremonies on Monday in Chautauqua County include: an 8am service in Frewsburg, a parade at 9am in the town of Sherman, and a 1pm service at the cemetery in the town of Gerry.

Wendel said water safety is also a big issue, “You realize when you’re a kayaker you can see every boat but not every boat sees you. So we asking that, we do have these new experiences. We have paddleboards and different slower recreational activities for Chautauqua Lake that we really need to pay close attention to, not to mention jet skis and powerboats as well. Everyone this weekend especially needs to be careful on our lakes and waterways.”

American Red Cross Regional Communications Manager Meg Rossman said the Red Cross wants everyone, before they get in the water to be, “water smart,” “We want to prevent unsupervised access to water certainly by fencing in pools and spas, keeping an constant eye out for any water dangers and really designating a water watcher to keep a close eye and constant attention on small children and pets, and even weaker swimmers.”

Rossman said grilling is becoming more popular, but it sparks more than 10,000 home fires each year. She said a grill should always be supervised and that no one should use a grill indoors, “You know, I know the weather might be a little chillier than we were kind of hoping for this weekend, but certainly we don’t want it in any enclosed area like a house or a camper even. And while you’re doing that, we want to be sure small children and pets are staying away from the grill to avoid any injury.”

For information on free water safety courses, first aid training courses and more, visit redcross.org.

Sundquist said the City can regulate using zoning to establish time, place and manner of use,

“We cannot have dispensaries or other on-site establishments so many feet from a school or house of worship, so that does limit locations that those can go. In addition, any dispensary or on-site consumption establishment must notify the municipality, so we will be notified before any of those are opened to ensure they comply with any type of regulations or zoning requirements.”

Sundquist said the City would receive 3% of the 13% sales tax the state will impose on the sale of cannabis. He added that the law establishes the creation of the State Office of Cannabis Management, which will be the entity that implements regulations and guidelines

The City of Jamestown will be receiving its full New York State Aid to Municipalities payment as well as an increase in CHIPS monies in the recently approved New York State Budget. Mayor Eddie Sundquist said the city had budgeted for a 20% decrease in aid this year,

“In addition, we’ve been notified that the state had prior withheld 5% of last year’s AIM payment. We will now be receiving that back to the budget so we’re very excited to get the full state funding back after the state has been made whole by the federal government.”

Sundquist said the CHIPS funding hadn’t been increased since the 1980s. DPW Director Jeff Lehman said the City will receive $1,102,000; which is a 24% increase from prior years. CHIPS funding is used to repair roads for which the City is reimbursed.

City Council will vote on replacing 63 Police Body Cameras at its voting session on April 26th. The cameras will have an annual cost of $70,000 dollars for five years, with this year’s cost being pro-rated at an amount of $46,746 dollars. Jamestown Information Technology Director Mark Dean says the old cameras, which were only 3 years old, had been failing for the last year and a half,

“And some of them haven’t been able to be replaced and with ones that do need to be replaced take up to a few months to get replaced. So right now some officers have to share body cameras to have the ability to have a body camera. So we’re proposing to replace every one of those including detectives.”

Dean said the Axon cameras will allow police to save the video recordings in the cloud and the city will have the option to give the District Attorney access to the videos as well. The money for the cameras will come out of the City’s contingency fund this year and then will be a regular part of budget for the remainder of the contract.

Council also will vote on a resolution to purchase an electronic fingerprinting system for the City Jail. Police Chief Tim Jackson said the current equipment for booking prisoners is outdated and needs to be updated in order to comply with the state. The fingerprinting system is being paid through a grant with the city being required to pay a 25% match of $7,100 dollars.

For a second year, there will not be a Memorial Day parade in the City of Jamestown. Parks Manager Dan Stone updated City Council last night that the Blue Star Mothers will still have a small ceremony in Veterans Park on Memorial Day weekend with the Veterans Council holding an invite only ceremony at Lakeview Cemetery on Memorial Day.

In southern Chautauqua County several parades and services will be taking place both Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29.

JAMESTOWN

In Jamestown, the United Veterans Council of Jamestown  is inviting all active duty service members and veterans to take part in Jamestown’s Memorial Day parade, taking place on Memorial Day.  The parade line-up will begin on Fourth Street at 9 a.m., with the parade stepping off  at 10 a.m.  The parade will proceed east onto Prendergast Ave. and continue north until it arrives at Lakeview Cemetery, where a Memorial Day service will then take place at Soldiers Circle.

The United Veterans Council is always looking for participants for the parade, including local veterans. In addition, the council is asking  local veterans to complete the Color Guard that leads off the parade. It hopes that the Color Guard will be able to represent each branch of service.

If you wish to participate in the parade or would like additional information about the Veterans Council, call 485-3647 or 450-6768.

OTHER EVENTS IN THE AREA

Other Events planned for Memorial Day include:

CELORON – The village of Celoron and the Celoron American Legion, Herman Kent Post 777, will be holding a Memorial Day service at the Veterans Memorial in Lucille Ball Memorial Park on Monday at 9 a.m.

FALCONER – The village of Falconer will host its Memorial Day parade Monday. Participants will assemble on Dow Street at 9:30 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. down West Main Street and will finish at Pine Hill Cemetery, where a short service will take place.

FREWSBURG – The town of Carrol will hold its Memorial Day parade and service, starting at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Frewsburg.

KENNEDY – The town of Poland’s Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday. Lineup for the parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Town Hall in Kennedy and step-off will take place at 11:45 a.m.

GERRY- The Memorial Day parade in the town of Gerry will be held on Sunday. Lineup is at 1:30 p.m. at the Gerry fire Hall, with step off at 2 p.m.

For other community events and activities scheduled for Memorial Day contact your village or town clerk’s office.

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan

MAYVILLE – The Memorial Day holiday has arrived, and with it comes the unofficial start of the summer season in Chautauqua County.

With the warmer weather, increase in outdoor activity, and many residents and visitors out of work or school, Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan will be spending time over the next three months reminding the public to stay safe.

During Wednesday Night’s Chautauqua County Legislature Meeting, the county executive announced  that starting May 30, he’ll be kicking off a new initiative called “100 Days of Summer Safety.”

“Every year in this beautiful  county we suffer tragic loss, whether it’s drowning or accidents happening right in the middle of the best time off,” Horrigan said. “This year we’re hopeful that an effective summer safety campaign across the county, reminding families, workers, and celebrants that drinking and driving is deadly and that we can all have a wonderful summer, but safety always matters.”

Horrigan said that he’ll be using his weekly Monday Morning Memo message to continue to remind residents about safety and also offer tips and information on what they should do or know to ensure a safe and happy summer season.

The council is inviting all active duty service members and veterans to take part in Jamestown’s Memorial Day parade, taking place on Memorial Day, (Monday, May 30). The veterans can march if able, or ride on a trailer that will be provided. All veterans are welcome to come in regulation uniform or street clothes, with or without their ribbons, medals and awards.

The parade line-up on Fourth Street in Jamestown at 9 a.m. and will start at 10 a.m.  The parade will proceed onto Prendergast Ave. and will end at Lakeview Cemetery.

If you wish to participate or would like additional information call 716-485-3647 or 716-450-6768.

Meanwhile the Lake Erie New York Chapter 4 Blue Star Mothers will be hosting the 4th Annual Gold Star Memorial on Saturday May 28 at 10 a.m. at the Jamestown Veteran’s Park, located on Third and Logan Streets.

Since 1985 Chautauqua County has lost 12 young men who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Gold Star families and friends will be in attendance to remember and honor their loved ones and anyone wishing to attend to help take part in the ceremony is welcome.

OTHER EVENTS IN THE AREA

Other Events planned for Memorial Day include:

CELORON – The village of Celoron and the Celoron American Legion, Herman Kent Post 777, will be holding Memorial Day services at the Veterans Memorial in Lucille Ball Memorial Park on Monday at 9 a.m. The Honor Guard and Firing Squad from the Herman Kent Post 777 will be present to honor American soldiers who gave their life in service to the nation. The main address will be given by Gordon Carlson, commander of Herman Kent Post 777. The Wreaths of Honor will be placed at the memorial by Lt. Col. Ronald Gowing, Ret. Royal Canadian Air Force; Dave Gowing, sponsoring chairman of the 822 Tutor Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets; Celoron Mayor Scott Schrecengost and Celoron Deputy Mayor Norman Mattison.

FALCONER – The village of Falconer will host its Memorial Day parade Monday. Participants will assemble on Dow Street at 9:30 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and travel down West Main Street to North Work Street, continuing to Pine Hill Cemetery. The American Legion Henry Mosher Post 638 will have their services at the cemetery followed by a prayer service at Mt. Olivet Cemetery on South Dow Street at 11 a.m.

KENNEDY – The town of Poland’s Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday. Lineup for the parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Town Hall and step-off will take place at 11:45 a.m. The Memorial Day Service will take place at Kennedy Riverside Cemetery on Cemetery Street, off Route 62 South, following the parade. In case of inclement weather, the program will take place in the Kennedy United Methodist Church at 3594 Church St., Kennedy.

FENTONVILLE – The annual Fentonville Memorial Day service will be at the Fentonville United Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The service will be followed by an American Legion color guard leading a marching parade to the Fentonville Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. The speaker will be Ken Dahlgren.

GERRY- The Memorial Day parade in the town of Gerry will be held May 29. Lineup is at 1:30 p.m. at the Gerry fire Hall, with step off at 2 p.m. The route follows Route 60 to the cemetery where a program will be held. Anyone interested in being a part of the day honoring veterans in Gerry should call 985-4257.

STOW – North Harmony will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Sunday, May 29, at 2 p.m. at Lighthouse Park at the Stow Ferry Landing, Stow Ferry Road, Stow. All are welcome to attend. Some seating is available, but those attending may want to bring a lawn chair.

For other community events and activities scheduled for Memorial Day contact your village or town clerk’s office.

While they day marks a solemn occasion to pause and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in defense of our country, it also is the unofficial start of summer,  with various events and activities set to take place across the country. As a result, the New York State Police and local law enforcement statewide will be increasing patrols to combat drunk and impaired driving over the weekend.

According to the governor’s office, Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year and police will be out in force to remove impaired and reckless drivers from our highways. The initiative starts today and runs until Monday, May 30.

Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols by State Police and local law enforcement agencies during this holiday weekend.

This initiative is partially funded by the Governors Traffic Safety Committee.