Aftermath of a fire at 258 Crescent Street which is the location of Danielson Oil Company (May 11, 2023)

A fire at a longstanding company in Jamestown has been ruled to be accidental.

Jamestown Police responded to 258 Crescent Street just after 4:00 a.m. Thursday for a burglary alarm and found smoke in the building. Jamestown Fire crews were called out and found heavy fire on the first floor. Crews had the fire under control in 45 minutes. There were no injuries.

Deputy Fire Chief Matt Coon said the building is home to family-owned Danielson Oil Company, “They do have fuel oil stored on site as well as various lubricants, greases, motor oils, and diesel fuel. So, we did through the Director of Development Crystal Surdyk the Department of Environmental Conservation was contacted as was the Chautauqua County Haz Mat Team. We did do an onsite assessment and it’s been determined that no chemicals have migrated off the property.”

Coon said there was no structural compromise to the building and the owners plan to continue business at the site.

He said a faulty appliance in a breakroom has been determined to have caused the fire.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation announced that Watercraft inspection stewards (boat stewards) are deploying across the state to educate and assist the public in cleaning equipment this season to prevent the introduction and spread of non-native plants and animals in New York waterbodies.

Boat stewards will be stationed at more than 200 boat launches and decontamination stations throughout the state by Memorial Day weekend. Identified by their blue vests, boat stewards can provide a refresher on how to inspect your boat and gear and offer information on aquatic invasive species in New York.

Last year, DEC’s boat stewards inspected more than 220,000 boats and intercepted more than 8,000 AIS, including hydrilla, which led to the discovery of a new infestation in the Niagara River. Efforts are currently underway to control the invasive plant and prevent it from negatively impacting the native ecosystem, as well as water recreation. The DEC is collaborating with local stakeholders and Federal partners to keep the infestation contained and prevent further spread.

Hydrilla negatively impacts recreation, tourism, and aquatic ecosystems and is one of the most difficult aquatic invasive species to control. This invasive plant breaks apart easily, and new plants can develop from pieces of stem that are no more than an inch long.

All water recreationists should follow these steps to make sure their equipment isn’t harboring AIS:
– Clean mud, plants, and animals off boating and fishing equipment (trailer bunks, axles, rollers, lights, transducers, license plates, motor props, tackle, waders, etc.) and discard the material in a trash can or at a disposal station;
– Drain all water-holding compartments, including ballast tanks, live wells, and bilge areas, before leaving an access site; and
– Dry everything thoroughly before using boats or equipment in another waterbody. Drying times can vary but a minimum of five to seven days in dry, warm conditions is recommended.
– When there’s no time to dry between uses, disinfect things with hot water that is at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or visit a decontamination site.

The guide for aquatic invasive species removal can be found here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48221.html

1061 Allen Street (January 2023)

The corporation that owns the former Crawford Furniture Building that burned down in a fire in November 2022 is expected to plead guilty to code violations.

City of Jamestown Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo and Allen Street Development LLC Attorney Daryl Brautigam appeared in Housing Court Friday, April 28 before Judge George Panebianco.

Brautigam informed the Judge that he is advising his client at a pre-trial hearing scheduled for June 2, 2023 to enter a guilty plea on two tickets.

Jamestown Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said these tickets are for on-going violations at 1061 Allen Street that go back several years in regards to junk and debris issues as well as other code issues that preceded the fire on November 16, 2022.

Raimondo said this plea will allow the City to seek damages against the corporation, “After the fire, the city had to pay H.H. Rauh Contracting $100,000 for an emergency demolition just due to the fact that the site was so unsafe during and immediately after the fire for any individuals to near there. That said, anyone who drives on Allen Street and past 1061 Allen will still see that there are massive, and what we would say is Superfund type site, that needs to be cleaned up at the site of the fire.”

Raimondo said the city has received quotes for over a million dollars for that clean-up. He added that the owners also owe over $90,000 in back taxes for the past five years.

The pre-trial motion on June 2 also will determine if Richard Rusiniak has any personal liability as one of the principal owners of Allen Street Development LLC. A sentencing date for the guilty pleas will be determined at the pre-trial and that future date also will include the hearing of contempt charges against Richard Rusiniak by the City for providing false statements in court.

Meanwhile, Surdyk said the Environmental Protection Agency is still assessing the site. She said their involvement with the site in the years before the fire has been a benefit to the city, “I think the fire could have been much more damaging and catastrophic had they (EPA) not been able to achieve some compliance with removing some of the chemicals and hazardous materials from the site. We do know there were still some hazardous materials that remained at the time of the fire, but like I said, it could have been much more catastrophic than it was.”

The DEC and EPA are each pursuing independent actions against the property owners.

Surdyk added that Jamestown Police have not charged anyone with setting the fire but said she believed they did have suspects in the case. WRFA contacted Jamestown Police Chief Tim Jackson about the matter but had not heard back by press time.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation said one of the new rules that went into effect last fall allows shot sizes as small as Number 9 for turkey hunting. This regulatory change affects both the spring and fall seasons statewide. The change was made to modernize regulations as technology has advanced over the years to increase the down-range effectiveness of smaller shot sizes.

Spring turkey harvest in New York averages about 18,000 birds and varies based on the number of participants and turkey productivity in previous springs. This spring, improved turkey harvest is expected compared to last year.

Overall, turkey populations are lower now than a few years ago due to below-average reproductive success two of the last four years. However, improved turkey productivity in 2020 and 2022 means a greater proportion of toms available to hunters this spring compared to last year.

Tiger Muskellunge (Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wikipedia)

Fishing season for walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskellunge also begins May 1.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said walleye are now found in more than 140 waters from all the major watersheds of the state, primarily due to stocking and other DEC management efforts

They had historically been found only in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, and Allegheny River watersheds in New York State

Opportunities to catch lunker northern pike can also be found throughout much of the state, especially in the northeast and west.

For more information on where to go fishing for walleye, pike and other coolwater sportfish, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/116746.html

Jefferson Project research on Chautauqua Lake (photo provided by Chautauqua Institution)

Chautauqua Institution is applauding the County Legislature‘s approval of funding for the Jefferson Project.

The approval of $1 million in American Rescue Plan funds to continue research in 2020 has received $4 million in funding from Chautauqua Institution.

Institution President Michael Hill said in a statement, “The work of The Jefferson Project is informing mitigation efforts that will eventually save Chautauqua Lake. Chautauqua Lake will not survive unless we make the right decisions now.”

The Jefferson Project is a collaboration between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, IBM Research, and the Lake George Association that exists to collect and process massive amounts of data on freshwater bodies to create a new model for environmental monitoring and prediction.

The group is working on efforts to reverse negative environmental conditions, including Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and invasive weed growth, include watershed conservation, weed harvesting and targeted herbicide applications.

According to a release by the Chautauqua Institution, The Jefferson Project researchers compile data using platform buoys, called vertical profilers, that are situated in selected locations in the lake to take measurements at increments from the surface of the water to the bottom of the lake. The funding from Chautauqua County will enable the expansion of this effort to tributaries that feed the lake. They said the next step is to create a “smart lake” to allow for real-time monitoring and analysis leading to short- and long-term solutions.

Researchers also are using boats to conduct water sampling every two weeks.

Chautauqua Lake was designated as impaired by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the early 2000s because its phosphorus levels were, and continue to be, too high.

Hill said the Institution is still seeking additional financial support for lake work from private and public sources.

(Still from video courtesy of the NYSDEC)

It’s the time of year when residents are reminded to remove or secure outdoor food sources that may attract black bears.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said people who feed birds in areas with bears should empty and clean up spilt seed from feeders, and let nature feed the birds from spring through fall.

The public is also advised to secure garbage cans in a sturdy building, clean or remove all residual grease and food from grills, and store pet and livestock food indoors.

Residents are also asked to consider installing electric fences around chicken coops or apiaries to protect flocks and hives.

Black bears emerging from their winter dens have depleted fat reserves and will search extensively for easily obtainable, calorie-dense foods. They will readily utilize human-created food sources and repeat access can make bears bolder, leading to an increase in human-bear conflicts around homes and residential areas, especially when natural food sources are scarce.

Feeding bears intentionally is illegal. Unintentional feeding can create problems for the surrounding community, or even the bear if it becomes a threat to people or property.

For more information on how to live responsibly with black bears, visit DEC’s website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6995.html and Bearwise.org.

Solar Liberty Energy Systems

Solar Liberty filed an application with the town in December 2020 to build a solar panel system at 1255 South Main Street Extension. Following that, the town Planning Board issued a positive declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) on September 27, 2021.

In March 2022, the town board approved a resolution accepting the positive declaration despite communication from Solar Liberty urging them not to. According to Solar Liberty’s filing in Chautauqua County State Supreme Court, the town of Busti was then required by state law to publish the Positive Declaration in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Notice Bulletin, but that never happened.

Solar Liberty said a letter was received in March 2023 from the town board withdrawing the company’s application due to the company not submitting a draft scoping document nor taking any other steps to proceed with the application.

In their filing, Solar Liberty said there was never any deadline provided by the town for which to complete the South Main Street project and that the company had intended to complete the SEQRA process once the approvals for another solar project in the town of Busti on Orr Street was received.

The company is asking the court to void the letter from the town that ended the special use permit application for the South Main Street Extension project, saying that the town’s action is in “violation of lawful procedure and due process.”

The State Department of Environmental Conservation and State Department of Health have issued an advisory for the pollutant, ozone, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. today.

The state issues Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter, are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100.

Hot and sunny weather can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and are the most serious air pollution problems in the northeast.

People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work, and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening).

When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce your exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing should consider consulting their doctor.

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available.

For more information, visit the State Department of Health’s website at https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/outdoors/air/ozone.htm

Former Deer Management Group member Tom Nelson addresses Jamestown City Council (April 10, 2023)

A former member of the Jamestown Deer Management Group is questioning what the City of Jamestown is doing in regards to the city’s deer population.

Former Council member and current County Legislator Tom Nelson questioned council members about what’s been done, what’s going to get done, and if a committee has been formed regarding deer in the city, “I know many times you get people coming to council meetings complaining they don’t have a solution. I think many of you know I put forward a solution in September of 2021 which was rejected by many members of this council. So, my question to you is, you didn’t like that plan, what is your plan?”

Council had voted down a proposal 2 to 7 at the September 2021 voting session that would have allowed 8 bow hunters to receive licenses with the two sites for hunting limited to Jones Memorial Park and the wooded area behind the Allen Park Ice Rink. This was the proposal suggested by Council member at large Jeff Russell to replace an initial proposal to allow 15 licensed hunters to take down up to 4 antler-less deer between November 1st and December 31st in five designated areas of Jamestown.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said he still supports efforts to reduce the deer population in the city, “Typically, some kind of hunt.. that is the recommendation from the DEC (State Department of Environmental Conservation). Can’t do sterilization because it has to be tied to a university and program, and other methods are just way too expensive or not going to be allowed by the state. So, whatever you guys want to do, let me know. I remain steadfast in supporting reducing the deer population as a resident of Ward 6 who sees a lot of it, and now we’re hearing from Ward 5 and others.”

Councilmembers Randy Daversa, Andrew Faulkner, Russell, and Brent Sheldon had mentioned at the October 3, 2022 City Council work session that they had met with each other to discuss the issue, but no follow-up meetings were ever announced.

Council member at large Kim Ecklund said on Monday that whatever that work group moved forward with should be a multi-pronged approach, “When Andy Liuzzo was on council, he was adamant about a deer program and actually worked with the town of Ellicott to issue more permits. I never heard the result of that. We never got a ‘Did it work? Did it not work?’ But, living on the edge of the town, there are more deer. There’s a lot of reasons why there is more deer and you can ask many hunters. There’s less people hunting. There’s more posted property for people to not be able to hunt on.”

At the October 2022 meeting, Council member Marie Carrubba said the deer group should include not just city council members but an attorney, people in favor of a hunt, as well as people with other options for handling the deer population.