JAMESTOWN, NY – On Thursday, October 13, WRFA-LP – in conjunction with other participating media members – will present a 60-minute debate featuring the two candidates for the New York State Assembly’s 150th District: Andrew Goodell (R) and Sandra Lewis (D). The district, which was redrawn earlier this year, now encompasses all of Chautauqua County, the Cattaraugus Reservation in both Chautauqua and Erie Counties, and the Town of Collins in Erie County.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

Moderated by WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley, in coordination with media panelists Terry Frank (WJTN Radio) and Justin Gould (WNY News Now).

A debate between the two 2020 candidates for New York State Assembly in the 150th District – Andrew Goodell and Christina Cardinale. Moderated by WRFA’s Jason Sample with questions provided by media panelists Terry Frank of WJTN Radio and Justin Gould of WNY News Now. Recorded Oct. 8, 2020 at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown, NY.

Andrew Goodell and Christina Cardinale

Andrew Goodell and Christina Cardinale

JAMESTOWN, NY – A 60-minute debates involving the candidates for New York State Assembly 150th District will take place at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts’ Media Arts Studio Thursday night, Oct. 8.

The debate featuring New York State Assembly candidates Andrew Goodell, the Republican incumbent, and Christina Cardinale, the Democratic challenger, will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on local radio along with video streaming online.

Three different media outlets will be collaborating to bring the debates to residents throughout Chautauqua County. Participating media members include Media One Radio Group, WNY News Now, and WRFA Radio – all based in Jamestown.

Jason Sample, WRFA Public Affairs Director, will serve as moderator for all three debates. Questions for the candidates will be provided by participating media members – Terry Frank, Media One News Director;  Justin Gould, WNY News Now Director/Anchor; and Sample. There will also be an opportunity for each candidate to pose a question to one another.

The debate will take place at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown, inside the facility’s Media Arts Studio.

Due to COVID-19, there won’t be a live studio audience for the debate. However, it will be broadcast live on WRFA radio (107.9 FM or streaming at WRFALP.com/Streaming) and also a live video stream will be available at WRFA’s Youtube Channel.

In addition, it will also be live streamed by WNY News Now on its Facebook page as well as WNYNewsNow.com/Live. It will also be rebroadcast at 10 a.m. on WJTN Radio (101.3 FM / 1240AM), and also on WRFA at 5 p.m. on Oct. 15 and again at noon on Oct. 18.   Video will also be available for viewing afterward through WNY News Now and the WRFA Youtube Channel.

Funding for the live broadcast and online streaming of the event was provided by the Reg and Betty Lenna Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

OTHER DEBATES ALSO PLANNED

Two other debates will also be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 and feature candidates for the special election of Chautauqua County Executive: Richard Morrisroe (Democratic, Working Families) and Paul “PJ” Wendel (Republican, Conservative, Independence); and the election for Chautauqua County District Attorney: Jason Schmidt (Republican, Conservative) and Patrick Swanson (Democratic, Independence, Working Families). Those debates will take place at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively and will also be broadcast live on WRFA, as well as streaming on WRFA and WNY News Now media platforms.

The 2019 Mayoral Candidates Debate, taking place Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Media Arts Studio on featuring candidates for mayor Andrew Liuzzo, Eddie Sundquist, and David Wilfong. Moderated by WRFA’s Jason Sample with WJTN’s Terry Frank and WNY News Now’s Justin Gould serving as media panel members.

• ALSO AVAILABLE AT WRFA SOUNDCLOUD PAGE

Live from the Reg Lenna’s Media Arts Studios, a 90-minute debate featuring the three candidates for Mayor of Jamestown in the 2019 General Election: Andrew Liuzzo (Libertarian), Eddie Sundquist (Democrat, Independence, Working Families), and David Wilfong (Republican, Conservative).

The debate was a collaboration between several media outlets. It was moderated by WRFA’s Jason Sample and involved questions from Terry Frank (Media One Radio / WJTN), Justin Gould (WNY News Now), and Sample.

Jim Roselle at Chautauqua Institution in 2009. (Image by Jason Sample)

JAMESTOWN – A local broadcasting legend has passed away.

Long-time WJTN personality Jim Roselle died Wednesday at his home in Jamestown. He was 89 years old.

Roselle started working at WJTN in 1953 and was in his 61st year at the station, spending 41 summers broadcasting daily from Chautauqua Institution.

He hosted many shows during his time with the station, most recently The Jim Roselle Show weekday mornings from 9 am to noon. He also shared the microphone with his good friend Russ Diethrick on “The Times of Your Life” program on Saturday mornings.

In 2010, Roselle was inducted into New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

WJTN News director Terry Frank spent more than three daces working with Roselle, saying he was a true ambassador of Jamestown.

“He was very much part of the Jamestown fabric. He spoke Jamestown. He talked about Jamestown. He was an ambassador for Jamestown – not just around here and New York State, but he went to Russia as part of the Chautauqua exchanges and other programs. He was just an amazing guy… someone you model yourself after. You try to be as upbeat, as personable and as professional as possible, and that was the epitome of Jim Roselle,” Frank told WRFA.

One of the many career highlights for Roselle was broadcasting at Chautauqua Institution every summer since 1974, where he interviewed hundreds of national and internationally recognized individuals from his broadcast location at Bestor Plaza. Roselle always knew the right questions to ask, which was a testament to his skills as an interviewer.

“I think Jim also epitomized hard work,” Frank said. “He seldom, if ever, went into an interview unarmed. He had read the book the person had written. He read stories about what they had said and what they had done. If there was a controversy with the person, be it a presidential candidate or someone involved with the administration or someone involved in foreign policy, he knew what the issues were. He did the due diligence required for a good interview.

“But he also had a way of disarming the person he was talking to, and that really helped him to get people to open up and respond, so when he asked a tough question, they were more willing to answer it.”

In addition to his hall of fame career as a broadcaster, Roselle was also active in the community. He had been a member of the Board of Directors for the Lucille Ball Little Theatre for over 30 years; the Jamestown Boys and Girls Club for more than 25 years; and the James Prendergast Library. He also had been the chairman for many community events.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Hubert Funeral Home, with visitation scheduled for Saturday, March 26 from 1 to 4 pm and 6 to 9 pm in the Funeral Home.  A Christian Wake Service will be held at 12:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am Monday March 28 at St. James Catholic Church. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Boys & Girls Club, the James Prendergast Library, or Lucille Ball Little Theater in Jamestown.