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A Summer Of Fun Ahead

Summer has kicked into high gear already in Chautauqua County, so plan now to make the most of it! There will be no shortage of festivals, events, recreation, and attractions.

The First Friday series just kicked off in Westfield and continues the first Friday of each month: July 6, August 3, and September 7, through the season. This street fair along Main Street includes live music, shopping, food, wine, art, and more and is sponsored by the Westfield-Barcelona Community Chamber of Commerce. This year, be sure to tour Westfield area businesses, too, to see the Westfield Fish: large cutout fish decorated by local merchants and residents.

The Jamestown Jammers season kicked off this weekend and there are many weeks of great baseball ahead at Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Park in Jamestown. The Jammers play in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, featuring some exceptional baseball talent!

Dunkirk’s award winning Music on the Pier summer concert series begins June 7 with Strictly Hip on stage in beautiful Dunkirk Harbor. Additional bands will perform each Thursday night.

Back for its 38th year, the Annual Strawberry Festival at Merritt Estate Winery in Forestville is June 9-10, with live music, craft vendors, a classic car show, and of course wine tastings and winery tours.

The Great Lakes Experience Festival returns to Dunkirk on Saturday June 9. This is a free family event featuring environmental displays, health and wellness organizations, live animals, food trucks, and a free fishing event.

The 2018 summer season at Chautauqua Institution opens June 23 with Grammy award winner Alison Krauss on the Amphitheater stage. The season continues through August 26, with spectacular entertainment, lectures, classes, and more.

The Lily Dale Assembly, the largest center for Spiritualism in the world, opens its summer season June 29.

The PGA Web.com LECOM Health Challenge returns to Peek’n Peak in Clymer for the third year in a row, July 5-8. The Web.com Tour is made up of some of the finest up and coming golfers, and is an important stop on their way to earning a PGA card.

The annual Music in the Park summer concert series sponsored by the Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber begins July 5 with hometown favorite Jackson Rohm and continues each Thursday evening with a variety of family-friendly entertainment.

This summer season, the Chautauqua Theater Company is presenting Free Will: Shakespeare in the Park, at several locations. You can see As You Like It, performed by a professional theater company, for free at 5pm, June 24 at Bestor Plaza, Chautauqua; 7pm, June 28 at Allen Park, Jamestown; 6:30pm July 18 and August 1 at Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood; 6:30pm, August 2 at Lakeside Park, Mayville; and 7pm, August 15 at Allen Park, Jamestown.

The Wild America Nature Festival returns this year July 28-29 at Panama Rocks Scenic Park. Co-hosted by the Park and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, this outstanding festival will again feature some of the finest in nature art along with natural foods, beverages, and vendors.

With eager anticipation, we look forward to the opening of the brand new National Comedy Center in Jamestown in early August. The grand opening will coincide with the 2018 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, August 1-5, featuring some big named stars in the world of comedy including Amy Schumer; Saturday Night Live originators Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman; Lily Tomlin, and more!

In addition to the Jammers season there’s even more baseball coming this summer, too, as the Babe Ruth Baseball 16-18 Year-Old World Series returns to Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Park August 4-11.

For the first time this year, Dunkirk will host the Great Lakes Offshore Grand Prix August 17-19. The Lake Erie waterfront at Dunkirk will provide prime viewing opportunities for this huge international speed boat racing event.

This is just a sampling of the numerous extraordinary offerings here in Chautauqua County this summer season, and don’t forget to take advantage of the many beaches, hiking trails, boating and bicycling opportunities, and more countywide. We encourage residents and visitors alike to frequently check the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau calendar online at www.tourchautauqua.com to enjoy everything Chautauqua County has to offer in the summer!

HIRE AND TRAIN GOOD EMPLOYEES

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and JCC Continuing Education are proud to present an important topic for the next Business Over Bagels, which will be held Tuesday, June 19 at the JCC North Training Center, 10785 Bennett Road, Dunkirk. Trainer Elizabeth Cipolla will present Hire and Train Good Employees, with a focus on building a strong workforce. Businesses know that it takes time and money to find, hire, and train employees. Hiring the right employee is worth the effort, while hiring one who doesn’t work out is a cost to the business. Join us for this morning session that will explore a variety of topics including how to advertise for new employees, how to interview potential candidates, onboarding new employees, how to clearly state job expectations, and more.

Elizabeth Cipolla has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Bonaventure University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication. Throughout her nearly 20 year career she has served as an experienced organizational behavior and human resources leader within various industries including aerospace, automotive manufacturing and insurance. In her current role as Vice President of Talent Development at Catapult, she partners with executive clients representing numerous industries to cultivate comprehensive organizational development strategies aimed at improving morale, team productivity and overall business sustainability.

Business Over Bagels is sponsored by Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, DFT Communications, M & T Bank, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. The cost for this training seminar is $25 per person for Chamber member businesses or $30 for non-members. Check-in begins at 8am with a continental breakfast and the program starts at 8:30. To register call Continuing Education at the JCC North Training Center at (716) 363-6590.

A SNEAK PEEK COMEDY EXTRAVAGANZA IS JUNE 7

Space is filling up fast so reserve your spot now to attend this once in a lifetime event! The Chautauqua County and Jamestown Community Chambers of Commerce are excited to be co-hosting a one-night only event in partnership with the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau and the National Comedy Center. Laugh Out Loud: a Sneak Peek Comedy Extravaganza will be held Thursday, June 7 at this brand new attraction at 211 West Second Street, Jamestown. This amazing evening will combine two events, giving guests the option of attending one, the other, or both. The evening will begin with a Chamber Business After Hours, will include exclusive preview tours of the National Comedy Center, and will conclude with the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau Annual Dinner Meeting. Sponsors for the Chamber’s Business After Hours event are: Affinity One Federal Credit Union, AFLAC, Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, David Snow State Farm Agency, DFT Communications, Infinity Resources, Jamestown Jammers, KeyBank, M & T Bank, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Shawbucks Press Room, UBS Financial Services, and Univera Healthcare Southern Tier.

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