Tax Receipts Lower In State

State tax receipts through the first nine months of the state fiscal year were $2.5 billion lower than last year, but were $1.8 billion higher than anticipated by the state Division of the Budget, according to the monthly State Cash Report released by state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Tax receipts in the month of December totaled $8.4 billion, $422.5 million above last year, and $1.4 billion above DOB’s latest projections. Personal income tax receipts in December were $544.8 million, or 12.7%, above December 2019, due in part to an additional day of withholding in 2020. Sales tax receipts continued to fall short of the previous year in December, down $86.6 million, or 5.5%, from 2019. State Operating Funds spending through the first nine months of the fiscal year totaled $63.9 billion, which was $7.8 billion, or 10.8%, lower than last year. This is largely due to higher federal reimbursement for Medicaid spending, as well as the withholding of certain payments.

Take-Out Meals Set For Thursday

The Marvin House in Jamestown is offering a take-out meals Thursday between 3-4 p.m. that will include vegetable soup, smothered boneless pork chop with onion gravy, mashed potatoes, buttered cauliflower and homemade bread. Reservation for dinners can be made by sending an email to marvinhouse@netsync.net or calling 488-6206. The cost is $17 for members and $20 for non-members.

Active Parenting Group To Meet

Active Parenting of Teens will be held in three two-hour sessions via Zoom from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 4, 11 and 18. To register, call 780-2721 or 664-3608, ext. 226 or email Kathleen J. Colby, director of parenting, at kjcolby@preventionworks.us. The course covers teens and technology, the latest in teen drug use prevention, teen bullying, special step-parent considerations, how brain development affects teen behavior and decision-making, improved discipline and communication and updated teen sexuality issues.

Library Board To Meet Thursday

The James Prendergast Library Board of Trustees will meet at 5:15 p.m. Thursday online. All library board meetings are open to the public. To access the online board meeting, email reference@prendergastlibrary.org.

Food Pantry Is Closed

Bethel Lutheran Church has announced that its food pantry will be closed until spring. At that time the Church Council will make the decision as to whether or not the pantry will reopen

Opera House Begins Program

FREDONIA – The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is launching a new program to provide movies and other digital programming to its patrons in the wake of the continued COVID restrictions which prevent the theater from opening. The Opera House Screening Room will offer patrons access to current independent films through a special partnership with selected film studios. It debuts Friday. Patrons access films through links provided on the Opera House website and generally can view the films, once purchased, for up to 72 hours. The cost of accessing the majority of the films ranges from $4.99 to $12 per household, depending on the film. The revenue generated from the ticket purchase is shared by the Opera House and the film studios. Patrons are able to view the films on nearly any mobile device, smart TV, laptop or computer. Customers who wish to cast the films to their TVs may do so via AirPlay and Chromecast enabled devices; there are also dedicated Eventive apps available on Apple TV and Roku.