Live CHQ will present a community buyout night at the Jamestown Tarp Skunks game Thursday at 6:30 p.m. All tickets for that night’s game will be free to the public courtesy of Live CHQ, which is an initiative of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. The theme for this special night is “A Salute to Chautauqua County’s First Responders,” honoring past and present members of the county’s EMS, fire, and police departments.

“We’re going to have a few of our vehicles, and I believe at least four of the surrounding volunteer firefighting companies, will bring some of their apparatus, as well as some law enforcement agencies may be coming too…but I’m not 100% on that,” said Matthew Coon, Jamestown Fire Department’s deputy fire chief. “This is a free event and open to the public.”

Pregame festivities will begin at 5 p.m. and include the “touch-a-truck” event with various first responder vehicles on hand; a meet and greet with Whiffy, the Tarp Skunks mascot and characters from Paw Patrol, provided by Chautauqua Safety Village; and volunteer fire department information and sign-up stations will be present.

Free tickets are available at Russell E. Diethrick Park the night of the game. Volunteer firefighters, local law enforcement, and EMS workers can also pick up tickets at their designated stations, with limited tickets also available at both CCIDA offices in Jamestown and Dunkirk. Any first responder group that would like tickets can also call the Tarp Skunks at 716-705-560.

Jamestown Tarp Skunk Tommy Schroeder slides into third base as Newark third baseman Ray Toth attempts to tag him out during a doubleheader baseball game held at the Russell E. Diethrick Park, recently. The Skunks are part of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League and will host a free game day July 11 to honor local first responders. P-J file photo

“Rewarding the community, and especially first responders and their families, with complimentary tickets is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the men and women who work tirelessly to keep us safe,” said Mark Geise, Chautauqua County deputy county executive of economic development, and IDA CEO. “It also serves to remind residents and businesses about Live CHQ, our talent attraction and retention initiative, which highlights all the benefits of living and working in Chautauqua County.”

Additional information can be found at TarpSkunks.com.