Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Thumbs up to Heil Transportation Inc., a Clymer-based company that will purchase the former Maplevale Farms building on Route 474 in Clymer. The building has been empty since 2010 when a massive amount of snow caused a roof at the facility to collapse and Maplevale to move into the former SYSCO Food Service building on Allen Street Extension in Falconer. Heil Transportation employs 75 full-time workers and drivers, which provide pickup service from more than 250 dairy farms and delivery to regional dairy plants with the company’s 45 semi trucks. Not only is a vacant building being put back into use, but Dan Heil, owner of Heil Transportation, says his company plans to use the new building as part of an expansion plan. It is good news indeed. Thumbs up as well to the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency for its work facilitating the purchase.
Thumbs up to the eight newest members of the Chautauqua County Sports Hall of Fame – Vincent Calarco, Geza Farkas, Dan Lunetta, Cindy Miller, Al Muck, Tom Prechtl, Tom Priester and Jack Wigley – as well as two days that brought a piece of baseball trailblazer Jackie Robinson to Jamestown. On Monday, the Chautauqua County Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony provided a fitting capstone to the careers of eight people who have added much to the area sports scene over the years. The evening’s keynote address was given by Sharon Robinson, Robinson’s daughter. Then, Tuesday morning Robinson spoke to hundreds of area middle school children who participated in the 10th annual Young Readers’ Program at the Robert H. Jackson Center about her book, Jackie’s Nine, and the nine principles by which Robinson lived his life: courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment and excellence.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Thumbs up to a busy Presidents Day Weekend. Those who want to partake in some outdoor fun should make their way to Mayville for the annual Presidents Day Weekend Festival which, thanks to Mother Nature’s icy touch, will feature a splendid ice castle. Events include snowball throwing contests, a chili cook-off, polar bear plunge, ice carving, a book sale at the Mayville Public Library, a cold water rescue demonstration, horsedrawn rides, snowmobile rides, a flare parade and live music at several venues throughout the Mayville area.
Thumbs up to a special Valentine. It’s quite possible you may have seen someone serenaded by the Jamestown Harmony Express. Starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, members of the Harmony Express barbershop chorus have delivered singing valentines to locations throughout the county. It’s something to keep in mind next year for those who want to give their special someone a touching and out-of-the-ordinary Valentine’s Day gift.
Thumbs up, or perhaps paws up, to Ruger, the dog who saved her owner, Larry Jantzi, when his home caught fire earlier this week. After heeding Ruger’s, Jantzi noticed smoke and a bright glow coming from his kitchen door. He quickly called 911 and left the house. Fire crews from Panama, Clymer, Ashville, Busti, Sherman, Bear Lake, Pa., and Columbus, Pa., responded to the scene shortly afterward and battled the fire for several hours. Losing a home in the dead of winter is a horrible experience for anyone. Thanks to Ruger, the situation wasn’t even worse for Jantzi and his family.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Thumbs up to for-profit businesses who lend a helping hand to area nonprofits. While our pages are filled with such examples of giving back throughout the year, three recently caught our attention. The Jamestown Cycle Shop provided a snowboard for use by Arturo Vargas from Puebla, Mexico, an AM Rotary Club exchange student attending Southwestern Central School. Wegmans is providing shelf space to help the Jamestown Audubon Center and Sanctuary sell more of its Conewango Blend birdseed. Recently, Media One Group sponsored the Souper Bowl at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club to raise money for WCA Hospital. It’s important for locals to shop local when they can. Conversely, it’s important for local business to do its part giving back to the community.
Thumbs down to a recent spate of Leandra’s Law violations. The law was written to increase penalties for those who are found guilty of driving while intoxicated with a child under the age of 16 in a vehicle. A Jamestown man was charged Sunday with violating Leandra’s Law on East Fairmount Avenue at 11:24 p.m. because his car had only one observable headlight. Police found the man, Von P. Kightlinger, was allegedly intoxicated and had a 15-year-old and 12-year-old riding in the vehicle. Late last week, Maria C. Linamen, 24, of Jamestown was involved in an accident with her child in the car. She was later charged with driving while under the influence with her 1-year-old son in the car, a Leandra’s Law DWI violation. Additional punishment is warranted, but one would hope Leandra’s Law would also make one think twice before driving under the influence with their children in the car.
Thumbs up to those who will take advantage of this old-fashioned Chautauqua County winter. The Ellery Sno-Cruisers, Kiwanis Club of Lakewood and Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club will team up for their fourth annual snowmobile poker fun on Sunday, Feb. 16, with registration starting at 11 a.m. Participants can register and start the poker run from any of seven locations involved, including: Bemus Point Golf Course, Lakeview Hotel, Witch Kitch Inn, Pine Junction, Vikings Lake Park, Trillium Lodge or Murdock’s Family Restaurant. According to Marcus Maloney, Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club event coordinator and co-chair for the poker run, 100 percent of the funds generated after expenses will be donated to the Chautauqua County Water Emergency Team and the Youth Snowmobile Education Fund. The Presidents Day Weekend Festival in Mayville from Feb. 14-16 from will feature a large ice castle made possible by the freezing cold temperatures we have had recently. If it’s going to be this cold, we might as well make the best of it – a task made much easier with such entertaining outdoor activities.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Thumbs up to focusing on those with interesting stories to tell. Edgewood Communities Presents, a series of discussions hosted by Greg Peterson and sponsored by Lutheran and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, will focus on Maria Welker at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Welker will share her life story which includes leaving her hometown during World War II and later coming to America. Speaking of the Community Foundation, nominations for the Axel W. Carlson Unsung Hero Award are due Monday, March 3. The start of a new year means the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation is seeking nominations for the 2014 Axel W. Carlson “Unsung Hero” Award, an annual honor which honors those who made significant contributions to an organization or project to better their community and who has neither received nor expects recognition or reward. Past recipients include: Lucille Miller, Debbie Long, Josh Briggs, Albert Olmstead, Mary Avery, Nancy Gaden, Kenneth Kilburn, Lorri Huckelbery, Mary Gabalski, John Bauer, Norm Merrill and, most recently, Brenda Cole. Thumbs up to those who actively engage in telling the untold stories of our region.
Thumbs up to all those who gave as part of the United Way’s 2013 Campaign. In total, the campaign raised $1,325,970, exceeding its goal by $11,000. Deke and Deb Kathman, the campaign’s co-chairpersons, used Shel Silverstein’s 1964 children’s book, “The Giving Tree,” as a theme for the campaign, so it was only fitting the book took center stage at this week’s campaign celebration. As various representatives of business, education, industrial and public service sectors were called to receive an award, each recreated the book’s classic cover by placing a section of the eponymous tree onto a posterboard-essentially symbolizing their collective effort in giving back. Campaign Achievement Awards were presented to Jamestown Public Schools, Jamestown Electro-Plating, WCD Boys & Girls Club of Jamestown, Hope’s Windows, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, Chautauqua Institution, United Parcel Service, Phoenix Metal, Nationwide Insurance-Lawson Agency, Northwest Savings Bank. In addition, the Sheldon Foundation received the Loyal Supporter Award and Wegmans received the Friend of United Way Award. The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County helps support 39 programs at 18 partner agencies.
Thumbs up to the Winfred Crawford Dibert Boys and Girls Club’s yearlong series of events to celebrate its 75th anniversary. A football-themed event held recently at the club started the festivities, with members participating in a variety of football activities and receiving a football as a memory of the event. For February members will make “I love my Club” posters to be displayed throughout the club. The Boys and Girls Club – with help from funders like the United Way and Chautauqua Region Community Foundation – has made a difference in the lives of countless children who have turned into vital members of our society. As noteworthy as this 75th birthday is, it is even more impressive that the club has remained such an important and thriving organization in Jamestown.