Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Thumbs up to the early success of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities’ residential recycling credit program. David Leathers, BPU general manager, recently told City Council members that weekly recycling rates are between 60 and 65 percent, an increase of 25 to 30 percent compared to recycling rates before the program began. Leathers also said 80 percent of BPU customers are receiving the monthly credit. Recycling is important for the environment and in keeping BPU rates steady. It’s good to see the first several months of the rebate program have resulted in more recycling in Jamestown.
Thumbs down to a wasted trip that, it is now revealed, came at least partially on the taxpayers’ dime. Recently, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislative leaders took a goodwill trip to Israel. Cuomo said the trip would be paid for with money from his campaign fund. Unfortunately, according to a story this week in the Albany Times Union, taxpayers paid for Cuomo’s 24/7 security team. It’s unknown how many officers were assigned to the Israel trip, but public money will pay for their airfare, hotels, meals and other expenses the Times Union estimated at $13,000. It may not seem like a large sum of money, but it is money that could have been spent on any number of community projects around the state. There are several non-profit human services agencies in Chautauqua County that could have put such money to good use. Instead, it was used to pay for security for the governor’s joyride to Israel.
Thumbs up to the upcoming Jack Carlson Memorial Lawn Mower Poker Run on Saturday, Sept. 6. For years, Carlson mowed the lawns of neighbors and those of several people who couldn’t do it themselves. Once he finished, he would drive his John Deere to American Legion Post 493 in Mayville and park it. Soon after, other tractor riders, including his friends, joined him in the activity. Carlson was diagnosed with cancer and passed away, but the fundraising event that he inspired among others in the community continues in his memory, raising money for Hospice Chautauqua County. The ride begins at the legion, 144 S. Erie St., Mayville. Registration is $15 and will begin at 9 a.m. with the riding of lawn mowers starting at noon. The pack of lawn mowers will follow a course on Rails To Trails property, with a scheduled stop to draw poker cards at area establishments before finishing at the legion. For more information, visit www.hospicechautco.org or call American Legion Post at 753-7591 or Tom Przepiora at 753-6090.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Thumbs up to a three-hour event that will answer anyone’s questions about the state of Chautauqua Lake. During the Chautauqua Lake Rally from 9 a.m. until noon today at the Village Casino in Bemus Point, Doug Conroe from the Chautauqua Lake Association will be discussing blue-green algae on the lake while officials from O’Brien and Gere will be discussing the sewer integration strategy being pursued by lake organizations. A number of other topics will be discussed at the rally, including the Goose Creek Stabilization Project, the Macrophyte Management Strategy and the incorporation of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance. Numerous lake-based organizations will also be at the event with information and people to answer questions. The rally is free and open to the public. Those with concerns or who want more information about the lake’s health should be sure to attend.
Thumbs down to a lack of common sense. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law recently that prohibits direct contact between members of the public and big cats at traveling animal shows and fairs. Animal exhibitors would face fines for each violation. The legislation coincidentally arrives at a time when so-called tiger selfies have become popular profile photos on online dating sites, with users looking to stand out by posting a photo of themselves with the dangerous predators. The law should not be necessary; common sense should keep people from getting so close to tigers, lions and other big cats.
Thumbs up to the Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council for its three-part training series on heroin abuse. The next offering is from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, 219 Central Ave., Fredonia, and is presented by Dr. Davina A. Moss-King. CASAC training sessions are suitable for community members wanting to learn more about addictions and other related topics to improve their lives and the lives of others as well as treatment professionals. We know full well the work on suppliers and dealers being done by area police agencies, but CASAC’s work on addiction prevention and treatment is just as important as Chautauqua County grapples with the use of heroin and other drugs.
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Thumbs up to Bill Catania, new Stateline Speedway owner, for instituting a fine system that helps keep the track’s race car drivers inside their cars after an accident. As was reported in Thursday’s edition, hardly any drivers minded the fine system. Not only does it prevent an incident like the one last weekend involving NASCAR driver Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr., but it makes for a better show for paying customers. We’re sure more tracks will have similar rules or fines in the wake of the Stewart-Ward incident, but it’s nice to know Catania and other Stateline officials were ahead of the game.
Thumbs down to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Independent Democratic Conference leader Jeff Klein and Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos for wasting time on a goodwill trip to Israel. Of course, Cuomo won’t have to answer any questions about the failing casino gaming industry – to which Cuomo has staked plenty of state money, his Moreland Commission foibles, the SAFE Act, a still unfriendly business climate, taxes or education funding. That’s just a short list of New York’s problems. Also, unless there is a really good reason not tied to election-year gladhanding, state officials should probably not be treading on dicey foreign relations turf. The federal State Department is having enough trouble with Israel right now. We doubt Cuomo and our merry band of state leaders can help the situation.
Thumbs up to an annual event that pays homage to the tools that were used to make Chautauqua County a thriving county. The Chautauqua County Antique Equipment Show continues today and Sunday at the Antique Equipment Association Grounds on Cemetery Road, Stockton. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a performance by the Old Dawg Bluegrass Band from 5-7 p.m. at no extra charge. Sunday hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a religious song service featuring the Carlbergs at 8:30 a.m. Two thumbs up as well to the dedicated volunteers who find ways each year to keep the show fresh and expand its offerings. The show is more than worth a trip out to Stockton.
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Thumbs up to another outstanding LucyFest by the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center for Comedy and the official groundbreaking today for the Comedy Center Park behind the Gateway Train Station in Jamestown. The first three days of LucyFest have brought dozens of comedy luminaries to Jamestown, including Caroline Rhea and Tom Cotter before Jay Leno takes the stage tonight for his sold-out performance at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena – which deserves its own thumbs up for partnering with the Lucy-Desi Center by opening up its arena for Leno.
Thumbs down to a pair of continuing problems that plague area residents. Twice in the past week, parking lots in the Chautauqua Mall have flooded people’s cars. It’s not a new problem – excessive water in the area has been a problem since the 1970s. Unfortunately for people who work in the mall and nearby restaurants, this decades-old problem comes at the cost of damaged or destroyed vehicles. Another continuing problem is Falconer’s mosquito issue, an off-and-on nuisance for years but particularly during West Nile Virus scares. We note stories from The Post-Journal archives dating back to 1998 about mosquitos in Falconer, including the village’s hope that installing bat houses could help mitigate the issue. As recently as 2003, county officials hadn’t decided whether the cause of the mosquitos near Millrace Park were caused by environmental factors or manmade issues. Both problems, unfortunately, will likely take hefty sums of money and further study to solve – meaning mall parkers and Falconer residents will continue to deal with these nuisances for the time being. They shouldn’t be happy about it.
Thumbs up to legislation signed recently Gov. Andrew Cuomo to strengthen the vetting process for volunteer firefighter organizations by requiring applicants to submit to a background check for any prior sex offense convictions. The bill would also allow individual fire companies to determine if the prospective volunteer is eligible to become a volunteer member of such fire company if that person has been convicted of a registerable sex offense is found. We’re not aware of any issues locally, but this is something families who call their local volunteer firefighter shouldn’t have to worry about.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Thumbs up to all of the area youth in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties who will take their talents to the Great New York State Fair in mid-August. Thirty-nine Chautauqua County projects were chosen for the state fair while final tallies haven’t yet been released from the Cattaraugus County Fair. Each of the winning projects is the result of months or years of hard work by 4-H members with support from their parents and 4-H officials who work on these projects throughout the year.
Thumbs down to people literally playing with fire. On Tuesday, a suspicious fire destroyed the former Erie Railroad Station in Salamanca. Salamanca Fire Department officials say arson is a likely cause of the fire since the depot was abandoned, had no working utilities and had been the site of six attempted arson fires over the past six months. We also note recent incidents in which a 22-year-old Jamestown man sprayed lighter fluid on the ground near the Chautauqua County Sports Hall of Fame building on West Third Street and attempted to light it with a lighter and a Jamestown man who was recently charged after allegedly setting fire to county-owned property on Route 380. One historic building has been destroyed while two other situations were limited but could have been much worse. There is no logical reason why any of the incidents needed to happen.
Thumbs up to community support for a good cause that serves as a nice reminder of all that is right in our community. On July 26-27, Jenny Rader, a 33-year-old mother of four young boys and a nurse at WCA Hospital, held a garage sale and hot dog sale at The Spire Theater to raise money for the Bosom Buddies Walk, which raises money to support the Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Western New York Breast Resource Center. Rader participates in the event along with her family, friends and other supporters who have a desire to help her cause under the “name of Jenny’s Rack Pack,” who are one of the many teams from the Western New York area walking and raising money for the Bosom Buddies Walk. Rader’s fundraiser netted roughly $1,090 – more than the goal. The Bosom Buddies Walk will be held on Sept. 13 in East Aurora. Those who want to contribute to Rader’s team further can call 581-0919 or email ana-bolic13@yahoo.com.