Thumbs up to city officials for not letting minor issues with the New Flyer site on Fluvanna Avenue hold the business back from opening. As we said earlier, getting the business up and running makes a difference to 34 families who will benefit from the jobs created in the plant. It would have been nice if all of the questions city Planning Commission members had could have been answered before the plant opened, but Jamestown officials did the right thing in allowing New Flyer to open.

Thumbs up to the eventual reopening of theUnion Gospel Mission. The shelter closed in October 2015 when its former director retired after 43 years on the job. The United Christian Advocacy Network acquired the building when the mission’s assets were dispersed. UCAN has been saving money for the last year and a half to have start-up money to reopen the shelter and to be able to buy toiletries, mattresses, bedding, larger cooking utencils, pots and pans and other necessities. Eventually, UCAN officials hope to have long-term transitional housing while helping those living in the shelter search for jobs, learn soft skills and offer small group sessions for program participants. To donate funds to benefit the mission, Quattrone said to send a check made out to UCAN to United Christian Advocacy Network, P.O. Box 202, Lakewood, NY. To donate items or volunteer, he invites individuals and groups to call him at 490-3300 or email him at quattronej@gmail.com.

Thumbs up to Ben Cecchini, a 2009 Jamestown High School graduate, who is taking a break from his job at Under Armour to volunteer as a teacher and youth basketball coach in Accra, Ghana, for three months through a volunteer program called Sporting Opportunities.  The program has ties to Ghana’s national basketball team, which Cecchini said could help him land a graduate assistant position at a college or university to coach while he works on a master’s degree in biomechanics and engineering. Cecchini is raising the $7,000 he needs to attend. To help, visit https://fundly.com/ghana-give-back-1 or send a check payable to Ben Cecchini with “Sporting Opportunities” in the memo to Leslie Hallock (Cecchini’s mother) at 580 Front St., Jamestown, 14701.