2018 march voice

A monthly newsletter from the

Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce March 2018 Wow! The National Comedy Center is Going to Be Amazing We were privileged to get an advance tour of the National Comedy Center recently.

The reuse of the former Jamestown train station will not only be beautiful, it will also be a highly advanced center for interactive technology. Wow! Amazing! This is a ‘big freaking deal’ for Jamestown, for the region and for New York State. I cannot wait for opening day!

If you’re thinking that the National Comedy Center will be an extension of the current Lucy-Desi Museum for Comedy, think again. This new and extraordinary space will house some comedy artifacts, but more than that it will highlight and personalize an encounter that allows each visitor to reflect on the nature of comedy as they see it and to experience comedy in their own way.

Whether you’re a fan of Jerry Seinfeld or Rodney Dangerfield, you’ll be presented with a comedy experience tailored to your tastes. If you like Tina Fey or Joan Rivers, you’ll see, hear, and feel comedy material that is meaningful to you. Think of a buffet, where there are dishes to please everyone, but you can choose your favorite items. Now think about that happening through a series of holograms, Photo caption: All smiles at the National Comedy Center animations, theater venues, audio and visual pieces, and much more. In addition, it will all happen in an architecturally fascinating space that blends the centuries through exposed brick combined with the use of color and high end materials and fixtures. Even while it’s still under construction, we can see already that it will be a wonderland for the senses.

This new national attraction is slated to open at the beginning of August. Contractors and staff are confidently hustling to meet that deadline. So for the rest of us these questions remain: Is our community ready to welcome a projected 112,000 visitors annually? Do we have the infrastructure in place to support this center? Can visitors find parking, and also find other attractions, restaurants, and businesses while they’re here?

How will the National Comedy Center affect existing businesses?

Some of these issues remain unresolved and we are working with others in the community to ensure the best possible experience for visitors. There is adequate parking available in Jamestown, so we need to be able to point people to available parking ramps and lots with appropriate signage. We also need way-finding signs in the downtown area so that visitors can find all the great attractions as well as restaurants, entertainment, and retailers. We strongly encourage all state and local elected officials to continue their work on these efforts.

Calendar of Chamber and Chamber Member Events

3/15 - 5:30pm, Free Workshop, Your Aging Spine, Chautauqua PT & OT 3/17 - 10am-Noon, Concord Spellbinders Toastmasters Open House, Room 105, Jewett Hall, SUNY Fredonia. For information call Jim Rawcliffe at (716) 672-2662 3/17 - 10am-2pm, Grand Re-Opening, Off the Beaten Path Bookstore, Lakewood 3/17 - 10:30am-Noon, Jamestown Chamber will Turn the River Green, Brooklyn Square, Jamestown 3/17 - 11am-3pm, St. Susan Center Annual Basket Fair, JCC Physical Education Building 3/20 - 9-11:30am, OSHA Safety Updates for 2018, JCC Continuing Ed 3/22 - 5-6:30pm, Business After Hours with the Chamber at Mazza/Five & 30 Spirits and Brewing 3/22 - 5:30pm, Free Workshop, Solutions for Hand, Wrist & Finger Pain, Chautauqua PT & OT 3/24 - 8-10am, NCCF Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebees, Vineyard Drive, Dunkirk 3/24 - 10am-4pm, Grow Jamestown Garden Fair, Northwest Arena 3/26 & 27 - 10 hour OSHA General Industry training at JCC Continuing Ed, Jamestown campus 4/5 - 6pm, EBC West Spring Beer Pairing Dinner

Some of the major construction projects happening in tandem with the National Comedy Center will be accomplished prior to its opening, including at least a portion of the reconstruction of West Second Street between Washington and Lafayette to create a piazza that can be open to traffic and, when needed, easily closed off for festivals and functions. The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts also expects to have its lobby renovations completed before the Comedy Center ribbon cutting.

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and Jamestown Up Close are developing an Ambassador Program, designed to create knowledgeable, positive, and visible hubs where visitors can find the information or directions they need. Going hand-in-hand with that, the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau recently worked with the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation to develop a series of fun, online, video tutorials about creating a strong customer service staff for any business. All of these things are good business practices to begin with, and we recommend that any business owner or employee work within these frameworks and with the JRC and CCVB. In addition, the Chamber stands ready to work with any business to assist in strengthening your online presence, which is vitally important to connect with travelers who may be seeking local flavor during their stay in the area.

While we are accustomed to having summer visitors in Chautauqua County to enjoy our lakes, quaint villages, and historic sites, this new attraction will further elevate our region into a tourism destination on a national and international level that we have not seen before. This will be an economic driver for our whole area. Let’s all buckle up together, and get ready for an amazing and fun-filled ride.

Business After Hours at Mazza/Five & 20 Spirits March 22 The Westfield-Barcelona Community Chamber of Commerce and Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend an Experience Chautauqua Business After Hours networking event at Mazza/Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing, 8398 West Main Road, Route 20, Westfield.

This event will take place from 5-6:30pm on Thursday, March 22. You can enjoy appetizers, spirit sampling, and a cash bar from their terrific selections. Come prepared to talk about your business, and bring along a business card to be eligible for door prize drawings.

The cost is just $13 for preregistered Chamber members or $15 for non-members or walkins at the door. To register, call the Chamber at (716) 366-6200 or sign up online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events.

Chamber Gift Checks Will Expire This Year If you have paper checks from the long standing Chamber gift check program, please use them prior to their expiration date. All of these paper checks expire one year from the date of issuance. Due to our transition to the Shoptauqua Gift Card program, the old account for redeeming those checks will be closed September 30, 2018. After that date those checks can no longer be redeemed. Chamber members who previously accepted gift checks should continue to accept them through September. Once the account is closed those checks can no longer be honored.

Eventz by Scott Opens Venue 31 Local event planner Scott Mekus held a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration Friday, February 23 at Venue 31 located at 31 North Main Street in Jamestown. Building owners and landlords Mekus and his partner Bill Burley bought the former Carlson Jewelers

two-story historical unit under the B & S Rental Properties, LLC title in January 2017. The original building was established in 1910 and now is named 31 Main.

After a year of renovation, the remodeled space includes an all occasion banquet room known as Venue 31, an attached staging/prep area, two bathrooms and the Eventz

by Scott office. Within the rentable modern space, there is a fireplace, mantle, smart TV and ice machine access. Venue 31 can hold up to sixty people seated and more for other types of events. The space is ideal for birthday, anniversary and surprise parties, showers, corporate meetings, craft/club parties and other small events.

With the local grant assistance from the City of Jamestown CDBG Program and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Building and Business Improvement Grant for the overall renovation, the iconic building now sports a new, lighted vaudeville 31 Main sign that hangs horizontally along Main Street.

“We are very fortunate to be a part of the downtown Jamestown vibe as business owners and landlords,” said Mekus. “Everyone has been so welcoming and we both appreciate the support, guidance and multiple collaborations through this process.

Jamestown is back on the map and we look forward to seeing all the exciting things happening in our town we call home.”

A special part of the interior design includes a black and white photo wall mural of Jamestown’s historical Present’s Jewelry which was located in the same building decades earlier. The words 31 Main also adorn the mural which were purchased from the Reg Lenna after they updated their exterior marquee to a digital format.

Grand opening guest speakers included Vince DeJoy, City of Jamestown Director of Development; Lisa Hatch, Jamestown Renaissance Center Executive Director; Guy Ditonto, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Director of Member Services and Jacqueline Chiarot-Phelps, Regional Director for Congressman Tom Reed.

The event also included a nearby “neighborhood feel” with food provided by Havana Cuban Café, Cherry Lounge, Harvest Café and Gypsy Moon Cake Company, music compliments of Steve Trapani of Collector’s Paradise, artwork for sale provided by local artist Gary Peters, Jr., and photography by Jon Elder Productions.

The owners would like to thank the following organizations and companies that have helped make this project come to fruition through their knowledge, insight and patience: City of Jamestown Department of Development, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, Community Bank, N.A., Century 21 Turner Brokers, K and B Construction of WNY, Moonlight Electric of Jamestown, Burnett’s Flooring, Heritage Mechanical, Chautauqua Signs Company, Trinity Electric, Strickland Refrigeration, Jamestown Awning and Party Tents, Lamar Advertising, Kwik Solutions, 2nd Look Graphic Design and Fresh Press Studios, Inc. Eventz by Scott is a full-service event planning company that specializes in all types of parties, weddings, carnivals, holiday events, community/corporate functions, fund raisers, scavenger hunts, event décor, face painting, costume characters, basket/balloon deliveries, household/estate sales and more.

For more information or to book/tour Venue 31, contact Mekus at (716) 7200564, e-mail smekus@eventzbyscott.com or visit www.eventzbyscott.com.

Photo caption: A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Friday, February 23 at 31 Main to announce the opening of Venue 31 and the Event by Scott’s office. Renovation grants were provided by the City of Jamestown Department of Development CDBG Program and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Building and Business Improvement Program.

Chamber members are always invited to submit news articles and photos for publication in our monthly online VOICE newsletter. Please email written submissions to: swebster@chautauquachamber.org no later than the 25th of the month for publication the following month.

EBC West Spring Pairing Dinner April 5 EBC West, 34 West Main Street, Fredonia, will hold its Spring Pairing Dinner on Thursday, April 5, from 6-8:30pm.

Inspired by seasonal flavors and cuisine, our pairing dinners are truly a unique five-course dining experience. Each item is thoughtfully paired with locally-crafted EBC brews and specially prepared for one evening only by our head chef Johnny B. You can learn more or register online at ellicottvillebrewing.com/ ebc-west-fredonia.

OSHA Safety Updates for 2018 The Jamestown Community College Center for Continuing Education, JCC, and the Small Business Development Center, are co-sponsoring OSHA Safety training program in March.

OSHA Updates will be held on Tuesday, March 20, from 911:30am on JCC’s Jamestown Campus. This session will cover “What’s New” within OSHA including how OSHA selects establishments to be inspected, OSHA inspections and penalties, the Safe + Sound campaign, OSHA Stand-Downs, various other safety and health campaigns that OSHA is promoting, a brief overview of OSHA’s newest regulations including respirable crystalline silica, beryllium, walking and working surfaces, resources where small employers can obtain help in complying with OSHA regulations, and a brief description of significant cases and what went wrong . If time permits, the session will cover a “Virtual Inspection”.

This session will cover the basic mechanics of OSHA recordkeeping such as: Who has to keep OSHA injury and illness records? What records have to be kept? What has to be recorded? How long do injury and illness records have to be retained? What injuries or illnesses need to be reported to OSHA? When do employers have to electronically submit their OSHA injury and illness data to OSHA? What are the top recordkeeping violations?

At the conclusion of this session, these questions and others will be addressed so that those attending should have a basic under-standing of the OSHA recordkeeping regulations.

The instructor is Gordon DeLeys, Compliance Assistance Specialist with OSHA. Mr. DeLeys has worked for the Buffalo Area OSHA Office for the past 32+ years. He has held the position of Indus-trial Hygienist, Assistant Area Director for Health Compliance, Acting Area Director and Compliance Assistance Spe-cialist.

In his role as a Compliance Assistance Specialist, he provides information to groups on how to comply with the OSHA regulations. He also works with high-performing worksites in helping them to continually improve their ex-isting safety and health management systems through the Voluntary Protection Program.

In addition, The 10-Hour General Industry Training will be held on JCC’s Jamestown Campus from 9am-3pm March 26 and 27.

This 10-hour General Industry training covers OSHA’s required curriculum for worker safety instruction, including: hazard identification, accident prevention and worker rights & responsibilities. This program is presented by an authorized General Industry Outreach Trainer and upon successful completion of the course participants receive OSHA’s 10-Hour General Industry Occupational Safety and Health Training card.

The program will help companies reduce costly accidents and the

risk of OSHA citations, fines and penalties by teaching employees to assess risk, improve safety awareness and prevent accidents.

Course topics include: introduction to OSHA, Slips, Trips & Falls Protection, Fire Prevention/Egress/Emergency Action Plans, Electrical (Lock Out/Tag Out), Personal Protective Equipment, Hazard Communication (GHS), Machine Guarding, Ergonomics/Safe Lifting, and elements of an effective Safety & Health Program.

To register for these classes, please call JCC Continuing Education at 338-1005.

Never Losing Heart: Dunkirk-Fredonia’s Miracle of Determination, Grit, and Love Submitted by Brooks Memorial Hospital On a typical January Monday one year ago, 53-year old Linda Nieldbalski, vice president, business development officer at M&T Bank, headed to meet a client for a morning appointment. Shortly after that meeting, Linda felt an unusual sensation penetrating into her back and jaw, along with a feeling in her chest she describes as acid reflux.

Presuming these symptoms were related to a hot flash, or possibly the flu, Linda headed back home to rest for the remainder of the day. Upon her arrival, however, Eric Niedbalski noticed his wife didn’t look well, and insisted they head to the Brooks Hospital emergency department. Eric’s resolve proved to be the decision of a lifetime, as moments after arriving at the hospital, Linda collapsed into cardiac arrest.

Michael Klein, DO, emergency department physician at Brooks Memorial Hospital, remembers that day clearly. “Linda was in bed #5 suffering a massive heart attack. Her heart quivered with ventricular fibrillation, which caused her blood pressure to plummet. I’ll be honest, it didn’t look good.”

Forty-five minutes into CPR, shocks to the heart with a defibrillator, and multiple medication administrations, Dr. Klein approached Eric with words a husband never wants to hear. Linda wasn’t expected to make it.

Those who know Linda’s moxie will not be surprised to hear that this day was far from being her last. Despite the bleak prognosis she stabilized and joined in the conversation between her doctor and husband. Once again, however, she went into cardiac arrest.

This cycle went on for three and a half hours and seventyseven defibrillation shocks to the heart.

Linda was transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester where she was a candidate for a heart transplant. For two grueling weeks, Linda was on life support and later placed in a medically induced coma. Upon waking, she learned that her legs had been amputated just above the knees due to the loss of blood flow to her organs related to the heart attack.

Just over one year later, Linda’s infectious laughter is a wellknown presence throughout Brooks as she undergoes rigorous rehabilitation / physical therapy three times each week.

“I had to re-learn everything, from talking to feeding myself.

To hear me today, you would never know that”, Linda laughs. In fact, she rarely stops laughing and smiling. But she does on occasion, just long enough to look at her husband and best friend Eric, and grab his hand.

Kristen Wallace, physical therapist, describes her as fierce.

“We’re helping her learn to walk with prosthesis by strengthening her core muscles. She’s recently walked 320 feet. She’s incredibly strong willed with an amazing character,” Kristen said.

“I miss wearing my suits to work and I get painful ghost pains in my feet,” Linda said. Other than that, there isn’t a negative or defeated word from her. “I want to do everything I used to do, like ride our four-wheeler, garden, walk up the stairs to my master bedroom, and drive,” she said.

The Niedbalski’s credit Dr. Klein and the entire ED team, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacist, EMTs, respiratory therapists and paramedics for saving her life. “They never gave up on me. They just wouldn’t give up.”

Audubon Exclusives: An Artisan Country Breakfast Audubon Exclusives is a new initiative of Audubon Community Nature Center. Board members and serious champions offer distinctive opportunities and unusual experiences in support of Audubon’s work.

Artist and board member Wendy Bale is opening her 1880’s former boarding house for one of the first Audubon Exclusives, “An Artisan Country Breakfast.” On Sunday morning, March 18, Bale will prepare a big country breakfast of baked French toast, local free-range eggs, sausage, fruit and more. The meal will be served on hand-made pottery in the dining hall of her home.

After the hearty meal, you will tour Bale’s art studio to see naturethemed cut paper sculpture and a demonstration of her techniques.

Then on to a tour of her husband, Sandhill Bill’s, workshop to see wood furniture in progress, including his new river series pieces.

Weather-permitting, you can work off the breakfast with an optional hike at the Audubon Community Nature Center, less than a mile down the road. All of the proceeds of this event go directly to the Nature Center.

Cost is $45, and space is limited to eight guests. Reservations are required by Monday, March 12, and can be made online through the Programs page at auduboncnc.org.

Also on the Audubon Exclusives page at auduboncnc.org are details about dinners prepared by Willow Fodor. These vegetarian delights are served at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church before GreenUp Jamestown events on Wednesdays, March 7, 14, 28, and May 2.

Photo caption: Audubon Community Nature Center Program Director Jennifer Schlick stopped by Wendy Bale’s 1880’s former boarding house to sample her baked French toast. You can enjoy this treat at “An Artisan Country Breakfast” and then tour Bale’s artist studio and her husband Bill’s wood-crafting workshop. Space

is limited, and March 12 is the reservation deadline for the Sunday, March 18, event.

Photo caption: With the coming of spring, Audubon Community Nature Center will welcome as many as 4,500 students from schools in Chautauqua and Warren Counties. The only requirements for volunteers to lead them on Discovery Walks are a love of the outdoors, an interest in inspiring children, and a willingness to learn. Audubon will provide the training, and the experience will be its own reward.

You Can be a Volunteer Trail Guide at Audubon Help wanted: Volunteer trail guides. No experience necessary. Training provided. Requirements: love of the natural world and desire to share it with future generations. Job description: Lead small groups of children on outdoor discovery walks. Reward: The smiles on the children’s faces.

Thousands of Pre-K through 4th grade students from throughout Chautauqua and Warren Counties will visit Audubon Community Nature Center this spring to experience and learn about the outdoors. They will be led on Discovery Walks by people like you: folks who would like to make the world a better place by inspiring curiosity about nature through age-appropriate activities.

While many local residents have had the rewarding experience of being a trail guide, Audubon needs more trail guides this spring.

Catherine Willard, an experienced Audubon trail guide, was inspired to volunteer by her own mother, “Grandmother Nature,” aka Norma Willard, who had 30 years of trail guiding. Catherine says, “Many children don't know an adult who likes to go outside. These kids learn about nature from television and know more about the Amazon rain forest than they do about the Chadakoin River.” To encourage others, she points out that, “As a trail guide, you will have memorable encounters each week!”

Retired math professor Rick Rupprechts says that, as a volunteer trail guide, he likes to help the children learn to use all of their senses. “Every walk is different,” he points out. “We look to spot as many different, interesting, and exciting things as we can. It is impossible to plan everything you will see, but wondering what we might see next is what makes it so exciting.”

Rupprecht adds that, “Sadly, some children have never experienced something like Audubon. As a walk leader, you play a major role in how the experience impacts them.”

If you would like to learn more about this opportunity to enrich both your own life as well as the lives of eager children, you are invited to participate in a New Trail Guide Orientation at the Nature Center on Wednesday, March 28, 10-11:30 a.m.

Reservations for the free program are required by Monday, March 26, and can be made through the Programs page at auduboncnc.org.

After this introduction, if it feels like a good fit, you can attend the four-day Trail Guide Training. These sessions on Wednesday

mornings in April are required for both new and returning trail guide volunteers. More information about the orientation and the training is on the Programs page at auduboncnc.org.

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren, Pa. The three-story Nature Center building contains interactive displays, a collection of live animals, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop; building hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sundays 1-4 p.m. The 600-acre wetland preserve with more than five miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, and Liberty, the nonreleasable Bald Eagle, can be visited from dawn until dusk daily.

To learn more about Audubon and its many programs, call (716) 569-2345 during business hours or visit auduboncnc.org.

Photo caption: “Light and Shadows and How They Interact” is the topic for the image review at the Audubon Nature Photography Club meeting on Thursday evening, March 15. This image, titled “Into the Shadows,” was photographed by one of the Club members.

Audubon Nature Photography Club Meeting, Thursday, March 15 Jamestown, N.Y. – “Light and Shadows and How They Interact” is the topic for the image review that opens the Audubon Nature Photography Club’s regular meeting on Thursday evening, March 15, at 6:15 p.m.

You are invited to come and see how participants interpret and portray this subject.

There will also be a show-and-tell time when members can share some of their best pictures.

The featured speaker will be announced at the meeting.

A social time follows the program.

First-time visitors are welcome to participate free of charge. The annual membership is $30. Among the benefits of membership are discounts on photography classes, field trips, and the right to show photos at Club exhibits.

The Jamestown Audubon Nature Photography Club meets at the Audubon Community Nature Center, 1600 Riverside Road, onequarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren, Pa. For more information contact Audubon Nature Photography Club President Cathy Abers-Kimball at (716) 664-3707 daytime or cathy@2ndlookgraphics.com or Vice President David Engstom at (814) 688-6474 or dceldpix523@gmail.com. You can also visit the Club blog at www.jasphotoclub.wordpress.com or the Facebook page, facebook.com/jasphotoclub789.

Photo caption: At Thursday afternoon classes at the Mental Health Association, you learn about healthy eating under the leadership of Else Alonge, nutrition educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Eat Smart Group at MHA Thursday Afternoons Healthy eating classes have been added to the many groups that meet regularly at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County (MHA).

With a focus on nutrition and healthy living, the Eating Smart group meets weekly at 1 p.m. on Thursdays at the MHA, 31 Water Street, Door 14, in the rear of the Gateway Center.

Else Alonge, nutrition educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua County, leads the group based on Eat Smart New York (ESNY) Nutrition Education.

ESNY provides nutrition education materials and sponsors education events and classes in local communities on a variety of nutrition topics. These topics include healthy eating on a budget, smart shopping for vegetables and fruit, healthy meal planning, basic cooking and food safety skills, weight control and physical activity.

The goals of the Eat Smart New York program are to eat more fruits and vegetables, drink less sugar-sweetened beverages, exercise more and balance calories eaten as part of a healthy lifestyle.

For more information about Eat Smart New York, visit albany.cce.cornell.edu/eat-smart-new-york.

The MHA is a peer-run organization offering support services to people with substance use disorders and all other forms of mental health diagnosis. The MHA works in collaboration with local treatment providers, other non-profits, community-based partners, and treatment courts to empower individuals in attaining their goals. In an accepting environment, it provides recovery coaching by certified peer specialists as well as support groups and classes.

There is no charge for any of the MHA’s services or programs.

Anyone with questions or in need of services for themselves or a family member is welcome to call or stop in. Hours are MondayWednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To learn more about the MHA, call (716) 661-9044 or visit www.mhachautauqua.org or www.facebook.com/ MHAChautauqua. ###

Toastmasters Open House is March 17 The Concord Spellbinders Toastmasters Club is pleased to host their Open House on Saturday morning, March 17 from 10amNoon. The theme of this event is "business and speech". It will feature three speakers who will talk about how speaking well in public is essential to success in business and public life. Former Mayor of Fredonia Steve Keefe will be one of three visiting speakers to discuss the advantages of public speaking training. Guests are welcome and refreshments will be provided. This event will be held in Room 105, the Basement Amphitheater at Jewett Hall on the SUNY Fredonia campus. For more information contact Jim Rawcliffe at (716) 672-2662.

Try Therapy First Sessions Set for March Chautauqua Physical & Occupational Therapy has a series of free workshops and seminars in its Try Therapy First Series scheduled for March.

Thursday, March 1 is Understanding Back Pain & Sciatica, presented by Jacob McBride, MPT, Senior Therapist. It will be held at the Mayville Professional Building. Each guest will receive the Top 10 Most Burning Questions for Sciatica as a special bonus.

Solutions for Knee Pain will be held Thursday, March 8 from 5:30-6:30pm at the Riverwalk Center, Jamestown. Presented by Dr. Brian Mata, Orthopedic Surgeon, of Great Lakes Physician Practice, this workshop is designed to respond to questions and help you make an action plan for knee care.

Your Aging Spine: Focus on Prevention will be held Thursday, March 15 from 5:30-6:30pm at the Riverwalk Center, Jamestown.

Michael Geraci, Jr., MD, PT, the Medical Director and owner of Geraci Spine & Sports Medicine will talk about motion for life and getting you back to the things you love. Dr. Geraci is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine.

Solutions for Hand, Wrist & Finger Pain will be held Thursday, March 22, from 5:30-6:30pm at the Riverwalk Center, Jamestown.

This is for anyone who enjoys knitting, gardening, or other hand or wrist projects. Presenters are Amy Livengood, OTR/L, CEASII and Morgan Monahan, OTR. Seating is limited for all of these events. For more information or to register, call Chautauqua PT & OT at (716) 488-2322.

Jackson Center Presents Author of Inspirational Autobiography: “Felon-Attorney” The Robert H. Jackson Center, a non-profit dedicated to promoting liberty under law through the examination of the life and work of Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson and his legacy’s relevance to current events and issues presents attorney and author TheArthur Duncan, II to speak on Friday, March 9, 2018, at 9:30a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Robert H. Jackson Center, 305 East 4th Street, Jamestown. The programs are free and open to the public. Robert H. Jackson Center President Susan Moran Murphy made the announcement.

Hear the inspirational life story of Buffalo native TheArthur Duncan. Mr. Duncan’s journey takes him from a difficult home life, gang run-ins in Los Angeles, and trafficking drugs on the streets of Buffalo to a felony conviction and incarceration.

Upon release from prison, he attended and graduated from Erie County Community College and the University at Buffalo, while working full time and supporting his family of six. With no assurance that he would be admitted to the Bar to practice law, Duncan continued to persevere in spite of seemingly insurmountable hurdles and graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 2012.

Mr. Duncan’s journey eventually led him to be sworn in as an attorney by the same judge who sentenced him for his criminal conviction years earlier in federal court. In 2015, Duncan authored

an inspiring autobiography, “Felon-Attorney,” recounting his journey.

The Jackson Center will livestream Duncan’s address. Anyone interested in this online viewing opportunity should call the Jackson Center at 716-483-6646 and request the link information.

The Jackson Center is also making this opportunity to hear TheArthur Duncan available to students and educators from Jamestown, Dunkirk and Warren area high schools.

This program is made possible by Jackson Center annual fund donors and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

The Robert H. Jackson Center is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that envisions a global society where the universal principles of equality, fairness and justice prevail. The Center invites and engages students of all ages, scholars, educators, national officials and international dignitaries to analyze contemporary issues of peace and justice through the lens of Justice Jackson’s body of work.

Opera House Presents Rare Opera Not Performed at Met in 25 Years Live at the Met, the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live, high definition (HD) opera transmissions to theaters around the world, continues its 2017-18 season at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House on Sat., March 10, at 1 p.m., with Gioachino Rossini’s Semiramide, last presented at the Met nearly 25 years ago.

This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks features an allstar bel canto cast that includes, in her Met role debut, Angela Meade, in the title role of the murderous Queen of Babylon.

Meade squares off in breathtaking duets with Elizabeth DeShong in the trouser role of Arsace, Commander of the Assyrian Army.

Javier Camarena is the Indian king Idreno, Ildar Abdrazakov is Prince Assur, and Ryan Speedo Green is the high priest Oroe.

Semiramide is the culmination of the Italian phase of Rossini’s monumental yet unusual career. He had already produced such immortal comedies as Il Barbiere di Siviglia and L’Italiana in Algeri, but in the early 19th century he was celebrated above all else for his tragedies – none more so than Semiramide. For decades after its premiere, the opera swept through the music capitals of Europe and beyond, enthralling audiences with its urgent, transcendentally beautiful use of melody; undeniably exhilarating drama; and, most importantly, astonishing vocal displays.

The music of Semiramide combines the cherished assets of Rossini’s style – magnificent vocalism, irresistible melody, buoyant energy – with achievements unique to this score. The extremely difficult vocal style necessary for the solos is evident from the title

character’s ravishing aria, “Bel raggio lusinghier.”

Live at the Met telecasts are now shown in more than 2,000 theaters in 73 countries, making the Met the only arts institution with an ongoing global art series of this scale. The Met was the first arts company to experiment with this type of broadcast, beginning on a modest scale in 2006 and growing every season since then, with more than 10 million tickets sold to date.

Met Opera stars serve as hosts for the series, conducting live interviews with cast members, crew and production teams, and introducing the popular behind-the-scenes features; altogether, the worldwide audience is given an unprecedented look at what goes into the staging of an opera at one of the world’s great houses.

Individual tickets to each of the operas in the season are $20, ($18 Opera House members, $10 students). A flexible subscription of eight tickets which can be used however you want – one at a time to eight different operas, all at once for eight people, or anything in between – is available for $142. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 716-679-1891, Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online anytime at www.fredopera.org.

The Opera House is equipped with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or Opera House staff member.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House is a member-supported notfor-profit organization located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.

Photo Caption: Live at the Met, the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live, high definition (HD) opera transmissions to theaters around the world, continues its 2017-18 season at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House on Sat., March 10, at 1 p.m., with Gioachino Rossini’s Semiramide, last presented at the Met nearly 25 years ago. This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks features an all-star bel canto cast that includes, in her Met role debut, Angela Meade, in the title role of the murderous Queen of Babylon, and Ildar Abdrazakov as Prince Assur.

Opera House Cinema Series to Screen Oscar’s Best Picture The next feature film in the Opera House Cinema Series is “The Shape of Water,” nominated for 13 Oscars, and winner of the Best Picture award, it will be screened on Sat., Mar. 10, and Tues., Mar. 13, at 7:30 pm.

The most-nominated film in the 2017 Oscar race – with nominations for Best Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Director and Screenplay, among others -- “The Shape of Water” is an other-worldly fable, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America, circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment – an amphibious

creature that is being held in captivity.

Kenneth Turan, in the Los Angeles Times, calls the film “magical, thrilling and romantic to the core, a sensual and fantastical fairy tale with moral overtones.” Adam Graham, in the Detroit News, calls it “a lovely, empathetic tribute to Old Hollywood, monster movies, outsiders and love that could only come from the mind of the visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro!” Chris Nashawaty, in Entertainment Weekly, calls it “both weird and wonderful.” Richard Roeper, in the Chicago Sun Times, says the film is “like a beautiful painting you keep visiting at your favorite museum, because it continues to reveal its brilliant magic in new and different ways.” Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, violence and language, “The Shape of Water” runs one hour, 59 minutes.

The Opera House Cinema Series is sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank. Tickets are available at the door for $7 (adults), $6.50 (seniors & Opera House members) and $5 (students) the night of each screening. A book of 10 movie passes is available for $60 at the door or online at www.fredopera.org. Thanks to the generous support of an anonymous donor, the first 20 SUNY Fredonia students at each screening are admitted free. For more information, call the Opera House Box Office at 716-679-1891.

The Opera House is equipped with individualized closed captioning headsets for the deaf as well as with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or Opera House staff member.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House is a member-supported notfor-profit performing arts center located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.

JRC Adds New Public Market Manager JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (February 7, 2018) - The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation is proud to announce the hiring of Linnea Carlson as their new Jamestown Public Market Manager.

"We are so excited to add Linnea to our team. She brings a fresh perspective and a lot of great new ideas that will take the Jamestown Public Market to the next level," said Lisa Hatch, Executive Director at JRC. Linnea, a native of Frewsburg, has always enjoyed all that Chautauqua County and Jamestown in particular have to offer. She obtained a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University, a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from SUNY Fredonia, and started her education with an Associate's Degree in Human Services at Jamestown Community College.

Linnea currently resides in Frewsburg with her boyfriend, Ben, and their three cats. They love to try new restaurants and explore all that Jamestown has to offer. In her spare time, she volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader, and enjoys cooking using locally sourced ingredients.

Linnea was most recently the Creating Healthy Communities Coordinator at Chautauqua County Health Network where she worked on promoting healthy retail and healthy worksite development. She has also spent the last two years volunteering at the Fredonia Farmers' Market, where she improved their social media presence, worked on outreach to attract SNAP recipients,

and conducted cooking demonstrations and videos.

Her background and training will allow Linnea to enhance the Jamestown Public Market, with plans to have more cooking demonstrations, children's activities, new market events, and fresh entertainment. Linnea is also looking to grow support for local agriculture and encourage community interaction with local farmers.

"I love that Jamestown has so much that a larger city can offer, but still maintains that small community feel," said Linnea.

"My biggest goal for the Market is to transform it into a community destination that will make people wake up on Saturdays and know that the Jamestown Public Market is the place to be!" The market will run every Saturday from June through October, 10 am to 2 pm.

In addition to the Jamestown Public Market, Linnea will also manage a new Mobile Market that will bring fresh produce to three locations within Jamestown. This program will allow individuals who are not in close proximity to a grocery store the opportunity to purchase locally grown foods. The Mobile Market will kick off this summer - details will be announced as they become available.

Please Welcome our New Members for February 2018 Cynde B Photography 111 West Second Street, Jamestown, 3rd Floor www.cyndebphotography.com (716) 490-7755 Mayville Diner 7 West Chautauqua Avenue, Jamestown (716) 753-3887 Meeder’s Restaurant 19 East Main Street, Ripley (716) 736-7381

At Jamestown Renaissance Corporation we make Jamestown better through inspiration, action, and celebration. For more information on the Jamestown Public Market, check it out on Facebook at facebook.com/jamestownpublicmarket, Instagram at instagram.com/jamestownpublicmarket or call Linnea at 716-4893497.

www.chautauquachamber.org 10785 Bennett Road, Dunkirk, NY 14048 (716) 366-6200 512 Falconer Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 (716) 484-1101