BUDGET DELIBERATIONS BEGIN IN MAYVILLE
MAYVILLE – The budget deliberations for the county’s 2012 budget are underway. According to an article published today in the Jamestown Post-Journal, members of the Chautauqua County Legislature began their public review of the county executive’s budget Monday. Department heads went before the legislature’s Public Facilities Committee in the morning and Public Safety in the afternoon, with Audit and Control Committee members participating in both sessions.
Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace met with both public facilties and public safety, to discuss the $900,000 in proposed cuts to his department. The Sheriff not only made a case for continuing the current level of funding, but also increasing it in some instances.
Despite the hearing directly from Gerace, the public facilities committee approved only one change to the budget, and that is the reinstatement of funding to the county’s navigation patrols. To pay for the service, Legislator Rudy Mueller of Lakewood proposed increasing the revenue expected from the collection of the occupancy tax next year.
County Executive Greg Edward’s 2012 budget proposal calls for $239 million dollar in spending, $18 million more than last year. To offset the shortfall, the executive has made over $2.1 million in cuts to local spending, including the elimination of 42.5 positions, 20 of which come from the Sheriff’s Department. Still, Edwards says the increased mandates from the state has left him with no other option but to call for a 12.6 percent tax rate increase, bringing the total to $10.03 per thousand assessed property value. For a homeowner who’s property is $75,000, the 2012 tax increase would be about $85 more than their 2011 total.
The lawmakers will continue their budget review today and Wednesday, with the Audit and Control Committee meeting Friday to review all proposed changes.
SALVATION ARMY ANEW CENTER HOLDS EVENTS FOR OCTOBER
JAMESTOWN – October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the agency that serves as Chautauqua County’s domestic Violence and rape crisis center is doing its part to raise awareness. Staff and volunteers with the Salvation Army Anew Center were in downtown Jamestown Monday morning hanging purple ribbons on 3rd Street to help bring attention to the issue of domestic Violence. Anew Center spokesperson Vanessa Weinart says a Unity Day Walk will also take place later on Friday, Oct. 7 in Jamestown.
In addition to the Unity walk, the Anew Center is also holding its first ever “Art of the Anew” exhibit, featuring various types of artwork that focuses on the issue of domestic violence and sexual assault. The exhibit is set to open at the Jamestown Renaissance Center on Oct. 14 with submissions being accepted up until October 10. All artistic media is being accepted, and submissions can be dropped off at 204 Prather St. in Jamestown. For more information, call Weinert at 664-6567.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH COMPLETE SCHEDULE
October 4-8: Silent Witness Display at Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood
October 5: DV screenings held at JCC Main Campus from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM in Student Union
October 6: DV screenings held at JCC Dunkirk Campus from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM in main hallway
October 7: 14th Annual Walk against DV & 8th Annual Unity Day. Meet at Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena at 11:45 AM for walk. Unity Day event begin at 12:00 PM in lobby area of City Hall
October 10-14: Silent Witness Display at James Prendergast Library
October 14: Art of the Anew – opening reception from 6-8 – Art will be on display at the Renaissance Center – sponsored by The Salvation Army Anew Center
October 17-21: Silent Witness Display at Jamestown Business College
October 20: DV screenings held at JBD from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM (downstairs)
October 24-28: Silent Witness Display at Jamestown Community College Library (main campus)
October 27: NYS DV Legislative Boot Camp – hosted by TSA Anew Center of Chautauqua County from 9 AM-3:30 PM.
AUDUBON HOSTS PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS
JAMESTOWN – Veteran photographer Dave Cooney is returning to the Jamestown Audubon Center and Sanctuary on Saturday, October 15 to offer an intermediate class in Point and Snap Nature Photography. Cooney will begin the session indoors, discussing photography concepts such as composition, depth of field, and exposure. He will then take the group outside and put these concepts to the test on the beautiful Audubon grounds.
Participants should have taken the Point and Snap Nature Photography for Beginners or be familiar with their cameras and basic photography concepts. Bring your point and shoot camera and the instruction manual.
This program is designed for adults. Interested, mature children aged 9 and above are welcome if accompanied by an adult.
Cost is $10 for members, $12 for nonmembers, and $5 for children ages 9-11. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are appreciated by Thursday, October 13. To make reservations, call (716) 569-2345, email info@jamestownaudubon.org, or use the on-line form at www.jamestownaudubon.org.
BPU FALL FLUSHING BEGINS OCT. 8 IN FALCONER
JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU) Water Division is announcing that fall flushing of water mains will begin in early October and continue throughout the month. The fall flushing is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Saturday, October 8, in the Village of Falconer, and will take place all Saturday night into Sunday until the entire village of Falconer is flushed. Crews then will move into the northeast section of Jamestown (near JCC and Lutheran Social Services) at 9 p.m. Sunday, October 9. Flushing will proceed throughout the rest of the BPU water system nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sundays through Thursdays, until the process is finished.
Water customers are advised to be careful before drawing water into your hot water systems (heating, clothes washer, or dishwasher) by running the water in your bathtub for a few moments to see if the water is clear.
The entire process normally takes three weeks. Specific flushing locations will be posted daily on the BPU website and advertised in the Jamestown Post Journal. Flushing each night is weather permitting.
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