Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

October 2011

Also see our Calendar of Events, and check out our New Members

Chamber Honors Award Winners
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce congratulates all of the people and organizations who were given awards during its Annual Awards Banquet recently at Chautauqua Suites. 
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Award was presented to SUNY Fredonia and the Technology Incubator for the significant impacts they have had on our local and regional economy.   During its 2009-10 year the University generated over $370-million in economic activity in Chautauqua County, and its 5,700 students spend over $43-million in our local communities annually. The Incubator, located in downtown Dunkirk, represents a further reach into the community to support entrepreneurial endeavors. 
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year Award was given to Kenneth Strickler. Mr. Strickler owned and operated an office equipment company with offices in Jamestown, Dunkirk, and Warren, for many years. In the mid 1970’s he joined Bankers Trust Company of Western New York and was later employed by Chase Lincoln First Bank. Most recently, he has been Director and Chairman of the Board of the Jamestown Savings Bank. Mr. Strickler has been actively involved in the community in many ways having been a past president and co-founder of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, past president of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County campaign, Co-Chair of the Lakewood Memorial Library Building Fund, and Trustee and Chairman of Investment Committee of Fredonia State College Foundation. He is a member of the Jamestown Rotary Club and First Presbyterian Church. 
Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Hans Auer also presented awards for Community Service to Richard Goodman for the Dunkirk Chamber of Commerce; Patricia Christina for the Fredonia Chamber of Commerce, Robert Graves for the Greater Silver Creek Chamber of Commerce, Michael Metzger for the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Ann Weidman for the Mayville-Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce, and John Rawlinson for the Westfield-Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.
 

 

 

Chamber Mixer at Mazza Chautauqua Cellars
     The next Chautauqua County Chamber Mixer will be an Autumn wine evening on Thursday, October 20th.  The event will be held from 5-6:30pm at Mazza Chautauqua Cellars, 4717 Chautauqua Stedman Road, Mayville.  Chamber/MAST members are invited to learn about locally made wines from Mazza.  This Networking Mixer is sponsored by Fredonia Place, Liazon Corporation, The Observer, The Post-Journal, and Urban Engineers. 
     To register, call the Chamber at 716-366-6200 or 716-484-1101, or register on line.

Lunch Scheduled with Congressman Brian Higgins
     The annual Chamber Federal Congressional Lunch with Representative Brian Higgins will be held Thursday, November 10 at Shorewood Country Club, Dunkirk.  This event provides an opportunity for local people to hear from the Congressman and ask questions.  
     Brian Higgins represents New York’s 27th Congressional District, which includes all of Chautauqua County as well as parts of Buffalo and southern and eastern Erie County.  He is a member of the House Committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs.  He also sits on the Subcommittees on Border and Maritime Security and Counterterrorism and Intelligence.  He previously served on the Ways & Means Committee, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Government & Oversight Committee. 
     Representative Higgins was formerly a New York State Assemblyman and member of the Buffalo Common Council.  He was an instructor in the History and Economics Departments at Buffalo State College.  He has a degree in Political Science from Buffalo State College and an advanced degree in Public Policy and Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. 
     Sponsors for the luncheon are:  Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua Integrated Delivery Systems, Jamestown Mattress, Lake Erie Regional Health System, Media One, NRG Dunkirk Power, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Serta Mattress, and SellingHive.  The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members.  To register, call the Chamber at 716-366-6200 or 716-484-1101, or register on line. 

Bright Choices Exchange Offers New Products
     Exclusively for chamber members, Bright Choices helps employers of small and mid-size companies provide their employees access to a range of benefits comparable to that of a Fortune 500 company, including multiple health, vision and dental insurance plans, from traditional co-pay to consumer-driven.  And beginning December 1st, the benefit options will include supplemental insurance including life, disability and critical illness. 
     The Bright Choices Exchange is offering a full line of employee benefits, designed to help employers contain their costs and to offer their workforce a marketplace of choices from leading carriers. 
For more information, see the Employee Benefits section of our web site or call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101.

Chamber Helps Cut Ribbon for New Book Store 
   Jamestown has a new bookstore, and the community was invited to its official grand opening!  Mayor Sam Teresi cut the ribbon for Novel Destination:  Used Book Emporium, at 177 Fluvanna Avenue. 
Proprietor Carrie Wolfgang said, “As an avid reader myself, I hope that local readers will be as excited as I am about the opportunity to enjoy books at greatly reduced prices.”
     A graduate of Jamestown High School and Jamestown Community College, Ms. Wolfgang recently took an early retirement after more than 27 years as a registered nurse and nursing supervisor at Warren State Hospital.
     “Books have always been a comfort and my good friends,” the new business owner noted. “When looking for my ‘next chapter in life,’ this was a way to be involved with a lifelong love!”
The Jamestown resident is pleased that her business is environmentally friendly, as recycling books is much better than putting them in a landfill. She also sells Leanin’ Tree greeting cards that utilize recycled paper and soy inks. In addition, she is working with the Chautauqua County Humane Society’s 2nd Chances Thrift Store and contacting local childcare and afterschool programs to donate children’s and young teen books to them.
     All Novel Destination’s books, both fiction and non-fiction, are priced at $3 for paperbacks and $5 for hardbacks. Customers who bring their own quality used paperbacks can trade them, two for one.
Novel Destination is open 9:30 am-5:30 pm Monday-Friday and 9 am-1 pm Saturdays. For more information call (716) 489-1496 or email noveldestination@windstream.net.

Buster Brown Bean Company Holding Industry Day Each Monday
     The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Buster Brown Bean Company in its new Industry Day every Monday. Bring in your pay stub or proof that you work in the restaurant or bar industry and receive 15 percent off your purchase.
The Cafe and Bistro is located at 33 Church St. in Fredonia, NY. Industry day will be held every Monday from 5 p.m. until close.
     “We thought that this would be a great way for other people in the restaurant or bar industry to try out something different,” said Co-Owner Greg Wollaston. “Fredonia has a great restaurant and bar community and I think it’s important for us to support each other’s venues.”
     The menu choices will be changing every week and Marshall Seddon will perform every Monday. The deal excludes beer and wine purchases.
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce feels that this is a great event and an opportunity to support their local business and community business owners.  We highly suggest everyone to take advantage of this great opportunity.
     For more information on Industry day or Buster Brown Bean Company, please visit www.busterbrownbean.com or call the restaurant at 716-672-6622.

Buster Brown Bean Company to Hold Open Mic Nights
     Open mic nights sponsored by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will be held at the Buster Brown Bean Company cafe and bistro. Students and community members are encouraged to attend and showcase their talents.
     The Cafe and Bistro is located at 33 Church St. in Fredonia, NY. The open mic nights will begin on October 5th and be held every Wednesday night at 7.
      “We thought that open mic nights would be a great opportunity for students and the community to be able to share their latest poetry or song,” said Co-Owner David Culver. “We have such a talented community and so many talented people concentrated on the campus we thought this would be a great opportunity to get them together and share that. Microphones and amps will be provided so all you need to bring is you, your friends and all of your talents!”
     The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce hopes everyone will try out this new weekly occurrence. We feel that this type of event appeals to people of all ages and will be an excellent time for everyone.  Students with valid I.D. receive 15 percent discount.
     For more information on the open mic nights please contact our coordinator Jacob Calabrese at 585-278-8382.

 

 

 

Member News

Hall of Famer Danny Gare to Speak
     The Robert H. Jackson Center will host a free Continuing Legal Education Seminar on November 1, 2011.  The theme of the seminar will be "The Anatomy of the Buffalo Sabres Acquisition," and will feature Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black.  Buffalo Sabres Hall of Famer Danny Gare will be the luncheon speaker. 
     Registration begins at 8:00am.  For more information please contact the Robert H. Jackson Center at (716) 483-6646 or at www.roberthjackson.org.
 
JCC Designated Military Friendly School
G.I. Jobs, a magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has designated Jamestown Community College a military friendly school. The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.
The list of schools, as well as interactive tools and search functionality to assist military veterans with their school decisions, can be found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com.
“Members of JCC’s faculty and staff have worked diligently over the past several years to understand and provide for the needs of student veterans,” said Eileen Goodling, vice president and dean of student development. “We are proud to have earned the ‘military friendly’ designation and are dedicated to continuing to provide the environment and services that are most conducive to the academic success of our student veterans.”
In its effort to help student veterans find the right school, G.I. Jobs incorporated a survey of student veterans at more than 8,000 schools nationwide. The feedback provides prospective military students with insight into the student veteran experience at a particular institution based on peer reviews from current students. Survey feedback can be viewed at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2012 list.
 “The Military Friendly Schools list is the go-to resource for prospective student veterans searching for schools that provide the right overall experience,” said Michael Dakduk, executive director of Student Veterans of America. “Nothing is more compelling than actual feedback from current student veterans.”
 
JCC to Host College and Career Night
Jamestown Community College and the Chautauqua County Counselors Association will host the 35th annual College/Career Night on October 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Physical Education Complex on JCC’s Jamestown Campus.
Representatives from nearly 60 colleges and 80 career areas will be available to speak with interested students, parents, and other community residents during the event.
Admission is free. For additional information about College/Career Night, call JCC, 716.338.1001.
 
JBC Leadership Launch Begins
With a visit from Senator Catharine Young and the enthusiasm of select seniors from Chautauqua County - Jamestown Business College’s (JBC) newest leadership program began on a high note this week. The JBC Leadership Launch with Senator Catharine Young - designed for promising high school seniors in Chautauqua County – will run through October 20.
As part of the program, nominated seniors will participate in a series of leadership activities at JBC. The five-week program, which will include a variety of interactive sessions, will provide students with the opportunity to improve their own leadership capabilities. The sessions will also provide them the opportunity to network and to work with college faculty and staff. The first session included team building activities and a leadership discussion with Senator Young.
JBC President, David Conklin, was pleased with the start and was glad to welcome Senator Young to the college. “We have a top-notch group of students participating in this first session,” he said. “We were also pleased to see Senator Young connect with these students and share some of her stories…it was a very interesting session.”
Jamestown Business College offers business-focused Associate and Bachelor degrees and certificate programs that include targeted professional development activities. For more information on registering for these programs, call 664-5100 or visit us online at www.JamestownBusinessCollege.edu. 
 
YMCA Family Nights Begin
The Jamestown YMCA is announcing the start up of YMCA Family Nights to be held on the first and third Friday of every month from 6:30pm-9:00pm. Various activities will include interactive family challenges, games, arts & crafts, and other activities along with family swim. The Healthy Family Snack Shack will be open with healthy snacks for purchase. Family nights are designed to offer families an opportunity to spend quality time together in a safe, friendly environment for little or no cost. Family nights are free to YMCA members, and $2.00 per person for non-members. No registration is required and all children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact Ronda Piazza, Child Care Executive at (716)664-2802 ext. 222.   
 
Scrapbooking Club at YMCA
The Jamestown YMCA announces a new session of Scrapbooking Club starting on Thursday evenings from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Jamestown YMCA for creative fun with scrapbooking & greeting cards. Freida Dewey will instruct this interactive class for adults, seniors & teens ages 14 years and older who are interested in learning more about scrapbooking and card making. Freida has over 10 years experience in the craft. Participants should bring their own acid free adhesive, small scissors & picture. All other supplies will be   provided. Register in advance at the Jamestown YMCA. Cost is $5 per class for members and $6 for potential members.
 
Jamestown YMCA Y-Kids Program Underway
The Jamestown YMCA is now accepting registrations for children ages 5-12 for the Y-Kids program that is held on most holidays, conference days and early dismissal days from school according to the Jamestown District Calendar for elementary students. The program begins October 7th, the first early dismissal day of the school year, and includes safe, quality child care in a friendly atmosphere for children 5 to 12 years of age. Age appropriate activities are planned each program day starting at 8 a.m. on school holidays, at 11:30am on early dismissal days and ending at 5:30 p.m. such as swimming, arts & crafts, gym games, group activities, games, cooking, and more. 
Each day, children should bring a lunch, a morning and afternoon snack, and a swim suit and towel. Program fees for each full day of care at the YMCA are $17 per child for YMCA members and $22 for potential members.   Half day rates for early dismissal days are $12 for YMCA members and $17 for potential members. Registration forms and additional program information is available at the Jamestown YMCA Welcome Center. The YMCA accepts Chautauqua County Child Care vouchers for services provided. Partial scholarships may be available based on individual need and will be on a first come, first serve basis. Register at least 1 week in advance. For additional information contact the YMCA at (716) 664-2802.
 
Ironmen Connect with Area Youth
A few of the Ironmen players recently met with the younger generation of our community. It was the Jamestown Skating Club’s “Learn to Skate” program at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, which Ironmen players help teach each Wednesday evening. Kids age four to seven along with their parents got a chance to meet some of our Ironmen team members.
Defensemen Cody Walsh and Center Jake Pollock were able to take pictures, sign autographs, and talk about their team to the youth of Jamestown. Girls and boys alike were coming over to see the real life hockey players. The young men handed out their home game schedule, NAHL flyers and Ironmen Information to smiling faces.
Walsh and Pollock certainly showed our locals how exciting and fun being in Junior Hockey is. Many youngsters were in wonder at the thought of themselves one day playing for a team of this caliber. These same children attended the Ironmen’s home opener on Friday, October 7th.