Memorial Day Weekend underway, with biggest holiday travel weekend expected since 2005...
Today will be a major travel day for many Western New Yorkers as they hit the highways or the airports. Regional AAA Spokeswoman Elizabeth Carey says more Americans will be traveling this year than 2016... and, adds that AAA projects that it will be the highest Memorial Day travel volume since 2005. Carey says they expect about 39.3-million Americans to travel at least 50 miles this weekend, about one-million more than last year. With many people hitting the highway this weekend, Carey says its a good idea to get your vehicle checked out before heading out... even with todah's high-tech cars. She says most of their roadside calls are for dead batteries... flat tires, and keys locked in the car. Carey says it's also important to carry an emergency kit. While many of us do it during the winter, it's still a good idea during the summer months. Last summer in New York State, AAA answered nearly 300,000 roadside calls.
Road construction suspended on state highways over Memorial Day Weekend...
Repair crews on New York state highways are taking a break over the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend. Road and bridge construction projects on state highways will be suspended now through 6 a.m. Tuesday. State officials say some work may continue behind concrete barriers or for emergency repairs. Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year.
Chautauqua Co. Office for Aging Director sounds concern over Senior Program funding levels in federal budget proposal...
The 2018 federal budget plan proposed by President Trump will have a negative impact on senior citizens across the U-S -- and, Chautauqua County. That from County Office for the Aging Director Mary Ann Spanos... who says "direct funding" for programs in the Older Americans Act have not been touched. However... Spanos says there are other programs that help seniors in the area that are either being cut dramatically... or completely. She says one is the Senior Employment Program which helps them be retrained... a program they depend on to suppliment what little Social Security they receive. Spanos says many just like to keep active... or lost a job and need to be retrained. She says the program is run through the Department of Labor for a total of 20 hours a week for each person. Another service on the chopping block... says Spanos... is Medicare Insurance Counseling. She says it's one of the very few places seniors can go to get an unbiased look at the best plan for them. She says while some brokers say they are impartial... they get a commission from one of the companies. Spanos made her comments for this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group stations.
Co. Legislature approves application for CDBG funding for proposed expansion at Castelli Cheese...
The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved an application for state funding to support the expansion of a new cheese-producer that's been up an operating in Blockville since last September. Lawmakers in Mayville unanimously okayed the application for Castelli America to receive up to 750-thousand dollars in Community Development Block Grant funding from the state Office of Community Renewal. County Executive Vince Horrigan says this is great news for a "well-established" company. Horrigan says Castelli was first interested in the plant because of it's potential for growth and capacity. The former AFA Foods location was owned by Empire Specialty Cheese... but, the company -- which moved to Blockville from Cattaraugus County -- was unable to make a go of it. Horrigan is still looking into the final numbers... but, adds Castelli is looking to add about 50 jobs with the expansion. Horrigan says Castelli is a strong employer that has been around since 1892. If the CDBG funding is approved... the Chautauqua Regional Economic Development Corporation will create a "deferred loan" fund for the expansion project.
Fredonia man arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a child...
A Fredonia man is jailed without bail for allegedly sexually abusing a child in the village of Fredonia. Sheriff's deputies joined with Fredonia Police to arrest 58 year-old Carmello Hernandez at his Temple Street home late yesterday morning. Officers say Hernandez is charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse... and, second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child. After Hernandez was located and arrested... police say he was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. He was also charged with seventh-degree criminal possesion of a controlled substance. Hernandez was arraigned... and, sent to the county jail without bail.
