"Black Friday" gets off to early start in Jamestown-area...
"Black Friday" actually began on 'Thanksgiving Thursday' in the Jamestown area... with the Lakewood Wal-Mart opening for specials at 6 last night. The parking lot was packed with cars. However... according to a flyer by the nation's biggest retailer... there was also another "special opening" last night at 8 p.m. There's also another round of items going on sale this morning. Another major retailer... K-Mart in West Ellicott... was open from 7 last night until 3 this morning. K-Mart will then re-open at 6 this morning. Part of the reason there was such a push to get people in the stores on Thanksgiving Day is there are six fewer shopping days before Christmas this year. Several other retailers on Fairmount Avenue are also open this morning.
Teresi indicates no vetoes to be made to 2014 budget approved by City Council...
Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says he has no plans to veto changes made to the final, 2014 budget adopted early this week by city lawmakers. Teresi made his comments shortly after the City Council approved the $33.5-million spending plan... which raises taxes by 1.9-percent. The budget was approved in a unanimous, 8-0 vote. He says lawmakers did an "effective, non-partisan" job in cutting another $91,000 from his original proposal. Teresi admits his budget team purposely puts together a "very tight" budget... knowing that council members may become frustrated because there's little left to cut. The final budget adopted by the council increases the full value tax rate by 41-cents per $1,000. That's 14-cents less than Teresi's executive budget included. The cuts come from six areas. The biggest item being $32,000 in savings on borrowing due to the city's improved bond rating. Another $20,000 each was cut from the contingency account... and, Judgements and Claims. City Comptroller Joe Bellitto indicated the budget will increase taxes on the average home assessed at $70,000 by $28.
Panama man arrested for parole violation, obstruction...
A Panama man is jailed for allegedly violating his parole... and, trying to avoid arrest in the town of North Harmony. Sheriff's officers say they were interviewing a subject on the Panama-Stedman Road early Wednesday when the man... identified as 36 year-old Gregg Morrison... gave a false name. Deputies say he then ran off before he was cornered in a barn. Morrison was then taken into custody without further incident. Further investigation showed that Morrison had an outstanding Parole warrant for Felony driving while intoxicated. He was further charged with second-degree obstruction... and, was sent to the county lock-up with bail to be set. Morrison will answer to the charges at a later date in North Harmony Town Court.
Area Ski Areas Open Today...
It's may be "Black Friday" today... but, you could call it a "White Friday" for local ski resorts. The huge Winter storm that hit the area the past few days... along with freezing cold temperatures... has allowed local skiiers an early chance to hit the slopes. Chautauqua County's lone ski resort is opening today in the Clymer-area. The Peek 'n Peak Ski Resort's Director of Mountain Operations, Brad Gravink, says they'll be open for the season at 9:30 a.m. Gravink says the eight-inches of snow they got from the storm was just what they needed because it was wet, and heavy. He says they'll have seven trails... and, 3 lifts in operation today. He adds they have a 12 to 18 inch base... and, they hope to open more trails over the weekend. In addition to the slopes... Gravink says other parts of the operation - including a ski lodge -- will also open over the weekend. For more information... go to pknp.com... or call 355-4141. In addition... the Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville is also opening today beginning at 9 a.m. The resort's website says they'll have 11 trails and six lifts open... and, the Valley will be open until 11 tonight.
NYS Health Exchange says more than 257,000 have completed applications...
New York's new health exchange reports more than 257,000 residents have completed applications to join and more than 76,000 have enrolled so far in insurance plans or Medicaid. NY State of Health was established under the federal Affordable Care Act to help extend health coverage to 2.7-million uninsured New Yorkers. Officials say 35,000 enrollments are in the government-funded Medicaid program and 41,000 in one of the plans offered by commercial and nonprofit insurers that chose to participate in the online exchange.
Lost Neighorhood Holiday Tree Lighting tonight...
Jamestown's Lost Neighborhood Committee will hold it's 10th annual Tree Lighting event in Brooklyn Square this evening. The ceremony begins at 5:30 on the grounds of the Salvation Army of Jamestown on South Main Street at The Arterial. Captain John Merchant of the Salvation Army and the president of the Lost Neighborhood group... Tony Raffa... are coordinating the event. Merchant will open the ceremony with a prayer... then Raffa will talk about the Lost Neighborhood program before two trees are lit. Merchant says it's going to be a fun event... featuring Santa... and, soup, hot chocolate... and, roasted Chestnuts to eat. One of the two trees is located on the Salvation Army grounds... while the second is located near the Chinese Restaurant on the walkway of the Jamestown Area Medical Association's facility. Merchant has been with the local Salvation Army for the past four months. His wife, Kimberly, is also a Salvation Army officer. The "Lost Neighborhood" encompassed several streets in Brooklyn Square lost to urban renewal in the 1970s.
