Share:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Pictured: Kristie Bemis (MakerSpace Librarian), Anne Greene (Prendergast Library Executive Director) and JHS graduates, Lexi Salvaggio, Alyssa Holdridge, Brittney Lobb, Courtney Graham and Student Organization Advisor Tony DolceJAMESTOWN — The 41st Jamestown Battle of the Classes raised $2,400 for the James Prendergast Library, and has now raised more than $300,000 for local charities and organizations.“I am so proud of the students this year. It was the first time in 41 years that we were not able to complete our fundraising efforts and have the Battle of the Classes, but they were still able to raise money for a worthy cause in our community,” said JHS Student Organization Advisor Tony Dolce.The annual Battle of the Classes is a competition to see which JHS class can raise the most money for a designated charity over a two-week time. The battle normally culminates in a school wide event with games, sporting competitions and dance-offs to celebrate their achievement. Due to COVID-19, the in-person Battle of the Classes was cancelled.“We know the library isn’t in the best financial shape and it’s such a great place for our community. So many people of all ages use it,” said JHS 2020 graduate and Senior Class President, Lexi Salvaggio. “We are so happy to give our donation to the library to help them continue to provide services to our community.” The library plans to use the funds for their MakerSpace area, which is laid out to encourage visitors of all ages to explore independently. Each day, library staff also plans and implement a daily focus activity that is a more formal discussion of a scientific topic. Daily activities include challenges thatpromote collaboration and critical thinking, where staff encourages children to complete a specific task that relates to a scientific concept (e.g. building a bridge that holds something heavy, identifying an image under a microscope). Any visitor who attempts a challenge receives a free science-themed book.“It’s amazing what the JHS students did for us, even with schools buildings being closed,” said Anne Greene, Jamestown Prendergast Library Executive Director. “We are so proud and pleased that the students did this for us. It is so impressive to see students care so much about their community and we are thrilled to use the funds for our MakerSpace.”
President Lays Out Planned Executive Order After Stimulus Talks Fail
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has laid out the executive actions he said he would pursue if Congress does not reach a COVID-19 relief deal. Negotiations over the next stimulus package intended to bolster the economy and help struggling Americans pay their bills have stalled on Capitol Hill on Friday.At a hastily scheduled news conference at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club Friday evening, the President spoke to the media.He says the actions would include a payroll tax deferment, extending unemployment benefits, extending an eviction moratorium and deferring student loan payments and forgiving their interest. “If Democrats continue to hold this critical relief hostage, I will act under my authority as President to get Americans the relief they need,” Trump said.A White House official said that Trump was not expected to sign any executive orders immediately on Friday night.“They’re being drawn by the lawyers right now,” Trump said.Trump said “they’re talking about” deferring the payroll tax until the end of the year. “And I can extend it at a certain period … and it will be retroactive until July 1,” he said. “I’m going to enhance unemployment benefits through the end of the year,” he added, without specifying any amount.But the executive orders are expected to meet fierce resistance from Democrats who plan to challenge them in court. Democrats warn that executive action taken will be insufficient to address the extent of the economic and public health crisis faced by Americans during the pandemic.The lack of progress Friday followed a familiar pattern for negotiators who, despite roughly 20 hours of meetings, have struggled to agree even on the scope of the problem at hand. Now, Democrats and Republicans will have to make their arguments to an American public demanding more relief just three months from an election.No additional discussions are planned after nearly two weeks of daily meetings, and lead White House negotiators Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said they were recommending Trump move ahead with a series of executive orders. Share:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
7 New COVID-19 Cases Linked To Fredonia Beaver Club, Health Department Says
Share:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Image via Fredonia Beaver Club / Facebook.MAVYILLE – The Chautauqua County Health Department says that seven cases of COVID-19 reported over the weekend are linked to a social outing at the Fredonia Beaver Club.County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler says Fredonia Beaver Club closed on Saturday for two weeks for deep cleaning and to ensure appropriate COVID-19 precautionary measures are in place.She says anyone who frequented the club in the last two weeks is advised to be extra vigilant with social distancing, masking and hand washing and should contact their health care provider if they develop symptoms of COVID-19.“Sporadic cases at various social clubs, especially in the north county, have been an issue but this is the first time we’ve seen cases from a single club reach cluster designation so rapidly,” said Schuyler in a statement. “Clubs are not exempt from following the rules; members must work harder to protect one another.” Those who test positive are ordered into mandatory isolation and anyone named as a close contact of someone who tests positive is ordered into mandatory quarantine, explains Schuyler.In an effort to control the spread of COVID-19 related to identified clusters in the north county, a free, rapid testing clinic will be held on Thursday, November 12 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Murphy Training Center on the Dunkirk Training Grounds at 665 Brigham Road in Dunkirk.The quickest way to get an appointment is to schedule on the New York State Department Health’s website. Those without internet access may call 1-866-604-6789 for scheduling assistance.This outbreak response clinic is possible because of limited rapid testing supplies provided to Chautauqua County by New York State. Testing is free and appointments are required.Four new cases of COVID-19 were reported by the Chautauqua County Health Department on Monday, that in addition to 18 from over the past weekend.Health officials say there are now 93 active cases, with 21 people hospitalized.Of the new cases, six are in Fredonia, three in Dunkirk, two in Jamestown, two in Cherry Creek, two in Westfield and one in Bemus Point, Silver Creek, Lakewood, Portland, Forestville, Cassadaga and Stockton.Since the outbreak started there have been 1,189 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 15 related deaths and 1,081 people have recovered from the virus.
NY Winter Virus Plan Will Eye Hospitalizations, ICU Beds
Image by Don Pollard / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that officials are working on a winter plan for the coronavirus that will add metrics for how the state designates virus hot zones.Cuomo said the state will continue homing in on small geographic areas where virus cases are a particular problem to avoid imposing broad statewide restrictions, considering factors such as the hospitalization rate and the availability of ICU beds.“We’re going to stay with the micro-cluster approach because that targets the spread, minimizes economic impact and stresses individual and community accountability,” the governor said. “That’s working very well, and all the experts think that is state-of-the-art.”Cuomo spoke a day after the state recorded nearly 7,000 new coronavirus cases and 67 new deaths — 15 of which occurred in Erie County, which includes Buffalo and has continued to see spiking numbers. As coronavirus cases continued to climb, organizers of SantaCon said Thursday that the annual holiday flash-mob-meets-pub-crawl in New York City that was scheduled for next month has been canceled.“All of the reindeer got the ’rona,” a post of the event’s website says, “so the elves have advised Santa to hold off on the in-person merriment.”Still, Cuomo insisted New York is “doing phenomenally well” compared to the rest of the country.The Democrat said New York’s winter plan will also look at ways to keep schools open by evaluating a safe positivity rate as well as determining the levels of testing at schools needed over the winter months. The winter plan also will outline how vaccines will be distributed as they become available.On Wednesday, a 5-4 Supreme Court decision barred the state from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas that had been labelled as virus hot zones. The high court sided with religious organizations in the state who said that while attendance was limited for worshippers, other businesses in state-designated red zones could remain open without capacity limits.Cuomo said the ruling was “irrelevant from any practical impact” since the red zone restrictions have been removed, and it was “more illustrative of the Supreme Court than anything else.”“Why rule on a case that is moot and come up with a different decision than you did several months ago on the same issue? You have a different court. And I think that was the statement that the court was making,” he said.Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn’s Catholic diocese hailed the ruling, saying the limitations don’t “really make sense when you look at the volume of space we have in our churches.”“Our diocese has been very strict in the enforcement of the rules that keep people safe,” DiMarzio told reporters. “We in no way want people to get sick in our churches.” Share:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window),Cuomo Arrived Secretly in Buffalo on Thanksgiving to Celebrate with Girlfriend, brought his mother, Williamsville to be exact… Orange zone…
Hair, Megan Hilty and More Set for Summer at the Hollywood Bowl
View Comments The Los Angeles Philharmonic will let the sun shine in at the Hollywood Bowl’s 2014 Summer Series. The iconic ’60s musical Hair, with a score by Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni and James Rado, will be presented on August 1 and 2. Hair follows a group of free-spirited youths who passionately preach a lifestyle of peace, love, freedom and happiness in a society that they see suffering from intolerance and brutality during the Vietnam War. The musical features such memorable numbers as “Let the Sun Shine In,” Aquarius” and “Good Morning Starshine.” The most recent Broadway revival occurred in 2011.
The Summer Series will also include the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, featuring Steve Martin; Broadway’s Megan Hilty singing Bernstein & Gershwin on July 10; a Grease Sing-A-Long on July 13 hosted by original Frenchy Didi Conn; and a concert tribute celebration of 20 years of Dreamworks animation hosted by Jack Black on July 18 and 19.
London Odds & Ends: Sherlock Star Follows Cumberbatch’s Lead & More
Here’s a quick roundup of London stories today. Sherlock’s Martin Freeman to Tackle Shakespeare Benedict Cumberbatch is not the only Sherlock star heading to the London stage to do Shakespeare. Martin Freeman, who plays Watson in the hit TV show and whose credits also include The Hobbit Trilogy, is to headline an upcoming production of Richard III. The show will run at the West End’s Trafalgar Studios July 1 through September 27. View Comments Killian Donnelly Joins Beverly Knight in Memphis Killian Donnelly, who is currently appearing in The Commitments in the West End is, according to the Daily Mail, to star alongside the previously announced Beverley Knight in the Tony-winning Memphis in London. The musical will begin performances October 9 at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Casting Announced for West End’s Curious Incident The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which will resume its West End run at the Gielgud Theatre on 24 June (it was the show that was playing at the Apollo Theatre when part of the ceiling collapsed back in December), has announced casting for the production. Graham Butler will play Christopher and is to be joined by Vivienne Acheampong, Daniel Casey, Emily Joyce, Gay Soper, Paul Stocker, Nicolas Tennant, Tony Turner, Victoria Willing, Sarah Woodward, Sam Bond, Roxanne Palmer and Mark Rawlings. A Broadway transfer of the show, with a different cast, will open this fall.
Hugh Jackman Undergoes Surgery to Remove Basal Cell Carcinoma
Hugh Jackman Oh no! It should be a time of celebration for Tony winner Hugh Jackman, who is currently prepping to host the Tonys and was just announced to star in the new Broadway production of The River beginning November 16. Instead, he spent the day at the doctor’s office on May 8, where he had a second procedure to remove cancerous cells from his nose—the first was in November 2013. “Another basal cell carcinoma,” Jackman posted on Instagram along with this photo. “Thanks Dr. Albom and Dr. Arian. PLEASE! PLEASE! WEAR SUNSCREEN!” Wolverine is right, kids. Hugh, we wish you a speedy recovery and hope you feel better soon. See you on June 8! Star Files
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Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick & More Begin B’way Previews in It’s Only a Play
Related Shows It’s Only a Play The star-studded comedy will run for a 17-week engagement through January 4, 2015. View Comments A whole crew of stage and screen bigwigs are ready to take the stage at the Schoenfeld Theatre on August 28, as It’s Only a Play begins performances on the Great White Way. The comedy, penned by Terrence McNally, stars Tony winners Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Stockard Channing, Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham, Emmy winner Megan Mullally, Harry Potter alum Rupert Grint and newcomer Micah Stock. The production, directed by Jack O’Brien, will open officially on October 9. It’s Only a Play is set on the opening night of Broderick’s character Peter Austin’s new play, as he anxiously awaits to see if his show is a hit. With his career on the line, he shares his big first night with his best friend, a television star (Lane), his fledgling producer (Mullally), his erratic leading lady (Channing), his wunderkind director (Grint), an infamous drama critic, and a wide-eyed coat check attendant on his first night in Manhattan. There’s no business like show business. Show Closed This production ended its run on June 7, 2015 Star Files Matthew Broderick Stockard Channing Nathan Lane
Broadway Theater Lights Will Now Be Dimmed for Joan Rivers
View Comments The reversal came after the Main Stem’s New Amsterdam, Helen Hayes, Studio 54, Stephen Sondheim and five Jujamcyn theaters announced that they would be dimming their lights in Rivers’ honor anyway. The comedy icon, Tony nominee and longtime Broadway cheerleader got the last laugh. Of course she did. “Joan Rivers loved Broadway and we loved her. Due to the outpouring of love and respect for Joan Rivers from our community and from her friends and fans worldwide, the marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of the Broadway League in a statement.
After receiving criticism for their initial decision to not dim the Great White Way marquee lights in tribute to the late Joan Rivers, the Broadway League has now agreed to do so at 6:45PM on September 9.
World Premiere Drama Villainous Company Will Play Off-Broadway
Villanous Company explores the suspenseful game of cat and mouse between three women after one of them, Claire, returns from an afternoon of shopping and discovers that one of her packages is missing. Related Shows The cast of Villainous Company will include Alice Bahlke, Julia Campanelli and Corey Tazmania. The production will feature sets by Jennifer Varbalow, costumes by Brooke Cohen, lighting design by Pamela Kupper and sound design by Nick Simone. Show Closed This production ended its run on Jan. 31, 2015 Villainous Company Shopping just got a whole lot more dangerous. The world premiere of Victor L. Cahn’s Villanous Company will play off-Broadway’s Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row next year. The production, directed by Eric Parness, will begin performances on January 9, 2015 and run through January 31. Opening night is set for January 12. View Comments