The League of Women Voters in Chautauqua County held a debate on October 14, 2025 between the two candidates for Chautauqua County Clerk. The debate was held at the Robert H. Jackson Center in downtown Jamestown.

A state of emergency has been declared in New York ahead of the possible SNAP cuts for three million residents come November 1. As the federal government shutdown continues, Governor Kathy Hochul said the Trump administration has refused to release billions in statutorily approved federal contingency funding that would address this crisis in states across the nation. She said by refusing to release this contingency funding, the federal government is leaving millions of New Yorkers without critical assistance they rely on to feed themselves and their families. Hochul has committed an additional $65 million in new State funds for emergency food assistance that will reinforce New York’s network of vital food bank and pantry partners and provide about 40 million meals to hungry New Yorkers.

Kids and families are encouraged to follow tips to keep Halloween safe today. For trick or treaters: Stay visible: Wear bright or reflective costumes and carry a flashlight or glow stick. Use safe paths: Stick to sidewalks and crosswalks; avoid cutting through yards. Cross safely: Look both ways before crossing streets and make eye contact with drivers. Stay together: Young children should always be with an adult; older kids should travel in groups. Check costumes: Make sure costumes fit well, don’t drag on the ground, and masks don’t block vision.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Jamestown will continues its annual Halloween Read and Treat during Jamestown’s Trick or Treat hours tonight The church at 1255 Prendergast Avenue will be open for kids, teens and adults to enjoy treats, choose books from a large selection for all ages, and do a simple craft, if they would like. Parking is available behind the church. The two book boxes in front of the church building—one for children and one for adults—are always filled with books that are free for the taking. The church also encourages reading by giving books to Fletcher Elementary School kindergarten teachers four times each school year, including at Halloween.

Daily alternate parking begins Saturday, November 1 in the City of Jamestown. Jamestown Police reminds residents that vehicles should be parked only on the odd-numbered side of the street during odd-numbered days and only on the even-numbered side of the street during even-numbered days. Saturday will be an odd-numbered day. Daily parking alternates at 10:00 am each day. There is no grace period.

Daylight saving time ends this weekend. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday. The American Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms as they turn their clocks back to make sure the devices are working. Last year, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help 1,234 families across the region affected by 763 disasters – primarily home fires, which account for most of the about 65,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country. When turning your clocks back this weekend, test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed. 

The Chautauqua Community Music Project and Chautauqua Chamber Singers will perform together Sunday, November 2. The free concert takes place at 4:00 p.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Jamestown. It will feature music by New York composers. A free will offering will be accepted.

THE WRFA ROCK AND ROLL RUNDOWN A listing of live entertainment events happening in the greater Jamestown area. Have an event you want us to know about? Use the contact page on our website or send an email to [email protected]. THU OCT 30 Jerod Eggleston – Busti Tap House – Busti Kallie Williams – Wicked Warren’s – Warren, PA FRI OCT 31 WRFA presents Local Rush Hour live featuring Sean Lander, Danny Imig and Steve Schuver – Reg Lenna Center for The Arts marquee – Jamestown Mister Green with Stereo Death – The Wine Cellar – Jamestown…

Chautauqua County is working to keep benefit cases up to date as a federal government shutdown threatens to result in SNAP benefits not being issued to those in need on November 1. According to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), SNAP benefits cannot be issued for November unless the federal government shutdown ends or other federal action provides the necessary funding. SNAP households will be notified by November 1, 2025, regarding the status of their benefits. Chautauqua County Commissioner of Social Services Carmelo Hernandez said, “We understand that the uncertainty caused by this situation is deeply concerning for families who depend on SNAP to meet their basic food needs.

Jamestown City Council has approved increasing Department of Development fees and parking permit fees. The Department of Development permit fees had not been adjusted in several years while administrative costs have increased at about a rate of 2% or more a year. Permit fees increases range between 10 and 20%. The new rates go into effect January 1, 2026. Business District Parking Permits will double in price from $300 to $600 a year. The permit is for businesses that make deliveries or pickups or service calls in downtown Jamestown. This permit allows the individual to come and go within the district without being ticketed for an overtime in zone violation.

Jamestown Community College’s fall musical, “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” will open November 7 on the Jamestown Campus. The production, led by JCC arts programming administrator Mark Sasse, will run November 7 through 9 and November 14 through 16. The musical, set in 1812 Russia, is an adaptation of a 70-page segment from Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel War and Peace. The show will offer limited on-stage seating and the production features a rotating stage that serves as the show’s centerpiece. The cast features a live orchestra that’s a big part of the action.

Increases in electric rates and the cost of road salt are affecting the Jamestown Departments of Public Works and Parks’ budgets. Interim Director of Public Works Mark Roetzer shared with City Council that the departments are facing a 9.75% increase in electric in 2026. This number is based on information provided by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities who are in the process of requesting a rate increase from the State Public Service Commission. Roetzer said road salt prices are also rising 41% from $49 to $69 per ton.

The annual leaf collection in the City of Jamestown will begin Monday, November 3. Phase one will begin in the Foote Avenue, Martin Road, and Linwood Avenue area and move east and north, counterclockwise, to the east side of Washington Street and the Fluvanna Avenue area. Phase two of leaf collection will begin in the Foote Avenue and Ivy Street area and will move west and north, clockwise, to Washington Street. Phase two is estimated to begin November 10, 2025. Residents are advised to rake leaves to the terrace area behind the curb and not into the street.

Officials cut the ribbon Tuesday on the newly constructed steps that lead down to the Allen Park Bandshell. Jamestown Parks Manager Dan Stone said he was approached by the Allen Park Women’s Club in January 2024 about using some money the organization had collected to the build the stairs, “I couldn't think of a better project to try to take on. So at that point, I had reached out to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Mayor's office and everybody had the same sentiment. Sounds like a great project to take on.

The James Prendergast Library will present “Mystery at the Victorian Inn” in November. The library recently reopened to the public on October 6, after being closed for six weeks to complete a building construction project. Due to the closure, the annual October Haunted Library fundraiser has moved to November. The event on Saturday, November 15 will take place at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. Attendees will travel back in time to a spooky Victorian hotel where secrets and mayhem are afoot. You will interact with a cast of characters as they try to solve the mystery of the hotel owners' demise. 

Three Chautauqua County communities will receive murals under the state’s Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM) program. The CHARM initiative will support the creation of art across 21 counties, tapping into New York's artistic community to enhance existing community spaces, celebrate local culture, drive visitation and promote civic engagement. This public art program is administered by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board is one of eleven community partners that will create the murals in the…

Kris Sellstrom has been approved to take over as General Manager of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities following current GM David Leathers' retirement. The BPU Board approved the appointment at their meeting Monday afternoon. Sellstrom is a lifelong Jamestown resident and a New York-licensed professional engineer. He has been with the BPU for nearly fourteen years in progressively senior leadership roles, having most recently served as Deputy General Manager of the Electric Division. Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund said they received around 60 applicants for the position with six being interviewed by the board as well as BPU employees, “We didn't want to limit it to internal, but we had some great internal candidates.

New York State will issue an additional $30 million in emergency food aid for families across the state as federal funding cuts impact residents’ food benefits. The announcement of the additional funding follows the $11 million in emergency food aid Governor Kathy Hochul made on Friday. As part of that funding announced Friday, St. Susan Center will receive $61,123.10 to purchase a walk-in freezer to help support and expand their Produce Recovery Program. Due to the government shutdown, state officials said nearly 3 million state residents are in jeopardy of losing their food assistance before Thanksgiving.

The Jamestown Farmers Market will be assisting those who receive SNAP with a $15 voucher to use at the market. Market officials said starting Saturday, November 1, anyone who presents a valid EBT card and SNAP Determination Letter will receive $15 in JFM Market Bucks to spend at the market. This offer also extends to unpaid and furloughed federal employees who may be facing uncertainty about pay or food access. Staff ID is required. The Jamestown Farmers Market currently has funding to provide this support to 50 individuals per market day.

Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter months. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said those who take these actions help reduce human disturbance to endangered and threatened bats. The DEC made the plea as part of Bat Week, which is observed annually on October 24 through 31 in the United States and Canada as a way to build support for the conservation of bats – a frequently misunderstood species. DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Disturbing bats from their hibernation patterns can cause unnecessary harm to their systems and recovery.

Craig Robbins is a NYS full-time licensed hunting and fishing guide for 25 years. Through guiding he has successfully guided thousands of fishing clients and their families on Chautauqua Lake to their fishing trip of a lifetime. As a hunting guide Craig has successfully guided visiting and local hunters for geese, ducks, turkey and whitetail. Craig first started writing about the outdoors for the Corry Times. It wasn’t long before he then received a phone call the Jamestown Post-Journal sports editor Jim Riggs about the writing for the Post-Journal. That started his almost three-decade weekly column Outdoors with Craig Robbins. Each week Craig shares his insight, tips, techniques and news regarding the outdoors to sportsmen and women of Chautauqua County, western New York and beyond.

Take a tour of Scandinavia without ever leaving Jamestown. The Swedish Hour is hosted by Gerd Brigiotta and provides listeners with a weekly opportunity to explore a wide and diverse selection of traditional Scandinavian music. Sundays at 3 a.m. (9 a.m. Swedish Time) and 7 p.m with an additional replay Tuesday's at 6 p.m.

Rose of A Spiral Filled With Roses stopped by the WRFA studios to perform a few songs in-studio and chat with AOF host Anthony Merchant aspiralfilledwithroses.bandcamp.com www.instagram.com/aspiralfilledwithroses

WRFA, joined by media partners the Post-Journal and Media One Group, held a debate for the candidates for Chautauqua County Executive on October 16, 2025.

Jamestown City Council will vote on increasing several different fees tonight. Council will vote to increase fees under the Department of Development. Staff say permit fees have not been adjusted in several years while administrative costs have increased at about a rate of 2% or more a year. Permit fees are proposed to increase between 10 and 20%. If approved, the new rates go into effect January 1, 2026. A resolution to double the cost of the Business District Parking Permit is also on the voting agenda. The staff report states that the…