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WELCOME TO THE

National Comedy Center

Posted by Sue Jones on Nov 09, 2018

The Rotary Club of Jamestown held a very special meeting Monday evening at the National Comedy Center amid flashing lights and laughter, to tour the completed Center and share with their members the special area “Comedy as a Tool for Social Progress” named by the Club with their recent $20,000 donation. Coincidentally, it was one year ago that the Club announced their naming donation to the Center!

The evening was highlighted by the surprise presentation of Community Paul Harris Fellow Awards to Tom Benson, Chairman of the Board of the National Comedy Center and to Journey Gunderson, the Executive Director of the NCC and the Lucy Desi Center.

Past Community Paul Harris Fellows include: Daniel Bratton, George and Jane Campbell, David Carnahan, Stan Lundine, Roger Tory Peterson, Gary Lynn, and Dennis Webster to name a few.

Greg Jones, Foundation Chairman of the local club announced the recipient of the 255th Paul Harris Fellow in the usual secretive manner by telling the group the recipient is a lifelong resident of Jamestown and a graduate of Jamestown High School. To help fund college costs at Jamestown Community College, this person got up in the middle of the night to start work at 4AM loading UPS trucks in Falconer before attending class.

In 2002, this person joined many area residents in shaving their heads to raise funds in support of Tom Buttafaro’s Youth Basketball Program at the YMCA. At that point, Jones revealed the recipient to be Tom Benson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Comedy Center.

It is for his dedication, work and leadership in bringing the Comedy Center to life in Jamestown, NY, that the Club honored Benson with his Paul Harris Fellow.

Tom Benson is a 1975 graduate of Jamestown Community College and received its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1992. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1977and became a Certified Public Accountant in New York State in 1979, a Certified Forensic Financial Analyst (CFFA) in 2005, a Certified Valuation Analyst (CFA) in 2006 and a Certified Merger and Acquisition Professional (CMAP) in 2009.

Tom has seventeen years of extensive and varied public accounting experience including twelve as a partner with Buffamante, Whipple, Buttafaro, PC from 1982 through 1994. He founded the Vineyard Group, LLC in 2004, after gaining ten years of valuable hands-on experience in key operating positions with manufacturing firms both domestic and international. However, his favorite job of all time was being coach of the Little Hoopers at the YMCA.

Tom’s single greatest achievement remains persuading Sue to say yes to his marriage proposal. They have three wonderful daughters and sons-in-law, two grandsons and twins – a grandson and granddaughter due in January.

The evening’s second surprise Community Service Paul Harris Fellow was awarded to Journey Gunderson, the Executive Director of the NCC and the Lucy Desi Center. Again Foundation Chairman Jones gave hints of the award recipient without naming her. He referred to first meeting the recipient when she was sitting in his exam chair (Jones is a retired optometrist) and he asked her that age old question, “Which is better one or two?” Her immediate answer was correct, “neither - they are both the same”. Based on that rapid, correct answer he knew this young lady would end up doing something special in life. Interestingly when asked by her parents, Bob and Wendy, what she wanted to be when she grew up her answer was “either a doctor or a cat”. Fortunately for the Jamestown community she became neither a doctor nor a cat, but rather became the Executive Director of the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy, and the National Comedy Center.

Ms. Gunderson, who is a graduate of Bemus Point Central School, continued her education at Ithaca College where she obtained her degree in communications and sports media, magna cum laude. At Ithaca College she was on the volleyball team, named a NCAA tournament participant student athlete and was on the Ithaca athletic advisory council. Somewhere along this path she also placed second in the regional surfing contest of Montauk Long Island. Over a five year plus time frame, Journey held several management positions at the Women’s Sports Foundation before returning home. Journey is married to Jason Michael Toczydlowski and they are the proud parents of two boys Oscar and August.

To become a reality and a success the National Comedy Center needed its Tom Benson but it equally needed its Journey Gunderson. Journey is the face of the NCC and the Lucy Desi Center, and is equally comfortable meeting with big name entertainers such as Dan Aykroyd and gaining his support for the Center well as meeting with comics and their agents enticing them to come to Jamestown and perform at our annual celebration of comedy.

The Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award represents a $1,000 contribution in each of the recipient’s names to the Rotary Foundation to assist Rotarians all over the world carry out their goals in their six areas of service. When a person is recognized, they are presented a Certificate signed by the Rotary International President and the Chairman of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, a lapel pin and a medallion.

There are over 1,300,000 Rotarians worldwide in over 33,000 clubs. The 100 members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding next May. The Club sponsors local community projects as well as international projects and welcomes 2 foreign exchange students to live in the area each year while sponsoring 2 students to travel and study abroad each year.

Rotarians the world over work hard every day to fulfill their foundation’s six avenues of service which are:

The foundations six areas of service are:

•             Peace and conflict prevention/resolution.
•             Disease prevention and treatment.
•             Water and sanitation.
•             Maternal and child health.
•             Basic education and literacy.
•             Economic and community development.

Jones spoke to the success of one of those programs specifically.

In 1988, members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown reached into their wallets and pulled out in today’s dollars over $117,000 to support the new Rotary International program to eliminate polio in the world. It was called Polio Plus and at that time it was just Rotary against Polio.

After 30 years of bold action, historic achievements, and sometimes discouraging setbacks, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have nearly brought polio to an end. The other partners of the GPEI are the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The results have been monumental. Thirty years ago, the paralyzing disease affected 350,000 children in one year. Because of massive vaccination campaigns around the world, cases have dropped more than 99.9 percent, to only 20 reported so far this year. Polio, which was endemic in 125 countries in 1988, now remains so in just three: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. More than 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated, and more than $14 billion has been invested in the fight to eradicate the disease worldwide. Rotary has also committed to raising an additional $50 million a year over a three-year period for eradication activities. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match up to that amount 2-to-1, which could bring the total as high as $450 million.

Left to right: Greg, Katie, Journey, Tom and Joelle.

Katie pins Tom as a new Paul Harris Fellow while Joelle looks on.

Greg presents Journey with her Paul Harris Fellow certificate.

The Harbor Hotel

Posted by Sue Jones on Nov 02, 2018

Becky Robbins introduced Lisa Masters, Sales Manager at The Harbor Hotel. Lisa has been at her job since June and hails from Boston. She moved to our area (Burtis Bay) last year to be near her family. Lisa’s responsibility is to focus on corporate sales in the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo area and entice them utilize The Harbor Hotel. There are four other employees in the sales department. The Hotel’s General Manager is Chris Scott.

The hotel has been well-utilized since its soft opening including 4 weddings, a major conference, and the Chautauqua County Conference on opioid addiction.

The hotel is the product of David Hart, Manager of Hart Hotels and Peter Krog, builder (Wegman’s & Home Depot). They are known for creating or recreating a destination. There are four Harbor Hotels; the others are in Watkins Glen, Clayton and Portland, Me. Our hotel is the largest and was built in 14 months for $40,000,000. They are all triple A – Four Diamond hotels based upon their amenities and service.

The Harbor Hotel has 35 guest rooms, 15 suites, all decorated the same, but different sizes. The king bed rooms also have a pull out sofa bed and the queen rooms have two queen size beds. There are rooms with lake views or village views, with patios or without.

The room we met in on Monday is 1200 square feet and there are seven different breakout rooms. The ballroom of 6200 sq.ft. holds 408 people with a dance floor, band area and head table area; this can be halved to accommodate 202. Outside the ballroom is 4100 square feet of pre-function space where cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are usually served overlooking the lake and outside seating areas.

There is a Lakehouse Tap & Grille for more casual dining and a bar with 4 TVs that serves local beers and wines. Outside is the beautiful Carousel Bar which features a replica of a carousel horse.

The hotel is a full service hotel, meaning it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has 24 hour room service.

The Harbor Hotel is a partner of the National Comedy Center and directs visitors to the Center whenever possible.

There are no carpets in any of the rooms; each room has a refrigerator, walk-in shower, and safes and bathrobes. There are no coffee makers in the rooms however each floor has a lobby which they call the Starbucks Coffee Café near the elevator with complementary coffee.

The Hotel menus are listed on line with prices.

Occupancy has been very good so far. They are busy developing packages to make fall getaways attractive.

The Hart family has purchased Ellicott Shores – the apartments next to the hotel and are busy renovating those accommodations as well.

There is an island attached to the hotel, but there is not food or beverage service there. Public docking is planned for further down lake next year. The hotel has also purchased the Celoron Lighthouse and plans to refurbish it. Hopefully there will be an area for public docking and canoe, kayak and paddle boat usage and rental.

Now Mr. Hart hopes to get everyone to the table to partner on improving the condition of the lake and build up business at the south end of the lake.

Bookings are available through Expedia, AAA, and AARP. There is a seasonal rate structure in place now through April 30. And the sales department is working with the ski resorts and local snow mobile clubs.

There are 110 full and part-time employees working hard to make your stay at the Harbor Hotel perfect.

Kia Briggs & Dr. Betsy Kidder - Opioid Addiction

Posted by Sue Jones on Oct 22, 2018

Pictured (l to r): Becky Robbins, Dr. Betsy Kidder, Kia Briggs and President Katie Geise

Becky Robbins introduced the speakers for today: Kia Briggs Narraway, who earned a JCC Associates Degree and a Bachelor of Science from Empire State College with top honors in community human services, concentrating on mental health and addiction studies.

In 2006, Kia began volunteering at the Mental Health Association, MHA, located in the Gateway Center. She was hired as intake coordinator while providing individual advocacy for participants. Kia Became associate director in 2011 and Executive Director in 2015.

The MHA is a United Way partner organization and has increased services by over 70% MHA provides individual peer coaching by certified peer specialists; support groups, services navigation, linkages to treatment providers and a safe and accepting environment for those afflicted with substance use and mental health disorders.

Also speaking was Dr. Betsy Kidder, a Jamestown native who returned home to practice medicine and she also serves on the Advisory Board of the MHA.

Betsy is an internal medicine doctor practicing at the Chautauqua Center. Dr. Kidder is certified to prescribe medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction and works closely with Kia and others in the community to improve access to needed addiction treatment.

The Chautauqua Center (on 4th street across from the YMCA) – is a medical clinic that provides primary medical care, dental care, mental health care and addiction medicine treatment. They accept all insurances and help people without insurance to apply for insurance. A new facility for the Chautauqua Center is under construction at the site of the former Artone Building near Brooklyn Square.

Dr. Kidder received a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College. She earned a medical degree, a Master’s Degree in Public Health and a PhD in Public Policy and Health Policy from George Washington University.
Addiction changes the biology and brain chemistry. It works on dopamine in the brain; it hijacks or affects the emotional systems.

In Jamestown the major problems are methamphetamines (stimulant); heroin/opioids; and cocaine.

Over 2,000,000 opioid prescriptions are written annually. 350 people start taking drugs every day. Over 4,105 Emergency room visits a day are as a result of addiction overdoses. Less than half of the addicts get help.

Opioid, codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroine, fentanyl and carfentanol are all addictive drugs. Addicts transition from prescription drugs to stronger drugs, which they can buy on the street.
There has been a change in the face of addicts – they used to be minority, inner city blacks and now addicts are every face. And there has been a huge increase in rural addiction.

Dr. Kidder recommended the book Dreamland by Sam Quinones to help the layman understand addiction.

Dr. Kidder treats with MAT – medically assisted treatment.

Narcan – Naloxone can be sprayed up the nose and revive the patient who has overdosed.

Vivitrol – Naltrexone can only be used if the addict has been off opioids for 10 days and is committed to not do drugs in the future.

Methadone helps to tame the roller coaster so there are fewer highs and lows.

Suboxone or buprenorphine is delivered in a sublingual strip and it eases the withdrawal and cravings. If the patient injects, there is no high. As the patient progresses, the strip can be cut down. Even these strips have a street value of $25 to $50 each. There is also a huge prison demand. Families sneak them in to inmates. An injectable form has been developed, so no there will be no street value.

There is a great importance of employment to recovery.

Vermont has a more open mind and is hiring those in treatment. It gives them a purpose, accountability, and responsibility. The MHA is a grantee and is trying to get people into good jobs that are run on a peer model. Peer coaches guide others through recovery and provide daily support, role models, life changes, which all work together.

Kia from the MHA at the Gateway Center said that the peer model really works and it takes a community to solve this problem.

Today was a most thought provoking presentation.

Little Theater

Posted by Sue Jones on Oct 19, 2018

Lucy Miller introduced today’s speakers – Helen and Norm Merrill who spoke about the Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown. They attended grade school and high school in South Dayton where their names hang proudly on the school’s Wall of Fame. They are the proud parents of two sons AND they are BOTH Paul Harris Fellow recipients. Helen and Lucy co-founded the Junior Guiders 35 years ago.

Ms. Merrill reminisced about the beginnings of the Players Club under the leadership of Madelaine Osgood which then combined with Harriet and George Warren to form the Little Theatre of Jamestown. In 1945, the group boasted 5,400 in membership and that number is now at 800. Mrs. Merrill challenged every single Rotarian to become a member of Little Theatre by next year!

Little Theatre practiced in the building which now houses Brigiotta’s and for every performance they would bring all the sets, props and costumes to the then Scottish Rite theatre (now the Jackson Center) and practice or perform and then break down the equipment and return it to the building on Fairmount Avenue.

Finally, Marshall Dahlin and Sam Paladino identified the former Shea’s Theatre as a possible home. The building is 137 years old and started as the Allen Opera House. It was bought by the Samuels Family and then purchased by Shea’s until it closed in 1968. It remained empty for many years until Dahlin and Paladino toured it, with 18 inches of ice on the floor and a hole through the roof letting in daylight.

Under Paladino’s leadership $200,000 was raised to complete the restoration and the rest is history – a great partnership with Helen performing and directing and Norm making the sets come to life.

This past year, air conditioning was added enabling the theatre to have productions in the summer months. Coming productions include:

January – No Sex Please, We’re British

March - To Kill a Mockingbird

May – Curtains

July – Disenchanted!

Sept./Oct. – The Producers

Nov. – Harvey

An Evening in Italy Fundraiser

Posted by Chris Anderson on Oct 15, 2018