Community Matters

The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is ready to go for August 7 through 10. We talk with Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson about the headliners and more.

A public hearing on the proposal to upgrade the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District’s wastewater treatment plan was part of the Chautauqua County Legislature’s meeting on April 23, 2025.

A Developer’s Forum will be held in Jamestown on April 30. We talk with organizers about the event as well as other economic development activity in the Jamestown region.

WRFA visited the James Prendergast Library to learn more about the construction project that will be shaking up the stacks over the next month or so.

Chautauqua County Humane Society Director of Fundraising & Communication Brian Papalia tells us about the Community Through Hockey/CCHS All Star Hockey Fundraiser taking place Sunday, April 6 and more.

Jamestown Justice Coalition Coordinator Justin Hubbard discusses a protest rally that will be held at Dow Park on April 5 that is part of protests being held nationwide.

Jamestown High School A Cappella Choir and Mixed Chorus Director Lauren Scharf and Concert and Symphonic bands Director Meghan Murray talk about the upcoming 100th Anniversary Concert scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025.

We talk with Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund about the defeat of a resolution to reallocate funding to remediate a brownfield site by the future Gateway Lofts Project, updates on projects that help the unhoused, changes in City government, and more.

We talk with Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel about his State of the County address that included everything from exploring nuclear energy to shelters for the homeless.

Even before the Pandemic started five years ago, isolation and loneliness were becoming a concern for local communities. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Chautauqua Connection Collective, and Live CHQ and Choose CHQ have banded together to create an event aimed at that those issues that also helps build community.

Jamestown Public Schools Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations Brittnay Spry presented the proposed 2025-26 budget to the Jamestown School Board on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

We talk with Collaborative Children's Solutions owner Pat Smeraldo about the "Turn The River Green" event for St. Patrick's Day and other events coming up for the organization.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County began distributing boxes of food on March 12 as part of the Grow Chautauqua food distribution program. Community Food Systems Educator Linnea Haskin gives us the details.

Drescher and Malecki Partner Carl Widmer presented the results of the 2023 audit of City of Jamestown finances to City Council on March 10.

Chautauqua County Humane Society's Brian Papalia tells us about a longtime cat resident at the shelter as well as the upcoming All Star Hockey Fundraiser in April and the Pet Expo this Fall.

We talk with Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund about lingering winter issues on city streets, contract negotiations, and her thoughts on how Chautauqua County's additional 1% sales tax could be better divided between municipalities.

We talk with Chautauqua County Executive Wendel about the Corrections Officers’ strike, concerns about Federal Funding, and his announcement that he’s running for a second full term.

The Jamestown Planning Commission had a work session as part of their monthly meeting on February 18, 2025 to discuss a proposed Local Preservation Ordinance (LPO). City Principal Planner Ellen Shadle led the discussion.

WRFA's Julia Ciesla-Hanley talks with Jamestown Farmers Market Food Access Manager Nick Weith about Winter Market activities and other programs in the "off-season."

WRFA's Julia Ciesla-Hanley talks with the YWCA Jamestown about the Coldest Night of the Year event coming up on February 22, 2025.

The Chautauqua County Humane Society is changing up how it conducts one of its annual fundraisers.

We discuss immigration issues and concerns about ICE agents in Chautauqua County with the New Neighbors Coalition.

WRFA's Julia Ciesla-Hanley discusses the the 2025 State of the City report with Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund

Congressman Nick Langworthy gave a press briefing on Tuesday, January 28 about targeted deportation efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Western New York.

State Senator George Borrello shares his thoughts on Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed state budget and discusses goals for this legislative session.