Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A man is in jail for a home invasion late last month in Chautauqua County. Sheriff’s deputies say that around 8:20 p.m. on January 24 26-year-old Alex Tye of Fredonia broke into a Forestville home and demanded money from the people inside. An arrest warrant was issued for Tye on Monday and deputies found him at about 4:45 p.m. in the Town of Pomfret. Tye is charged with attempted robbery, burglary and a number of other offenses. His bail is set at $20,000 cash. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman accused of violating an order of protection is now charged with criminal contempt. Police say 59-year-old Mereline Pegelow of Fredonia went to a protected person’s house, parked in front of it and knocked on the door and front window while the person was there. She was arraigned in Village of Brocton Court, released on her own recognizance and then scheduled to return to court on Wednesday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A shoplifting spree has led to charges against a Fredonia woman. State police say 66-year-old Masoode Majid stole $59 worth of merchandise from the Tops Market in Dunkirk, $257 worth of merchandise from a JC Penney store and $23 worth of merchandise from a Dollar General. She’s charged with theft and criminal possession of stolen property and will appear in Town of Dunkirk Court next month. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two people had to be taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash Thursday on Webster Road in the Town of Pomfret. Sheriff’s Deputies say 53-year-old Christopher Brunecz of Fredonia pulled his pickup truck out of a driveway in front of a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Mitchell Laurie, also of Fredonia. A female passenger and a child in Brunecz's vehicle were taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk with minor injuries. Brunecz was not hurt, and Laurie declined treatment at the scene. No charges were filed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The arts council is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director, Tina Hastings, who will begin her tenure in June of 2014. Tina comes to us with a strong background in arts administration and will replace former executive director, Anne Conroy-Baiter. Most recently Tina served as the Director of the Cathy and Jesse Marion Art Gallery at SUNY Fredonia where she enjoyed working with regional, national, and international artists in all mediums and curating diverse exhibitions, lecture series, and gallery talks for the campus and community. During her time at SUNY Fredonia she also developed and taught courses for students in the college's Museum Studies program. Tina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology as well as a Masters of Public Administration, both from Southern Illinois University. Originally from central Ohio, she and her family moved to western New York in 2007 when her husband accepted a teaching position at SUNY Fredonia. As CCAC's Executive D...

The chief of the Dunkirk Police Department was hurt in a two-car crash today at the intersection of routes 20 and 60 in the Town of Pomfret. State police say Chief David Ortolano was headed south on Route 60 when a vehicle driven by Paula Shively of Fredonia made a left turn in front of him and the vehicles collided. Ortolano was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital for treatment of knee and hand pain. Shively was taken to the hospital for treatment of chest and hand pain. Police are continuing their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

ALBANY – Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I- Olean) is again calling for strengthening Kendra’s Law, a law that was put in place to help people with mental illness receive outpatient treatment, after a deranged man killed a Queens resident by pushing him in front of an oncoming subway near Times Square. Ki Suk Han, 58, died on Monday. “Based on reports from the media and witnesses, it appears that the attacker had been yelling and cursing at passersby on the subway platform,” said Senator Young. “We need to expand and strengthen the laws and procedures that determine how and when people receive treatment for mental illness. We cannot afford to wait any longer.” In an eerily similar incident in 1999, Kendra Webdale, a 32-year-old woman, was pushed in front of a subway train by a man with untreated schizophrenia who was roaming New York City streets. “Kendra’s Law” was enacted in response to this tragedy. It put in place “Assisted Outpatient Treatment” (AOT) in New York, which...

We have more information about the Fredonia native who was earlier this week in Afghanistan. 28-year-old US Army Sergeant Jonathan Gollnitz was Wednesday in Pul-E Alam killed by a suicide bomber while on patrol with another soldier. Gollnitz and 29-year-old Staff Sergeant Orion Sparks of Tucson, Arizona, were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 91at Calvary Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Schweinfurt, Germany, according to the Defense Department. Gollnitz attended schools in the Fredonia School District through 11th grade, and graduate from the Levant Christian School in Falconer in 2003. Gollnitz’s family went to Dover Air Force Base yesterday to receive his body. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Fredonia native Jenn Suhr won a gold medal in pole vaulting Monday at the Olympics. She vaulted 15 feet, 7 inches to defeat Cuba's Yarisley Silva, who cleared the same height but lost on a tiebreaker because she had one more miss in the competition. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Some people from Chautauqua County apparently were trying to stock up on snacks for their holiday parties. State police say at 2 a.m. Thursday they were called to a break-in at the Frito-Lay warehouse in Dunkirk. They interviewed a delivery truck driver who witnessed several people leaving the business, and then learned that someone had broken into the building. Their investigation led them to a house where they – quote – recovered proceeds from the break-in. They did not specify what those proceeds were. Police charged 20-year-old Marqus Singh and 17-year-old Stephanie Conklin, both of Fredonia, and 27-year-old Jennifer Melendez-Contreras of Dunkirk, with burglary. They were all sent to jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail. Can you get Doritos in jail? The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A New York state corrections officer is accused of assaulting and choking his live-in girlfriend. 52-year-old William Prost allegedly hit his girlfriend in the face then covered her mouth and nose with his hand, keeping her from breathing. The alleged incident happened at around 9:30 Sunday night in Fredonia Prost was arraigned on charges of third-degree assault and criminal obstruction of breathing and then released. An order of protection was issued for the victim. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Dunkirk, NY – Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards has announced approval of seed funding in the amount of $20,000 to Henlie, Inc., headquartered in the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator at 214 Central Avenue, Dunkirk. Henlie, Inc. is a developer of social networking applications, mobile applications, and educational software. Founded by Craig Rittling, President, the company recently wrapped up development of its first application called “PettyCourtTM” which will launch end of April. PettyCourtTM is a first-of-its-kind social networking application that will launch simultaneously as a stand-alone website and also a Facebook application with exposure to approximately 170 million U.S. members. PettyCourtTM will target various market segments including reality TV viewers, social network members, and online gamers. With the tagline “Resolve the debate… litigate- PettyCourt awaits,” PettyCourtTM will provide an online solution for members to resolve disputes that are eithe...

A Fredonia woman allegedly passed out after drinking too much – while she was babysitting an infant. Sheriff’s deputies say they got a call Friday night about a highly intoxicated woman pushing a stroller on Route 5. 46-year-old Marcia Fedyszyn was unconscious by the time police arrived. They called Child Protective Services to check the baby. They also found the infant's mother. Fedyszyn was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital, and is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. CPS is investigating, and more charges may be pending. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Brocton man who tried to kidnap a 13-year-old girl last May as she was riding her bike to school will spend the next 15 years in prison. 22-year-old Corey Kimmy was sentenced this morning in Chautauqua County Court. Kimmy grabbed the girl at 7:25 a.m. on May 19 in Fredonia, but she was able to get free and run to a nearby home, where the residents called police. Kimmy was found guilty of attempted kidnapping following a four-day trial in January. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Brocton man was found guilty of trying to kidnap a 13-year-old girl as she was riding her bike to school last May in Fredonia. 22-year-old Corey Kimmy was convicted after a four-day trial. He faces a mandatory prison term of up to 15 years when he is sentenced next month. Kimmy grabbed the girl at about 7:25 a.m. on May 19, but she was able to get free and run to a nearby home, where the residents called police. Kimmy was arrested about about eight hours later. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Chautauqua County fire investigators say blazes that were called in within a minute of each other this morning were both accidental, but one of those fires destroyed a house. The fire at 9 a.m. in a Fredonia apartment started when bedding material was placed too close to an electric baseboard heater and ignited. No one was hurt, and the fire was contained to a bedroom of the apartment. The house fire on Marvin Road in French Creek started when a gas-fueled water boiler used to heat the house ignited the flooring underneath it. One resident was home at the time of the fire but was able to escape. Investigators say the house is a total loss. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Drag racing contributed to an accident Saturday night that injured two Fredonia teenagers. Sheriff’s deputies say 19-year-old Kevin Richmond was racing another vehicle on Fredonia-Stockton Road when his vehicle went out of control on a curve, went down an embankment and came to rest in a grape vineyard. Richmond was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries. His passenger, 17-year-old Seryna Ancelet, was taken by Star Flight to UPMC Hamot. Deputies are continuing their investigation and say charges are pending. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl back in May is set to go on trial next month. 22-year-old Corey Kimmy of Brocton is accused of attacking and kidnapping the girl while she was riding her bike to school in Fredonia. The girl fought back and was able to get away and run to a nearby house for help. He’s charged with kidnapping and attempted rape, and is jailed on bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Fredonia High School won the prestigious Bertram Freed Memorial Award Friday at St. Bonaventure University’s annual Communications Day. Named after the longtime Buffalo News reporter, the award honors the high school that won the most publication and individual categories, ranging from newspaper, TV and yearbook to feature, news and opinion writing. Fredonia took first place in the news magazine and yearbook categories, and earned 11 individual writing and photography awards. Brighton High School won for best newspaper, and won nine individual awards in writing and illustrations. Salamanca High School took top honors in the television category, while Brocton High School won 10 individual awards. In all, 13 schools and more than 220 students attended Communications Day. Dan Collins, SBU class of ’73, vice president of corporate communication for Corning Inc., was the keynote speaker. Reporters, editors, producers, photographers, radio program directors, public relations professionals an...

A Fredonia man is facing charges after a domestic dispute with his grandmother. 27-year-old James Hanson is accused of picking up a laptop computer, putting it over her head and threatening to hit her with it. He also threw a dinner plate across the kitchen. Hanson was sent to Chautauqua County Jail on $5,000 cash bail.