The homeless population in the Jamestown area has been making news since 2022. It doesn’t appear that 2025 will buck that trend.

The fact that the number of homeless in Jamestown has been increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic was well-reported. But the first sign that something different was happening locally came in July, when Mayor Kim Ecklund issued a state of emergency over unauthorized camping as the number of homeless swelled to an estimated 300 people in unauthorized camps throughout the city – most notably in Brooklyn Square.

The disaster declaration was declared in part in an attempt to bring additional resources into the city to deal with its burgeoning homeless population. The city doesn’t have a mental health or social services department, with those areas led by Chautauqua County. Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. contracts with the county and largely leads efforts to help the homeless.

The emergency declaration gave the city the ability to conduct targeted sweeps in an effort to get the homeless into county-backed emergency housing and to sign up for benefits that could put the homeless into temporary housing.

Algal blooms are pictured on Chautauqua Lake in this aerial photo. The impact of new freshwater wetlands rules on Chautauqua Lake and its watershed were a source of months of debate over the past year, with the regulations going into effect on Jan. 1.

“In response, the city will implement enhanced policing, stricter enforcement of public space regulations, and rigorous adherence to city codes starting immediately,” the city said in a news release late Thursday afternoon. “This will include deploying extra law enforcement personnel to areas with high incidents, conducting regular patrols to deter illegal encampments, and strictly enforcing property maintenance, trespassing, and sanitation codes. These actions are designed to restore order and safety while safeguarding the rights and well-being of all residents.”

In May, the Jamestown Fire Department responded to fires at four vacant, condemned properties, all of which were occupied by campers. To date, there have been 21 fires involving vacant and condemned structures, along with 45 investigations into illegal burn complaints. One fire was started by a homeless person living in a city resident’s garden shed without the homeowner’s knowledge starting several fires. Fires have also been started and left unattended in wooded areas throughout the city.

Chautauqua County is now providing temporary housing to nearly 200 people, which is more than it ever has.

Jon Anderson, deputy commissioner of Social Services, told county lawmakers recently that the county needed to use another $1.2 million from its unassigned fund balance to help pay for the increased costs. In September, the county had transferred $1.5 million from its reserves to its safety net account.

“At this point, we have so many people in temporary housing. Homelessness, as you know, it’s been a big problem for the county, particularly Jamestown. Right now we have the highest number of people who are in temporary housing that we’ve had ever. It’s a historic high, about 190 people,” Anderson said. “When people come in to address their situation, and if they are homeless, we have to provide services by statute.”

A homeless encampment is pictured in the woods near the Chadakoin River. Submitted photo

JBC Eyes Final Chapter With Closure Announcement

Early in 2024, Jamestown Business College officials announced the college’s plans to close once its current crop of students graduates.

The college was founded in 1886.

In a statement posted to its website’s homepage, the college said it will continue to provide the coursework and graduation requirements for all students currently enrolled.

“Eventually, this change will lead to the closure of Jamestown Business College,” the for-profit institution said. “These changes are the result of the college’s size and the expanding government regulations.”

Located in one of the catacombs under a railroad track in Jamestown is a site that appears to be where a girl and her guardian took refuge Friday. A makeshift bed was made and was surrounded by toys like a My Little Pony doll, puzzles and food. A set of pants is reported to be new and appeared to be hung to dry. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

No specific closing date was announced by the Fairmount Avenue college, which in 2024 entered its 138th year of existence.

It didn’t take long for a new use to come to light as JBC officials announced in October that JBC’s buildings will be donated to the United Christian Advocacy Network and the St. Susan Center, after JBC shutters operations in early 2025.

“Since 1886 the college has served the community of Jamestown,” said JBC President David Conklin. “What better use than for the buildings to continue to serve the community.”

According to Cherie Rowland, St. Susan Center executive director, the St. Susan board of directors began a years-long search for a new location for the organization.

“This expansion is a direct response to the ongoing homelessness crisis in Jamestown, an issue St. Susan Center has been on the front line for decades,” she said. “The new location and planned renovations will significantly enhance our ability to serve those in need, providing a more welcoming and efficient space to support our guests. We are deeply grateful for the Conklin family’s incredible gift.”

Sharon Hamilton, chair for the UCAN City Mission’s board, echoed Rowland’s sentiments.

“We at UCAN City Mission are extremely grateful for this generous gift from the Conklin family,” she said. “The gift of the mansion portion of the 100-plus year college and community landmark will allow UCAN to move forward in developing an emergency women and children’s shelter. We are excited to accept this philanthropic gift that will benefit both UCAN and our community.”

JOINING FORCES: FOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS CONSIDER MERGING

Four small fire volunteer departments have merged – and that merger could have repercussions for other small departments in the region in the coming years.

In September, the Hartfield, Dewittville and Mayville fire departments will officially become the North Lake Fire District. The Chautauqua Volunteer Fire Department, which serves Chautauqua Institution and other residents in that area of the town, is not part of the merger.

The idea of merging the departments has been discussed for several years, but there was never any real action.

Then in February, the Mayville Village Board rejected a request for the village fire department to buy its own engine truck, with a price tag of $1.2 million. After that rejection, representatives with Mayville, Dewittville, Hartfield and Chautauqua fire departments met to discuss the possibility of merging into one department.

Pretty quickly the Chautauqua Volunteer Fire Department declined, but the other three departments continued to explore the issue. They hired a lawyer from Syracuse, who specializes in fire department mergers, to explain the process and discuss the possibilities.

Town Councilman Tom Carlson said he’s heard talk about merging since 1990 when he first became a volunteer firefighter. The difference this time, he believes, is due to them bringing in attorney Brad Pinsky.

Councilman Scott Cummings agreed.

“That’s what it took – somebody from the outside with a fresh set of eyes, who was an expert in fire departments,” he said.

In late May, a public hearing took place on the merger proposal. No objections were made at that meeting.

Since that public hearing, enough time has passed where no permissive referendums were filed, allowing the village and town boards to finalize dissolving their respective departments and having them become a single department.

Town Supervisor Don Emhardt, who is the outgoing chief of the Dewittville Fire Department, said at this time all three fire halls will still be used.

Mayville is going to charge the new fire district $25,648 a year to rent the building. Mayor Rick Syper said they came up with that figure following a rental study as well as through “negotiations” with the new district.

SEVERAL CATHOLIC CHURCHES, INCLUDING SS. PETER AND PAUL, TO CLOSE

Several Catholic churches in the southern part of Chautauqua County will close, including Ss. Peter and Paul, one of the oldest churches in Jamestown.

By 2030 there will be two active priests for the Catholic Neighbors in Faith region. That will be accomplished by closing Ss. Peter and Paul, the site of Holy Apostles Parish, on Fourth and Cherry streets and sell the entire campus. Holy Apostles will merge with St. James Roman Catholic Church at 27 Allen St. Our Lady of Loreto in Falconer will also merge with St. James and its campus sold.

The Buffalo Diocese is also following through with closing the Our Lady Of Snows in Panama and selling the property. Our Lady of Victory in Frewsburg will also close and be sold.

The only parishes to remain open in the south county are St. James, Sacred Heart in Lakewood and St. Patrick in Randolph. St. John’s Roman Catholic Church on Newton Avenue will remain open as a secondary site. It’s a reversal from the diocese’s original announcement, which saw St. John’s closing and Ss. Peter and Paul remaining open.

Going forward the Diocese will have 79 parishes and 39 secondary worship sites remain after the merger/closure process.

Closings are expected to begin in the spring of 2025.

Here is a breakdown for the county and region:

Parishes staying open: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Silver Creek; Holy Trinity, Dunkirk; St. James, Jamestown; Sacred Heart, Lakewood; St. Patrick, Randolph; St. Mary of Lourdes, Mayville; St. Dominic, Westfield; Christ Our Hope, French Creek; St. Joseph, Gowanda; and Immaculate Conception, Eden.

Secondary worship sites: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Dunkirk; St. Anthony, Fredonia (until Feb. 15, 2026); St. Hyacinth, Dunkirk (until Feb. 15, 2026); Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, St. John site, Jamestown; and St. Mary of Lourdes, Bemus Point.

Parishes/sites merging and closing: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Forestville site; St. Joseph, Fredonia; St. Anthony, Fredonia (Feb. 15, 2026); Blessed Mary Angela, St. Hyacinth site, Dunkirk (Feb. 15, 2026),

Blessed Mary Angela, St. Hedwig site, Dunkirk; Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, SS. Peter and Paul site, Jamestown; Sacred Heart, Panama site; St. James, Frewsburg site; Our Lady of Loretto, Falconer; St. Dominic, Brocton site; Christ Our Hope, Sherman site; Holy Spirit, North Collins; and St. Mary, Cattaraugus.

Ss. Peter and Paul parishioners are fighting the closure of the historic Jamestown church. When a closing is considered, the process is guided by specific steps outlined in canon law, or church law. Broadly, canon law plainly states that bishops alone have the authority to erect (open) or suppress (close) any parish. The canons also explicitly assert that a bishop must consult with the diocesan presbyteral (priests’) council prior to making a decision and that parishioners have a right to express their views before a final decision is reached.

Further, canon law allows for an appeal of a bishop’s decision on a closing — as well as other decrees — through a complex set of actions that can take parishioners on a laborious trek through the inner workings of the Vatican.

That process will continue into the new year.

KEEP THE LAKE A LAKE

In March The Post-Journal shared the concerns of Ellen Barnes, a Lakewood Village Board member, and Jim Wehrfritz, a longtime Chautauqua Lake advocate, about the possible effects of freshwater wetlands regulations on the lake.

In 2022, according to the DEC, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law historic revisions to New York’s Freshwater Wetlands Act. New York’s original Freshwater Wetlands Act was enacted in 1975 to regulate activities near larger wetlands, greater than 12.4 acres, and smaller wetlands considered to be of unusual local importance. The new wetlands law eliminates the use of the old, inaccurate wetland maps and clarifies that all wetland areas greater than 12.4 acres are subject to Article 24 regulations. Freshwater wetlands are lands and submerged lands – commonly called marshes, swamps, sloughs, bogs, and flats – that support aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation.

There were countless meetings and forums about the wetlands regulations held over the year, with a steady drumbeat of opposition forming among most towns and villages along the lake, joined by County Executive PJ Wendel, who asked the state to delay the implementing the regulations. State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell introduced legislation that would exempt freshwater lakes like Chautauqua Lake from being considered wetlands under the Freshwater Wetlands Act, while county farmers have now come out in opposition as well.

The regulations take effect Jan. 1, with no move from the state yet to delay implementation of the new regulations.

“The Village of Lakewood Board of Trustees is requesting the implementation of the new regulations be delayed until a complete study of the impact that the new regulations will have on the businesses, properties and property values which surround the lake, and the impact on the general public and economy of the municipalities that surround Chautauqua Lake and Chautauqua County, in general, and the proper fiscal analysis is conducted and made public of the region affected by the new regulations,” Barnes said in October.