My Personal Blog: Jamestown NY

06/12/2026

Does anyone want to go to a Play I wrote? It is playing in Erie this summer at Mercyhurst University in Erie.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JRduC35hc/

The Mercyhurst Theatre Program is proud to announce the return of its professional summer theatre program with Tom Andolora's The Spoon River Project, Aug. 14–16 in Taylor Little Theatre.

Based on Edgar Lee Masters' "Spoon River Anthology," this haunting play invites audiences into a lantern-lit vigil where the former residents of Spoon River reflect on the dreams, secrets, triumphs, and regrets that shaped their lives. Together, their stories create a powerful portrait of a community—and a reminder of the importance of listening, remembering, and bearing witness.

The production features fourteen Mercyhurst students and alumni: Connor Clark, Abby Craig, Michael Harper, Rachele Heasley, Owen Hitt, Rosie Pregler Hitt, Ermin Hucic, Kat Kanazin, Johnathon Morvay, Braden Rosciszewski, Tessa Sayre, Tori St. John-Gilbert, Bethany Sulecki, and Jenna Wager.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, July 14, at noon.

06/11/2026

The Zone is opening July 11.
This tourist attraction cost between 3 and 6 million dollars.
I believe it was built because kids who come with their parents to the NcC are bored. I do not believe this was built for the children of Jamestown to use.
This is an attraction with an entrance fee. I cannot find what that fee is.

This was sold to us as an opportunity for the kids of Jamestown to enjoy. It received 200k of taxpayer arpa money. If you read the website they are collecting donations to SUBSIDIZE admission for the children of Jamestown. That is not what I understood this was going to be.
We will see what happens.
Think if 5 million dollars had been used to renovate the Boys and Girls Club.
I’m skeptical. Mostly because this is Gebbie and their track record for including the people of Jamestown is dismal.
If I sound negative, I don’t care. We’ve been down this road before.

I hope this attraction is affordable for the kids of Jamestown. That is all I care about.

06/11/2026

This is the information if you want to participate in writing a letter to the Mayor asking her to hold a Solo Town Hall Meeting this summer.

Thr meeting is June 22 in the evening. You can also show up and read your letter in person.

I am going to write a letter to be read that day. I hope some of you will join me.

Be polite but direct. Write what you want but the point is to encourage her to hold this meeting.

Thanks. Let’s see how it goes.

06/09/2026

I am going to leave this up for a few days to see the response. I encourage you to get involved in your City government. I always have. You can’t just complain on Social Media. Will you sign up below?

There are 1.7 followers here. Plenty more people in Jamestown read this page.
What I am asking does not exactly take a profile in courage. I’m just asking you to write s brief email stating that you would like the Mayor to hold a Town Meeting so the Mayor can meet the public directly and answer questions.

I am a taxpayer in Jamestown. I pay City taxes and the School Tax and the library tax. As a taxpayer and someone who cares about the future of the city, I believe that any Mayor should have regular Town Hall Meetings. It’s vital to a healthy community.

This is not an Anti Mayor meeting. It should be polite and respectful. There are plenty of supporters of the Mayor. It may give the Mayor a chance to share the good things going on.

I don’t think she should have anyone else with her… thr Police Chief of DOD. I’ve been to those meetings and a lot of time is wasted.

I’m just one person. I have been to enough meetings to know that one person can make a difference. Ten will make a much bigger impact.

I am going to write a letter regardless of who joins me. I will pick a date of which meeting we are sending the emails to and share it here. It will be fairly soon.

For the last time. Post below if you will write a short email message to the City Clerk that will be read at a Council meeting. . It can be as detailed as you want. You are asking the Mayor to hold a Town Hall.

If no one joins me, I will send my letter anyway.

06/08/2026

This is a Poll. Sort of. How do you think the Mayor is doing? I don’t agree with many things she has done, and not fone, but in general, she seems to care about some things in Jamestown deeply. She loves Jamestown I believe. She seems to be competent running the City.

She has not, to the best of my recollection, held a Town Hall Meeting for the people that elected her.

I think a Mayor should face the voters on a regular basis. I’m not out to “get” the Mayor. She is a public figure. She should be able to answer questions from the public.

This is the first of a two part post.

Would you like to see the Mayor hold a solo Town Hall Meeting this summer?

06/06/2026

I didn't know this man, Jack Fiedler, but I read his obituary today in the Post Journal. I don't always read the obituaries of people I don't know but the photo intrigued me. A young man, in a different era, looking so carefree in his wooden boat. I though it was a great photo for an obituary.
Then I read the obituary. His life was very inspiring. He was very accomplished. So many extraordinary people if you pay attention.

06/06/2026

I am glad this happened today in Jamestown.

I grew up as a gay child in Jamestown. That wasn't easy. Having four older brothers wasn't easy. I am not sure you can imagine what is would be like to be 12 years old and in a constant state of panic that someone is going to find out your "secret".

I moved to NYC in 1980, when I was about 21. I moved there to pursue theater… as did four other young men from Jamestown. We all moved there the same year or so. I could name the four, but I won't.

All four of them died of AIDS before they turned 30.

I saw friends turn into skeletons in front of me. It was a nightmare. The whole City was totally turned upside down. We lost a whole generation of young men. And plenty of women.

After watching, and living in the middle of this plague, I spent a decade in a deep depression. I still functioned, but barely. The AIDS Crisis was probably the most traumatic thing to happen to me. I think 9-11 is next. I can't watch footage of it to this day. I saw the second tower fall with my own eyes. I haven’t been to the museum.

Hundreds of thousands, Millions, of Gay and Straight Men and Women have died from AIDS. It is not over but it has come a long way. Everyone should still be using protection. I am certainly grateful for the huge medical advances.

I don't mean to lecture. I am sharing with you what is going through my head today. I guess, since it's my blog, you get the good, bad, and the ugly. I am quite sure most of you have gone through your own fires.

What does Gay Pride mean to me? I am not sure. I am not "proud" of being Gay. I was born that way. It's like being proud i have ten fingers and ten toes. I am proud of the adversity I have overcome because I WAS born who I was born. There were obstacles. I am proud I have been in a wonderful relationship for 25 years. He is a High School teacher in the NYC system. There is nothing "q***r" about us. We are typical boring people who have worked our whole lives and paid taxes our whole lives and celebrated holidays just like straight people, and spend boring evenings at home watching Netflix just like straight people.

I don't ever use the word "q***r" to describe gay people. It's awful. I remember being taunted as a child with that word. It's as bad as the "N" word, if it was ever hurled at you as a kid. Words have meanings. Q***r means "odd", "different"..... there is nothing different about us. We are different than you like a blonde is different than someone with black hair. Or someone who prefers salmon over steak. A preference. That doesn't make you "q***r". So I am not using that word.

I do however, support people. It doesn't matter to me who you want to be. It doesn't matter to me who you want to love. There are some sexually kinky, weirdo straight people out there. And some boring Gay people. Let's not fool ourselves. And good for them. Who cares? If they are not hurting anyone, I don't care what freaky things straight people do in their bedroom.

Being Gay is about 10 percent of who I am as a person. That's about it.

This is one of those posts I might delete.

Thank you for reading through this if you have made it this far. It's a bunch of disjointed thoughts about Gay Pride Day.

First time I’ve ever turned off comments. I hope you understand why. This particular post is not up for debate.

06/04/2026

This seems like a big, important move.

JRC. Which is funded by Gebbie has hired this man to make Downtown work far better to attract more tourists. He also seems to be doing some community outreach.

This is the type of person they should be hiring. He needs to come to town to kick some Downtown ass. I sincerely wish this man luck and success. I hope he does have the experience the town needs.

On the other hand I think, “Who died and left JRC in charge of running Downtown?” Thats where my beef has always been with the Foundations. Our elected leaders seem impotent in taking the lead in planning what happens Downtown. Whatever. It is what it is at this point.
I would encourage him to read the last five years of posts and conversations written here. He’s got a lot of catching up
To do.
I am cautiously optimistic that this man can make an impact. I’m optimistic they brought someone from the outside in. I certainly think we should give him a chance.

Everyone else should be focused on the homeless situation, housing, jobs that have been lost, Crime, Drugs, Taxes…

📣 Exciting news for Downtown Jamestown!

Over the past year, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) has undertaken a strategic evolution of its mission, governance structure, and priorities to strengthen its role as a catalyst for downtown revitalization and economic development. Building on nearly two decades of work implementing Jamestown's Urban Design Plan, JRC is sharpening its focus on economic growth, downtown housing, business attraction and retention, placemaking, and catalytic redevelopment projects that create a stronger, more vibrant Urban Core.

As part of this next chapter, JRC is pleased to announce the hiring of Michael Edwards as its new Director of Downtown Revitalization, effective July 1.

Michael brings more than 30 years of experience in downtown management, economic development, placemaking, and community revitalization, having led transformative initiatives in communities across the country, including Pittsburgh, Chicago, Spokane, and North East, Pennsylvania.

In his new role, Michael will work closely with businesses, property owners, residents, nonprofit organizations, and public-sector partners to advance downtown revitalization initiatives, strengthen strategic partnerships, attract investment, support entrepreneurship, activate public spaces, and help guide the next phase of downtown Jamestown's growth.

Over the coming months, Michael will be meeting with residents, businesses, stakeholders, and community partners to listen, learn, and help shape the future of downtown Jamestown.

Please join us in welcoming Michael to the community!