County follows up 53 new cases with 128 new COVID-19 cases reported Friday...
The Chautauqua County Health Department is reporting 128 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past day to end the week... along with two new deaths.  Officials say 38 of the new cases were reported in the Jamestown 14701 zip code... along with 25 in Dunkirk.  The two new deaths brings that total to 179 during the pandemic... and, there have now been 11,604 cases... and, 466 of those care currently active.  There were 53 new cases reported Thursday.  Officials say 36 people are currently hospitalized with the virus... and, 10,959 cases have now recovered.  The Health Department reports the infection rate is down to 7.9-percent.

Hochul says Zucker's has tendered his resignation at Health Commissioner...
Governor Kathy Hochul says says New York state is looking for a new health commissioner now that the man who's held that position since 2015 has resigned.  During a COVID-19 press briefing Thursday morning... Hochul announced that Dr. Howard Zucker was stepping down... but, will stay on until a replacement is named.  The governor thanked Zucker for his service to the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.  However... she says it's time to put a new team in place.  Hochul says she's been working during her first 45 days to assemble that team.  Zucker was appointed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo to be state Health Commissioner just over six years ago.  He has faced heated criticism over the state's COVID-19 response... in particular in nursing homes.  Data released by the state earlier this year show 15,800 people living in nursing homes and other long-term care homes in New York have died of COVID-19.

Borrello welcome's Zucker's resignation, says it's overdue...
Chautauqua County's representative in the New York state Senate says news that Howard Zucker has resigned is "welcome..." but, adds it's overdue.  Sunset Bay Republican George Borrello was among those calling for Zucker's resignation because -- "his complicity in the Cuomo administration’s coverup of nursing home deaths and COVID deaths overall, mismanagement of the pandemic response, and politicization of the Health Department have been a stain on our state and compromised vital public health functions at a critical time."  Borrello adds that it is "troubling" that -- like Governor Cuomo -- Zucker appears to be exiting on his own terms.  If he is resigning, Borrello says "he should leave today."

Executive lends his view of the ARPA Plan controversy involving county's two cities... 
Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel and others are responding to criticism of the 43 projects the county will fund through $24.6-million in American Rescue Plan funding.  Wendel says the critiques "inaccurately claim that Chautauqua County ignored the municipalities of Jamestown and Dunkirk during the ARPA funding discussions, and in the proposed projects."  However... he says his office and a bi-partisan group working on projects did meet with the mayors of both cities -- both of whom are Democrats.  County Legislator Chuck Nazzaro, a Democrat from Jamestown, was part of the group.  He says there were discussions about projects... but, those broke off after the second session because both sides had the direction they were going in.  Nazzaro says, being from Jamestown, he would have been happy to talk with the mayor or anyone else in city government about it.  Wendel -- a Republican -- says Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist told those at the first meeting in March to not "carve out any more for the city" since the city had it's own $28-million in ARPA funding.  Wendel adds that Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas did not attend the first meeting... and, sent a representative to the second.  He says his office also has monthly conference call meetings with all of the county’s town supervisors and mayors... and, both mayors are invited to be part of those.

Quattrone names new undersheriff with Braley's retirement...
There's a new Undersheriff in Chautauqua County as of Thursday morning.  Sheriff Jim Quattrone announced that Richard Telford has been promoted from Captain to the new position.  Quattrone says he replaces another long-time veteran of the Sheriff's Office... Darrel Braley, who was with the department for 46 years until his retirement earlier this week.  He says Braley was a "great mentor." Quattrone says Telford has been with the Sheriff's Office for about 30 years.  He says Telford has served as the department's Fire investigator... and, has also been a supervisor in the Dispatch Center.   

Metzger receiving CRCF Hamilton Award tonight...
A dedicated community volunteer will receive the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation's John D. Hamilton Community Service award later today.  Mike Metzger has served over a dozen organzations since he moved here 38 years ago.  He says his interest in helping stems from his parents, who expected volunteerism in their family.  Metzger's current interests include the county's Industrial Development Agency, Chautauqua Institution, as well as the community foundation.  But, he believes some of his most meaningful work came when he pushed out of his comfort zone to teach a Junior Achievement course to eighth-graders at Falconer Central School.  Metzger is currently Vice President for Finance at SUNY Fredonia, and previously worked for Blackstone Advanced Technologies, Acu-rite, and Bauch & Lomb.  The Hamilton award will be presented along the shore at the Harbor Hotel, Celoron Friday evening... in the community foundation's first public event since COVID began.