Sunny weather and spirited competition highlighted the 28th annual TRC Golf Classic, which raised money to improve the lives of people with special needs in Chautauqua County.

Twenty-seven foursomes competed in the tournament, held July 22 at Moon Brook Country Club near Jamestown.  Winning the tournament with a score of 116 in the four-ball, two-best-ball format was the team of Michelle Grisanti, Mike Grisanti, Lindsay O’Connor and Jason O’Connor.  They will have their names engraved on the champions’ trophy, which is called The Gregg Bender Cup in honor of the retired TRC employee and former longtime chair of the tournament’s steering committee.

Earning top honors in the first flight with a score of 120 was the team of Mike Bird, Jeff Keppel, Todd Conklin, and Jerome Lee Yaw.  Finishing atop flight two with a 129 was the team of Mike Goldman, Mike Roberts, Devan Jackson, and Damien Jackson.

Once the tournament concluded, the traditional Special Olympics putting contest took place.  More than 20 athletes participated, with each Special Olympian getting one chance to make a lengthy putt.  The competitor whose ball came to rest closest to the hole was Paul Ribaudo.

Following appetizers and a buffet dinner prepared by Moon Brook staff, awards were presented to the top teams in the tournament, and prize drawings were held.  Kelly Dimitri, TRC’s chief operating officer, thanked the golfers for participating in the tournament, which raises money to support people with disabilities in Chautauqua County.

For the 13th straight year, Lake Shore Savings was the presenting sponsor.  Other major sponsors were HM Insurance Group, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation, AssuredPartners, Bryans & Gramuglia, Double Tree by Hilton Jamestown, Jamestown Container Companies, Lutheran Jamestown, Ocean State Innovations, SKF Aeroengine, The Post-Journal, and USI Insurance.

Other sponsors included Arthur R. Gren Company, Collaborative Children’s Solutions, Conrad Office Products, Courier Capital, Dahlstrom Rollform, Graf Realty, HCH Interiors, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, Independent Health/Pharmacy Benefit Dimensions, Inscale Architects, Jamestown Awning, Jamestown Macadam Inc. (JMI), Jamestown Mattress, KeyBank, Kinley Contractors, LaBella Associates, Medical Risk Managers (MRM), M.J. Foley Co., Pepsi Co. of Jamestown, Rand Precision Machining, Shults Auto Group, SM Cristall, Twinstar Business Solutions, TRC’s Executive Management Team, Univera Healthcare, UPMC Chautauqua, WCA Foundation, and Weber Knapp Company.

The following donated items: ACME The Appliance Store, Chautauqua Golf Club, Dahlstrom Rollform, DFT Communications, Enterprise Fleet Management, Fancher Chair, Jason Stronz, Pepsi Co. of Jamestown, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Phil N’ Cindy’s Lunch, Phil and Cindy Ribaudo, Joe and Teri Ribaudo, Paul and Jennifer Capitano, Jim and Sally Jaroszynski, Smokin’ Bear Cigars, South Hills Country Club, Southern Tier Distilling Company, and ZTS Management.

The tournament’s success is due in large part to the efforts of its steering committee: Chris Anderson, chair; Gregg Bender, chair emeritus; Nicholas Bell, Daniel Bender, Anthony Cusimano, Adam Dimitri, John Felton, Todd Frangione, R. Michael Goldman, Cindy Hitchcock, Phil Ribaudo, Mike Roberts, Jason Stronz, Victoria Bardo, Timur Tyra, Tad Wright, Gary Yager, and Ben Windoft.

Also critical to the tournament’s success were the contributions of its other event-day volunteers: Kevin Anderson, Kayla DePane, Theresa Butts, Kelly Dimitri, Kathy Field, Rachel Foley, Mary Jo Hamilton, Austin Mitchell, Jenna Silzle, Karen Silzle, and Anne Yager.

“The 28th annual TRC Golf Classic, in terms of money raised, was our most successful event since 2008!  The weather was perfect, and the golf course was in superb condition,” Chris Anderson said.  “The TRC Golf Classic is only made possible with the generous financial commitment of sponsors and the dedication of many volunteers and the staff at Moon Brook Country Club.  Together, they make a lasting difference in the lives of people in our community.  It is a distinct honor to lead such a successful and important event and have a dedicated team of committee members ensuring the tournament’s continued success.”

He noted that while final figures have not been tabulated, this year’s tournament will generate over $60,000 after all expenses have been paid.  The most money raised in over 15 years.  This will bring the tournament’s cumulative net proceeds to about $1.85 million since the event was first held in 1997.

TRC Golf Classic proceeds benefit Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based not-for-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to improve the lives of people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges.

Next year’s TRC Golf Classic is scheduled for July 21.  Businesses interested in sponsoring the event can contact Anderson at 716-483-2344, ext 90167.

CAPTIONS

Pictured from left are the members of the winning team: Mike Grisanti, Michelle Grisanti, Lindsay O’Connor and Jason O’Connor.

Paul Ribaudo, center, won the Special Olympics putting contest.  He is pictured with Gregg Bender, left, a member of the tournament’s steering committee and Kevin Anderson, a Resource Center employee and Special Olympics golf coach.

Dan and Beth Hocking, Owners of ACME The Appliance Store, recently donated a Weber Gas Grill that will be used for a drawing to support the 28th Annual TRC Golf Classic.

The TRC Golf Classic is the major annual fund-raising event for Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based non-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges in Chautauqua County. In its first 27 years, the tournament has netted over $1.78 million for the TRC Foundation Fund, which raises money to improve the lives of people with disabling conditions in Chautauqua County.

“The Resource Center is a vital part of our community, said Dan Hocking.  “ACME the Appliance Store is honored to serve as a community partner and donate this WEBER Gas Grill to help raise money for the Resource Center.  Beth & I believe strongly in giving back to the community and assist all the wonderful people at the Resource Center, who nurture, uplift and empower others to realize their full potential. The Resource Center makes a positive difference in people’s lives on a daily basis, and we are happy to continue to partner with them to support their efforts.”

The 2024 TRC Golf Classic is scheduled for July 22 at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown.  For more information, please visit www.trcgolfclassic.com.

Picture:  l to r – Kim Davis, Special Olympics Athlete, Janel McIntyre, Special Olympics Athlete,  Dan Hocking, Co-Owner, ACME The Appliance Store, and Kay Davis, Special Olympics Athlete.

An annual celebration of people with special needs returns for its 28^th year when the Laurel Memorial Run/Walk takes place July 19 and 20.

The event was created in 1997 by Silver Creek residents Wayne and Elaine Hotelling in honor of their daughter Laurel, who had Down syndrome. Thanks to the support she received from her family, her community and The Resource Center, Laurel had a full and productive life. She passed away in 2017 at the age of 54.

For that inaugural Laurel Run, Wayne jogged and bicycled more than 400 miles across New York State, with support from Elaine. These days, the Laurel Memorial Run/Walk is a two-day celebration of the potential that exists within people who have disabilities.  The event seeks to raise public awareness about people with disabilities while providing an opportunity for people with disabling conditions, and those without, to come together at a fun, family-friendly event.

Activities begin Friday, July 19, with the traditional flag relay. A kickoff ceremony will be held at 8:00 a.m. in The Resource Center’s facility at 75 Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown. At about 8:30, the first volunteer runners will set off on the initial leg of the relay run to Dunkirk.  Representatives from The Resource Center and area school districts, as well as the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in Brocton, will run the various legs of the relay while carrying Laurel Run flags. Patrol units from area law enforcement agencies accompany the runners to ensure their safety on the busy roads.

Shortly after the first relay runners set out, Laurel’s Legacy Lap will take place up the street at McCrea Point Park. For that event, people with disabilities take a lap around the park. People without disabilities are encouraged to cheer the walkers as they make their way to the finish. Laurel’s Lap will continue throughout the morning, so people can come and complete the lap at a time convenient to them.

The relay run ends in the parking lot of The Resource Center’s facility at 186 Lake Shore Drive West in Dunkirk. As it has done for many years, the city of Dunkirk will host a celebration from 12:30 to 2:00 to mark the relay’s conclusion. The community is invited to attend the victory celebration and to cheer on the last set of relay runners, who are expected to arrive between 1:00 and 1:15.

For the 12th straight year, several people are planning to jog and/or bike the entire 31-mile relay route. That event is called the Laurel-thon.

Anyone wishing to run a portion of the flag relay, or to take on the Laurel-thon, is invited to do so. Phone 716-661-4735 for information.

 

Friday’s events are a warm-up for the main Laurel Run/Walk activities, which take place the following day in Silver Creek. Check-in and registration begin at 7:00 a.m. in the village square. At 8:30, a 5-kilometer run/walk and a 1-kilometer fun walk will begin, followed at 9:00 by an 8-kilometer running race.

For the 5k run/walk and the 8k run, medals will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group.  Commemorative medals will be given to everyone who crosses the finish line. The age-group medals and the commemorative medals were made by people with disabilities and their support staff at The Resource Center.

Cash awards ($100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third) will be given to the top male and female finishers in the 8k run.

Besides the individual competition, there will be a team challenge. Awards will be given to the three fastest teams in both the 5k and 8k events, with each team’s time determined by the combined times of its first four finishers. Teams must register their team members by Thursday, July 18, to be eligible to win the team awards.

The registration fees for the 8k, the 5k and the 1k are $20 for children 17 and younger, and $25 for people 18 and older. (For folks interested in doing the 5k run and then doing the 8k, the cost is $25.) Entry fees will increase $5 on July 19.  All paid registrants will receive a 2024 Laurel Memorial Run/Walk T-shirt and the commemorative medal, and will be entitled to enjoy refreshments after completing their event. People can earn free entry into Laurel Run by collecting $50 or more in pledges. Click here to register and set up a personal find-raising web page.

Saturday’s events also will include fun runs for children age 7 and younger starting at 10:00, followed by a Laurel’s Legacy Lap for anyone with a disability. The cost to enter the fun runs is $5 per child or a total of $10 for families with two or more children. There is no fee to enter Laurel’s Lap.

Throughout the morning, there will be activities in the village square including music and prize drawings.

Those who are unable to attend the Silver Creek events but want to do something to show support for people with disabilities can sign up to do a virtual run or walk. People choosing that option can register for free, or they can pay the standard registration fee if they want to receive a shirt and commemorative medal.

Money raised through the Laurel Run/Walk goes to Filling the Gap, Inc., which works with The Resource Center to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families in Chautauqua County. Event proceeds are directed to The Resource Center Laurel Run Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and are used to promote disability awareness initiatives and to enhance employment and work training opportunities for people with disabilities. Money from the Laurel Run Fund supports our Project SEARCH initiative, in which The Resource Center collaborates with UPMC Chautauqua hospital in Jamestown to provide a nine-month employment training internship for adults with developmental disabilities.

For more information about the Laurel Memorial Run/Walk or to register to participate in this year’s event, visit www.laurel-run.com or phone 716-661-4735.

Richard Erickson was re-elected the Chair of The Resource Center’s Board of Directors during the agency’s general membership meeting, held June 10 at TRC’s Michael J. Raymond Center on Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown.

Also elected as officers for the Board’s 2024-25 term were Dr. Dawn Columbare, Vice Chair; Lisa Goodell, Secretary; and Marie Carrubba, Treasurer.

Elected to two-year Board terms were Timothy Adam, Doug Anderson, John Felton, Robert Goold, Donna Haenggi, Dr. Todd Jacobson, and Barbara Stewart. Tim, Doug, Bob, Donna, Todd, and Barb were re-elected to the Board.  John, the Executive Director of Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, is joining TRC’s Board for the first time.

Stepping down from the Board after years of volunteer service in support of TRC’s mission were Richard Kimball and Patricia Perlee.  Patty, who had served on the board since 2013 and was Board Chair from 2019-22, received a monogrammed jacket in appreciation of her Board tenure.  Rich, who joined the Board in 2019 and had served as Vice Chair the past two years, received a painting created by a TRC self-advocate whom he has known for many years.

 

 

Elected to the Nominating Committee for The Resource Center’s 2025 election were Kathy Field, Laurie Goold, Mary Jo Hamilton, Carole Johnson, and Gregory Krauza.

In his Board Chair’s report, Dick thanked TRC’s employees for their dedication; Executive Director Denise Jones and her leadership team for the way they oversee the agency’s operations; and his fellow Board members for their service.

He noted that the advocacy priority for disability service providers in New York State for the coming year is to convince the Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul to provide funding that will both improve supports for people with disabilities and enable providers to raise the wages of direct support professionals.  To give The Resource Center a stronger voice when advocating, Dick issued a challenge encouraging each of TRC’s 1,800 members to recruit one new member.

Todd gave the financial report, in which he noted The Resource Center finished the year with a positive net operating result for the ninth straight year.

In her report, Denise touched on some of TRC’s accomplishments from the past year, including increases in employee retention rates and job applicants; the opening of the agency’s KeyBank Art House at Edgewater; reaccreditation from The Council on Quality and Leadership; the efforts of our Allied Industries manufacturing division, which performs subcontracting work for local industry and the federal government, to expand its customer base and acquire government contracts; and the success of TRC’s Employment Services Program, which works with area businesses to provide competitive employment to more than 200 people with disabilities.

Looking to the future, Denise noted the operation of some of The Resource Center’s health services soon will transition to a new provider.  The business will continue to operate as TRC Community Health Center, with the existing staff becoming employees of the new entity so that the transition will be seamless.  Denise said a goal of the new corporation is to become a center of excellence for providing oral health care to people with developmental disabilities.

The meeting included a presentation about some of the activities that take place in TRC’s Day Habilitation Programs.  First, members of the agency’s handbell choir, under the direction of Jeanne Slade, Direct Support Professional, performed two patriotic songs. Next, Kaiso Jereimy Rugg, who runs martial arts classes for people with special needs, had several students display some of the skills they have acquired.

We thank everyone who attended the Annual Meeting or voted online in the Election.

 

(NOTE: A ceremony was held May 31 to celebrate the people who successfully completed our second Project SEARCH program. Project SEARCH is a partnership between The Resource Center and UPMC Chautauqua, in which people with disabilities go through a nine-month internship at the hospital with a goal of learning skills that will lead to employment.)

 

Article by Christopher Blakeslee of The Post-Journal

 

Cooking up a batch of tasty food is all in a day’s work for Gavin Johnson, a Project SEARCH intern who, after graduating, has been hired by UPMC Chautauqua as a food technician.

The Resource Center is represented well in this year’s ArtScape project.

Works by two staff members (Susan Gutierrez and Brandi Somerton) and two self-advocates (Gabe Garofalo and Taynisha Lynch) are among the 58 pieces of art included in ArtScape Jamestown 2024.  Almost 300 works were submitted for consideration for this year’s exhibit.

The ArtScape exhibit will be on display at Chautauqua Art Gallery, 318 North Main Street, through June 29.  A virtual exhibit can be viewed through June 29.

Now in its second year, ArtScape seeks to represent regional artists in an outdoor gallery space. The ArtScape works have been reproduced on banners and placed on light posts throughout downtown Jamestown.  The banners will remain up throughout the year.

 

 

The Resource Center is sponsoring the banners for the artwork created by Gabe and Taynisha. Chautauqua Art Gallery is sponsoring Susan’s banner, while Jamestown Macadam is sponsoring Brandi’s banner.  Gabe and Taynisha’s banners are hanging near our CHQ Plus store at Third and Cherry streets. A walking tour brochure is available at local businesses and tourist destinations.

We congratulate Brandi, Gabe, Susan, and Taynisha on having their works selected for ArtScape!

ArtScape is made possible thanks to Chautauqua Art Gallery, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and the City of Jamestown Parks Department.

 

 

 

Grab your bicycle and your helmet and join us for a fun ride Saturday, June 1.

The Resource Center is collaborating with other organizations to hold a free community bicycle ride in Dunkirk. The ride will start at 1:00 in the parking lot of Taqueria Mexican restaurant, 296 Lake Shore Drive West.

The ride is called the Dunkirk Pedal Party. Participants will follow a route taking them through various neighborhoods and through scenic Point Gratiot Park along Lake Erie. The total distance is about 12 miles, and the ride is expected to last about 90 minutes. For people who don’t want to do the full ride, there is an option to do a 2-mile loop that takes riders through Point Gratiot and back to the restaurant. The 2-mile loop was added to make it possible for people of all ages and abilities to participate.

The full ride also will end at Taqueria Mexicana, where participants are encouraged to stay to enjoy refreshments.

The Pedal Party is patterned after the Slow Roll Buffalo and Central Connection initiatives, in which cyclists gather to take bicycle tours of the communities. These rides are not races.  Rather, as the name implies, Slow Roll cyclists take a leisurely ride. Though the ride is free, those planning to participate are encouraged to visit the Slow Roll web site to sign a liability waiver.

This is our fourth annual Pedal Party. About 100 cyclists participated in last year’s ride, and organizers anticipate a larger turnout this year. Participants will receive a free gift as a thank-you for supporting the event. The Pedal Party, which is an initiative of our STARS employee wellness program, is made possible thanks to a grant from Filling the Gap, Inc.

For more information, phone 716-483-2344.

 

In accordance with its by-laws, The Resource Center announces its General Membership Meeting and Election will be held Monday, June 10, at the Michael J. Raymond Center, 75 Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown.

The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with light refreshments.  All Active Members of The Resource Center who are in good standing (those who are current in their annual membership dues) are invited to participate in the meeting and to vote in the election and on any business items that may arise.

All Active Members in good standing who are unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to vote in the election online. Click here to read about the candidates and cast your vote. Online voting will remain open until 1:00 p.m. Monday, June 10.

The tentative meeting agenda is as follows:

1. Call to Order – 6:15
2. Approval of the minutes of the 2023 General Membership Meeting
3. Board Chair’s Report – Richard Erickson
4. Board Treasurer’s Report – Todd Jacobson, MD
5. Executive Director’s Report – Denise Jones
6. Presentation – “TRC’s Day Habilitation Programs: Keeping Busy, Having Fun!”
7. Election (see nominating slates below)
8. Recognition of outgoing Directors Richard Kimball and Patricia Perlee
9. Adjournment by 7:15

 

The Nominating Committee — composed of Kathy Field, Chair; Laurie Goold, Mary Jo Hamilton, Carole Johnson, and Gregory Krauza — has proposed the following candidates for Officers and Directors of the Board of The Resource Center, as well as candidates to serve on the Nominating Committee for the 2025 Election:

Officers (one-year term)
President — Richard Erickson
Vice President — Dawn Columbare, DNP
Secretary — Lisa Goodell
Treasurer — Marie Carrubba, Esq.

Directors (two-year term)
Timothy Adam
Doug Anderson
John Felton
Robert Goold
Donna Haenggi
Todd Jacobson, MD
Barbara Stewart

Nominating Committee
Kathy Field
Laurie Goold
Mary Jo Hamilton
Carole Johnson
Gregory Krauza

For more information or to indicate you plan to attend the meeting, phone (716) 483-2344, extension 90135.

If you have not paid your 2024 TRC Membership dues, click here to make a secure, online payment.  Your membership demonstrates your commitment to The Resource Center’s mission.  In these challenging times, your support of TRC is extremely important.  People who pay the $10 Annual membership dues, or the $100 Lifetime membership dues, receive a Membership Card entitling them to discounts at more than 30 local businesses.

Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union (SCFCU) recently announced it had made a $15,000 corporate sponsorship contribution to The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based non-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges in Chautauqua County.

As a corporate sponsor, SCFCU will receive recognition as a sponsor of the annual fund-raising events put on by The Resource Center and Filling the Gap.  Those events include the Ability Awareness Awards, TRC Golf Classic, Step Up for Autism, Laurel Memorial Run/Walk, Sassy Baggs & Beyond Blingo, and Mark Pacheco WOW Fund Lip Sync Battle.

 “Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union is proud to make this contribution to The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc.,” said John Felton, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our institution firmly believes in lifting up our community and we are pleased to support The Resource Center, an organization that touches so many lives in Chautauqua County.”

 “On behalf of myself and the employees of The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, we are sincerely appreciative of Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union’s sponsorship commitment,” said Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s Chief Executive Officer.  “The support of community organizations like Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union allows us to fulfill our mission of helping people with disabilities to enjoy meaningful lives. We also appreciate everything John and his staff do for the entire community.”

Photo Caption:  l to r – John Felton, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Denise Jones, Chief Executive Officer, The Resource Center, Cindy Hitchcock, Vice President, Filling the Gap, Inc., Heather Kerr, Chief Human Resources Officer, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Jim Casini, Community Impact Officer, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, and Kelly Dimitri, Chief Operating Officer, The Resource Center.

Photo: l to r – Kim Liddell, President, CEO & Director, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Chris Anderson, TRC Golf Classic Chairman, and Gregg Bender, TRC Golf Classic Chair Emeritus and Board President, Filling the Gap, Inc.

Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc., the holding company of Lake Shore Savings Bank, announced that its Board of Directors has renewed an agreement to have Lake Shore Savings serve as the presenting sponsor of the TRC Golf Classic for three more years.

The TRC Golf Classic is the major annual fund-raising event for Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based non-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges in Chautauqua County.

Lake Shore Savings has sponsored the TRC Golf Classic every year since the tournament began in 1997, and since 2012 has been the event’s presenting sponsor.  One of the most successful one-day charity golf tournaments in Southwestern New York, the TRC Golf Classic has netted more than $1.8 million since it began in 1997.

“Lake Shore Savings Bank has been a proud supporter of The Resource Center for the past 27 years,” said Kim Liddell, President, CEO & Director. “We strongly believe in supporting organizations that do so much to help strengthen our community.”

“On behalf of myself and the employees of The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, we are grateful to Lake Shore Savings Bank for its renewal as the presenting sponsor of the TRC Golf Classic,” said Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s Chief Executive Officer.  “We rely on the generosity of our local business community to make our events successful.  Lake Shore Savings has been one of our most treasured corporate partners over the last 27 years.  Their annual support allows us to fulfill our mission of helping people with disabilities to enjoy meaningful lives.”
“The TRC Golf Classic Steering Committee applauds Lake Shore Savings Bank for once again agreeing to be the presenting sponsor for the next three TRC Golf Classics.  Lake Shore Savings has been a major sponsor of our event for 27 years.  And, for the last 12 years, as presenting sponsor, they have contributed $180,000.  Lake Shore’s motto is ‘Putting People First’ and they have once again lived their mission as a wonderful community partner.  We thank Kim Liddell, Taylor Gilden and the Board at Lake Shore Savings Bank for their generous commitment to The Resource Center and the people we serve,” said Chris Anderson, Chair, and Gregg Bender, Chair Emeritus, TRC Golf Classic and Board President, Filling the Gap, Inc.

The 2024 TRC Golf Classic is scheduled for July 22 at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown.  For more information or to sponsor, visit www.trcgolfclassic.com or phone 716-483-2344 x90167.