Current News

After serving the community for nearly 90 years, several pews at the Peace Wesleyan Church have a fresh look to them, due to a grant from the Karl Peterson Fund. Peace Wesleyan Church Pastor Steve Strand stated, “the beauty this brings to the worship space has been a real gift.” A nearby Falconer company, Fancher Chair, was enlisted by the parish to refurbish the pews, which will be able to serve the community for another 90 years.

A problem posed to me many years ago has remained with me. It reminds me that each challenge has its own set of expected and unexpected complexities.

“A rowboat needs to travel upstream a distance of thirteen miles. Its maximum speed is 3 mph, and the river flows at rate of 1 mph. What time will the boat need to leave the dock to arrive at its destination by 5 p.m.?”

Chautauqua County officials have worked diligently to clear legal and other details to allow “Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways” to maintain the existing trails of the financially challenged County parks system.

This volunteer group, concerned with the well-being of all the County’s natural recreational assets has established a non-endowed fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. 

Lucile T. Valvo will be memorialized in many ways, one of which is the newly established Lucile T. Valvo Memorial Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.  the Lucile T. Valvo Memorial Fund will assist a graduating Forestville Central School student or students majoring in a Business-related field with a “B” or better G.P.A. 

The Kidder Memorial United Methodist Church recently installed six new energy efficient windows in the Sunday school pre-school classroom, thanks in part to Karl Peterson Field of Interest Fund housed at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Nat Carlson, Bonnie Swanson and Birgit Hanson and their families established the Herbert I.F. and Bonnelyn “Anne” Carlson Service Scholarship at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. The Fund was set up in April of this year to assist agraduating high school senior, who donates their time and talent to one of the following churches;  Hillcrest Baptist Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Zion Covenant Church or Sugar Grove Mission Covenant Church. 

On December 14, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation gathered to approve and begin the process of releasing the annual distribution of checks to local charitable organizations.

It is hard to imagine that 800 Chautauqua County high school and college students have just recently submitted their application materials to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation in order to receive scholarship assistance. While the process may be over for the students, it has only just begun for the Community Foundation. Over the next few months, staff will sort applications, committees will meet, and awards will be made. The entire process is quite amazing.