By Judy Shuler
How do you get people’s attention and make a difference at the same time? Stir in a generous heaping of fun. When school ends Friday, June 24, in Jamestown, young children and their families are invited to Hello Summer Wellness Fair. Third Street outside Northwest Arena will be closed between noon and 4pm while some 30 vendors set up booths. Health care providers and social services agencies have been invited, along with organizations planning summer activities for children.
Participants include 211 WNY, Aftercare Nursing Services, Audubon Community Nature Center, B.E. Strong 716, Ballgame Heroes, COI-TILP/Safe House, Chautauqua County Child Advocacy Program, Chautauqua County Health Departments, Chautauqua Health Network, Jamestown Public/Mobile Market, CCE SNAP Education, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc., Fidelis Care, Girl Scouts of Western New York, Healthy Community Alliance, Hillside Children’s Center, Jamestown Area Midget Football League, Jamestown Community Learning Council, James Prendergast Library, Parent Network of WNY, Prevention Works, Suicide Prevention Alliance of Chautauqua County, The Chautauqua Center, The National Comedy Center, The Next Level 716, The Resource Center, YMCA Camp Onyahsa, YWCA Jamestown.
And woven through it all will be a carnival atmosphere, says Patrick Smeraldo, founder of the non-profit Collaborative Children’s Solutions (CCS). Entertainment, all free, includes Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics, Buffalo; Pirates ARR for You, Jamestown; and Marty’s Bubblegum Machine, an interactive show for children from Warren, PA.
Hello Summer continues Friday evening as it moves to Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Park for a baseball game with Tarp Skunks, the college wooden bat league, taking on Batavia at 7pm. Fireworks will follow, somewhere between 9-10pm, first of four firework shows planned this year. Mindful of neighbors of the ballpark, anyone living within two blocks can request free noise-canceling earphones or comfort blankets for pets by emailing ccsolutions716@gmail.com, Smeraldo says.
A physical education teacher in Jamestown for 28 years, Smeraldo started CCS about a year and one-half ago. He has served as a sports coach and mentor throughout his teaching career, while specializing in at-risk and students with disabilities. As independent service coordinator of Chautauqua Connections Inc. for a dozen years, he assisted children from birth to five and their families.
“I noticed there was a gap for young kids,” he says. Children who don’t get to the eye doctor in time, or don’t get early dental care or care for special needs. “The goal is to get parents involved and get children the help they need.”
Focus of Collaborative Children’s Solutions (CCS) is to provide the tools and resources necessary to assist children by offering them opportunities to reach their maximum potential, he says. And collaboration is key. He has brought together businesses, organizations, agencies, schools, along with the City of Jamestown and private residents of Chautauqua County.
Jamestown mayor Eddie Sundquist was once his student, Smeraldo says. Now the City of Jamestown and CCS have partnered for four weekends of events aimed at children and families, all with fireworks. Following Hello Summer are Christmas in July, July 22-23; Labor Day Weekend September 3-4; and Holiday Weekend December 2-3.
The Christmas in July weekend will include Tarp Skunks baseball, pub curling, color run, a Christmas vacation movie at The National Comedy Center and walk-through of a Christmas village.
Each of the special weekends will feature support and participation from a broad spectrum of private businesses, public agencies and non-profit organizations. Further information is available at ccsolutions716.com and on Facebook.