What a weekend! The bigger events include an art show in Bemus Point, an antique show in Westfield, the Scandinavian Folk Festival at the rodeo grounds in Gerry, the Italian-American Festival in Falconer, Fredonia History Days and the World Series of Cars at Bergman Park in Jamestown. There are also concerts and picnics in towns and villages all across the area.
Regardless of which events you are drawn to, we give a thumbs up to everyone who starts off their Sunday at the pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the World Series of Cars. It is the major fundraiser of the year for the Jamestown Area Meals on Wheels. For $7 for adults or $5 for children under 12, you'll get pancakes, omelets, sausage and home fries. If that's too much, then a beverage and pastry will be available for $3. Proceeds from the breakfast help pay for meal delivery to senior citizens who cannot pay for their meals, or who can pay only a small amount.
Thumbs up to the Seneca Nation of Indians and the city of Salamanca for forming a joint commission to coordinate and perhaps even plan capital projects involving the two governments. The Allegany River Development Commission represents a new level of cooperation that recognizes, as Salamanca Mayor Jeffry Pond put it, "We are more than neighbors. We live, essentially, under one roof."
The Seneca Nation owns all the land on which the city is built. As some of you remember, when the 100-year leases to individuals, businesses and government were up for renewal some 20 years ago, the ugliness of distrust and of overwrought tempers created a huge chasm in the minds and hearts of some of the folks on both sides. Too, in recent years, the city of Salamanca government has been caught financially in the middle of a profound disagreement between the nation and New York state government.
In situations like that, we know it is all too easy in life to cultivate the festering of past wrongs and hurts. It is too easy to pit us-against-them to bolster your own power. And, at the other end of the scale, it is way too hard to set all of that aside to overcome history and the natural inclination of partisanship in order to do what is right and what will benefit the people.
Just look at the United States Congress if you doubt the truth of that.
Truly, our hats are off to all of the people who make their homes in the Allegany Territory and who are determined to walk side by side to a better future.
And, finally today, thumbs up to Mother Nature for this week's rain.
Please, ma'am, we want some more.