JCC Production Is A Delightful Journey

February 4, 2020

To The Reader’s Forum: I happen to be a big fan of the theater. I have been to many performances locally at the Lucille Ball Little Theater and the Scharmann Theater. Our community is very lucky to have such lovely theater venues but also some very impressive talent. I have just returned from seeing “La Cage aux Folles” at the Scharmann and my sides hurt from laughing. It was nothing short of outstanding. Todd Wagner, the director is a very skilled and insightful force that brings this comic relief to life. He struck gold with the duet of Adam Owens and Jim Foley who embrace ...

Slowing Down The Herbicides May Help

January 31, 2020

To The Reader’s Forum: I’m trying to pay attention to what’s going on with the health of Chautauqua Lake. I’m not a biologist or a botanist or an ecologist — I’m just a citizen. What seems crystal clear to me as I try to look at all sides is that weeds in the lake are annoying. But studies of many freshwater lakes have shown that their aggressive removal can cause devastating problems. I agree with Rolland Kidder that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) needs to fully assess the work that was done by both Princeton Hydro and Racine-Johnson ...

Two-Faced Politics Make Everything Worse

January 29, 2020

To The Reader’s Forum: If politics aren’t bad enough already, two-faced politics make it even worse. You can see it as the House ran the process of impeachment without “due process,” but as the House sent impeachment over to the Senate, Speaker Pelosi demands “impartial justice.” Has Trump received the due process that a terrorist gets in a trial? How can you have impartial justice without due process? Two-faced politics fake you into thinking that impeachment without due process is impartial justice. Senators Warren, Sanders, Booker, Klobucher, Gillibrand, and Harris ...

Trump Simply Must Be Convicted

January 27, 2020

To The Reader’s Forum: What is the crime that President Trump guilty of? Trump is guilty of the crime of extortion. He did so by trying to get the government of the Ukraine to make an official announcement that it was investigating Trump’s rival political candidate, Joe Biden, in exchange for releasing military aid appropriated by our Congress. Trump committed the crime by blocking release of the aid using the Office of Budget and Management, according to the independent Government Accounting Office. It is as simple as that. So, what will happen if the Senate does not ...

Congress And The Impeachment Process

January 24, 2020

To The Reader’s Forum: As I write, the House plans to send impeachment Articles to the Senate for a trial of Donald Trump. That action is, perhaps, next to going to war, the most significant thing our republic can do and should not be taken lightly. Whether Senators ultimately acquit or convict, while important in its own right, in my opinion is secondary to the process by Congress. The Founders apparently also believed in the process or they would not have included it in the Constitution. The process is straightforward - the House must pass an “indictment” to the Senate, which ...

A New Year Brings New Beginnings

January 23, 2020

To The Reader’s Forum: The New Year brings a new beginning to Chautauqua County in interesting ways. Jamestown and Dunkirk both have new mayors, as does Falconer and Lakewood. Our County Executive is new as well. It makes for an important time in our area’s history. The possibilities are many and include relationship building, the development of trust, and working together in a strategic way, and of course, consensus building. I’m not sure if this situation is unique to the year 2020, but hopefully it is seen as good luck and an advantage. The opportunities are ...