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Easters Long Ago

Last Sunday we sang the hymn “Abide with Me”. That took me back to the church I went to in my youth. At Grace Lutheran Church in Dunkirk, we ended all Wednesday night Lenten services with that hymn. I knew the first verse by heart. The lights were dimmed so we had to memorize it. After singing we left the church quietly. It is funny how little things trigger memories. I had not thought about that for years but the hymn brought back my memories clearly. I remember our Good Friday service. Different churches took turns hosting it. It went from noon to three o’clock. We had off ...

The Great American School Musical

It always amazes me when I attend one of these. That local school kids can put on such an exceptional performance combined with all of the choreography and building of stage sets—is a great testament to our system of public education. As a grandparent of kids so involved, it makes me not a disinterested observer. When I go to one of these performances, I am all in. I keep my handkerchief close by as I know that at some point in the performance, I am going to tear up. One aspect of it is that “musicals,” as we know them, are primarily an American phenomenon. They are a Broadway ...

Trumps Economic Plans Are Scrambled

Trumpty Dumpty has laid an egg with his ‘plan’ to import 100 million eggs from Turkey. Faced with the problem of inflation and rising food prices, especially eggs, Trump ‘worked a deal’ with Turkey. Hooray! Trump saved the American Breakfast! Stop and think, how eggsactly was this going to work? Chicken eggs are a perishable food item which the US Department of Agriculture says should be consumed within 45 days. Once laid, the clock is ticking. Since most whole eggs are exported in ships, Turkish egg producers need to collect, clean, package and prepare them for shipment. ...

More To Story Of Starry Stonewort In Lake

A recent editorial “Expansion of Starry Stonewort in Chautauqua Lake Is Worrisome” rightly raises concerns about Starry Stonewort in Chautauqua Lake, but it lacks important context and accuracy. As stated in the editorial, Dr. Rob Richardson of NC State, presenting at last weekend’s lake symposium, noted its presence in both basins, but Starry Stonewort is currently only thriving in two dense, but relatively small growth areas: at the mouth of Prendergast Creek (north basin) and Ashville Bay (south basin). While it has long existed in the northern basin, it has not spread ...

The New York RAPID ACT Must Be Scrapped

“The RAPID Act [Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act] streamlines the process while protecting local input and the environment.” - NY Public Service Commission. The assertion that New York’s energy policy is “protecting the environment” is false. The opportunity for sending public comments to the New York Public Service Commission continues until March 18. Following the public comment period, the PSC may rubber stamp the RAPID Act - the latest scam to accelerate the installation of Wind, Solar, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in ...

Don’t Drink The Cremer Cocktail

Seeing a quote by a clergyman slick enough to jack-knife a semi on a slippery highway, red lights flashed when reading a letter to the PJ 3/22. The quote by Rev. Benjamin Cremer said that “nowhere in the Bible does it say that those who follow Jesus should stop the government from helping the poor and the needy.” He’s right, but Jesus does not order government to impose welfare systems of generational dependency either. Jesus’ words of helping the poor and needy are imperatives specifically addressed to his disciples, not government. While affirming the words of Jesus to ...