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I’m not Tevye, but I like how he thought

Local Commentaries

One of my favorite musicals since it arrived on the stage scene in 1964, and hit the Big Screen in 1971, is Fiddler on the Roof, the story of a poor Jewish family struggling to maintain their religious beliefs and teachings in a settlement of Imperial Russia set around 1905, about the same time as the Russian Revolution. It is a tale based on a real-life milkman who author Sholem Aleichem, writer of a series of Yiddish short stories titled Tevye and his Daughters, once met somewhere 1894 and 1914, in a small Jewish-only settlement. When the story became a musical, the opening one-word ...

NY Forward grant provides boost for Falconer

In Our Opinion

The fact that the village of Falconer received a NY Forward grant in the first place is proof that hard work does, indeed pay off. Those who have paid attention over the past couple of years know Falconer officials have done more than simply throw some paperwork in state officials’ ...

Randolph resident questions school finances

Local Commentaries

The people of this district have been patient long enough. We have asked questions. We have attended meetings. We have voted. Yet the fundamental question remains unanswered: Where did the money go? Taxpayers deserve transparency, not deflection. They deserve accountability, not excuses. And they deserve leadership that recognizes public trust is earned—not assumed. If district leadership cannot provide honest answers, demonstrate responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and rebuild the confidence of the community, we must seriously consider whether new leadership is necessary ...

Chautauqua County Day at institution is July 17

Local Commentaries

CHAUTAUQUA—During just the first two weeks of Chautauqua Institution’s 2026 season, the music at Chautauqua Institution has been tremendous. Finding more than three examples would be easy, yet for today, let’s take just three. * * * You, faithful reader of this column, have long ...

Area fully plugged in to data center debate

Editor's Corner

Maybe Portland town Supervisor Rich Lewis and Town Board members were testing the waters in March. That is when the body passed a resolution expressing its support for a proposed data center to be located on the grounds of the former Sugar Hill Golf Course. If anything, they had the residents at a boiling point. Within the next three months, an online petition was started and a Facebook Grape Belt Community Group with a modest 210 members was started to send a message of opposition to any such plan. Located near the shoreline along Route 5, the former golf course property is ...

Expansion of existing manufacturers is encouraging

In Our Opinion

Twice in recent weeks we’ve reported that local businesses are looking at possible expansion. The announcement that Jamestown had received money from the EPA to prepare several brownfields for future development included the nugget that three high priority sites - including the former Crawford Furniture site - were the subject of expansion talks by neighboring businesses. Then, county officials said during a recent IDA meeting that there has been interest in the Mason Industrial Park, specifically mentioning expansion from local manufacturers in spaces that include the former Bush ...