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Opinion

Access to mental health treatment still lags

In Our Opinion

The fact that we have a mental health treatment capacity shortage in rural areas should come as no shock to anyone. Those in the health care industry have been talking about the lack of capacity for years. State and federal officials have heard the stories. And while we understand that it takes time to rebuild the mental health care infrastructure after it has been intentionally dismantled in well-meaning but ultimately fruitless efforts over the course of decades, work to increase mental health care capacity cannot continue at the current snail’s pace. We don’t all think about ...

Accessibility cost of moving farmer’s market

Local Commentaries

From 2018 to 2023, I had the privilege of managing the Jamestown Farmers Market. During that time, the market survived significant challenges, including the loss of local funding support in 2020. It continued because vendors, customers, and community members fought for it—and because St. Luke's Episcopal Church leadership and congregational members stepped forward when they didn't have to. For that, I and many others remain deeply grateful. Over more than 15 years working in the local nonprofit space, I have sat in countless meetings with community leaders, elected officials, and ...

UFC event at White House is undignified

Local Commentaries

One thing has been on my mind since it was announced and I must say that, even though it is definitely not the most important thing happening with our politics right now with a fascist being in the White House and all, but this one thing it has very much bothered me. What I’m talking about is the upcoming UFC event at the White House. It’s being billed as something to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the country, as if MMA has always been a mainstay in this nation, which it has not. And while violence, prize, fighting and combat have always been a fabric of every civilization, ...

City’s application earned DRI funding. Now it must deliver

In Our Opinion

City residents should have cautious optimism following the announcement that Jamestown has received another $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant from New York state. City officials put together a pretty impressive application. For that, Crystal Surdyk, city development director, and her team deserve a lot of credit. Surdyk and Jason Kulaszewski, city principal planner, had talked publicly about the plan having 24 distinct projects in the past, but simply having 24 projects doesn’t guarantee a big impact on downtown. Seeing the 24 projects makes one think that the ...

Graduation is more than Pomp and Circumstance!

Local Commentaries

“Kids these days (fill in the blank with some negative statements) …” is a bone of contention with me. If you are wondering what kids are up to these days, I encourage you to look at your local public school because I guarantee there are amazing students doing impressive things. On June 26, we are celebrating over 100 students at Southwestern that are graduating with their high school diploma. “What’s the big deal?” some people say. “The kids are just doing the bare minimum of what they are supposed to do. When I was their age, I walked uphill both ways in 6 feet of ...

The president has learned the reality of war

Local Commentaries

Even having been in one, Vietnam, I cannot say that I am an expert on war. The only thing I know for sure is that it should, if possible, be avoided at all costs. War represents a breakdown in diplomacy and civil discourse—the rule of law is forgotten and the rule of war, destruction, takes the fore. Thus, it was, with a sense of relief, that I was pleased to see the announcement that Iran and the United States had come to some kind of understanding to cease hostilities. I think it likely, though we will probably never know, that President Trump got talked into the massive attack ...