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Opinion

Taxpayers Continue To Be Squeezed By Taxes, Fees

In Our Opinion

Jamestown Public Schools District voters last week overwhelmingly approved an increase in the 529 tax revenue that will be provided to the James Prendergast Library. It’s the first increase in 529 funding for the Jamestown library since it was first approved by voters in 2020 as a way to replace funding that was being cut from the Jamestown city budget. The library hasn’t sought an increase in funding in the ensuing six years before asking for a $70,000 increase from school district voters last week. That request was approved as expected. It’s worth noting that the vote ...

Blanket BESS Prohibition May Not Work In Ellicott

In Our Opinion

There is a lot of unease regarding the idea of Battery Energy Storage Systems, so we can certainly understand the town of Ellicott taking the first step on a blanket moratorium on BESS systems in the town. In August 2024 the county IDA sold about 12 acres of vacant land on Dow Street, south of Allen Street, in Ellicott to Granite Source Power. Granite Source Power officials told IDA officials the company wants to install a 100-megawatt battery storage project on the site. Essentially, the project is described as a shipping container one would see on a freightliner filled with racks of ...

The Sweetest Sound In Western New York

Local Commentaries

Every year in Western New York there comes a moment, usually sometime around late April, or in our case late May, when people begin emerging from their homes with the dazed expression of survivors stepping out of underground bunkers. Somebody hears birds chirping again. Somebody else catches the smell of damp earth instead of snowblower exhaust. And all across the region, people begin saying the same thing: “We made it.” Winter in Western New York is not simply a season. It is a test of endurance. It settles in sometime around November and stays so long you begin to forget who you ...

No to industrial wind in Chautauqua County

Local Commentaries

600 foot Industrial wind turbines across Chautauqua County? No! Residents suffering from “wind turbine sickness” who live with turbines in Arkwright, Cassadaga, and Forestville/Villenova have described the symptoms they experience to the Chautauqua County Health Board in March 2026. “When the turbines are spinning, I experience adverse health effects including headaches, severe migraines, sleep disruption, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting - spontaneous vomiting, equilibrium disruptions, and heart issues - not severe ones - mostly just palpitation, rapid heart ...

Keep 'Memorial' Foremost In Mind On Memorial Day

In Our Opinion

Sadly enough, many Americans unintentionally will disrespect the true meaning and purpose of today's solemn national holiday. After all, ever since 1971 when Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be observed on the fourth Monday in May, for many, the holiday is simply the final day of a long weekend dedicated to the start of summer fun and frolic. For far too many of us, Memorial Day's primary purpose has been corrupted. The day has become a day to fire up that shiny new grill for outdoor barbecues, a day to catch some rays at the beach or simply a day off work to ...

Piles And Piles Of Paper Piles

Local Commentaries

Are you drowning in paper like I am? If the computer age was supposed to eliminate paper piles, it’s doing a lousy job. Yes, I know I am supposed to convert all my accounts to paperless – and for the most part, I have. My credit card statements are electronic. The insurance, the bank, gas bill, water bill and township sewer bill all arrive to my inbox monthly. Despite many tries, I have been unable to convince the Pennelec people that this is a convenient idea. When the mail comes each afternoon, a new pile arrives in our mailbox. Occasionally it’s just the newspaper and ...