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Opinion

Room To Improve With Executive

Local Commentaries

Tom Carle, Democratic candidate for Chautauqua County executive, has reason to be proud of his accomplishments in the private sector. Throughout his years of running large and small businesses in the United States and Canada, his decisions were driven by finding results that benefited management as well as the workers. His work steered major companies and manufacturing plants that included partnerships with Walmart and Gatorade in positive directions, helping grow revenues in some locations that topped $150 million. In running for the top county post, Carle wants to take those ...

More Effort Needed To Find Root Of High Gas Prices

Letters To The Editor

To The Reader’s Forum: In a recent P-J article the County Executive said about high local gas prices that he can’t explain the reason. “This is probably the third or fourth time I’ve looked into this as county executive and we get the same comment – there’s nothing nefarious. There’s nothing wrong. If they’re going to charge it and we’re going to pay it, that’s where we are.” How about a little more effort for your constituents there gang? Who are “they”? Who’s getting that 40 cents a gallon? Is it the convenience store, their employees or owners? Is it ...

No Kings Protests Were Universally Peaceful

Local Commentaries

All across the country, huge crowds showed up in big cities and small towns to affirm their commitment to the founding principle that in America, there are, “No Kings.” Here in Jamestown, I joined hundreds of local residents gathered in Dow Park Saturday to express our alarm at the ongoing threats to Democracy posed by Donald Trump. Even though many are feeling great anxiety about the direction of the country, the mood was upbeat. We listened to speeches before lining up along 6th and Washington streets with our handmade signs and funny costumes. The reaction we got from people ...

No Debating Accelerating County Payroll

Editor's Corner

About 16 minutes into the debate for Chautauqua County executive that was sponsored by WRFA-FM in Jamestown last week, challenger Tom Carle began some talking points regarding payroll for the largest government employer that stood out. One, in fact, was a real eye opener. “I’ve actually ...

Speaker Programs Need Diversity Of Thought

Local Commentaries

CHAUTAUQUA—Let’s pick up where we left off last week. Chautauqua Institution began the 2025 season with a hopeful sign that renewed enthusiasm for diversity of thought was in the air. That continued during the 2025 season. ♦♦♦ Meanwhile, an organization annually invites a speaker to Chautauqua Institution. Chautauqua doesn’t select the speaker. The organization does. It’s legally separate from Chautauqua, and its principal location isn’t in Chautauqua. Following the 2023 speaker, this column reviewed the organization’s Chautauqua speakers over the years and ...

Shared Superintendents Need To Be The Norm, Not The Exception

In Our Opinion

The rumors were flying fast and furious in advance of last week’s Bemus Point and Chautauqua Lake school board meetings taking place on opposite shores of Chautauqua Lake. Public meeting notices were pretty clear what would be taking place - one district’s superintendent was leaving, and the school boards were interested in a shared services agreement to share the position. But that didn’t stop the public rumor mill from running rampant that the districts were looking at a tuitioning agreement from Bemus Point to Chautauqua Lake or a complete merger of the districts. Of course, ...