This piece was originally run in the September 8, 2013 edition of the Post Journal following my nephew and new niece’s wedding, because of the feelings and memories then of my Uncle Sebastian “Busty” Raffa. The need for my resubmitting it for this weekend is even more impactful for me ...

Local real estate firms Nancy J. Shattuck Real Estate of Warren and ERA Team VP Real Estate have announced the merger of their operations. The combined firm will conduct business as ERA Team VP Real Estate with their Warren office relocating to the site of Nancy J. Shattuck’s firm at 333 ...

We knew that getting sewers built around Chautauqua Lake would be a long, involved process—and it is proving to be so. I would describe the current scenario as being sort of a “good news/bad news” situation. The “good news” is that the county legislature recently approved a bond ...

Question: I’ve heard that going to college abroad could be cheaper than staying in the United States. What are the pros and cons of getting a degree outside of our country? How do I find out about these colleges and their programs? — For Saving Money Answer: What you have heard about ...

An auction catalog called this strange dish a vide poche. It’s a French term, but the English translation - “trinket box,” “pin tray,” “empty pocket” or “glove compartment” - wasn’t very helpful. It looks like a lopsided bowl made out of cloudy cameo glass with a bug, ...

What do I know of a Cape May Warbler? #1. I have been to Cape May, New Jersey, but that was earlier in my life, before I had much of any interest in looking at birds. #2. My daughter’s piano tuner stopped tuning to point out to her the song of a Cape May Warbler just outside her ...

Dr. James Fitzgerald and Dr. Brian Mata have both joined the Great Lakes Physician Practice offering minimally invasive surgeries and treatment of conditions that affect the knees, shoulders, hips, hands and wrists. Fitzgerald grew up in Western New York and has practiced in the region for ...

The March 1, 2018, editorial of The Post-Journal concerning the Chautauqua County government’s new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fly Car Service’s financial realities raised issues that I had previously raised in a Readers Forum letter. At that time the proposed service was pending on ...

A couple months ago I mentioned finding some things that I had put away for safe keeping. Today I am back to one of those ideas. My cousin found this and shared it with me. I read it and put it away for future reference. In other countries the old are revered, but in our country, they are ...

Let us try to shift the gun debate to another level. Instead of arguing about whether it is people who kill, not the guns, let’s talk about responsible gun ownership. The Second Amendment provides US citizens the right to bear arms, but the confusing part is the first clause that mentions a ...

Like many of you, I’ve been in the nerve-wracking position of trying to return to my career after taking some time off. Whether you or someone you know has taken time away to care for an elderly parent, raise young children, or to overcome a health condition, transitioning back into the ...

Small business is big in Chautauqua County! 87% of all businesses in Chautauqua County employ fewer than 20 employees, with a total annual payroll of over $1.18 billion. These small businesses span all economic sectors from manufacturing to food service to healthcare, as well as retail and food ...

“Hey, come on, Donna, follow us ... we’re playing loop-de-loop,” shouted barefoot 5-year-old Eva gleefully, as she followed the freshly drawn trail in the damp sand that her older brother was marking ahead of her with his “magic” driftwood. Lured into the playful “follow the ...

The Treasury Department is on track to borrow 955 billion dollars this year, which competes directly against private borrowers for resources. It has to borrow that much because it spends that much more than it takes in. Deficits necessitate borrowing. We keep hearing about how the recent tax ...

When my husband and I conceded to the fact that we’d succumbed to middle-age pudge, we decided to reject the gift outright and get busy looking like we were thirty again. It’s important for you to know that we come up with a lot of bright ideas as a couple, and those ideas are now sitting ...

MEMPHIS — Martin Luther King’s men had a different question. At least, according to his aide, Andrew Young, they did. When the first reports went out that King had been gunned down while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in this city, America and the world demanded to know one ...

For two months now, I have been staring intently at vehicle license plates. I unearthed a (to me) surprising item of interest about the site of this winter’s Florida vacation. I also learned something disturbing about reading those license plates. First, the fun stuff. Apalachicola’s ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I love fish and chips. I eat them once a month. I have tuna and other fish throughout the month as well. Quite often, the fishy odors linger for days until all remnants have left my body. Is there anything I can do to counteract the smell? I feel that others can tell when I have ...

President Donald Trump gets results. His attacks on Amazon have tanked the company’s stock. It’s hard to think of a more pointlessly destructive act of presidential jawboning in our history. The online retailer is a jewel of our market economy that has delivered more choice and ...

DEAR ABBY: I am in my 30s and moved out of my parents’ home 10 years ago. Last week I decided to visit them, and we went out to eat. Dad has a habit of sending his food back to the kitchen — “My steak isn’t cooked enough,” or “My food is cold. Could you warm it up?” He even ...