Quite often in the past, this publication would print reports of family reunions that were celebrated by large numbers of area families, usually during the summer months of the year. The reports often included those who were responsible for planning and pulling off the reunion for that ...
I like old things - things that have stood the test of time, surviving because of their charm, or because they are still needed. The authenticity of a place is important to me. And say what you want, but we are surrounded by authenticity in Chautauqua County. Whether you’re driving by acres of grapes, or up and down old country roads, or stopping by farm stands that have been there forever, or watching the summer sunset at a park by the lake...this is about as real as it gets in the world. And as someone who has been fortunate to see a lot of pockets of the world, I feel like I’m ...
From grades K through 9, I received my schooling at St. James School, which sat on the sight of the present Walgreen’s Pharmacy on Jamestown’s Prospect Street. Being that we had no playground outside our school, we made do (very well too) at what was/is called Fenton Park, which was (and still is) the site of the former home of New York Representative, Senator, and Governor, Reuben E. Fenton. Fenton was born near Frewsburg in 1819. He died in 1885 in Jamestown, and he was laid to rest in Lake View Cemetery. Fenton Park was a nice area for outdoor lessons on warm days (no ACs in our ...
I have a confession to make. At an age when most people are thinking about giving up coffee, I’ve just started drinking it. Six months ago, in fact. I’ve somehow managed to get through college, motherhood, various careers and a zillion early mornings without becoming a coffee drinker. I’ve always been one of those suspicious people clutching tea or hot chocolate while everyone else wandered around with paper cups the size of flower pots. It wasn’t for lack of trying. Somewhere around college I discovered that coffee and I did not have a healthy relationship. I’d drink one ...
These are troubled times we’re living in these days. Our country is at war, not only with another country, but we’re fighting a war within our own nation’s boundaries, a Cold War between Red and Blue. We’re fighting wars on drugs, wars on a variety of trafficking, wars on senseless killings and violence, and many other disagreements, skirmishes, and spats which have created tension among people of this country. Two weeks ago, the Voice from the Bullpen asked the question, “Do you believe in miracles?” making the point that it might take a miracle for our country to reunite ...
I got to thinking about the ride around the lake the other day as we gear up for summer. It’s something I've done often in my life, especially when I was young and made the trip with my grandmother and great-grandmother on the occasional Sunday. Make no mistake: this was a big excursion. We'd pick my great-grandmother up at her house with the apple tree out front and she'd slowly walk to the car and get in the front seat with her wrinkled cotton dress and a little sweater folded over her arm. I remember that her ankles were often swollen and that I had this idea that she ...
