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In Our Opinion

EMT Shortage Is A Growing Crisis In County With No End In Sight

Yet another rural fire department is facing a difficult choice regarding how it handles EMS coverage. This time, it’s Bemus Point, whose fire chief recently approached Village Board members to discuss options to provide EMS services as the department’s roster of EMTs dwindles. One of the chief’s recommended courses of action included the merging with the county’s EMS system, which several other volunteer fire departments have already done. Other courses of action included continuing as is or merging ambulance service with another local fire department. “We’re facing ...

United Ways, Like The North And South County, Are Stronger Working Together

We commend the boards of the United Ways of Northern and Southern Chautauqua County as they discuss a merger of the two organizations. It only makes sense to have one United Way. Merging the organizations reduces overhead, meaning more of the community’s dollars are spent on programs. The organizations were already sharing staff and had shared services agreements, but perhaps the most public of the organizations’ shared services has been the combined Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. And, many programs funded by the United Way organizations in each end of the county have ...

A Day To Remember An Invasion That Changed History

Today marks the 80th anniversary of World War II’s D-Day invasion. According to the National D-Day Memorial, which is located in Bedford,Va.,: “While the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, usually termed D-Day, did not end the war in Europe — that would take 11 more months — success on that day created a path to victory for the Allies. The stakes were so great, the impact so monumental, that this single day stands out in history.” Many in our region had a role in that mission. One man from Fredonia, Leslie “Bud” Morrison who died Oct. 14, 2023, was drafted in January ...

Property Owners Should Have A Greater Voice On Lake Issues

Add one more group to those claiming to work on behalf of Chautauqua Lake. The Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association formed recently. Unlike other lake groups, it isn’t looking for state or county funding to undertake Chautauqua Lake projects. Instead, it is a group that seeks to act independently of the state DEC and Chautauqua County governments by simply representing the views of its members to the state, county. While we ordinarily wouldn’t think another group seeking to protect Chautauqua Lake isn’t necessary, it’s obvious lake property owners are interested in ...

Another Example Of Government Wasting Your Money

There are times all you can do is laugh at the sheer lunacy of government spending. We had occasion to do just that a couple of weeks ago when the state Assembly passed legislation (A.4243B/S.4198-B) requiring the state Transportation Department and state Thruway Authority to identify sites along all highways, thruways and parkways in the state where wildlife crossings are most needed to increase public safety and protect wildlife. State agencies will also be required to create a priority list of wildlife crossing opportunity areas so that, if federal grant money is available, the ...

County’s Support Of Local Corporate Ownership Is A Positive

County IDA officials recently announced their support of the purchase of Dahlstrom Roll Form by two members of the company’s leadership team. The sale comes at a time when the company’s foothold in Chautauqua County was weakening. Robert White, the company’s previous owner, had decided to retire and put Dahlstrom Roll Form up for sale. There had been at least one serious offer from a German company that could have ended up moving the local company to Kentucky. So kudos to Jeremy Blum, current Dahlstrom Roll Form CEO, and Brad Renwick, current Dahlstrom Roll Form COO, for ...