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Graduation is more than Pomp and Circumstance!

Local Commentaries

“Kids these days (fill in the blank with some negative statements) …” is a bone of contention with me. If you are wondering what kids are up to these days, I encourage you to look at your local public school because I guarantee there are amazing students doing impressive things. On June 26, we are celebrating over 100 students at Southwestern that are graduating with their high school diploma. “What’s the big deal?” some people say. “The kids are just doing the bare minimum of what they are supposed to do. When I was their age, I walked uphill both ways in 6 feet of ...

The president has learned the reality of war

Local Commentaries

Even having been in one, Vietnam, I cannot say that I am an expert on war. The only thing I know for sure is that it should, if possible, be avoided at all costs. War represents a breakdown in diplomacy and civil discourse—the rule of law is forgotten and the rule of war, destruction, takes the fore. Thus, it was, with a sense of relief, that I was pleased to see the announcement that Iran and the United States had come to some kind of understanding to cease hostilities. I think it likely, though we will probably never know, that President Trump got talked into the massive attack ...

Unpredictable Iran keeps U.S. on defensive

Editor's Corner

Nothing is ever a certainty when dealing with Iran. Despite more than a week of waiting for an agreement with the Middle East power and nemesis, President Donald Trump’s team led by Vice President JD Vance, were in gridlock earlier this week. Iran is a master of deception. Even when it ...

Subversion Exploits Americans’ Openness, Generosity

Local Commentaries

CHAUTAUQUA—Chautauqua Institution’s 2026 season kicks off this weekend. Among the first speakers is Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute, who addresses Advocates for Balance at Chautauqua, or ABC, at 3 p.m. Monday in the Athenaeum Hotel. * * * Before ...

Maybe the second time is the charm for Furniture Mart

In Our Opinion

Ten years ago city officials had high hopes for the redevelopment of the Furniture Mart building. At the time, the $19 million project was going to be led by Ellicott Development with $1.5 million of DRI money earmarked for the project. The proposal was for two floors of office space, a 100-room hotel spread over five floors and rental apartments on the remaining three floors. The parking lot next to the building was to see a parking structure with 354 spaces, including 90 spaces available to the public. Retail space would have been created on the first floor. A decade later, ...

Study’s release puts ball in communities’ court

In Our Opinion

We now should feel fairly comfortable that it’s not only possible to merge the Clymer, Sherman and Panama school districts, but generally beneficial to do so now that the merger study by White and Partners has been released. The 149-page study, for those interested, is available at tinyurl.com/3xp2dt97. In short, the study reinforces declining population trends in all three districts, suggests keeping elementary school children in their respective home communities and then operating a merged middle-high school for seventh through 12th grades in Panama for a variety of reasons. The ...