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Opinion

The fragility of human institutions

Local Commentaries

This is not an uplifting subject to write about. If you are having a bad day, just put it off or forget about reading it. What it deals with is the reality of how fragile and easily broken can be those institutions which frame our lives. Probably the best example is marriage. It can be easily entered into but its lastingness is not a given. Marriage is a fragile human institution which can easily give way to disharmony, discord and divorce. Business organizations, partnerships, and professional associations have all been created to promote human activity and cooperation towards a ...

Ward 2 residents have tough choice between Bigelow, Sample

In Our Opinion

For residents of Jamestown’s north side, this election season’s choice between Bryan Bigelow and Jason Sample presents a difficult decision. Bigelow follows more closely in the path set by longtime ward councilman Tony Dolce. Bigelow has found himself to be deliberative on issues that have come before the council during his short time in office. On matters like abolishing the Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission, Bigelow has taken information from those who oppose changing the charter to remove the commission and those who favor keeping it, reached out to majority ...

No escape hatch for unsustainable city pacts

Editor's Corner

Chautauqua County’s two cities remain pressure cookers for administrators who have to account for the big bucks. Within the past two weeks, both mayors announced spending plans that include tax increases that their councils will likely try to whittle down. In Jamestown, the budget totals ...

Clymer Amish return to Supreme Court

Local Commentaries

CLYMER—In a challenge to New York law, freedom of religion is before the U.S. Supreme Court. Among the challengers, according to court filings, are Shady Lane School in Clymer and Clymer-resident Joseph Miller, a school-board member with children attending the school. Our neighbors in ...

Borrello, Molitor should be returned to Albany

In Our Opinion

State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor face similar challenges in their re-election campaigns for state office. Borrello is challenged for the 57th state Senate District, which includes all of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties and more, by Victoria Guite-Williams while Molitor is challenged in the 150th Assembly District, which includes all of Chautauqua County and the Cattaraugus Reservation in Erie County, by Thomas Carle of Fredonia. The argument for both Democratic Party candidates is that a Democrat would find themselves working with the majority party in ...

Sullivan should be re-elected as Family Court judge

In Our Opinion

Voters have a choice when it comes to Chautauqua County Family Court Judge this year, with incumbent Michael Sullivan facing off against challenger Alexandria Moss. Both candidates are from the north county and come with qualifications that suit the position. Sullivan has served as one of the county’s two Family Court judges, handling more than 16,000 cases in Chautauqua County Family Court and another 850 from Cattaraugus County. Sullivan has also in the Court Improvement Project has provided him with a broader perspective on the challenges facing Family Courts and the importance of ...