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What’s With The Warmer Temperatures?

Local Commentaries

Let’s pick up where we left off 148 weeks ago. Not even you, faithful reader of this column, will recall that we were well into March 2023. By turning on the snow machine then, Mother Nature appeared to be trying to make up for a lack of snow during the preceding winter. “No,” we told Mother Nature that day. Winter sports enthusiasts of all ages need snow in December, January, and February. But in March, it was too late to make up for what hadn’t fallen from the sky when we needed it. * * * Fast forward to this winter. Children are looking forward to building snow forts, ...

Focus Should Be On Affordability During Session

In Our Opinion

We appreciate Gov. Kathy Hochul’s stated focus on affordability. We know, as do most New Yorkers, that it isn’t as easy to make ends meet these days as it was 20 years ago. Hochul has focused her affordability agenda on things like wage increases, tax cuts or tax credit expansions, including her most recent push to eliminate state income taxes on up to $25,000 of tipped income in tax year 2026, which follows federal guidance. A recent World Population Review study showed New York’s cost of living index is 148.2, the second highest in the country, with housing costs that are the ...

Maternal Care Undergoing Change In Area

In Our Opinion

UPMC Chautauqua is no stranger to dealing with the closure of neighboring hospitals’ labor and delivery units. First, it was Westfield Memorial Hospital, then Brooks-TLC just a few years ago. Now, Warren General Hospital is closing its labor and delivery unit amid a shortage of OB/GYN physicians. Starting next week, pregnant women will either be sent to UPMC Chautauqua or Erie’s UPMC Hamot or Allegheny Health Network. Given Jamestown is roughly 40 miles closer for Warren residents, we’d be surprised if most of Warren’s roughly 175 births that previously took place in Warren ...

New Restaurant A Chance To Prove Airport’s Vitality

In Our Opinion

County officials have spent the past several years trying to talk up the amount of activity at the Chautauqua County Airport at Jamestown. Those efforts have been part of efforts to both balance the airport operation’s budget and to convince the federal government to reinstate the Essential Air Service subsidy that would allow commercial air service to resume at the airport. We’ve heard about private flights for Cummins, the National Comedy Center, Chautauqua Institution and other area companies. The success of a new restaurant at the airport would say as much about the number ...

Stormwater Drainage Is More Than South Avenue Issue XXx

In Our Opinion

Jamestown officials should absolutely work with the town of Busti to help a South Avenue resident deal with runoff that floods their yard and pool. The issue is somewhat difficult because South Avenue acts as a border between Jamestown and Busti, meaning crossing the street takes someone from Jamestown to Busti. South Avenue also has no proper drainage since it’s not a certified street with curbs, gutters and drainage. At the same time, city officials shouldn’t just look at South Avenue. Anyone who lives on the south side of the city knows drainage is a pain whenever we see ...

Beware Lessons Of MTG

Local Commentaries

I am one who likes to keep up to date with news and politics, but I tend to avoid the back and forth soap opera that comes from the personality and who said what of Washington. But lately I haven’t been able to avoid thinking about what has become of Marjorie Taylor Greene. The once MAGA loyal to a fault bombastic warrior of the House has decided to call it quits after speaking out against Trump. MTG has made the rounds on TV on a forgiveness tour, cleaning up her appearance while also voicing her objections to Trump fighting the release of the Epstein files. She has been doing this ...