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City finances ‘alarming,’ comptroller reports

The city of Dunkirk doesn’t have enough money for operations through next spring, Comptroller Tracy Smith-Dengler said Tuesday. Speaking at a Common Council Finance Committee meeting, Smith-Dengler called it “alarming stuff.” That was kind of a topper to yet another Finance Committee ...

Fund balance debate continues as Wendel prepares budget

MAYVILLE – On Wednesday, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel will present his tentative 2027 budget. One of the biggest topics has continued to be if the county should use more fund balance. During the Audit and Control Committee meeting, Wendel joined in and participated in a discussion regarding the philosophy of using more reserves. The conversation went on for more than an hour. One of those present was Finance Director Kitty Lyons, who has requested guidance on what to do when a department goes over its budget. Lyons said right now the county budget does not have a ...

Fuel prices up 9 cents in last week

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4.47, up 16 cents from Sept. 14. One year ago, the price was $3.18. The New York State average is $4.48, up 9 cents from a week ago. A year ago, the state average was $3.23. Chautauqua County prices are between $4.40 and $4.96 per gallon. Crude oil remains high, averaging $100 per barrel amid continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz. Gas prices have returned to spring levels with the national average inching closer to this year’s record high of $4.56 set on May 21. The all-time high for the national average is $5.01 set on ...

United Way kicks off annual fundraising campaign

United Way of Chautauqua County kicked off its 2026 Fundraising Campaign aboard the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry on Wednesday, bringing together supporters to rally behind this year’s drive to fund programs and initiatives impacting children, families and seniors here in our community. More than ...

State University of New York at Fredonia alumna Dr. Diane Pennica, ’73, who pioneered the development and widespread use of t-PA, the clot-busting drug administered to treat victims of heart attacks and strokes, will return to campus on Friday as the inaugural speaker in the “Science Success Stories Alumni Speaker Series” hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Fredonia College Foundation. Pennica will present “The 50-Year Journey to the Development of the Clot-Buster Drug t-PA” at 2 p.m. in the Kelly Family Auditorium in the Science Center. Pennica will ...

Trustees counter concern, call village ‘safe place’

Fredonia Trustees Tim Mulholland and LeeAnn Lazarony pushed back recently against Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt’s assertion the village is getting increasingly unsafe. Schmidt made the statement during a Sept. 1 presentation at a trustees meeting about Flock Safety cameras. He was attempting to justify his office’s placement of the cameras. “A lot went on during that meeting, it was a couple weeks ago, you kind of sit with it and think about it,” Mulholland said Monday at another Board of Trustees meeting. “One thing I did not appreciate is some of Mr. ...