News

Group aims to save Ripley bat habitat

TOP STORIES August 24, 2026

RIPLEY — “Lucy!” cried one bat researcher to Jonathan Townsend. Lucy is the affectionate nickname for the Little Brown Bat, also known as Myotis lucifugus. “It’s too hard to shout Myotis lucifugus during research” claimed Townsend, “so we all shout Lucy! when we find a Little Brown Bat.” That’s been harder to do in recent years. Historically, Chautauqua County had some of the best Little Brown Bat habitat in Western New York. The Chautauqua Institution had a Little Brown Bat maternity colony estimated to have 10,000 bats. Another famous maternity colony was in ...

Two-wheel talk

High waters bring concern to region

New Horizons Band preparing for fall session

Sunday Lifestyles August 23, 2026

The fall session of the New Horizons Band of Western New York is set to begin on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at the SUNY Fredonia School of Music under the direction of Joseph Newton, our new music director. Many current and past members had spent decades away from instruments they initially learned ...

Healing with Horses: Commitment of volunteer keeps Stride rolling

Sunday Lifestyles August 23, 2026

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” --- Philippians 4:8 Whatever your beliefs, focusing on these things can help set our minds—and ...

A tastefully done history

Sunday Lifestyles August 23, 2026

Editor’s note: This is the first of two parts. There was a time when a drive from Westfield through Sheridan and Fredonia to Dunkirk passed through one of Western New York's most remarkable concentrations of agriculture and food manufacturing. Some names remain familiar. Others have ...