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Even at hospital shindig, political wounds don’t heal

Upbeat music played in the distance in anticipation of the arrival of New York state Gov. Kathy Hochul last week in Fredonia at the East Main Street site where a new north county hospital is being constructed. With the location basking in the sun, more than 100 community members and local ...

Subpar renewables jolt electric costs

Long before wind turbines and solar panels began engulfing upstate and the Southern Tier, New York had a healthy power supply. It was built upon generating stations that were near the shores of Lake Erie and the New York Power Authority based in Niagara Falls that produces renewable ...

Taking on a crisis is unpopular, lonely at top

At the conclusion of Dunkirk’s Common Council meeting, department heads and elected officials gathered around to congratulate newly approved Police Chief Doug Switzer. Since the retirement of Chris Witkowski in February, Switzer had been handling the duties before being officially approved ...

Challengers need to spice up insipid races

As the month of July melts into the sunset, August begins to turn up the heat when it comes to this campaign season. In both Pennsylvania and New York, it appears incumbents are in complete control with the election 95 days away. Republican gubernatorial challenger Bruce Blakeman is hoping ...

Bean counters often on short end of municipal payroll

Since a much-needed control board is not part of the current equation, the city of Dunkirk is banking on a new comptroller to better steer the fiscal condition for the municipality. In taking the newly created position this month, Tracy Smith-Dengler will be compensated $140,000 per ...

Feather in cap of serving turns into heavy lift

Being elected to serve on a municipal board does not appear to come with the prestige it once brought in Chautauqua County. Instead, it often brings oversized headaches. Within the last year, especially in the north county, debates with the public have become almost as fractured as partisan ...