Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
WRCL CHAMPS – WRCL – which stands for Westfield, Ripley and Chautauqua Lake – earned the title Class D wrestling champions last weekend. We’re glad to see these wrestlers from three schools team up. Had they not joined together, they wouldn’t be able to compete. Now they can say they are Class D champions. Good luck to those who will be competing today at Niagara County Community College for the Section 6 Championships.
WINTER FESTIVAL – It has been a cold winter for sure. But one group that is quite pleased about the temperatures are those behind the annual Presidents’ Day Weekend Winter Festival in Mayville. We’ve had the festival for several years now, but for the last couple of years it wasn’t cold enough to construct an ice castle. If you haven’t seen it in person yet, make sure you make the trip. It’s worth it. The festival continues through Sunday. And also, good luck to those who are scheduled to jump in the lake as part of the annual polar bear swim. It will be a cold one indeed!
CHRISTMAS CARE – The Blue Star Mothers have a mission to send gifts to soldiers serving overseas. Locally, the Blue Star Mothers of Chautauqua County sent 567 Christmas care packages. We applaud the Blue Star Mothers for their efforts in this drive, as well as people in the community who donated gifts or money to get these gifts overseas.
WORST
LATE IN THE MAIL – At least some residents who live in the Dunkirk City School District received the winter/spring community education course listings this past week. The problem is some courses began Jan. 7. Yes, the information was sent via bulk mail, but that’s no excuse. Mailing community education classes a month after they’ve started is just a waste of time and money. The pamphlet needs to be mailed before the end of the year, otherwise, what is the point?
Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
NEW VEHICLES – The Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County is the recipient of a new van, compliments of the Western New York Ford Dealers and its Ford Friendship Express program. The Boys and Girls Club received the keys Thursday during the opening of the 2014 Buffalo Auto Show. Also receiving a new vehicle was Meals on Wheels for Western New York and the Buffalo City Mission. According to Edward J. Hayes, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club, their old van was in need of too many repairs, so they were unable to take the children on any field trips. We’re glad they now have a new vehicle.
PINK THE RINK – We once again congratulate the SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils on its campaign to raise breast cancer awareness. The team held its annual “Pink the Rink” last weekend, and hundreds of people packed out the game. It wasn’t too many years ago the Blue Devils hockey team was the only local team sporting pink in February. In fact in 2008, Pink the Rink actually made ESPN’s Top 10 plays of the day.
ALL COUNTY PERFORMANCES – Chautauqua Lake High School will be the site of this year’s Winter All-County Festival and Chorus, which takes place today. The event features the county’s best student musicians from the 18 districts located in Chautauqua County in one of the five music ensembles – elementary band, women’s chorus, brass ensemble, vocal jazz chorus and all-county jazz ensemble. We applaud the students who were selected as well as the Chautauqua County Music Teachers Association which sponsors the event.
WORST
FEMA DRAGS ITS HEELS – In 2009, a major flood occurred in the Gowanda/Silver Creek area. Last week – four and a half years later – Gowanda was finally notified they would be receiving their $700,000 owed. Lake Shore Hospital is still waiting, as is the village of Silver Creek. Silver Creek right now is considering raising its taxes, in part because they’re still waiting for FEMA funds. Sen. Charles Schumer this past week urged FEMA to release funds for Lake Shore. The federal agency takes too long to reimburse communities once they’ve made a decision. There’s no reason for the constant delays.
Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
GRAMMY ATTENDANCE – It was quite special to see Westfield’s Kent Knappenberger on CBS Sunday night as part of the national Grammy awards. He and his wife Nannette, along with three of their eight children were in Los Angeles on Saturday where he received the inaugural Music Educator Award. Then on Sunday he was acknowledged during the ceremony. It was an honor for the Knappenbergers, Westfield and for dedicated teachers everywhere.
NEW GRADUATES – We congratulate the 41 young men and women who recently graduated from Cassadaga Job Corps. The students trained for careers in healthcare or construction, while others also earned their high school equivalency diploma. Job training is important to our county and we’re glad there are organizations like Job Corps that help students find a career.
PAPER SAMURAI – The Academy Geeks Inc. at SUNY Fredonia’s Incubator has created a game designed for Android devices. The game, “Paper Samurai,” quickly climbed the Google Play Store. It will also be available for iPhones and iPads later this year.
WORST
CAMPGROUND DELAYS – After two years of delays, Portland resident Jerry Speelberg attended a special Portland Town Board meeting to discuss his proposal to construct a handful of rustic cabins on about 70 acres on Woleben Road. Town officials were apologetic, saying they support the project as long as it follows town procedures. Procedures such as taking photographs every 20 feet, a study regarding squirrels and a list of all trees that were removed from the property? We wonder if Portland had Cornell do a study on affected squirrels when they built the $2.3 million Grape Discovery Center.