Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
REMEMBERING NAETZKER – We applaud the Dunkirk High School Class of 1948 for its financial gift to the Dunkirk Joint Veterans Council Honor Guard in memory of John Naetzker, who died during the Korean War. Naetzker’s surviving classmates are all in their 80s today, but his memory still lives on with those who knew him more than 60 years ago.
NATIONAL WELDERS – Good luck to Devin Hollman of Brocton, Dillion Meehan of Gowanda and Tyler Strano of Silver Creek who will represent New York state at the SkillsUSA National Welding and Metal Fabrication Championship on June 25-26 in Kansas City, Mo. The three high school seniors are enrolled in the welding program at Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES LoGuidice Center in Fredonia and beat out 17 other teams in the state’s first ever competition of its kind. The three will be asked to build a trailer from their own pre-made blueprints, using limited materials in six and a half hours. We wish them well.
ROAD REPAIR – Six months ago, Route 60 between Cassadaga and Fredonia was arguably the worst state road in Chautauqua County. This spring crews have done an amazing patch and repatch work on the road, improving it quite a bit. Yet as much as it has been patched, the road isn’t super smooth, and you wonder how it would handle another rough winter. Instead of waiting until 2015, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week funding has been set aside to repave the road this construction season. We applaud all the county, state and federal officials who lobbied Cuomo to get the work done this year. Route 60 is the life blood that connects Northern and Southern Chautauqua County. The work needs to be done this year.
WORST
ILLEGAL VOTERS – Newly elected Pine Valley School Board member Angelo Graziano is right. He wants to know why the names of the three non-residents of the Pine Valley School District who voted in this year’s school election are being withheld. Board President Janie Waag stated the district consulted with legal counsel and was advised to not comment on identities. “We always have to act in the best interest of the district,” she said. If people break the law, their names become public because police reports are public record. How is this case any different?
Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
BASEBALL PLAYOFFS – Although no high school varsity teams are being represented this weekend in the state baseball or softball championships, the area will be represented – by umpires. Jerry Reilly and Marvin Cummings were both selected to go to Binghamton this weekend to officiate the New York State Public High School Athletic Association baseball championships. It’s the first time either one has had this opportunity. Congratulations to both of them for being selected.
PETITION POWER – A proposed hotel and water park in the town of Hanover has generated people petitioning – not against the project, but rather for it. Too often, developers have proposed projects and residents have complained, sometimes taking municipalities and businesses to court to try to stop it. Residents in Hanover realize that this development is something positive for the town and they want their officials to know it. Their words need to be remembered by those that they elected to office.
IMPROVING INTERSECTION – The intersection of Routes 20 and 60 in the town of Pomfret is one of the busiest intersections in the county. But even as busy as it is, there’s no crosswalks, no easy way for bicyclists or pedestrians to cross. The state has awarded the local area a $720,000 grant to not only create crosswalks, but design the intersection to make it safer. Hopefully this money will make things better and save a few lives.
WORST
RIPLEY BUILDING – Ripley officials have been trying to tear down the Corner Bar in Ripley with little success. The owner has not taken care of it. The building is in disrepair but because of asbestos in the building, officials have been unable to have the town do it. A similar problem was in Forestville a few years ago. In the end, the village had to take it down and it ended up being a huge financial burden on taxpayers. Hopefully this situation ends better.
Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
CLASS CHAMPIONS – Congratulations to four area schools in capturing their Section 6 class championship in varsity softball/baseball. Pine Valley Lady Panthers won their second Class D championship. Fredonia Hillbillies won their third consecutive Class B baseball title. North Collins Eagles won the Class D championship in baseball, their first time since 2008. Cassadaga Valley Cougars won the Class C baseball championship, their first Sectional title in nearly 40 years. Good luck to the teams as they play in the Far West Regionals and possibly in the state championships.
NEW LIBRARY FACES – Joy Harper and Kathy Petersen are well known to those who frequent, or even occasionally visit Barker Library in Fredonia. Harper, the library director, and Petersen, the Children’s Room director, recently retired. Combined, the two have served 42 years at the library. We wish them the best in retirement. We also welcome Sara Hart, the incoming library director, and Carey Caserta, who is the new children’s librarian. We wish you both the best.
TACKLING HEROIN – We applaud the Seneca Nation for its forum, with the New York State Senate, on heroin addiction. Heroin is a growing problem. As SNI President Barry Snyder stated, “This issue will not run its course and go away.” Heroin needs to be addressed and now. Hopefully this forum will be a spring board for future action.
WORST
SEWER, WATER COSTS – George Civiletto, the owner of Tuscany Fresh Meats and Deli, stated an excellent question at the Fredonia Village Board meeting. He asked, “At some point, we have to sit back and realize we have lost one of our anchor corporations in this village (Carriage House) and just how do we intend to attract another if we have (high) water and sewer rates and we continue to raise them?” Unfortunately, none of the village leaders answered his question. They commented about how ConAgra’s decision to close the plant was not because of water rates. But that’s not what Civiletto asked. He wants to know what are village officials doing to lower water costs. Discuss plans for regional water. Discuss plans for shared services. Share steps that the local government is planning on taking to cut costs. What Civiletto – and many local business owners in Fredonia – want to hear is a vision for the future.