Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
BEST
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY – Take time to show your support for your neighbors and community partners today: the small business. A number of holiday shopping finds await you at a number of area businesses that specialize in making that personal connection, which is still very important today.
FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS – Congratulations to the Maple Grove/Chautauqua Lake Thunder Dragons. The team made it to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Class C semifinals. A few years ago, Chautauqua Lake on its own couldn’t even compete for a state title and participated in a DD division. Now that the two squads have combined, they were one win away from being in the title game.
MILITARY STARS – We would like to applaud the Blue Star Mothers, which is once again collecting items for care packages to send to active military men and women who are serving overseas. It means a lot to these soldiers when they get gifts from back home. They are hoping to ship 600 care packages for Christmas. If you would like to contribute, e-mail bluestarmothersny4@yahoo.com or call President Susan Rowley at 499-6897 or Vice President Kathy Collver at 450-5593.
PARADE PARTICIPANT – Did you see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade Thursday? Well, take pride in knowing that one of Fredonia’s own high school seniors was able to participate. Sarah Hill performed in the 700-member Spirit Group Dance Performance, representing the top All-American Dancers. It made for a Thanksgiving she and her family will never forget.
WORST
PLOWING FARNHAM – In Farnham, during the major snowstorm last week, the mayor suspended the village’s only snowplow driver, who is the Department of Public Works director. Days later the village board rehired the driver. But in between, Erie County was forced to take over all the village’s roads. Four years ago, residents voted against dissolving the village, which now has a population of 376 people. Had they dissolved, they could still call themselves Farnham, but they wouldn’t have to worry about a dispute between the mayor and the DPW director.
highs and lows Some of the best, worst of the week
It’s been a rough week with all of the snow clean-up. We have praised many this past week for their hard work. We’re going to take a moment to focus on some of the other items of noteworthiness from this past week:
BEST
OPERA HOUSE ANNIVERSARY – Twenty years ago this month, the 1891 Fredonia Opera House re-opened following a 10-year refurbishing effort. The Opera House is one of the standout icons of our community. It would have been a tremendous loss had the structure been torn down. The ones that made it happen should be proud.
SEINFELD TO VISIT – When Jay Leno visited the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival earlier this year, it was hard to imagine a bigger name would visit in the future. It seems the organizers of the festival have topped themselves again. Jerry Seinfeld, star of the ’90s sitcom “Seinfeld” will be doing two performances Aug. 1, 2015. Seinfeld is a premier comedian. He’s an excellent choice as Jamestown looks to open the National Comedy Center in 2016.
EYESORE DEMOED – The Corner Bar in Ripley has been red-tape nightmare. For three years town officials have been working to get the building torn down. The town was able to get its employees to demolish the building, instead of getting an outside contractor, which would have cost taxpayers thousands of dollars. Although the building was 150 years old, its time was up and it needed to be removed.
LOSS
MUSCATO PASSES – Former Dunkirk Common Councilman James Muscato passed away Monday after a lengthy illness. Muscato served four terms as a councilman, including holding the at-Large seat. He also served on the County Legislature back in the ’80s. Muscato was one of the politicians who was able to get the waterfront development going. During his tenure, he saw the Boardwalk come to fruition, Tim Hortons constructed on Route 5, as well as the refurbishment of the former Crocker-Sprague building at the corner of Washington Avenue and Second Street, and construction of the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator. Muscato continued to visit city council meetings after losing his seat. A Democrat, Muscato was never afraid to work with Republicans, including former Mayor Richard Frey. Whether you agreed with him or not, Muscato cared about the city and its residents. He was a good man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
FALL SWEEP – It’s been 10 years that SUNY Fredonia students have been participating in the annual Fall Sweep. The sweep began as a way to improve relations between college students and the downtown community. We realize that many adults are unable to get out in the fall and rake their leaves. We thank the students who each year give up part of their weekend and serve in this manner.
TECHNOLOGY GRANT – A new grant for upcoming freshmen will give them a head start on their professional career without going into debt. A new Pathways in Technology Early College High School grant has been approved for the Erie 2 BOCES, Jamestown Community College, and others, led by the Dunkirk City School District. The grant will offer a six-year program to students, allowing them to earn an associate’s degree in mechanical technology or welding. In addition, specializations will be available in pre-engineering design or precision machining, as well as several certifications through the BOCES Career and Technical Education programs. Industry leaders have said there is a shortage of qualified mechanical workers; hopefully this will help address the problem.
ART ON DISPLAY – Family courts are a stressful place, especially for children. That’s why we are glad that the halls at the Family Court building in Mayville are now decorated with children’s art. It was a wonderful idea. Kudos to the Brocton Elementary students who have their art hanging in the halls. They did a great job.
WORST
DRIVING ACCIDENTS – Winter weather has once again returned. Drivers need to be careful. Last weekend a Brocton teenager was killed walking after dark. No charges were filed. Then on Tuesday, a driver flipped his vehicle while traveling on Chautauqua Road in the town of Pomfret, after he failed to negotiate a curve. Police are looking for three sport motorcycle drivers that were seen at the crash. On Thursday when snow returned, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department reported that there were about 30 accidents, mostly in the southern end of the county. We have two words – SLOW DOWN! Life is too short. Pay attention while driving and be careful of people or animals that may be in the roadway.
Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
HISTORIC HONORS – On Thursday, President Obama posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Army First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing. Cushing died on July 3, 1863 during the Civil War while commanding 126 men and six cannons in Battery A of the Fourth U.S. Artillery. There was something very special hearing President Obama utter the words “Alonzo, or Lon Cushing, who was raised by his widowed mother in Fredonia, New York with his siblings.” The region should be proud of its late resident.
HELPING A VET – Twenty-two volunteers from local churches and a college ministry organization, came together recently to help build a new porch for a disabled veteran in Fredonia. The project was part of the Fredonia First United Methodist Church’s fall missions project. It’s things like this that demonstrate what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
COOL RUNNINGS – Good luck to the seven local runners who are participating in today’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships at SUNY Canton. Those participating in the state finals include Dunkirk’s Ethan Francis, Fredonia’s Lauren Reyda, Gowanda’s Matt Kruszka, Silver Creek-Forestville’s Emma Seiders, Jaylah Cossin, Caleb Makuch and Hannah Seiders. The local area back home is rooting for you!
WORST
CARELESS BUTTS – At least twice in the past week, two brush fires broke out due to someone carelessly discarding a cigarette butt. There’s lots of dry leaves and sticks that have yet to be raked up. When smokers throw their butts out the car window or on the ground while walking, it can be a fire hazard. Even if it doesn’t catch fire, smokers should not be discarding their butts on the ground. If you want to smoke, be responsible with the cigarette butt.
Highs and lows: Some of the best, worst of the week
Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:
BEST
MARAUDERS FOOTBALL SEASON – The Dunkirk Varsity football season has come to a close. No, they didn’t make the playoffs in a bid to earn a state championship. No, they didn’t defeat rival Fredonia. Yes, there are local schools that have gone further. But this is a school that didn’t have a winning season in 20 years. On Thursday, the Marauders won the Chuck Funke Bowl, closing out their year with a 6-3 record. It was a great year to follow them and we applaud the players, as well as the coaching staff, led by Mike Sarratori.
FEEDING FREDONIA – Knowing that many people have lost or will soon lose their jobs because of the closing of Carriage House, people in the Fredonia area stepped up to help their neighbors, donating a total of 5,650 pounds of food to the Fredonia Presbyterian Church’s food pantry, which is an informal partner of Rural Ministry. For those needing assistance, the food pantry is open from 10 a.m. until noon on the third Saturday of every month at the Fredonia Presbyterian Church on Central Avenue.
PAYING OFF DEBT – We’ve had our issues with how the situation in Forestville went down – the village needing immediate assistance for past financial errors, causing residents’ taxes to go up 112 percent. But we think the village made the right call when it recently sold off some timber and used that revenue to pay off their debt to the county instead of spending it elsewhere.
WORST
CAMPAIGN FINANCE PILOT PROJECT – Say it like it is; the state’s public campaign finance pilot project has been a flop. Neither Thomas DiNapoli nor Bob Antonacci, the candidates running for state comptroller, has taken part in the system. Antonacci, the endorsed Republican in the race, has raised more than $200,000 so far, meeting the minimum required to receive 6-to-1 state funding for his bid to become the state’s chief financial officer. But about $50,000 of that comes from donations greater than $175, with only smaller donations counting toward the required total matched with public money. DiNapoli, the incumbent Democrat, had raised $2.1 million from private donors when the state Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved the public financing test in April. He chose not to participate in the pilot program because he would have had to return or sequester his larger donations. He also said there wasn’t enough lead time to implement it fairly, and the pilot program was “a poor excuse” to avoid real reforms, according to The Associated Press.