Sabres bring area excitement, energy

March 10, 2026

Pro hockey does not get much more frenetic than it did on Sunday night. With more than 100 penalty minutes tied to fighting and 15 goals scored — with our home team winning 8-7 — the magic keeps appearing for the Buffalo Sabres. In defeating a talented Tampa Bay Lightning team, the Sabres rode the momentum of the crowd after losing a three-goal lead early in the third period. Down 7-5 with more than 10 minutes remaining, Buffalo scored the last three goals of the game and held on to win at the end. Fans who have lived through a 14-year playoff drought now see their team in first ...

Schools: Smooth start for merger talks

March 9, 2026

After almost a year of kicking the tires on a potential merger, support for a combined Clymer, Sherman and Panama school district remains strong among those who are engaging in the process early. Voters on the 2025 school budgets in the districts approved starting the discussion process with 73% approval in May 2025. Almost a year later, results from a community survey distributed to households in the three districts showed 78% of the 798 households responding still supporting the idea of a merger. That’s an encouraging sign as the talks head into the merger study phase. Residents ...

FREDONIA: A need for law, financial order

March 7, 2026

We all know it takes forever to get things done — in New York state and in Chautauqua County. Change never comes easy. For decades the old Fredonia police station has been a source of frustration. It is antiquated, outdated and built for the 19th century. There is no question officers and staff deserve better. That being said, we are at a point where two municipalities are scrimping by — the village as well as the city of Dunkirk. Last week, Mayor Michael Ferguson pinpointed a possible location near the Fire Department for a new station. Do not do it. Once a new station is ...

Knowing the risks when hitting the ice

March 5, 2026

A spring thaw deserves notice after two recent incidents in the last week, both happening over the weekend. In Portland, a man had to be rescued after falling through ice at a pond near a mobile home park last Saturday. On Sunday, a fisherman on Lake Erie had to be rescued after dusk after a sheet of ice separated outside the town of Evans. In both cases, responders risked their well being to assist these individuals. “Cold water and ice rescues are among the most dangerous and technically demanding incidents responders face,” a Fredonia Fire Department post said after the ...

Leaders have ability to shift taxes for all

March 4, 2026

There was an interesting debate last week over an $8,000 increase to the income limit for Chautauqua County senior citizens to qualify for a property tax break. Legislator Dan Pavlock, R-Ellington, said the legislation proposed was not a “tax break” but more of a “tax shift,” because others will pay more since more seniors would be paying less. During committee meetings, Legislator Dalton Anthony, R-Frewsburg, noted that the more tax breaks are given to seniors, the more younger people have to pay. It was a notion that drew agreement from Legislator Fred Johnson, R-Westfield, ...

Birding challenge takes flight again

March 3, 2026

Warming temperatures are one sign that spring is marching closer. Another indication is an event that was announced this month by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Starting this week, the 2026 I BIRD NY Challenge for birders of all ages and abilities is underway. The challenge encourages New Yorkers and visitors to identify birds and learn about birdlife, and finishers are awarded a commemorative I BIRD NY Challenge patch and certificate — plus the opportunity to win birding-related prizes. “New York State’s globally significant habitat supports a wide range of ...