Those who believe downstate and upstate New York need to be separated might be surprised to know just how aid distribution works out for schools. While downstate has the majority of New York’s population, about 60 percent, it only receives about 52 percent of the aid for education, according ...

It is obviously not too early to be thinking about summer. Popular youth programs in Silver Creek and Forestville were a topic at a recent Hanover Town Board meeting due to construction issues. According to Town Board member Lou Pelletter, both school districts have building projects that will ...

­One thing you can count on under the reign of Terry Pegula as owner of the Buffalo Sabres is a coaching carousel. Since 2011 when he purchased the team, there has been no continuity behind the bench. Even the longest-tenured Sabre Coach Lindy Ruff was sent packing. Today, the team is looking ...

It is horrifyingly sad to view what happened when a Fredonia police officer shot another man in self-defense on a cloudy December Monday afternoon. The video, released during the press conference on Friday in the village where county District Attorney Patrick Swanson announced the officer would ...

It appears as though justice was not served last week in the case between Fredonia McDonald’s owner Enrico Francani’s case against the state Department of Transportation over the proposed Routes 20 and 60 roundabout. During the hearing on Wednesday in state Supreme Court in Buffalo Judge ...

Here are some of the best — and worst — of the week: BEST HORVATH RETIREMENT — It was a bitter sweet announcement Thursday, when Fredonia State President Virginia Horvath announced she would be retiring on July 1. Dr. Horvath was Fredonia State’s first female president and has more ...

Gun control is not the one-sided argument its proponents claim. In addition to the Second Amendment, there are practical considerations. For example, as a federal judge in California recognized recently, there is the very real potential for new limits on firearms to be harmful. California ...

You may have lost interest like everyone else, but tonight is the final home game for the Buffalo Sabres. Almost fittingly, they face off against another team facing a number of trials and tribulations in the Ottawa Senators. Take away the month of November, and there is nothing to cherish ...

For years, Empire Steel on Brigham Road faced plenty of troubles. Cash was always tight. Jobs were never certain. In 2001, it closed its doors. Many thought the plant would never recover. Then came Universal Stainless Steel, which has run the plant since 2002. Since taking over, nearly 300 ...

April Fool’s Day came a bit early for Western New York. What a downer it was to awake to a dusting of snow Sunday morning. Fortunately, however, temperatures are trending up for most of the next two weeks. What Monday brought, was much more welcoming. Brilliant sunshine that made a ...

Things may be looking up in northern Chautauqua County with some recent projects, but the fact remains population continues to decline — as does the tax base. So, it is disappointing to see our two largest municipal governments seeking to gain a greater footprint in the community. In ...

Powerless. How else would you describe Silver Creek and its elected officials when it comes to the old school building on Main Street? To be fair, the village is not alone. Other municipalities, including the larger city of Dunkirk and village of Fredonia, are nearly as helpless when it comes ...

Here are some of the best — and worst — of the week: BEST CANCER FIGHT — We applaud the Fredonia State students and community members who burned the midnight oil last weekend, raising more than $14,000 for the annual Relay for Life at the campus. The event, which started at 3 p.m. and ...

Many Americans, perhaps millions, became unwitting tools of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. Some remain susceptible to Russian meddling. There was no conspiracy between the Kremlin and President Donald Trump’s camp during the 2016 ...

A controversial project is moving forward in the city of Dunkirk. On March 19, members of the Common Council in a unanimous vote said “yes” to the contracting company that will begin construction on the city pier. This has not been the most popular of projects brought to the public. ...

Our generation, as well as younger ones, almost always are connected to social media and the world around them through their cell phones. But an interesting experiment took place earlier this month that is worth noting. In Sarnac Lake, less than 10 miles from Lake Placid, the school district ...

Life lessons came to Dunkirk Middle School earlier this month. David Mahan of Frontline Youth Communications is a youth development consultant who has spoken to student groups around the world for over 20 years. His message was an important one for those teenagers. It spoke to them about life ...

Earlier this month, there were five people booked into the Chautauqua County Jail on misdemeanor charges who have been unable to post bail amounts of less than $1,000. These are five people who aren’t likely to commit serious offenses while they await their court date and are the very ...

After nearly three years of smooth sailing, gridlock has hit Dunkirk Common Council. A pair of resolutions, one dealing with a potential employee and another on the purchase of a neighboring building, faced a tabling by a 3-2 margin. Third Ward Councilman Shaun Heenan, who is a candidate for ...

Here are some of the best — and worst — of the week: BEST MUSICAL SEASON — As the sun warms our souls after a long winter, so, too, do musicals warm our souls. A number of area schools are performing their annual musicals this month. Previously Cassadaga Valley performed “James and ...