County: Unimpressive list lacks urgency

August 3, 2025

Debate over goals and objectives and performance measures for the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development.during last week’s Chautauqua County Legislature should have been pretty mundane. For the record, the goals are: - to improve the quality of life for all county residents by completing more than 10 plans and studies; - implement state-mandated programs to ensure state compliance and effective governance; - support smart growth principles, complete streets and placemaking initiatives in downtown corridors to attract residents, address population decline ...

FREDONIA: No slowing raging village expenses

August 2, 2025

One of the magnifying glasses missing in the Fredonia financial crisis will be making an impact on residents when the next quarterly bills go out. While much of the focus was on the 54% property tax increase, homeowners will not get off easy when it comes to other fees. When it comes to water rates, the increase will be from $7 per 1,000 gallons of water used to $7.60 per 1,000 — an 8% hike. Sewer rates are even steeper going from $7 to $8 per 1,000 gallons used — another 14% increase. An article last month regarding a complaint over a $4,000 water bill did not sit well with ...

New York: Leaders ignore budget warnings

July 31, 2025

On the surface, one would think state officials would be justified in their consternation over state budget cuts blowing a $750 million hole in New York’s 2025-26 state budget. They’re not. Everyone knew the 2025-26 state budget wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. Between DOGE-driven cuts and what most reasonable people knew was coming in the federal budget bill crafted by President Trump and approved by Congressional Republicans, there was no way prior levels of federal funding for state programs was going to remain in place. New York’s leadership knew this. There were ...

Forestville: Conference adds jump to hamlet

July 30, 2025

Forestville will be buzzing this weekend when the annual Southwestern Association of Volunteer Fireman’s Convention comes to town. The event begins setting up Wednesday with events being held Thursday through Saturday. Besides additional traffic with volunteers staying within the hamlet at a number of different locations, there will be live music at The American Legion from Thursday through Saturday. There will also be a beer tent, along with food and merchandise vendors. The event is open to the public. Entry to the tent for live music is $5. There will also be two parades during ...

Chautauqua: Institution has huge value to county

July 29, 2025

What does it mean to those who live here year-round that Chautauqua Institution is making changes to its programs and offerings? Ideally, it means Chautauqua Institution is competing for your entertainment dollar by providing programs that more local residents want to attend. We know a lot of people from Chautauqua County are out attending concerts – but they tend to be out-of-town. While that has always been the case, we have a feeling Chautauqua Institution isn’t grabbing as many of those Chautauqua County entertainment dollars as it used to. That means when Canadian visitors ...

Airport: County flying without a plan

July 28, 2025

County legislator Bob Scudder asks a good question – what is the county’s plan for the Chautauqua County Airports? “What frustrates me personally is we do these studies and then we put the studies away and we move on,” Scudder said during a recent legislature committee meeting. “It seems like we’re good at just doing the business, what we do day-to-day. … What I’d like to see more is ‘what’s the plan? I’ve never really gotten the plan.'” The plan, every five years or so, is to reapply for an Essential Air Service designation from the federal government. The ...