Breaking News

In Our Opinion

City has opportunity to build on 10 years of Chadakoin River work

The Chadakoin River looks a lot different in 2026 than it did in 2016. Comedy Park behind the National Comedy Center is beautiful. Two pedestrian bridges have been constructed. Kayakers are seen on the river, something that seemed like a heavy lift 10 years ago, while projects to clear brush, debris and vegetation from the Chadakoin River’s shores have made the area virtually unrecognizable over the course of a decade. Now, city officials have a chance to build on that work. Projects included in the city’s DRI application include a performance area including tiered natural ...

Hard to believe this phase of Army Corps’ work is nearly complete

It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since the Army Corps of Engineers began its project on Chautauqua Lake. While we continue to deal with many of the typical issues on the lake - algal blooms, removal of newer invasive species like starry stonewort and the water chestnut and maintenance of longstanding invasive species - the Army Corps of Engineers has spent the past nearly two years working in the background. The Army Corps’ work has been so quiet that many area residents may have forgotten they were even here. Engineers are working to address questions about excess ...

Supporting rural suicide council should be easy decision for Hochul

In April, we called on state lawmakers to pass - for a second time - legislation creating a Rural Suicide Prevention Council to address increasing rates of suicide in rural counties. Lawmakers have done their part. Now it’s time for Hochul to do hers. The numbers haven’t changed since April when we called on the legislature to create the council. According to the 2026 Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. Community Needs Assessment, the age-adjusted rate of hospitalization for self-inflicted wounds is 8.5 per 10,000 people in the county compared to 5.6 per 10,000 statewide. The ...

In Our Opinion

An increase in the number of serious accidents involving e-bikes and standup scooters in New York City is prompting calls to better regulate the personal mobility devices in the city. That regulation should extend statewide. So far this year, 12 people have been killed while riding e-bikes in New York City with another nine killed while using stand-up e-scooters. Only three have been killed while riding regular pedal bicycles. which compares to three who died while riding old-fashioned pedal bikes. Last year those figures were 17 dead on e-bikes, six from e-scooters and four on ...

Lakewood fireworks changes have been needed

A couple of years ago, debris from Lakewood’s fireworks show landed amongst the crowd in Richard O. Hartley Park. This year, the fireworks show started a brush fire at the beach. So, yes, it was time for something to change with how Lakewood’s annual fireworks show is handled. Lakewood Village Board members have decided there should be a 300-foot radius free from people from where the fireworks are being lit along with additional signs and fencing to keep people away from the area. Village officials are considering a barge that would move the fireworks lighting off-shore ...

A history lesson in how we measure success

As early as 1990 - six years before it opened - the idea of a Lucille Ball Museum was being talked about in hyperbolic terms. "In conjunction with the Civic Center and the New Comedy Festival, this could be one of the most exciting and important developments to come down the road for ...