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The fragility of human institutions

This is not an uplifting subject to write about. If you are having a bad day, just put it off or forget about reading it. What it deals with is the reality of how fragile and easily broken can be those institutions which frame our lives. Probably the best example is marriage. It can be easily entered into but its lastingness is not a given. Marriage is a fragile human institution which can easily give way to disharmony, discord and divorce. Business organizations, partnerships, and professional associations have all been created to promote human activity and cooperation towards a ...

E-bikes: The “Wild West”

Few things are scarier than driving your car and then suddenly realizing there is an e-bike coming at you heading the wrong way on a one-way street. In eight years as a City Court Judge (2014-2021) handling Vehicle and Traffic tickets, among many other duties, there were no obvious issues with e-bikes and e-scooters. I do not recall a single traffic ticket related to the operation of an e-bike or e-scooter. Now everyday exposes area drivers to encountering e-bikes going against traffic, blowing past red lights and stop signs, randomly alternating between traveling on sidewalks and ...

Changing stories on high gas prices

Mr. Trump’s diesel deal with Putin will force Americans to fund both sides of the Iran war and finance the ongoing slaughter of Ukrainian civilians by Russia. It is blood money that will fund Putin's war economy. Russia in turn will continue to support Iran with intel and weaponry that will be used against U.S. military personnel and assets and our allies in the region. It’s not just (another) massive strategic blunder; It is morally repugnant. Blaming Ukraine for high diesel prices is a talking point straight from the Kremlin. It brings to mind the old Soviet joke “The past is ...

Clymer Amish return to Supreme Court

CLYMER—In a challenge to New York law, freedom of religion is before the U.S. Supreme Court. Among the challengers, according to court filings, are Shady Lane School in Clymer and Clymer-resident Joseph Miller, a school-board member with children attending the school. Our neighbors in ...

The importance of public water systems

This past week marked a big event at our house—we were finally connected to the public sewer system that has just been completed along the west side of Chautauqua Lake. When it happened, it was really a “non-event.” The toilet flushed the same way, the drains in the sink were no different than before—yet, we knew that our wastewater was now going to a better place—the public sewage treatment plant in Celoron. Actually, I think that I slept better that night, knowing that this 10-year odyssey of getting sewers up the lake had finally come to a successful conclusion at our ...

The times are a changin’

I enjoyed reading Mr. Kidder’s perspective about the history of public education in our county and his understanding and respect for the value of public education. I also appreciated the piece about the Board of Regents’ decision to decouple Regents exams from graduation requirements. I’d like to provide my perspective on this change. First, I understand the notion that Regents exams can provide a level of rigor and accountability to a school district. After all, when there is a standard students must demonstrate to receive a diploma, it can hold an institution accountable to ...