Here are some of the best and worst - of the week:
BEST
PANTHER PRIDE - It was a great ride for the Pine Valley baseball team. The team made it to the state semifinals, losing to Oriskany Redskins 1-0 last Saturday. When the team left the day before, a rally was held at the elementary school. As students began cheering for the baseball team, administrators not only mentioned the boys as great ball players, but also as great students. Boys with good grades were highlighted and team members told the younger students to "study hard" because through good study habits and practice do they get better. That's a message we like to hear!
SCTA SETTLES CONTRACT - After two years of negotiations, the Silver Creek Teachers Association and the Silver Creek Central School Board has come to an agreement. According to school officials, this new agreement, which includes increasing insurance premiums from 15 to 25 percent, will save the district $500,000. With the property tax cap in place, it's important to save money any way possible.
REMEMBERING JUSTIN - Tyler Strano, for his Eagle Scout project, constructed two benches by hand and planted a tree in remembrance of Justin Phillips, an 18 year old who died in a fire last year in Silver Creek. A dedication ceremony took place last weekend during the children's festival. It was a fitting honor.
WORST
LIBRARY BRANCH DEBATE - The Cassadaga Branch Library remains closed, approaching two years, due to mold and other problems. The library building is owned by the town of Stockton but the library is run by the Mary E. Seymour Free Library Board of Trustees. The Library Board has been raising money and seeking grants that the town was going to match. Now there's talk about using that grant money on the Mary E. Seymour Library in Stockton instead, because that facility needs work and the Stockton Town Board has been non-committal about repairs. A decision needs to be made. Either make a goal to repair the Cassadaga Branch Library and re-open it or decide that it's not worth it. Give an actual dollar amount about how much needs to be raised and by when. If the money comes in, then do the repairs. If it's not there, then move on. But make a plan.
