Vacant houses are bad for a community. They often don’t look good, frequently in poor repair and surrounded by unkempt lawns. They can present a danger, or lead to the deterioration of a …
We heard from several people as we researched and reported a story last week about growing homelessness in Cortland that people are homeless by choice. We find the comments a little tone …
We’re excited to see what downtown Cortland will look like upon the completion of the $12 million reconstruction of Main Street, just now getting underway. Then again, we don’t rely on …
Establishing a business requires juggling a lot of pieces, such as funding, equipment and staffing. Getting government funds for such an endeavor offers new resources and possibilities but it …
Natural beauty is part of the greater Cortland area's "brand," and that brand is only getting stronger thanks to continuing investment and the work of dedicated individuals. As we've said many …
A four-lane city street and a grassy lawn were the only things separating them, but they might as well have been miles apart. The Cortland police and court facilities are located in City Hall at …
A Rockland County resident is trying to cope with paralysis, caused by — of all things — polio. It was the first recorded case of polio in America since 2013. Polio. It was supposed to …
What's Cortland got that Grand Rapids, Michigan, ain't got? Seventy-one former Grand Rapids residents. They moved to Cortland County. What's Davie County, North Carolina, got that Cortland …
If a community faces an unwelcome development — say, a dollar store or massive solar farm or an adult entertainment venue — and residents show up to meetings in droves to voice their …
We've noticed quite a few more electric vehicles in the neighborhood: Teslas and Hyundai Ioniqs, Nissan Leafs, Chevy Bolts. We've seen more plug-in hybrids, too, and where once the electric vehicle …
A $12 million project to rebuild Main Street in the heart of the city of Cortland's downtown district is set to begin in earnest soon. It will be a long and disruptive process that, when complete, …
The cold, heartless ones among us would joke about having the feral cats in Homer meet the wandering rats of McGraw to see if they can solve both problems for us. But that would be cold and …
America’s free press is in crisis. Today, local journalism, which is necessary to maintain an informed and active citizenry, is on life support. Since the advent of the internet, Big Tech …
Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms said last week that he has seen a number of instances of pellet guns being used criminally in a short amount of time — about three in one month. In one …
It’s good that some things roll downhill. And if that something is leachate from the Cortland County landfill, downhill — in a pipe — is much preferred over sending it downhill in a …
Driving off Interstate 81’s Exit 11 into the city of Cortland, visitors come upon a Clinton Avenue streetscape that has been improving drastically over the past few years as they head toward …
The city Waterworks property is a quintessential “Cortland thing.” It’s one of our landmarks. Locals may remember childhood visits with the ducks and the deer or running around the …
Food may be a basic necessity, but it is not always available in the proper quantities and quality for all. It takes a lot of planning and work as well as knowledgeable and talented people to put …
The dust has begun flying in recent weeks and anticipation has been building since the project was first announced in 2017, but work is finally beginning this week to rebuild Main Street in …
We know a guy who doesn’t believe in sunscreen. He knows it exists, and is aware of the dangers of sunburn — it’s a risk factor for many types of skin cancer and can lead to other …
What’s all this about the Declaration of Independence? Why do we celebrate July 4th as Independence Day? Written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration is the basis of our liberty and the …
Teaching is a demanding job, and the past two years of pandemic life further increased the stress and pressure on educators. Distance learning was suddenly the norm, and the return of students to the …
The circumstances could not have been much worse. A tractor-trailer carrying a shipment of hazardous herbicide crashed June 15 on a bridge crossing the Tioughnioga River in the city of Cortland …
"I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the …
If you’re an elected official, elections can be so inconvenient. You need to knock on doors, present your best image, listen to people who statistically won’t vote, anyhow. Primaries are even worse; now you must differentiate yourself from someone who fundamentally agrees with your politics.
