To the Editor,
Allegany County has taken a significant step forward in addressing the opioid crisis by installing Jones Memorial Hospital’s harm reduction vending machine—a testament to the power of local collaboration and community-focused healthcare solutions. This program, supported by state funding and implemented through partnerships between ACASA, PPAC, and MATTERS, demonstrates how rural communities can lead the way in innovative, evidence-based public health initiatives.
The program exemplifies the values that make our region strong: neighbors helping neighbors, practical solutions to real problems, and responsible stewardship of public resources. By providing free Narcan and drug-testing supplies, we’re not just preventing overdoses—we’re giving our friends, family members, and neighbors a chance at recovery while being fiscally responsible with targeted grant funding that doesn’t impact other essential healthcare services.
Some may wonder about the safety of having these supplies publicly accessible. Narcan (naloxone) poses zero risk if used by someone not experiencing an opioid overdose—it has no adverse effect on the human body. Similarly, fentanyl test strips are simple detection tools. While unintended use would sadly waste these resources, it cannot cause harm. This ensures public safety while maintaining dignity for those who need these supplies most.
As CEO Jim Helms wisely noted, we cannot ignore our community members' struggles. This initiative represents the pragmatic, compassionate approach that has always defined Allegany County. It’s about protecting families, supporting recovery, and building a stronger, healthier community. Every life saved through this program is a parent, child, or neighbor who gets another chance—and we can all stand behind that.
Let’s celebrate this milestone as proof that rural communities can lead the way in implementing practical, life-saving solutions while maintaining our commitment to fiscal responsibility and community values.
Sincerely,
Joshua Johnston
Wellsville, NY
This letter cites details from the January 28, 2025, Jones Memorial Hospital announcement available at https://wellsvilleregionalnews.blogspot.com/2025/01/jmh-partners-with-acasa-ppac-and.html
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Recognizing 2 Billion People’s Celebration Shouldn't be a Political Test
To the editor,
The recent decision to recognize Lunar New Year as a school holiday has unexpectedly revealed more about our community's growing pains than about calendar logistics. While our district's announcement sparked disproportionate outrage, it also presented an opportunity to reflect on what we value in education and each other.
According to Pew Research, more than 2 billion people worldwide observe the Lunar New Year, including 22% of Asian Americans. This recognition aligns with preparing students for a globalized world. Our children will enter workplaces where understanding Diwali, Eid, and Hanukkah matters as much as knowing Christmas traditions. Shouldn't schools be the place where this cultural fluency begins?
Zero school days were lost (the calendar remains unchanged), and nearly 2 million New Yorkers of Asian descent gained recognition. They saw their importance reflected in the world around them, and we gained opportunities to discuss history, migration patterns, and comparative mythology—a privilege we take for granted every 4th of July, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, among other holidays.
The visceral reaction to this change seems less about educational policy than about the polarization of our culture. When a governor's competence becomes conflated with acknowledging that multiple civilizations developed calendar systems, we've strayed far from constructive dialogue.
Rather than weaponizing school calendars, let's model intellectual curiosity for our children. The family making jiaozi dumplings this Lunar New Year could teach us about symbolic foods. The Vietnamese student celebrating Tết might share why they clean houses before the new year. These aren't threats to tradition - they're living lessons in our interconnected world.
Our community faces real challenges: learning recovery, teacher retention, housing costs, food prices, and infrastructure needs. Let's channel our passion toward solving those together, using cultural moments not as wedges but as windows into our shared future.
Respectfully,
Joshua Johnston
Wellsville, NY
