The lighter side of The News: Exploring strange new worlds; costly clubhouse; learning new lessons

It turns out that New York has two U.S. senators whose interests go far, far beyond state lines – all the way to outer space, and whatever or whomever might be visiting us from there.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, a Democrat, last week joined Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota in sponsoring an amendment that would declassify government records pertaining to “unidentified anomalous phenomena,” otherwise known as unidentified flying objects, or UFOs.

“For decades, many Americans have been fascinated by objects mysterious and unexplained, and it’s long past time they get some answers,” Schumer said. “The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence and unexplainable phenomena.”

Schumer offered his amendment to the bill reauthorizing defense programs for the coming fiscal year. In doing so, he joined Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, also a New York Democrat, who has long shown an interest in UFOs.

Two years ago, Gillibrand and Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, sponsored an amendment to the defense bill calling for a new federal office to study unidentified anomalous phenomena.

“Understanding UAPs is critical to our national security and to maintaining all-domain awareness,” said Gillibrand, a co-sponsor of Schumer’s amendment.

The truth is out there, as they say, and our senators are going to find it.

Pat Whalen spent more than a year using the state Thruway Authority’s Welcome Center on Grand Island as a temporary office while he waited for the headquarters of the Niagara Global Tourism Institute, which he served as executive director, to open.

Based on that experience, he has long questioned the authority’s decision to build the expensive center on the island, at a site that lacks direct Thruway access, instead of in Niagara Falls. He argued this limits its appeal and value to tourists visiting the area.

So…