My friend, William J. Snyder, passed away last week. I read his obituary, filled with facts and times and places, but it didn’t reflect the man I came to know. Because he was a character, as people like to say, I’d like you to know a little bit more about him. Bill was a cantankerous, ...

In July we planned to rent a pavilion for my granddaughter’s graduation from Dunkirk High School. Originally we were interested in the “largest unit,” that came with a ‘kitchen and refrigerator. Oddly enough, this unit was $75. The other unit, smaller; came with a refrigerated truck ...

Driving the New York State Thruway, one of the best maintained and designed highways among those that makeup the Interstate Highway System, is both a pleasant and safe experience. The pavement is smooth with wide shoulders that provide a safe place in the event of an emergency stop. That is ...

I lost my go-to guy. RTPI’s Mark Baldwin up and moved with his wife to Sweden. I know it’s what they both wanted and they certainly seem happy with the new life — and world — they’ve discovered. I’m grateful I can continue to share their adventures on Facebook. And I was able ...

Twenty years ago — 1999 A Cattaraugus County Fair worker from out-of-town is not likely to forget passing through Salamanca. The worker lost a money bag containing $7,000 on Main Street. City resident Ted Hartmann found it. While Mr. Hartmann was returning the bag to police and still at the ...

Last article we met Nat, who had recently retired after 20 years in the hospitality industry. He reportedly was released from his position as manager of a high-end hotel. He achieved goals set by the hotel. Earlier years found him attending school to improve his professional position. ...

My hiatus has come to an end — much to the dismay and chagrin of many I am certain. However, one must eventually come to the realization that it is time to pick up the pen and get back to it! Thus, I’m back to share with you my many meanderings, and inconsequential thoughts on those things ...

By RICHARD MORRISROE Public entities and the Fourth Estate — the press — have a long history. Our First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights an independent press, to act as a vanguard against government overreach and corruption. I understand why the press has a ...

One thing you can say about humanity is we have always lived in the modern world. Whatever we had whether it was a beautiful home with air conditioning and plush furniture, or a cave in the forest where we crouched from bears, it has always been the best the modern world has had to offer. ...

An article headlined “Goodell accused of racist language,” which is typical of those Democrats in Albany and Washington, appeared in the OBSERVER on July 21. The only thing that I can observe that Goodell stated was real world and working world. How can anyone honestly say that those words ...

The Bush administration’s 2007-08 “Great Recession” caused hardships for job seekers, instability in the business community, devastating losses for some home mortgagees, and stress on personal budgets. The corrections taken during the Obama administration began a slow but steady ...

Truth is complicated and difficult to explain while lies are simple and require no explanation. To my knowledge, there are several laws that we need to follow to govern the village. We are required to follow the charter as well as the state laws. If something is covered by the charter, we ...

Editor’s note: Former State University of New York at Fredonia professor and OBSERVER columnist George Sebouhian was preparing to write his life story when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2013. He died three years later, having left behind hundreds of pages of research notes, poems and ...

The front page headlines of the July 31 OBSERVER in bold type stated, “Gard goes unfiltered: Village attorney critical of trustees (Roger) Britz, Essek in report.” At the July 29 board of trustees meeting “village attorney” Dan Gard spoke for just over four minutes telling the public ...

I know there are homes without books. I doubt if I’ve ever been in one. In fact, I can’t imagine what it would be like to live there. Books are here as my friends: to relax and bring me pleasure, to stimulate and, frequently, to educate. At the moment I have four stacked on the table ...

Oh, what a paradise Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his friends have in store for us. The Democrats passed and Cuomo signed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA/the Act). We’re to become “carbon neutral” by 2050, by 2030 70% of our energy will come from ‘renewables’ ...

By PETE HOWARD A recent New York Times article by Gina Kolata offered a detailed and highly disturbing account of what emergency care professionals experienced in the aftermath of the El Paso massacre. Such reporting is especially important in this era of “compassion fatigue” where the ...

My column today is an open letter to our six grandchildren, and to grandchildren, friends and folks everywhere. A short time ago, I started to write a letter to my six grandchildren. However, before I finished my letter, I was invited to speak to a local group of junior and senior high school ...

I find it very difficult to go to sleep at night. Once I get to sleep I’m fine. It’s just getting there is often a problem. If I could just turn off the music in my head I think it would help. You’ve heard of people “with a song in their heart?” I have a song in my head. All the ...

Let me start with this disclaimer. If this column does not come up to the usual level of excellence that you have come to expect, it is due to Russian interference in our democracy. The disappointment that you might experience today may be due to the same evil Russians who deluded me in the ...