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A transition brings ‘meaningful’ moments

Sept. 6 marked a significant and emotional change for many local Catholics. For the first time in more than a century, there was no Sunday Mass at St. Anthony's in Fredonia. Like many others from St. Anthony's, I attended Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Dunkirk. What struck me immediately was how many familiar faces were there. People who had worshipped together for years were genuinely happy to see one another again. Just as meaningful was the welcome we received. The people of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton went out of their way to make those arriving from St. Anthony's feel at home. ...

Painting proves to often be a tall order

As a part-time writer, musician and non-tenured teacher, I might qualify as a struggling artist (as if there were any other kind). The struggle has been real, and throughout my life I’ve periodically relied on house painting to make ends meet and facilitate my other, sometimes less lucrative ...

Positive efforts at water plant prove a point

It may seem odd to some people that I am complimenting Fredonia Trustee Paul Wandel on his efforts in overseeing operations at the village’s water treatment plant. I have been critical in this column of Wandel’s support of the village’s current plan to join the North County Water District. I have also been critical of the inaccurate statements and misinformation that Wandel often spreads about this ill-advised water project. But credit should be given where credit is due. In THE OBSERVER’S VIEW of Sept. 1, water plant upgrades made a difference in the village, the editor ...

Quippies

Nin Privitera, former Fredonia resident, offers some offbeat takes on recent headlines: --- Oh boy, our trade war with Canada may become more heated than it already is. According to the relentless digging for the truth, my super duper investigative team has found another executive order of President Trump that may soon be signed into law. Here are the highlights of what will be called executive order operation, GET OFF OUR LAKE, YOU, LOSERS. --- Starting today, upon the signing of this executive order 12345, I, Donald Trump, the greatest President in American history, legally declare ...

Quippies

Nin Privitera, former Fredonia resident, offers some offbeat takes on recent headlines: — People in New York City have witnessed strange men of unknown origin coming up out of the sewers. Rumors are that they could be part of Mayor Mamdani’s new program of rent control. — Donald Trump is hinting at renaming the state of New Mexico from that to New America. You know what this renaming scheme is eventually leading to, don’t you? “In the beginning God created the heavens and The Trump.” — Even though Prince Harry is moving back to England, it has been announced he will ...

Failure is often the only result with socialism

Apologists for socialism commonly claim its historical failures were because “they” did it wrong. To the contrary – we think “they” did it perfectly. However, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and today’s socialists seem determined to repeat history. Conversely, we who learned from history are not particularly eager to live under socialism’s totalitarian yoke. We do not want our children standing in bread lines for the sake of “equality”. We reject socialism’s innate lust for power over us. Nor will we surrender our minds to ...