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Peoples column

People’s column

Benefit brings outpouring of ‘love’ Editor, OBSERVER: The friends of Annemarie Johnston wish to express their gratitude to all who made the benefit for her family such a great success. Sister Corona and St. Columban’s on the Lake donated food, The Conservation Club provided the venue and Dunkirk Rocks painted “Feel the Love” rocks to promote the event. Beyond that, the generosity of so many area merchants contributing to the raffles and the music of One Boomer made for a wonderful afternoon, celebrating a friend, colleague, wife and mother. Finally, thanks to ...

People’s column

One way to rein in spending Editor, OBSERVER: On Aug. 12, the OBSERVER had a story about Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and his prediction and projection of a huge budgetary shortfall over the next several years. May I make a suggestion that would relieve some, not all, of the difficulty. The simplest way to say it is “cut the reimbursement aid ratio for school capital building projects.” The current ratios are irresponsibly generous to the point that they encourage extravagant boondoggle. They are irresponsibly generous to the point they encourage the building of monuments to ...

People’s column

Being ready for coming election Editor, OBSERVER: The general election is just weeks away — make sure your voice is heard! Too often, people think elections only matter in high-profile races, but here in Chautauqua County, your ballot also includes vital contests for local offices. These decisions affect how our tax dollars are spent, and the services we rely on every day. Local elections are frequently decided by just a few votes — sometimes even one. That’s why confirming your voter registration today is so important. If you’ve moved, changed your name, or haven’t ...

Peoples Column

Justice not always served Editor, OBSERVER: Far left judges seem to forget their oath to follow the U.S. Constitution and often invent their own logic. Logic which does not require any relationship to the written words of the U.S. Constitution. Fulfilling a campaign promise, Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Ironically, the woman nominated because she is a woman could not define a woman, when asked at her U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. For some justices, there are warning signs and Jackson not being able to define “woman” ...

People’s column

Settlers, not immigrants, built country Editor, OBSERVER: Some would argue that immigrants built this country, but they didn't. Settlers did. Were settlers immigrants? No they weren't. Immigrants come to a developed nation looking for opportunity. Settlers go to an undeveloped land and create opportunity. That's very different. That might seem like splitting hairs, but it's splitting facts from delusion. Settlers had no infrastructure, no government, no roads, no welfare, no economy. People who immigrated here later did not come to build it from scratch. Immigrants still do ...

People’s column

‘Nasty’ politics continue in village Editor, OBSERVER: When I retired from SUNY Fredonia in December 2015; my wife and I decided to stay in Fredonia. We continue to like that the village is friendly, has relatively low local taxes, and the very good entertainment provided by the Rockefeller Arts Center and the 1891 Opera House. The village of Fredonia political situation has become so nasty that I want to make several comments as a retiree. First, it is obvious that the water controversy and dreams for the future of the village are already doing a pretty good job of ...