All jobs have requirements

October 2, 2021

Editor, OBSERVER: In reply to the front page story, “Nurses plead with county officials to stand up for them” (Sept. 24), the featured nurse will have to choose between getting vaccinated against COVID or losing her job. She asks for help from her county legislators. This is a personal decision over which she has complete control: comply with her employer’s requirements (get vaccinated) or refuse, and lose her job. She (and every other health care worker) has had to comply with multiple other pre-employment requirements that include background checks to screen for criminal or ...

Farming remains important here

September 7, 2021

Editor, OBSERVER: This is in regard to the OBSERVER’s editorial “Census: Numbers send another warning.” It stated, “As we shrink, corporations are taking their jobs to the places that are growing because that’s where they can find a steady supply of workers.” The converse of this observation is that less developmental pressure is placed on agricultural land use in a county which has long been noted for its tremendous agricultural productivity on each acre farmed. This productivity is secondary to precipitation throughout the year and jiggered growing seasons (late in ...

Columnist spews ‘falsehoods’

September 6, 2021

Editor, OBSERVER: I see the good Dr. — by virtue of a Ph.D — Randy Elf is once again peddling political snake oil. His opinion piece (Aug. 18) references a certain “Dr.” John Droz, who isn’t any kind of “Dr.” at all. “Dr.” Droz claims that in the “2020 presidential election, swing-state Nevada had 130,000 unique instances of voter fraud.” However, the Nevada Supreme Court derided a GOP appeal based on this allegation as “reckless” and “lacking any legal basis.” Further, the Court stated, “The evidence submitted by the contestants was reviewed in ...

Every hero needs recognition

September 1, 2021

Editor, OBSERVER: It will soon be the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I would like to thank and compliment the OBSERVER and Janice Gee for the free printing of the Our Heroes pictures each and every year ever since. The very first year in 2002, 9/11 was fresh in our minds and there was a high degree of patriotism. So many photos were submitted that a whole separate section was devoted to those pictures. It was indeed a splendid supplement. Entire police and fire departments submitted photos. However ever since, each year the number of photos has decreased, so much so that last year ...

Special Night in Cassadaga

August 27, 2021

Editor, OBSERVER: The National Night Out committee of Cassadaga would like to send an enormous thanks to the Cassadaga Volunteer Fire Department for its part in planning and executing our fourth annual celebration. They continue to be supportive to this event every year. We are also grateful for the direction and help of the Jamestown New York State Police Barracks, their networking was able to bring to our little community representatives from Batavia, Collins, Fredonia and Olean. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department was on display as well with Sheriff James Quattrone ...

People’s column

August 25, 2021

‘Incredible’ event shows support Editor, OBSERVER: We would like to express our gratitude for the outpouring of love and support we received at the recent benefit held in my honor. We would like to specifically thank The East Dunkirk Ladies Auxiliary, The East Dunkirk Fire Department, The Chautauqua County Fire Police, and all of the volunteers for hosting such and incredible event. I was amazed at how the community rallied to support me by making basket raffle donations, cheer for the wheelbarrow of cheer, donations to “fill the boot,” and for the purchasing of the many ...