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The OBSERVER’s View

NFL: County native, Eagles in spotlight

In a few weeks, Nick Sirianni will add the title of Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame member to his already glowing resume. The Southwestern High School graduate has another prize in sight. We’re talking, of course, about the title of Super Bowl champion. Buffalo Bills fans had hoped the hometown team would be playing in the big game on Feb. 9. Their hopes were dashed — again — by the Kansas City Chiefs. Sirianni has his own history with the Chiefs, having lost to the two-time defending Super Bowl champions back in 2023 by a 38-35 score. Whatever happens in New Orleans on Feb. ...

HEALTH CARE: More quiet progress for Brooks-TLC

A recent announcement by state Gov. Kathy Hochul touting Kaleida’s partnership with regional hospitals, including Brooks-TLC in Dunkirk, is more positive news for the local facility that was struggling mightily four years ago. With $74 million in funding approved from Albany, there is a strong indication the timetable for building is on track. “This investment allows us to move forward with the previously announced plans to build a new Brooks-TLC Hospital System Inc., in Fredonia,” said Ken Morris, president and chief executive officer at Brooks-TLC. “Preliminary work is well ...

COMPTROLLER: Some balance on stress report

New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli issued a report last week noting that Fredonia Central Schools could be facing troubles in the coming months. According to the news release, the district is “susceptible to financial stress.” According to the Comptroller’s Office, “DiNapoli’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring System was designed to identify those school districts, counties, cities, towns and villages that are having difficulties with budgetary solvency, or the ability to generate enough revenue to meet expenses. School districts receive a fiscal stress score that is based on ...

DUNKIRK: ‘22 audit details path to a crisis

Give the city of Dunkirk credit for its transparency. Its 2022 audit, that gives insight into the worsening financial plight of the city, is available on its website at this address: https://cms9files.revize.com/dunkirkny/2022%20Audit.pdf What readers will find is a history that portrays a deteriorating bottom line that has led to the 84% property tax increase this year for city property owners. For instance, a fund balance that stood at $5.9 million in the plus in 2018 was underwater $101,000 by the end of 2020 — when COVID funding was coming in almost full throttle to ...

Presidency: Trump showing ambition at start

A “golden age,” one in which the United States of America can aim even higher than the moon, was proclaimed Monday during President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration speech. And while Elon Musk may have thrown his hands in the air to cheer the goal to “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars,” and “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars,” ordinary Americans were more likely to find a common reason to cheer in Trump’s promise to seek a broad government effort to reduce inflation and reduce prices. Though he must be careful to avoid the executive overreach that ...

BUFFALO BILLS: Having another shot at the Chiefs

For some Buffalo Bills fans, Sunday night cannot get here fast enough. At 6:30 p.m. that evening, the team that so many here attach their emotions to hopes to reach its fifth Super Bowl in franchise history. It will not be easy. Standing in the way is two-time defending champion Kansas City that has handled Buffalo all three previous meetings in the playoffs since 2021. This Bills’ team, however, seems different. It is much more cohesive, unselfish and rarely becomes rattled under the leadership of quarterback Josh Allen. That was not the case in previous years — that likely led ...