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The OBSERVER’s View

COUNTY: Oversight missing in canceled meeting

The Chautauqua County Legislature’s Planning and Economic Development Committee won’t hold its regularly scheduled meeting this week. There is apparently nothing for legislators to do. We find it hard to believe that, absent delegated work from the County Executive’s office, there is nothing regarding planning or economic development activities for legislators to do. Quite the opposite, the lack of agenda items is an opportune time for county legislators to discuss any number of topics. Among them: how effective do legislators think the bed tax spending not reserved for ...

COUNTY: Overlooking real bridge issues

More than a week ago everyone was talking about a social media post that raised concerns, once again, about safety of the Veterans Memorial Bridge across Chautauqua Lake. It’s a story The Post-Journal first reported months ago. State Transportation Department officials reassured officials in Bemus Point the bridge is safe to use after our reporting on the matter, and they did so again early this week in an attempt to put out fires on social media. The Veterans Memorial Bridge project bears watching. As we said a couple of months ago, though, we have to take the state at their ...

WESTFIELD SCHOOL: Numbers back post elimination

Westfield Academy & Central School’s decision to eliminate a teaching position was not a popular move in the spring with some. But it was responsible. Last month, two second-grade teachers attended a board meeting in an effort to get the district to reconsider not replacing the position held by Samantha Eklund. She resigned her position as of June. In order to keep taxes down, the board decided it would be better to not fill the position — rather than add it back. Superintendent Michael Cipolla indicates the numbers correspond with the choice. “As of today, the two sections ...

NATION: Holidays crucial to our healing

Although much of the national attention is ­– and will continue to be — focused on developments related to the Nov. 5 presidential election, the world beyond the political front is far from being in slumber mode. For example, on the retail front, merchants are not sitting back, intent on waiting until after Halloween to make important decisions associated with the busy Christmas shopping season. Many merchants already are “knee deep” in planning for the products with which their shelves will be stocked in the weeks leading up to Dec. 25. Also on their mind and capturing ...

Bridge work DOT’s response is accountable

We have to agree with state Sen. George Borrello when it comes to the Chautauqua County Veterans Memorial Bridge. After a statement by the state Department of Transportation earlier this week regarding the safety of the structure, Borrello noted his appreciation for the response. “Our office has been pressing the governor’s office and the New York state Department of Transportation to confirm the safety of the bridge that carries Interstate 86 over Chautauqua Lake as it undergoes construction work,” he said. “After an assessment, they have confirmed their position that it is ...

Bridge work: DOT’s response is accountable

We have to agree with state Sen. George Borrello when it comes to the Chautauqua County Veterans Memorial Bridge. After a statement by the state Department of Transportation earlier this week regarding the safety of the structure, Borrello noted his appreciation for the response. “Our office has been pressing the governor’s office and the New York state Department of Transportation to confirm the safety of the bridge that carries Interstate 86 over Chautauqua Lake as it undergoes construction work,” he said. “After an assessment, they have confirmed their position that it is ...