Breaking News

Opinion

Finding some time for Memorial Day

The OBSERVER’s View

Sadly enough, many Americans unintentionally will disrespect the true meaning and purpose of today's solemn national holiday. After all, ever since 1971 when Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be observed on the fourth Monday in May, for many, the holiday is simply the final day of a long weekend dedicated to the start of summer fun and frolic. For far too many of us, Memorial Day's primary purpose has been corrupted. The day has become a day to fire up that shiny new grill for outdoor barbecues, a day to catch some rays at the beach or simply a day off work to ...

Wetlands law challenge takes surprising turn

Commentary

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE—The court challenge to New York’s wetlands law has taken a surprising, fascinating turn. To understand this, let’s pick up where we left off six weeks ago. That’s when acting state Supreme Court Justice Richard Platkin struck down the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation’s, or DEC’s, wetlands regulations. * * * Such law can be devastating for Chautauqua County, particularly because of the impact on Chautauqua Lake. By increasing controls over what the DEC labels as wetlands, the law can turn Chautauqua Lake into a weed farm, hinder ...

Arkwright, county thrive on living in past

Editor's corner

Is it any wonder we continue to fail in looking to the future by maintaining our overabundance of government and schools in Western New York? Last week, one of the smallest municipalities in Chautauqua County actually had a gripe with a proposal to change the status of a highway superintendent ...

Piles and piles of paper piles

Commentary

Are you drowning in paper like I am? If the computer age was supposed to eliminate paper piles, it’s doing a lousy job. Yes, I know I am supposed to convert all my accounts to paperless – and for the most part, I have. My credit card statements are electronic. The insurance, the bank, gas bill, water bill and township sewer bill all arrive to my inbox monthly. Despite many tries, I have been unable to convince the Pennelec people that this is a convenient idea. When the mail comes each afternoon, a new pile arrives in our mailbox. Occasionally it’s just the newspaper and ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Art Trail helps boost county

The OBSERVER’s View

It is easy to get caught up in the downtrodden happenings in northern Chautauqua County in recent years. Fredonia has bad water. Dunkirk is out of money. Yes, local government has a long tradition of ignoring troubles until they arrive at the doorstep. On the other end of the spectrum is a more positive picture in the growing Art Trail, which takes place Saturday and Sunday as well as Labor Day weekend. As organizers noted in a news release this week, the Art Trail has become a meaningful economic driver for the region, attracting visitors from across New York state and neighboring ...

Many hands are dirty in slave history

Commentary

The United Nations General Assembly, that playground for dictators, terrorists and supporters of terrorists, on March 25 passed a resolution condemning the Transatlantic slave trade by a 123-3 vote with 52 spineless nations abstaining including Great Britain, France and Portugal, all of whom imported millions of slaves to their Caribbean and South American colonies. Three nations voted no including the U.S., Israel, and Argentina. The resolution declared the “transatlantic” slave trade was the “gravest crime” ever committed against humanity. The resolution ...