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Opinion

COUNTY: Making investment in Comedy Center

The OBSERVER’s View

There are going to be some who will be upset if the Chautauqua County Legislature approves a $200,000 allocation to the National Comedy Center when the legislature meets Wednesday. We understand the concerns. Millions of government dollars have been given to help build the center, and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given – largely from the state and federal governments – to help market the center and sustain it during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are some who will say the National Comedy Center shouldn’t get more local government money given the needs facing the ...

Big time sports on our big screen

Commentary

The Masters Golf Tournament this year was a doozy. For us golf junkies, the Big Kahuna of the season’s contests was incredibly exciting, especially for Rory McIlroy fans. I joined that fan club about 17 years ago when he was a new name on the PGA Tour. Rory (he lets me call him by his first name) is an up-from-childhood player like Tiger Woods. His dad bought him plastic clubs at age two and he never stopped swinging. I didn’t realize until recently that he was an only child born to working-class parents. Both of them worked second jobs, hardly seeing each other, so their boy ...

Trump, pope have different callings

Commentary

The war of words, which some describe as “trolling,” between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV boils down to this: They are very different men with different missions. Leo is the spiritual leader, the chief teacher, pastor and administrative head of 1.4 billion Catholics. He has made peace his top priority, calling it a “moral calling” rooted in human fraternity, justice, and humility, particularly in the Middle East. Trump is the President of 330 million Americans. His mission as president centers on an “America First” agenda, aiming to restore economic ...

Fredonia referendum is likely illegal

Commentary

I am responding to the Editor’s corner “Village vote can ice water debate” on April 17 by John D’Agostino. First I would point out that my experience is as a town attorney, not a village attorney, not a city attorney. Second, other than referring to at hand materials, and brief search using Google Scholar, I have not updated nor researched this at any length. Third, this is a preliminary informal communication, and to no extent constitutes a legal opinion or advice or representation of any involved party, and certainly no final comprehensive discussion, and no final ...

SUNY FREDONIA: Recital offers thanks for support

The OBSERVER’s View

During his time at the State University of New York at Fredonia, Lucas West has been right at home. The Fairport native, noting his senior year, has had his share of accomplishments in recent years. From singing the national anthem at Buffalo Bills’ games to his recent performance in “The Voice,” West has embraced Chautauqua County. Tonight, he says, is one more important event. West will hold his Senior Recital at 6 p.m. at SUNY Fredonia’s Rosch Recital Hall. He will be performing a series of songs for the audience in what will likely be a farewell performance to ...

EARTH DAY: Best practices for environment

The OBSERVER’s View

For more than half a century, the United States has been celebrating Earth Day. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it was in the spring of 1970, Sen. Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to force legal and regulatory mechanisms to protect our natural world. Today, our environment is consistently at the center of attention when it comes to the use of water, recycling and energy. As part of Earth Day, which is celebrated Wednesday, the EPA recommends ways residents can lower their carbon footprint. Those include: bike or walk; carpool or take public transportation; ...