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Opinion

New York State: Gambling debate far from over

The OBSERVER’s View

More than $2 billion a month is spent on sports betting in New York state - including a record $2.64 billion in October 2025. Needless to say there was pent-up demand when state legislators approved online sports betting back in 2022. And, let’s be honest, the state was looking for a new revenue stream to pay for new programs. It was a match made in heaven. But the longer we go down the road with mobile sports betting the more some legislators are having second thoughts. It’s obvious that, in their zeal for new money to spend and the cacophony of people pushing for mobile ...

Heroic recognition during a season of giving

Commentary

The month of December throughout our nation’s history has been a very active time for our military. We all know about the Day That Lives in Infamy, when the Japanese, unprovoked, attacked the islands of Hawaii decimating the Pacific Fleet of our Navy. We know about the siege of Bastogne in the European theater of WWII that lasted many days and showed the true tenacity of the American soldier, holding off overwhelming German forces in what became known as the Battle of the Bulge. During the Korean War, Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Davis against a superior Force led his Marine Battalion ...

Industry needs a diverse energy strategy

Commentary

Editor, OBSERVER: For manufacturers across New York, abundant and reliable energy is not a luxury or a choice. Around the clock power, 365 days a year, drives daily operations, keeps us competitive and allows us to grow our workforce and continue investing in communities. This is why we strongly support an all-of-the-above approach to energy policy—one that embraces natural gas, nuclear energy, emerging clean technologies, and above all, the core principles of affordability and reliability. This approach is critical now more than ever. New York’s energy systems are facing ...

EDUCATION Toughen penalties for sex crimes

The OBSERVER’s View

Twice in less than two months, area teachers have been accused of inappropriate conduct with students. First came news that the Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education was aware of claims against a current staff member accused of inappropriate behavior. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, a Pine Valley teacher and coach was charged with charged with third-degree sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. Slisz turned himself in at the Chautauqua County Jail for central arraignment. He is to answer the charges in the Town of Cherry Creek ...

Hochul secures victory for voter lists

Peoples column

Editor, OBSERVER: Thank you, Gov. Kathy Hochul for signing the ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center) bill (S1356A/A3649B). This bill allows New York State to join ERIC, a multistate collaboration to help maintain voter lists. It will strengthen voter protection, election integrity, and efficiency in our state. ERIC is a nonpartisan collaboration of many states to maintain our voter roles. It has been proven to be secure, to help identify those who move, duplicate registrations and those who are deceased. It is set up to prevent wrongful purges and promote civic ...

Years of fulfilling Christmas dreams

Commentary

Marcy’s vacation week offers a holiday column excerpted from her book, Rounding Third … originally from 2006. Christmastime is pure nostalgia. Many of my holiday memories began with our children’s arrival. I will never forget the total exhaustion of falling into bed after filling the last stocking and cleaning up the toy construction evidence. The elves who visited our house weren’t super handy or organized. Depending on how successful last-minute wrapping and battery searches were, bedtime followed – during a lucky year at 2:00am. Often much later. I never felt as stringy ...