Loneliness can be a real struggle

January 25, 2026

Before I get to this month’s topic, I want to congratulate two fine high school basketball programs, Dunkirk and Fredonia. I attended the Dunkirk-Fredonia basketball game this month at Dunkirk and was impressed by the effort given by both teams. Coach Vince Lombardi used to state, “the will to win, and the will to excel, they endure. They are more important than any event that occasions them (winning and losing).” This game, because of the rivalry, was an old school throwback to teams playing together and not caring who gets the credit, only looking at success. When teams play up ...

Nothing is ever as simple as 1+1

January 25, 2026

I am enjoying filling in for my good friend and former colleague Pete Howard as he takes a little break from writing his weekly column. I want to thank Pedro and the OBSERVER for giving me the space to share my thoughts and musings in writing. Pete sometimes consults with me on his columns, asking if people might miss the intended humor or find his writing offensive. The truth is, no matter what a journalist writes about, in the contentious nature of our times, a columnist always runs the risk of offending someone. Even a scribe writing about something as black and white as mathematics. ...

‘Santa Paws’ effort helps county’s humane societies

January 25, 2026

Area shelters, and the animals they support, received a boost from The Resource Center again this holiday season through TRC’s “Santa Paws” initiative. Spearheaded by Joe Popielarz and his colleagues in TRC’s information technology department, Santa Paws debuted in 2023 to collect ...

Club hears history of India temple

January 25, 2026

The 10th regular meeting of the 2025-26 season of the Fredonia Shakespeare Club was hosted at the home of Mary Jane Covley Walker. President Karin Cockram welcomed members to the meeting. After a brief business meeting concluded, a paper by Covley Walker was presented on the Mamallapuram ...

Top Brocton students highlighted

January 25, 2026

Brocton Elementary School recognized students who were chosen as Students of the Month representing grades K-5. These students demonstrated the character trait of Kindness/Caring on a consistent basis. At top is the November students. Below are the December students.

Intermediate students honored

January 25, 2026

Dunkirk Intermediate School Students of the Month for December were announced. They include: Diangelys Rodriguez, Ethan Cave, Tristan Correa, Kashous-Kyri Santiago, Mousa Mahbas, Natalie Reyes, Genesis Negron Negron, Darianna Pena-Sanchez, Asa Watts Victoria Torres, Bryson Honaker, Alexander ...