Fredonia Trustee Jon Espersen has resigned. “The real question is, why did it take me that long,” he cracked when the OBSERVER asked him Thursday why he did it. “It’s not just one thing, it’s a culmination of many things. The constant negativity— I dreaded going to meetings. I ...

A major Dunkirk project has received high honors for the New York State Economic Development Council Wells Enterprises expansion project has been named the council's 2026 Project of the Year. The announcement was made this week during the 2026 Annual Meeting in Cooperstown. The Project of ...

Simply closing one bridge has become a big problem in the town of Dunkirk. Despite detour signs all throughout the region, drivers just can’t seem to follow directions. The closure of the bridge over Canadaway Creek along Route 5 came with a detour to funnel heavy truck traffic to Route ...

Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson confirmed this week he will ask the Board of Trustees to suspend the public’s ability to comment at its meetings, starting at its next meeting. One trustee came out against it. “I will not vote to eliminate public comment at village board meetings,” ...

State Sen. George Borrello says legislation that has passed the state Senate will do too much to hurt brick-and-mortar retail stores at the expense of online competitors. The Senate recently passed a bill (S.8616) that will prohibit food and drug retail establishments from engaging in ...

Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz said Tuesday she will no longer attend Common Council meetings. Wdowiasz suggested Wednesday she might call her own city meetings. The council bid her farewell with an executive session focusing on the finances behind her lawsuit against former city dog officer ...