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Grateful for colors, season in October

Commentary

October is one of my favorite months. For several reasons. “The falling leaves drift by the window. The autumn leaves of red and gold.” (lyrics-Autumn Leaves) For the first couple of weeks of the month, I can’t wait to wake up, chow down the Frosted Flakes, swig a cup of Dunkin decaf and head outside. Everywhere I look, I see the collage created by Mother Nature. The fall air is crisp and cool as I walk the neighborhood. Kids are in school and save for the infrequent barking of the Goldendoodle down the block, it’s quiet. And I love quiet. The area is blessed with a few ...

Voting options change with the times

The OBSERVER’s View

How did the first Tuesday of November become the traditional Election Day? According to a Campaign Legal Center online article from 2021, Congress in 1845 selected the most convenient day to hold a vote for the greatest number of voters at the time — farmers. Saturdays and Sundays were religious days and Wednesdays were market days. Since farmers may have needed Monday to travel to a polling location, the first Tuesday after the fall harvest proved to be the most convenient day for most voters. Times have obviously changed, which led to early voting beginning in New York state in ...

The OBSERVER’s View: ‘No’ votes prove lack of understanding

The OBSERVER’s View

Last week’s narrow decision to increase water rates once again shows the lack of understanding by Dunkirk Common Council regarding the poor fiscal shape the city is in. By a 3-2 vote, members did approve the hike though it should have been unanimous. Those who opposed the increase — Natalie Luczkowiak and Michael Civiletto — were deciding with their hearts, not wanting to pass on the costs to residents. But that type of leadership in recent years is part of what put Dunkirk on the brink at the present moment. Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury claims the city ...

It’s all downhill from here

Commentary

When I sit down at the end of the day and look out upon Chautauqua Lake, it reminds me of the colloquialism that “it is all downhill from here.” That is, the water that I am looking at is flowing south toward the Allegheny River, then the Ohio and finally down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico (now called by some the Gulf of America.) In further reflection, this phrase about going downhill could also describe me at my age... but I resist that description. Getting old is not so much about going “downhill” as it is about being on “cruise control.” It doesn’t take much ...

‘Cheap stunt’ with execution plans

Peoples column

Editor, OBSERVER: Self-proclaimed "Secretary of War" Pete Hegseth's announcement of plans to livestream the military execution of Nidal Hassan by firing squad on Dec. 3 is a cheap stunt to provoke outraged attention to his ongoing macho posturing, since there are legal obstacles, despite Trump's personal endorsement, to carrying out such a disgusting spectacle. In addition to presidential approval, military executions require appellate review before they can occur. This has yet to happen and is unlikely to be concluded by Dec. 3, according to John Mills, an attorney who works with ...

Big, Beautiful Brainchild transcends borders

Commentary

I have an idea. It's a Big, Beautiful Brainchild, actually. Maybe the greatest idea I have ever had. It will help every citizen of our great nation. I am surprised that the smartest, most creative and articulate president in the history of our country didn’t think of it first. Perhaps he has but just hasn’t mentioned it? President Trump doesn’t seem to have a filter on his thoughts or his speech. If he did think of this idea first, I am sure it would have spewed from his lips at some point. The president does have nice lips. I hear people say it all the time. “Mr. President, ...