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Opinion

Encouraging news from south county

The OBSERVER’s View

We are encouraged by the news that Carroll and Kiantone are creating a committee to examine additional shared services between the towns. It's early, and we don't know where these discussions will go in the future, but for now the fact that the towns are brainstorming more ways to collaborate is a positive development. Something Tim Burkett, Carroll town supervisor, said during the August Carroll Town Board meeting is worth examining as we look for more ways to provide better services and save taxpayers money. Burkett said it makes sense for the two towns to share services since many ...

Oh Canada, we are sorry

Commentary

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, as American forces stormed Omaha Beach at a cost of 2,800 lives, our Canadian neighbors and friends stormed Juno Beach at a cost of 381 lives. (Our population in 1944 was 130,000,000, more than 10 times Canada’s 12,000,000). Canadians served alongside our armed forces in Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Iraq, and in Afghanistan after the 9-11 attack on our Country. Until Donald Trump became President and treated Canada with no respect, as a non-nation that should be our 51st State, as something to be punished with punitive tariffs, ...

Still not ready to jump on 'brand'-wagon

Commentary

Brand. Algorithms. Influencer. Viral. These words make me cringe every time I hear them. The concept of “brand” imposed itself on me recently. In an effort to promote my substack page, “Howard’s Hues,” I paid a consultant (a real person) a couple hundred bucks for a half-hour live video session. It seemed like a good investment if I was to ever reach a wider audience and make some money from my writing. The woman seemed very knowledgeable regarding the marketing process, and, having skimmed through a couple of my essays, she appeared enthusiastic about Howard’s Hues and its ...

An easy to follow formula for Fredonia’s NCWD project

Commentary

Some concerning statements were quoted in the front page OBSERVER article of Sept. 15, "District in red, open to talks with the city." North County Water District Chairman Dan Pacos was quoted as saying that the NCWD has lost $150k in the fiscal year through August. Pacos was also quoted questioning SUNY Professor Peter Reinelt’s formula for calculating the water rates that Dunkirk charges the NCWD and that are then up-charged to water customers. This is not the first time that Pacos has questioned Reinelt’s calculations and cautioned that having a sole individual calculating water ...

Relationships, love can impact 'recovery'

Commentary

In his book, “The Road Less Traveled,” Scott Peck defines love as “The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” He also states, “Love is the energy force for discipline.” During the 30-plus years that I was a chemical dependency counselor, the single greatest cause of relapses for clients was irrational relationships. Self-love also includes love for another. Since I am human and you are human, to love means to love myself as well as you. Some people may love their pets, but are incapable of showing the same kind ...

Town business proves its partnership

The OBSERVER’s View

It is not often that area residents see community improvements from agreements with the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency. While the businesses and employees remain inside the building — with maybe a bit of an expansion, it is often rare there is a trade-off. In the town of Dunkirk, that is exactly the case. Thanks to Supervisor Shari Miller voicing her objections to an Americold exemption agreement on behalf of herself as well as other members of the Town Board, the company is stepping up its contributions. "Since Americold has been in their location, we've had ...