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The OBSERVER’s View

The OBSERVER’s View

For three years, Chautauqua County Legislature Democrats have called for reducing the budget surplus — that totals more than $30 million — by $2 million. Since they are the minority party, they have failed because Republicans have not once backed the idea. Considering the most recent meeting last week, that could be changing. Though a vote to give back the $2 million failed, there were Republican legislators who began to speak out about reducing the slush fund. Most notably, Legislator Fred Johnson of Westfield mentioned giving back some $15 million to $20 million. What’s most ...

We’re allowed to hate Trump’s choices

Commentary

A recent writer (Aug.10) asks what President Trump does that Democrats hate. Hate is a strong word, and we’re enjoined to hate the sin but love the sinner. I can’t pretend to love Donald J. Trump, but I don’t hate him or his minions. Many people confused “The Apprentice” with actual life, and the confusion haunts us today. “The Apprentice” was entertainment, made for TV. The show was a gig for a skilled showman like Trump, a godsend as his hotels and casinos floundered. The show was a financial lifeline for Trump, who’d been failing in business for years. (Check out ...

Comments regarding grid seem short-circuited

Commentary

The Editor’s corner by John D’Agostino of August 14 on renewables jolting electric costs was full of misinformation and contradictions. You mentioned that we shuttered “clean burning coal plants.” There is no such thing as clean burning coal, never was. That misrepresentation alone shot your credibility early on. You then jump to the environmental transformation of Lake Erie brought on by the shuttering of “clean burning coal plants” and other industrial facilities that turned the lake (and the land surrounding it) into a toxic waste dump. So is cleaning up polluting ...

People's column

Peoples column

Editor, OBSERVER: It is difficult to comprehend what is happening and why it is happening. Uri Bezmenov, a KGB defector, was amazingly prophetic in describing the current playbook during a 1984 interview. Intellectuals, journalists and educators are led to believe that they will be the leaders in a new order but they never achieve that goal. History has shown that these people end up as prisoners instead of powerful. Students taught by leftist disciples are indoctrinated into beliefs contrary to American values. These people, as Lenin put it, are “useful idiots.” Those that ...

The OBSERVER’s View

The OBSERVER’s View

In March, intense rains doomed the Fredonia water system for the 10th time in 37 months forcing a boil-water order. Last week was a very different result. After heavy downpours on the morning of Aug. 23 and throughout the day, Canadaway Creek was rising quickly after more than 4 inches of lake-effect rain in 24 hours. Fortunately for users, there were no troubles with the village water system. That is a good thing. It shows the efforts by trustees, specifically Paul Wandel, have led to improvements at the archaic and troubled plant. In June, Wandel mentioned the much needed ...

250th anniversary of the United States a big deal

Commentary

As it should be, a lot has been made this year of the 250th anniversary (birthday) of our country. It is a time to reflect back on what it has taken to bring us to where we are today. One of my siblings reminded me that, in fact, we have been alive for about 1/3rd of that time -- just think about it. If you divide 250 by three ... you get my age! Either I am very old or the country is very young -- and both are true. It made me reflect back upon conversations with my father. He told us that in discussions he had with his grandfather, that his grandfather described working all winter ...