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The continuing importance of public education

Commentary

Recently, a friend gave me a book, “Sketches of the History of Chautauque County” written by Emory F. Warren and published in 1846. It traces the earliest history of our county including the establishment of school districts. Each school constituted a district. In 1835 the New York state Legislature passed a law to provide funding for books in school libraries around the state. “School District Libraries have thus become objects of profit and a just pride to all,” wrote Mr. Warren. “The choicest productions in literature and science are placed in the hands of every person who ...

People's column

Peoples column

Lack of answers in water commentary Editor, OBSERVER: Trustee Paul Wandel's recent commentary (Oct. 3-4) provides a notable case study in the deployment of self-aggrandizing trite platitudes within localized political discourse. By attempting to map the individual, athletic variables of marathon endurance onto the institutional, financial, and legal complexities of a multi-million dollar municipal water infrastructure project, the text constructs a fundamentally flawed parallel. This reliance on recycled idiomatic tropes — “such as crossing the finish line” — functions ...

October awareness campaign worth attention

The OBSERVER’s View

Throughout this month, there are a number of events and initiatives to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with the illness during their lifetime. That number is far too high. It is why the National Football League continues to annually team with the American Cancer Society. Crucial Catch helps more people catch cancer early, and addresses the unequal burden of cancer in under-resourced communities.Since 2009, Crucial Catch has raised more than $38 million reaching  over 2.7 ...

We need a new generation of community leaders

Commentary

From an early age, my father taught me the importance of giving back. As a postman in our city for nearly 30 years, he saw the needs of our community that often went unnoticed—from seniors living in isolation to families waiting for housing support. He taught my brother and I that community isn’t something we simply live in; it’s something we help build. One of my earliest memories is accompanying my dad alongside an older gentleman he had befriended while delivering mail to Heritage Village. The man had no family in the area, no real connections outside of the group home he ...

Best foot forward to help needy

The OBSERVER’s View

One of the most highly requested items by people in need and the homeless are foot attire, specifically socks. Once again, SOCKTOBER — a month-long sock drive that collects warm new socks for distribution to individuals and families is underway. The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, in collaboration with Cattaraugus County Bank in Dunkirk and Lake Shore Savings Bank in Dunkirk, Fredonia, and Westfield branches, will accept sock donations. In addition, other drop-off locations, including individual classrooms, clubs, businesses, and congregations, continue to participate in ...

Taking a road trip back in recalling the game of Slug Bug

Commentary

Who remembers playing Slug Bug during long car rides or school bus field trips as kids? Some people called the game Punch Bug. As a fan of alliteration and rhyme, as most youngsters still are, I always referred to the contest as Slug Bug. Pretty simple game. The first person to see a Volkswagen Bug calls out Slug Bug and has free reign to punch the person sitting next to them in the vehicle. This silly game passed the time during long car and bus rides much like singing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall or the more genteel The Wheels on Bus did. Unless a fight broke out, parents and ...