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Opinion

Our view: Hefty reserves disregard taxpayers

The OBSERVER’s View

We have complained for years about more than $30 million in reserves for Chautauqua County. Pine Valley Central Schools is even more guilty. In recent years, Pine Valley built its unassigned fund balance to roughly 30% of the succeeding year’s budget — dramatically higher than surrounding ...

It’s a lot less wild while in captivity

Commentary

Imagine hundreds of people watching your every move and wanting you to get up and do something entertaining. The constant noise of screaming, crying, chattering. Wanting to just hide from it all but there is no place to go. You’re stuck behind the glass. Being a caged animal means your life ...

Our view: Not Fred Fest gets less rowdy

The OBSERVER’s View

Village of Fredonia officials deserve some praise for their efforts regarding the notorious Not Fred Fest. Earlier this month, the party hearty weekend was nothing like previous editions. In a news release issued last week, Fredonia police noted they handled 163 incidents and made 37 arrests. ...

People’s column: Decisiveness of Trump angers many

Peoples column

Editor, OBSERVER: There are many people who won't like this. Perhaps Donald Trump is hated because he solves problems that others need to keep existing. Think about it for a moment, Trump is not a traditional politician. He is a businessman who came to the White House thinking like a ...

Oil is not found everywhere

Commentary

The United States, by our action in starting a war with Iran, sparked a blockade at the Strait of Hormuz. We followed by starting our own naval blockade and since then oil prices have jumped to $100 per barrel. Many are asking: “Why?” Why did we start this war, but, also, why is the price ...

Our view: Shock waves continue in energy policy

The OBSERVER’s View

Republicans and Democrats are like two ships passing in the night when it comes to New York’s energy policy. Both ships are in shallow water with a rocky bottom. In this analogy, that makes the state Independent System Operator a lighthouse trying to illuminate the darkness to allow the ...