In an age where there are all sorts of cure-alls on the Internet, Facebook, Twitter and other social media communications topics, one thought goes unaddressed: loneliness. During my 36 years in chemical dependency counseling and mental health work, loneliness goes unaddressed. There is no ...
COVID-19 is taking its most devastating hit on our region at this time. Twice within a seven-day span, capacity levels were so high at the Brooks-TLC Hospital System in Dunkirk that the Health Department had to issue a surge diversion. Simply put, that means the staff-to-patient ratio is at ...
Editor, OBSERVER: I read the letter, “We all need to accept the results” (Dec. 22) and, to say the least, I could not believe it. The writer said it does not make sense a challenger would be able to steal an election. He says accept the truth of the election, I suppose like they did ...
Editor, OBSERVER: I rely on your newspaper so much to inform me of the day’s and community ‘s happenings. But some news gets beyond my comprehension. This is especially true considering former President Donald Trump. When it was reported that he said that both sides of the ...
What positive achievements has the Dunkirk Common Council completed in the past year? I have asked myself, residents and other community members this question since November. I wanted to be sure I was not the only person who could not come up with a meaningful answer. One common answer I did ...
The power of the story of renewable energy is right there in the Dunkirk OBSERVER’s headline Jan. 14: “Cuomo pushing for more renewable energy to help economy, fight global warming.” Of course we must fight climate change, and yes, investment in renewable energy manufacturing and ...
Thirty years ago — 1991 Dunkirk native Norman Kubasik, who passed away Jan. 1, 1991, made some awesome accomplishments during his 48 years of life. The son of Jane Kubasik and sister of Patricia Sysol, both of Dunkirk, he was an internationally-known expert on immuno-chemistry and traveled ...
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy used his inaugural address as a time to ask Americans to look to the greater good. “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” Kennedy said in one of the most often quoted lines from ...
Suspecting its demise might be imminent, I feel it time to revisit my lemon plant. (Do I call it a tree? Or a bush? Or, simply, more accurately, a nuisance?) In spite of my usual superb record-keeping, I was unable to find anything on its origins. Oh, just looking in the wrong book: April 24, ...
Thirty years ago — 1991 Robert Smith, 18-year-old son of Harold and Lois Smith of Ellicott Road, Brocton has been chosen Student of the Week. He is extremely active in Brocton Central School activities, including National Honor Society, Student Council president, “Brocton Review,” ...
GOWANDA — Big names gathered outside the Gowanda Correctional Facility just days before Christmas. Only 24 hours earlier, state Gov. Andrew Cuomo let the bomb drop that has the potential to change the pulse in this community for years to come: the prison was slated for closure. Republicans, ...
Much has been made about the vaccination problems relating to COVID-19. There is no downplaying that. However, there has been a couple shining stars locally when it comes to getting the job done. Last week, both the Brooks-TLC Hospital System Inc. in Dunkirk and UPMC Chautauqua were mentioned ...
Make no mistake about it, the allegedly Independent Redistricting Commission approved by state voters back in 2014 is far from perfect. Republicans’ in that nearly decade-old negotiation wrote supermajority voting rules into the redistricting process that would give them the ability to ...
It’s an idea that is all about the dogs — and in the Gowanda Central School district it appears as though there could be many barking their support. A proposal for a therapy dog in the district was led by Gowanda Elementary School’s social worker, Carmen Muscarella, and school resource ...
All the creatures on earth spend their lives foraging for food — unless they are domestically kept and fed — sleep, and breed in season. Only humans have the capacity to worry or plan for tomorrow, to understand their situation, and govern their activities beyond the few mentioned above. ...
In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the local Juneteenth committee decided that even if a luncheon could not be held to remember and celebrate a legacy it could do something just as significant: offer its assistance to the community. Due to COVID-19, the annual King day luncheon that ...
Today is a day to celebrate a great man. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of vision and who lived each day knowing that in order to affect change, one must be willing to change as well. Dr. King said, “change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous ...
We hear much about the US Supreme Court these days. The under-girding purpose of the American judiciary is to interpret the laws of the land in light of their constitutionality. This underlying function is vital to the maintenance of our Republic and to sustain the blessings of liberty to ...
Thirty years ago — 1991 Student of the Week is Kris Kozlowski, 17, a senior at Pine Valley Central School. He is the son of Jeffrey Kozlowski of Dayton and Barbara Kozlowski of Leon. The National Honor Society president, Kris is also president of his senior class. He was a Boys State ...
Judging from the most recent Fredonia Village Board meeting, there is a definite divide among trustees and Mayor Doug Essek. Adding to this current problem is the lack of two representatives on the board as well as the growing amount of major issues that face the municipality. At this ...