Some may call it “Living at the time of the Walton’s.” I call it “Living now in our small town.” And this is the way it is ... Nothing embodies America more than the sedate settings of small towns across America. Indeed, Western New York is fortunate to have a rich variety of small ...

There is a lot of precedent for governments to own and operate hospitals and other medical facilities. For example, there were TB hospitals in Perrysburg and Cassadaga and the state psychiatric hospital in Gowanda. There are also state-operated group homes located in many places in our ...

I’ve been dreading writing this column. We’ve already been saturated with all the news there could be about the virus that has engulfed our every waking moment. I really wish there was another current topic to address, but everything right now hinges on the virus; its symptoms, its ...

I always thought it was a colloquialism. Once I head the term at all. Or does it truly resonate all the way back to my childhood? I don’t remember any amphibians in North Platte — just sand in that part of Nebraska. I fear California was too densely populated to encourage much of ...

There are several things that concern me as our nation’s does battle with the COVID-19 virus. I begin by quoting John Podhoretz, editor of Commentary Magazine who said that “…. I am by nature both an optimist and an anti-alarmist. My usual reaction to warnings about dangers is a deep ...

On Sunday, March 8, Gary Wayne Ruff sat at a card table with Kelly Brown, Devin McDonald, Lyle Aney and myself, enjoying an afternoon game of poker. As usual, he never folded. And as usual, a good time was had by all. This past Thursday, March 26, he died from the coronavirus. He was 73. ...

I write to update you on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On Sunday, I extended our “New York on PAUSE” policy until April 15. That means non-essential businesses and schools will continue to stay closed. Gatherings of any size for any reason remain canceled and all New Yorkers ...

A recent article in the OBSERVER was headlined, “Food stamp change fuels anxiety as states try to curb impact.” The article stated, “Having food stamps offers Richard Butler a stability he has rarely known in his 25 years. He was a state custody case at age 2, spent his teen years at a ...

Thousands of college students across the nation have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Students were left campuses feeling panicked after the decision was made to switch to online classes. For many, this decision also meant returning home for the remainder of the semester. This ...

First, I want to congratulate Coach Ken Ricker and the Dunkirk Lady Marauders for a spectacular 24-1 season. It’s a shame their season was cut short with three games to go for the “States.” These girls were a pleasure to watch play. Most fans have no idea as to the kind of shape men or ...

The New York State Legislature should promote skilled end-of-life care rather than focusing on ending life prematurely. The International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care recently published (Journal of Palliative Medicine 2017; 20:8-13) a studied position statement (Journal of ...

Only God knows how long we will continue in our presence situation. We already have faced cancelled plans, interrupted routines and the curtailing of much social interaction. At the worst we are hearing we may be dealing with the virus threat for months. Even in that time our situation is going ...

Small Black Furry sits next to me. “You continue to write about that annoying dog. When do I get a column? You know,” she sniffs, “when you aren’t looking” (oh, but I was!) “dog barks at me and, yes, even chases me. Oh, well, I do run and mostly hiss but she couldn’t catch me ...

In this, the third installment of our vignette, Janet had left her second session more empowered. She had allowed months to pass without much dialogue with Jarrett, her spouse. Noting his uncharacteristic behaviors, including late night arrivals, continuation of daytime work on weekends, and ...

Why did they name it the coronavirus? The meaning of a corona is first and foremost a crown, at least that’s the first definition of it in my Webster’s dictionary. It makes one wonder why they have called this new illness a coronavirus. I suppose the greatest danger we have in the modern ...

You can take the boy out of the country, but you cannot take the country out of the boy. That was true back in the days of my youth in the ’30s and ’40s, and I believe it is still true today. One thing I learned back then, and it is still relevant, listening to others and reading what ...

On the evening of Jan. 15, the Sinclairville area sustained a tragic loss with the passing of Jack Abbey, the result of a highway mishap. Mr. Abbey, 64, was a well known local character, greatly respected and well loved by most of those fortunate enough to have made his acquaintance. Much ...

As a community and a nation, we come together in times of crisis. Ironically, when it comes to COVID-19, our unification is best done in a metaphorical rather than literal sense. In that spirit of unity, I ask that everyone in the community reflect on the brave men and women of law ...

COVID19. Coronavirus. Pandemic. Novel coronavirus. Social distancing. Aren’t you tired of hearing about the latest effort from Mother Nature to eliminate us from the planet? Me too. Let’s talk about something else. I miss my morning coffee with friends at Meeder’s Restaurant. I miss ...

There are many stimulus plans floating around Washington. Two notable ones are from Bernie Sanders and Mitch McConnell. Sanders wants a direct payment of $2,000 for each person in the country. He points out that the people who have the least resources need the most help. He also says that ...