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History not on side of potential peace

The Ukrainian Russian War will be difficult to bring to an end. When Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered up to 200,000 soldiers into Ukraine, his aim was to sweep into the capital, Kyiv, in days, overthrow its pro-Western government and return Ukraine to Russia’s sphere of influence. Putin failed but, more than three years later, a fifth of Ukrainian territory is in Russian hands. Ukraine’s deep seated animosity toward Russia is rooted in a long and complex history of conflict, territorial disputes, and cultural clashes. Particularly during the reign of Catherine the Great, ...

Brilliance in the Constitution

It seems that the most spirited debate over certain laws is always happening. Even the simplest of writings that outline the desires of freedom are constantly questioned. The men who penned such documents I believe did so to identify in black and white just what was right or wrong. To me there was no reason for interpretation. It was written and that was that. But in the modern-day, fancy attorneys scoop the money in by the barrel to try and interpret just what a man over 230 years older than themselves meant when they put the ink to parchment. They devise loopholes in the ...

A barbecue in the backyard

I read someplace, a long time ago, that this phrase was once used by former General and President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, in describing who an American was. Ike is purported to have said something along the line that: “Americans are people who enjoy having a barbecue in their own backyard.” It sounds a bit “hoaky,” but I can envision him saying it, and it really does say a lot about who we are. We like our free time and are good at having fun doing it. Whether you are at a ball game, out on your boat on the lake, or sitting down in the backyard having a ...

Fredonia still dry on water resolutions

According to the OBSERVER, certain resolutions and commitments will be made by the Fredonia Board of Trustees on Sept. 10 concerning the Village of Fredonia water system and the possible closing of the Village reservoir. Any proposed resolution concerning the source of Village water and potentially closing the reservoir is of critical importance to the public and to the well-being of Fredonia. There have been public meetings in the past with the village engineers regarding the village water system and possible alternatives. However, no definitive conclusion has been made. The Village ...

Deficiencies trouble village system

On Feb. 18, the Chautauqua County Health Department transmitted a correspondence to the Fredonia water committee. It regarded the village water supply assessment. The department conducted a site inspection of our village water treatment plant just prior to that date. The inspection is based upon state Department of Health sanitary standards and codes. Therefore, the status and health of our existing village water treatment plant and reservoir are evaluated against these standards. I thoroughly reviewed it again last weekend and quickly realized I must communicate the key ...

City marina operator is making it work

I followed with anger the series of articles in the Dunkirk OBSERVER in recent weeks regarding the city-owned marina in Dunkirk. The article quoted Vince DeJoy, city development and planning director, who indicated that the city is continuing its Main Street grant of $2 million to improve the marina, but did not inform the present operators, Pete Smith and his family, of the city’s intended operator. Smith and his family have maintained the Marina, and continue to serve the boat clients and have made their lease payments to the city on time. What I can’t understand is why ...