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What made the USA great

I loved the Fourth. I mean, as an 11-year-old back in those halcyon days of the ‘50’s, who wouldn’t have? Up in the morn, gobbling down Corn Flakes, running down Skinner to the park, joining the guys and excitedly heading up the street to take in the parade. We settled down on the corner of Main and Mary, reveling at the beauty of the drum majorettes leading the high school band resplendent in purple and white uniforms. Then came amarchin the Military Band in its gray wool “unies” in the 90-degree heat, followed by floats, fire trucks, other marching groups and, our ...

Lack of transparency, honesty in crisis

At the June 17 meeting of the Dunkirk Common Council, City Attorney Elliot Raimondo was quoted in the OBSERVER as saying, “Obviously, this city does not have money for the $13.6 million.” He was referring to the Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN) taken out by the city in 2024 that is due on July 24 of this year. What is troubling about Mr. Raimondo’s statement — that it’s “obvious” the city cannot meet the obligation — is that it conflicts with what he and Mayor Kate Wdowiasz had relayed to me and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor just a couple of weeks earlier, on May 30. The ...

Thirst for power is putting lives in peril

Two million people are slowly starving to death in Gaza. There are 500,000 in immediate danger of death. The Israelis are not allowing enough food in. They have cut off the water supply. They are shooting at people looking for food. Before the war 500 trucks a day were delivering food to Gaza. Now it’s less than 100. As people die their relatives in other parts of the world are becoming increasingly desperate. Lone wolf attacks will become more frequent. There is no way to prepare for someone losing their mind with grief. All of our interests all over the world are at risk. Bombing ...

County history this week

June 29 — 1930 – The Goodyear Blimp Defender landed at Celoron Park and Jamestown, offering rides to the public. — 2001 – Empire Specialty Steel in Dunkirk closed. — 2003 – The first performance was held on Bemus Point’s floating stage. June 30 — 1802 – The Senecas sold their Canadaway Reservation, a strip along Lake Erie from Canadaway Creek to Cattaraugus Creek. — 1825 – The Dewittsville (now Dewittville) post office was established. — 1841 – The first photograph in Chautauqua County was taken in Fredonia. — 1887 – An elephant escaped at ...

Speaker sees political realignment

CHAUTAUQUA - Alaskans understandably cherish summer months, when days are warm and long, much longer than elsewhere in the country. In fact, Kimberly Strassel, who lives near Anchorage, told audiences at Chautauqua Institution on June 23 and 24, that since moving to Alaska eight years ago, she has never left the state in June or July. The Wall Street Journal editorial-board member and weekly columnist light heartedly told those gathered at a reception at Chautauqua Institution on June 22 that she may never leave the state again in June or July. Yet she was happy to make an ...

Rounding Third: Surviving Mother Nature’s hot temper

It was 92 stifling degrees when I arrived home from lunch yesterday. Humidity was in the 80% range. As predicted. I hate this hot stuff. Fuggedaboudit. I know there are people who thrive in the heat. I’m happy for them, but I will never be one of them. Ever. I should have been born in Scotland – northern Scotland. My intolerance for heat must be hereditary. I would not have made a good Bedouin camel driver or Amazon rain forest guide. When my Scottish ancestors emigrated to North America, they didn’t settle in Charleston or Richmond – not even Boston. They landed in Canada, ...