×

Opinion

Laughter is the music of large families

Commentary

Large families always made me jealous. I felt that I was on the outside, looking in. I was a happy only child, but life was quiet. Those laughing clusters of brothers and sisters looked like so much fun. Warm and cozy. Just recently I chatted with two friends who grew up in large families. At ...

County history today

Community News

Sept. 19: — 1858 — A controversial speech on women’s rights and the abolition of family and marriage drew a crowd of 5,000 in Kiantone. — -1865 — George Pullman, born in Brocton, was awarded a patent for his revolutionary folding upper berth, transforming rail travel. — ...

FREDONIA Ringing approval with phone limits

The OBSERVER’s View

It is still early, but the results are encouraging — at least at the Fredonia Central School district. During a board meeting this month, High School Principal Darrin Paschke noted how he was “pleasantly surprised” by how the students were coping with cell-phone restrictions. Paschke ...

Reflecting on a birthday milestone

Commentary

My mother always reminded me that I was born on a lucky number — 11. Sept. 11, 1942. And for a very long time I thought she was right. But since that fateful day in 2001, I am reticent to mention, much less observe, my birthday. Over the past few years when I visit doctors’ offices, and ...

County history today

Community News

Sept. 18: — 1925 — The Busti Board established a lighting district, bringing electric service to the hamlet of Busti. — 2006 — The Dalai Lama of Tibet began a three-day visit to Buffalo, his nearest approach to Chautauqua County.

CPS must focus on quality, not levels

The OBSERVER’s View

It’s good to hear that staffing levels are improving in the county Child Protective Services Department and that caseworkers are handling normal caseloads. But, as we’ve said in this space before, making employees’ lives easier is only half of the battle when it comes to CPS oversight. ...