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Opinion

AUTUMN: Color us happy with the foliage

The OBSERVER’s View

Chautauqua County is at its peak, according to the I Love New York campaign. That reference speaks to the colors of fall, which have been spectacular in recent days. For travelers, it is a brilliant and beautiful ride through the region. But we’re not alone. “Peak colors will continue to ...

People’s column

Peoples column

Do not discount advances in BESS Editor, OBSERVER: In regard to the piece with the headline “BESS catastrophe can be prevented” that was published last month in the OBSERVER, I do have some concerns. First, the author writes about lithium ion BESS projects and their myriad dangers. ...

Beautiful Bill has some ugly outcomes

Commentary

During a recent Cabinet meeting, our president suggested rebranding his 900-page One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). A familiar movie from the 1960s, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” might be a suitable title: good for some, bad for others. For example, the bill makes permanent a provision ...

COUNTY: Will entities bite on funds to share?

The OBSERVER’s View

There’s a lot to County Executive PJ Wendel’s 2026 budget that should sound familiar to county residents. The county needs more money. It needs to increase the amount it’s taking from taxpayers even as the tax rate goes down by a nickel. We’ll spare you financial gloom and doom ...

Difficult decision of downsizing

Commentary

When you get to be my age, if you haven’t already, you start to think about downsizing the footprint of your life. It makes common sense to do so—the kids are grown and on their own, you are tired of mowing the grass and maintaining the house, and you just don’t need as much room ...

County: Wonderful murals, questionable costs

The OBSERVER’s View

There is no question that public art — such as the murals installed in Falconer, Sherman and Westfield, with a fourth coming to Dunkirk this fall — is a nice addition to the public sphere. The question isn’t the art or its value, it’s who is picking up the tab and who’s doing the ...