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Opinion

With election nearing, make plans to vote

Commentary

With the November election approaching, many voters may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the steady stream of political news, competing claims and debates about elections and voting. That is understandable. But amid all the noise, there is something each of us can do: make a plan to vote. Voting does not have to be complicated. A little preparation now can help you avoid last-minute problems and make sure you are ready to cast your ballot. The League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County encourages voters to use reliable, nonpartisan sources of election information, including ...

Trump, tariffs and technology putting U.S. at risk

Commentary

I never in my life thought we would have a trade war with Canada. It’s shooting ourselves in the foot. It’s cutting off our nose to spite our face. it’s counterproductive besides being just plain stupid. We spent 50 years integrating our supply lines with Canada and Mexico. Parts for your Chevy truck are made all over the continent. They pass back and forth across the border a dozen times. Are we really going to throw a wrench into the machinery? Yes, apparently we have. The tariffs are like sand in the gears. I called U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy and left a message about my ...

Only drastic measures can transform struggling cities

Editor's corner

Maybe it is time for Dunkirk’s elected leaders to revisit a survey taken last winter regarding a financial future for the cash-strapped municipality. That poll, commissioned by state Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor, found that of 178 city residents questioned, 68% ...

Humor can help transcend press hostility

Commentary

CHAUTAUQUA—Do you know which national-news source is—according to polls—most trusted? Western New York native and Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley posed that question to the morning-lecture audience in the Chautauqua Institution amphitheater on July 1. Think about that ...

The OBSERVER’s View: State effort promotes lakes, outdoors

The OBSERVER’s View

With autumn officially underway, New York state is offering residents a taste of the outdoors this weekend. State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton this week announced Saturday as a Free Fishing Day. During any of the six designated Free Fishing Days, the fishing license requirement is waived for fishing on New York’s fresh waters. “Fishing in New York is better than ever,” Lefton said. “Whether it’s chasing salmon on a Great Lakes tributary, pursuing bass on a scenic lake, or casting a line in a local stream, there’s something here for ...

They came from away

Commentary

A few years ago, I saw the Broadway production of “Come From Away.” The much-loved musical play tells the story of what happened in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland on that most tragic of days, September 11, 2001. Almost immediately after the tragedies, American airspace was ...