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Opinion

How do big stars see those not in spotlight?

Commentary

From a common person’s perspective, the elite class consists of a wide range of villains, heroes, and eccentrics. It is populated by individuals who, by virtue of superior intellect, talent, inheritance, criminal activity or plain luck, enjoy a privileged life. They have, by book, hook or crook, managed to position themselves beyond most of the everyday issues that confront the everyday man. Unless their line of work requires public relations of some sort, the upper crust of society occupies a space within a bubble. Probably the most mysterious of the elites are the super rich — ...

Turbine troubles keep spinning in county

Commentary

Six hundred-foot industrial wind turbines across Chautauqua County? No! Residents suffering from “wind turbine sickness” who live with turbines in Arkwright, Cassadaga, and Forestville-Villenova have described the symptoms they experience to the Chautauqua County Health Board in March 2026. “When the turbines are spinning, I experience adverse health effects including headaches, severe migraines, sleep disruption, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting — spontaneous vomiting, equilibrium disruptions, and heart issues - not severe ones - mostly just palpitation, rapid ...

People's column

Peoples column

Going over the top on ‘scuffle’ Editor, OBSERVER; It was disappointing to read OBSERVER articles about recent Fredonia village board meetings, especially the May 18 front page “Comment critics chastise village.” Certainly, it is newsworthy when the mayor of a normally peaceful village resorts to a police escort to remove a citizen, a former school teacher/principal no less, who was speaking calmly, but strongly in favor of fiscal responsibility. However, the OBSERVER never reported that incident or any of the information and questions shared in the public comment segment ...

Dunkirk’s standards keep lowering the bar

Commentary

I am so disappointed in our community. A headline article of what should be no news because it reads like an afternoon soap opera script appears on the front page of the local paper. No facts. No proof. All gossip. A lot of “allegations.” I am so disappointed. In its front page, top of the page article there are allegations of misconduct, abuse of alcohol, and personal misbehavior — all given as though we are on the Facebook level of gossip. Can Dunkirk sink any lower? Can we be the laughingstock of the county to a greater degree? Everything in the article is gossip. ...

Finding some time for Memorial Day

The OBSERVER’s View

Sadly enough, many Americans unintentionally will disrespect the true meaning and purpose of today's solemn national holiday. After all, ever since 1971 when Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be observed on the fourth Monday in May, for many, the holiday is simply the final day of a long weekend dedicated to the start of summer fun and frolic. For far too many of us, Memorial Day's primary purpose has been corrupted. The day has become a day to fire up that shiny new grill for outdoor barbecues, a day to catch some rays at the beach or simply a day off work to ...

Wetlands law challenge takes surprising turn

Commentary

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE—The court challenge to New York’s wetlands law has taken a surprising, fascinating turn. To understand this, let’s pick up where we left off six weeks ago. That’s when acting state Supreme Court Justice Richard Platkin struck down the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation’s, or DEC’s, wetlands regulations. * * * Such law can be devastating for Chautauqua County, particularly because of the impact on Chautauqua Lake. By increasing controls over what the DEC labels as wetlands, the law can turn Chautauqua Lake into a weed farm, hinder ...