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High court to settle score on W.Va. sports law

Commentary

CHARLESTON, W.Va.—Let’s pick up where we left off last week. The Supreme Court is considering a challenge—under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause—to Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. The law requires that public schools and higher-education institutions designate each sponsored sport as ● for males, men, or boys, ● for females, women, or girls, or ● as co-ed or mixed. Such laws are about sex, not gender. After all, a person’s sex goes to whether the person is male or female. Males are he. Females are she. By contrast, gender is a ...

We’re still too overheated on climate change

Commentary

In the years that I have been writing this column I have found that if your attitude towards climate change being caused by human actions seems less than wholehearted, unquestioning support you will be harshly criticized by those who think mankind is the whole problem. Our skepticism becomes seen as unforgivable ignorance because the “truth” about climate change is in plain view. I’m not sure that it is. Advocates of human generated climate change argue that skeptics are anti-science, rejecting overwhelming scientific evidence which 97% to 99% of scientists supposedly agree on. ...

Impressive list of Westfield projects

The OBSERVER’s View

Viewing from a distance, there seems to be little doubt that the village of Westfield is one of the most organized and aggressive communities when it comes to funding. Last week, state Gov. Kathy Hochul announced projects planned by recipients of the NY Forward grant. Westfield had an impressive lineup, which totaled $4.5 million. — Establish a Small Project Fund at $508,000. — Redevelop the Former Welch’s Administrative Building into Apartments and Commercial Space at $1 million. — Create a Pocket Park on Clinton Street with Public Restrooms and Bicycle Repair Station ...

Rounding Third: Mother’s Day has competition for attention

Commentary

Today is Mother’s Day. As I write this, on May 10, I’ve learned it’s also National Shrimp Day. Wh-a-a-a-t? Today is Mother’s Day. Period. How can it be anything else? Turns out it’s the date that determines these festive days. Every second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. But every May 10 is National Shrimp Day. It also happens to be National Idaho Day, National Washington Day, National Cherry Cobbler Day, National Rescue Dog Day, and last, but not least, National Clean Up Your Room Day. Whoa… that has to be hooked to Mother’s Day somehow. Who decides these things? And ...

It’s a lot less wild while in captivity

Commentary

Imagine hundreds of people watching your every move and wanting you to get up and do something entertaining. The constant noise of screaming, crying, chattering. Wanting to just hide from it all but there is no place to go. You’re stuck behind the glass. Being a caged animal means your life is limited. Would you want to live like that? My love for animals is something I've had since birth. They remind me of the simplest joys in life. All of my worries are far behind me when I am with animals. One of my favorite places to visit when I was younger was the zoo. Walking by the glass, ...

Our view: Hefty reserves disregard taxpayers

The OBSERVER’s View

We have complained for years about more than $30 million in reserves for Chautauqua County. Pine Valley Central Schools is even more guilty. In recent years, Pine Valley built its unassigned fund balance to roughly 30% of the succeeding year’s budget — dramatically higher than surrounding districts. Prior to this proposed budget, the district had just shy of $6 million in unassigned fund balance. It also has significant amounts in several reserve funds for various purposes. That’s too much — and goes against the 4% recommendation by New York state. This year, the district ...