When I was growing up, my Dad would sometimes caution me with the words “don’t get a big head over it.” It was advice which usually came when I was bragging about some great accomplishment I thought I had achieved. My father was a proponent of the biblical admonition: “Humble ...
Thirty years ago — 1990 The grape harvest in Chautauqua County — and for most of western New York — is expected to be smaller this year than other years, according to regional grape specialist James Kamas. The crop could be the smallest since the 1970s, down about 2,000 tons from 1989 ...
Too many of our family members, friends, neighbors and in some cases, former co-workers are in trouble this Labor Day for the holiday to be a time of carefree celebration. Plenty of room remains for pride in what working men and women accomplish, however. Reflecting upon it gives us reason ...
Education and schooling, at present and during the past six months, has seen temporarily an abrupt and catastrophic change. This change, due to the current serious virus situation, has had a dramatic impact upon students, parents, teachers, other school personnel, as well as the entire ...
To say that new State University of New York at Fredonia President Dr. Stephen H. Kolison Jr. has his hands full would be an understatement. Kolison, who came to Fredonia last month, has faced a number of issues with the biggest being something no institution can avoid — COVID-19. He has ...
People have a lot of power to improve the economy where they live. Most don’t realize how much power. They also don’t know how easy it is to make a big difference. Few like to see their hard earned tax dollars go to other communities. Most think that the money the government takes out of ...
Why does Donald Trump hate the Postal Service? Why does he continue to cast doubt on the ability of our United States Postal Service to fulfill the mailing and shipping needs of people across America, especially in regard to mail-in ballots for this upcoming election? Funny, he never voiced ...
The political divide in America has expanded to include heated debate over the virtues and vices ascribed to two economic systems. The right rails against the socialists (conflating them with communists), while the left cries out against the abuses and injustices attributed to the super-wealthy ...
Thirty years ago — 1990 Five members of the Silver Creek junior varsity football cheerleading squad attended the NCA cheering camp at the State University of New York at Buffalo recently. Merilla DelSorbo, Shannon Mosher, Jennifer Meyers, Jonelle Pagano and Michelle Carpus attended classes ...
This upcoming holiday weekend could be the most pivotal three days in Chautauqua County’s battle with COVID-19 since the middle of March and the month of April when the pandemic began. Can this community get a grip, especially the north county, on an alarming surge in cases that are ...
There is one more major factor in the concern over the recent COVID-19 outbreak at Fieldbrook Foods that needs to be addressed. That is with the city schools. Dunkirk, which has nearly 2,000 individuals enrolled, is a district in need. Take a look at the free breakfast and lunch programs that ...
I’m always amazed when I hear or read about governmental agencies or organizations that have been hiding the truth from the public. Knowing that the truth has a way of coming out I always wonder how long they thought that they could keep the cover-up going. Some like my own Catholic Church ...
Thirty years ago — 1990 Sophie Halas of Dunkirk won $25,000 in the New York State Lottery Win Four Game. Mrs. Halas, whose agent was Matt’s News in Dunkirk, said this morning, “I was surprised, but I don’t know what I’m going to do with it. I put it in the bank right away.” Corey ...
What’s happened at the State University of New York at Oneonta is one of those worse-case scenarios many feared might happen. After a major COVID-19 outbreak, with some of it tied to house parties, the college has shifted to online classes only. Through Monday, there were at least 245 ...
Parades will be fewer this year than on previous Labor Days. Picnics and backyard gatherings will be limited to family and only the closest of friends. There will be no music on the pier or community celebrations; COVID has changed the way we live our lives today and how we will live them in ...
Imagine the impression of Native Americans who, however long ago, first laid eyes on Chautauqua Lake. With all of their respect for the natural world, they must have thought this lake was a treasure. The first Europeans to encounter it, just over two centuries ago, must have thought the ...
Thirty years ago — 1990 Mac McCoy, chairman of the Fredonia Fire Department Fire Prevention Committee, announced that the White Inn of Fredonia has been selected as the 1990 “Fire Prevention Business-of-the-Year.” Each year a business is honored which practices fire safety and is a fine ...
During the past school year, nothing came easy. Students and teachers dealt with a new and sudden reality of online learning with short notice once the coronavirus outbreak set in during March as both groups left buildings and did not return. Four Dunkirk High students had one more obstacle ...
In my idle senility I do a lot of reading. I thought I’d offer a brief compendium of quotations from people who are smarter than most of us. They obviously spent time pondering what is real. Most of us are preoccupied with our various appetites, than what makes the world go around. Dr. ...
The primary responsibility of the Chautauqua County Department of Health and the County Executive’s Office throughout the COVID-19 crisis is to protect the lives and health of all Chautauqua County residents. In response to the article printed in the Friday, August 28, 2020, OBSERVER ...