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The OBSERVER’s View: Village always appreciates Farm Fest

The OBSERVER’s View

Ready or not, the largest Fredonia event is ready to fill Barker Common this weekend. Starting Friday, the annual Farm Festival will get started and continue through Sunday. "We're excited, we have a lot of new things coming in this year," said organizer Lauren Boyle at a recent village meeting. "We have a street square dance coming in, we have a petting zoo coming in. We have a ton of presentations throughout the weekend." One event Boyle mentioned was a live performance of "Hamlet" in the gazebo by Main Street Studios. Co-organizer Greg Krauza also noted the Fredonia Farmers ...

Welcome Electrovaya: the rest of the story

Commentary

Electrovaya, a Canadian company that is making advanced proprietary lithium-ion batteries for industrial applications, is remodeling an existing manufacturing facility, located on 52 acres in the County’s Industrial Park in the Town of Ellicott. This will be Electrovaya’s first manufacturing facility in the United States, with a projected 100-150 jobs. This development comes against a backdrop of “Employment” in Chautauqua County having plunged from 64,000 about 15 years ago to 50,000 now. The rest of the story is necessary to understand why Electrovaya is coming ...

The OBSERVER’s View: State can take lead on e-bikes, scooters

The OBSERVER’s View

An increase in the number of serious accidents involving e-bikes and standup scooters in New York City is prompting calls to better regulate the personal mobility devices in the city. That regulation should extend statewide. So far this year, 12 people have been killed while riding e-bikes in New York City with another nine killed while using stand-up e-scooters. Only three have been killed while riding regular pedal bicycles. Which compares to three who died while riding old-fashioned pedal bikes. Last year those figures were 17 dead on e-bikes, six from e-scooters and four on ...

Risks, rewards from the simpler days

Commentary

In those days, it wasn’t hard for a 16-year-old boy to get booze. The drinking age was 18, so if you could scrounge up a couple dollars and make some connections, like older friends or siblings, a six pack of Kochs Deer Run Ale or a bottle of Boones Farm Apple Wine was pretty easy to get. Moreover, there was a laid back, liberal vibe about that shady college town where we grew up, and plenty of opportunity for mischief. In fourth grade, Lamont and I were drawn together like birds of a feather. His mother and my father had both died tragically young, leaving us grounded in a dark and ...

Battery storage systems offer opportunities

Commentary

There was a lot of misinformation in the commentary on the 250MW battery storage system “Dunkirk Battery Energy Storage project is another scam.” (July 27) Battery energy storage systems are not unproven, nor are they a “scam.” They are in widespread and growing use throughout the U.S. because they offer advantages to both electricity system operators and electricity consumers. Texas is a notable example. In the winter of 2021, a series of brutal storms led to the near collapse of the state’s electric grid. About 4.5 million people were without power during a prolonged cold ...

The OBSERVER’s View: With state support, hospital beats the odds

The OBSERVER’s View

When state Gov. Kathy Hochul came to the north county on Thursday, Brooks-TLC was a big winner. For starters, the new north county hospital that will be located at 412 E. Main St. is making progress. Construction crews are entering the site daily — and a shell of a structure is evident to passersby. In addition, Hochul announced another $50 million that will be earmarked for the facility, making the state’s total contribution for the $223 million facility at $124 million. "While Washington may be defunding hospitals, here in New York, we're building hospitals. We believe in our ...