I recently took an online history test with questions drawn from standardized tests for eighth-graders. I guess I did better than a lot of eighth-graders because I answered all the questions correctly but then I was a college history major many years ago and continue to be a voracious reader ...
During the summer months, there is a lot to like about living near a Great Lake. Not only can the waters be refreshing, it also can help keep the region a bit cooler when the summer heat is nearly unbearable. Along the western border of Chautauqua County, Lake Erie has an average depth of only 62 feet and is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. That allows it to warm up quickly in the summer. On Monday, the lake temperature off Buffalo was 75 degrees. Lake Ontario, to our north, is a whole other story. The temperature off Rochester was only 50 degrees. While the waters can be inviting ...
Before the Declaration was penned, a 17-year-old fought for the American cause in the Continental Army at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He continued serving throughout the Revolutionary War, including at Saratoga, Trenton, and Princeton. At Oriskany, his courage—alongside that of a fellow lieutenant—helped turn the battle, forcing the British to withdraw and preventing a major enemy victory. He made his mark in securing our nation’s freedom. After the war, he made an even greater mark when he was called to preach. Sent by the Connecticut Congregational Missionary Society, John ...
I was thinking the other day about how all living beings are creatures of habit. I remember, as a kid, bringing the cows in for milking. We would open the back door of the barn, and most of those cows would head right for their stall. There were 30 or 40 cows, but each knew which stall was theirs. That always amazed me, as cows, in many other ways, could be very stubborn. But, they were “creatures of habit” when it came to the stall that they called “home.” Then, I thought of our dogs. I am the first one up in the morning—probably a throw-back to those early days when I ...
Editor, OBSERVER: Why do you publish opinions that contain inaccuracies and untruths? I am referring to the commentary about Social Democrats who the writer claims are Marxist or communists, which is not even close. We should not be confused with Democratic Socialist. We strongly support our system of Capitalism but believe that the citizens should have social benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, universal healthcare, subsidized childcare and more, paid for by taxing the very wealthy. I call myself a FDR Democrat. But besides the distortions and untruths about Social Democrats, my ...
Complaints regarding governments often go straight to the top. Albany and Washington are usually the culprits when funding decreases or someone disagrees with new laws. That is because it is easier to blame someone who is not your neighbor that is elected to serve you. In South Dayton, an interesting vote is taking place that could dissolve the village next May. If approved, all assets will eventually be turned over to the town of Dayton. If residents vote to dissolve, it will be the fifth village in the last 18 years to do so. According to the Cattaraugus County GIS page, on Jan. 1, ...
