Village discourse appears ‘unacceptable’

July 1, 2026

Editor, OBSERVER: Fredonia residents do indeed have the right to be heard by their elected village officials. Unfortunately, because of the actions and behavior of a few people, that right has been changed to sending a letter to the village, and requesting that your letter be read at the meeting. A previous writer to this publication has stated that nothing untoward has happened during the public comment time at the village board meetings, and that there is no reason for the board to consider this change. If you have attended or watched any of the village board meetings, you will ...

People’s column

June 15, 2026

Proposed law will fuse U.S., Israeli military Editor, OBSERVER: Every year, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) presents its wish list of monies for the coming year. Lobbyists for the “defense industry” submit a massive document — over a thousand pages — that very few read in its entirety. In general, Congress subsequently enacts the laws granting upwards of $1.5 trillion for the “military industrial complex.” The NDAA for 2027, released May 13, contains a proposal — section 224 in the House bill — that will virtually merge the U.S. military with ...

People’s column

June 10, 2026

Primary voting begins Saturday Editor, OBSERVER: Primary Elections are upon us. Early Voting starts soon on Saturday and runs until June 21. The times vary. The two polling places are the Chautauqua County Fair Grounds 4-H Building Ag. and Expo Center, 1089 Central Ave., Dunkirk, New York 14048; and the Robert H. Jackson Ctr. On 305 East Fourth Street, Jamestown, New York, 14701. Enter on the Pendergast Ave. entrance. You can go to either polling place for the primary early voting. Important. If you live in Pomfret 1,2,3,4,6 you will vote at Harvest Chapel FMC, 39 Matteson St. ...

People’s column: Wealth inequality grows in U.S.

June 8, 2026

Editor, OBSERVER: Wealth inequality in the United States has reached levels that should concern every American. While millions of working families struggle to afford housing, healthcare, childcare, and higher education, a small percentage of the population continues to accumulate enormous wealth at a historic pace. Hard work should provide stability and opportunity, yet many full-time workers live paycheck to paycheck. At the same time, large corporations and the wealthiest Americans often benefit from tax loopholes and economic policies that widen the gap between rich and ...

People’s column

June 6, 2026

Village keeps working on water Editor, OBSERVER: We’ve had a good handful of water boil orders and I just wanted to run through some of the issues we have been having and provide some information. Most of our water boils over the past two to three years have been related to chlorination failures. At some point a few years ago we installed a chlorinator which ended up using a lot of consumable tubing. The failure rate of the tubing was in fact incredible and often outstripped our ability to keep supplies on hand, especially with supply chain issues that developed. We recently ...

UPMC is here for our communities

May 30, 2026

Editor, OBSERVER: The health needs of a community can change over time, especially in rural areas. What matters most is making sure people can get care close to home, when they need it. You may have seen that Bradford Regional Medical Center recently closed its inpatient and emergency department services. Changes like this can be difficult for patients, families and the community — and can raise questions about where to turn for care. At UPMC, our focus is to make sure care remains accessible, reliable, and easy to navigate. We are committed to supporting people where ...