Saluting those rescuing us Editor, OBSERVER: Men in Black On the second day of Covid 911 sent to me Two tall, masked men Clad in black from head to toe With care and kindness Handy black, leather gloves Fore and aft They lifted me off the floor. Thanks to the Fredonia Fire Chief and to their mothers too! PENNY WILLIAMS-YAQUB, Fredonia
Is Brocton worth maintaining? Editor, OBSERVER: I have a serious question for village of Brocton residents. What exactly are we gaining by remaining a village? The village already shares most services with Portland and they’re always looking to share even more. The fire department is one such entity that has recently been discussed to merge with Portland, which isn’t a bad thing. However, let’s get right down to it. What does the village do for us that warrants the insane village tax for such a small population and nothing in return? We don’t even get garbage pickup! ...
Dunkirk tied to train tragedies Editor, OBSERVER: The derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in New Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, brings to mind a derailment of a New York Central freight train in Dunkirk in 1966. The Dunkirk line was constructed in 1855 at grade level just north and parallel to Third Street before being raised to an embankment in 1940, bridging Main Street, Central Avenue, and Swan Street. The 1966 derailment demolished urban buildings both north and south of Third Street at Central Avenue. MICHAEL C. BARRIS, Ph.D., Fredonia
Editor, OBSERVER: “Winter Festival still scheduled despite warmer temps” in the Dunkirk OBSERVER last month reveals community resilience in the face of climate disruption. Nonetheless, New York must act more swiftly to address climate change by meeting the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In this legislative session, we must pass the NY HEAT Act and the All-Electric Buildings Act. The NY HEAT Act is meant to eliminate subsidies for new gas hookups and enable neighborhood scale building decarbonization by eliminating the “obligation to serve” ...
Editor, OBSERVER: I would like to commend the OBSERVER for its Dec. 30 editorial regarding Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. It appears that politicians on both sides of the aisle are ever more focused on maintaining power and influence in Congress, rather than preserving our democracy. If the extreme views of Greene and others like her continue to grow unchecked, then we the people of the United States will have closed our eyes to a dangerous and mounting threat. We must take their extreme political and religious views — and unsubstantiated conspiratorial ideas — at face ...
Editor, OBSERVER: Drivers in this area have had to contend with fog several times recently. What drivers do not realize is that newer cars with “automatic front lights” have idiots driving them who cannot be trusted to put on lights when needed. When they are depending on these lights; they unfortunately do not have any rear lights lit. Unless they step on their brake pedal, the driver behind them does not see them. The new idiot lights give drivers a false sense of security. Clearly, more education is required. MARILYN KOCIN ZLOTCHEW, Fredonia