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Peoples column

People’s column

Village meters tied to water issues Editor, OBSERVER: A writer of the letter “Trustees cannot overlook water losses” (Nov. 19), states “the village has a 50% water loss rate due to leaks at the present time.” My argument is that this apparent loss is primarily due to metering inaccuracy rather than to leaks. Fredonia Mayor Athanasia Landis and I, as village trustee, discussed this issue privately with Department of Public Works personnel during my time in office from 2018 to 2019. Unfortunately, the issue was not resolved before the end of my term. Devin M. Stoker, ...

People’s column

Historic plaque’s return sought in city Editor, OBSERVER: A big thanks to our city Historian, Diane Andrasik, for a marvelous lecture on the life of Capt. Charles D. Tinley at the Dunkirk Museum on Veterans Day. Capt. Tinley was a teacher and then principal of our Industrial High School prior to serving in World War II. Tinley survived the Bataan Death March, only to die of starvation in a POW camp in Japan. There is a monument to him in our Veterans Memorial Park and he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. More of his story can be found at ...

People’s column: No facts to back turbine opposition

Editor, OBSERVER: The most striking feature of the OBSERVER article (Nov. 19), “District opposes wind turbines on Lake Erie,” is its failure to offer evidence in support of its arguments. What facts did the Water District rely on to determine that a wind turbine project on the lake will pollute our drinking water? I raise this issue because NYSERDA has undertaken a feasibility study regarding wind turbines in Lake Erie, but that study has not yet been completed. It seems only logical to have the results of this comprehensive study before making a decision that may be based on ...

People’s column

County must lead on new Brooks-TLC Editor, OBSERVER: There is absolute unanimous opinion that the northern Chautauqua County community fully supports a new micro hospital for the greater Dunkirk-Fredonia area. Our county government must now step up to get the state funded micro-hospital built. The bottom line remains that New York state will apparently not release millions in designated dollars for the new micro hospital until a solution is arrived at as to how cover the projected multi-million-dollar annual losses following construction of any new micro hospital. Only our ...

People’s column

Consider climate when voting Editor, OBSERVER: I scratched my head in disbelief after reading the OBSERVER editorial, “New leadership for governor” (Oct. 29). Incumbent Kathy Hochul may be a flawed candidate, but her deficiencies hardly match Lee Zeldin’s. And the idea that Zeldin’s extremist views would be tamed by a Democratic Assembly and Senate is absurd, a recipe for inaction on the most important issues facing the state. Here are the facts: Zeldin’s idea of public safety is to put more guns in the hands of New Yorkers. His type of freedom exists to contest Joe ...

People’s column

Family ‘grateful’ for love, support Editor, OBSERVER The family of Carson Senfield would like to thank the communities of Dunkirk and Fredonia for the overwhelming outpouring of love and support during this most difficult time. We are forever grateful for every one of your messages of support and acts of kindness. The generosity of this community has been amazing, and we are so fortunate to have friends and neighbors like you in our lives. Carson made an incredible impact in his lifetime; he had a unique love for life and shared that love with everyone he met. His bright ...