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Peoples column

People’s column

Community need for food growing Editor, OBSERVER: The Feeding Fredonia Challenge, sponsored by the Fredonia Presbyterian Church, is underway. The Feeding Fredonia Challenge is a completely volunteer effort, with members of the church contacting local businesses, schools and SUNY Fredonia. Community members who donate non-perishable food items are volunteering their time and finances to help needy people in the Fredonia 14063 ZIP code. Fredonia has more than 20 percent of its population living below the statistical poverty line. With the cost of living rising far faster than ...

People’s column

Party blinders worn on both sides Editor, OBSERVER: Sociopath, fascist, band of devotees, troubled disillusioned people, extremists, MAGA cultists, crime syndicate, violent fringe, dictator, etc. Do these words sound or look familiar? They should! They’re used by the present administration and their supporters every day to describe half of the American people. Lies? You bet! In a September commentary, a writer’s hatred for the former president was quite impressive. I didn’t think one person could spew so much ridiculousness to demonstrate their unrest. The writer has ...

People’s column

Gun laws take away from ceremony Editor, OBSERVER: My husband and I attended the 9/11 ceremony that the American Legion puts on every year at the County Courthouse. It was the 21st year for this Rememberance Ceremony. How sad to find out that the new gun laws that were passed in New York would alter this great ceremony to honor everyone that was lost or suffered in some way that day. The Court House is a public place so now guns are not allowed for the 21-gun salute. This is so wrong. The guns used by the Honor Guard are blanks. Can’t have guns on public property. Keep in ...

Someone has to be responsible

Editor, OBSERVER: Environmental Defense Fund director and senior attorney Adam Peltz warned of the long-standing problems of abandoned gas wells in Western New York State and its Southern Tier. Peltz was interviewed by Capitol Pressroom reporter David Lombardo on Sept. 12. Peltz asserted that improperly capped oil and gas wells emit methane and hydrogen sulfide, causing both greenhouse gas and local air toxicity concerns. The first gas well in the USA was drilled in Fredonia 201 years ago. Owners of a well in New York State are legally responsible for capping it when it is no ...

People’s column

Turbines need to be kept out of lake Editor, OBSERVER: I belong to a self-advocate group called Make a Mark out of Dunkirk. I have heard that state Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration is trying to put up wind turbines. Did you know that they will be put into Lake Erie? This is not good for the environment or the drinking water. It’s bad for the birds and it kills them in the end. It claims to be environmental. This is something that Hochul wants to do. Do we agree with this or not? The wind turbines need on gas and electric. What happens when the blades die in 15 years? Then ...

Security, Institution failed great writer

Editor, OBSERVER: Like many others, I was greatly saddened and angered that Salman Rushdie was attacked while visiting the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York last month. It seems like the media has given the Institution and its security partners — the FBI, New York State Police, and Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office — a pass on their collective failure to protect this great writer and champion of free speech and thought. Yes, Salman Rushdie is still alive. But look what was done to him! He was stabbed repeatedly, in the neck, hand, abdomen, thigh, and eye which he ...