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Peoples column

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 ...

People’s column

‘An overreaction’ on town rentals Editor, OBSERVER: I was saddened and disturbed to read your story on the August Dunkirk Town Board meeting. While I sympathize with concerns over short term rentals causing unwanted traffic, noise, and potential nuisances, it is hard for me to imagine that the right course of action is to ban short term rentals outright. I have a small cottage near the water, and after several years with limited success renting to long term tenants, decided to gamble on short term rentals. I was fairly surprised at how polite and respectful most of these ...

Pride shows in Irving roundabout

Editor, OBSERVER: Kudos to the crew who maintains the garden in the Irving roundabout! It is spectacular. Your hard work and attention to detail is much appreciated! That is an example of a “job well done.” Bravo! DONNA ROOF, Silver Creek

Institution not diverse in its views

Editor, OBSERVER: Wall Street Journal Publisher Almar Latour must not have attended Chautauqua Institution recently. A review of the speakers in recent years shows that his statement (Wall Street Journal editorial Aug. 13-14) that Chautauqua “hosts open discussion as well as championing diversity of thought, religious pluralism and free expression” is not true any more. As a fourth generation Chautauqua attendee who has participated since the 1950’s, it is clear to me that Chautauqua allows only one perspective now. Due to the lack of diversity of expression, the ...

People’s column: Lessons of past often forgotten

Editor, OBSERVER: To understand how the impact of destiny fell upon any generation of men one must first imagine their position and then apply the time scale of our own lives. Thus, nearly all changes were far less perceptible to those who lived through them from day to day than appears when the salient features of an epoch are extracted by the chronicler. (Winston Churchill, from his history “The birth of Britain”) I speak as one who has surpassed the age of 90. I am not amused by those with preconceived thoughts, referring to history, and then change the narrative to suit ...