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Peoples column

People’s column: Board responsible for Brooks’ troubles

Editor, OBSERVER: The discussion of what will happen with Brooks Memorial Hospital goes on, and on, and on. The Board of Directors have shown they have not done a good job of managing. Their total mismanagement of the resources has brought the situation at Brooks Hospital to what it is today. Where is Westfield Hospital located? One does wonder, when it is repeatedly stated that Brooks Hospital is in a rural area. It appears that Westfield is in a similar area, but from all appearances they are flourishing. Would the Board of Directors be a reason for this? Westfield Hospital ...

Deadline nearing on funding for food

Editor, OBSERVER: School districts across New York and the entire country are in jeopardy of losing crucial funding that allows all students to have equitable access to school meals. Without immediate action from Congress and the White House, school meals are in jeopardy and thousands of students are at a greater risk of hunger. Critical child nutrition waivers that were enacted during the pandemic will expire on June 30, leaving districts struggling to figure out how they’ll continue to feed students amongst rising food prices, skyrocketing inflation, high fuel prices and a ...

Reviews of Bach event appreciated

Editor, OBSERVER: I thank composer Andrew Martin Smith for his three insightful reviews, one for each of the three performances of the 2022 Bach & Beyond Baroque Music Festival. MICHAEL C. BARRIS, Ph.D., Fredonia

People’s column

Climate disasters loom for globe Editor, OBSERVER: “Ball Hill Wind Farm work back on track” (June 13) is good news for Western New York’s efforts to mitigate climate change. When completed, the wind farm will generate over 261 gigawatts of electricity. That means 28,000 homes powered by clean energy and not by health- and planet-destroying fossil fuels. But even as states like New York have stepped up in the fight against climate change disasters, the federal government must do more if we are going to get this crisis under control. President Joe Biden and forward-thinking ...

People’s column: Status quo is not stopping shootings

Editor, OBSERVER: Common sense, of which very little exists or is used, says no one except the military or police need body armor or assault weapons. For there to be any discussion of raising the age from 18 to 21 to purchase such is ridiculous and totally unnecessary. Ban them! Prosecute anyone who makes or sells them to anyone other than military or police. It is way past time for those elected to office to serve the people who elected them start paying attention to the needs and wants of said people. The only way to stop this carnage going on in our country is for this to ...

People’s column: Hospital closing would be a dagger

Editor, OBSERVER: The time for the discussion of where the location for the new hospital will be has passed some time ago and that decision has been made. Studies were performed and public input was considered and all necessary approvals were received including the approval of state grant funding of $74 million. What weighs heavy on the people of this region is that the construction has not begun yet and the current outdated Brooks Hospital facility will undoubtedly close soon. The reason why the committed funding has not been released yet is unknown but what is known is that ...