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Peoples column

Setting the table for a new year

I plan to look forward to the holidays and the new year, but I’d like to set the record straight — clear the table- before moving on. We do have bigger fish to fry — and may I plug the Sheridan VFW with one of the best fish fries around and Chloe’s Corner, a diner in the center of town with homemade breakfast and lunch as well as Friday fish fries. Regarding my November column, the word used in the headline was never used in the article and it has connotations that were not intended. I believe it led to negative impressions that could be taken out of the context of the ...

Following the Erie Canal

Suspecting I was being whisked away for a longer stay, I grabbed a book as I packed. Well, naturally when the immediate future seems a bit iffy, it makes sense to plan big. In this instance, that meant the 922-page “Three Stalwarts” by Walter D. Edmonds. I had already enjoyed “Drums Along the Mohawk” so this time chose “Erie Water.” It’s not a title I’m particularly fond of, my only complaint with a magnificent novel. I intentionally scheduled it as a suggestion for an ideal Christmas gift for any in your family. Amazon has/had my volume for $10.41 with prices zooming ...

Wife lives earthly life extraordinarily well

Hilary and Randy Elf were married (#KurtzElfWedding) on Dec. 28, 2019, and she died on April 11, 2021, the third anniversary of their engagement. In thankfulness for their marriage, excerpts from his eulogy for her are his column. Once when you, My HilaryLove, came to visit, you shared strategy for five-card draw. Including this: When you have nothing in your hand, keep your highest card and draw four. So for one hand, I drew four. You drew one card and had a straight. I had four kings. In utter astonishment, you said, “But you drew four cards.” Yes, you dealt me one ...

The Constitution and abortion

This Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization concerning Mississippi’s abortion law. Mississippi banned abortions performed after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The law does not permit abortion in the case of rape or incest but permits it when there is a medical emergency or severe fetal abnormality. The 15-week period is odd. A fetus begins to have a heartbeat after six weeks, forms a brain after six weeks, and – on one influential account — does not become conscious until 24 weeks. It is unclear what happens at 15 weeks. Other ...

Pennsylvania has income advantage

Editor, OBSERVER: John D’Agostino notes that Warren County, Pa., “has a minimum wage that is 42% less than New York state, has higher median household income at $50,250 and its poverty rate is 13.5%, which is 3% less than here at home” in his Editor’s corner on Nov. 19. Home is Chautauqua County, New York, the publication site of the OBSERVER and The Post-Journal. He does not mention that Warren County and adjoining McKean County both have oil refineries which no county in New York state now has. These refineries presumably pay higher wages than manufacturing operations ...

Watching the maples

He’s become an erstwhile partner and revered friend and the best travel companion I’d ever encountered. The memories piled up as high as the photographs from our trips to Maine and thereabouts and then the cruise to Alaska with stops in Washington along the way. Unbelievably easy to get along with (and, for me, that’s saying a lot), we’ve enjoyed friends, concerts, and many, many particularly good meals. I have enjoyed cooking for him and discovered he was an excellent cook in his own right. Besides, we both appreciate the luxury of eating out when someone else did he work . ...