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Peoples column

People’s column: Decisiveness of Trump angers many

Editor, OBSERVER: There are many people who won't like this. Perhaps Donald Trump is hated because he solves problems that others need to keep existing. Think about it for a moment, Trump is not a traditional politician. He is a businessman who came to the White House thinking like a businessman and that completely changes the rules of the game. A politician lives off rhetoric, long processes, summits and promises. A businessman lives off closing deals, resolving conflicts and moving forward. For one the problem is a political tool. For the other the problem is something that has ...

Healthier choice in automobiles

Editor, OBSERVER: As communities across the country grapple with rising fuel costs, air pollution, and the growing impacts of Global Warming, one solution is becoming increasingly clear; the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Electric cars offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. By producing zero tailpipe emissions, they reduce air pollution and improve public health, especially in urban areas where smog and poor air quality disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. When you factor in that EVs cost roughly 40% less to fuel, and ...

My memories of Wretched Group

Editor, OBSERVER The OBSERVER has published many articles about The Wretched Group over the years. As the founding member of the band, I would like to submit the following flashback from my own knowledge and belief to begin to straighten the record. I was the founding member of The Wretched Group, serving as lead guitar and vocals starting in 1964, when the band was initially known simply as The Group. Early rehearsals took place in my parents’ garage on Center Street in Fredonia. Leigh Green served as the first lead vocalist before being replaced by Hank McKee on lead vocals. ...

‘Heartbreak’ always finds dog owners

Editor, OBSERVER: We just lost our beloved “Pepsi.” She was a Golden Retriever/Yellow Lab mix. Her owner, a friend, moved to an apartment that didn’t allow large dogs. When we heard that our friend had to get rid of Pepsi, we told him we would take her and bring her to our home in the country. She was 4 when we got her. We had Pepsi for eight years. She was a cancer survivor. She endured a major operation to remove a cancerous tumor that gave her 2 more years of good quality life. I ran across the following article from an unknown author. It tells how we felt about ...

Collaborating missing in homeless issue

Editor, OBSERVER: I am writing to express my concern regarding the exclusion of key organizations from recent discussions on homelessness in Chautauqua County, as reported in two recent OBSERVER articles. Specifically, Chautauqua Opportunities and members of the Homeless Coalition were not included, despite their essential role in developing the Hope Haven Women’s Shelter and providing vital rehabilitation and rehousing services. Developing solutions without input from those working daily on this issue is a significant oversight. Furthermore, situating services at the former ...

Keep weatherization program in funding

Editor, OBSERVER: Chautauqua County’s most vulnerable residents could soon feel the impact of a quiet but devastating budget decision. Across New York, including here in Chautauqua County, Weatherization Assistance Program providers are speaking out against proposed cuts. Weatherization helps low-income households reduce energy costs by improving home efficiency through insulation, air sealing, and other improvements. The governor’s budget omits 10% of the HEAP funding usually dedicated to the Weatherization Assistance Program — a reduction with far-reaching consequences for ...