Gowanda ambulance fully prepared to serve community

March 7, 2020

Editor, OBSERVER: This letter is in response to recent comments in the letter “No cure for rural health care” (Feb. 29) about the lack of trained local community first responders. The Gowanda Ambulance Service Corp. is a paramedic level service, which means highly trained first responders. A high level of care is traveling quickly to the 911 emergency call. The Gowanda ambulance is an emergency room on wheels with the necessary medical supplies needed for any emergency. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics must maintain their certificates with continuing educations ...

People’s column

February 29, 2020

Blood donors aid cancer fight Editor, OBSERVER: Did you know that patients fighting cancer need more blood than patients fighting any other disease? Cancer patients use nearly one-quarter of the nation’s blood supply. In fact, five units of blood are needed every minute to help someone going through cancer treatment. Yet, only 3% of people in the U.S. give blood. To help ensure patients have the strength and support to fight cancer, the American Red Cross and American Cancer Society are teaming up this February to encourage people Give Blood to Give Time. Individuals are invited ...

People’s column

February 15, 2020

System built for incumbents Editor, OBSERVER: This made me laugh. “If somebody’s doing a good job and they’ve been there 12 years, you’re going to tell them they can’t run for re-election? ? It should be up to the public. That’s why we have elections.” The fact is that some politicians use name recognition, incumbency and voter apathy to remain in office for extended periods of time. This occurs at the local level all the way up to the federal level. Term limits should be in place for any elected office. Even if the pol is allowed to run again after having ...

People’s column

February 12, 2020

Editor, OBSERVER: I thought this might be put in the paper on Lincoln’s birthday, which is today LINCOLN’S EARLY YEARS Written by Carleton R. Lancaster (1914-1995) He learned the use of axe and wedge, to build a fence to hold the forest edge. To hew the timbers for their cabin home, To hunt the game which through the forest roamed. By the dim light of the fireplace, which threw a glow upon his youthful face. He learned to read and write and spell, while the embers burned and into ashes fell. He must have seen within the meager blaze, something of the ...

More respect needed in country

February 3, 2020

Editor, OBSERVER: Thanks to Loretta Slaton Torain and the entire Juneteenth Celebration Committee for organizing an inspiring Martin Luther King Day event. There were powerful speakers, capped off by a recording from Dr. King’s final spine-tingling sermon. The atmosphere at the luncheon was warm, welcoming, and fraternal. It was a positive atmosphere, so different from political discourse today. Dr. King reminds us that our similarities as human beings are greater than our differences as political creatures. These words are easy enough to agree with, in theory. Sadly, ...

People’s column

February 1, 2020

Catholic School is engine that can Editor, OBSERVER: As Catholic Schools’ Week draws to a close, the Board of Trustees and the entire Northern Chautauqua Catholic School family would like to thank OBSERVER writer Mary Heyl and Publisher John D’Agostino for highlighting our school in recent articles. NCCS would also like to thank Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas, Fredonia Mayor Doug Essek and local celebrity Bob Bankoski for being judges at our annual dessert contest. Dessert, YUM! Our extreme gratitude is also extended to Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Michael LaFever, ...