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The OBSERVER’s View

The OBSERVER’s View

Over the past few years we've seen Jamestown and other school districts around the county struggle to fill positions. Clymer, as recently as August, was struggling to find a science teacher while examining dual enrollment opportunities for chemistry students. The district was also looking at digital learning opportunities for art classes and electives as well since the school didn't have an art teacher for all grades. Jamestown was advertising for positions as late as August and has made no secret over the past couple of years about the struggle to fill open positions and the district's ...

Rate hike one more pain for city residents

It appears more hurt is coming for city of Dunkirk residents. A public hearing will take place Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. on changes to water rates. Proposals would raise the minimum usage fee from $20 to $30 and boost the price of water used over a gallon benchmark to $5 per 1,000 gallons, from the current $4.33 — a 17% increase. While the hike will not go over well with users, Comptroller Tracy Smith-Dengler points out that the new rates will “still be substantially lower than neighboring communities." That does nothing to ease the burden on taxpayers, who continue paying a high price ...

25 years later, we cannot forget

Do you remember where you were exactly six months ago at 8:47 a.m.? Probably not. But if we ask where you were 25 years ago at 8:47 a.m., chances are you will remember the moment as if it were yesterday. Sept. 11, 2001, was, without question, one of the most horrific in the history of the United States of America. At 8:47 a.m., the lives of all Americans changed when American Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center. Fifteen minutes later, United Flight 175 hit the second tower. An hour later, American Flight 77 hit the Pentagon in Washington. And, in a heroic twist, passengers ...

History comes alive in Sinclairville

America is still in the midst of its 250th birthday celebration. In Chautauqua County, one community always remembers its history during the early weeks of September. On Saturday, the 27th annual Sinclairville History Fair takes place starting at 7 a.m. with a breakfast prepared by the Sinclairville 76ers. In the later hours is a grand parade, chicken barbecue, street dance, fireworks, craft show, farmers' market, music, horse drawn wagon rides, bounce houses, and more. One of the more fascinating pieces to the event is the 200th anniversary of the Sinclairville Baptist Church. ...

Name has strong connection to city hospital

A visit to the Brooks-TLC web site offers some history regarding the hospital’s name. It notes, “Horatio G. and Julia A. Brooks never wanted their names on a building. In fact, they were both deceased when that moment came to pass and Brooks Memorial Hospital was created. “It was their two children that saw an opportunity to model honor for us,” the website says. “They saw it first-hand in the way their father and mother cared for their staff at the Brooks Locomotive Co. for so many years. They were deeply involved and attached to the health, safety and continued well-being ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Hochul can veto cannabis wage board

Both houses of the state Legislature approved legislation (A.11562/S.10643) that would create a wage board for the state's cannabis industry. It's a bill that both state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and Sen. Liz Krueger, D-New York City, opposed in the state Senate. It's one of the few areas of cannabis policy on which Borrello and Krueger have found agreement on over the past few years – a fact that we hope will help sway Gov. Kathy Hochul as she decides whether or not to sign the legislation and create a wage board for a fledgling industry made up of small businesses ...