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The OBSERVER’s View

The OBSERVER’s View

An artist’s rendering of the former Third Street post office features a big Chautauqua County logo on the building’s wall facing Jamestown City Hall instead of the Lucille Ball mural that was also used as a U.S. postage stamp. We’re sure it’s artistic license as part of a sales pitch rather than a serious proposal to actually remove the mural, but the artist’s rendering raises a question that we hope Chautauqua County legislators keep in mind before they vote on a proposal to consolidate the county’s Jamestown offices into the post office building - what else looks funny ...

The OBSERVER’s View

It’s hard to imagine a time when the Chautauqua Belle wasn’t a fixture on the waters of Chautauqua Lake. But that’s exactly what our reality would be if not for James Webster, the Rochester man who had the vision to bring a paddlewheel steamship to Chautauqua Lake in the early 1970s. Webster collaborated with Capt. Alan Bates, who designed the ship around the same time Bates designed the Natchez, another steamship still in use in New Orleans. For a time, Mayville was marketed as Steamship Village when the Chautauqua Belle was still in its relative infancy, and many still make ...

No bang for buck in parking revenue

In the big scheme of things, revenue from parking is a pittance to the village of Fredonia coffers. According to the 2026-27 budget, only $25,000 is expected to be collected. That is extremely minimal. In fact, with each trustee making $6,000 per year, that cash coming in does not even cover their salaries. But in a struggling downtown, the village is moving forward with a hearing on a new web app that allows motorists who stop for shopping or to do business downtown to pay via cell phone for a space. On Monday, a public hearing was to take place on the proposed change. That was ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Giving spirit strong part of region

For those who have not yet looked at the calendar, do not forget that today is July 16 — or 7/16, which is a major deal for the region. Give 716 is Western New York's biggest day of giving — powered by the Buffalo Bills Foundation and the Buffalo Sabres Foundation. According to the https://give716.org website, since 2021 $5,918,670 has been raised to support 944 charities with 29,331 unique donors and 47,297 total donations. Those donations, though based on teams who call Erie County home, also benefit organizations in Chautauqua County. So on this day of assisting, we show ...

Lake’s lure matters greatly to region

During the summer months, there is a lot to like about living near a Great Lake. Not only can the waters be refreshing, it also can help keep the region a bit cooler when the summer heat is nearly unbearable. Along the western border of Chautauqua County, Lake Erie has an average depth of only 62 feet and is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. That allows it to warm up quickly in the summer. On Monday, the lake temperature off Buffalo was 75 degrees. Lake Ontario, to our north, is a whole other story. The temperature off Rochester was only 50 degrees. While the waters can be inviting ...

The OBSERVER’s View: South Dayton decides on its future

Complaints regarding governments often go straight to the top. Albany and Washington are usually the culprits when funding decreases or someone disagrees with new laws. That is because it is easier to blame someone who is not your neighbor that is elected to serve you. In South Dayton, an interesting vote is taking place that could dissolve the village next May. If approved, all assets will eventually be turned over to the town of Dayton. If residents vote to dissolve, it will be the fifth village in the last 18 years to do so. According to the Cattaraugus County GIS page, on Jan. 1, ...