BEST

CASAC CELEBRATION – The Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council celebrated 40 years in Dunkirk recently. CASAC does a great deal with educating the community about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and also how to overcome addictions. Crime in a community often stems from drug and alcohol abuse. Organizations like CASAC are key to making a community safer.

TEENAGE PHILANTHROPIST – Chloe Burke, a Cassadaga Valley high school junior was awarded $100 from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation’s “Be a Philanthropist” contest. She, in turn, “paid it forward” by donating the money to the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation. When asked why, she noted that the hospital treated her well when she had a sprained knee.

RECORD BREAKER – It was an amazing weekend in the southern part of the county. Saturday we saw Chautauqua County enter the Guinness Book of Worlds Records – this time for the most grape stompers at once. There were 1,232, shattering the old record of 977 stompers. That evening, comic legend Bob Newhart entertained the crowds. It was a magical day indeed.

WORST

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING – In 2010, the OBSERVER asked readers if they ever text while driving. About 20 percent of respondents to our web poll admitted they do. Earlier this week, we again asked readers if they ever text while driving. Four years later, 21 percent of respondents to our web poll admitted they do. The numbers have actually gone UP! Texting is quickly becoming the number one cause of accidents on our highways. Fines have skyrocketed. We educate young people about the dangers of texting while driving. People are literally dying in car crashes due to texting. Yet people still do it. It’s time to stop. That text can wait.