Residents and children may have already taken note. Playgrounds in Fredonia are once again open for use. During Monday’s Village Board meeting, Mayor Douglas Essek mentioned the change while issuing a note of caution. “All we ask is that everyone practice safe distancing and proper ...

Higher education continues to ponder the next steps to reopening buildings and a campus following the COVID-19 crisis that has impacted a state and nation. Locally, the State University of New York at Fredonia is making plans while awaiting guidelines from Albany. Don’t look now, but time ...

So far, so good. That is the preliminary report regarding the controversial roundabout that is located at Routes 20 and 60. Yes, it is far from perfect as work is still being completed. Even the drivers are sometimes unsure about the new pattern. But it seems to be working. Congestion is ...

What a difference a few miles makes. On Wednesday, Pennsylvania’s state legislators passed a concurrent resolution to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s disaster declaration, a resolution that restores balance to the state’s government and limits the governor’s reach into how businesses can ...

For many of us — from the middle of March through today — the COVID-19 crisis has provided a number of dark days. On a local level, businesses have been closed and numerous residents have been laid off or lost jobs. Of even greater sadness hundreds of thousands have died in the United ...

Schools have not only been beneficial in getting out information during the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff and buildings have played a role in helping residents make ends meet during these trying times. Last weekend, an article in the Sunday OBSERVER focused on the Gowanda Central Schools and its ...

Schools have not only been beneficial in getting out information during the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff and buildings have played a role in helping residents make ends meet during these trying times. Last weekend, an article in the Sunday OBSERVER focused on the Gowanda Central Schools and its ...

Three Dunkirk seniors, who have been through three months of anticipation and disappointment, showed many in our community what leadership is about. After witnessing a number of peaceful rallies and protests around the region and nation, these young ladies decided to bring a gathering of peace ...

When a COVID-19 vaccine is ready, will you take it? A recent Associated Press poll doesn’t paint a promising picture. Roughly half of Americans polled are willing to get the vaccine. Another 31% said they aren’t sure if they will take the vaccine and another 20% said they will refuse a ...

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” — the First ...

Some area school district budgets reflect tough decisions. Those made by Cassadaga Valley Central Schools, which include layoffs, and the Forestville Central Schools, which decreased spending by $281,140, are some of the most responsible in our region. Other districts, however, have put plans ...

Local and state officials reveling in their power to enforce dictates they claim are needed to battle the coronavirus pandemic may well have felt a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling upheld their authority. In a way, it did. But look more closely at the ruling: It came in an emergency appeal ...

It is quite obvious the town of Hanover is having no blast when discussing the controversial propane cannon issue. Besides being a hot topic at recent meetings, there also has been some protests surrounding the booms that are bothering a number of residents. During the last Town Board ...

It will be a whole new look for The Chautauqua Center in Dunkirk. Last week, officials from the health-care facility announced a major build for the city. “We did a thorough assessment, looking at buildings and lots and found that it was cheaper to build a whole new structure as opposed to ...

The Rev. Chloe Smith performed an invaluable public service this weekend organizing a peaceful, thoughtful rally at Dow Park in Jamestown. Sparked by the thoughtless killing of George Floyd, a helpless black man being arrested for a non-violent offense, by a white police officer in ...

While most of us have been preoccupied with keeping COVID-19 at bay, the scourge of illegal drugs continues to rear its ugly head. Christine Schuyler, county public health commissioner, told county Board of Health members that the county averaged about 19 overdoses a month in 2019 for a ...

A recent report card offers a mixed bag regarding how our local governments are doing when it comes to transparency during an unprecedented pandemic. According to the The New York Coalition for Open Government, there are some municipalities that are thriving and others are just outright ...

Once the grim tally of deaths from COVID-19 is finalized — sometime later this year, we hope — there is little doubt it will be clear that nursing homes are the coronavirus’ favored killing grounds. To most public health leaders, that already is obvious. In some states, most of the ...

Marcia Merrins, chair of the Fredonia Cable Advisory Board, is absolutely correct. In this era of meetings being broadcast on public access — since restrictions are in place due to COVID-19 — the location of the channel needs to be more prominent. Consider this in Dunkirk-Fredonia: ...

We have touched on this before, but it always is worth noting again. Many who have been displaced from work or had other hardships due to the coronavirus are facing a concern of when and where their next meal will be. On Monday, our newspaper again touched on the crisis and the need for ...