The power to profit greatly from their misdeeds and to be shielded from punishment is something of which all criminals dream. Occasionally, often through politics, some think they have achieved that. If federal authorities are correct, former White House aide Steve Bannon is among ...
Northern Chautauqua County has been lucky to have had Dr. Dennis Hefner in its corner as for 16 years as president of the State University at Fredonia and another short-term stint as interim university president. SUNY Fredonia was lucky to have Hefner’s steady hand during the COVID-19 ...
Given the state of our national and state political discourse, one could almost see how Gov. Andrew Cuomo for dismissing calls for a third party review of the state’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes as a partisan tripe hunt. The governor is wrong, though. A thorough accounting is ...
Speaking in one voice. It is something our state Sen. George Borrello has consistently pushed for during his time as an elected official. That is why last week’s joint announcement by Fredonia Mayor Douglas Essek and Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas was so significant. The leaders of the two ...
Schools across the region and around the state are on the hot seat. There’s no question parents and community members are frustrated with the lack of information and the uncertainty that revolves around reopening plans at many districts. It is no different in Chautauqua County. What is ...
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. So goes the United States Postal Service’s motto. No one said anything about lack of funding. Despite his denials, President Donald Trump is being accused by some ...
Right before the July 4 holiday, things seemed to be progressing with the roundabout at Routes 20 and 60. Since then, however, work has been at a standstill. It has been a bit frustrating for motorists, to an extent. Though traffic seems to be moving smoother, the barrels and cones that ...
One project that has been put on hold, and nearly forgotten, due to the COVID-19 pandemic involved major changes at the Dunkirk Senior Center. During the fall, information sessions drew a large segment of the public with concerns. Rebecca Wurster, city development director, understands the ...
A new era is beginning at the State University of New York at Fredonia with the presidency of Stephen Kolison. But before he steps in, a familiar face offered a farewell with some upbeat remarks. In the weekend OBSERVER, outgoing Interim President Dennis Hefner pointed out some significant ...
COVID-19 put Jamestown Community College and its employees in a bind. College officials made difficult decisions in not filling some positions as well as furloughing employees. Give credit to the JCC Faculty Association and the college’s Professional and Supervisory Alliance for working ...
For years Chautauqua County residents have been hearing about the importance of technology jobs as the next wave of economic development in our county. The news, first reported by Buffalo Business First, that several Chautauqua County sites are being considered by Amazon for a distribution ...
Giving Americans a month less to respond to the 2020 Census may be the most ridiculous proposal to come out of Washington this year. The idea should be discarded. Original plans for the Census called for an Oct. 31 deadline for people to respond to it with information about themselves and ...
Less than one month until schools are scheduled to open, it is much too soon for many of the area districts to have a concrete plan on what model to use in having the students return. For now, three options exist: complete in-person, a hybrid model of in person and remote and remote only. At ...
It was an emotional scene at Point Gratiot on Sunday. Around 3:20 p.m., city police and fire crews were called to respond after a swimmer went missing. One of the early reports from a witness was the male, who was believed to be in his 20s, was seen near the cliffs by the Dunkirk Lighthouse ...
Zed Williams had a tremendous athletic career as a Silver Creek Black Knight. Over the weekend, in leading his Premier Lacrosse League Whipsnakes to a title, his legend grew even larger. Williams had six goals in the championship, including five in the fourth quarter, in leading the ...
The opening of a new transfer station in Warren County, Pa., sparks a radical idea here in Chautauqua County — is it time to privatize the county’s waste transfer stations? Chautauqua County currently has four transfer stations: one in Falconer, one in Fredonia, one in Sherman and one at ...
New York state Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul has a close connection with Chautauqua County. As a Buffalo-area resident, she has spent many summers enjoying the wonder and beauty of our region as well as Chautauqua Lake. Hochul also understands an important dynamic. If something is good for Jamestown, ...
Rationing of medical treatment is viewed by many Americans as unacceptable. Making health care decisions based on anything but need is seen as immoral. That is as it should be. But as researchers race to develop vaccines against COVID-19, the specter of rationing is being raised by ...
Residents who appreciate dividing lines for their communities may not be happy with recent decisions by municipalities that provide ambulance service. The latest to make a call on that issue, that may hurt their neighbors, was Silver Creek. Earlier this week, the board voted unanimously to ...
Without rodeo, dinner goes on It is almost like Buffalo without the Bills. This year, Gerry is without the rodeo as the event was canceled — like many other events — due to COVID-19. This would have been the weekend for the 76th annual event. There will be no action at the grounds. No ...