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The OBSERVER’s View

New York State: Keep politics out of fragile grid

Injecting politics into the redistricting process — a process already governed by politics — is unfortunate but ultimately harms no one but politicians. It’s irksome when Texas Republicans and New York and California Democrats play shenanigans with congressional district lines because of party politics, but ultimately it’s not an earth-shattering issue for most people. Injecting politics into the operation of the state electric grid, on the other hand, is different. We’re seeing that with the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the 2019 bill that set ...

SUNY FREDONIA: Positive ‘measures’ start a new year

Crisp mornings signal the return of students at the State University of New York at Fredonia. This year, the institution is upbeat as 3,156 are enrolled for the start of the fall semester. That is ahead of last year’s total at the same point in time, the university says. The incoming class includes 990 first-year, transfer, and new graduate students. Total graduate enrollment is up 17% compared to last year, and almost 50% from three years ago, reflecting Fredonia’s growing strength in advanced degree programs. “This year’s enrollment demonstrates encouraging stability at a ...

Thruway: Response ‘gratitude’ in tragic crash

A tour bus mishap on the New York State Thruway on Friday afternoon took an emotional and devastating toll on many over the weekend. So often, residents here use that Interstate to get to events in Central and Eastern New York. For hours on Friday, the road was an emergency zone. Five people died in the accident and several were injured — with some still in regional hospitals on Monday. Within hours after the accident, many issued statements regarding the tragedy. State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, noted the response likely played a role in saving many others. “We extend ...

SCHOOLS: Videos can assist in reorganization

The initial steps taken this year by the communities of Clymer, Sherman and Panama toward a possible reorganization of the school districts has us thinking back to the last time we started this process. Of course, the last reorganization attempt only involved Clymer and Panama, districts that at the time were sharing a superintendent, several sports teams along with Sherman and several office positions. If ever a reorganization made sense then, it was Clymer and Panama. If ever a reorganization makes sense now, it’s Clymer, Sherman and Panama. As we look back on the 2017 merger and ...

FREDONIA Fitting choice for Farm Festival

This year’s choice of Tom Webb as parade grand marshal of the 57th Fredonia Farm Festival is a fantastic selection. Webb and his family have been tremendous boosters of the community throughout the decades One of the reasons Webb was chosen is he was one of the founders of the event. In an article published in 2019, that history was outlined. Here is that article, which is worth repeating, on the weekend of the event: “The Fredonia Farm Festival was first conceived in 1966 by the Fredonia Booster Association. “This event took place in the back room of Dickenson’s ...

FREDONIA: Farm Festival back in its groove

Northern Chautauqua County’s annual sign that the State University of New York at Fredonia is ready for the fall semester — and summer’s end is not far away — takes place this weekend. It’s the 57th annual Farm Festival that takes place in Barker Common. After a number of reorganizational efforts last year, the Fest is planning to be a three-day event again that begins on Friday. “We added back Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. to give the community, as well as the vendors, an opportunity to settle in and have a bit more opportunity to enjoy the Festival,” said festival co-chair ...