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The OBSERVER’s View

Westfield: First Fridays are reasons to celebrate

A village of Westfield celebration kicks off again this week. First Fridays will begin its third summer. The CHQ Chamber made the announcement for the traditional street party after it secured a permit from the New York state Department of Transportation to close Route 20 in the village during the event. The closure allows for additional vendor participation and makes the experience safer and more walkable for all guests. First Friday events run from 5 to 8 p.m. with the closure in effect from 4 to 8:30 p.m. on June 6, July 11 (second Friday for Reunion Weekend), Aug. 1, and Sept. ...

Prisons: Another incident points to dangers

Strikes by correctional officers in the winter were meant to bring about a change for safer conditions for those who work in the facilities overseen by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Judging from an incident late last month, dangers remain prevalent. On May 27, an unknown substance was found at the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Facility in Brocton. It impacted a pair of inmates as well as staff members at the location this week. Officials with the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision reported that two incarcerated individuals fell ill and ...

COUNTY: Helping Hospice through butterflies

This weekend marks a special event for Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care. The agency’s annual Service of Remembrance and Memorial Butterfly Release will take place on Saturday. “In many cultures, butterflies symbolize the remarkable transformation between worlds,” said Jamie Probst, Director of Family Support Services at Hospice. “As butterflies emerge from their chrysalis, they signify both an end and a beginning–a profound representation of the journey of grief. It is through this journey that we discover new ways to cherish and preserve the bonds we ...

Silver creek: Village must be cautious with new deal

You cannot put a price on the dedication by those who serve as volunteers with Fire Department and emergency response teams. But Silver Creek is changing that landscape just a bit. Last month, the Village Board approved a contract for staffing services through Silver Creek Emergency Squad, Inc., and the Village of Silver Creek pertaining to Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and Emergency Vehicle Drivers. The contract will be for one year with an option for renewal each year. Once signed by both parties, the contract will be on file. While the charges are not expected to be ...

FREDONIA: Criticism not a fix for current woes

How many more former Fredonia officials need to come forward and tell the current Village Board it made mistakes? From this perspective, there has been a lot of inaction over three decades that finally spilled this spring out thanks to years of overly optimistic budgeting while being overstaffed. It all adds up to a gut-punching 60% property tax increase. For all intents and purposes, the municipality currently serves about 6,500 residents. The other 3,000 are considered part-time while learning at the State University of New York campus but are counted as part of the U.S. ...

County: Poised to repeat history with jail

Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Apparently, we didn’t learn from our history with the Chautauqua County Jail. In fact, it appears we’re about to repeat it. State officials are beginning to raise questions about the use of an old, antiquated section of the Chautauqua County Jail — just like they did in the late 1990s. An artificial deadline is being floated to push a decision — just like back in the 1990s. The price tag is astronomical — just like the 1990s. We’ve known for a while that county officials were going to be reviewing a possible ...