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The OBSERVER’s View

SCHOOLS As classes return, bullying follows

Young people’s return to their classrooms each fall usually is a routine, uneventful exercise, even for young men and women transitioning from high school to a college environment. They’ve gone through the proverbial ritual of clothes-buying over the latter part of the summer, as well as having stocked up on pens and pencils, notebooks and other such necessities, not to mention the electronics — devices such as computers, printers and cellphones. Even for those students who would much prefer additional freedom from classes, tests and homework, the final summer-vacation days ...

ARKWRIGHT Kinks in big project upsets small town

Be careful with what you wish for — and in the town of Arkwright’s case, they had hoped for some major overhauls after a windfall of cash from the developers who constructed 36 turbines. They did get a bit of that, but the final product has officials disappointed. During this month’s Town Board meeting, elected officials noted their new Highway Department building has too many flaws. The steel of the building appears dented or damaged because of an issue referred to as oil canning. That includes the over-driving of fasteners, loose or tight clips, uneven substrate, underlayment ...

FREDONIA Ringing approval with phone limits

It is still early, but the results are encouraging — at least at the Fredonia Central School district. During a board meeting this month, High School Principal Darrin Paschke noted how he was “pleasantly surprised” by how the students were coping with cell-phone restrictions. Paschke reported to the school board that students have spoken to how much their focus and productivity has improved without having a phone as a distraction. Enthusiasm for group work in classrooms over the first five days of school has also seen a spike. “The kids seem to be very happy,” Paschke ...

CPS must focus on quality, not levels

It’s good to hear that staffing levels are improving in the county Child Protective Services Department and that caseworkers are handling normal caseloads. But, as we’ve said in this space before, making employees’ lives easier is only half of the battle when it comes to CPS oversight. And it still seems as if county lawmakers only care about workers’ complaints. Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, is pushing county officials for a written plan of what happens when law enforcement is not available. Laurie Dolce, director of certification for the Department of Social ...

STATE Wheels of justice still turn too slowly

What happened recently on Victoria Avenue in Jamestown is just one example of what is frustrating many New Yorkers with their state government. For all of the statistics that state Democrats want to cite that bail reform hasn’t led to a rash of reoffenders walking the streets, there are situations like last week’s in Jamestown that should upset people regardless of their political leanings. Reoffenders happen - not always because of bail reform but because it takes far too long to get a case from a charge to a courtroom. To recap, regional police officers spent hours at the ...

WATER EMERGENCY: County alert slows to a trickle

Thank goodness for the NY Alert system for Brocton and Portland residents. Without that notification on Monday afternoon, no one would have known what was happening with the water system in the village and town. On Monday, a leak was detected that led to the alert sometime around 4 p.m. Residents were being asked to conserve water due to an issue at the Portland water tank. Our newspaper covered the incident, thanks to the notification, through our website and social media page that evening. Unfortunately, at the time the alert was sent, some residents already had low pressure — or ...