I hope that local school boards, administrators and the public will come to see that Its time for many Chautauqua County schools to consider mergers. As the county population dwindles so do school enrollments with 13 districts now having enrollments under 1,000 students each.

We are doing students and taxpayers no favors by hanging on to districts that can no longer provide students with all the educational options available in today’s world while placing great strain on dwindling tax bases. Perhaps 20 or 30 years ago the current arrangement of districts made sense but in 2025 they won’t.

Larger school districts bring with them the effects of the economics of scale meaning that the larger districts by eliminating duplications in many areas and by buying things like books, computers, desks, electricity, and a myriad of other goods in greater bulk receive better prices from suppliers which translates into lower costs per student and less pressure on the tax base.

Next, I hope that in the coming year that those who are rushing us into the green energy future, particularly in the form of wind and solar generated power will come to their senses before this nation and our state are committed to these untested sources of energy. They may have a future but now is not that time.

I hope that those who advocate green energy consider commercial nuclear generation. It’s been around since 1958. Nuclear plants provide 19.5% to 20% of the power generated in this nation. The cost of construction spiraled out of control after the incident at Three Mile Island due to new regulations that were imposed. However, countries like France, Japan, and Canada kept costs fairly stable during this period. South Korea actually brough costs down, to a rate similar to the cost of solar power. The technology is now such that we should not be afraid of it.

I hope that the leaders of New York State government along with county and municipal governments will come up with realistic and workable programs to promote economic development and jobs in rural areas of the state that are languishing in mini depressions such as Chautauqua County. What is absolutely needed is for state and local governments to learn to live on less so that our onerous taxes rates can be cut and for the State to control its propensity for overregulating everything. In the end only those things will bring prosperity to rural New York.

In the New Year I hope that the Trump Administration will win the battle to beat inflation, lower energy prices, lower tax rates for businesses and individuals, ensure the success of the Department of Government Efficiency to root out government inefficiency and waste and to ensure that federal employees who need to be in their offices are in fact in their offices.

In looking at the world I hope for the following: That our armed forces free from DEI and woke policies and with plans for electrically powered combat vehicles forgotten will become again the greatest fighting force in the world ready if necessary to take on China and any other nations that might try to disturb the peace.

I hope that the virulent antisemitism that developed on college and University campuses after October 2023 will end. The problem obviously developed because many of the young people entering these institutions had been exposed in their secondary education to ideas like critical race theory and DEI (diversity, Equity, inclusion). It is also apparent that they lack critical thinking skills that has made them vulnerable to the influences of radical faculty members who advocate blind hatred of the Jewish people and Israel’s destruction. I believe it is time for an examination to ensure that our young are not being indoctrinated but are being taught things that will make them happy and productive adults.

I hope that the fighting between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah ends with Israel victorious and the Palestinian people no longer being used as shields by radical terrorists. I also hope for an extension of the Abraham Accords that during the first Trump administration normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan to also include Indonesia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

I hope that the war between Ukraine and Russia that has lasted nearly 3 years resulting in thousands of deaths and destruction on both sides concludes with measures in place that will deter Russia from attacking again.

Finally, I hope that in 2025 the Buffalo Bills finally win a Super Bowl, that the Sabres finally make the playoffs and that the New York Mets after a 39-year drought win another World Series.

Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com