What a difference one year makes.
In July 2008, volunteers for the special edition OBSERVER highlighting the Laurel Run were busy dodging raindrops, some heavy at times. On Wednesday, the weather and results were very different.
Though temperatures were somewhat cool and the winds were whipping at times, no rain meant better sales - more than $2,350 worth. "It's easier to be colder than wet!" said Roberta Coniglio, who organized the group selling in Fredonia.
Silver Creek, Irving and Gowanda had the best results. The more than 500 newspapers sent to that area were sold out. Of course, volunteers in Fredonia, Dunkirk and Brocton were just as efficient as more than 2,000 special editions were sold.
In all, 2009 was the second best year for donations, topped only by 2002 - our first special edition.
Those who volunteered with the OBSERVER sale, including those from The Resource Center and the Fredonia Key Club, were: Shirin Aghazadeh, Victoria Trass Bardo, Nancy Ann Battaglia, Mary Kate Bongiovanni, Zach Brooks, Sandi Buckley, Keith Collins, Roberta Coniglio, Alissa Conti, Sandy and Jim Cuna, Tom DeJoe, Gerald Dolce, Jennifer Delevan Yerico, Danielle Dranum, Amy Drozdiel.
Mary Jo Hamilton, Sarah Hennessey, Wayne Hotelling, Kendall Kalfas, Josephine Klee, Julie Kohler, Greg Krauza, Matt Krauza, Tucker Krauza, Bill and Liz Kraft, Marebel Lanphere, Kevin Lowther, Bruce Main, Karen Makuch, Virginia Matteson, Althea Maxwell, Matt Metzger, Rachel Michalak, Roxanne Michalak, Steve Mills, Grace Moore, Alyce Muntz, Melinda Normandin.
Donald Parker, Mira Patel, Amy Pease, David Rice, Sandy Rice, Matthew Rice, Katie Robbins, Nikki Robbins, Carol Roussiau, Denise Saradin, David Scholand, Mollie Scott, Karen Silzle, Ben Siracuse, Victoria Snell, Morgan Stewart, Ben Swanson, Steve Waterson, Jean Webster, Cindy Willebrandt, Don Winslow, Megan Woloszyn, Evelyn Wright-Kegelmyer and Kerstin Wyman.
Those who assisted at the OBSERVER include: Shaun Boyd, Gary Butler, Chuck Cuccia, Randy DeJohn, Corky Gloff, Christine Higgins, Roberta Jacobs, Ann Mucha, Barb Musso, Ken Pacos, Shawn Paulus, Jessica Roach, Erica Whitfield and Dan Willis.
Also, a word of thanks to WDOE and 96 Kix for their mention of the sale on the radio.
All proceeds from the sale benefit work-related projects for adults with disabilities at The Resource Center. And, if you still would like a copy, special edition newspapers are available at our Second Street offices for $1 during business hours.
We want your photos!
Our staff is putting together a collection of reader photos from past summers. If you have a photo you would like to share - a great summer memory or just a picture of how things once were - drop it off at our office or e-mail it to photo@observertoday.com. We will need information on when the picture was taken and who is submitting the photo.
Those who submit photos will also be entered into a drawing for a free 13-week subscription of the OBSERVER. For more information, call 366-3000, ext. 499.
John D'Agostino is the publisher of the OBSERVER.
Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 366-3000, ext. 401.