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Anniversaries | VIEW ALL

School 7 names top December students

December’s School 7 Students of the Month include: Elena Fred, Kyra Martucci, Jaden Wills, Grace Dobek, Diangelys Rodriguez, Everly Klemens (School 7 Board of Education Rep), Yoriannie Rodriguez DeJesus, Gabriel Cicelske. Missing from photo are Johndiel Cordova Cruz, Mitchell Trippy, ...

Frank and Shirley DeJohn

Frank and Shirley DeJohn of Fredonia celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Here is a portion of the announcement that was published on that day in the Dunkirk OBSERVER: An altar decorated with vases of white gladioli provided the background this morning for the ...

Earl and Irene Blakely

Earl and Irene (Frederickson) Blakely celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They were married on Aug. 17, 1957, at the Hanover Center Church in Hanover Center. Anna Frederickson (Maid of Honor) and Donald Blakely (Best Man) were in attendance with several family members and friends.

Geraldine S. (Kropat) and Ronald B. Waite

Geraldine and Ronald Waite were married on June 5, 1957, at the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Cassadaga with Father Robert Versen officiating. Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren hosted a celebration of their wedding anniversary on Sunday, July 3. Geraldine ...

Community News | VIEW ALL

CHPC Memorial Service and Butterfly Release set for Saturday, June 3

Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care will host its annual service of remembrance and memorial butterfly release on Saturday, June 3. The event offers an opportunity for individuals to honor and commemorate their loved ones, both virtually and in-person, at Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative ...

Coming up…

TUESDAY, MAY 30 Dunkirk Public Library presents: Story time and take-home craft kit 536 Central Ave., 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For ages 2 to 5. SOAR Chapter 4-1 meeting USWA Local Union Hall, Fourth Street, Dunkirk, noon. Lunch follows. All SOAR members and retirees invited. For details, ...

Restaurant and shops opening in North Harmony

NORTH HARMONY – A new collection of businesses on Route 394 between Stow and Chautauqua Institution is in the process of opening this month. CHQ Marketplace is the brainchild of Morgan and Matthew Dinger. The two business people were recently working in the Pittsburgh market and enjoyed ...

Community notebook

City Pier boxing event postponed Youth boxing fans will have to wait a while for a Dunkirk Pier event. The 2XL Showdown on the Pier, originally set for Saturday, June 10, “has been postponed to a future date due to lack of certified officials to oversee (the) event.” That’s according ...

Sunday Lifestyles | VIEW ALL

Auxiliary names delegate for Girls State from Dunkirk

Dunkirk Memorial American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62 has announced Dunkirk High School Junior Hailey Near as its 2023 Empire Girls State delegate. Hailey is the daughter of Michelle Ossman of Dunkirk and is a member of the Class of 2024 at Dunkirk High School. She is an honor student and a ...

Today’s lifestyle can be troubling for teens

When one writes articles for this newspaper or any other newspaper, the writer opens himself or herself to the theme of a Clint Eastman movie, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” For the most part, most of the readers have been supportive and gracious. The “bad” goes to prove that, ...

Getting your garden to grow

Audubon Community Nature Center recently had a plant sale, and native plants flew off the tables. There could have been many reasons for this. Native plants could be in higher demand right now. Native plant gardeners could be happier in the rain, since it was a deluge that morning. More likely, ...

Gowanda names top students for March 2023

GOWANDA – The Student Council of Gowanda High School named 11 outstanding Panthers as Students of the Month for March 2023. Congratulations to on their recognition. Honorees are selected based on the following attributes – collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity – ...

Achievement | VIEW ALL

St. Francis names area honor students

HAMBURG — St. Francis High School, a Roman Catholic, Franciscan, private, college preparatory school for young men in Western New York has announced its first and second honors for the third quarter of the 2022-23 school year. Area students who made the list are as follows: ANGOLA First ...

Full-time JCC students from region named to Dean’s List

The following students from Jamestown Community College were placed on the Dean’s List for academic excellence during the fall 2022 semester. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.50 during the semester while enrolled in at least 12 degree ...

NCCS lists honor recipients

Honor and merit roll students have been listed by Northern Chautauqua Catholic School for the second-marking period. First honors Fourth grade: Madeline Woelfle, Turner Morris, Cain Palmer, Kara Harrington, Avery Brown, Henry Congdon, Maddison Mackowiak, Violet Zappie, Avareigh Rivera, ...

Top School 3 students named

The November Students of the Month were named at Dunkirk School 3. In row one, from left, are: Owen Ni, Natalie Wise, represented School 3 at the December Board of Education meeting; Charlotte Trippy and Vivianna Lockett. In row two are: Kisun Peters, principal, School 3, Ishtar Gautier ...

Births | VIEW ALL

Naomi Ray Steinhoff

Naomi Ray Steinhoff was born at 6:53 a.m. Friday, June 24, 2022. She weighed 2 pounds, one ounce and is 15 inches long. The parents are Quintina Steinhoff and Jacob Steinhoff of Stockton. Grandparents are LaVonne Carpenter and Michael Carpenter of Brocton and Alan Steinhoff and Valerie Higgs of ...

Birth: Bodhi Robert Adamowicz

Bodhi Robert Adamowicz was born on Nov. 10, 2021, in Oishei Childrens Hospital to Colby and Nicole Adamowicz. He weighed 7 pounds and 1 ounce at 19 3/4 inches. Proud sister Harper Adamowicz. Grandparents are Brad Pachol, Amy Ricotta, Aaron Ricotta, Marv Cummings, Vicki Cummings and Cathy Cummings.

Connor Brooks Kies

Philip and Shelby Kies welcomed an infant son, Connor Brooks Kies, on Dec. 14, 2020, at Magee Womens UPMC Hamot, in Erie, Pa. Grandparents are Tore and Beverly Arvidson of Bemus Point, Monika (Howard) Miller-Kies of Groveland, Fl, and John (Ahmed) Kies of Erie, Pa.

Zander Ives Golem

Zander Ives Golem was born in his Dunkirk home at home on November 14, 2020. Zander was born into his mother Evan Golem’s arms, while being supported by her husband Eric Golem and her mother, Lynn Hoth. Zander weighed 8lbs 13oz and was 21.5 inches long. The home birth was attended by Jennifer ...

Engagements | VIEW ALL

Denae O’Connor and David Bobik

Together with their families, Denae O’Connor and David Bobik are happy to announce their engagement. O’Connor is the daughter of James and Julie O’Connor of Silver Creek. She is a graduate of Silver Creek Central School and Jamestown Community College. David is the son of David Bobik ...

Julie Elizabeth Arnold and Zachary Raymond Sanders

Julie Elizabeth Arnold and Zachary Raymond Sanders, together with their families, announce their engagement. The bride-to-be is the daughter of John and Carol Arnold of Fredonia. She is a 2010 graduate of Fredonia High School, and 2014 graduate of The College at Brockport. She earned her ...

Laura Woods and Jeffrey Mulkin

Together with their families, Laura Woods and Jeffrey Mulkin are happy to announce their engagement. Laura is the daughter of Colleen Vanderzyden and Steven Woods of Fredonia. She is a 2013 graduate of Fredonia High School, 2016 graduate of Susquehanna University with a bachelor’s in ...

Sierra Cross and Kevin Rocque

Ralph and Margaret Cross of Leon announce the engagement of their daughter, Sierra Harleigh, to Kevin Michael Rocque, the son of Timothy and Ruthann Rocque of Silver Creek. Miss Cross is a graduate of Pine Valley Central School, St. Bonaventure University, and the State University of ...

Religion | VIEW ALL

State council warning of Medicare card scam

In the past Medicare beneficiaries used their Social Security number as their Medicare number. In 2018, as a result of some changes instituted by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) each Medicare beneficiary received a new card with a uniquely assigned combination of letters ...

Chautauqua Institution names religious life leaders

CHAUTAUQUA — Chautauqua Institution has appointed two new religious leaders. Melissa Spas, acting director of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, has been named the institution’s new vice president of religion. The ...

Trinity UCC Gowanda welcomes Pastor Jess Kacalski

Pastor Jess Kacalski has been named Trinity UCC’s transitional part time pastor. She started at the church at the end of January and has office hours Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kacalski has been coming to Trinity for many years, first as vacation pulpit supply then as pulpit supply ...

The Advent of our Lord – do not reject this great gift

Many Christian denominations (although not all) observe the Season of Advent during the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent means arrival, appearance or coming. During Advent the Christian focus is on the coming of Christ. Specifically, how Christ came to us in the past, how Christ ...

Weddings | VIEW ALL

Ronald Walter and Judith Anne Gabalski

Judith Anne Bacon and Ronald Walter Gabalski exchanged vows on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 in a sunlight ceremony on the island at the Den Adelsman’s Klub in Gerry. Family and friends gathered after the ceremony for a reception on the grounds. The wedding was officiated by Pastor Brandon ...

Kristine and William E. Matteson

Mr. William E. Matteson and Mrs. Kristine M. (Gehling) Matteson exchanged vows at 2:30 pm on September 17, 2022. The quaint and private wedding ceremony was held at Harvest Chapel Free Methodist Church in Fredonia. Pastor Jim Labar officiated the beautiful ceremony. A reception will follow ...

Zachary and Julie Sanders

Julie Arnold and Zachary Sanders were united in marriage on August 20, 2022, at 2 p.m., in a Catholic Mass and double-ring ceremony, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Dunkirk. The wedding was officiated by the Rev. Daniel Walsh. The bride is the daughter of John and Carol Arnold of ...

Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Hiller

Haley Starr Halas of Fredonia and Caleb Clark Hiller of Frewsburg were united in marriage at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at the Den Adelsman’s Klub in Gerry, NY. The wedding was officiated by Kory Hiller. The bride is the daughter of William Halas and Danielle Yuengert of Fredonia. ...

Senior News | VIEW ALL

Dunkirk Seniors making getaway plans

The Dunkirk Senior Center will be having a trip to the Windmill Farm & Market, Saturday, June 3. The Windmill Farm hosts over 175 indoor and outdoor shops with numerous hand-crafted items. There will be fresh produce, flowers, wineries, artistry, etc. Sign up in the Senior Center Office. ...

Stay healthy with state’s nutrition program

Are you over 60? Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is for you! SNAP helps New Yorkers buy food. New York’s older adults are a very large and diverse group of people, differing in age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, health status, and more. Seniors may ...

Grape Belt Seniors plan getaways

The Grape Belt Seniors meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Masonic Lodge for their aerobics and weights class from 9 to 10 a.m.. You must be a member to attend and the classes are $1 each time you attend. Upcoming trips include: ¯ June 8 the group will be going to the Niagara Falls ...

Getting fired up over the start of grilling season

May is the unofficial start of grilling season, so get the grill cleaned off and pull out that bib or apron because it is about to get messy. Grilling is beloved part of the summer. Some of the benefits of grilling include health, convenience, gets us outdoors, takes the formality out of ...

Entertainment | VIEW ALL

Jazz ensembles win astounding third DownBeat award in five years

New category/new year, but the same award-winning outcome. A jazz ensemble at the State University of New York at Fredonia has captured yet another award in DownBeat Magazine’s Student Music Award competition. The Fredonia Jazz Flextet, under the direction of School of Music Assistant ...

‘Mafia Mamma’ showing at Opera House

The next film in the Cinema Series at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is the action comedy “Mafia Mamma,” starring Toni Collette. It will be screened Saturday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. While seeing to her long estranged (and now deceased) grandfather’s affairs in ...

Met Live season continues with ‘Don Giovanni’

Live at the Met, the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live, high definition (HD) opera transmissions to theaters around the world, continues at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center on Sat., May 20, at 1 p.m., with Wolfgang Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Tony ...

Alumni return as special guest artists for pops concert

After having stepped out and made a mark in the professional world as performers, two distinguished alumni will return to Fredonia as special guest artists for Rockefeller Arts Center’s traditional commencement eve concert at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Amanda Lynn Bottoms ...

Local entertainment news | VIEW ALL

Lecture series explores Brocton’s 19th century “cult”

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center continues its free-admission Chautauqua County History Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday with The Brotherhood of the New Life, presented by D.R. Barker History Museum Board President Jeff Adams and Archivist Catherine Oag-Miller. This ...

Carnegie Hall debuts set for FSM faculty

State University of New York at Fredonia School of Music faculty members Dr. Adam Luebke and Sarah Luebke will make their Carnegie Hall debuts on Saturday, May 27, performing Antonio Vivaldi’s “Magnificat.” Dr. Luebke will conduct a festival chorus and the New England Symphonic ...

1891 Opera House presents Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center will present the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus in concert on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The event is presented in partnership with the State University of New York at Fredonia’s Pride Alliance. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Dr. Robert ...