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Fancy footwork adds boost to annual Run

Publisher’s notebook

OBSERVER Photo Morgan Lewis, who designed the winning Laurel Memorial Run logo, is presented with a gift certificate by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling.

Fredonia High School senior Jake Skinner is more than just an all-star football athlete. If you have seen him in action locally on Friday nights, you know he has quick feet.

Those were definitely on display during the morning of July 9 on Vineyard Drive in front of the Tim Hortons in Dunkirk. But instead of catching passes, Skinner was delivering donations through dancing on what turned out to be a record day for the OBSERVER and Laurel Memorial Run volunteers.

“The secret is dancing!” Skinner told OBSERVER staff writer Mary Heyl that morning. “The more I dance, the more papers I sell!”

It obviously worked. In all, more than $2,500 was raised that day to benefit work-related projects for adults with disabilities at The Resource Center.

This year’s 23rd annual event gets under way today with the flag relay in Jamestown this morning and concludes this afternoon in Washington Park in Dunkirk.

On Saturday, the festivities move to Silver Creek’s Village Square for the 5k walk, 8k walk and post-race parties. Also of note is this year’s grand marshal is Brian Samelson, someone who has been close to the event for numerous years.

Spearheaded by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling, the Laurel Memorial Run has provided this community with moments to cherish. For the last 13 years, our newspaper has been proud to team with this dedicated family and group of Resource Center employees and volunteers to help get the word out and raise money for a great cause.

Over those years nearly $29,000 has been raised in the effort. As always, we salute those who helped in the sale. Volunteers in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area included: Vicky Bardo, Alex Christy, Julian DiPalma, Donna Eddy, Dalton Gardner, Oscar Gould, Anthony Gullo, Dominic Gullo, Fred Gullo, Joey Gullo, Alisen Hazeltine, Jake Helmer, Greg Johnson, Greg Krauza, Lynn Krone, Greyson Krzyzanowicz, Becky Mirek, Don Parker, Tyler Putney, Barb Ravellette, Alec Schrader, Justin Sherlock, Skinner, Laurie Strong, Steve Waterson, Shelly Williamson, ShyAnne Wood and Evelyn Wright-Kegelmyer.

Volunteers in the Forestville, Gowanda and Silver Creek areas included: George Borrello, county executive; Jeff Hornburg, Silver Creek mayor; Marlene Bradigan, Ashton Francis, Lindsey Gabel, Phil Hall, Elaine and Wayne Hotelling, Bill Kraft, Liz Kraft, Peter Palmer, David Rice, Steve Schmidt, John Stonefoot, Kristine TwoGuns, Jim Tytka Sr., Jim Tytka Jr., Dave Wilson, Mike Wilson and Gloria Yeager.

For more on the event, or to register for Saturday, visit www.laurel-run.com.

John D’Agostino is the OBSERVER publisher. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 366-3000, ext. 401.

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