OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen

The symbolic torch for the Empire State Winter Games passed through the Village of Gowanda on Monday morning. Students of the Gowanda Central School District carried the torch through the halls of the high school and middle school, then departed from the campus and ran down the street with vehicles escorting their path to the elementary school. Students watched as the torch was carried through the halls of the elementary school, then out to the street again.

The runners, led by Gowanda senior Drew Shull, carried the torch all the way down Aldrich Street and across to its destination, Community Bank, which is a sponsor for the event and the Empire State Winter Games. Two torches – one on each side of the state – meet up in Lake Placid when the games commence on Thursday.