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The new year wasted no time in testing the support that residents would show one another, as Nikolas Stalker, an expecting father, was injured in a freak accident while out hunting in Silver Creek.

Stalker, at 23 years old, was weeks from becoming a father when he went out hunting with his father-in-law and his friend. As the group made its way down a hill, Stalker’s friend, Bobby Ackerman, slipped. His weapon discharged and Stalker was shot in the leg.

See KINDNESS, Page A3

A meal train and fund raised $11,907 to benefit Nikolas and Caitlin Stalker, as Nikolas was hospitalized with a serious injury sustained in a hunting accident late last December. His wife, Caitlin, was pregnant at the time of the incident.

KINDNESS

Stalker was transported to Erie County Medical Center by the Silver Creek Fire Department with serious injuries.

According to Stalker’s sister-in-law, Jennifer Taylor, the bullet hit two arteries in his leg. He lost roughly seven pints of blood, and underwent emergency surgery to restore blood flow to save his leg.

Just over a month from the expected due date for his wife, Caitlin, in early February, Taylor reached out to the community to help. She established a meal train and fund to benefit Nikolas and Caitlin Stalker, as both were unable to work for the foreseeable future.

“Nik has always done everything for my sister, Caitlin, including cooking every meal, packing her lunch, and ensuring she starts each day with a nutritious breakfast. Now, it’s our turn to rally around Nik, providing them with the support they need during this challenging time,” Taylor said.

Pictured are cards of support from community members who visited Cassadaga ShurFine following its Indian cuisine buffet being discontinued.

Meals were prepared and donated by members of the community, while monetary donations were also accepted. In all, 146 people donated to the cause, with a total of $11,907 raised to support the young family.

After more than a week in the hospital, along with extensive physical therapy, Stalker made a full recovery. He was able to witness the birth of his son, Callahan.

Stalker said in a social media post a month ago, “I appreciate the people who have been following my story/journey for a long time now. I see you, and thank you.”

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Stalker’s story had a happy ending, but in life, that is not always the case. In August, a fire on McKinley Road in Westfield claimed the life of Alice Waters, a 43-year-old mother.

Waters left behind an 18-year-old son, Reyn, who had just been accepted to SUNY Canton to pursue a degree in Information Technology. Knowing how much support Reyn would need, especially after the tragic loss of his mother, a fundraiser was organized by Pamela Herdeman, a family friend. Herdeman stated, “Reyn has shown courage and resilience in the face of so much unrest and uncertainty.”

Herdeman defined Reyn as “smart and determined.” While his tuition was covered, many of his other expenses were not. Reyn was required to live on campus and to purchase a meal plan, in addition to the cost of a laptop, textbooks, and transportation to and from school. The fundraiser was started to address those needs, while also providing funds for Reyn to return home for his mother’s celebration of life.

Herdeman said, “I know Reyn personally. He is such a kind person with a big heart. He has been dealt a tough hand and he is trying hard to look forward and stay positive even when he keeps feeling like he’s being pulled backwards. I believe in Reyn and believe he will reach the stars if we could just give him that little lift to get started.”

More than 100 donors raised $7,737 through a GoFundMe campaign Herdeman started to benefit Reyn. In addition to private donations, a total of $8,245 was collected, which covered the cost of Reyn’s first semester in college, with some left over to carry over into his second semester.

No amount of money raised will make up for the loss of a loved one, but in this case, at least something good came out of tragedy.

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In the city of Dunkirk, the leaders elected to represent the best of Dunkirk instead showed the worst they had to offer when the topic of an unhoused man was raised at a Common Council meeting.

Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak brought the topic forward at a meeting, unprompted. She complained about a man who appeared to be living on the street, often located on city benches. She then suggested the city take the man’s possessions until he decides to leave town.

Fellow Council members Nancy Nichols and James Stoyle were critical of the unhoused man, as was Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz. But what was encouraging about the situation was that when the Common Council and the Mayor’s office lacked the compassion and decency that any human being deserves from another, people in the community stepped up to prove that the Council’s comments do not reflect the morals of the community they were elected to lead.

Melissa Barnes led a group effort to offer assistance to the man who was targeted by the Council. Barnes worked with the man, named Derek, along with multiple agencies to secure temporary housing. Dunkirk Police Chief Chris Witkowski – whose comments during the meeting in question showed more compassion than any elected to the Board – supplied Derek with the required documentation to help secure a birth certificate. Barnes worked to secure photo identification and a social security card for Derek, as well. Others in the community supplied Derek with food, clothing, and a new bike to help him get around.

“I think it’s important to mention that by no means was this a one-woman show,” Barnes said. “The outpouring of care and genuine concern for Derek by our community, especially in a world with so much uncertainty and hate, has been a breath of fresh air … one that I know Derek needed.”

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Unfortunately, the elected officials of the city of Dunkirk did not hold a monopoly on hurtful and insensitive comments this past year. However, just like in Dunkirk, the reprehensible behavior of a select few in the village of Cassadaga did not outweigh the positive response from others.

In August, the owners of Cassadaga ShurFine decided to discontinue an Indian food buffet following “hurtful and racist remarks” directed at the staff and the buffet itself. Allegedly, patrons of the store criticized the food and the presence of an Indian buffet in the store, located just beyond the village limits of Cassadaga. In a Facebook post, Cassadaga ShurFine claimed one patron said, “Why are you doing Indian food here? We are Americans — we don’t want to eat Indian food. It smells bad and all.”

The decision to discontinue the buffet was met with disappointment, as well as support from leaders across the region. It began with comments by Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone, who stated, “I’d like to encourage you to rethink the decision to discontinue and focus on all those people who support your efforts. I also realize it’s easier said than done. My only complaint is I didn’t realize you had the buffet as I would have loved to stop for it. If you change your mind and start it again please yell from the roof tops — I’d stand first in line but that might be too much competition.”

The Cassadaga Village Board was not far behind, as Trustees Cindy Flaherty and Cathy Cruver both took strong stances against the comments allegedly made against the owners of the business.

“I just thought it was appalling,” Flaherty said. “I am hoping that it wasn’t a village resident that made those comments because we are better than that.”

Cruver added, “It would be my hope that the majority of the people who live in this village do not hold the same views of diversity.”

Following comments from the Village Board, county residents Sue Bigler and Joe Brzezowski organized a group to support the buffet by placing a special order for 50 guests. Bigler stated there was an “overwhelming” response. An appreciation day was also held, in which guests were encouraged to support the store through purchases and by signing a card. Dozens of cards were on display at the store following the event.

All of the support eventually led to the decision to re-open the buffet twice a week, which Cassadaga ShurFine shared on its Facebook page. The announcement received nearly 400 reactions, more than 40 comments and more than 40 shares within the first week.

Cassadaga ShurFine stated on Facebook, “Thank you so much to the wonderful community of Cassadaga for coming in our support. We really appreciate you all. Your kindness means a lot.”

County residents proved there is still good in the world this year, despite the many negatives that come up every day. That good can be found from grabbing meals at a buffet, to meals being delivered to an expecting father fighting for his life. It can be seen from a GoFundMe campaign to help a grieving young man succeed in college; or even just in choosing kindness over judgment toward a man on a city bench.