Broken connection
City banner display frustrates as Fredonia keeps theirs down
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Banners record life in small towns. Their changes reflect subtle shifts -- in a season, a community's mood, or even its leaders.
Back in 2021, a new set of banners popped up down the entire length of Central Avenue. They promoted a "Central Connection" between the village of Fredonia, the SUNY Fredonia campus and the city of Dunkirk, all of which share the avenue.
The Central Connection was supposed to promote a closer relationship between the three entities. Its most notable event in 2021 was a community bike ride down Central Avenue. Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas, Fredonia Mayor Douglas Essek, and SUNY Fredonia President Stephen Kolison posed with a bike for an OBSERVER photo to promote the ride, which drew about 60 cyclists.
Since then, Essek and Rosas have left office. Their respective municipalities have dealt with serious financial problems and divisive issues, such as water and the site of a new hospital, that tend to shove banners well into the background.
In addition, the city has a new banner priority. Dunkirk Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak spearheaded a Hero Banner program in 2023 to honor city military veterans. The program has received significant interest, erecting hundreds of banners.
However, they are not on Central Avenue downtown because Dunkirk is still putting up its Central Connection banners. Luczkowiak complained about that a little bit recently at a meeting of the city Department of Public Works Committee which she chairs.
She pointed out that Fredonia no longer puts theirs on its Central Avenue poles. Luczkowiak said it didn't make sense for Dunkirk to put up Central Connection banners if Fredonia was not, and those spaces could have been used for Hero Banners in more visible spots.
Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson blamed recent turnover at the village Department of Public Works for the village's failure to put up its banners. The department has had four supervisors in the past year: Scott Marsh retired, Dave Bird was terminated, Doug Bunge replaced Bird but retired shortly thereafter, and now Jenness Merrill.
"There's been so much going on," Ferguson said, citing road work. "I don't mean disrespect, but I don't think that's been at top of mind."
However, he stated that several Fredonians are trying to start the village's own Hero Banner program to honor its veterans.
It's worth noting that the OBSERVER does not recall the Fredonia Central Connection banners going up last year, either, when Marsh was still supervisor.
There's a rumor in Fredonia that its Central Connection banners were lost or stolen. Ferguson said he was not aware of that, but would look into it.
The program that the banners were meant to promote is languishing. No new Central Connection events or initiatives have been announced since 2022.
Meanwhile, back in Dunkirk, the Hero Banner program did not go entirely smoothly this year. The program has proved so popular that there wound up being a shortage of available spaces to put the banners up. The Hero Banner committee sought to give many of the original 2023 banners to families of the honorees, but that led to criticism from people who wanted them to stay on display.
"Next year, we will take a sabbatical regarding any new banners," Luczkowiak stated. "I will present to the committee that we keep a waiting list, and only put up a banner when one comes down."
There were also reportedly problems with weather damage to the banners. "The newer banners are now glued together and stronger; so, it will be interesting to see how they last," Luczkowiak said. "They are supposed to last much longer, in fact, not separate at all."