Receiving our “2016 Spring & Summer Events Guide,” I was excited to look over the whole book, especially our lake-front happenings for families and tourists, but mostly being on the Tourist Route, “Route 5.” many visitors heading east or west, would stop!

Opening the book, on page 22, we see Memorial Park “Juneteenth Celebration of Cultural Events” on June 18 and 19. At this time last year, the Great Lakes Experience was being held at the same time and same park as well.

What happened to that event? Why is it not back this year?

The Great Lakes Experience is a wonderful event for this community. We hope it returns.

This year, I talked with the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and asked if we could try for a grant for our Dunkirk Recycle calendars! It was such a small amount of $3,100. This would have gone to each household with the landlords urging their renters to recycle.

Well, I went to our Council Lady, and told her go for it, in her name! She instead, went against my wishes, and asked for $5,000 for a truck to go to Mayville. This was not needed, and we were refused once again! Calendars still sit on the City Hall desk, and Greg Bennice, our Public Works director, said the recycling is way down! How are we to tell everyone, especially the seniors and single home owners, what we want, when many don’t drive? Where is the common sense in this situation?

Let’s go on to the Historical Society! Listening to “Viewpoint” with Dave Rowley, Westfield Historical Society was explaining one of the great celebrations that is going to come for them. Also, didn’t Sheridan have their Historical Days on Memorial Day weekend?

What about the Dunkirk Historical Society event?

At noon May 14, Mayor Willie Rosas and Common Council were as to have a small ceremony with those representatives even ringing the bells on the train! This never happened! Not one historical official or president came to talk with them or take any pictures of Rosas and the council!

This was very rude of the Dunkirk Historical Society, and the worst part was no picture or write-up of our 444 Engine, and the 150th anniversary of the Train, also nothing how the first Alco Plant and how proud Dunkirk was of this, and many that worked there, years ago, visited the 444 Train!

We also very upset with our Dunkirk Chamber of Commerce, they do not stand up for us, only do whatever Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce wants and take everything of ours to Jamestown or Chautauqua Lake. This has to stop. They almost got our Incubator closed down, and everything was going to Jamestown Community College on Route 60!

When is our Dunkirk Chamber of Commerce going to stand up for us? I went to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office for help! Last week, I got a call, and they said we have no grant application from the city, mayor or council for help in a grant.

We knew Gov. Cuomo has stated there will be a grant of $800,000 for transit alone, and was to be used on the Harbor Front Tourism! They advised me what to do! So, I attended the next public council meeting, and asked Mayor Rosas, if he and Mr. Beard put in for a grant to Gov. Cuo-mo’s office? He said no and with Mr. Beard gone, I had my answer! He did nothing to obtain grants, but would take credit for them, especially the one of Randy Woodbury’s!

I then asked permission to send Bob Bankoski, Kevin Muldowney both our Legislators to their meeting, and told them Gov. Cuomo’s office asks for help from our county executive and our IDA Industrial and also their Public Works Department!

We also have a question for our Histor-ical Society. Why do they ignore the Dun-kirk Train Depot Opening? This is all we need to complete our goal for us! After all, Dunkirk has everything to survive, and we are blessed! And for them to support a fake bus, train station? Dunkirk will be complete!

And for our Great Lakes Experience Project. We are going to fight, to get it back, maybe in July! The Environmental Fisheries at Point Gratiot, The Dunkirk Harbor Front, local residents, people from as far as the Finger Lakes, Canada, Ohio, want an answer from our city administration!

If a mistake was made, last year, correct it, but don’t deprive our families of such a great event! Also, look, we obtained money for fireworks! Like we said, Dunkirk Chamber of Commerce needs to stand up, and protect their residents, not lay down, and expect everything to fall in their lap and be led by their nose, with the Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce!

Just look around and see! Thank you and God Bless!

We need help!

Valerie Pawlak is a Dunkirk resident and member of the Great Lakes Council.