Twenty years ago – 1994

City of Dunkirk Assessors Clerk Bill Dill recently outlined his plans to expand the operation of his office to better meet the city’s needs. Speaking at the Dunkirk Senior Center, Mr. Dill noted that one of the first steps will be to automatically send out senior citizen exemption renewal applications in January of each year. Seniors must file such an application every year in order to remain eligible for their 50 percent property tax exemption. In the past, however, seniors had to either stop by the assessor’s office or call to have one mailed to their home. “It will cost less than $100 in postage each year,” Mr. Dill explained, “which is money well spent if it prevents even one senior from slipping on the ice to walk to city hall in the dead of winter.”

Thirty years ago – 1984

The Fredonia State University Office of Admissions has opened up new quarters at 178 Central Ave. in Fredonia in an off-campus, 19th Century Victorian home known as the “Fenner House.” Director of Admissions William S. Clark said the admissions office was moved off campus and out of the second floor of the administration building in order to make it easier to serve the department’s unique clients – prospective students and their parents who look for the admissions counselors as their first contacts when visiting the college. The layout and style of the new quarters also offers a warmer, more personal environment for visitors to the college.

Forty years ago – 1974

Dunkirk Mayor Leon Damian wants to use a portion of the city’s share under the federal HUD Development Act to build a center for senior citizens.

Fifty years ago – 1964

The Sears Roebuck Co. catalog store on Central Avenue in Dunkirk will move to the D&F Plaza on Dec. 3.