Twenty years ago — 1998

The Annual Lake Erie Cleanup in the Dunkirk Harbor area again proved to be a success, according to organizer Gregg Bentham of the city’s Harbor Commission. The entire area from North Main Street to the Niagara Mohawk property, Cedar Beach and Point Gratiot was cleaned. More than 76 volunteers participated in the event, an increase from last year. The largest group was Cub Scout Pack 207 in Dunkirk, which cleaned all of Cedar Beach with the help of Cub Pack 208 and Girl Scout Troop 8. The hardest-working group was the Cassadaga Job Corps Center, which sent a bus load of students to do some heavy lifting of logs at the North Main Street beach.

Thirty years ago — 1988

Mrs. Theresa “Tess” Szymanowicz and Ms. Belle Berry, both of Dunkirk, will be honored by St. Columban’s On The Lake at the 11th annual Western New York Association of Homes for the Aging banquet being held this month at the Buffalo Convention Center. The two were chosen for this recognition for their 13 years of continued dedicated volunteer service in the arts and crafts program at the home. Sister Corona Colleary, administrator of the home, expressed her gratitude for the many hours of service volunteers contribute to the home.

Forty years ago — 1978

Joe Vacanti, 60-year-old operator of Joe’s Sporting Goods Store and Marina at the Dunkirk Harbor, has sold the business to his son and daughter-in-law, William “Bill” and Brenda (Shaw) Vacanti. When legal transactions are finalized, it will become Bill’s Marina Inc. Mr. Vacanti’s plans for the future include summer operation of the hot dog stand near the store and construction of a new log cabin style restaurant on the site of the old Van Buren Bay Inn. Construction has already begun.

Fifty years ago — 1968

Student of the Week is Jill Emmett, a 16-year-old junior at Brocton Central High School. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth N. Emmett, 11 Fay St., Brocton. Jill was appointed editor-in-chief by the Journalism Club and is active in band, Student Council and on the staff of the literary magazine. She was president of her sophomore class and is accompanist for the senior choir. Jill is a math, science and language major and plans to study English in college.