Twenty years ago — 1998

Julius La Rosa, an enduring vocalist whose career dates back to the early days of television, recently performed at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House accompanied by Fredonia native Don Rebic. Mr. Rebic has a long-standing relationship with Mr. La Rosa as his conductor/pianist and the two have received rave reviews from such noteworthy sources as “Variety,” “New York Post,” “New York Times,” and United Press with every performance. Mr. La Rosa first came to the nation’s attention in 1951 as the singer on the Arthur Godfrey TV show and later provided the same service for Ed Sullivan. Mr. Rebic has enjoyed a 20-year career in New York City as a conductor, pianist and composer.

Thirty years ago — 1988

The exterior of the Adams Art Gallery in Dunkirk has a new look as does its interior, the most recent renovations transforming it to a gallery of which the community, Access to the Arts Inc., the Gallery board and the Arts Council of Chautauqua County, owner of the impressive building, can look to with pride. With help from Assemblyman William Parment, Arts Council Executive Director Philip Morris secured $64,000 from the National Heritage Trust for the express purpose of rehabilitating the 79-year-old former Adams Memorial Unitarian Church. The renovated building was officially reopened on Nov. 20.

Forty years ago — 1978

Mary Ellen Winkowski, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Winkowski of Silver Creek and a student at Silver Creek High School, now wears two crowns. The 1979 Miss Festival of Grapes was recently crowned the 1979 Silver Creek-Forestville Junior Miss at the annual pageant. For her talent, Miss Winkowski danced to the song, “Cabaret.” She received a $400 scholarship and trophy and will compete in the New York State Pageant in Syracuse. First runner-up was Cindy Webb of Forestville.

Fifty years ago — 1968

In a “Do You Remember?” photo, the employees of the old French’s canning factory, which was located where the pizza factory is today on East Main Street in Fredonia, posed for a picture in 1912. Two of the employees shown are the future Dr. Joseph LaPaglia and the late Pat Albano. Unmarried ladies earned 80 cents for a 10-hour day and married women earned $1 for a 10-hour day. The picture was submitted by Antoinette Frances Conti of Fredonia.