Twenty years ago — 1999

The city of Dunkirk is looking at a proposal from a firm interested in operating the wastewater treatment plant that would reduce city costs by an estimated $500,000 annually while eliminating seven positions at the facility. The proposal calls for a “public/private partnership” between the city and AmericanAnglican Environmental Technologies of Marlton, N.J. under which the company would take over day-to-day operations with the city retaining ownership and the right to set sewer rates. The city would pay a fixed rate to AmericanAnglican. The annual fee would be $500,000 less than the city’s current costs.

Thirty years ago — 1989

From the Reporter’s Notebook ….. Unseasonably mild temperatures this month are causing an awakening of some plant life locally. One such occurrence was reported this week by Terry Sutton of Route 39 in Forestville. Upon checking his yard the previous night, he found a small patch of spinach growing in his garden. Other persons have reported tulip bulbs and pussywillow plants beginning to bud, both rare sightings for normally cold and blustery January.

Forty years ago — 1979

Several neighbors in the area of a proposed 100-unit housing project for low and middle-income families on the north side of Temple Street in Fredonia near the Dunkirk town line spoke in opposition to the project at a recent Fredonia Village Board meeting. Ruby Nocek stated that she can’t see why 100 housing units are needed for such a small village. Carlton Hamann said he had spoken to planning board members who told him they are virtually a “rubber stamp.” He added that the only way the project can be stopped is if the village does what Dunkirk did by refusing to maintain the street.

Fifty years ago — 1969

A special building permit was granted to Joseph L. Castiglia by the Fredonia Village Board of Trustees which cleared the way for the future construction of a Holiday Inn motel complex on Bennett Road. The new motel, restaurant and gasoline station will be located on a 13-acre parcel of land formerly owned by Leo Seybold. Mr. Castiglia, who is the owner of a Holiday Inn motel in Hamburg, stated the new motel for the Dunkirk-Fredonia area will be similar in design to the one being operated in Hamburg.