Twenty years ago — 1999

They just look like candles in pretty paper bags, but money from the sale of luminaries could end up providing a temporary shelter for a family burned out of their home, or a pint of life-saving blood for an accident victim. American Red Cross fund-raisers are counting on the sale of luminaries to help with much of their work in Chautauqua County this year. Organizers are asking local citizens to make the Light Up Chautauqua campaign successful.

Thirty years ago — 1989

Niagara Mohawk has started installation of “vandal-proof” high intensity mercury-vapor lights in underpasses throughout Dunkirk. The old lights have been the subject of vandalism for years and on most occasions, 75 percent of the lights had been damaged and inoperative. The new lights have a heavy lucite outer covering to prevent breaking. In all, 40 lights will be replaced and nine underpasses will be relighted.

Forty years ago — 1979

Robert Szpak, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Szpak of Berry Road, Fredonia is a 17-year-old senior at Fredonia High School and the OBSERVER Student of the Week. For the past four years, Bob has been a member of the school orchestra and has played for the Blackhawks in the Fredonia Hockey League. He has been a Boy Scout for six years and enjoys camping. Bob plans to attend Mercyhurst College in Erie to major in business administration and hotel and motel management.

Fifty years ago — 1969

The Citizens Council for Better Living narrowly voted down (13-12) a resolution supporting the current boycott of schools by Parents for Quality Education. The boycott was enacted by a group of Puerto Rican and Black parents who complained that there was no bus service and no free lunches for elementary school children at the poverty level.