Twenty years ago — 1999

Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. has received the coveted Ann Marie Fitzer Award given to an employer which has made an outstanding effort to include older workers among their workforce. COI is the 14th largest employer in Chautauqua County with over 400 employees. The agency employs more than 80 people over 60 years of age. County Executive Mark Thomas was on hand for the presentation of the award. He praised older workers and their contributions to the workforce.

Thirty years ago — 1989

Organizers of the newly formed Northern Chautauqua Regional Catholic Elementary School have named Rosemary Hutton Pitre as principal of the school. She is presently a teacher and assistant principal at the Good Shepherd School in Pendleton. The centralized Catholic school, which will involve seven area parishes, including the current Holy Trinity and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parochial schools, was formed in the fall. Classes for the 1989-90 school year will be held in the Holy Trinity School.

Forty years ago — 1979

The $18 million expansion project at the Roblin Steel plant in Dunkirk is running ahead of schedule and the new facilities should be put into operation between July and September of this year. The expansion is expected to lead to an increase in employment of about 100 by the end of 1980. The plant, which began operations in 1964 in Progress Park, now has about 265 employees.

Fifty years ago — 1969

A scientific exhibit of the birth of baby chicks is now on display at Murphy’s Department Store on West Main Street in Fredonia. The exhibit consists of a miniature egg incubator where a person can actually see chicks hatching from their eggs. This incubator holds 72 eggs and is entirely glass enclosed and scientifically controlled as to temperature for the eggs to hatch. None of the chicks will be sold.