Twenty years ago — 1999

Gowanda florist Barry Hager hopes to put a smile on 2,500 faces as he plans to give away that many roses to village residents as part of the fourth annual Good Neighbor Day in Gowanda. The first 166 people to walk through his floral shop doors at 25 W. Main St. will receive a free dozen. However, each person must keep only one of the 12 roses and give one to 11 others in an effort to revive relationships with old friends and make a few along the way.

Thirty years ago — 1989

Six new businesses will be opening soon at 192 East Main St., Fredonia on a parcel of land that used to contain the dilapidated D&F Bus Co. offices. The developer of the complex is Steve St. George of Fredonia. The businesses are: Barbara Ann’s Beauty Salon, Nationwide Insurance Co., Haberdashery clothing store, Big Rig Truck Repairs, Brad’s Disposal Service and Ace Welding.

Forty years ago — 1979

Mark’s Restaurant has offered to buy a prime city-owned waterfront site in Dunkirk that until about four weeks ago was the location of Helwig’s Fish Market. The restaurant has plans for expansion and would use the property for a 20-car parking lot. The city-owned building that housed the fish market collapsed during a wind and rain storm Aug. 7. The Common Council hasn’t rejected the offer, but for the time being the site will be filled in and blacktopped.

Fifty years ago — 1969

They struck gold out in Lake Erie! Translation: the first sizable haul of the fabled coho salmon was brought in by the Helwig fish boat Henry N. Seventeen of the species which totaled 60 pounds in weight. That breaks down to about four pounds per fish, the largest specimens to be reported here since the coho was introduced to Lake Erie a year ago. The largest of the 17 fish weighed just about 8 pounds.