Thirty years ago — 1991

Special Metals President Donald Muzyka lifts the first shovel of dirt on the site of a $15-million, 40,000 square-foot addition to the company’s plant on Willowbrook Avenue in Dunkirk. Special Metals currently employs 59. The expansion, expected to take 18 months to complete, should result in 22 jobs.

Forty years ago — 1981

Despite the fact that western New York is one of the finest areas in the world for producing maple sap products, David Waterman of Forestville says the making of maple syrup and maple sugar is “a dying art.” Mr. Waterman runs one of the two remaining sugar houses in the town of Hanover on his Hopper Road farm. He is able to produce 700 gallons of maple syrup a year.

Fifty years ago — 1971

Ellen Banach and Sue Light, both members of Cadette Girl Scout Troop 277 of Dunkirk are pictured in today’s OBSERVER with their puppet display. The display is one of many included in the Annual Scouting-in-Action show this weekend at Floral Hall.