Thirty years ago — 1991

Sharon Tell and Barbara Porter, both of Dunkirk, will be on the Oprah Winfrey Show being taped in Chicago. The show will discuss the situation involving Dr. Neal Rzepkowski who has tested HIV positive. Both Ms. Tell and Ms. Porter have children who were seen by Dr. Rzepkowski.

Forty years ago — 1981

Demolition crews have successfully razed the former Sacred Heart Church in Dunkirk while saving the bell tower, butthe contractor has raised serious doubts about whether the tower should be allowed to stand. With the wrecking crew expected to be finished today, a decision will have to be made soon as to what will finally be done with the 105-year-old, 100-foot bell tower.

Fifty years ago — 1971

The last of Dunkirk’s major hotels, the Park Avenue Hotel, is slated to close by the end of this month. The property was purchased by the Dunkirk Urban Renewal Agency last fall. Since that time, it has been rented and operated by Frank J. Militello, the former owner.