Believe it or not, we've traveled a quarter of a century so far. While it seems I started this series not long ago, 25 weeks, and years, have passed. There have been so many tidbits of information that fill my research notebooks that I can stack the pages and easily do step aerobics with the bundle. I'm just thankful that man realized, centuries ago, that recording events and news items is so important, especially in these nanosecond nineties when a relaxing sojourn back in time, and a brief respite from the rat race, can be just what we need to "recharge our batteries."

        So, with that in mind, I bring you to the brink of the next 25 years and, hopefully, more moments to relive and remember...

        The United States of America is about to lose another president, but not to assassination.

        It's 1974 and Watergate has caught up with President Richard M. Nixon. The House Judiciary Committee votes Articles of Impeachment against the nation's leader and on Aug. 9, Nixon resigns. President Gerald Ford subsequently pardons him.

        Another headline declares that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) lifts the oil embargo.

        In entertainment, Art Carney's role in "Harry and Tonto" earns him the Academy Award for best actor. Ellen Burstyn takes Oscar home for "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." "The Godfather, Part II" is the film to see this year.

        It's a "three-peat" for the Oakland A's in the World Series, the Boston Celtics win the NBA championship, the Miami Dolphins prove again they are gridiron greats, Gary Player is the "Master" of his clubs, the Philadelphia Flyers are super skaters, Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert wow the crowds at Wimbledon, Cannonade strides across the Derby finish line and Johnny Rutherford takes the checkered flag at Indy.

        Locally, Wade Thomas and Mark Benton are named to the holiday basketball tournament all-stars at Salamanca. The Gowanda Area Little League Football Association elects the following officers: Stan Burzak, president; Earl Clabeaux, vice president; Frank Cocca, secretary; and Jim Johnson, treasurer. Top scorers in fifth- and sixth-grade boys' gym hockey are: Jim Utley, Darwin John, Jim Sweet, Jeff Denea and Steve Davis.

        Fifth-grade champs are "The Kings:" Lewis Cooper, James Spelling, Steve Davis, Matthew White, Tom Kennedy, Michael Orth and Robert McCarl. The sixth-grade champs, the "North Stars," are: Robert Krajewski, Ralph Nash, Charles Stevens, Eric Miller, Craig Stevens, Clayton Chryst, Peter Clabeaux and Tracy Gurney.

        Pinewood Derby winners this year are: David Green, Steve Britt, Tad Mackey, David Staffin, Jeffrey Martin and Bruce Ulrich. Other awards that day include Den winner plaques to Jim Lawton, Philip Beck, John Korbar, Larry Luther, Robert Hunsinger and Dexter Case. Cub Scout ID bracelets are awarded to Dexter Case for best looking car, Tad Mackey for most ur usual car and Victor Washy for nearest original shape.

        In other sports news, Robert Krenzer is named varsity football coach and physical education instructor by the Board C Education. A team representing Gowanda Central wins the New York State Teachers 25th Annual Interstate Bowling Tournament at Niagara Falls. The team consists of Harry Merrill, Murray Davis, Chester Tepper, William Grainge and Richard Shellenbarger. Richard Bushnell is appointed as certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor by the National Rifle Association of America. Kevin Schindler is voted Athlete of the Year at Cardinal Mindzenty High School; Tim Noecker is voted underclassman Athlete of the Year. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Bob Chandler makes an appearance at Gowanda Sport Shop, and is given a symbolic key to the village by Mayor Donald Lazar. GCS gymnastic competition winners are: Lisa Della Posta, John Cross, Barbara Payne, Ben Kysor, Wendy Cross, Holly Cross, Amy Nixon, Becky Nixon and Sara Della Posta.

        This is also a stellar year for two local baton twirlers.

        Cindy Green and Charisse Moritz prove their twirling skills. Here are few of the highlights: Cindy Green - wins the National Baton Twirling Association Competition in Brocton in thi novice division, wins three trophies ii the Can-Am Classic Baton Twirling Contest in Buffalo, two first-place trophies in the Rochester Autumn Twirling Festival. Charisse Moritz - wins three third-place awards in the Sherette Twirling Competition in Tonawanda, wins "Best Baton" trophy at the International New York State Talent Pageant, wins Miss Silver Creek trophy in the juvenile division twirling competition at the Silver Creek Grape Festival.

        Other notable events include: the formation of a theatre group, Lodi Theatre. Sitting on its board of directors are Donald Wesley, chairman; Sue Szymanski, recorder; Bill Peglowski, public relations director; Ellen VanNote and Ron Mayers, trustees; and Marley Burek, vice chairman. In August, the Lodi Theatre presents its first presentation, "Come Blow Your Horn," in the rehabilitation center auditorium of the Gowanda Psychiatric Center, formerly Gowanda State Hospital.

        A retirement dinner is held for L. Carolyn Ubel, who has been Persia town clerk for 26 years. Governor Malcolm Wilson presents the New York State Agricultural Society Century Farm Award to the Ackley family. The Ackley Farm has been in the family since 1869. Gary Kubasiak graduates from the New York State Police Academy. Andrew Musacchio retires as the village attorney; Charles Hart succeeds him. GCS junior Barbara Reeves is chosen by AFS International Committee of New York to spend the summer in a foreign country; she travels to Australia.

        In the local spelling bee, Linda Menshel takes first place and Sue Williams comes in second. Gilbert Nagle receives the award of merit for the Cattaraugus District of Greater Niagara Frontier Council Boy Scouts of America. Mrs. "Sis' Beuzenburg receives a 90th birthday greeting from President Nixon. June Chang is valedictorian and William Snyder is salutatorian of the GCS Class of '74. Denny Menshel wins the nationwide sales contest conducted by Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company. Arlynn Kay Hobson wins third place in the Erie County SPCA poster contest. Winners of the sixth-grade conservation poster contest are: Susie Ackley, Lorelei Zetz, Krissy Penharlow, Todd Christopher, Ronald Cook, Morris Warrior, Charisse Moritz, Ann Steward, Mike Gassman and Todd Gates.

        The Rev. David Owl is honored at the Masonic Ball. The Cattaraugus County 4-H Teen Council Talent Show winners include: David Allen, Danny Allen and Linda Bliss, who take first place in the senior division for their guitar and vocal performance; taking second place are Marjorie Taft, Cindy Allen and Linda Allen, a vocal trio. Cindy Quiter is crowned junior prom queen. Chosen for Boys' State are: Kevin Bollinger, Jim Minekime, John Peglowski, Tom Strauss, Dan Stitzel and Jim Spina. Dianna Grainge is selected for Girls' State. Timothy Howard graduates from the New York State Police Academy and is assigned to Troop E in Canandaigua.

        Esther Firth, Doris Merrill and Alice Cooley, retiring teachers, are honored. Gowanda Recreation program pie eating contest winners are: Deb Kull, Tricia Karnath, Jim Hassett, Tom Militello, Ben Jones, Sharon Hart, Michelle Nixon, Robin Draegert, Mike Murphy, Brenda Vogtli, Denise Will, Mike O'Brien, Kathy White, Paula Heenan, Karla Greeley, Mike Whitmore, John Cygan and Bob McCarl. Kiddie art show winners include: Missy Feldman, Karla Greeley, Peggy Rugg, Brian Feldman, Todd Snyder, Bob Cygan, Pam Orth, Tammy Corbin, Tricia Karnath, Joe Blasak, Roland Logel and Jeff Korbar. Laurel Rebmann is crowned homecoming queen at Cardinal Mindzenty High School. Tom Connolly wins the American Legion Oratorical Contest at GCS.

        In business news, area gas stations and others across the country, find they need a new mechanism on the pumps that are set to register up to 49.9 cents a gallon. Prices of gas hover around 50 cents a gallon and are expected to rise. Dennis Menshel opens an investment and insurance office in the Ritz Building. Eugene Drake is elected president of Gowanda Electronics. Moench Tanning honors its 40-year employees: Theodore Wolcz, Al Falk, Gerald Clark, Earl Banaziak, Leslie Stout, Vincent Ognibene and Leonard Brewer.

        The Peter Cooper Corporation (PCC) donates a copier to the Gowanda Library. Dr. Sidney Zucker relocates to 84 West Main St. PCC purchases the former Kind and Knox Gelatin Company plant in Camden, NJ, and renames it the Camden Gelatin Division. The Gowanda Psychiatric Center sponsors its second senior drum corps competition in August. Norbert Temple is appointed administrator at TCMH. Otto Thamasett, plant superintendent at J N Adam Development Center, retires after 44 and a half years of service. A grand opening is held at Bowen's American Hard ware Store, 70 Buffalo St. Dave and Bob Robbins purchase the Gowanda Sport Shop. Dr. Lionel Lindsey announces the opening of Gowanda Small Animal Hospital at 3 Mechanic St. In the annual holiday drawings, these people win $100 in scrip: Tim Bobsein Eva Kiancer, Betty Ackley, Pat Poole and Arnold Brown; Shirley Sharp is the big winner of $250 in merchant scrip.

        On the more serious side of news, Patrolman Austin Nixon receives minor injuries when his police car hits the Municipal Building during a high speed chase. Charged with DWI, the driver of the other vehicle is remanded to Erie County Holding Center while Nixon is treated at TCMH and then released. A Michigan man is arrested after a routine auto check reveals he is driving a stolen car. The Conrad Chapman home on Perry Street is damaged when a car goes out of control after it crosses the railroad tracks; the North Tonawanda driver is charged with DWI. A fire destroys a garage and two vehicles at the Arnold Brown residence on Walnut Street. Arson is blamed for two fires set at GCS in the boys' and girls' lavatories. Teacher Robert Sullivan is treated for smoke inhalation and back injury resulting from his efforts to extinguish the flames. The New York State Police search for a sniper who fired shots at three vehicles on Dayton Road. A Rochester man is injured and is taken to the hospital; he has a bullet lodged in the left side of his lower spine. Two other vehicles are fired on also, but no injuries result. A 16-year-old Buffalo youth is injured in a 75-100 foot fall in the Valentine Flats area. Five tenants flee an apartment house fire at 230 West Main St., owned by Frank Barth.

        Other miscellaneous tidbits include: No-fault insurance goes into effect, Mayor Donald Lazar and Trustees William Sheehan and Andrew LaBombard appear on Channel 4's "Sports Quiz," The local environmental group of young adults, HOPE, do- nates $3,000 toward construction of a recreation building at St. John's Park. The officers of the Zoar Valley Rescue Squad are named: Dennis Tingue, president; Daniel Robbins, vice president; Charles Brecht, secretary/treasurer; Donald Offhaus, chief of operations; Terry Mentley, assistant chief of operations; Richard Gabel, rescue officer; and David Nixon, training officer. Almost 200 youngsters register bicycles at Gowanda's first official bike safety rodeo. Martin Seneca is elected president of the Board of Education; Robert Eaton is vice president. Two women apply to join the fire department and the matter is under review. The bylaws state, "must be male, 18 years of age and over."

        Here we are at that point again. It's time to move on from 1974 to 1975 and see what happens in that year. Until then...