While a few international news items manage to make headlines in 1980, it is the entertainment world that dominates most of the pages in reporters' notebooks.

     Blurring the line between politics and fantasy, voters elect an actor president. Ronald Reagan, known for his roles in "Bedtime for Bonzo," "Hellcats of the Navy," and "It's a Great Feeling" wins the nation's confidence at the polls in November.

     Comedian Richard Pryor also attracts attention when, during a cocaine-induced moment, he plays with matches and ends up a temporary human torch when things get out of control. Other Hollywood moguls and actors seemingly have no excuse, drugs or otherwise, when one of the worst movies in the history of film making premieres. "Caligula" soon disappears into oblivion. On the other hand, "Ordinary People" gets rave reviews and the Academy Award. Robert DeNiro also receives an Oscar for "Raging Bull" while Sissy Spacek is given the golden nod for "Coal Miner's Daughter."

     The sports arena presents a comforting constant as usual. The Philadelphia Phillies take the World Series, NBA champs this year are the Los Angeles Lakers, the Pittsburgh Steelers take the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, Severiano Ballesteros wins the Masters Tournament, the New York Islanders carry the Stanley Cup home, Bjorn Borg amazes the audience at Wimbledon by winning the men's singles for the fifth consecutive time. Evonne Goolagong takes the women's singles. Crossing the finish wire at the Kentucky Derby is Genuine Risk and Johnny Rutherford proves his track skills at Indy.

     As Americans spin about from a whirlwind of entertainment headlines, international events provide a few speed bumps and refocus the attention somewhat. The Solidarity movement in Poland is given support from the United States. The Soviet Union receives the opposite reaction when, after they invade Afghanistan, President Carter announces an embargo is in place on the sale of grain and high technology to the aggressors. A final slap in the face comes when the U.S. Olympic Committee votes not to participate in the Olympic Games in Moscow.

     Locally, things are a little more subdued.

     Contest winners seem to be everywhere as Gowanda area businesses grasp firmly onto a Christmas-like feeling throughout the year. Gordon Rogers, Sr. wins a $500 shopping spree from Gabel Bros. Furniture. Six-year-old Jimmy Howard wins a giant stocking from Campbell's Super Duper. Becky Lavin wins a 10-speed bicycle from Hogle's Drug Store during a Rexall promotion. Cathy Press, Harvey Stuhr and Donald Winter are winners of Super Duper shopping sprees in May. Ben Powless wins the 1980 Oldsmobile Omega, grand prize in the St. Joseph School drawing. Barry Hager wins a "small mountain" of S&H Green Stamps from Purdy Ford during their anniversary celebration drawing. Gowanda Treasure Chest drawing winners at the end of the year include: Ramona Allen, Peggy Goodemote, Lee Gibbs, Pam Howard, Warren Smith, Jack Kingsley, Carol Kelley, Jen Anderson, Ann Keppel, E. Menninger, David Bradigan, Cora Ferry, Edwin Scott, Charles Miller, Mary Schaeffer, Pat Urbank, Helen Winter Larry Lawton, Cheryl Kendall, Mary Bell Santangelo, Kathy Kidd, James Lucas, Sue Duncan, Doris Gross, Don LaQuay, Alice Skoczylas, Edie Zayak Millard Moritz, E.A. Hansen, Ruth Howard and Cathy Deneen.

     Winners of other area events include St. Joseph School eighth-grader Tony Comstock, who receives the All-Star Players Award at the Cardinal Mindzenty Association Tournament. St. Joe's Cheerleading Squad receives third place at the tournament. The Gowanda PanthersVarsity Basketball Team earns a playoff spot by beating Southwestern. St. Joseph School's basketball team wins at the Sts. Peter and Paul Tournament. Members of the team include: Gary Kota, Marion Smith, Mark McHale, David Cooper and Tony Comstock, who is also presented with the all-star award. The Buffalo Evening News spelling bee winner this year is Heather Martin; Richard Parsell is second. St. Joe's basketball team again wins the trophy, this time at the Most Precious Blood Tournament. Bob Rebmann is given the all-star trophy and team members include Joseph Domagola, Danny Macakanja, Mark Sisti, Charles Sebzda and Rebmann.

     At the Gowanda Area Jaycees First Annual Appreciation Night, plaques are presented to three businesses: Gernat Gravel Products, Peter Cooper Corporation and Valu Home Center. This year's Easter egg hunt winners are: Krista Czarnota, Tara Martindale, Lisa Ross, Troy Skowronski and James Fetterick. Easter Seals Bowl-A-Thon winners are Melissa Robe, low game; Rose Veloski high total score; and Mary Sprague high game. Aimee Tschopp wins first place and Christine Fancher is second in the sixth-grade speaking contest at GES. Kathy Marton is crowned junior prom queen. National Health Week poster contest winners are: John Reinschmidt, Vince Zimbardi, Sean Thiel, Theresa Hart, Susan Stang and John Herman. Those going to Boys' State and Girls' State are: Peter Constantine Dennis Crouse, Jr., Joseph Della Posta, Nicholas Fetterick, Stephen Matthews, Timothy Sweet and Rose Veloski.

     JoAnn Harper is chosen Miss Perrysburg 1980. Placing at the Western New York Industrial Arts Association Exhibition are: Clifton Wheeler, second; and Peter Clabeaux, third. St. Joseph School fifth-grader David Krajewski, and seventh-grader Stephanie Keller win first and second place, respectively, in the Youth Department of the Diocese of Buffalo Essay Contest. Winners in this year's River Rats Raft Regatta, featuring 31 rafts and 121 "rats," include Richard Miller of Rochester with "Kitty Hawk," John Spina and "Coho Cruiser," Dan Andolsek and "Gowanda Village People," George Stark and "Rift Raft III," Fred Weyand and the Lions Club's "Fruit of the Loom," Deb Urbank and "Titanic Twosome," Julie Peglowski and "Mt. St. Helena" and Bills' Lair, Mickey's Place and Bill Press.

     Harry Merrill is chosen bus driver of the year; he has been transporting students for 17 years. Donald Patterson is elected BOCES president. These players are chosen for the Little League All-Star Tournament Team: J. Vogtli, B. Cygan, R. John, D. Brooks, S. Jezioro, J. Cygan, D. McElvene, N. Hakim, K Usiak, J. Hassett, L. Halftown, M. Whitcher, B. Feldman, E. Metzger, H. Osterstuck. Coach is J. Vogtli and manager is B. Schieler. James Foster is appointed administrator at Lake Shore Health Care Center. Miss Perrysburg, JoAnn Harper, is crowned Miss Cattaraugus County Volunteer Firemen's Association queen. Joe Tomaszewski wins the Demolition Derby Championship at T-Burg in July. Seth Halftown, Tony Comstock and Tim Butzer win the State Championship Pitch, Hit and Run Contest. Seth Halftown goes on to win a first-place and two second-place trophies in the Middle Atlantic National Championship Pitch, Hit and Run competition.

     The Harold's Lounge team wins Gowanda Slo-Pitch Softball. Mary Dorothy Hubbard is chosen BPW "Woman of the Year." Winners of the Jayncee/Jaycee Community Halloween Party are: Funniest - Melanie Horth, BobbyJo Rogers, Carolyn Valone, Ricky Mentley, Ginger George, Charles Kolb, Eric Tschopp and Shelli Fuller; Scariest - Tammy Horth, Shawn Hapak, Justina Kubasiak, Janni George, Desiree Landon, Darren North, Teresa Cygan and Darlene Seeley; Most Original - Jeremy Kleinberg, Mikey Horth, Melissa Zets, Danny Post, Jessica Kleinberg, Neil Goodman, Clinton Goodman and Tom Rizzo. Chosen for Division VII Coaches All-Star teams are: Rich Clabeaux, Mike Orth, Bob McCarl and Jeff Denea. Five Gowanda Central cheerleaders are nominated for a national award. They are: Emily Spence, Jennifer Johengen, Hope Peters, Angela Pais and Susan Parker.

     On the business front, minimum wage goes to $3.10. Buffalo Savings Bank re-enters the conventional mortgage market following a lengthy drought. Interest rates range from 12.5 to 13 percent. The Schaack and Mentley Funeral homes share the facility on East Main Street. The state plans to locate a second community residence for the mentally retarded at 69 North Chapel St., currently owned by Clayton Comstock. The village board supports the idea and is also informed that the Allen and Buffalo streets home should be ready by June. The closing of the chapel at TCMH is under discussion and the announcement comes under fire. Opposition to the plan is expressed to the Board of Directors. Assessor Herb Press, of the Cattaraugus County Assessors Association. The Gowanda Ambulance Service reports a record 743 trips were made in 1979. The Girl Scout cookie sale gets underway. Thin Mints, Savannahs, Lemon Cremes, Chocolate Cremes, Vanilla Cremes, Scot-teas, Chocolate Chip and Cheddar Cheese Crackers are $1.50 per box.

     Dr. Joseph Bellanca moves his dental office to 53 West Main St., over Ede's Grocery. The Erie County Sheriffs Department Arson Squad investigates the throwing of a fire bomb through the Waterman's Restaurant window. Terrie Benson Murray works as an associate with Attorney Jack Gaylord. Marion Moritz retires as Collins Tax Collector after 20 years of service. Russell Stark retires as Collins Assessor. A "mini" New York State Employment Service office opens on the second floor of the Municipal Building. A groundbreaking ceremony is held for Gowanda Nursing Home in March; the facility opens in December. William Hoppa is appointed director of career planning and placement at Daemen College. Clara Kirby, village historian for 40 years, presents the rights to her 1976 Bicentennial book to the village. New York and Lake Erie Railroad opens an office a 50 Commercial St. Dorothea Trapp retires from Moench Tanning Company after 54 years of service. Audiologists Gerald Greenstein and Anne Hedin open an office in the TCMH Primary Care Center.

     The new Collins Post Office opens. The Springville Pediatric Group opens an office at the Primary Care Center. Modernization of TCMH gets underway. The Gowanda News and Observer suspends publication with the Aug. 8 edition; Edward Byrne retires as editor. Starting Aug. 20, the Gowanda PennySaver dedicates a minimum of four pages to the news. Super Duper starts issuing S&H Green Stamps. Frank Palcic retires from Gowanda Post Office after more than 40 years. A couple films showing at the Hollywood Theater this year are: "The Shining" and "Honeysuckle Rose." Gowanda Electronics Corporation moves its corporate headquarters into the building on Industrial Place. An Off-Track Betting office opens in Gowanda; Wayne Farner is its first customer. Baumgarden Chevrolet-Buick holds a grand opening celebration. Reitz Liquor Store opens at 65 Buffalo St. A glass recycling center opens at 42 Jamestown St., next to Fred's Store. The first annual Great Pumpkin Contest, sponsored by Waterman's Produce in Collins, is held. New York State Governor Hugh Carey announces J.N. Adam Developmental Center, set to close in 1982, will remain operational indefinitely.

     It seems I've only started on 1980. With unused information still in my notebook, I find that it's time to wrap up this year and get ready for 1981.