Technology is advancing rapidly and l98l seems to signify one of the biggest graph points in the timeline of change. Big Blue, IBM, launches its IBM personal computer (PC) in 1981. Hewlett-Packard develops the silicon 32-bit chip. The Xerox Star system - the first WIMP (windows, icons, menus, pointing devices) - is developed.

     Thanks to the electronic age, a revolutionary form of music entertainment makes its first appearance. MTV begins broadcasting nonstop music videos on cable in the United States. It's soon apparent that MTV is here to stay as it's popularity grows by leaps and bounds.,p.      Other forms of technology also bring about change. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is identified. Anti-interferon is developed in the Medical Research Council's Molecular Biology Laboratories in England. Another British development in 1981 is the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) scanner. Marking the onset of the U.S. space shuttle program, the first reusable spacecraft, "Columbia," completes its two-day mission. Carrying two astronauts, Columbia orbits the earth 36 times.

     Other noteworthy events include the shooting of President Ronald Reagan and three others by John Hinckley, Jr. Iran releases 52 American hostages after being held 444 days. Over 100,000 protest U.S. intervention in El Salvadore. Sandra Day O'Connor is appointed the first female Supreme Court justice. Eleven thousand five hundred air traffic controllers strike. In a no-nonsense move, President Reagan fires them. Walter Cronkite bids "The CBS Evening News" goodbye; Dan Rather takes over as anchor. The musical "Cats" premieres in London. Celebrity gossip hits the airwaves as "Entertainment Tonight" debuts. Speaking of celebs, Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn are awarded Oscars for their roles in "On Colden Pond." The movie "Chariots of Fire" is the film of the year.

     This year's sports notables are: the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Celtics, the Oakland Raiders, golfer Tom Watson, the New York Islanders, tennis greats John McEnroe and Chris Evert Lloyd, four-legged speedster Pleasant Colony and dynamic driver Bobby Unser.

     The year starts out on a frigid note locally; record cold temperatures are recorded. Gowandans feel the bite of minus-20 degrees and wind chill factors reaching 60 degrees below zero. As residents brave the icy temps, inside the warmth of Tri-County Memorial Hospital, Patrick Allen Flagg arrives on Jan. 2 to become the first baby of 1981. Frances and Richard Flagg of South Dayton are the newborn's proud parents.

     Now, on to other events.

     Edward Byrne, former editor of the Gowanda News and Observer, is honored by the Retail Division of the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce. James Martin is the first recipient of the Gowanda Area Citizen of the Month award. David Bray is honored at the Council session of the Seneca Nation of Indians for his athletic achievements, notably in lacrosse. Gilbert (Gib) Nagle is selected as the second Citizen of the Month. Another individual selected for the honor is Roger Denea. Harry Smith is honored for his 60 years of active duty with the Gowanda Fire Department. Melanie Parker is crowned junior prom queen. Jan Wells is chosen Citizen of the Month. Patty Smith is crowned Miss Perrysburg; she goes on to win the Miss Cattaraugus County title.

     Kevin Makowski is the winner of the Most Beautiful Baby contest. Edward Mazurek earns highest honors for his crewel embroidery picture at the Erie County Fair. He receives best of show in the creative arts division. Jean Hillis is this year's BPW "Woman of the Year." A plaque of recognition is presented to retired Collins Librarian Elaine Prince.

     In business news, Steve Cocca, owner of Gowanda Jewelry Store, arranges, in cooperation with Cattaraugus County Civil Defense, to test gold jewelry for radioactivity after a recent scare. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission proposes a nationwide ban on the installation of urea-formaldehyde foam insulation. Gowanda Unit Parts is acquired by Bill Peterson. Thel's, at 34 West Main St., holds a going-out-of-business sale. Kevin Wurst and Tim Murphy open The Tiffany Room restaurant on South Water Street. The Gowanda OTB office closes. The Sewing Basket opens at 30 Buffalo St. Doctors Patricia Greve and Barbara Parey open a practice in the TCMH Primary Care Center. The Peter Cooper Corporation decides to relocate. The first to be moved to Charlotte, NC, is the corporate office. Although the adhesive research and development labs remain in Gowanda, they, too, are slated to be relocated, along with other administrative departments and corporate functions.

     Gowanda and US Cable sign an agreement to provide cable television service to the area. The Route 62 Association organizes. Campbell's Furniture holds a liquidation sale and closes its doors. Dr. Eugene McDonough purchases the optometric practice from Dr. Sidney Zucker. Helmuth Day Care Center, which opened in January, is licensed by the New York State Department of Social Services. Moench Tanning Company seeks to purchase 172 acres on Point Peter Road for a landfill. Company officials state it will be a dumping station for non-hazardous waste.

     Some prize-winning moments of 1981 include: GES student Jason Covert wins a four-foot long toy seal, the grand prize, in an art contest sponsored by Marine Midland Bank, NA. Lugene Cygan wins 10,000 S&H Green Stamps from Campbell's Super Duper. Pinewood Derby winners are: Todd Fedor, Fran Goran, Chris McKeever and Wade Terhune. Easter egg hunt winners are: Sara Glovack, Jeff Schieler, Elizabeth Zureck, Rhonda Olmstead and Colleen Kammen. Christopher Howard wins a giant stuffed rabbit from the Ben Franklin store. David Smith is the recipient of a unicycle in the Freshman Bicycle Rally. Other winners include: Lori Zets, Joe Kusiowski and Don Hinkley. Rewarded for their work in the National Hospital Week Poster Contest are these sixth-graders: Cheryl Hanson, David Krajewski, Dale Everetts, Claudia Smith, Jill Rasinski and Kellie Jepson. John Butzer is the first to complete the eight-mile "Walk For Hunger." Wade Metzger wins the sixth-grade speech contest; Melissa Frairy is runner-up.

     Sally Goodwill and Ralph Nash, Jr. win first place in the nationwide S&H Green Stamp "Big Idea Game." A presentation of 100,000 stamps is held at Super Duper. Wayne Jones wins a $100 gift certificate for groceries from Super Duper, the result of a Jaycee raffle. The first annual Sidewalk Art Contest winners are: Paul Schmittendorf, Cheryl Korbar, Owen Christian, Michelle LeBar, Maureen Denea and Leanne Turner. Giant Pumpkin Contest winners include: Calvin Kohn (167 pounds), Edward Butzer, Scott Taylor, Vicki Ream, and Dan and Scott Kohn. The winners of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Bike-a-Thon are: Yvonne Morley, Danny Smith, Matt Whitcher, Heather Mentley, Donald Gernatt, Janice Kota, Eddie Johnston, Matt Nash, Jenny White, Lori Best and Russ Emery. Roseann Haynoski wins 5,000 S&H Green Stamps from Hager's Flower Shop as part of the Magic Spot game. Jay Jackson wins a color TV at Gabel Bros. Furniture during the Gowanda Treasure Chest promotion.

     Some other news items from 1981 include the resignation of Helen DeCarlo as president of the Board of Education. George Trombley is elected to succeed her. Congressman Stanley Lundine is the guest speaker at the annual Brotherhood dinner. James Gardner is the Buffalo News Spelling Bee champion from GES; Deborah Edler is the runner- up. Edward Ahrens is elected president of the Chamber of Commerce. Robert Rogers is vice president, Philip Smith is treasurer and Janice Wells is secretary. David Schaack is elected mayor while Michael LiVecche is re-elected as trustee. Arnold Brown is also elected trustee. The Jaycees erect "Welcome to Gowanda" signs.

     The Board of Education decides not to renew Superintendent Chester Tepper's contract. The village plans to upgrade Hidi Park. Lamanite Generation, from Brigham Young University, performs at GCS. The Jaycees install new officers. They are: Ken Martin, president; Russell Pound, external vice president; George Paul, internal vice president; Fritz Weyand, treasurer; Jack Youngberg, secretary; and Dave Wiens, Glenn Samarra and Joe Gamel, directors. The Jayncees also install their officers as follows: Barb Kingsley, president; Linda Weyand, external vice president; Becky Sternisha, internal vice president; Pat Peterson, treasurer; Sue Gamel, secretary; and Debbie Martin and Sue Nixon, directors.

     Gladys Glazier's home on West Main Street is destroyed by fire; the gutted structure is eventually razed. The Vision Quest Wagon Train rolls through Gowanda. A publicity committee is formed at Gowanda Nursing Home. Members include: Florence McNamara, Joan Schuster, Henrietta Crouse, Marian Wills, Mildred Howard, Clara Stoelzel and Warren Park. Donald Bollinger resigns as GCS band director after 25 years. The "Gowanda on the Grow" campaign gets underway. An historic buggy, once owned by Richard Wilhelm, is given to the historical society by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Herdeg. The buggy was made by Joseph Herdeg in his shop decades ago.

     Work begins on Buffalo Street to repair and improve sanitary sewers. The village receives an FHA loan for $535,000 to upgrade the water filtration plant. A ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place for the opening of the Route 219 expressway. Sand Hill Road is closed for weeks for road work. Carter Town resigns as business manager of the school district. Several cases of Legionnaires disease are suspected at JN Adam Developmental Center. Larry Himelein is elected Cattaraugus County District Attorney. Dr. J. Warren Adair is appointed superintendent of schools.

     Some of the movies showing at the Hollywood Theater throughout the year include: "The Aristocats," "Any Which Way You Can," "Fort Apache, The Bronx," "9 to 5," "Stir Crazy," "Happy Birthday to Me," "Jazz Singer," "The Empire Strikes Back," "For Your Eyes Only," "Endless Love," "Stripes," "Mommie Dearest," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" "Rich and Famous," "Time Bandits" and "Only When I Laugh."

     As I suspected would happen, my column space has filled quickly and it's time to bring 1981 to an end. We're off to 1982. Until then...