2003 - The year in review

   Year in Review pictures

     For months, the United States and coalition forces occupied the country - and continue to do so - freeing Iraqis from the iron-hand control of Saddam Hussein. On April 9, Baghdad falls and, on May 1, the president declares the combat over and restoration of that country begins. However, it is not without casualties as suicide bombers, snipers and anti-American protesters continue their attacks on our nation's military forces.

     Other headlines from 2003 include the Feb. 1 explosion of space shuttle Columbia as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. All seven crew members perish. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) creates a "worldwide health threat," according to the World Health Organization, after it strikes Asia and makes its way across the ocean to the North American continent. Mad cow disease - again in the news - was discovered in Canada in May and the U.S. banned Canadian imports.

     In August, a massive blackout hits the Northeast and Midwest, the largest power failure in history. And, the "Terminator" becomes governor in California. After a successful recall campaign, Gray Davis is unseated and Arnold Schwarzenegger is in.

     Some of the "lighter" newsmakers of 2003 include Stanley Cup winners New Jersey Devils, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide - the Triple Crown hopeful lost the Belmont race to Empire Maker, finishing third in the running. "Chicago" wins the Academy Award for Best Picture; "Ice Age" is Best Animated Picture; and Adrien Brody ("The Pianist") and Nicole Kidman ("The Hours") take top acting honors. Record and Album of the Year are by Norah Jones - "Don't Know Why" and "Come Away With Me," respectively. "Don't Know Why" also takes best song.

     The Florida Marlins win the World Series, Matt Kenseth is number one in NASCAR points with 5,022; and Tampa Bay wins the Super Bowl.

     Locally, events have been more positive; although area communities have seen a number of their own enlisted in various branches of the military leave for "undisclosed locations" overseas.

     In a somewhat chronological listing, we begin with Community Service Awards from the Healthy Community Alliance being presented to HSBC Gowanda Branch Manager Diane Gebauer, Gowanda Central School 21st Century Program Project Coordinator Vicki Cocca, former Gowanda Pastor Molly Golando, Village of Gowanda Superintendent of Public Works Michael Hutchinson and Univera Regional President MaryLee Campbell-Wisely.

     In the Town of Persia, Daniel Ackley is welcomed as new highway superintendent, replacing Richard Studley, who retired after 27 years. The Collins Center Volunteer Fire Company celebrates its 110th anniversary. Gowanda Panthers Basketball Team member Mike Smuda reaches the 1,000-point mark in his basketball career.

     A "Super Slide" on Super Bowl Sunday attracts a number of sledders and tobogganers to a Versailles hill. Gary Brecker is named new Village of Gowanda building inspector/code enforcement officer. It's a "deep freeze" day on Jan. 27 as Gowanda registers -11 degrees on the thermometer. Gowanda-area All-Sports Award recipients are: Rich Wright, Anita and Ernie Clareus, Lynn Abbey, Mike Geil, Wilford Kibler, Doug Capozzi, Don Volk, Jeff Johnson, Tom Palcic, Amy Farner, Mike Zmuda, Mike Hutchinson and Doug Cooper.

     Sasha Jamison wins the L.K. Painter Community Center New Year's Eve Gambling Getaway to the new Seneca Niagara Casino. Town of Collins Water Maintenance Superintendent Dan Stroud, a Naval reservist, is called to active duty overseas. The Village Tannery opens for business in Cattaraugus.

     Mobile Data Terminals are installed in Gowanda Police Department patrol cars. Brian and Diane Bobseine of Gowanda win the Gowanda Valentine Giveaway contest. Checkpoints are set up at Collins and Gowanda Correctional facilities due to the country's Condition Orange status for terrorism. Sandy Gaylord, Irene Koch and Ashley Farner are Spirit of Gowanda winners. The Town of Perrysburg receives a Justice Court Docket Book and other papers from the post-Civil War era (1864-1870) from New York State Archives.

     Alicia Abramowski of Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School is the overall Ad Craft winner. The new Gowanda Middle School is dedicated. The Upper Edge opens in Gowanda. Gowanda Central School presents "Finian's Rainbow." WYRK radio personality Clay Moden wins the fourth annual K&L Lanes Burger-Eating Contest, downing eight and a half cheeseburgers.

     Footage is shot at Maple Glen Sugar House for a "Pride of New York" program commercial.

     Cameron Maracle wins a new mountain bike at the Fitness Bucks Auction held at Gowanda Central. Gowanda Middle School presents "Music Man." Jr. Jessica Suraf is chosen for Girls' State; Jessica Maziar is alternate. Brandon Kowalski, a student at St. Joseph School, writes a winning essay - "What Courage Means."

     The Collins Draft Horse, Ox and Pony Club holds its 21st annual plow fest.

     A curfew law is adopted in Collins. An in-home electrolysis business is opened in Collins by Jody Frank. Jordan Bergmann; Marc Capitano, Shawn Huffman, Jochen Hutzenlaub, Matthew Krebs and Brian Regan are selected for Boys' State; Ross Olszewski is alternate. The Pine Valley Central School Lady Panthers Basketball Team wins the Class D State championship. Gowanda is named Tree City USA. Tai Lickfield is the raffle winner at Gowanda's Easter Egg Hunt. First-place winners of the South Dayton Daffodil Festival Dessert Contest are Mary Dawn Reynolds and Megan and Katelyn Jackson.

     Steve Baldo dealership moves from Collins to a newly constructed facility in North Collins. Easter Egg Hunt winners in Dayton include Alex Ashby, Jennifer Wing, Brooke Hansen Ivett and Dalton Wickham. Rolling 300 games at K&L Lanes are Dan Guest, Bill Barnes and Gary Nash.

     Winning the Gowanda BPW essay contest are Erica Strickfaden, Anna Franco and Caitlin Post from Gowanda Middle School, and Brandon Kowalski from St. Joseph School. Gowanda Police Department sponsors Community Green Day, a village clean-up initiative. Town of Persia Historian Jean Hillis retires. Junior prom royalty from Gowanda Central are Jessica Suraf, queen; Robert Payne, king; Jessica Davis, princess; and Stephen Burr, prince.

     Gowanda Central senior Jay Franz is honored at the Big 30 Academic Team Scholarship Banquet. David Bolen wins the Pioneer Days Denny Crouse 5K Run. Matt Braasch, Delaney Kiernan and Billy Wakelam win the ice cream eating contest. Ashley Knopf wins the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest. Billy Gearman, Cullin Kilcoyne and Devon Clark win the Tricycle Races. Battle of the Bands winner is NBCM.

     Trustee Ed Austin resigns in Gowanda; Dale DeCarlo is appointed to serve the remainder of Austin's term. J's Place pizzeria opens in Gowanda. For the second consecutive year, St. Joseph School takes first place in the Hunter's Hope Laps for Life competition. Former Buffalo Bill - and Hunter's dad - Jim Kelly comes to Gowanda to congratulate the students.

     The Gowanda Central School budget is defeated, a contingency budget is adopted. The Gowanda Kiwanis Club holds Antiques Appraisal Day. Gowanda Police Department Bike Rodeo winners are Marcus Hoffman and Tyler Gillis. Samantha Hedges and Andrew Greinert win new bicycles. The fifth annual Harley Happening at the Hollywood draws large crowds. Bob Robe is inducted into the Dunkirk Bowling Association Hall of Fame.

     Winner of the Gowanda Shrine Club $1,000 scholarship is Kristen Johnson, a Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School senior. The Gernatt Gravel Little League Baseball Team wins their second consecutive regular season championship. The Village Laundromat opens in Gowanda. St. Joseph School student Laura Stang takes first place in the Daughters of the American Revolution Statewide Essay Contest.

     Scientists and forestry experts confirm Zoar Valley area old growth forest determination. The Gowanda Little League Baseball 11-12-year-olds all-star team wins the District 2 Area A championship as does the 9-10-year-olds all-star team. Dan Stroud returns from the War in Iraq. Paul Lesefske of Maple Glen Sugar House is named Maple Promoter of the Year. A classic car show is held in Gowanda, a first-ever July event. Stefanena Kysor wins gold medals at the Empire State Games in long-course swimming metered events.

     Jeremy Cline of Dayton earns Eagle Scout ranking. A smoking ban goes into effect. Fran Ross is named Outstanding Rural [mail] Carrier of the Year for New York State. The play structure at St. John Park is torn down. Kenneth Lindquist is hired as new Town of Dayton building inspector. Bob Coudrey is elected president of the Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firemen. The North Collins A's have a perfect season.

     Jeanette Genthner establishes a mobile pet-grooming service, Cloud K-9. St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Gowanda celebrates its 100th anniversary. A Heritage Harvest Festival and House Tour are held in Gowanda, as is Moonlight Madness.

     Another 9/11 observance takes place in Gowanda, and the Seneca Nation Fall Festival draws hundreds. A bomb threat evacuates Gowanda Central School and David Smith is named Gowanda Middle School principal. Mudbugs restaurant opens in Collins.

     On Oct. 12, the first edition of the new Gowanda PennySaver/News hits the streets. A fall festival is held in Leon, the Hollywood Theater is haunted for Halloween, the former JN Adam Developmental Center property is put on the market, and Sharon Wurst and Pam Howard bicycle across Iowa. Jim Stuhr is sworn in as Town of Perrysburg councilman. He replaces the seat vacated by Buddy Beaver, who was elected Village of Perrysburg mayor.

     Gowanda Eye Care relocates to East Main Street. Gowanda Midget Jet cheerleaders take first place in competition as do the Gowanda Pee Wee Packer cheerleaders. The new Gowanda Ambulance is put into service.

     The Gowanda Thespian Society presents "Bye Bye Birdie." Gowanda Pee-Wee Packers are Class A Superbowl champs and the Gowanda Midget Jets are Class B Superbowl champs. Naturally Yours General Store opens in East Otto.

     Perrysburg Firemen's Halloween Parade first-place winners are Nicholas Barnello, Jacob Myzel, Christian Loretto, Cheyenne Williams and Jessica Salzler. In Gowanda, the Halloween costume contest winners include Trent Lone, Mary Elizabeth Gould, Jaeda Hackemer, Kenny Kaczanowski, Malyssa Farley, Danielle Sperling, Gunnar Hubbard, Indigo Vantino, John Schott and Kelsey Lay.

     Gowanda Middle School seventh-grader Raechel Sikorski is the Gowanda Lions Club Peace Poster contest winner. Liquid Therapy opens in Collins. Neighborhood Watch is established in Gowanda. Mark Twain (aka Mike Randall) visits Gowanda. The new Hidi Hose Company rescue pumper is dedicated. Brianna Weinaug, Amber McKeever and Alayna Swartz win the Gowanda Coloring Contest. Perrysburg Town Justice David Smith retires.

     John Mrozek is appointed North Collins Village Trustee after Thomas Mudra resigns from the board. Santa makes many appearances throughout the area. The Secret Elf is spied in Gowanda. It's a stroll down memory lane at the Sports History Exhibition held in Gowanda. A live Nativity takes place at Chang-Hu Park.

     This has just been a sampling of the many events taking place within our area. From what we've seen and heard, 2004 promises to be just as busy. Happy New Year!