DECEMBER 27, 2019
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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 52
CAR. TR. MKTG MAIL US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 244 BRADFORD, PA
L I L V E G SP RIN TIMES
The official newspaper of the Town of Concord, and the Village of Springville. Serving Springville, the surrounding communities and Springville-Griffith Institute Central Schools
Local officials reflect on 2019, look forward to 2020 By Kellen M. Quigley
As the year comes to a close and a new one arrives in only a few days, now is a good time to reflect on what has been going on in the Springville area during the past year as well as look forward to what could be coming in the new decade. We recently asked some local officials to share their thoughts on how 2019 was for their respective areas and what could be in store as we roll into 2020. Clyde Drake, Supervisor of the Town of Concord, said one of the biggest stories of the year in the town was the case of a pit bull who bit a postal worker and the court case that ensued. The life of Chunk the pit bull would be spared, a Town of Concord judge ruled in November after authorities initially pushed for euthanasia. “We had some dog issues that we wished hadn’t happened,” Drake said. “It caused a lot of hard feelings
with people, but when it’s a safety issue, we have to try to push it to the limit and protect the safety of the citizens.” At the end of 2019, two longtime town employees, Highway Superintendent Denny Dains and Supervisor’s secretary Denise Ciszak, retired after 24 years and 28 years, respectively. “A couple of longtime employees going out the door, and we’re in the process of trying to train new people and they seem to be doing fine,” Drake said. “We’ve got some new blood and new ideas, and we’re hoping that’s a positive.” For the town board, Drake said they’re working on the five-year plan to set a better course in the future and not be blindsided by items. He said they’re primarily working with older buildings and they’re hoping to chart a course for repairs and possible replacements. “It’s not that we have
Bill Krebs Springville Mayor
Clyde Drake Concord Supervisor
Kim Moritz SGI Superintendent
any plans on the table right now, but you can’t stick your head in the sand,” he said. “We had threats of not getting AIM funding and that finally came through in 2019, so we don’t know if that’s going to be a yearly battle, but we were successful in getting it this year.” Drake said the town’s senior center has seen a lot of growth and increased activities in 2019 and they’re expecting that to expand further in the new year. Recently, some concerns with the rails to trails
project through the town has come about, but Drake said they’re hoping to work through it in 2020 and form a compromise with the railroad and trails groups. Also looking forward to 2020, Drake said there will be more meetings and information about the proposed solar field in the northeast end of the town. “There’s a lot of positive things go on,” he said. “No year is going to be perfect, you get a lot of surprises every year, but we just try to work our way through them.”
FOR SPRINGVILLEGRIFFITH Institute Superintendent Kim Moritz, what she’s most proud of in 2019 is having an intact group of employees who have been working together well, from administrators to teachers and staff. “It’s a really good team and solid board leadership, so that feels good,” she said. “It feels like a time of stability here at the school district, and I look forward to that continuing into the new year and the years that follow.” One of the biggest things happening at the district this
Christmas traditions from around the world
By Ely Schosek
Traditions: every family has its own, some towns have traditions, some countries have traditions, and so on. Not every tradition is happy though, as is evident in Austria with the tradition of Krampus. St. Nicholas’ evil half is said to take away the naughtiest children in his sack while St. Nick gives the nice children gifts. Although this is just a legend, young men often dress up as Krampus at the start of December and go around scaring the children. Every year since 1966, a Yule Goat has been constructed in the middle of Gävle’s Castle Square in Sweden. The Yule Goat is over 40 feet tall. What is even more unique about this tradition is that every year, people attempt to burn it down. Since the beginning of the
tradition, the Goat has been successfully destroyed a total of 29 times. In the Philippines, one of their biggest traditions is the Giant Lantern Festival. It is held on the Saturday prior to Christmas Eve every year, always in the city of San Fernando, which is also known as the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” Eleven villages partake in the competition, all attempting to build the most elaborate lantern. People from all over the world come to see this spectacle each year. The tradition has grown from a half a meter in diameter lit by candle to what they are now, nearly six meters in diameter and lit by electric bulbs. Iceland has a unique tradition involving trolllike creatures called Yule Lads who visit the children during the 13 nights prior to Christmas.
Children put their best shoes by the window and a different Yule Lad visits each night, leaving gifts for nice children and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones. In Toronto, the annual Cavalcade of Lights marks the beginning of the holiday season. The tradition began in 1967 to celebrate the newly built City Hall. The lights shine from dusk till 11 p.m. until the New Year. Some Christmas traditions are just bizarre, like the newly originated Japanese Christmas tradition of a Kentucky Fried Chicken Christmas dinner. Seeing as Christmas is not widely celebrated in Japan, it is still a rare tradition, if it can even be called that. Only in recent years has it come about. Yet another bizarre Christmas tradition can be found in Norway which involves people See Traditions page 2
year was the progress of the ongoing capital project. Moritz noted the new parking lots, lighting plans and the P-TECH academy as some highlights. “From that perspective, we’ve seen a lot of great improvements to our buildings and grounds,” she added. After about four years since arriving at the district, Moritz said it’s been nice to finally feel settled in and to have the district at a place of stability. “And our students really have been remarkable, so I think it’s a good time here in Springville,” she said. IN THE VILLAGE, Mayor Bill Krebs said 2019 included a $600,000 project on Newman and Maple streets was completed, including bridge construction, which received state funding for pedestrian and bicycle improvements. “That was a big project for us,” he said. “And that See 2020 page 2
Highway Superintendents present gifts to BCH patients
Photo submitted Pictured (from left): Teresa Fink, RN; Town of East Otto Highway Superintendent Tom Benz; Diane Metz of Suit-Kote; BCH ED Nurse Manager Rachael Conklin, RN; and Casey Suraf, LPN.
The Cattaraugus County Town Highway Supervisors Association delivered a supply of new toys and stuffed animals for the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Emergency Department
on Dec. 17. Staff in the ED gives out toys to its youngest patients and visitors. The Association also collected toys during the holiday season to deliver to Olean General
Hospital, Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services, the Ronald McDonald House in Buffalo and the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo.
A Look Back: 100 Years Ago — Life in 1920 By Jolene Hawkins
Looking Back to 100 years ago, what changes have happened? American Troops were returning from Europe after World War I and the Legion was chartered by Congress as a patriotic veterans organization. It focuses was on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities. We drove Model T’s and watched silent movies. Can you
believe the changes that have happened?! Model T’s — Touring Cars for five passengers were $1,385, a Roadster for three passengers was $1,385 and could be purchased at Fox and Gibbin, located on Main Street. You could also go to A.C. Fisher who sold Ford Cars and Fordson Tractors, located on Mechanic Street. Detroit promoted an all eclectic car that tour the Cascade mountains from Seattle to Mt. Rainer! Toys have always been around in some form and 100 years ago, a stuffed bear named after President Theodore Roosevelt — a
Teddy bear — was popular, along with tinker toys, dolls, children’s sleds, wagons and rocking horses, all found at Weismantle Brothers store. Or maybe you would want a Victor or Edison phonograph, which there were several models at Bement and Brooks on Main Street. Ansco Cameras, the amateur camera of professional quality priced at $2, could be found at J.M.C. Bargar, and H.D. Smith Store carried all plus, lace handkerchiefs, stationery, camisoles, nightgowns, muffs, sweaters, gloves, aprons, wool blankets, neckwear and books, all popular 100 years ago. In 1920, the Pittsburg
Panthers football team was undefeated, but of course the coach had a lot to do with that. You might have heard of him — Glenn Warner, affectionately called “Pop” Warner. That year Jim Thorpe, recognized by Pop Warner for his athletic skill, and seven other men met and organized a professional football league. He became the first president. Later it was renamed National Football League. Babe Ruth was the Player of the Century. He played for the Boston Red Sox, and during that time he set a record for the most scoreless innings in the World Series. In Florida, the Everglades were drained creating new
dry land and a land boom was started — a perfect place with perfect weather! When listening to
music on your radio or phonograph, you could hear great jazz music by King See A Look Back page 4