Gowanda Small Town Times

The first game of the 2023 sports season took place on Tuesday, August 29. With the Pine Valley/Gowanda Varsity boys soccer team game at Dunkirk that day postponed, it was up the Pine Valley/Gowanda Varsity girls to start things out. The girls soccer team hosted Silver Creek/Forestville for the first game of the season. After being shutout 3-0 in the first half, the Pine Valley/Gowanda girls picked up the pace in the second half with both teams picking up a pair of goals. While taking a 5-2 loss, that second half effort left them something to build on going forward. As of this writing, no scoring stats were available.

8/31 Update: It has now been reported that both of the Pine Valley/Gowanda 2nd half goals were scored by Sarah Kruszka closing the gap to 2-3. Those goals were later answered by Silver Creek/Forestville taking the margin back to three goals. It has also been reported that Pine Valley/Gowanda goaltender, Destiny Lindquist, made 24 saves in the game keeping her team close. In contrast, Silver Creek/Forestville goaltender, Kimberly Bauer only faced a total of eight shots making two saves.

[photo] Volunteers wait at finish line in the Cattaraugus Creek for the 2023 Ducky Derby. Photo courtesy of Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce

On Sunday, August 27, at 2 P.M. the annual Ducky Derby was held on Cattaraugus Creek. For the second year, the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce event was held at Gateway Park with the finish line in front of the amphitheater. Top prizes were $200, $150 and $100 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place finishes, respectively. Additionally, there were prizes of $50 for places 4-6 and $25 for places 7-10.

With congratulations the Chamber has announced the derby winners. Along with their ducky’s number, the winners were Deb Winship (1st Place, #298), Sharon LeRoy (2nd Place, #598), Allie Reid (3rd Place, #700), Delilah Goodemote (4th Place, #303), Michelle Twoguns (5th Place, #243), Lola Neu (6th Place, #383), Brenda Clabeau (7th Place, #735), Cameron Nagel (8th Place, #315), Kelly Booth (9th Place, #329) and Cindy Freer (10th Place, #376).

Below are the schedules for Gowanda, Gowanda/Pine Valley (football) and Pine Valley/Gowanda (soccer) teams for Fall 2023. This list is a composite of information currently posted on Section 6, Gowanda and Pine Valley school websites. There are a few minor conflicts between these sources and the information below is the best currently available.

Fall Sports Season open August 21

Football (Gowanda/Pine Valley)

Friday, September 1 at Silver Creek
Thursday, September 7 vs. Catt/Little Valley (at Pine Valley)
Friday, September 15 vs. Franklinville/Ellicottville
Saturday, September 23 at Cardinal O’Hara (non-league)
Friday, September 29 vs. Wilson - Homecoming game -
Friday, October 6 vs. St. Mary’s
Saturday, October 14 at CSP (Panama)
Friday, October 20 vs. Randolph

Girls Volleyball

Wednesday, August 30 vs.Springville
Thursday, August 31 vs.Falconer
Tuesday, September 5 at North Collins
Friday, September 8 vs.Pine Valley
Saturday, September 9 at Falconer (non-league)
Thursday, September 14 vs.Silver Creek [moved to 9/25?]
Tuesday, September 19 at Randolph
Thursday, September 21 vs.Catt.-Little Valley
Friday, September 22 at Clymer/Sherman
Saturday, September 23 vs.Ellicottville
Monday, September 25 vs.Silver Creek
Tuesday, September 26 at Salamanca
Wednesday, September 27 vs.North Collins
Tuesday, October 3 at Pine Valley
Thursday, October 5 at Ellicottville
Friday, October 6 at Lake Shore
Tuesday, October 10 at Silver Creek
Wednesday, October 11 at Eden
Thursday, October 12 vs.Randolph
Tuesday, October 17 at Catt.-Little Valley
Thursday, October 19 vs. Salamanca

Cross Country

Tuesday, September 12 vs. Jamestown
Tuesday, September 19 at Allegany-Limestone
Tuesday, September 26 at Salamanca
Tuesday, October 10 at Southwestern
Monday, October 23 at Silver Creek [boys]
Friday, November 3 at Middle early College

Boys Soccer (Pine Valley/Gowanda)
Tuesday, August 29 at Dunkirk (non-league)
Tuesday, September 5 vs Westfield-Brocton (non-league)
Thursday, September 7 at Silver Creek (non-league)
Saturday, September 9 at Westfield-Brocton (non-league)
Tuesday, September 12 vs. Cass. Valley-Falconer
Thursday, September 14 at Salamanca (non-league)
Saturday, September 16 vs. Silver Creek (non-league)
Tuesday, September 19 vs. Portville
Thursday, September 21 at Ellicottville
Saturday, September 23 vs. Dunkirk (non-league)
Tuesday, September 26 vs. Randolph
Thursday, September 28 at Cass. Valley-Falconer
Tuesday, October 3 vs. Salamanca
Thursday, October 5 at Portville
Tuesday, October 10 vs. Ellicottville
Thursday, October 12 at Randolph

Girls Soccer (Pine Valley/Gowanda)
Tuesday, August 29 vs. Silver Creek/Forestville
Thursday, August 31 at Westfield
Tuesday, September 5 at North Collins
Friday, September 8 vs. Ellicottville
Monday, September 11 at Randolph (non-league)
Wednesday, September 13 at Catt.-Little Valley
Friday, September 15 vs. Westfield/Brocton
Monday, September 18 at Franklinville
Wednesday, September 20 vs. Salamanca
Friday, September 22 vs. Portville
Monday, September 25 at Ellicottville
Wednesday, September 27 vs. Randolph
Friday, September 29 vs. Catt.-Little Valley
Wednesday, October 4 vs. Franklinville
Friday, October 6 at Salamanca
Wednesday, October 11 at Portville (non-league)
Friday, October 13 at Silver Creek

Jamestown Community College recently made several announcements including graduates and Dean’s List honors.

Kirk Young, Jamestown Community College vice president of student affairs, and Marilyn Zagora, vice president of Academic Affairs, have announced the names of those awarded degrees or certificates from the Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses in May 2023. A total of 347 students earned degrees and certificates. Highest honors represents a 4.0 grade point average, high honors a 3.5 to 3.99 GPA, and honors a 3.25 to 3.49 GPA. Among those graduates, from Gowanda, was Julianna Grudzien (Associate of Science Degree.: Liberal Arts & Sciences: Early Childhood Education).

Several other local JCC part-time students were named to the Dean’s List for academic excellence during the spring 2023 semester. These included, from Collins, Donovan Jackson and, from Gowanda, Jairus Chung, Joseph Maxwell, Marquise Moore and Jeffrey Ryan.

Additionally, many area high school students were named to SUNY Jamestown Community College’s full-time student dean’s list during the 2022-23 academic year. To be eligible, students must achieve a grade point average of 3.50 or better while enrolled in at least 12 degree credits. Local honors for FALL 2022 went to
Lani Farley (Collins), Logan Forthman & Julia Jefferson (Gowanda) and Chase Cooper (Perrysburg).

Photo: This float from Ensering Hopes & Dreams captured 1st Place for floats in the Gowanda 175th Anniversary Parade.

Over the weekend of August 11-13, 2023 Gowanda celebrated the 175th Anniversary of the village. Featured among the numerous weekend events were a social gathering at Gowanda’s Hollywood Theater, a time capsule ceremony, a grand parade and musical performances at Hillis Field.

The event, named “Gowanda Alive - After 175”, was coordinated by the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce. Leading off the celebration on Friday night was a Spirit of Gowanda Cocktail Soiree held at the Hollywood Theater. With a background presentation of vintage Gowanda photos and videos, the soiree featured food, drinks and a basket raffle. There was even a champagne toast to Gowanda Past, Present and Future.

Saturday morning found a small gather at Gowanda’s Chang-Hu Park for a time capsule ceremony. Several well known individuals from the Gowanda area spoke of their memories of growing up and living in Gowanda. That was followed by a ceremonial “burial” of a time capsule to be opened during the Gowanda Sesquicentennial in 2048.

After the time capsule ceremony, a Grand Parade with slightly under 60 units made its way down West Main Street. Special recognition was given to parade participants in several categories. Gowanda American Legion #409 took 1st place for marching group with Collins Correctional taking 2nd. The parade featured many impressive floats. Taking top honors among them was Enserling Hopes & Dreams (pictured above) with a Roaring ’20s theme. The 2nd Place float was from Perrysburg Baptist Church. The Gowanda Hollywood Theater had the 3rd Place entry despite having a float replica of the theater entrance complete with an animated marquee. There was also a category for classic vehicles in the parade. Gaining top recognition among these were Norri Luther - ‘62 Corvette (1st), Dan Gernatt Jr. - Antique #1 (2nd) and Matt Smuda - ‘64 Dodge Truck (3rd). The Gowanda High School Marching Band claimed 1st Place in the Arts & Entertainment category. A group of dancers from Danza Performing Arts took 2nd Place followed by a group of Gowanda Kiwanis Club sponsored Irish Dancers from the Rince Na Tiarna school. The name of the Buffalo-area school is Gaelic for ‘Lord of the Dance’. Top prizes for fire trucks were scattered among the local fire departments. Those honors went to Gowanda Fire Department Truck #1 (1st Place), Collins Fire Department Truck #4 (2nd Place) and Versailles Truck V-7 (3rd Place). Recognized with a 1st Place award in the Farthest Distance category was the Mighty St. Joes Drum & Bugle Corps. from Canada.

The Saturday night capper event was a program at Hillis Field. Following up their parade appearances with longer performances were the the GCS Marching Band, the Mighty St. Joes Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. and the Danza Performing Arts dancers. Also appearing at Hillis Field were the White Pine Singers & dancers performing traditional Native American dances.