Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

by Sean Kirst, Buffalo News The plaque, a replica of a gift to the people of Dunkerque, France, hangs in the second floor corridor of Dunkirk City Hall, a couple of blocks from Lake Erie. It has been there for decades, a gesture to emphasize a bond of deep affection, and Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas sees it as a daily reminder of civic purpose. "We need to remember," he said, "great things can happen here." The movie blockbuster of the summer, "Dunkirk," opens this weekend. It portrays the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Allied troops from the French city, under dire threat from Nazi forces, in the early days of World War II. The film also resonates in the Chautauqua County city of Dunkirk, where an economically wounded Great Lakes community recalls how a collective effort to aid its staggered sister city, more than 70 years ago, gave it a moment of brilliant international attention. Read the full story here: http://buffalonews.com/2017/07/21/se...

A level three sex offender is back behind bars after allegedly being too close to a school in Dunkirk Wednesday afternoon. Police say 66-year-old Richard Conti was on a street corner watching students leave Dunkirk Middle School when there is a valid order of protection against him, saying he is not allowed within 150 feet of any school. Back in 2002 he was convicted of sexually abusing three children – ages 5, 6 and 8 – in 2001. He’s being held without bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man who shot one 12-guage round from the second story window of a house onto the ground below is facing a number of charges. State police say 30-year-old Alan Will of Dunkirk fired the round Tuesday on Route 5 while people were in the yard and children were in the house. Will is charged with reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a residence. Will is jailed on $5,000 cash bail and is scheduled to appear in court on September 8. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A shoplifting spree has led to charges against a Fredonia woman. State police say 66-year-old Masoode Majid stole $59 worth of merchandise from the Tops Market in Dunkirk, $257 worth of merchandise from a JC Penney store and $23 worth of merchandise from a Dollar General. She’s charged with theft and criminal possession of stolen property and will appear in Town of Dunkirk Court next month. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two people had to be taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash Thursday on Webster Road in the Town of Pomfret. Sheriff’s Deputies say 53-year-old Christopher Brunecz of Fredonia pulled his pickup truck out of a driveway in front of a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Mitchell Laurie, also of Fredonia. A female passenger and a child in Brunecz's vehicle were taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk with minor injuries. Brunecz was not hurt, and Laurie declined treatment at the scene. No charges were filed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Dunkirk Police Department is asking people to be on the lookout for a man they believe shot another man early Wednesday morning. An arrest warrant has been issued for 24-year-old Traiquane Nance, whose current address is unknown. He is accused of shooting a man in the hip at around 4 a.m. Wednesday on Swan Street. The victim was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital for treatment, but is now recovering at home. Police say Nance should be considered armed and dangerous. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two men are facing charges for sexting with a 16-year-old Stockton, NY, girl. Police say 23-year-old Jonas Greenstein of Stockton and 23-year-old Daniel Meder of Dunkirk exchanged sexually explicit text messages and nude pictures with the girl. They are both charged with promoting the sexual performance of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. They are free on bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 69-year-old hunter was found dead in his tree stand on Sunday. Police say the family of John Kucharski Jr. of Dunkirk contacted them after he didn’t return home after a day of hunting. After a brief search, police found Kucharski in a tree stand on his family’s property. The stand was about 20 feet up. Police say he had known health conditions, and the coroner said he died of natural causes. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A tractor-trailer driver suffered only minor injuries when his rig swerved to miss a deer, left the road and then hit two trees and a utility pole. The crash happened at about 11:30 Sunday night on Route 20 near Walden Road in Pomfret. Sheriff’s deputies say the utility pole came down on top of the cab of the truck, but the driver, 41-year-old John Dangelo of South Dayton, New York, was able to get out safely. Dangelo was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk for treatment of his injuries. The tractor, which was carrying empty grape boxes, was heavily damaged and had to be towed from the scene. Route 20 was closed for several hours. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police say a man had nearly a pound of marijuana with him when he was stopped at a road check in Chautauqua County Wednesday. 36-year-old Brian Waller of Dunkirk was pulled out of traffic when troopers smelled marijuana in his vehicle. Besides the 14 ounces of marijuana, they found an open can of beer. Waller was sent to Chautauqua County Jail after being charged with a felony count of criminal possession of marijuana. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Dunkirk man admitted to filing dozens of state and federal tax returns – using the names and social security numbers of dead people. In 2008 and 2009 42-year-old John Berry field 40 fraudulent New York State income tax returns claiming more than $25,000 in refunds, and 122 federal returns claiming $200,000 in refunds. He’s facing charges of offering a false instrument for filing and attempted grand larceny. Berry’s next scheduled court appearance is October 15. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Part of the New York State Thruway in Chautauqua County was shut down for a couple of hours overnight when a tractor-trailer carrying propane tanks crashed. The accident happened at about 11 p.m. in the Town of Portland as the truck was heading west. It went off the side of the road, down a steep embankment and rolled over. Interstate 90 westbound was closed between Dunkirk and Westfield while emergency crews determined if the propane cylinders were stable. After the county HazMat Team determined that no propane had leaked, the lane was re-opened at about 1:30 a.m. The driver, 57-year-old Richard Kingsley of Silver Creek, was taken by Starflight to UPMC Hamot in Erie, where he is in fair condition. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Dunkirk man who already had a conviction on sex-related charges in Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution and possession of child pornography. 52-year-old Talbert Mount had nearly 1,000 videos and more than 13,000 images of child pornography on various computers and hard drives when federal agents searched his home in June of last year. They say some of the images depicted infants and toddlers. Mount was convicted of Corruption of a Minor of a Sexual Nature in Clarion County in 2010. The maximum penalty for the latest charges is 120 years in prison. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Dunkirk man is in jail following a burglary and assault last night in Silver Creek. Sheriff’s deputies say 26-year-old Christian Lamoreaux went into a house without permission at about 7 o’clock, assaulted one person and choked another. He’s charged with burglary, assault, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and criminal mischief. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Three people were hurt and one is facing drug charges following a rollover crash in the Town of Dunkirk Tuesday night. State troopers say a car driven by Julius Woma was attempting to turn into a driveway but missed the turn, hit a ditch near the Thruway Bridge and flipped onto its roof. Woma was treated at the scene for minor injuries, cited for a number of traffic violations and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. His two passengers were treated at Brooks Memorial Hospital for minor injuries. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man who lost consciousness while driving ended up in a Dunkirk Cemetery. Sheriff’s deputies say 70-year-old Larry Wollert was traveling south on Route 60 at just before 10 o’clock this morning when he lost consciousness. His vehicle then went into the northbound lane, where it hit a car driven by 53-year-old Kim Robbins of Fredonia. Wollert’s vehicle then left the road, hit a utility pole and travelled into St. Marys Cemetery, where it hit several headstones. Both drivers were taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Another alleged crack cocaine dealer is behind bars in Chautauqua County. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force says 34-year-old Michael Gibson of Buffalo sold crack in Dunkirk to agents of the task force. He has been indicted on charges of criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance.

The chief of the Dunkirk Police Department was hurt in a two-car crash today at the intersection of routes 20 and 60 in the Town of Pomfret. State police say Chief David Ortolano was headed south on Route 60 when a vehicle driven by Paula Shively of Fredonia made a left turn in front of him and the vehicles collided. Ortolano was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital for treatment of knee and hand pain. Shively was taken to the hospital for treatment of chest and hand pain. Police are continuing their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The nationwide manhunt for a fugitive from Puerto Rico has ended in Dunkirk. 26-year-old Eric Garcia-Rivas was wanted by the FBI for running a large drug distribution ring. He was picked up at about 6 o’clock Sunday night in Dunkirk after police saw him acting suspiciously, and then trying to hide his face from them. The FBI says Garcia-Rivas is part of a violent street gang that used weapons, threats and intimidation to run its drug distribution ring out of a public housing project. He was turned over to the FBI Monday morning. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man who was hit and killed by a train early Saturday morning in Dunkirk has been identified. Police say 48-year-old Carl Long of Dunkirk was walking along the CSX tracks near Woodrow Avenue when he was hit by a freight train and around 3:20 a.m. They don’t know why he was walking on the tracks, but say Long’s car was parked not far from the tracks. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947