Edition 18 - Volume 6
8/18/2002 thru 8/24/2002

This week as Issues will be taking a look at an aspect concerning the history of the Collins / Collins Center area. On September 29, 2002, two distinctly different, yet alarmingly similar events shall take place within the Town of Collins, Erie County, NY. First, the Collins Center Volunteer Fire Department withh celebrate it's 110th anniversary. Second, the Collins Library will be celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Issues will pay tribute to both of these entities. This week we shall focus on the anniversary of the Collins Center Volunteer Fire Company. Continued...

For genealogical research concerning the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, our 2001 - 2001 Death Notice page has recently been updated.

This week Issues would like to share with our readers a few of our glorious moments. Over the past few weeks, Issues' Editor has recieved recognition for a few short stories that have been shared on other websites, particularly Rememory. As a person interested in reading and writing, I urge all of our readers to check out Rememory, it is a wonderful site. From the category: "Kids Say The Darndest Things" Here is my Third Place winning Entry: The Deer

My granddaughter is always ready with a story about someone or something, for the past 4 months she has been telling everyone that her aunt is going to have two babies a baby boy and a baby girl. The story is not exactly true, Lexi was excited that her aunt was having a baby, but when she was told that the baby was going to be a boy, she just added the additional child to make things seem the way she wants them to be. So you see, Lexi's stories evolve around what she wants to believe, so here is her newest story.

First, I suppose it would be best to explain that my son-in-law, Sean shot an 8-point buck last fall and had the head mounted; it hangs in the livingroom. Today, a deer ran out in front of us as we were driving down the road, which prompted Lexi's story.

"Gran, did you know that Uncle Sean shot a deer?" she asked.

"He did?" I replied.

"Yep, he shot a deer and sawed its body off."

I tried not to giggle as I asked; He sawed the body off Lex?"

"Yep, he sawed the body off and put the head on the wall, but don't worry it's fake."

"It's fake?" I asked. "Yep, it's fake and he sawed the body off and hung the head on the wall."

"Your Uncle Sean shot a fake deer?" I asked.

"Yep, he shot a deer, and he sawed the body off, and hung the head on the wall, and it's fake." She repeated.

"I asked, "Are you sure it was a fake deer?"

"Yes Gram," she was becoming aggravated. "He shot the deer and sawed the body off and hung the head on the wall and its fake."

"Are you sure he didn't saw the head off?" I asked, really trying not to laugh.

"Gram," she reprimanded. He sawed the body off so he could hang the head on the wall."

Okay, enough was enough. I had to call my son-in-law to see if he could figure out her story. It seems that he had two fake deer in his back yard for target practice, but one disappeared just before he brought the head from the taxidermist. I suppose the rest is understandable, after all, why would you saw the head off unless you were planning on hanging the body?

What's Coming?

Stop in during the week, Issues will be adding a few more of the winning articles we have placed at Rememory, and we have a World War II Veteran who has agreed to share his stories with Issues' readers. We will be adding the stories throughout the week.