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Longtime horseman Howard Okusko Sr., who not only was part of the construction team that built Vernon Downs in the early 1950s but also trained his stable of horses at the New York harness racetrack since it opened in 1954, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 20, in St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, N.Y. after a brief illness. He was 86. Mr. Okusko was born in Utica, N.Y. on Jan. 9, 1935. He attended St. Francis De Sales School and resided in the area his entire life. “My dad never left Vernon Downs, when he always could have,” said Mr. Okusko’s son, Howard Jr., also one of Vernon ...

adolce@observertoday.com OBSERVER Photos by Anthony Dolce The Gowanda Hollywood Theater stage is pictured from the second level. GOWANDA — A very special 95th birthday was celebrated and recognized in downtown this week. But rather than for a person, the birthday instead served as a time to recognize the cultural and historical significance of the Gowanda Hollywood Theater. The Gowanda Hollywood Theater originally opened its doors on April 19, 1926, and now, 95 years later, the Hollywood Theater has been restored to look as close as it can to how it did in 1926. “They have been restore...

Photo by Anthony Dolce GOWANDA — A very special 95th birthday was celebrated and recognized in downtown this week. But rather than for a person, the birthday instead served as a time to recognize the cultural and historical significance of the Gowanda Hollywood Theater. The Gowanda Hollywood Theater originally opened its doors on April 19, 1926, and now, 95 years later, the Hollywood Theater has been restored to look as close as it can to how it did in 1926. “They have been restored to their original form like they did in 1926,” said Gowanda Mayor David Smith. “This was damaged extr...