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Let's Go Back: Our Island Through the Years

by jmaloni
Wed, Jan 19th 2011 12:00 pm

40 Years Ago: Jan. 13, 1971

Snowmobile Club formed

In the past, calls about snowmobiles represented the largest number of complaints at the Grand Island Town Hall during the winter months, but now a newly formed Grand Island Snowmobile Club is trying to do something to change that image.

"We want the public to understand snowmobilers are responsible people, stressed its newly elected president, Paul Buell.

As part of its attempt to stress such responsibility the club imposes a rigid code of ethics on its members. ... The club further provides that all persons must have proof of liability insurance before membership will be considered and all parents are held responsible for their children's actions.

The club, which was organized Dec. 17, 1970, is now accepting members with the restriction that members must be 18 years of age or belong as a member of a family. Membership now numbers about 30.

30 Years Ago: Jan. 9, 1981

Fire company loses last active charter member

The Town of Grand Island joins its volunteer firemen in mourning the death of Cyril J. Diebold, 69, who died Sunday of an apparent heart attack despite efforts of his fellow firefighters to save him.

Cy was the last remaining active member of the company established here in 1938. ...

At the time of his death and for many years before, Cy was a member of the fire company's board of directors. He also served at one time as president.

A long-time employee of Victor Furniture Co., Diebold retired from there about seven years ago, after which he joined the maintenance ranks at the Town Hall and served in that capacity until a leg injury forced him to resign. Despite his incapacity, Cy continued serving as an active fireman to the best of his ability.

20 Years Ago: Jan. 11, 1991

Luther proposes county board of supervisors

At a November meeting of the Association of Erie County Governments, Isle Supervisor Laverne Luther proposed a return to a county board of supervisors to replace the free-spending county legislature. The proposal not only got unanimous support from the association comprised of top elected officials from the county's cities, towns and villages, the idea is steamrolling.

Luther suggested the association make a feasibility study on the possibility of reviving the board of supervisors. The motion to move in this direction was precipitated by the number of fiscal concerns, including the ongoing problem of the county matching town costs for plowing county roads.

10 Years Ago: Jan. 19, 2001

Wilson Farms project discussed at Town Board meeting

Community members took an opportunity at Tuesday's Town Board meeting to give their opinions and ask questions about the proposed construction of a new Wilson Farms store at the corner of Ransom Road and Stony Point.

Although the town tabled the issue, residents were able to speak on it at the public portion of the meeting.

Kim Tetreault was the first to speak. She entered into the record a petition signed by about 350 residents in opposition to the project. "We ask you to slow the project down," she said. How it can go this far without a letter to residents is shameful.

She added that the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process should be reopened to include the gasoline pumps that would be on the lot.

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