Let's Go Back for Feb. 22, 2013

40 Years Ago, Feb. 21, 1973

Chamber to honor leadership in education and business

On March 8, 1973, the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will honor seven persons as Citizens of the Year. This annual dinner will be held at the Buffalo Launch Club and the public is invited.

It is interesting to observe that two of the recipients who may have had the most profound effect on Grand Island are not residents of Grand Island at all. Miss Veronica E. Connor is not a resident, but her career and education have been devoted to Grand Island students over a span of nearly four decades.

Mr. David Wylie is not a resident of Grand Island, but his promotional expertise and broad vision is putting together a 1,100-acre development in our community. ...

Miss Connor began as a schoolroom teacher in a "district" school. As Grand Island grew, she provided the leadership to develop additional ... schools as they were needed. ... Supervising an organization which provides the education of 4,500 students is an accomplishment that few have achieved. ...

David Wylie is the man who looked on the vacant acres along the shore of the east river and envisioned the future of this area as a huge development. It (River Oaks) is the largest private-enterprise project in Western New York. ...

30 Years Ago, Feb. 18, 1983

Planners recommend Waterside Park plans

The Planning Board Monday agreed to recommend conditional approval of plans for the five-acre lot Waterside Park subdivision proposed on East River Road south of Winkler Drive.

Proposed by the developer are eight five-acre lots having about 175 feet of frontage each.

The planners in other action advised the Town Board that a section of right of way for South Park Drive (Sandy Beach) is no longer needed for highway purposes.

West of Greenway Road, the road end at one time was reserved for an extension of South Park Drive to Baseline Road, the Planning Board advised.

20 Years Ago, Feb. 26, 1993

Isle business rates $500,000 RDC loan

Richard Crawford, executive director of the Economic Development Committee of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, has reported the Sun Fresh Juice Co., located in the Inducon complex on the Island, received a Regional Development Corp. loan in the amount of $500,000 to purchase production and make lease payments for filler equipment, plus provide working capital.

The loan will allow Sun Fresh to go forward and begin production, bringing anticipated employment from two to 52 employees over a three-year period, Crawford said, adding that the Grand Island Economic Development Committee was instrumental in locating Inducon on Grand Island. The complex consists of two 60,000 square foot buildings in the foreign trade zone on Lang Boulevard, he said. The 52 jobs will help in part to offset the loss, which resulted when Dunlop moved off the Island this year, Crawford said.

10 Years Ago, Feb. 21, 2003

GI German shepherd competes at Westminster Dog Show

Blackjack, a Grand Island German shepherd owned by Islander Gary McDannell, competed at the Westminster Dog Show in Madison Square Garden on Feb. 11

In order to compete at the show a dog must be an American Kennel Club Champion of Record. Blackjack, whose AKC registered name is Ch. Alfaro's Dancer AOM, earned his Canadian Championship when he was 18 months old, and his American Championship at 2 years of age. ... At the Westminster Show Blackjack competed for Best of Breed with seven other German shepherds. ...

Blackjack was awarded the "Westminster Award of Merit" for his performance, and his sister (Ch. Rowland's Cure for Love) was presented "Best of the Opposite Sex Award."