Let's Go Back for May 24, 2013

40 Years Ago, May 16, 1973

$7 mill. budget marks school district growth

A total budget of $7,153,930, representing a $4.76 increase per $1,000 of assessed valuation was approved by the Grand Island Board of Education at its May 14, 1973, meeting in the district offices.

The total budget for the year '73-'74 represents a 5.9 percent increase over last year's assessment and reflects the increased cost of operating the present program with only slight changes and wages increases paid to district personnel.

The largest single area of increase in program services is to be found in tuition payments to the Cooperative Board (BOCES). This increase provides for education to children who have special learning problems and those who seek vocational instruction. It is noted with interest this year there were 39 students enrolled in the area of occupational education, whereas 80 students have been recommended for the fall program. This accounts for a large portion of the additional $66,832 allotted to this portion of the budgeted monies.

30 Years Ago, May 13, 1983

Planners recommend subdivision approval

The Planning Board Monday voted to recommend the Town Board give conditional approval to Section 1 of the Staley Farms subdivision, proposed on 120 acres on Staley Road. Plans call for dividing the land into 12 lots having an area over nine acres each.

Following a review of the preliminary plat plan for the 83-lot Downsview Acres subdivision on Bedell Road, just west of Stony Point, the planners agreed that it "may be advisable" to have the developer pay a fee in lieu of dedicating the land for recreational purposes.

The recommendation is based on the fact that the town owns 100 acres nearby and fees collected from Downsview could be used for developing recreational facilities there.

20 Years Ago, May 21, 1993

Swanick to BFI: get trucks off road shoulders

Recent damage done to the paved shoulders of county roads on Grand Island prompted Erie County 10th District Legislator Charles M. Swanick to request that BFI Waste Systems ask their drivers to stay off the shoulders.

According to Swanick, "No other county roads are equipped with paved shoulders. We've been doing it on the Island since 1984, due to the lack of sidewalks and the number of requests from residents who want to walk, jog, or ride their bikes." ...

"These shoulders were not weight-rated for vehicles of that size," Swanick went on to say, "and the rapid rate of deterioration is forcing inconvenient and expensive repair work far earlier that should have been necessary."

... The county roads affected are Bush, Love, Whitehaven, Stony Point, Huth, Long, Baseline and East River roads.

10 Years Ago, May 16, 2003

Food drive results fantastic, residents of Grand Island play key role

Heading into last Saturday's 11th annual National Association of Letter Carrier's Food Drive, the goal was clear - top last year's donation total - both on the Island and across Western New York alike. As a whole, more food was collected throughout Western New York this year, thus topping last year's total of 1,151,000 pounds of food. Island residents were responsible for donating more than 6 1/4 tons of food, easily eclipsing last year's record high total. ...