Let's Go Back for Sept. 2, 2011

40 Years Ago, Sept. 1, 1971

Grand Island goes to fair

The Erie County (Fair) Board saluted the 150th birthday of the county and Grand Island was there. She was not represented as she once might have been, in the stock barns and agricultural centers, but she did make herself known she still considers herself a part of the county and is serving the new purpose assigned to her in these changing times.

In the Women's Building, (Islander) Mrs. Laurn Landell, a member of the Women's Board was in charge.

Over in the county Parks and Recreation Department Building, our town recreation department sponsored a nice display of recreational opportunity afforded citizens on the Island.

Also of note, on the Fair's opening day, Miss Nancy Mondich and Mr. Scott Donlon, representing the Island, were second runners-up in the King and Queen contest, sponsored by Erie County's recreation and health departments.

Scott and Nancy were chosen from among 139 recreation aides representing all the towns in Erie County.

30 Years Ago, Aug. 28, 1981

Teachers protest contract offer

Grand Island teachers, numbering about half of the total membership of the Grand Island Teachers Association, crowded into the school board meeting Monday to protest a salary proposal that a spokesman for the group said was "at best ludicrous and at worst an insult."

Joanne McCartin, president of the GITA, negotiators for the teachers in a prepared statement told the board ... "We are here to report to you that our repeated attempts to end this impasse have been severely impeded by the behavior of your superintendent and his assistant. We have negotiated in good faith; they have not."

McCartin later said if a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached by Sept. 8, picketing may be considered.

20 Years Ago, Aug. 30, 1991

Water improvements meet greater demand

There was no sprinkling ban on the Island this summer, despite long periods of hot, dry weather. Improvements to the town's water facilities have more than doubled the plant's capacity over that available in 1990.

A new raw water intake off West Oakfield Road was completed just in time to meet hot weather demands, Councilman James H. Pax, chairman of the Town Board Sewer and Water Committee, said this week.

The final phase of the $4 million program will double the plant's capacity, increasing it to three million gallons of water per day, Pax said.

10 Years Ago, Aug. 31, 2001

School district sees shortfalls in school revenue

The revenue that Grand Island was depending on for the coming school year has been severely reduced by a "bare bones state budget," which has slashed education funding locally and throughout the state as well as property value assessment reductions.

These shortfalls will cause the residents' property tax warrant to increase over the amount originally projected by the district.

In response the school district business office has recently established a freeze on non-mandated spending.

Along with more than $200,000 reduction in regular aid, massive cuts are being predicted in software, hardware, textbook and rescue (emergency repair) along with early grade class reduction aid, amounting to approximately $360,000.