Let's Go Back for April 13, 2012

40 Years Ago, April 12, 1972

Demo women in Albany

Representatives of the newly-formed Grand Island Democratic Women's Club were given the "red carpet" treatment when they arrived in Albany to attend sessions of the 21st annual Political Conference sponsored by the Women's Division of the New York Democratic Committee this past weekend. Representing the Island affiliate were Jackie Filosofos, president, and Joan Droit, Cultural Committee chair. Accompanying them was guest observer Denise Filosofos.

This year's conference theme was "Victory '72: Women View the Presidency." It was obviously the rallying cry for this year's party action. ...

This was Grand Island's first involvement with such a conference and the Island's representatives were impressed with the caliber of the speakers, the thoughts and plans for the political scene, and with their own reception. After all, whoever heard of Grand Island? Well, New York's Democratic women have.

30 Years Ago, April 9, 1982

It's January in April

Snow, high winds and low, low temperatures this week created problems that seldom if ever faced Grand Islanders in April. Ice jams in the river, east and west branches, were reminiscent of the days before the boom was constructed at the entrance to the Niagara. Old timers remember when it was an every year occurrence.

Trying to keep everybody happy turned out to be an impossible job for the Grand Island Highway Department. Superintendent Norm Mrkall called the storm "freakish."

"As fast as we plowed the roads the wind created drifts," he said, "even though we started plowing at 4 o'clock in the morning." Salt on the roads does not work when temperatures drop as they did earlier in the week. And when it turned up the salted roads turned to slush," he said.

Plowing close to the roads also was found to be impossible at this time of year because of the previous thaw. To use techniques followed in mid-winter would not only have damaged property, but the town trucks as well. ...

20 Years Ago, April 17, 1992

Golf course dispute may be settled

Will the River Oaks Golf Course revert to a private enterprise or will a settlement now on the drawing board allow its use by the general public, with special privileges by golfers who pay a membership charge?

The Town Board April 6 authorized the supervisor to sign an agreement, spelling out a deal with Niagara Associates Group, if and a big if, one section of it is deleted. Just what it's all about was not revealed and apparently won't be until final settlement is agreed upon by all concerned - the town and the course owners. ...

"We are very close to resolving the problem" was announced at a Town Board meeting on May 20 of last year. "Negotiations now under way will allow some use of the course by the public," Supervisor James H. Pax said. ...

10 Years Ago, April 12, 2002

Grand Island loses more than a former educator with the passing of Connor

Veronica Connor, 91, was more than an educator, she touched lives.

For 41 years, Connor worked in education and administration with the Grand Island School District. On the morning of Wednesday, April 10, the life-long Ransomville resident passed away,

She came to the Island in September of 1936, with the intention of teaching. What awaited in the near future was something much larger for herself and Grand Island.

In 1937, Connor not only took a new position as seventh and eighth-grade educator at the then-new Sidway School, she also became the school's first principal.

That was the beginning of a bright future for Connor, and the growth of the Grand Island School District.

One of the first woman superintendents in New York state, Connor's tenure includes accomplishments, both person and school district related. ...

Ellen Truesdell, a friend of Connor told the Dispatch in March 1997, "She dedicated her life to teaching and to the entire district."

A look at her accomplishments and it is impossible to argue that statement. ...