Published: November 06, 2006 06:42 pm            

HISTORY: Grand Island history for the week of Nov. 6-10

50 years ago

n Residents of Sandy Beach were looking into the establishment of a community-owned site there, according to the Nov. 1, 1956, edition of the Island Dispatch.

A 12-acre parcel of land would be used as a recreation center and would require 51 percent of the affected area to sign petitions in support of the project. Town Supervisor George Burgstahler said the process would be similar to establishing a water or sewer district.

n A lawsuit for $130,000 was dismissed in state court on the grounds there was “no negligence against the state.” A mother and her daughter were involved in an accident on Beaver Island Parkway in which the 31-year-old daughter lost control of the car and was thrown from it upon impact.

In addition to compensation for injuries, the woman’s husband also sued for $10,000 for “loss of services.”

n The 1957 town budget saw town taxes drop 11 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation due to a “big increase” in taxable property. But the highway tax rose 16 cents.

The 1957 town budget called for $24,277 in general expenses and $55,000 for the highway department.

n “Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley was the top song, according to the Ramblin’ Lou Record Review in the Island Dispatch. ‘Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino was number three.

25 years ago

n Robbery suspects trying to flee the island found the bridges to be a bear. Both bridges were sealed off by police while they searched car-to-car for three men who robbed a liquor store on Buffalo Avenue, according to the Oct. 30, 1981, edition of the Island Dispatch.

The suspects were captured, but on the downside, traffic was tied up for five hours. In addition to various other crimes, the driver was charged with failing to pay a toll.

n The state Health Department said that drinking water from the Niagara River is free of toxins.

A NYPIRG report earlier charged water from the Niagara River north of the Buffalo intakes was potentially contaminated.

10 years ago

n A fire cause $35,000 worth of damaged to an Alt Boulevard home, according to the Nov. 6 edition of the Island Dispatch. The fire started in the living room, but the cause was still unknown.

n Supervisor LaVerne C. Luther, running on the Republican and Conservative lines, won re-election "handily" over his Democratic opponent, Andrew J. Beyer.

Councilman James Pax won his town council seat back, beating challengers Paul F. Klock and Donald F. Peters.

        

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