"Between the Bridges"
2004
by Teddy Linenfelser
Previous Columns
Class of '70
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"Between the Bridges" |
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Photo courtesy of Diane
"Bykowicz" Hassan Class of '70 |
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Happy New Year 2005 to everyone! And thank you for all the kind notes throughout the year. You sure make my job fun!
Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News Photo
Longtime Stony Point Road residents Ruth and Gordon Muck, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Monday in the Beechwood Residence, Getzville. Never too late to send a card. Let's surprise the Mucks with more mail than they may have expected.
A very happy 50th wedding anniversary to George and Pat Shaw who will celebrate their January 2, 1955 wedding date together on Sunday. The Shaws were honored at an anniversary party in July with over 85 people in attendance from all over the states. Their daughter, Sherry Watkins, explained that it was more enticing to get people to the Buffalo area in July! Best wishes also to Sherry and her husband, John Watkins who will mark their 30th anniversary on January 4th.
Good news! Jolie Dahlstrom has heard from the Hisham family. The Hishams moved from Grand Island to Sri Lanka about four years ago. All members of the family survived the tsunami, and are okay.
More good news! Our niece, Mary Jo Soto and her husband, Paul of Fix Road, are parents of a baby boy, James Christian Soto, born on Tuesday, December 28th. The baby weighed in at six pounds, two ounces and is twenty inches long. Proud grandparents are Dan and JoAnn Linenfelser and Jerry and Stacy Soto of Grand Island and Sharon and Skip Ullrich of Port Charlotte, FL. Proud Isle great grandmother is Fran Clarke of Second Street.
Congratulations to Mike Mallwitz who rolled a 300 in 800 series Monday night while bowling with his BA's II Team in the Men's A Best Roofing League at Island Lanes. And that's not all! Mike bowled another 300 on Sunday night.
Did you sing in the high school's concert choir?? According to Grand Island High School choral director, Carolyn Lokken, the High School Concert Choir Alumni Sing has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday (January 5) in the new high school choir room.
Click Concert Choir Alumni Sing for more information.
An incorrect mailing address was posted on our "In The Service" page for Major Robert F. Buzby, who is serving with the United States Marine Corps in Fallujah. Click "In The Service" above for his correct address. And for a really "good read," click "Lt. Col. Mark Smith" for a truly inspiring letter to his troops in Fallujah. The letter was sent home to Rob's parents and I thank his mom, Judy Buzby for giving me the chance to share it with you.
Boys will have toys! My brother-in-law, Mike Linenfelser's favorite Christmas present was an R/C model of a US Coast Guard cutter which he's already chopped up half the river ice with since the holiday. And our good friend, Bobby Dee, received a similar model of the championship racer, "Miss Budweiser." I guess they were both very good boys!
Welcome home, Nicole! Nicole “Dee” Hoffman is in town for a short visit with her family.
Caryl Denler Kershner, who grew up on the Island and is now living Colorado, suffered a recent heart attack and will be going into the hospital for more serious surgery on the 5th of January. Her note was upbeat which was a blessing. Let's keep her in our prayers.
••••So sorry to hear that Lydia Endres hasn't been feeling up to par this holiday season. Cards of cheer would brighten her days, folks.••••Our own dear daughter-in-law, Laury Linenfelser, had surgery in Kenmore Mercy Hospital yesterday and should soon be on the mend.
In a note from Bob Dworak, now of Sebring, FL I learned the sad news of the death of former Greenway Road resident Janice Lamb Bennett of Fullerton, CA on December 20th. So sorry for her family. Bob and his wife, Sally visited the Bennetts in October 2003 when Sally and Janice saw each other for the first time in over 50 years. According to Bob, the "girls" spent the week singing together just as they had years ago, in school, at Trinity Church and even on the radio. See Click Deaths for complete notice.
Grand Island Fire Company volunteers had a busy week. The members responded to a total of 41 fire or first aid calls.
Happy 14th birthday to Molly Jude Hyland who celebrated Tuesday. Happy birthday also to Pat Rodriguez Beal (a milestone today), Alex Bowerman (7 today), Sue Salamone (cheers today), Elsie Fleischmann and Kathy Lazenby (tomorrow), Jessica Mae Conrad (5 on Saturday), Dominique Capizzi (7 on Saturday), Steven Lew (21 on Saturday), Terry Funk (Monday), Tonya (Tickner) Jackson (31 on Monday!), Hanna Panzica (7 on Tuesday), Joey Kuszczak (5 on Tuesday), Ellen Martin (Tuesday), Autumn Platts (21 on Tuesday), and Sue Novits (Wednesday).
Looking Back 50 years - Grand Island Nursery and Flower Shop Inc., opened about six years previous by Carl Vella who moved to California, was to be sold at auction on Tuesday, January 5, 1955. The business was located on Grand Island Blvd. on the site of what is now
Grand Island Auto Tech.
••••William Wallace was elected Kiwanis Club president for 1955. Among those chairing various Club committees were John Noyes (Boys and Girls Work), John Dohn (Agriculture and Conservation), Harry Olsen (Attendance and Membership), and Heber Ashley Jr. (House and Music). ••••Glen "Tubby" Smith, local restaurant operator and well known organizer of benefit shows on the Island, sponsored a night of entertainment for members of the 606th AAA Battalion stationed on the Island. Personalities in the show included Ramblin’ Lou’s Band (Lou Schriver), Yodelin Bill, Jimmy Robbs of the 606th and young Island dancer Connie Godfrey (Millikan). •••• For the first time, the town board appointed a town engineer. The appointment was given to Charles Soch of Sandy Beach who was also a member of the school board and Zoning Board of Appeals. •••• Evelina and Charles Schopp thought it would be a good way to start the new year by moving into their new home on West River between Alt and Fix on New Year’s Eve. Son Reg Schopp entered Mrs. Margaret Goodsole’s kindergarten class at Kaegebein School for the first time on Tuesday, January 5, 1955 and his brother, Chip, joined Miss Catherine DiVizio’s 4th grade class. Mr. Schopp was the owner of Schopp Jewelry on Niagara Street in Tonawanda.
Looking Back 40 years - The ski program, known for many years as "Ski Club" for middle and high school students was started by Lee Krueger and Jan Milkey in January 1965 as a 10-week course at a cost of $15.•••• Robert M. Zurbrick was manager of the four new apartment buildings across from the fire hall on Baseline Road, constructed and opened in 1964 by L. A. Grant, Inc. and also managed the Grant Court complex across from Sidway School and completed by the new year, 1965.•••• Rotary Club scholarships, given yearly and for a four-year period, were presented to Robert Hayes (Ohio State), Perron Villano (NCCC) and William Harrison (Cincinnati University). ••••When the town board and Chamber of Commerce members met with Thruway officials, it was admitted that a reduction was justified if it could show that bridge tolls have held back the Island’s growth and reducing them would increase the use of bridges to the extent that the lowered fees would not affect total Authority revenues. ••••Chuck and Anita Cole were the proud parents of Linda Carol Cole, a New Year's baby born January 1, 1965.
Looking Back 30 years - Carl Lamancuso moved his Carlo’s Hair Fashions shop to its present location at 1791 Grand Island Blvd. at the end of December 1974.
The Isledegrande.com spotlight this week is on the following advertisers that we do so appreciate:
Gene and Christine Ryshkus' Grand Island Garden Center, Tim and Paula Callahan's Tim's Sunoco Station, Bill Costello and Mark Frentzel of Costello & Frentzel Attorneys, and Chris Weaver's Anchor Marine. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 news source.
Our sympathy to the families of William A. Dixon, Karen A. Hanley and former residents Harry David Vanner, Janice Lamb Bennett, Rosemary Gasbarre and Sigmund J. “Ziggy” Gicewicz who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, December 23, 2004
We have a list of 32 troops from the Island listed on our "In The Service"
What a really nice article on Boy Scout Casey Dahlstrom in the Buffalo News on Monday. For the complete article, click "Casey's Story"
Kathryn L. Grafinger, daughter of Gregory and Suzanne Grafinger, became the bride of Army Spec. Kyle Alexander Vuchak on Sunday, December 19th. The newlyweds are living in Monterey, California.
Merry Christmas to all of our advertisers. The Isledegrande.com spotlight this week is on deSignet International, Mallwitz's Island Lanes, Nana's Homemade Creations and Cinderella Motel & Campsite. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 news source.
Oh, yes! And a Merry Christmas to Gimpy McMahon, that’s Sue McMahon, so nicknamed by her husband, Dan, due to her broken ankle. Sue, whose cast is due to stay on a couple more weeks, has been home recuperating and, from what we hear, misses the students and her job as kitchen manager at Sidway School. "Thanks for the cookies," Sue!"
Looking Back 60 years - A gas well, expected to produce 100,000 cubic feet every 24 hours, was drilled on the property of Albert Shelby of Oakfield Rd. ••••The grand re-opening of the Ox Yoke Tavern was held Saturday, December 23, 1944 and the local paper reported that "the roast pig dinner was done to a turn." The place at the north west corner of Staley and Baseline roads was owned and run by Jack and Isabelle Mesmer.••••“Auntie” Mae Batsford, who opened her store at Wallace Drive and East River early each morning so the children could come into a warm place to wait for the school bus, held a Christmas party for the kids. To receive their gift of a stocking filled with candy and nuts, each child had to perform a “stunt” for Mrs. B.
Looking Back 50 years - The enrollment of 1119 children in the two Grand Island schools in December 1954 was 42% greater than was anticipated by the Island School District when the William M. Kaegebein School was planned. Kaegebein School, opened in February 1953, had three second grade classes of 37 each in December 1954.
•••• In an editorial regarding the need for more library space, printed in the local weekly paper 50 years ago today, it stated that, “Next to the public education system of this country, the libraries play the most important part in raising our standard of living.” Martha Clark Neilans was chief librarian and Ethel Kaiser was her assistant. ••••Philip Fahrer, a 20-year Island resident in 1954, along with his wife, Dorothy, was elected president of the Erie County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Looking Back 40 years - Grand Island High School’s Varsity cheerleaders in 1964 were Mary Cudmore (Vari), Jayne Pless (Miller), Rita Satterlee (Rosensteele), Nancy Hogue, Penni Tranter (Croot), Kathy Pedlow (Ziemer), Sandra Greathouse and Daryl Kutzbach (Schaefer).
Looking Back 30 years - Grand Island’s Pizza By DiRose won two of three prizes for best decorated Pizza by DiRose in WNY. Among the employees under manager Mike Mongan were Maria Dragonette, Rodger Jordan, Pat Kendzierski, Ellen (Blakelock) Foley, Pam Fries, Rhonda Irlbacker, Tim Taylor and Julie Goodwin.••••The 92-member high school band under the direction of Sherman Lyke conducted a fresh citrus fruit sale from December 20 to January 29, 1975. ••••Glyn Lipp was leading the scoring for the Grand Island High School basketball team in December 1974. The boys won their 6th consecutive game on Saturday, December 28, 1974 when they won the championship of the Fredonia High School Christmas Basketball Tournament.
Longtime Island resident Mary Lou Kohlhagen has recently moved from her Island apartment and would surely love to hear from her many friends. Cards and notes may be sent to her daughter, Carol Hamlin's address on Love Road.
A cheery hello to Mary Lou Lunsford who is battling a serious illness. Let's keep her in our prayers.
Happy birthday to Nancy Samrany and Andrea Moreau (today), Jon Roth and Paul Harper Sr. (tomorrow), Joyce Mongan (special greetings tomorrow), Ryan Vertino (14 on Christmas Eve), Cayleigh Rose Fitzsimmons (her first birthday on Christmas Day), Bradley Stone (7 on Sunday), Allison Marie Hill and Jack Fraser Buzby (both turning 2 on Sunday), Margie Walker (a big one on Monday), Abigail Dallassandro (8 on Monday), Tyler James Nogle (his 4th birthday on Monday), Chelsea Schmidt (7 on Tuesday), Andrea Switzer and Rob Meyer (Tuesday), Val Swain (wished a grand day Tuesday), Yvonne Martin and Stephanie McMahon (Wednesday), Dan Dinsmore (16 on Wednesday), and Laurel Waltman-Moher (Wednesday) and her daughter Jennifer Ungaro (25 on Wednesday)
A very happy anniversary goes out to John and Sherri Cunningham who celebrated their 15th yesterday.
To my devoted readers: I wish you all the merriest of Christmases and a happy and prosperous New Year. Remember to send me your news in 2005. Just email me at
teddy@giecom.net.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there." And to all of our troops in Iraq, overseas and in the states, we truly appreciate the sacrifices you are making for our great country. God bless you and keep well.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Megan Grotz and her family are back on the Island as of Monday evening and we couldn't be happier with this news.
Harvey and Katherine Killian Long, one of the sweetest couples on the Island, are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary tomorrow. Be sure to click "Harvey & Katherine" for pictures and the full story.
Isledegrande.com is being brought to you in part, by our advertisers. This week's spotlight is on Mark's Island Tree Service, McCarthy School of
Irish Dance, Linda Kutzbach, Realty USA, and newest advertiser, Niagara's Choice FCU
It's a boy! Sheila (McCowan) Donovan and her husband Dan, are the proud parents of their second child, Daniel Liam Donovan born December 13th at 8:57 p.m. (Chicago Time). Daniel Liam, who weighed in at nine pounds, three ounces and is 21 inches long, has a big sister, Emma Quinn Donovan, 2 1/2 (click photo to see Emma). Grand Island grandfather is Dr. Dick McCowan.
Mike Guagliano returned from Iraq just in time for the birth of his second child, a son, Nicholas Francis Guagliano born December 8, 2004 weighing in at six pounds, eleven ounces and 20 inches long. Mike and his wife, Genevra, live in Great Falls, Virginia. Click the photo to also see daughter Sophia, 3 holding her new brother. Francis and Jean Guagliano, 30+ year Island residents, are the baby's grandparents.
Looking Back 60 years - Olwyn Jones took the part of the Madonna in the Charlotte Sidway School's “The Miracle of Christmas” at 8 p.m. December 19, 1944. The pageant opened with the entrance of the choir members carrying candles in a promenade down the center aisle of the auditorium (now Sidway School’s fitness center). Angel Choir members included Laurel Waltman (Moher), Beverly Fleming (Barril), Arvilla Webb (Kendzierski), Jean Webb (Bleich), Mary Ann Kruse (Arsenault), Irene Perkovich (Smith) and Sally Staley (Dworak). The local paper, 60 years ago, reported that the play “brought back nostalgic memories of more peaceful times when the pace of living was more leisurely and we had more time to really understand the sanctity of Christmas.”
Looking Back 50 years - Betty O’Dea and Francis “Bobby” Conrad co-chaired a Sunday St. Stephen’s card party when Eva Wohlfehrt and Bertha Bucher tied for high score and the Jim Conboys went home with a lot of prizes.••••The junior and senior high Christmas Ball was held December 18, 1954 in the Sidway School gym when party dress was suggested for the girls. ••••The Sidway School Christmas Operetta, “One Christmas” was held in school auditorium (the gym) on Thursday, December 16, 1954 and performed by the students in grades 1-6. Wayne Baumler (Santa Claus) and Billy Harrison (Father Christmas) shared the leads. ••••Reese’s Market on Express Highway near Staley Road, featuring delivery service, was advertising meaty lamb stew at 19 cents a pound or leg of lamb at 59 cents a pound.••••Folks attending the Emmanuel Chapel in Ferry Village held their annual neighborhood Christmas program on the evening of December 19, 1954.••••The Christmas Musical Pageant committee at St. Timothy Lutheran Church included Laura Reinauer, Dorothy Fancher, Mrs. Henry Metzler and Edith Von Craigh. (Please "email" me the ladies' first names if you know them)
Looking Back 40 years - It was announced that the Island Theater Group, sponsored by the Town Recreation Commission since its formation, would function as an independent unit at the conclusion of the year, 1964.••••The 4th grades at Kaegebein School gave a three-act Christmas Operetta, “The Legend of the Snowman,” on December 21, 1964. The main characters were Jeffrey Procter, Kevin Brady, Linda Smith, Eric Bates and Larry Hoover.••••A 9th grade class holiday party was held at the high school on Saturday, December 19, 1964 for members of the Class of 1968 only. Secretary Pat Gill reported that the evening would feature supper, ping pong, dancing, and swimming. Students helping with arrangements were Charmaine Pellitieri and Gail Marble (decorations), Meg Allen and Terry Lang (publicity), Serena Anzalaco (tickets), Ed Falsetti, Bill Costello and Marcia Zimmerman (arrangements); and Melissa Clement (Hill) (programming).••••The Thursday Businessmen's League Esso Gascats won two games from Schmidt’s at Island Lanes in December 1964. High rollers were Tom Frampton 245 (608), Phil Rivkin 204, Herb Wilson 233, Dale Harvey 209, Sud Scott 212, Bob White 216, Bill Dekdebrun 209 and Tiny Moran 201.••••Grand Island bus drivers earning certificates from Erie County School Bus Driver Training Program on December 16, 1964 included Mabel Bartlett, Rosemary Brown, August Fox, Neva Franklin, James J. Gaiser, Joseph Katrien, Raymond Schutt, Jewel Snyder, and George H. Lochte.
Looking Back 30 years - Smoking during town board meetings was banned in December 1974. •••• Electronic Automation Systems on Alt Blvd. laid off 200 workers in December 1974, including about a dozen Islanders.
A very happy anniversary goes out to Bud and Judy Link who will celebrate their 45th on Wednesday, December 22nd and also to Sherri and John Cunningham on their 15th wedding anniversary, also on Wednesday, December 22nd.
If you see Nancy Hayes today, be sure to wish her a happy 70th. Happy birthday, Nancy!••••Happy birthday also to Betty Lantz (today), Arvilla Kendzierski (tomorrow), Sonia Steckelberg (Sunday), Bill O'Connor (cheers on Sunday), Sue Braun (Sunday), Evan Green (16 on Monday), Pat Gill, Sue Berger, Tanya Sue Violanti and Bud Smith (Monday), Jonathan Cook (21 on Wednesday), Barb Gatti and Arliss Lantz (Wednesday) and to Skip Ullrich celebrating his 40th this week. A belated happy 49th birthday to Mark Zilliox who celebrated Tuesday, the 14th.
I just heard that Capt. Kevin "Buzz" Erker
USMC and Lieutenant Colonel Dave Conboy, Army Reserves recently met each other for the first time over in Iraq. Watch the E-News at Isledegrande.com for the story and photos.
Our sympathy to the families of Hedwig "Heidi" Burns and former residents George M. Pagan, Marion Long Young, Florence Kutzbach and Frank Miller who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information. Elizabeth A. Laski, who served as director of religious education at St. Stephen's Church for the past five years, passed away last week.
Rev. Paul Robinson graciously provided me with the Christmas Schedule for Trinity UM Church. There is still time for other church officials to forward their services to be posted on our front page next Thursday, December 23rd.
Former resident Kathy Lazenby, now living in The Villages, Florida was recently featured in the Orlando Sentinal. The Mulberry Quilters of which she is a member, has completed 50 red, white and blue quilts, each containing single gold star symbolic of a soldier killed in the line of duty. Kathy has been the chairwoman of this project. The quilts were created as part of Operation Homefront and will be given to families of soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Good luck to Al Salamone who left today for the US National Men's Hockey Tournament at Lake Placid. Al's team, winner of a Silver Medal at the Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships in Sweden last April, will compete against Canada this weekend. For more on Al Salamone, click
Alexi Salamon Story.
The Grand Island High School Music Department will hold a choir, band and orchestra concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. and the High School Madrigals, under the direction of Carolyn G. Lokken, will be a part of the M&T Holiday Series at the Old Gold Dome Bank in downtown Buffalo from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Nine days to Christmas. Shop on the Island! The first day of winter is this coming Tuesday, December 21st. And remember - "Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, December 9, 2004
This not so recent photo of Pete Kuehne was submitted this week by Pete's wife, Jude. Click "Pete" for the full picture and story.
All reports continue to be good ones regarding Meaghan Grotz. Click her www.meaghansmiracle.com
Our sympathy to the families of Marie Frampton, Jack Fries and former resident Jessie Schmell-Reese who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.
Happy birthday to Sydney Khreis (6 today), our town board reporter Joelle Logue (Saturday), Ethel Yuhas, Michael Dollendorf, Nicholas Peters, Maurice Walsh and Tammy Sexton (all celebrating on Sunday), Charlie McDonough (Monday), Kori Loder (a teenager on Monday), Emory Webb (best wishes on his 75th birthday on Monday), cousin Gary Sledziewski (cheers on Monday), Katie Rustowicz (12 on Tuesday), Reginia Guenther (Tuesday!!) and Ted Filosofos, Elizabeth Beach, Dolly Dilliot and Tim Grotz (Wednesday).
If you see Joan Fred, ask her about her bus trip to NYC last weekend with friends and relatives. All I know is she and the gang were taking a bus to the Big Apple late Friday night and returning to the Isle early Sunday morning. The group's itinerary included everything but a good night's sleep!
Looking Back 60 years - Howard Kaiser left for his induction into the Army on December 13, 1944 and Bud Senn did the same shortly after Christmas. ••••An ad in the local by-weekly paper announced that there were a limited number of pre-war ice skates with shoes attached and a few pre-war Flexible Flyer Sleds at George H. Alt Jr. and Carlton W. Alt’s Alt Chevrolet business on Whitehaven Road.••••A Christmas party at McDoel’s in downtown Buffalo December 12, 1944 by the Fire Company’s Ladies Auxiliary had to be postponed to January 1945 due to a snow storm
Looking Back 50 years - Fire Chief Henry Ehde reported that a two-way radio was installed in one of the fire trucks on December 10, 1954 and the transmitter and receiving equipment were put into operation at the fire hall shortly after.••••
Ted Klingel was elected fire chief by 13 votes over Arthur Haller for the 1955 year and would succeed Henry Ehde who held the office for 15 years.••••Grand Island’s Christmas Crib was dedicated Sunday evening, December 12, 1954 at Grand Island Blvd and Baseline Road. The Grand Island Community Chorus and Grand Island Community Band provided holiday music. The scenes, with one erected in 1952 and the other two added in 1953, were designed and painted by Mrs. Deane Long with assistance from many Islanders. Marge Stratton was program chairman for the event that brought out 300 people.••••Reese’s Market on Express Highway near Staley Road featured a delivery service and was offering meaty lamb stew at 19 cents a pound or leg of lamb at 59 cents a pound. Jesse and Bill Reese were the proprietors.
Looking Back 40 years - The $7.7 million north Grand Island Bridge, 84 feet west of the original 1935 structure, opened on Friday, December 18, 1964. Members of the town board were neither invited nor present at the ribbon cutting!!••••Grand Island High School’s varsity wrestling team, coached by Gerry Gergley, won its first match in the Erie County Interscholastic conference 33-26 over Griffith Institute of Springville. Island boys who scored were Bob Edwards, Jeff Banas, Frank Budwey, Terry VonCraigh, Tim Ehde, Terry Funk and Dan Walgate. The high school's Jr. Varsity Wrestlers won their December 11, 1964 meet with victories by David Miller, Robert Luther, John Linenfelser and Robert Weaver. The varsity wrestlers defeated Depew 30-28 with Bob Edwards, Mark Raepple, Frank Budwey, Terry Von Craigh, Brian Schoenberger and Tim Ehde scoring 5 points each for pinning their opponents.
Looking Back 30 years - The Grand Island High School music department, under the direction of Kenvin Moreau, presented the opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in December 1974. The leads were played by Mrs. Grace Aswad and 13-year-old Michi Veit. Emese Mazepa and Randy Kramer played duel pianos.••••Residents at Manor Nursing Home on Grand Island Blvd. were assisted in the making of Christmas ornaments on Saturday, December 14, 1974. Barb Rogan spearheaded the Christmas spirit event with help from her friends Cindy Cole (East River), Mary Wright, Peggy Ross, Colleen Rogan, Karen Rogan, Patty Muoio, Lorraine Baldwin and Kathy Manley who spent their time giving a hand to the older folks.
The yellow icon in the shape of Grand Island on the front page of the E-News is a "click-to" to our "Yellow Pages" which lists all Island businesses, at absolutely no charge. Websites for Isledegrande.com's business sponsors are linked from our Yellow Pages to the business websites. This is just one of several places our advertisers are listed at Isledegrande.com in the Grand Island E-News. Check out our list of advertisers, especially those spotlighted this week - Metro Town Center Realty, Marston Power Equipment, Miss Cathy's Dance Academy and McHomes.com/Hunt ERA. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 news source.
Our "Calendar of Events" holds several activities of interest taking place over the coming weekend including the McCarthy School of
Irish Dance show tomorrow evening, Santa Claus at McMahon's Family Restaurant Saturday afternoon, St. Stephen's Christmas Play on Saturday evening, and open house at the new M.O.G. (Medically Oriented Gym). Click "Calendar of Events" above for details.
Sixteen days to Christmas. Shop on the Island! And remember - "Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, December 2, 2004
New hobby? Be sure to click this photo of Lyn Laman, taken this fall along West River.
The M.O.G. (Medically Oriented Gym) is our newest advertiser and what an interesting business this is. Island resident Cheek Certo will host an open house at his dream venture on Saturday and Sunday and again the following weekend. For more information, click M.O.G. News Story.
Looking Back 60 years - The Grand Island Youth Council was formed on Tuesday, December 5, 1944 at Charlotte Sidway School. Officers elected were President Donald Brown, Vice President Charles Stack, Secretary Phillip Killian and Treasurer Mildred Jones. Students elected to the Council were John Stamler, Mary Ann Tiffany, Gertrude Nachbauer (Wendt), Norine Keppler and Samuel Sperrazza. Adult members of the council were Chairman Oliver C. B. Howard and Secretary Alice Wolf and Andre Tardiff, Paul Stefik, Harold Buckhout, Gerald Weingartner and Clarence Schutt. Father Martin H. Marnon and Rev. Marvin E Rickert, together with the Grand Island School Board formed the advisory council. ••••An early December 1944 snow storm caused many Islanders to slide off the roads. They were most grateful to Dick Williams who spent much of the night pulling them out of the ditches. Dick was a member of the only Afro-American family on the Island, whose roots here go back to the mid 1800s and whose family still owns a piece of property where they had settled so many years ago on Fix Road.••••Lee Forster of Sandy Beach was playing his guitar and singing “hillbilly songs" over WHLD Monday through Friday.••••A fish pond for the children was added to the Charlotte Sidway PTA’s annual bazaar held in the school on December 1, 1944.
Looking Back 50 years - Carlton Mayer was advertising Kist pop at $1.65 for a case of quarts. Was this the "pop" so often referred to as "Mayer's Bellywash" - or was that O-So-Grape?
Looking Back 40 years - Bill Wood was elected for his 3rd term as Grand Island Fire Chief Wednesday, December 2, 1964.••••The town board, in December 1964, authorized $900 for the purchase of a used tank truck to supply water to five homes on Ransom and a few homes on Williams Road, not served by water lines.
Looking Back 30 years - A grand opening of Link Building & Supply Co. on Thursday, December 5, 1964 in the former Grand Island Dance Hall on Whitehaven Road was hosted by owner Bob Smith and his wife, Lynn.••••Donald Barth was elected the Island's new fire chief in December 1974 and Norm Mrkall, chief for the previous five years, became a director of the company. ••••
Sophomores Jack Steckelberg and Brian Griffin, coached by Dick Bessel, were awarded the most valuable and most improved awards respectively at the Grand Island cross country team’s annual banquet. Jim Nugent won the outstanding freshman honors.
That's our baby grandson Evan Linenfelser who is turning two tomorrow. Happy birthday, Evan!••••A belated happy 35th birthday to John Cunningham who is stationed in Jacksonville, Florida with the US Navy along with his wife, Sherri and two children, Laura and Nicholas. John's natal day is November 30, 1969!••••Happy birthday to Patsy McNulty (today), Robert Hopkins and Joan Bodkin (special greetings today), Ashley Ann Brzyski (13 today), Keri Marble and Robert Augugliaro (tomorrow), Kristen Atkinson (6 on Saturday), Emma Lee Schultz (6 on Sunday), Gloria Watkins (Sunday), Scott Swagler, Barbara (Bykowicz) Barbur, Donnie Astridge and Ruth Stahl (Monday), Miranda Lea Proctor (4 on Monday), Mitch Stessing (50 on Monday), Courtney Donner (Sweet 16 on Monday), Will Wiles (50 on Tuesday), Craig Davis (a milestone on Tuesday), Ann Billica (Tuesday), Sam Hill and Dave Ehde (cheers on Wednesday), and Danny Linenfelser Jr. (Wednesday).
Our sympathy to the families of Walter Joseph Kasprzak and former resident Frances L. Steele-Knab who passed away this week. Click Deaths for complete information.
Congratulations to Isle resident Dr. James Hoddick who has been named Citizen of the Year by the Tonawanda Chamber of Commerce.
This week's Isledegrande.com advertising spotlight is on Andy Beyer's AJ's Heating and Air Conditioning, the Raepple brothers' John's Pizza & Subs, Elderwood At Riverwood and Dental Care Associates in Wheatfield. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 news source.
Grand Island High School math teacher Blake Long of Williamsville was married Saturday, November 27th to Jamie Jo Janiga of Lackawanna.
Congratulations to Tara and Derrick Caldwell on the birth of Faith Jacqueline Caldwell on September 30th weighing seven pounds, eight ounces. The baby is the granddaughter of Don and Jacqueline Tillett and Dennis and Mary Caldwell, all of Grand Island.••••Congratulations also to Jim and Mary Grace Battaglia on the birth of Ashley Joelle Battaglia on October 14th weighing eight pounds, six ounces. Grandparents are Jim Battaglia and Frank and Mary Quinn, all of Grand Island.
Grand Island has a lot going on this week and weekend, so please click "Calendar" to keep up with this long list of the seasonal events. Twenty-three days to Christmas. Have a great week! And remember - "Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Joanne & Bob Carr, 1952 - Click for full photo
Happy days to the Carrs. Longtime residents Bob and Joanne Carr will be married 60 years tomorrow. They raised their large family here, and have been very involved residents of the Island for over 50 years. Click the photo, taken during the Island's Centennial pageant in 1952, and for more information on the photo, click Old Photo Album.
Great news! Meaghan Grotz is completely off oxygen, still in the hospital, but "on the move." Word has it that she may be home on Grand Island by Christmas or shortly after. Email may be sent through the www.meaghansmiracle.com website and information on monetary donations, still very much needed, may also be found on the website. Cards through the U.S. Mail should be sent to Meaghan Grotz, c/o Meaghan's Miracle, P.O. Box 1051 Buffalo, N.Y. 14221.
More good news! Baby Michael James Christensen, born October 7th, is now home from the hospital, much to the delight of his parents, Kris and Michelle.
A speedy recovery to Gail Click, who had open heart surgery last week. Cards and notes of cheer would surely be appreciated.
Looking Back 60 years - Harvey Long received his silver pilot wings in November 1944 and was commissioned a second lieutenant at graduation exercises at Harlington Army Field, Texas.••••Mildred and Don Carver left their home on Cox Road to take up quarters at the Army's Military Police Camp where they had been appointed caretakers. The camp was the former Civilian Conservation Corps Camp, located at the end of Baseline Road in Buckhorn Park.
Looking Back 50 years - A fund drive was in full swing for the purchase of band uniforms for the Island's school and community bands. Bill Goodwin was among those in charge of a community night at Kleinhan's Music Hall in November 1954, to benefit the uniform fund. ••••Patty Hoctor of West River Road, picked up a possum killed by a car on Long Road. Patty, who served as the Island's game warden and had actively hunted on the Island for the previous 40 years, had witnessed evidence of the possums but this was the first one he had actually seen.
Looking Back 40 years - The Buffalo Evening news mentioned that the baton twirlers of Grand Island Jr./Sr. High School would sponsor the new school's first semi-formal dance on Friday evening for students in grades 9-11. ••••Grand Island High School students participating in the area All State Concert (NYSSMA) in Jamestown in late November 1964 were snowbound the Saturday night of their performance. They were singers Susan Schulz, Jane Dial, Rick Whitmire and Charles Mock; oboist Lois Wheeler; and bassoonist William Walters. Also with the local musicians were Dr. and Mrs. Roy Dial; The Ronald Whitmire family, and faculty members Bill and Marion Pinkow who attended the concert and stayed for the weekend. ••••
After serving on the Grand Island Planning Board since it was established in 1926, Horace J. French resigned in November 1964.•••• Scott Herlan led the scoring for the first year Vikings Football team with 24 points and Dan Walgate led the defense with an average of 10 tackles per game. ••••St. Stephen’s Church, on Sunday, November 29, 1964, offered much of the sacrifice of the Mass in English rather than Latin as was the custom for centuries. Catholic churches throughout the nation did the same.••••In the winter of 1964-65, with the approval of the International Joint Commission, the New York Power Authority and Ontario Hydro began for the first time to install the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom at the source of the Niagara River.
Looking Back 30 years - Clergy participating in the Grand Island Ministerium in 1974 were Rev. Harold Tyson, Rev. Fred Dixon, Rev. John Russell, Sister Donna Lord, Rev. Marvin Rickert, Rev. Richard A. Graeber, Rev. Thomas Miller, Rev. Charles Lindholm, Rev. Allyn Foster and Rev. David L. Franke. ••••The Golden Steer Restaurant was opened in the former Clown House (now McMahon’s Family Restaurant) by Ignatius Lazzaro of Bedell Road and his brother, Phil, at the end of November 1974. The Golden Steer menu included a sirloin sandwich at 95 cents, burgers at 60 cents, French fries for 45 cents and Pepsi at 25 cents.
Looking Back 20 years - Members of Whitehaven Road Baptist Church broke ground at their building site in November 1984.
Best wishes to Ted and Jackie Filosofos married 53rd years tomorrow, to Nicole and Greg Butcher on their 4th anniversary tomorrow, to Robert and Aerika Backlund on their 8th anniversary Monday and to Marilyn and Tom Johnson – 30 years on the 30th.••••Jason M. Taber was married Saturday to Christine F. Kurek. The groom is the son of David and Diane Taber of Grand Island.
Received a short note that Grand Island resident Anthony Chambers, who has joined the United States Marines, is headed to Paris Island for basic training. Anthony is a member of the Grand Island Class of 2004. ••••Army National Guard Pfc. William J. Stypick recently graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is the son of John and Sandy Stypick of Grand Island
Happy birthday to Ryan McDonough (21 tomorrow), Jill Tranter (cheers tomorrow), Lynn Kalman (a big one tomorrow), Rosalyn Butler (a milestone birthday on Friday), Stephanie Goris (her 20th on Friday), Barbara "Beck" Muratore (Friday), Donna Krehl (Saturday), Don Loder (Sunday), Marcia Pfohl and Scott Burngasse (Monday), Alexa Marie Slotiuk (Tuesday), Dick Clark of American Bandstand fame (75 on Tuesday), Brittany Alexandra Davey (Sweet 16 on Wednesday), Alice Olrogge (her 90th on Wednesday), and Donna “Pollock” Johnson (Wednesday). A belated happy birthday to Brooke Samantha VeRost who celebrated her 3rd birthday November 13th, and happy birthday to Nicholas Dingey who turned 5 on November 14th.
Our sympathy to the families of Kenneth O. Lenz and longtime residents Joyce Ott who passed away this week and Norman J. McTigue who died on November 1st. Click Deaths for complete information.
All of us at Isledegrande.com's Grand Island E-News are thankful for all of our business advertisers. This week's spotlight is on
Gagliardi & Wright, Liz Wilbert - Century 21,
Grand Island Home Construction and Funk Lawn Care.
It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 news source.
Don't forget the fact that Mike Hachee's Rose Liquor Store will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Some of our Grand Island High School students will be selling Relay For Life Luminaria from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The kids will be outside of J. Crew on Friday and next to Burger King on Saturday at the Prime Outlets in Niagara Falls promoting the sale of the Luminaria candles that honor and remember friends and loved ones who have faced cancer. Click "Relay Luminaria" for more information.
The Grand Island Historical Society's beautiful Christmas season events will include open house at River Lea 1-4 p.m. this Sunday, November 28th and again on Sunday, December 5th. Historic Trinity will offer an old fashioned "Ye Olde Country Store" at that time, where Christmas shoppers may purchase stocking stuffers, the office party and hostess gifts, unique ornaments, the latest in fashion accessories and popular kitchen needs as well as totally homemade bakery goodies including jams and breads.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving 2004. Let’s count our blessings.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Celebrating milestones on Monday are Chris (Greenwood) Gress and Bob McNamee. Happy birthday, Chris and Bob and may your celebration be one of the best.
Happy birthday to Zachary Messier and Fred DeCost (today), Eileen Minton (her 75th tomorrow), Jeffrey Eberhard (cheers on Saturday), Rebecca Rae (her 21st on Saturday), Ron McNamee and Doug Bauer (Saturday), Bev Benton and Lydia Endres (Sunday), Benjamin Kose (a teenager on Sunday), Ashley Hollinger (21 on Monday), Norma Fred and Betty Kaeffer (Monday), Timothy McMahon (his 25th on Tuesday), and Kathy Fik and Chris Sipson (Wednesday).
Happy 70th birthday to longtime Islander Katie Feyerabend shown above with her husband, Jerry during her birthday party. Katie, who was born on November 17, 1934, was completely surprised by family and friends who got together to wish her a happy birthday at The Beach House on Sunday. From what we hear the Beach House staff did a wonderful job in making the occasion special.
A belated happy birthday to Dayton and Donald (Bones) Fancher who turned 65 yesterday. The boys, who were 4th graders in Miss Catherine DiVizio’s classroom at Sidway School when these photos were taken, were born on November 17, 1939.
Congratulations to Maureen and Jason Weis on the birth of a son, Anthony Stephen Weis on November 3rd weighing seven pounds 13 1/2 ounces in Spring Hill, Florida. Click "Baby Anthony" for the full story and photo.••••Congratulations also to Kristen and David Brand whose baby girl, Sarah Ann, arrived on Sunday, November 14th weighing seven pounds, six ounces.
Erinn Erker, now residing in Beaufort, SC, writes that her husband, Capt. Kevin Erker, a Marine in Iraq, had an appendectomy in a field hospital over there about a month ago and said the support was amazing. "There were little goody bags and cards on the hospital beds for the troops and it was really heartwarming to hear," she said. "Thanks again for your support -- it truly means the world to those serving and their families," Erinn said. Kevin is a member of the GIHS Class of 1992.••••National Guardsman David Caputi has been added to our "In The Service" page this week along with Dave Conboy, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves and part of the administrative support team working with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense.••••
Please check our "In The Service" page and send a note of thanks to these Islanders who have put their life on hold for our country's freedom.
Gail Allen sent me this KB radio link which Jim and I enjoyed thoroughly. Talk about the sounds of yesterday! This is it! Click http://www.wkbwradio.com/. "Thanks, Gail!"
Congratulations to Coach Peter Prozik's Lady Vikings who won their 3rd straight Far West Regional Championship last Saturday. The girls are wished the very best as they move on to Friday's semi-finals in the Class A state championships where they will play IV-Oneonta at 5 p.m. at Union-Endicott.
"Hi, Meaghan!" Meaghan Grotz continues to improve from her November 3rd surgery when she received a double lung transplant in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Presbyterian Hospital. Email may be sent through the www.meaghansmiracle.com website and information on monetary donations, still very much needed, may also be found on the website. Cards through the U.S. Mail should be sent to Meaghan Grotz, c/o Meaghan's Miracle, P.O. Box 1051 Buffalo, N.Y. 14221.
Looking Back 60 years - Bryant School of Dance teacher Miss Helen Finnerty was holding tap, ballet, and ballroom classes including the jitterbug, in the fire hall on Mondays from 1-8 p.m. ••••A new club, the Grand Island Janes, was composed of girls in junior and senior high school. Their mission was to send Christmas cards to the men in service and to make toys for the polio victims. First officers were President Rita Noras, Vice President Carol French (Mabey), Secretary Margaret MacDonald (Lee) and Treasurer Marion Lyons (Olds).••••The Grand Island Town Board, at its November 20, 1944 meeting, voted to compensate election inspectors and poll clerks $12 for election day due to the extension in voting hours.
Looking Back 50 years - Joseph Drago was building an addition to the Reese building, now the Viking Plaza. ••••Thomas Stedman, Donald Flessing and Galen Young were awarded their Cub Scout Lion Badge on November 18, 1954. Silver Arrow points went to Robert Janke, David Colcord and David Fleischmann.
Looking Back 40 years - Expressing opposition to the transfer of any land in Buckhorn State Park for an International Music Festival or any other purpose other than conservation, the Erie County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, November 17, 1964 approved establishment of the proposed festival in Beaver Island State Park. The State Park Commission would consider the proposal. ••••Jim Boettcher, Joseph Webber Jr. and Ron Holmes were honored in November 1964 during a Sunday morning Trinity EUB Church service when they were presented their God & Country Awards.
Looking Back 30 years - The Grand Island Snowmobile Club, formed in 1970, made a name for itself during the November 15, 1974 blizzard. Club member Nancy Long got the sleds "zipping all over Grand Island" by making a lot of phone calls after she received a call for assistance from Erie County Under Sheriff Mike D'Amico. Volunteers from the Snowmobile Club put in an incredible number of hours helping when and where needed. Club President at the time was Larry Holcomb.••••Leading the crowds in cheering the Vikings to their Section 6, Division V Tri Championship in 1974 were Cheerleader Co-Captains Cheryl Samrany (Caleri) and Joanne Ward and the squad made up of Val Moher, Joneen Corrao, Sue Ray, Leslie Rosene, Meg Buckley, Debbie Gillen, Ann Samrany, Lisa Dannels and Muriel Besch.••••A new and larger Tops Market opened at 2160 Grand Island Blvd. on Nov. 19, 1974, taking the place of the Tops on Love Road. My son and daughter, Jim and Julie, ages 4 and 5, were thrilled with the red, give-away cowboy boot mugs.
Looking Back 20 years - It was Thanksgiving Day 1984 that John Gast Jr. bagged a nine point, 200 pound buck in his back yard.
Happy anniversary to the Hassans. Diane sends this message to her husband, Mark Hassan who will be out of town on their day: "Happy 28th wedding anniversary to the sweetest husband in the world. Thanks for all the laughs over the years...You're Still The One -- love and hugs, Diane." Mark and Diane were married on November 20, 1976. Gerry (Andolina) Amato (left) was their matron of honor and John Glose was best man.••••Best wishes to Bob and Pat Haag on their 35th anniversary on Tuesday and to Cindy and Kurt Raepple married 20 years on Wednesday.
This week's Isledegrande.com business spotlight is on
Carl Amato Collision, diPaolo Builders, Fuccillo Chevrolet and newest advertiser Justin Tyme Cafe & Catering.
Check out their websites and patronize them when you can. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 news source.
Our sympathy to the family of longtime resident Dean Bucknam who passed away this week. Click Deaths for complete information.
The high school Spotlighters will present "Go Ask Alice" in the high school auditorium 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday. Friends Of Grand Island Memorial Library will hold a Discarded Book Sale Friday and Saturday.••••The High School Honor Society offers a spaghetti dinner on Friday from 2:30–3:30 p.m. and from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the school’s large cafeteria.••••The Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service takes place 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Details on each event are listed elsewhere in today's E-News at Isledegrande.com.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Thursday, November 4, 2004
Today is Veterans Day. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed this date as Armistice Day in 1919 as a reminder to Americans of the tragedies of war. Congress changed it to Veterans Day in 1954 in recognition of United States veterans of all wars. The Island's service was held at 11 a.m. today at the Veterans Park Memorial Wall on Bedell Road.
Fantastic News! Meaghan Grotz is doing very, very well. Messages for Meaghan, who had a 10-hour double-lung transplant operation on Wednesday, November 3rd, are being received through her Website at www.meaghansmiracle.com
Congratulations to Glenn Holler who set the Region III and school records in the 1- and 3-meter dives for Erie Community College in ECC's victory over Genesee and Mercyhurst-North East.••••
The Grand Island Girls Soccer Team won the Class A quarter finals, semi-finals, and are off to the Far West Regionals where they will play Aquinas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Albion. Go Lady Vikings!
Grand Island High School graduate Robert A. Forbes was married Saturday to Deanna S. Merrill. The groom is the son of June A. and Marshall A. Forbes of Orange City, Florida.
Grand Island High School's first graduating class, the Class of 1966, will hold a 40th reunion planning meeting in December. If you are a member of the class and would like to help with the plans, click Class of '66 for complete information.
Looking Back 60 years - Members of the Grandyle Village Property Owners Association elected the following for the year 1945: President Ted Klingel, Vice President John Gast, Secretary Alice Wolf, Assistant Secretary Helen White, and Treasurer Andre Tardiff. John Gast was also named chairman of entertainment. ••••Small world! Sixty years ago, during WWII, Edward Tucker who had been recently moved from his base in India to an undisclosed base, wrote home that he was surprised and pleased to once again encounter Randy Kaiser whom he had met once before in India. ••••Rodney and Carleen Alt’s mother, Evelyn, hosted a children's Halloween party at their house which was attended by Floyd Anderson, Janet, Jean and Claude Webb, Paul and Sam Long, Howard Killian and Calvin Alt.••••Alice Wolf of Love Road championed a recreational movement on Grand Island. Her idea was to provide some recreational facilities close to home for the Island's young crowd.
Looking Back 50 years -
Over 130 fish dinners were served in the Undercroft of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church on November 12, 1954. The committee was headed by Neal Huff, George Pollock and Arthur Mitchell. This was the church’s first large parish supper.
Looking Back 40 years - The newly formed Spotlighters’ first production, “Night of January 16th”, was presented in the high school auditorium at 8 p.m. Friday, November 13, 1964. First officers were President Robert Hilferding, Vice President Janice Michaels (Marci), Secretary Colleen Kilpatrick, and Treasurer Vicki Huer (Lynde).••••The Campfire Girls held a Halloween party at Trinity Church where Holly Stephenson, Robin Albing, Mary Dunbar (Daluisio) and Sylvia Padlog were judged the winners for the best costumes.
Looking Back 30 years - The 1974 Division V All League Team included six Grand Island Viking football players: Glyn Lipp, Jim Rodriguez, Kevin McInerney, Jim Hobby, Jim Breier and Dan
Cap. The Vikes were Section 6 Division V Tri-Champs in '74. ••••“A freakish 16-hour late fall blizzard" on Thursday night, November 14, 1974 and most of Friday, November 15th dumped 14 inches of snow on the Island. The bridges and NYS Thruway were impassable for five hours and people were stranded in such places on the Boulevard as the Square Restaurant (Viking Plaza) and Pizza By DiRose where Mike Mongan, young manager, walked to from his home on Bruce Lane.••••Marjorie Bessel won the Jr. Olympic Girls Cross Country championship of WNY in the 10-11 age group on November 15, 1974. Her time for the 1 ½ mile Lockport course was 9 minutes and 55 seconds.
Looking Back 25 years - It was in November 1979 that longtime Supervisor Ray Griffin was defeated by Bunny Luther. Griffin lost by 41 votes.
Looking Back 20 years - The Grand Island High School Spotlighters presented the comedy, “Out of the Frying Pan” Friday, November 16 through Sunday, November 18. Director for the 1984 production was Magdalene A. Miller. Technical director was Scott Kennedy. Student technical director was Tim McGraw and cast members included Pat McMahon, Alaina Rowswell (Kulikowski), Rossano Galante, Shirley Tokash (Verrico), Maria Clements, Phil Buchanan, David LaDuca and Tom Porter. Student director was Kirsten Cooke.••••The Vikings, led by junior quarterback Dean Santorio, went all the way to Rich Stadium where they played the state’s No. 1 team Williamsville South but lost 21-6.
The Grand Island business community has shown their support to the Grand Island E-News at Isledegrande.com and we are most appreciative to all of them. This week's Isledegrande.com spotlight is on
Park Place Subdivision, The Grand Lady, Paddock Chevrolet and Sound Choice Audio & Performance.
It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 news source.
Happy anniversary to Carol and Ray Gress who are celebrating their 24th anniversary today, to Ted and Lisa Kessler, new parents to baby Christian and married 12 years on Sunday, and very best wishes to Val and Bob Funk who will mark their 25th anniversary on Wednesday, November 17th..
The Rotary Club's "Undie Sunday" is set for this Sunday at the Grand Island Plaza. Click "Undie Sunday" for more information.
Residents of the Island should be aware of break-ins especially in the Tracey Lane area where we've had reports of two break-ins while residents were in their homes. Lock your doors.
Happy birthday to Bob Willer (cheers today), Helen Ashleigh McMahon (celebrating her 3rd birthday today), Rich Benns (today), Bryan Fred and Maria Burns (tomorrow), Kelly Williams (13 tomorrow), Andy Tranter (30 on Saturday), Pam Whitney (Saturday), Mary Burngasser (Sunday), Sterling Haslam and Cyndi Booker (Monday), Ron Viavada (cake and lots of candles on Monday), Brian Kopf (21 on Tuesday), Sierra Marie Maras (4 on Tuesday), and Bobbie McNulty, Dr. Tom Sheehan and Ashly Cinelli (Wednesday).••••A belated happy 40th birthday to Mike Braun who was completely surprised Friday evening by a party in his honor. Unfortunately, Mike's wife, Sue, went into the hospital on Saturday for an emergency appendectomy.
Our sympathy to the family of Mary Anne Knab and former resident Paul H. Brobeil
who passed away this week. Click Deaths for complete information.
Be sure to click our "Business News Page" for a happy hour, Thanksgiving Buffet, and new dinner specials at the Holiday Inn Grand Island. The Holiday Inn is also offering the first of its Friday Night Blues on the River Inside Edition concerts tomorrow from 6:30-10:30 p.m. The first concert will feature Rod Nickson Project. No need to go off the Island to meet friends and have fun!
Members of the VFW Post #9249 Ladies Auxiliary are hosting a Turkey Raffle at 7 p.m. and Hot Turkey Sandwich dinner from 4-6 p.m. this Saturday at the post. The menu includes a hot turkey sandwich with homemade gravy, cranberry sauce, chips, and coffee/tea all for only $5. Click VFW Page for details.••••The Historical Society's monthly Open House at its Victorian headquarters, River Lea in Beaver Island Park is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. this Sunday.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Wonderful, wonderful news!! Seventeen-year-old Meaghan Grotz and her parents are at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as of yesterday, where she has had successful double lung transplant surgery. Keep those prayers for Meaghan coming.
Happy birthday to Gary Long who is living in Kansas and will celebrate his 59th birthday on Tuesday, November 9th. Thanks to his mom, Catherine 'Killian' Long, for this adorable picture of Gary. Click it for a larger view.
Be sure to see the story and photo on Dr. Jill Anderson, GIHS Class of 1992, and daughter of Bridget and Rich Anderson of Harvey Road. "Congratulations, Dr. Jill!"
Click for larger view
I couldn't resist these recent photos of Mark and Diane Hassan's pets, Bella, the kitty and Lucky, the pooch playing in the leaves in their back yard. "They are best friends and play outside together all the time," Diane said.
Congratulations to motorcycle racer and former resident Nicole "Dee" Hoffman on winning the Amateur Ultra Lightweight Superbike National Finals. Nikki, who was crowned the 2004 National Champion on Friday, October 22nd, is a member of the GIHS Class of 1992. Click http://www.draganeeracing.com/ for her website.
Ingrid and Vice Commodore Keith Kinney will host the LaSalle Yacht Club's annual Commodore's Ball this Saturday in honor of Commodore Michael Heller.
Our sympathy to the family of Sue Ann Coughlin who passed away this week. Click Deaths for complete information.••••Grand Island schools janitor Joseph Kozlowski, 89, of Niagara Falls passed away on Sunday, October 31st. Joe worked for the Grand Island School District as a custodian from 1968-1980.
Best wishes to Diane Marie Avino and John Fredrick Gross who were married Saturday in St. Amelia Catholic Church, Town of Tonawanda.
Fantastic! Jon McGinn rolled a 290, a 289 in an 811 series at Island Lanes last Friday with the Friday Night Businessmen's League.••••The Grand Island High School Girls Soccer Team beat Lake Shore 7-0 in the Class A quarterfinals last Saturday. Three of the goals were scored by Alicia Barnaby, and Jessica Remmes scored twice. Star goalie Ellie Weiser's four saves gave her her 13th shutout of the year for the Vikings. Grand Island plays Albion in the semifinals.••••Grand Island's
Andre Mathews won the Amateur Bowlers Association tour at Voelkers in Buffalo for a first prize of $600. This was Andre's second ABA championship.
Congratulations to Grand Island students Cassie Lange and Sofia Syed who will be Buffalo News "NeXt" correspondents for 2004-2005. The girls were chosen from a large group of applicants.
Our Rotary Club has a unique project underway. It's the "Undy Sunday" event taking place on Sunday, November 14th. Rotarian Ted Bates is the chairman and is hoping for Island wide support. Click "Undy Sunday" for more information and let's all do our part!!
Happy birthday to Richard Anderson (today), Shirley McNulty (tomorrow), Ian Estenoz (turning 7 years old on Saturday),
Lou Panzica (Saturday), Joshua Less (8 on Saturday), Robert David Arch (his 2nd birthday on Saturday), Mary McMahon and Lisa Kessler (Sunday), Christopher Larry (turning 16 this week), Andrew Kuszczak (cheers on Tuesday), Christopher Swagler (9 on Wednesday), and Nancy Franklin (Wednesday). A belated happy birthday to Carol Zimmerman who celebrated on Tuesday.
Looking Back 60 years - The new A gasoline stamps worth 19,656 gallons were stolen from Charlotte Sidway School on November 1, 1944 when a thief gained entry by forcing a window of the 1st grade room open from the outside and battered his way into the hall way by smashing the lock on the classroom door.
Looking Back 50 years - One of six air raid sirens on Grand Island is shown in this picture of Del & Herb’s taken in 1954. The caption when originally printed was “What will you do if the siren sounds? Are you prepared?” Now our Grand Island Citizens Corps Council is asking us the same today.••••Cub Pack 75 met at Sidway School in 1954 when Michael Quinn was Cubmaster. Bobcat pins were presented to the following Cubs in November 1954: Robert Bilson, Peter Sloan, Joseph Muench, Jerry Hawley, George Marin, William Stratton, Paul Dinan, Michael Skotnicki, Jeffrey Long, Robert Kaiser, Charles Lock and Perron Villano
Looking Back 40 years - The new Jr. Sr. High School's 9th grade class elected Bill Costello as their president. Other officers elected were Vice President Melissa Clement (Hill), Treasurer Ed Falsetti and Secretary Pat Gill.••••Marine Lance Corporal Edward Jarmen Benns was released from active service after three years duty with the U. S. Marines.••••It was in the fall of 1964 that the first hole-in-one was scored on the 163 yard No. 4 hole at Beaver Island Golf Course by Carl Burkhardt, a golfer for 35 years. It was his first as well. Playing with Mr. B. were Bill (BA) Aydelotte, Dan Davidson Sr. and Dan Davidson Jr.
Looking Back 30 years - “In appreciation to the People of Grand Island from the Men of the Green Beret” reads the “Special Forces” plaque which was presented prior to the town board meeting Monday, November 3, 1974. Town Supervisor Raymond Griffin received the plaque from Lieutenant Colonel Frank B. Brusino, commander of the Third Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), NY Army National Guards for community support when the unit made 11 parachute jumps in five years on the Island during training missions.••••Daneen Certo (Gallagher) and Joyce Jones had solos during the November 1974 synchronized swim show, “Hollywood Splash,” at the high school. ••••Miss Cathy (Cathy Parisi Thomas) was teaching dance at St. Stephen School and at Island Lanes and was assisted by Debbie Fike and Tina Krzes (Arthur).
Looking Back 20 years - "Attempts to help wipe out the huge county deficit and present a workable budget by cutting services provided by the Erie County Sheriff's Department would hurt Grand Island," was the opening statement in Marion E. Klingel's editorial in the local paper in November 1984. The possible closing of the Grand Island Memorial Library was also an issue at the same time.
Remember! It's advertisers like McMahon's Family Restaurant, Joan Dlugokinski - Century 21, Rosemary Hill Beadwork, and "Technology Camp Of America" who support Grand Island's #1 news source at Isledegrande.com. Please support our advertisers whenever you can. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 free news source.
Judy Chapin Buzby will present remembrances of the Civil War during tonight's Historical Society meeting, open to the public at 7:30 p.m. in River Lea, Beaver Island Park.••••
Members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Grand Island Fire Company will hold their 2nd Annual "Day of Home Parties" from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fire Headquarters, 2275 Baseline Road.
Click "Home Parties" for more information.••••The Golden Age Club's annual holiday bazaar takes place at the Center, 3278 Whitehaven on Sunday. Click Golden Age Club for details.••••Members of the Knights of Columbus will hold a homemade spaghetti and meatballs dinner from 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, November 10 in the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1841 Whitehaven Road. Click K of C Page for more information.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Hey, Carol Turner! Happy big 5-0 from all of your friends. So nice of them to send me your pretty picture. For those who don't know, Carol celebrates on Tuesday, November 2nd.
These two Kaegebein School classmates were in Mrs. Marion Keefe's 2nd grade when these photos were taken. They are Kathy "Cotter" Little and Jarmen Benns and they are wished a very happy birthday. Kathy celebrated her birthday this past Monday and Jarmen marks the same milestone today.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Zachary Zarbo, Chuck Ford, Robert J. Curtin and infant Kyle Richard Dynko who passed away this week. Click Deaths for complete information.
Congratulations to Kim Walker who scored her 16th goal (school-record) for the Daemen Women's Soccer Team. Kim's team beat Notre Dame 4-1 in an American Mideast Conference game.
Michele Beauchamp, GIHS Class of '82 in Lubbock, Texas writes that she has received a little piece of Grand Island this week! She is an Off-Ice Official for the Lubbock Cotton Kings, professional hockey team in the Central Hockey League. Michele, the official penalty/score keeper for the team, reports that the Lubbock Cotton Kings have signed Shawn Conschafter of Calvano Drive to be their goalie this year.
The Cotton Kings had their first pre-season scrimage last week and Michele was able to meet and talk with Shawn. "He couldn't believe that I was from Grand Island and we both talked about great memories of Grand Island. It is so nice to have a little piece of Grand Island right here in West Texas!"
Happy birthday to Nikki Zimmerman (11 today), Sally Dworak (today), Matthew Linenfelser (30 today), JoAnn Fisher (cheers tomorrow), Julie Dee (Saturday), Mike Walker (the big 5-0 on Saturday), Nancy Gorrell and Tim O'Connor (Sunday), Sarah Grace Kustich (6 on Monday), Carissa Bailey (Sweet 16 on Monday), Jay Moran (30 on Monday), Michael Dlugokinski (16 on Monday), Sue McMahon and her twin, JoAnn Lozo (Tuesday), and Doug DeGlopper (Wednesday).
Lois Morgan's unusual October blooms are worth mentioning. Her forsythia,
a white lilac bush and a holly bush with yellow blossoms are blooming in her
yard for the second time this season. The Morgan homestead, dating back to
1840, is located at Morgan's Point on East River Road, about 1/4 mile north
of Kirkwood Drive.
A belated happy wedding anniversary to Earl and Rita DeGlopper who celebrated their 54th on Thursday, October 21st.••••And celebrating today and wished many more good years together are Joan and Skip Fred (their 15th anniversary), Liz and Eric Reimann (37 years) and Janice and Randy White in Indianapolis (26 years today).••••Best wishes to Peggy and Bob Hooper who will celebrate their first anniversary on Wednesday, November 3rd.
Best wishes to newlyweds.
John Wenner and his bride, the former Karen Blaha were married on Friday, October 22nd in St. Stephen Catholic Church and will reside on the Island. John's parents are former residents George and Janet Wenner of East Aurora and Karen is the daughter of John and Carol Blaha of Grand Island.••••Michael Schopp and Carolyn McGrath were married on Saturday, October 23rd in the Park Lane Restaurant, Buffalo. Click Islanders In The News for their wedding picture and more.••••Kimberly MacClellan and Jeffrey Sargent were married in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico on October 9, 2004. Click Islanders In The News for their photo and wedding story.
Click for larger view
Natalie, the black cat, who belongs to our daughter and son-in-law Julie and Don Dee of Ransom Road, decided to jump into this fall photo this week!
Today's spotlighted advertisers are
Dr. Huggs,
Nature Ed-Ventures, and newest Isledegrande.com advertisers
Kaiser Funeral Home and Sheldon Studio.
It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 free news source.
Former resident Jack O'Mara, an avid reader of the Grand Island E-News at Isledegrande.com, was so impressed with the article on Fay Wood's Helping Ear™ that he sent her an order. Click for Fay's Story.
Elizabeth Glor Allen was in town last week along her with mother and brother, Ora Glor-Newton and Gene Glor who joined a group of our Sidway School 9th grade Class of 1957 at Brennan's Friday night for great food and an enjoyable evening. Our table included Diane (Mistretta) Goupil, Lorraine (Walgate) Willcox, Sandra (Macoomb) O'Hara and JoAnn (Radius) Vanderheite. Nice to see Valerie Fraser and Sandy Benns, two of our favorite waitresses, back at this longtime landmark restaurant at Love and Baseline roads. Brennan's was busy but the service was excellent. Among the many diners were Henry and Jean Marie Ensminger, Judy and Mike Schneider
and John Gast and his daughter, Kelly.
Congratulations to our granddaughter, Amy Margaret Bidell, who has been taking riding lessons, and won the reserve championship at a recent Hills Stables "fun show."
A speedy recovery to former Isle resident Bobby Wright, now in Ellenton, FL. Bobby, who has had some serious heart problems, just spent six days in the hospital. Click his name and send him a cheerful email. I know he'd love to hear from old friends.••••So glad to report that Island resident and Buffalo Police Officer Tom Cino is fully recovered from a rare flesh-eating disease and is back to work with the Buffalo Police Department.
Looking Back 60 years - The Basic “A” Gasoline Ration was made available at the Sidway School from 3-8 p.m. on Wednesday or Thursday, November 1 and 2, 1944. Applications could be filled out at the school and Gasoline Books were issued immediately.
Looking Back 50 years - Michael G. Popeluk opened “Island Radio-TV Service” on Wednesday, November 3, 1954. ••••
St. Timothy’s Lutheran League Halloween Party was well attended Sunday, October 31, 1954 according to League adult adviser Henry Lesser of Bush Road. The program was planned by President Douglas Bauer with Trudy Reimann (O'Connor) in charge of games and Dave Dusenbury providing refreshments. Richard Reitz assisted in judging the best costumes.••••Fifty years ago today I attended a 10th birthday party for Jarmen Benns, won a prize, and left early to go to camp for the weekend with my Girl Scout Troop 337!
Looking Back 40 years - Lee Tetkowski served as UNICEF chair in 1964 just as she has done for the past 40+ years.••••Chamber of Commerce President Bob Beach was the toastmaster at a dinner in the Buffalo Launch Club Tuesday, October 27, 1964 honoring 12 of the Chamber’s 14 past presidents. Past President Frank Pinzel was unable to attend due to living elsewhere and Past President Joseph D. Creighton was deceased.••••Bells-IGA market at Grand Island Blvd. near Staley Road was offering T-bone steaks at 89 cents a pound.••••Big 4 Grand Island Cleaners on Staley Road was offering a new service - one day shirt orders. New machinery could handle 75-100 shirts per hour according to Fred Tripi of Big Four whose partner in the business was Angelo Federico.
Looking Back 30 years - Sidway students, hosted by longtime school teacher Mabel Leibinger, visited School House #5 at Kelly’s Country Store.••••Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice David P. Amato graduated from recruit training at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, NJ.
Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, so be sure to turn your clocks back this Saturday night. This is an excellent time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.
Please support our Grand Island Historical Society. The November meeting, a week from tonight (Nov. 4) at 7:30 p.m. will feature Judy Chapin Buzby's presentation of an enactment of "Hattie's Remembrances of the Civil War," based on an autobiography of Judy's ancestress, Hattie Chapin. The meeting, open to the public, is being held in Historical Society headquarters, River Lea, in Beaver Island State Park.
Tuesday is Election Day and the Grand Island Republican Committee and friends will be at
River Oaks Clubhouse to collect the local polling results.••••Dan Quider, Democratic Committee chair, reports that friends of the Democratic party will meet at the Ellicott Square Building, Buffalo after the close of the polls.
Click for larger view
In preparation for Halloween, Kevin (left) and Andrew Sander and friend, Jimmy Martin, carved their pumpkins Monday night with the help of their aunt Mackenzie Hassan. Click the photo for a larger view. Tricks or Treat hours on the Island are from 5-8 p.m. Sunday.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Tiny Michael James Christensen was welcomed into the world on October 7th by first time parents, Kris and Michelle Christensen of Sandpiper Lane. The baby, who weighed in at a little over three pounds, and was measured at 16 ½ inches, is the grandson of George and Marianne Christensen of Carter Drive. For a picture and more information, click Michael Christensen.••••
Also announced on our Islanders In the News page is the arrival in September of Chance Michael-Thomas Luthringer, son of Tina Giambra and Rob Luthringer. Click Baby Luthringer for a photo of the baby and his sister, Chase, 2.
This sounds like fun! High school choral director, Carolyn Lokken is inviting singers of all ages to join the members of the Grand Island Senior High School vocal department for an inter-generational sing at 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 25th in the Senior High School Choir Room. "Everyone" is invited and experience is not necessary.
Bob Smith, GIHS Class of 1970, sent this photo of his parents, former Harvey Road residents Bob and Barbara Smith, now reside in Tarpon Springs, FL. Young Bob, now residing in Columbus, Ohio, reports they are playing a lot of tennis at their club and trying to dodge hurricanes this year! The Smiths are also the parents of Darrell Smith, GIHS Class of '72.
Hilbert College goalkeeper Jackie Seifert earned her first collegiate win when her soccer team beat Mount Aloysius, 6-2 last Saturday.••••Helping Daemen's women's soccer team in their win over Carlow University last Saturday with a score of 4-0 was Kim Walker who scored twice.••••Congratulations to Grand Island Varsity Viking Glenn Bird who was included in the Riverside Athletic Club Connolly Cup Committee's honor roll for Week Seven.••••Soccer star Katie Remus made two goals for Fredonia State in their recent 3-0 win over Buffalo State.••••For an interesting story on families connected to Grand Island sports teams, click News Story.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Doris Teschemacher, Harry “Buzzy”
Anderson and Esther J. Howell who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.••••Judith Toponak, 77, of Lewiston, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Grand Island, died Wednesday, October 13th.
Congratulations and thanks to Councilmember Mary Cooke who has donated a total of five gallons of blood and was recognized in Sunday’s Buffalo News.
Looking Back 60 years - The success of the Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary's O.C.D. dance was due to the efforts of Rose Blampin. Money raised was to be used to build an addition to the fire hall to house Auxiliary equipment. By the way, O.C.D. stands for Office of Civilian Defense.•••• Selby Landel was telling all his Island friends that electric irons would be available to the public within a month.
Looking Back 50 years - Trinity Church Choir presented a musical, “Miss Cherry Blossom” on October 21-23, 1954. The cast included Jacqueline Slacer, Heber Ashley, Robert Dworak, Lee Jones, Merton McElroy, Leonard Staub, Ramona Blackmore, Walter Hughes, Carol Kaegebein (Gates), Libby Smith (Borgese), Bernice Glor (Pagliaro), Pat Fellenz, William Pinkow and Clayton Ames.••••William Kaegebein resigned from the school board of which he served as Board Clerk from 1919-1938 and Board Chair from 1938-1953.••••A $100,000 water treatment plant to serve the needs of the rapidly growing Sandy Beach area was recommended by Water Superintendent Kenneth Winters.••••Ion Arrick of Alt Blvd was the discussion leader of the newly formed League of Women Voters on Grand Island.
Looking Back 40 years - Lee Tetkowski served as the Island's UNICEF chair in 1964 just has she has done ever since!
Looking Back 30 years - Barbara Killian (Morse ) was chosen the homecoming queen Saturday, October 26, 1974. ••••Vikings football Players of the Week were Jim Rodriguez, George Barker and Glyn Lipp.
Looking Back 20 years - Bethany Joslyn (Bernatovicz)
was chosen the homecoming queen Saturday, October 13, 1984 and Chris Bacola took the title of king. The Vikings beat the Tonawanda Warriors 26-0 with some of the lead players being Todd Petrilla, Mark DiMartile, Dean Santorio, Scott Buzby, Dave Roberts and Rick Reaser.
Happy birthday to Megan Kaleta (Sweet 16 today), Ben Franklin and our Laury Linenfelser (today), Jack Norgiel (5 tomorrow), Mark Beck (special greetings Saturday), Diane Pelosi and Michael Weaver (Sunday), Agnes Becker and Terri Turner Carney (Monday), our grandson John Bidell Jr. (15 on Monday), Mallory DelSignore (5 years old on Monday), Kathy "Cotter" Little (a big one on Monday), David Russell (Tuesday), and Paul Soto (Wednesday).
Best wishes to the following on their wedding anniversaries this week: Walter and Elsie Killian (58 years on Monday), Sue and Dan McMahon (32 years on Wednesday), and Jeff and Barb Kirsch (20 years on Wednesday).
And speaking of anniversaries, Laureen Zelonis Hess wrote from The Woodlands, Texas this week about the 50th wedding anniversary celebration for her parents, Louise and Larry Zelonis. "My parents and their guests had a wonderful time aboard The Grand Lady last Saturday night. I would recommend that cruise to everyone," she said, also crediting Sue Berger's Flower A Day Florist for the perfect arrangement. The Grand Lady and Flower A Day happen to be two of our advertisers and Laureen's letter on the Viewpoints page is certainly a credit to them.
Congratulations to Bob Gesl who bowled the high single, 234 and the high triple (631) Tuesday, October 12th with the Golden Age Bowling group. Bob's wife, Joanne Gesl, also had a good game of 173. Attention, Golden Age Bowlers! Drop off your weekly report or Email it to me at
teddy@giecom.net and I will be glad to post it at Isledegrande.com.
Thanks to today's spotlighted advertisers. They are
Town Cafe, Priority Computer Services, West Herr Automotive Group and newest advertiser FX Graphix.
It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island and the Island's #1 free news source.
The Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary chowder and baked goods sale is being held at Fire Headquarters this Saturday. The members have produced a cookbook which should be available Saturday as well.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Kathy Larry Jim
Best wishes and happy birthday to lifelong Islanders Kathleen Loth and Larry Hillock celebrating their 60th birthdays Saturday and Tuesday respectively and to Jim Kaiser who hit that same milestone this past Tuesday.••••Happy birthday to Stephanie Voyzey (8 today), Cathy Latz (special greetings today), John Turner (10 today), Mike Aloian and Jordan Funk (21 today), Jim Criddle and Mark Paasch (milestones tomorrow), Karen Figler and Buck Wenner (Sunday), Marissa Booker (entering her teens on Sunday), Alexandra Mason (a teenager on Monday), Lucas Michael Hooper (first birthday on Tuesday), Stephen Bradley (Tuesday), Michael Madigan (8 on Wednesday), Joe Macaluso (Wednesday), and Ryan Derek Pinzel (baby Ryan's first birthday on Wednesday).
Members of Trinity UM Church will host their 2nd annual Octoberfestival from 4-7:30 p.m. this Saturday. Features include a Chiavetta's chicken dinner ($8 per person), music and entertainment and much more. This year's OctoberFestival chairperson is Gail Conschafter.
Happy birthday to Isle native Shirley Luther who is turning 80 years young tomorrow. Let's get the birthday cards in the mail so she can enjoy a bundle all week long.
Wallace Drive residents Bob and Carolyn Thompson are parents of a new baby girl, Rebekah Mae Thompson, born Tuesday, October 5, 2004. Congratulations! Click Rebekah Mae for her baby picture and details.
Kristin M. Cutini became the bride of Christopher L. Wawrzeniec on Saturday in St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Kristin is the daughter of Michael and Kristina Cutini of Grand Island.
Volleyball star Jen Breier did it again! She paced her Buffalo State team to victory over Mount Aloysius and Pittsburgh-Bradford with 20 kills and 13 aces.
Former resident Mindi (Davis) Schwarz writes: "Well, I'm from Vero Beach and have had four hurricanes in a month. In September alone we were without power for 22 days total (luckily we had a generator) but still had to cook everything on the grill and take cold showers (yuck!!!). My son, Max, who was to begin 2nd grade on September 1st, has had five days so far (ya'll have snow days !!) I really miss the Island but will soon be moving to my husband's hometown of New Braunfels, a little German town outside of San Antonio, Texas. They used to make fun of the weather when I would say I was from Buffalo. Now they eat their words!!!!"
Winners of the VFW #9249 Ladies Auxiliary's annual Chili Cook-Off held October 2nd are First Place - Paul Lewis, Second Place - Debbie Roy and Third Place - B.J. Chapman (3rd). Congratulations, everyone.
Looking Back 60 years -
Between 50 and 60 families moved into the new development, East Park, some moving in before their house was completed. ••••
Larry Martin and Judge Sullivan bid on and got a few of the Army buildings on Bush Road which they intended to move to their West River property. ••••A card party of Pinochle, Pedro and Bridge and a dance were held October 14, 1944 to benefit St. Stephen’s Church. Card games took place in the church hall and dancing was held in the barn. Clam chowder and "hot hamburgers" were available during the evening.
Looking Back 50 years - Mrs. C. Dixon (Ion) Arrick, of Alt Blvd. was discussion leader of the newly formed League of Women Voters on Grand Island. Mrs. Thomas Reed of Oakfield Rd. was chairman, Mrs. Bernard Brown of Blackmon Road handled publicity. ••••The Ladies Auxiliary of the Grand Island Fire Company held a card party October 15, 1954 at 8 p.m. Chairman Helen Peck headed a committee that included Margaret Lyden, Geraldine Grant, Florence Cowden, Katherine Perkins, Berle Kinney, and Mary Tierney.••••William Kaegebein resigned from the school board of which he served as board clerk from 1919-1938 and board chair from 1938-1953.
Looking Back 40 years - After being accepted in the E.C.I.C. conference, it was learned that Grand Island’s first varsity football team’s league schedule would not appear until fall 1965, due to previous commitments by other league teams. Athletic Director Dave Meyer went to work and came up with a game schedule whereby the Vikings faced the following opponents in the fall of 1964: Wilson, Niagara Wheatfield, Roy Hart, Barker, Starpoint, Sweethome and Eden.
Looking Back 30 years - Mrs. Betty Coughlin’s fifth grade class at Huth Road Elementary School devoted seven weeks to research and development of their weather station, made by the students including Tracy Ehinger, Rashmi Pandya, Gerri Jaskowski, Craig Ehde and Jim Kehoe.••••Among Fire Prevention Poster winners in 1964 were Robin Long (Huth Road School), Carol Anderson Riley and Teddy Kessler
(St. Stephen School), and Lisa Becker and Troy Leach (Kaegebein School).•••• Keith Wood , a member of the championship Rochester Crusaders, was instructing the Teddy’s Islettes All Girl Drum Corps. For a picture of the girls, click Old Photo Album.
Best wishes to Dolly and Arnie Dilliot who will celebrate their 46th anniversary on Monday, October 18th. Click their photo for a full view.•••• Also celebrating wedding anniversaries this week and wished the very best are Bobby and Ilene Dee marking their 15th today, and Bob and Kristen Franklin Rosser in Mesa, Arizona, married five years tomorrow.
A more complete obituary and photo of Randy Osvath, who died in a tragic accident last week, is now available on the Deaths Page. Again, our sympathy to his family.
Friends of Isle resident Cathy Johnson and former resident Laurie (Conn) Lazik, GIHS Class of 1981, are hosting a benefit on their behalf from 6-11 p.m. tomorrow evening (Oct. 15th) at the Elks Club, Main and Sweeney streets in North Tonawanda. For more information, click Islanders In The News.
"Good friends, delicious food and great entertainment!" That's what the folks, including myself, who attended last Friday evening's get-together at
River Oaks for the Sidway 9th grade Class of 1954 had to say. The event was attended by Bernie Glor Pagliaro, her mother Ora Glor-Newton and brother Eugene Glor, Carol MacDonald Ganster and her husband, Ed, Shorty Vanthoff and his sister Karen Vanthoff, Nancy Mote Sayre, Dave Dusenbury, Richard Smith, Sally Swalm Hansen, Cliff Bush, and, of course, piano player Don Burns. Also at the table was Fay Rech who graduated from Tonawanda High with most of the Sidway Class of '54.
Business owners in the Viking Plaza at the south end of Grand Island Blvd., across from Burger King Restaurant, are holding a Grand Opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. They include Isledegrande.com advertisers Priority Computer Services and Gifts-N-More. This not to be missed event will feature entertainment, free stuff, a basket raffle in each business and refreshments beginning at noon. And maybe the best part is the fact that the food will be catered by McMahon's Family Restaurant! Oldtimers like myself will remember when the first building was completed and opened as a grocery store by Jessie and Bill Reese in the early 1950s.
Thanks to today's spotlighted advertisers. They are Austin's Hair Studio, Village Inn, Geri Andolina - Century 21 and Wavelengths. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island.
Click Events Calendar for the Island's weekend activities which include the Grand Island Vikings homecoming game against Sweet Home on Masters Field on Saturday, the Trinity Octoberfestival, Viking Plaza's grand opening, Town Cafe's 2nd anniversary celebration, and the Historical Society's Sunday open house at River Lea.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Thursday, September 9, 2004
Thursday, September 2, 2004
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Thursday, August 5, 2004
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Thursday, July 8, 2004
Thursday, July 1, 2004
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Thursday, June 3, 2004
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Thursday, May 6, 2004
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Thursday, April 8, 2004
Thursday, April 1, 2004
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Thursday, March 4, 2004
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Thursday, February 5, 2004
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Thursday, January 8, 2004
Email your notes, announcements and corrections for this column to Teddy Linenfelser, Snail Mail to: 2098 Ferry Road, Grand Island, NY, 14072, or drop off information at 1871 Whitehaven Rd. Include your email address and phone number.
My sister Mary Ellen Stewart and her husband, Jim, now residing in California, were married 40 years ago, October 10 1964, and are wished a happy anniversary. Be sure to click the little photo taken at their reception in the fire hall.••••Also celebrating a 40th anniversary are Kenneth and Karen "Fitzsimmons" Fuller. Happy days to the Fullers, married on October 9, 1964.••••A very happy anniversary to Bucky and Jennifer Wenner who will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary tomorrow and to Tom and Tammy Kippley, also celebrating their 10th tomorrow.••••Best wishes to Jason and Maureen Weis who mark their 4th anniversary on Wednesday.
Isle residents Louise and Larry Zelonis are wished a wonderful time as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday evening with a small party aboard the Grand Lady at the Holiday Inn.
Be sure to click the In The Service Page to read about our niece, Anne Linenfelser.
Jim and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary on Sunday by having dinner at Brennan's. Chef John Brennan is at the helm, preparing his wonderful entrees and we were extremely happy with our dinners. Brennan's is located at Love and Baseline roads in the former Cathy & Jim's Del & Herbs.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Charles E. Krueger, Randy Osvath and former resident John T.
Fitzgerald who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.••••Rev. Daniel A. Lapinski, former associate pastor of St. Stephen's Church, died on Saturday, October 2, 2004. He was 55.••••
Former owner of Fantasy Island, Charles R. Wood died of cancer at the age of 90.
Today's spotlighted advertisers are Ziehm Real Estate
Our newest advertiser is Swan Contracting, in the Blacktop & Seal Coating business since 1959. Click above and check out their website for all they have to offer.
Though the Grand Island Vikings Football Team displayed a valiant effort, they were on the losing end of a 35-3 score against Lew-Port in a game played at Lew-Port Friday night, October 1st. The Vikings will be at Lake Shore for a 7 p.m. game tomorrow night. Go Vikings!
Al and Dorothy Rowswell's 12th grandchild has arrived. Bethany Jane Kulikowski was born on September 13th to Kevin and Alaina "Rowswell" Kulikowski of Colonial Drive. Be sure to see this beautiful baby's picture by clicking Baby Bethany. ••••Other "arrivals" last month are Marissa Mae Mistriner to Julie and Mark Mistriner on September 23rd, and Trinity Jae Meinhart to Tracy and Jason Meinhart, also on September 23rd. Parents, feel free to send more information and a photo of your newborn to be posted on our Islanders In The News Page at Isledegrande.com. Email to teddy@giecom.net
It's your birthday! Happy day to Mark Webb (16 tomorrow), Diane Hassan, Tom Johnson and Sandi Cunningham (Saturday), Timothy Wunsch (cheers on Monday), Stephanie Lynn Hopkins (Sweet 16 on Monday), Jacob Mongold (8 on Monday), Brian Chambers (30 on Tuesday), Laura Piccolo (20 on Tuesday) and Sandy Beyer (wished the best on Tuesday). ••••One of Paula Jean Tickner's sisters has tipped us off that she is one year shy of her "big 6-0!!" as of October 9th. Happy birthday, Jean!
Looking Back 50 years - “What will you do if the siren sounds? Are you prepared?” This was the caption on a photo published 50 years ago this week of one of six air raid sirens located on Grand Island. It was located across the road from Del & Herb's Grand Island Grill on the corner of Love and Baseline roads. Click for Old Photo.
••••
Sidway 9th graders elected Francis Lapine president of the Class of 1955. Other officers elected were Vice President Judy Hanna (Hathaway), Secretary Barbara Ianni (Osborne), Treasurer Donna K. Horner (Anderson) and Assistant Treasurer Grant Glessner.
Looking Back 40 years - Mae Capizzi and Alma McTigue co-chaired the East Park Garden Club's fashion show featuring fashions by Jenss on October 13, 1964 in the Buffalo Launch Club.••••Growing opposition to the elimination of the four-party telephone service on Grand Island was voiced by Supervisor Raymond P. Griffin.••••It was reported that for the first time in the history of the town the President of the US was scheduled to visit here however the visit was cancelled due to security reasons.
Looking Back 30 years - Robert Wendling, 12, of Boy Scout Troop 545 received a heroism award for saving life of an 8-year-old Florida boy from drowning while Rob was vacationing with his family in Ormond Beach, FL in March 1974.••••Island residents mourned the tragic death of 11-year-old Diane Eckelberger who was struck and killed while riding her bicycle across Beaver Island Parkway at Broadway.
Living on the Island and married Friday, October 1st are newlyweds Russell D. Hall and his bride, the former Sharlene A. Von. A reception was given in Buffalo Launch Club.
Sandie Rall Smith writes that she served authentic Kimmelweck rolls for a small dinner party she had at her house in Auburn, CA on Saturday. Sandie's good friend, Marcy Malecki sent them with the salt and Caraway mixture separately. Sandie said the combination works like a charm and everyone loves them. "My kids want to know how to get some of John's Pizza Subs out here! I will have to work on that one!" she reports.
Longtime friend JoAnn Vanderheite's annual Dried Flower Sale this Saturday (Oct. 9th) at her home at 1635 West River Road. The sale will feature her artistically designed wreaths, arrangements and more, and runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Though his last name was misspelled in the Niagara Gazette on Tuesday, Tommy Dzielski was one of eight Grand Island Junior Vikings to be spotlighted in that publication. Eleven-year-old Tommy, who plays quarterback, is the son of Debbie and Tom Dzielski.
The Historical Society meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. in River Lea, Beaver Island State Park. The meeting, featuring a presentation on "Early Buffalo Railroad History and the Construction of the Central Terminal," is open to the public.••••Fire Company members will hold their annual Fire Prevention open house at fire headquarters on Baseline Road from 5-8 p.m. tomorrow evening.••••The Grand Island Hockey teams will host a Chinese Basket Auction from 6-11 p.m. on Saturday at the VFW Post.••••
Future events include the Trinity Church Octoberfestival on October 16th, Historical Society Open House on October 17th, the Fire Company Ladies' Chowder Sale on October 23rd, the Golden Age Club's annual holiday bazaar on November 7th, and the Rotary's Undy Sunday on November 14th.
Bernie Glor Pagliaro, Don Burns, Nancy Mote Sayre, Penny Ball, Shorty Vanthoff, Sally Swalm Hansen
Lyle Dinsmore, Kay Ames Brooks, Bob Trautman, Ben Franklin, Ron Webb, Dave Dusenbury and Carol MacDonald Ganster.
Bernie Glor Pagliaro is hoping that some of her Sidway School classmates pictured above as they looked in 1953, and a lot of others will join her at
River Oaks Restaurant tomorrow evening. Classmate Don Burns will be playing his ragtime piano there beginning at 6 p.m. The plan is to make dinner reservations (773-3337 ext. 17) for 6 p.m. and stop by as early as 5 p.m. to join the group for cocktails.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Celebrating their 40th anniversary this week and wished many more happy years together are Ben and Bernie 'Carminati' Franklin, married on October 3,
1964 and shown with their best man, Norm Mrkall.••••Dave and Adele Cole will mark their 25th anniversary on October 6. Best wishes to the Coles.
Congratulations to Mike and Betsy Cali on the birth of Jacob Charles Cali on Monday. Click Baby Jacob for photo and details.
Best wishes and happy birthday to Carol Dunworth (left) and Shorty Vanthoff (right) celebrating special birthdays today and Saturday respectively.••••Happy birthday also to Aaron Beauregard (21 today), Frank Burkhart Jr. ( a milestone today), Penny Giambra (today), Bernie Franklin (wished a wonderful day tomorrow), Allison Mae Walker (a teenager tomorrow), Don Turner (tomorrow), Jaidan Hiam (4 years old on Saturday), Janice Hughes (cheers on Saturday), Lauren Kalisz (Sweet 16 on Monday), Dylan Michael Russo (three on Tuesday), Carl Antholzner (a big one on Tuesday), and Flo Gannon (Wednesday).
Looking Back 60 years - Clem Scheuerman vacated the Bedell House Annex and Patty Fix, one of the Fix brothers who owned the tavern and property, was to operate it as of October 1, 1944.
Looking Back 50 years - The State Police, under Cpl. Charles Swarts of Troop A, Batavia Barracks, moved into their new sub-station on Connecting Blvd. (GI Blvd.), just south of Whitehaven Road on Friday, October 1, 1954. ••••School Board President Dr. John Fontana was extremely surprised to receive a letter from the Federal government saying in effect that the application of the Grand Island Central School District for Federal assistance in providing education for the rapidly expanding population, had been approved and a check for $99,010 would be in the mail shortly. On Monday, October 4, 1954 the check was endorsed by the president of the board and the money deposited in the district’s account.••••Sixteen girls from Girl Scout Troop 337 and their leader, Mrs. Lois Martene, entertained five girls and their leader Mrs. Bernie Huff of Troop 209 at Camp Sky High over the October 1-3, 1954 weekend. Also in the group was Girl Scout Chairman Marion Klingel. Rain for two of the three days didn’t dampen the spirits of the scouts who included Noreen Miller, Caroline Martene (Leggio), Judy DiTullio (Penque), Judy Huff (Froman) and myself.
Looking Back 40 years - “The Cyclones” – a rock band comprised of Gerry Ralston and Paul Leibelshon of Grand Island and Chuck Miller, cut their first record with a tune called “World’s Fair.” The flip side? “Summer Fun.”••••Grand Island Ford sponsored the Punt, Pass & Kick contest when 75 Grand Island football enthusiasts came out on a cold and rainy Saturday, October 10, 1964 at the Grand Island Plaza. First place winners were Allen Pearson of East River Road (8-year-olds), Darrell Smith of Riverdale Dr. (10-year-olds), Richard Schopp of Ferry Road (11-year-olds), Patrick Metzen of Staley Road (12-year-olds) and Fred Aswad of Greenway (13-year-olds).••••Fred Klestine of WKBW visited Bells-IGA Market October 7, 1964 to advertise KB’s Lucky Buck program.
Looking Back 30 years - The construction of the proposed Nike Base pond got underway. It was to be filled with water pumped from silos on the Nike Base and stocked with fish. Grand Island High School students under the guidance of Science Dept. Chair Jim Patmos and Assistance Principal Henry Fessard, planted over 2000 evergreen trees on the site and formed a steering committee to formulate plans for this outdoor education laboratory (which was to be three years in the making).
Our sympathy to the family of former resident Larry Mahoney who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.
Today's spotlighted advertisers are Serenade Music Services, The Beach House Restaurant, Grinders Skate Park, State Farm Insurance and Inside & Out Home Improvements. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island.
Our newest advertiser is longtime Isle resident and businessman Louis A. Macro - Optician at Grand Island Optical.
Lou offers a complete eye care center across from St. Stephen's Church and accepts most insurance. Why leave the Island when it's all on Baseline Road. Click above for convenient office hours.
Congratulations to the Grand Island Vikings Football Team on their win over Kenmore West last Saturday at Masters Field. Final score was 34-8. The Vikings play Lew-Port tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Lewiston-Porter.••••Congratulations also to the High School Girls Soccer Team, listed as #1 by the Buffalo News in the WNY Coaches Poll.
Those of you with students in the Grand Island School District, please note that the lunch menus are now posted on the front page of the Grand Island E-News at Isledegrande.com and look like this:
School District
Lunch Menus
Members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 9249 are holding their annual Chili Cook-Off this Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the contest will be donated to Meaghan's Miracle. Food, refreshments and, of course, chili will be available. For complete information and details on entering the contest, click VFW News.••••All Islanders are welcome to participate in the blessing of animals at St. Stephen's Church grounds at noon this Sunday, October 3, 2004.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Hobie MaryAnn Ricky Jimmy Mike
These cute little kids were going to Sidway School 50+ years ago and are all celebrating the same milestone birthdays. From left are Hobie Cullen, born in August, MaryAnn Braddell Stawitski (September), Eric Stefik (the big one tomorrow), Jimmy Dinsmore (the 28th) and Mike Sceusa (September 29th). Happy birthday, everyone!
Here's the story as submitted by Delorous DiTullio's oldest son, "Puppet." It seems son Dick stopped by to say hello to "Ma" when "she grabbed him off his bike, body slammed him to the ground, took his leathers and helmet, fired up his bike and split." How true it is that "she was last seen headed toward Buckhorn Park doing a wheelie," I really don't know. Has anyone seen Dee DiTullio this week?
Dolphin Dr. residents Larry and Trish Harpster's daughter, Dana Anello White and her husband, Paul, are expecting their first child in November and the Harpsters are thrilled. Be sure to read the Opra Winfrey story in Islanders In The News featuring Dana and the "World's Largest Baby Shower" at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where the Whites are stationed. The show airs Tuesday.
Longtime resident Fay Wood has put Grand Island, NY on the map. A huge feature article with photos regarding Fay's little lapel pin in the shape of an ear was included in Business First this past week. For the full story on Fay's business venture, a pin to aid the hard of hearing, click Fay's Story.
Faithful Isledegrande.com reader, Tom Duncan, formerly of Baseline Road, stopped by this week to say hello, as did his sister Barbara Ochs of Port Orange, FL. Tom is now living in Novi, MI.••••Also had the pleasure of spending some time with Richard and Sue 'Stricker' Benns of Louisville, KY who were in town for the funeral of Rich's mom, Flora. If anyone's ears were ringing, it may be due to brothers Jim and Jarman Benns, Rich and myself reminiscing about the good old days from one end of Love Road to the other.
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Happy birthday to Kathy Benton (today), Mark Bruno (30 tomorrow), Betsy Cali and Susan Hillock (tomorrow),
David Rodriguez (7 tomorrow), Jill 'Bates' Smedley (cheers on Saturday), Forrest Michael Carr (3 on Saturday), Samuel David Carpenter (first birthday on Saturday), Christian Rustowicz (3 on Sunday), twins Greg Butcher and Jeff Butcher (35 on Monday), Dave Burke (51 on Monday), Todd Rowe (a milestone on Tuesday), Joanne Breier and Mary McNamee Giordana (Tuesday), Adam Kaiser (his 21st on Tuesday), Eric Quattrini (16 on Tuesday), Cappy Cooke (12 on Tuesday), Stacey Zahradnik (mini milestone birthday on Wednesday) and Joshua Kahn (a teenager on Wednesday). A belated happy 55th birthday to Zdenka Gast who celebrated on September 18th.
Looking Back 60 years - Franklin A. Mesmer, 21, B17 Flying Fortress right waist gunner of Grand Island, N.Y., a member of the 8th Air Force Bomber Squadron stationed in England, was promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant.
Looking Back 50 years - Bishop Lauriston L. Scaife turned the first shovel of dirt Sunday, September 26, 1954 for the new St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church. Altar boys taking part in the service were Wayne Hallet and Corsan (Corky) Lewis.••••Voters in District two (all land south of Whitehaven and west of Baseline and south of Fix) were to vote in the election booth at the corner of Baseline and Fix roads.
Looking Back 40 years - Girl Scout Troop 437 scribe Marcia Harding (Hagerty) wrote the following for the weekly paper in 1964: "This summer we went on a bike hike to Beaver Island Park. One girl had a bike that was hard to pump so we took turns riding her bike. We went to Sky High for a week and had to do all the cooking and cleaning. Marcia Harding and Coleen Mullany won a wood gathering contest. Cheryl Crago was voted most outstanding scout. We wish to thank Dawn Waltman, Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Harding for spending the weekend with us."
Looking Back 30 years - Mike Filosofos, GIHS 1974, made the varsity football squad at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY.••••John Gibney, a freshman at Colgate University, made the varsity football squad as offensive tackle for the 1974 season.••••GIHS 1972 graduate Chuck Bagdy, a 6’11” – 217 pound junior at Bucknell University in Lewiston, PA starred as a tackle in the September 28, 1974 game against Rutgers University.••••Michael Podlucky III, GIHS 1966, was working as a physical education teacher, football coach and athletic director at the Webb Junior High School in Tampa, Florida.
Amanda Claire Gottler and Curry Matthew Glor were married in St. Stephen's Church Saturday, September 18th. Parents of the bride and groom are Lynn and Peter Gottler and Maureen and
William Glor, all of Grand Island.••••Julie Marie Rainero became the bride of Jeremy Eric Steinkirchner on Saturday. A graduate of Grand Island High School and Niagara County Community College, Julie is the daughter of Michael A. Rainero of Buffalo and the late Stacey L. Richter.••••Robert William Patterson, son of William and Mary Patterson of Grand Island was married to Ryan Erika Kendall on Saturday in St. James Lutheran Church, Williamsville. A wedding reception for the newlyweds was held in the Beaver Island Clubhouse.••••Shawn Michael Kachermeyer and Kristin Lynn Guariglia were married on Saturday by Grand Island Town Justice Randall D. White. The bride is the daughter of Isle residents Theodore and Frances Guariglia. Mr. and Mrs. Kachermeyer will live on the Island.
Our sincere sympathy to the family of longtime teacher and Island resident Anna Tyrrell who passed away today, Thursday, September 23rd. Click Deaths for complete information.
Congratulations to Brittany Henninger who scored two goals to help Erie Community College with a 7-1 win over Jamestown CC.
Reconstruction of the Whitehaven Road bridge over Six Mile Creek is scheduled to begin the end of October and last for three weeks. Detour routes in the area will be marked!
Members of the Grand Island Historical Society invite you to their headquarters in Beaver Island State Park from 2-4 p.m. this Sunday. The Lewis F. Allen Farm House known as River Lea, owned by the state and maintained by the Historical Society, is a dream come true for Island history buffs. Membership applications will be available. Refreshments will be served and there is no charge.
Michael J. Guagliano and Senior Airman Michael J. Golden, serving our country over in Iraq, are featured on our
Islanders In The Service page this week. Take a moment to write and thank them.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
It was just one year ago that our son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Laury Linenfelser brought our baby grandson, Evan James Linenfelser, home from Russia. To see how he's grown, click the second photo.
Best wishes to Jennifer Goulah and Brett Simon who were married in a ceremony overlooking the Niagara River on Saturday, September 4, 2004, and also to Marla Jean Conn and Elgie R. Kightlinger, married on Sunday, September 5, 2004.
Gerrie Andolina, a crackerjack Century 21 real estate agent, is celebrating a milestone birthday today and we wish her a happy day and a wonderful year. Happy birthday to Ray Griffin (tomorrow), Bethany Allsop (Sweet 16 tomorrow), Lauren Patricia Chadwick (her first birthday tomorrow), Peggy Butler (drum roll - she celebrates Saturday), Danny Stedman (Saturday), Vickie Harnden, Bob Buzby, Peter McMahon, Don A. Burns, Tom Duncan, David Long and Julie O'Connor (all born on September 19th), Lee Smith and Dave Goris (both marking a big ones on Sunday), Christian Mason (7 on Sunday), Becky Peters, Sandy Smith and Lisa Dollendorf (Monday), Joan Bridge (many happy returns of the day Monday), and Madison Reese Nowak (her third birthday on Tuesday).
Congratulations to the Jr. Vikings Cheerleaders, grade 7-8, who took 4th place at Peach Festival competition over the weekend.
A belated happy anniversary to Nicole (Dee) Hoffman and her husband, Jeff, who celebrated their 4th anniversary on September 9th. From what I've heard, they completely forgot about it due to the hurricane situation. Nikki evacuated for the second time, however Jeff stayed on duty with the Volusia County Sheriff's Department in Florida.
Best wishes to Janet and Earl Grimes on their recent 50th wedding anniversary.
Looking Back 60 years - The annual Ferry Village soapbox derby was held September 16, 1944. Flying Cloud owned by Warren Kaiser, Buster Ekiss and Gifford Peck was the winner. Placing second was Peanuts owned by Billy and Bobby Ward; third was Ed Morrison and Emery Ashley's Red Streak and in 4th place was Jetter Bug owned by Gloria Peck and LaGioia and Katherine Ward. A wiener roast followed in Ashley's backyard on Orchard Road.
Looking Back 50 years - Grand Island Court 173 U. D., a court of the Order of the Amaranth, was instituted at a ceremony Thursday, September 16, 1954. Most of the 52 charter members inducted were from Grand Island. First officers were Royal Matron Madeline Taylor, Royal Patron J. Dale Janes, Associate Matron Mrs. Paul H. Erickson, Associate Patron Paul H. Erickson.
Looking Back 40 years - The Grand Island Children’s Theater Group presented The Wizard of Oz September 18-19, 1964. Among members of the large cast were Maria Havens, Beth Beach (Glaze), Frances Kearney, Peggy Webber, Terry Harper, Eileen Malaney and Mark Stephenson. Marge Murdock was the musical director, Jody Penrod was in charge of costumes, Ed Baker was the director and Liz Baker served as choreographer.••••
A double header tyro football game Sunday afternoon September 6, 1964 included a half-time show featuring a baton twirling exhibition by Teddy’s Islettes.••••Barbara Nutting became the Island’s Girl Scout association chairwoman replacing Jean Buehrig and Rose Reid became the troop organizer. Troop consultants were Sue Sankey and MaryLou Kohlhagen (Brownies) and Barbara Bagdy (Juniors).
Looking Back 30 years - The high school band officers in 1974 were President Bob Anderson, Vice President Jim Whiting Secretary Daneen Certo, Treasurer Muriel Besch and Publicity Chair Bill Cook. The September 21, 1974 halftime show was titled “Scott Joplin On The March.”••••A devastating fire September 21, 1974 severely damaged Drago's Plaza on the Boulevard at Staley Road, and, according to a statement made by the Fire Company, it was the first time a 3rd alarm was ever sounded on the Island.
I learned over the weekend that five and one half inches of rain fell on Wednesday, September 8th, not four inches as I reported in the September 9th edition of the Grand Island E-News at Isledegrande.com. An East River Road resident left a large kettle outside away from any trees and took the measurement which he found to be an inch and one half deeper than the airport recorded. That's a lot of rain!!
Tracy Roesch, GIHS Class of '84, of Anchorage, Alaska is starting her third year in her own business which she loves,
"Rubadubdog."
Jen Breier, GIHS Class of 2002, continues to lead her Buffalo State volleyball team. The team lost 1-6 to Plattsburgh, however Jen had 13 kills and nine digs. In another recent game her team lost to Russell Sage through no fault of Jen's. She had 14 kills for Buff State.••••Grand Island's Stephanie McGinn won the Twin City Women's Bowling Association Kickoff, recently held at Island Lanes. Stephanie defeated top seed Theresa Porter, 201-171, for the championship.
Cadet Devlin Peter Winkelstein has been named to the position of battalion command sergeant major, one of the highest positions in the cadet chain of command at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The son of Peter and Kendra Winkelstein, he is a graduate of Canisius High School.
Please support our advertisers. Mike Hachee of Rose Liquor Store offers new store hours including Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
Also in the spotlight this week are Dan Stedman's Blue Water Marina, Personalized Plus, and
River Oaks Restaurant
Go Vikings! The Vikings beat Starpoint 24-17 last week and will play at home against Williamsville East, 2 p.m. this Saturday.
The last Friday Night "Blues On The River" Concert tomorrow evening (Sept. 17th) at the Holiday Inn will feature the Mark Winsick Band.••••
The Island's Beach Sweep will be held this Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Riverside Salem U.C.Church, 3449 West River Road.
Laurie Conn Lazik, a former resident and member of the GIHS Class of '81, and Cathy Johnson of Grand Island are both undergoing treatment for a life-threatening cancer illness. The girls, both nurses who have given much of their time for the care of Hospice patients, are going to be guests of honor at a benefit event on Friday, October 15th at the Elks Club in North Tonawanda. For the complete story, click
"Benefit Event."
Our sincere sympathy to the family of Warren Heldwein who passed away on Wednesday. Click Deaths for complete information.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
The Labor Day weekend weather was about the best that I can remember in a long time. The Niagara River was more than warm enough for swimming, water skiing and anything else anyone wanted to do. We had four straight days of dry, warm, sunny weather here on the Island. With ongoing news of the hurricanes putting numerous out-of-town friends in harms way, there really is no room for criticism about our summer of 2004 here on the Island. We'll take it!
So sorry to hear that Melissa Clement Hill, GIHS Class of '68, and her family suffered a recent house fire at their home in California. The fire happened while Melissa and her husband, Dr. Richard Hill and their two sons were vacationing in Hawaii.
Former resident Karen Heimlich Clarke of Thousand Oaks, California reports that her granddaughter, a 6th grader in the Thousand Oaks school district, is the student of Rachel Hubbard Braddell. Rachel and her husband, John Braddell are living and teaching in the Thousand Oaks area.
Buffalo Launch Club members will welcome the 27th annual Niagara Frontier Antique & Classic Boat Society show to their grounds this Saturday. A huge display of antique, classic, custom and racing boats and antique cars will be open to the public from noon until 5 p.m. Club members will have hot dogs, hamburgers, beverages and other refreshments available in their tent located right in the midst of the show. The Buffalo Launch Club is located at 503 East River Road at Bush Road. Doug Saltzman is chairman of the BLC event.
A very happy birthday to Hazel Nailor on the occasion of her 95th birthday on September 13th.••••A belated happy 90th birthday to former Love Road resident, Paul Stefik who celebrated on September 2nd.••••And best wishes to Gert Reimann celebrating her 95th on Tuesday.••••
Happy birthday today to Justine Kirsch, Craig Heftka, Gail Lazenby, John Yensan and Myrna Blair. Happy birthday also to Mikayla Ann Claus (5 today), Dean Gallagher (tomorrow), Michael Englert Jr. (6 tomorrow), Madison LaVerne Mongold (5 tomorrow), Ted Stewart (35 Saturday), June Ann Chadima (8 on Saturday), Dan McMahon (Monday), Makenna Elizabeth Scalise (two on Monday), Barb "Klocke" Voegelin (Tuesday), Michael Ruland and Ryan Norton (both turning 6 on Wednesday), and Penny Ball, Sandy Gworek and Jeff Long (Wednesday).
Looking Back 70 years - School bus service for Island children attending the Island's one- and two-room schools was established in 1934.
Looking Back 40 years - The Donald Henderson Memorial Trophy was presented to Mike Rush, 12, of Woodlee Lane, a member of the Orioles Little League baseball team in 1964. Don Henderson, one of the founders of Grand Island Little League, died earlier that year.••••All Island schools opened on Wednesday, September 9, 1964 including Sidway School. Mrs. Joan Masson, a 3rd grade teacher was pictured in the local weekly paper welcoming 5th grader Cassandra Cromwell and 3rd grader Sheila Cromwell.
Looking Back 30 years - Bruce and Carolyn Gentz were picnic chairmen and Bob and Joan Kingston were in charge of food at Rally Day at Trinity UM Church on September 15, 1974. Among the others helping out were Tom and Elly Zarbo (corn), Bill and Peggy Schall (games), Vicki Bidell (Wilkinson) (pony rides), Nancy Hayes (message balloon booth), Stan Ellson (MC), and Fred Bidell and Ron Swick (end of day singing).
Justin Louis Mock, son of Isle residents Mr. and Mrs. Jerold Mock, was married Saturday to Jennifer Anne Gardner of West Seneca.••••Mary Elaine Hageny and Christopher Frederick Ennis were married Saturday and are residing on Grand Island. The bride is the daughter of Isle residents Mary Ann and John Hageny.
Jen Breier, a Grand Island High School graduate, Class of 2002, is playing volleyball for Buffalo State and had nine kills for her team in a loss to Cortland in the Red Dragon Classic last weekend.••••The Inboard Hydroplane Summer Nationals were recently held in Hampton, Virginia where Don Less' E-500 came in second in the 5-liter class and Greg Barker's S-9 placed 4th in the 2 1/2-liter class.••••Al Salamone, a Grand Island High School junior, has again been selected for this year's U.S. National Men's Sled Hockey Team. He went to Colorado Springs, Colorado for try-outs August 26th - 29th. Training camps will be held monthly, primarily, in Colorado Springs. Al will be traveling to Heidelberg, Germany again in November for an International Tournament. Lake Placid will host an International Tournament in December 2005 and in April 2005, the World Cup of Sled Hockey will be held in Denver, Colorado. Good luck, Al!
Good news! Robert "Harry" Milkas is now at home after a lengthy stay in the hospital and nursing home since his May 2003 car accident. Harry, also known as "Snorie Bear," is now getting around his home in Selkirk, NY and even working part-time at his bar and grill. Cards, letters and notes from his longtime Island friends would be very much appreciated. Harry's address is 328 County Rte. 101, Selkirk, NY 12158. Those who remember his mother, Ethel Milkas, may want to send her a card as well to the same address where she is still there making sure everything goes well.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Dick Lovelee, Ruth Duerr, Helen Kester, Flora Benns and Rowland Runckel who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.
If you like our news, please support our advertisers including Gross Plumbing & Heating,
Brick Oven Pizzeria
As mentioned here last week, a mini reunion of Sidway School classmates, Class of 1954 and anyone else interested in meeting old friends, is planned for River Oaks on Friday, October 8th. Click for More Information.
It's going to be a busy weekend on Grand Island - click our Events Calendar.••••The Varsity Vikings Football Team plays Starpoint, 2 p.m. Saturday.
The BBC, a very popular "Beatles" band, is giving an outdoor benefit concert ($10) 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Town Common Park. The VFW has a pig roast planned and also a 911 Memorial Service Saturday evening. See above for information on Saturday's Antique Boat Show.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
The new Brennan's Restaurant at Love and Baseline roads is open for dinner only from 4-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Those who have been in are raving about the food. Running the kitchen are award winning and well known chefs Jon Brennan and Rene Gerber. We wish them the best of luck and will be in to see them soon. For further information, call 773-2050 or 773-2051
Former East Park Road resident Jan "Gast" Hague and her family were recently on the Island visiting relatives. This photo was taken by Jan's niece, Kelly Gast when the family was enjoying the good food at the Ferry Village Hot Dog Stand. Shown front are proprietors Lyn Laman and Sharon Nichols and in back are Jan, sons Michael and John and Jan's husband, Philip Hague. According to Kelly, "The Ferry Village stand is very popular with the Brits now and they look forward to returning next year." Jan and her family reside outside of London, England.
Best wishes to Diane and Tom Cope who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 14th.
Congratulations to Allison Armusewicz, a graduate of Buffalo State and Russell Sage College, who was recently named registrar for D'Youville College.••••Congratulations also to Glenn Hansen and Bob Damon, Island cyclists who took first place in the Masters 40 and over division of the Buffalo Cycling Club event held recently in Pendleton. The two-man team finished the 22-mile race in 53 minutes, 53 seconds.
Former resident Bob Bennett who has gone through some serious health concerns, is now in a rehab center working on getting better. Notes to Bob and Jean who are residing in Bayonet Point, Florida would be most appreciated. Their email address is bobnjean@ypisp4u.net
Donna J. Robinson was married to Jim Janssen in Black River Falls, Wisconsin on August 14, 2004 and will continue to live in Girdwood, Alaska. The couple returned to Alaska for a huge community party on August 21st. Best wishes, Donna and Jim!
Best wishes to the following who are celebrating birthdays this week: Mary Kopf, Rob Beach and Brenda Fike (today), Joshua Smith (10 tomorrow), Ian Conner (a teenager tomorrow), Justin Schmadel (2 on Saturday), Mike Filosofos (Sunday), Shawn Thompson and Alphia Prosser (cheers on Tuesday), Rita Class (a happy "milestone" birthday on Tuesday), Collin Michael DeMartin (3 on Tuesday), Dylan Russell DeGlopper (4 on Wednesday), and Mary Lou Kohlhagen (83 on Wednesday).
A belated happy birthday to Gail (Merrill) Allen who turned 55 on the 26th, to Dave Hamlin who celebrated yesterday and to Mike Sexton who surely had a happy 50th birthday yesterday! A belated happy birthday also to Denise Filosofos who turned a year older on Monday.
Looking Back 50 years - Roberta Roy (Vance), Ann Wallace (Arlessi), Jean Wilkinson (Smith), and her sister, Lorraine Wilkinson of the Sandy Beach neighborhood earned $5 for the Emergency Polio Fund Thursday, September 2, 1954 when they sold tickets and presented a variety show of dancing and singing in the Wallace family's backyard.••••An old time orchestra accompaniment to a vaudeville act at the Grand Island Playhouse Saturday, September 4, 1954 was made up of Islanders Charlotte Bruce (trumpet) George Abell (drummer) Bill Pinkow (string bass) and Frank Webster (piano). The entertainment was part of the theater's end of the season weiner/corn roast.
Looking Back 40 years -
Grand Island’s first lady, Norine Griffin attended the Democratic National Convention and met Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson and Robert Kennedy. •••• The Robinson children, Susan, Joanne, Lisa, twins Jackie and Laurie and baby Sherry and their parents Lil and John Robinson spent three weeks visiting relatives in London, England. •••• Fireman Bob Brennan, 30, was shot in the leg Saturday, Sept. 5, 1964 as he stood in the parking lot of the firehall on Baseline Road. A juvenile who admitted to the shooting was petitioned to Children’s Court. Bob and a fellow fireman were displaying the “Schultz” and “Dooley” characters in connection with the Fire Company’s annual fund drive.
Looking Back 30 years - Ten-year-old Jimmy Arias, weighing 60 pounds and standing 52" tall was referred to in the local paper as "demoralizing creatures older and bigger and wearing out six tennis rackets a year." Son of Franziska and Antonio Arias of Bruce Lane, he was a 5th grader at Kaegebein Elementary School.
Amy Fuhr and Nancy Fuhr Bonn, daughters of the late Annette (Boehm) Fuhr, successfully swam across Cayuga Lake Sunday morning in the benefit for Hospicare which raised over $40,000 for Hospicare and Palliative Care Services of Tompkins County. "We thought of our mother while we swam and wished she could have been there." Daughter of the late Ann and Henry Boehm, Annette and her four siblings grew up in their family home in Grandyle Village.
After posting a photo of Susan Kohlhagen Long and the family dog "Lady" in "The Old Photo Album," I received a nice note from Ellen (Hopkins) Faber who lives with her family in Camarillo, CA. She enjoyed the photo and said that "Lady was the official greeter for Mrs. MaryLou Kohlhagen's Brownie Troop 733 on Love Road. Lady was getting older when I was in Girl Scouts in the early 1960s, but was faithfully there at the end of the driveway every week...to walk us up to the side door," Ellen said. Among her memories of MaryLou was a trip with the Girl Scouts to Navy Island out in the West River. "I was not a happy camper...to say the least....severe separation anxiety...missing my parents and complaining. Mrs. Kohlhagen sat with me on the beach there at Navy Island (as I stared at Grand Island longingly!) and made it alright. She had a lot of responsibility to the other girls, but she took the time...and her strength eased the fear away."
Bernie "Glor" Pagliaro of Santa Barbara, CA will be in town next month (Oct. 4-26th), along with her mom and several siblings and is planning a mini reunion of Island classmates from Sidway School, Class of '54 and anyone else that remembers the Glors from Love Road. Friday, October 8th at
River Oaks Restaurant
Please support our advertisers including Kerry Lanthier's Kerry's Residential & Commercial Remodeling and Restoration, Lyle Dinsmore's
L.D.C. Construction Co. Inc., and Michael Anthony Rossi Attorney At Law. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island.
Michelle L. Cuneo and Edward Joshua Schultz were married Saturday, August 28th. Living on the Island are Bonnie Remus and Brian Nevans who were married Saturday. Married Saturday in St. Stephen Church and residing on the Island are Elizabeth Bradley and Steven Weigand. Lee L. Miskines became the bride of James A. Lyle on Friday, August 27th. Grand Island High School graduates Erin Kate Brown and Joel P. Moran were married Saturday in St. Stephen Church. Best wishes everyone.
Former resident Charlotte Bruce passed away August 12th. A longtime Isle resident, she was a talented artist who worked in water colors and painted Island scenes. She was a member of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church and played the trumpet in the Grand Island Community Band in the 1950s. A resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, she is survived by her two sons, Robert Bruce of San Francisco, California and Donald Bruce of Albuquerque.
I've added a short Chapter III on Hurricane Charley and how it has affected former Island residents. Click "Hurricane Charley," and for those living in the Hurricane Francis path, email me your notes for next week's Grand Island E-News at Isledegrande.com. Good luck and God bless.
The Islettes Elite will hold an open community performance from 6:15-7:15 p.m. this evening at Historic Trinity's gymnasium, 2100 Whitehaven Road.••••The free “Blues on the River" Friday night concert tomorrow at
Holiday Inn will feature the "Rod Nickson Project" from 6:30-10:30 p.m.••••Don Burns plays piano at
River Oaks Restaurant
Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. Remember that schools open on Wednesday.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Thanks to all of those who wrote from Florida with their hurricane stories. For additional stories submitted this week on the big storm, click "Hurricane Charley."
It seems like the wild turkeys are taking over the Island. Last week, my husband reported seeing our front yard on Ferry Road covered with turkeys, big and small. B.A. - that's Billy Aydelotte, said the same thing last week regarding property along Bush Road. I saw them for myself on Friday at the corner of Ferry and Baseline roads. Husband, Jim, saw them first and sent me to the corner to see if they were still there. At first I didn't see them, but they started coming out of the north east fields and were very bold - an endless group that then walked in front of my car to the other side of the road.
Congratulations to Michelle Sterner who spent last week beating out all of the competition to win the Buffalo Area Bowling Council Tournament.
Alicia M. Tutwiler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Tutwiler, became the bride of Michael J. Szyprowski, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roman Szyprowski and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Burkhart, all of Grand Island, on Saturday, August 21st. Alicia will be a special education teacher in Grand Island High School this fall.••••Making their home on the Island are newlyweds Christopher Paul Wright and his bride, Jeri Nicole Hagen, married July 25th.
Get well cards are in order for Dick Lovelee who has been in poor health. A speedy recovery to you, Dick.••••Barbara Anderson is recuperating from knee surgery and wished the best.
Best wishes to Ken Killian, 90 years young on Monday, and to Roy Hawkes turning 90 on Wednesday.••••
A belated happy birthday to Brooke Chamberlain who celebrated her 11th birthday on Monday.••••Happy birthday to Sue Fleming-Brusino and Sascha Chevez (today), Brielle Backland and Marisa Atkinson (both celebrating 8th birthdays today), Lindsey Edwards (20 today), Sue Kohlhagen Long (tomorrow), Sandra Thompson (Saturday), Dr. Ted Rayhill (cheers on Sunday), Samantha Lynne Sobus (Sweet 16 on Sunday), Bob DeGlopper, Bill Jacobs and Sharon Nichols (Sunday), Marie Saskowski (Monday), Eric Sander (10 on Monday), and last but not least, my old, old neighbor, Hobie Cullen who turns 60 on Monday!
Jean and Kester Bleich are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday; Heather and Mike Braddell will be married five years tomorrow; Skip and Lisa Mrkall, four years on Monday, September 1st; Nancy and Joe Samrany, 48 years on Monday; and Pat and Joan Bridge, looking forward to their 49th anniversary on September 1st. Best wishes everyone!
Looking Back 100 years - My father, Ted Klingel, was born 100 years ago today!
Looking Back 60 years - Health officer Dr. Norman G. Stessing had a report of one case of polio on Grand Island.••••Norman Webb
was home on a 30-day furlough from fighting in Italy and glad to see his home town.••••George Senn
of Elmwood Road was in the ice delivery business and willing to deliver anywhere on the Island with a phone call to "42."••••
Alice and Carl Larson, owners of the Grand Island Diner, across from St. Stephen’s Church, were serving hot dogs and hamburgers, shakes and sundaes.
Looking Back 40 years - The Detroit Team was the winner of the Little League Major League. Members included Stan Clifford, Mark Livezey, Joe Sheehan, Eddie Dinsmore, Kevin Kinney, Ralph Hurd, Bill Brobeil, Bobby Cowan, Robert Study, David Ragnar, Jim Shackleton, Richard Sepanski, Jim Kennedy and Tom Edwards. Richard Hurd was the manager and coaches were Ed Kinney, Ted Shackleton and Ralph Livezey.••••Members of the Island's Historical Society exhibited memorabilia of River Lea from the collection of Miss May C. Allen at the Erie County Fair in 1964. Miss Allen, born at River Lea, was the granddaughter of Lewis F. Allen who built the farm house in the mid 1800s and later presented it to W. Cleveland Allen, her father, as a wedding gift.••••Announcement was made of contractor Arthur J. Witnauer’s $7 million subdivision to be known as Rob Roy Park at the north west corner of Baseline and Bedell roads.••••Sheila Kelly won first place in the 330 medley relay, setting a district record at the State track meet August 22, 1964 in Elmira. She also took first in the 440 and 220 events.••••Bob Tranter, seaman apprentice, USN, reported August 9, 1964 aboard the oiler USS Kaskaskia operating out of Mayport, Florida, and Wayne Kinney left the Island August 31, 1964 to become a United States Marine.
Looking Back 30 years - Betty Fritz was chairman of the annual Emmanuel Church Peach Festival and Amy Mock was chosen Miss Peach Festival.
Looking Back 20 years - Stephanie Scrivano entered her first pageant competing with 30 other girls and was crowned Miss Teen Western New York on Sunday, August 19, 1984.••••Bobby Wirth, a member of the Athletics of the Youth Baseball Major League, was chosen as the first recipient of the David M. Haller Jr. Memorial Trophy. Instrumental in establishing the memorial trophy were Charlotte Guenther, Rick Jerabek, Earl Stanton and George Delong.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Helen Marie Kester, Ernest J. Kazmierczak and 4-year-old Stone Henderson Filipovich who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.••••Former Island dentist Dr. Harry A. Gorenflo died on August 21st.
Please support our advertisers including Carol and Chuck Dunworth of X-Press One Hour Dry Cleaners, Rod Reisdorf of
Mr. Bestwrench., Gene and Christine Ryshkus' Grand Island Garden Center, Holiday Inn Grand Island and Medlesome Russell's. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com - the voice of Grand Island.
The Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial VFW Post #9249 will host an evening dance from 6-10 p.m. this Saturday at the Post on Grand Island Blvd. Click VFW News Page for complete information.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Mike Mary Ann Bob Hank
Best wishes and happy birthday to Mike Mongan, Mary Ann (Carter) Lunde, Bob Bascomb and Hank Morgan, all celebrating a big one this week. Peggy (McNamee) Golias, whose photo wasn't available, marks the same milestone on August 24th. Happy birthday, Peggy!
Lee Linda Karen Bob
Sidway School classmates Lee Smith, Linda Wheeler, Karen (Heimlich) Clarke and Bob Harper are wished a very happy birthday this week.
Be sure to click for a larger view
Former resident Danielle (Normandin) McGavisk and her husband, Mike are happy to announce the birth of their twin daughters born on June 13th. Caroline Grace weighed in at six pounds 10 ounces and Gabrielle Marie tipped the scale at six pounds, four ounces. Serge and Gerri Normandin of Grand Island and Vince and Mary Ann McGavisk are the proud grandparents. Mike, Danielle and the twins reside in Newark, NY.
It was nice to see Bill Buckley, his sister, Nancy Valone and their dad, Jim Buckley, formerly of my Love Road neighborhood and later, West River Road. Bill and Nancy were in town from California for a family reunion.
Looking Back 60 years - Islanders Howard Kaiser, Bud Senn and Jack Senn, who were spending the balance of a short vacation in New York, rescued five girls when the “Virginia Reel” amusement device when Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey caught fire and started a blaze which caused estimated damage in excess of $500,000. The boys, members of the Merchant Marines, lost all of their clothing and money in the fire.••••The Town Board read a communication from Oakfield Inn owner/proprietor Frank J. Smith, regarding disposal of raw sewage from the Inn into the Niagara River. Mr. Smith explained difficulties in obtaining materials for the construction of a septic tank. The Inn would not operate in ’45 according to Smith, unless the nuisance was remedied.
Looking Back 50 years - The school board was in a quandary over the school bus route since many roads normally used would be closed by the Thruway construction.••••A large group of young people from Trinity Church attended summer camp at Camp Laurence Cory, Keuka Lake, Penn Yan. Among the campers from the Island were Kathy Long (Gillespie), MaryAnn Gross (Bishara), Kathy Boettcher (Stisser) and her sister Peggy Boettcher (Fuller), Bonnie Taylor (Ford), Diane Harding (Swick), Sharon Lafferty (Thompson), Peter Glor and his sister, Elizabeth Glor (Allen), Carol Killian (Munsie), Barry Hamilton, Jimmy Anderson, Billy Ruth Hayes (Van Neil) and Marilyn Noyes.
Looking Back 40 years - The Little League Cardinals were the winners of the Mustang League in 1964. Team members included Jay Raepple, Mark Raepple, Wayne Benton, Mike Heyden, Bobby Dommell, Bobbie Luther, Rob White, Bobby McDonnell and Billy Rees. Bob White was the coach. I would love to post the photo taken at that time if anyone can send it in an email.••••Henry Smith III, Republican candidate for Congress from the 40th district visited area firemen and friends at the firematic competition held Sunday, August 23, 1964 on Fire Company grounds. A photo was taken of Grand Island GOP Club President Jack Piehler, Mr. Smith, GOP Women’s Club President Eileen Coulter and Peace Justice F. Donald Hawley.
Looking Back 30 years - The 1974 winners in the town tennis doubles tournament held Saturday, August 24, 1974 were Chuck Randazzo and Dan Martinez, and Judy Wozniak and Diane Pelosi. They competed against 30 other doubles team .
Mark Cunningham and his fiancee' Sandra Smith will be married at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville this Saturday evening. Mark is the son of Rita Class of Grand Island and Sandra is the daughter of Don and Kathy Smith of Niagara Falls.••••David P. Wylke, son of Arnold and Donna Wylke of Grand Island, was married to Kimberley Ann Hayden on Saturday, August 14th in St. Teresa Catholic Church. ••••Shandra A. Vacanti and Benjamin A. Gallegos exchanged wedding vows Saturday in St.
Stephen Catholic Church. The bride, a Grand Island High School graduate and the daughter of Frank and Carol Vacanti of Grand Island, teaches second grade in Cloverbank Elementary School.••••Albert Cannata, son of Mary Lou and Franklin Cannata of Grand Island, was married to Jennifer Sumpf on Saturday in St. Stephen's Church.••••Matthew Adam Earne, son of Ann and Richard Earne of Grand Island, was married to Elizabeth Anne Seabrook on Sunday in Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim, California. He is attending Jewish Theological Seminary's Rabbinical School in New York City and served as a delegate to the 2002 World Zionist Congress held in Jerusalem.••••Julie Lynne Camilleri, a social studies teacher at Grand Island High School was married Saturday to John Raymond Porter.••••Connor Middle School English teacher Anthony C. Miller Jr. was married to Michelle L. Dagonese on Saturday.
Lisa and Mike Dudley are wished many more good years together as they celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary today. Best wishes to Tammy and Paul Gorman on their 10th anniversary tomorrow and to Peter and Jude Kuehne marking their 20th on Tuesday.
Congratulations to Carissa Bailey on being chosen America’s Fair Princess at the Erie County Fairgrounds last week and also to Charlotte Booth, the first runner up. The girls are both 15 years old.••••Congratulations to Jeffrey Stange who graduated last week from a five-week InfoTech Niagara Scholarship Program at Nichols School. The course included technology information and people skills through training in basic hardware, software, Web-based programming, resume-writing, proper workplace dress and business lunch etiquette.
Happy birthday to Mike Dallessandro (the big 4-0 today), Thomas Cauley (6 today), Molly McMahon (today), Mary Ann Hayes (tomorrow), George Sullivan (cheers tomorrow), Sarah Ali (a teenager on Sunday), Justin Ronald Podgorny (his 2nd birthday on Sunday), John Sarokon (Sunday), Jack Skinner (a big one on Monday), Fred Schutt (Monday), and Dave Amato Jr. (30 on Tuesday).
Our sincere sympathy to the family of former resident Richard "Skip" DeValentino who passed away yesterday. Click Deaths for complete information.
Please support our advertisers including Tim and Paula Callahan of Tim's Sunoco Station, Bill Costello and Mark Frentzel of Costello & Frentzel Attorneys, Chris Weaver of Anchor Marine and Mike Hachee of Rose Liquor Store. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
We are so proud of our grandson, John Bidell, a member of the Trinity UM Church youth group who participated in the "Reach Niagara Falls Workcamp" July 18-24th. For complete view, click the photo which was obviously taken during a work break, right John?
If you see Lisa Dudley this week, be sure to wish her a very happy 40th birthday. Lisa is turning the big 4-0 on Wednesday, August 18th.••••Also wished a happy birthday this week are Mike Adams (a milestone today), Mathew Aronica (2 today), Doug Rothenberg (today), William Russell Click (2 tomorrow), Steve Morgan (43 tomorrow), Bernie Callahan (85 years young tomorrow), Don Kutzbach (Saturday), Michael Podgorny (7 on Saturday), Mike Mongan and Bob Bascomb (both celebrating a big one on Sunday), Carson Suffoletta (6 on Sunday), Dorothy Blakelock (her 80th on Monday), Jimmy Arias (40 on Monday), Kathy Long Gillespie (cheers on Monday), Danna Podgorny (Monday), baby Maisie Mrkall (her first birthday on Tuesday), George Bishop and Keith Wood (Tuesday), Ryan Donohue (21 on Tuesday) and Doug Saltzman (Wednesday)
A very happy anniversary to Maura and Kevin Rustowitz, celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary today and to Al and Kathy Meyer marking their 25th on Tuesday.
Holiday Inn Grand Island
Kristen Danielle Haseley, daughter of Russell and Barbara Haseley of Grand Island, was married to Joseph William Smiech on Saturday, August 7th. Best wishes, newlyweds.
Congratulations to Patricia Merritt, representing the Western New York team, who won gold medals in the
Adult-1 1,500-meter run and the 30-38 age group in the 5K run during the recent U.S. Transplant Games.
Looking Back 60 years - On Sunday, August 13, 1944, the residents of the former Williams and Sons Springs Grove properties (Sour Spring Grove) held a joint picnic on East River between Harvey and Staley roads for the purpose of forming a property owners association which was temporarily named “The Willowband Community Association.” A temporary ladies committee was composed of Mrs. Walter Lane, Mrs. Needham Campbell, Mrs. Clarence Goetz and Mrs. Oliver (Dorothy) Howard. The area to be covered included all of East River from Staley north just beyond Harvey, east to the bend.••••Joseph Donovan of Love Road was sworn in as post master on August 15, 1944
replacing Harry Tucker who had resigned.
Looking Back 50 years - An estimated 70,000 witnessed the Al Endres Memorial Regatta off the Buffalo Launch Club over the August 14-15, 1954 weekend. Ray Fageol won the National Championship 7-litre record in his hydroplane, “So Long” doing a record 73.93 mph. It was in this regatta that Ralph Barker entered his first race. Click Features for the Al Endres story and photos.
Looking Back 40 years - Grand Island Tyro Football was going
into its second season with Bob Smith acting as commissioner and
Pat Canty, president.••••Lucky Jessica
Utts of Wallace Drive won a bicycle 40 years ago. Jessica submitted the
winning name, “Gas Kat,” for the 'Tiger In The Tank' contest held at Paul Houck’s Esso Station on Grand Island Blvd.••••Allen
McKittrick, Craig Fassbaugh, John Fassbaugh, Craig Pitre, Doug Neill and
Jim Ray held a sale of salamanders, toads, snakes, frogs and bait in
their Sandy Beach neighborhood with proceeds for the John F. Kennedy Library
Fund.••••Jackie Wohlfehrt captured the featured 280 hydro event Sunday, August 9,
1964, in front of 15,000 spectators at
Isle View. In the initial heat Jack and his
Twin Cities trailed “Wha Hoppened II” driven by Howard Benns across
the finish line in a 9-boat field. Frank Reichlin, oldest pilot in
the speedfest, took runner-up in the 48-boat event.••••It was 40 years ago this week that the building of the Ice Boom Project began.
Looking Back 30 years - Grand Island Skating Club float won first place in the Erie County Fair
parade. It was designed by Mrs. Walter Kelly and Mr. and Mrs. Don Valone.
Looking Back 20 years - "Blind, Crippled and Crazy" won the 5-litre class title in the North American Championships in New Brunswick in August 1984. Owned by Marty Prast, the boat also took the 5-litre heat a day later while finishing fifth in Grand Prix competition.••••Fifteen members of the East River Stables 4-H Club came home from the Erie County Fair with many of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons. Those competing were Karen Ensminger, Patti Hill, Jeryl Soto, Robyn Jablonski, Annette Lemke, Amy Taylor, Holly Hill, Laura Beckett, Darlene Beckett, Laurie Rutkowski, Amy Kutzbach, Amy Pawlak, Tamara Smith, Kelly Thurnherr and Laurie Kemsley.••••Swimmer Maureen Graesser earned four gold medals and Pat Bessel brought home three in track and field at the Empire State Games in 1984.
Gary Astridge of the very popular "Beatles" bands, The BBC, has announced plans for an outdoor benefit concert 6:30 p.m. on September 11th at Town Common Park. “The Come Together Concert" will benefit the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation and is being sponsored by Fuccillo Chevrolet. Click "The BBC" for complete information.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Mary Enser, Irene Ratajczak and former resident Dr. James Collord who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information. Our condolences to Jack White and Kathy Blake on the death of their mother, Martha White, on Sunday.
Cathy Thomas of Miss Cathy's Dance Academy is holding registration for summer and fall programs from 6-8 p.m. Monday, August 16th and Wednesday, August 18th at 2488 Grand Island Blvd. The former Cathy Parisi begins her 35th year of teaching dance when classes resume in September.
Just a reminder - deSignet International, Mallwitz's Island Lanes, Nana's Homemade Creations, Cinderella Motel & Campsite, and
Mark's Island Tree Service are just a few of our advertisers who make Isledegrande.com possible.
Former resident Eric Stefik writes from his home in LasVegas that today's weather advisory is a high of 113 degrees. Reminds me of when we were kids and how much fun it was to run through our lawn sprinkler on hot summer days. My dad made what was probably the neighborhood's first lawn sprinkler, a whirligig with two squirters and a delight to all of us!
The last of the town sponsored summer band concerts will feature the bluegrass music of Creek Bend on Tuesday, August 17th beginning at 7 p.m. As an added feature, Grand Island Jr. Vikings Football/Cheerleading will sponsor a Krolick's Chicken BBQ at the Town Commons (town hall) from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday evening. Pre-sale tickets are $7 or $7.50 at the door. Click Jr. Viking Football for more information.
The Island Republican picnic, open to all, is being held Saturday at the Niagara Sailing Club from 4-8 p.m. Click "Republican Picnic" for more information.
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Welcome to new baby Laurel Jane Wight, born on Friday, July 30th to Tim and Jena (Chamberlain) Wight of Redondo Beach, California. Proud grandparents are Island residents Jim and Sharon Chamberlain. Equally proud aunt and uncle are Cheryl and Greg Chamberlain.
Please keep our friend Liz Reimann in your prayers.
According to today's Buffalo News under Business Names, Lisa Dauchscherer has filed Brennan's Restaurant, 1270 Baseline Road (formerly Cathy & Jim's Del & Herb's). I wish those involved the very best of luck. It will be nice to have this historic landmark open for business again.
The girls running the Village Hot Dog Stand in Ferry Village - Lyn Laman, Barb Zafuto and her sister, Sharon Nichols, have added sausage with onions and peppers to their menu. Sunday's beautiful weather brought out a lot of Islanders, however, the girls told us that they've been busy rain or shine. Thanks, Girls! Hope you can keep it going for years to come.
Sean MacClellan and his bride, the former Nicole R. Emerick, were married Saturday, July 31st in Glen Park, Williamsville. Sean is the son of Jim and JoAnn MacClelland of Harvey Road.••••Stephen Anthony Malusha and Tracy Lynn
Giallella were married Saturday in St. Stephen's Church and are living on Grand Island. Best wishes newlyweds.
Among our newest advertisers, making Isledegrande.com possible, are Linda Kutzbach's Linda Kutzbach, Realty USA, Pete Marston's Marston Power Equipment and Beth McCarthy's McCarthy School of
Irish Dance
Happy birthday to Harry Carter (yesterday), to John Stickl and Michelle Wing (today), to Dawn "Russell" Guido (cheers tomorrow), Alex Turner (5 tomorrow), Katrina Elizabeth Linenfelser and John Evan Fletcher II (both turning two years old tomorrow), Norma Somer, Richard Smith, Eileen Webb and Darlene DiChristina (Saturday), Gregory Faletto (his 16th on Saturday), Rich Dommer (25 on Saturday), Joel Stoorza (21 on Sunday), Danny Dinsmore Jr. (6 on Sunday), Shannon Lee McDonough (10 on Sunday), Sybil Kennedy and Charlotte Lajos (Monday), Wesley Link (11 on Monday), baby Daemon Allen Gatti (his first birthday on Monday), Joseph Zarbo (13 on Tuesday), Clark Nesbitt and Lindsey Smith (Tuesday), Larry Huse (a milestone on Tuesday), and Sally Kaiser and Brett Simon (Wednesday).
Looking Back 50 years -
Girl Scout Troop 337, under the leadership of Lois Martene, built an outdoor kitchen in the Sidway woods during Girl Scout/Brownie day camp August 9-20, 1954 only to have it ruined by vandals over the weekend. The girls lashed furniture necessary for an outdoor kitchen including a table between two trees, and made buddy burners which they used to cook individual meals on. Remember? I do!••••Warner Drive resident and professional photographer Wendell Stratton had a photo of the Niagara Falls collapse printed in the August 9, 1954 issue of Life Magazine.••••A going away party for Judy Daggett, planned by mothers, Betty Campbell, Betty Wheeler and Marion Klingel, was held in Beaver Island State Park and attended by Judy's school friends.
Looking Back 40 years - Jim Lapey and Jim Zakia of the Alt Chevrolet Racing Team, judged the model car contest sponsored by Highland Boot Shop, Neisners and the Island Dispatch. Blaise Rindone won two trophies for scoring first place in the senior division and in the Best Paint and/or Display classification. Other winners were Rick Elias, John Diringer, Bob Burkhardt, Gary Larsen, Angelo Minor, Mike Kilpatrick, Mark Dearlove and Richard Freer.••••Grand Island Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Joseph P. LaDuca was the first golfer to pay a fee to use the new Beaver Island 18 Hole, Par 73 Golf Course. The first floor of the Beaver Island Casino was remodeled into a modern restaurant and coffee shop and an up to date pro shop. The restaurant was to open in August 1964 under the concession operation of Louis Restaurant, Buffalo.••••Since opening day May 31, 1964, the Grand Island Rotary Club’s miniature train in Beaver Island State Park had carried 45,000 passengers.••••Jack Wohlfehrt captured featured 280 hydro event on Sunday, August 9, 1964 in front of 15,000 spectators at Isle View. In the initial heat, Jack and his "Twin Cities" trailed the “Wha Hoppened II” driven by Howard Benns across the finish line in a 9-boat field. Frank Reichlin, oldest pilot in the speedfest, took runner-up in the 48 cu.in. event.
Isledegrande.com advertiser and longtime Island dance teacher Cathy Thomas of Miss Cathy's Dance Academy will hold registration for summer and fall programs from 6-8 p.m. Monday, August 16th and Wednesday, August 18th at 2488 Grand Island Blvd.
LaSalle Avenue neighbors of Rick Kramer will host a benefit, open to the community, to help Rick with medical bills. The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, August 21st at the VFW Post #9249 on Grand Island Blvd. Click Rick Kramer Benefit for the complete story.••••A fund raiser to help with Island
resident Tom Cino's medical bills is being held Thursday, August 12th. Click Tom Cino Benefit for that story.
Susan "Leckie" Fleischauer, who is recovering from brain surgery that took place on Tuesday, is wished a speedy and complete recovery. Notes for Sue and her husband, Al and their family may be emailed to sf4355@aol.com.
Congratulations to Jim and Sharon Chamberlain on their second successful 400-mile bike ride along the Erie Canal. They left Buffalo on July 11th with other bikers, and in one very rainy week, traveled along the canal to Albany. They had a great time and will do it again next year.
Former residents Floydette "Flo" (Uonites) Gannon and her husband, Bob, recently visited the Island when this photo of Flo and her children was taken. Pictured here with Flo (front row center) are her five children: Karen Geng (left)and Teresa Gormady (right), (back) Frederick Claus, Donna Pawlak and Peter Fahrer. Flo has five children, 14 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. Below is a 1962 photo of her niece, Tammy (Dilliot) Sexton that she came across while going through an old album with her sister, longtime Whitehaven Road resident Dolly Dilliot.
To see Flo, click the baby picture of Tammy!
Just received an update from Michelle Elmer, now Mrs. Paul Przybyl. Michelle, a senior airman in the Air Force, and TSgt. Paul Przybyl were married July 3, 2004. The couple met after Michelle joined the 107th Security Forces Unit in 2000. Paul is also a full time member at the base in Niagara Falls. The Przybyls had a great time on their honeymoon, a 7-day cruise to the western Caribbean. The newlyweds have now made their home on Bedell Road, "and are looking forward to our future," Michelle reports. "At this present moment our unit is waiting word to deploy to an unknown location in September."
Making their home on Grand Island are newlyweds Brian M.
Murphy and his bride, the former Laura M. Herzog who were married Saturday in St. Stephen's Church.••••
St. Stephen School first grade teacher Alison Beth Aprile was married Saturday to Marc Joseph Silsby.
Best wishes to Leslie and Mike Madigan who are marking their 10th anniversary today and to Michelle and Mark Pinzel, celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary today. John and Cathy "Haller" Contino will be married 35 years on August 2nd. Happy days to the Continos. Also looking forward to their anniversary and wished the very best are Greg and Cheryl Chamberlain. The Chamberlains will celebrate 15 years of wedded bliss on Wednesday, August 4th.
Happy 90th birthday to former resident Dorothy Fahrer who recently celebrated with her family. (See separate story).••••Happy birthday to Janet Badame and Joan Chambers (today), to Myrtle Killian (her 98th birthday tomorrow), John A. McCarthy (a big one tomorrow), Jenna Hutzler (a teenager on Saturday), Lou Macro (Oh! Oh! More candles on Saturday), Jackie Kazmierczak (Saturday), Helen Radder (88 on Saturday), JoAnn Holmes (Sunday), Sarah Williams (10 on Monday), Barbara Bagdy (cheers on Monday), Ian Harnden (Monday), Dr. Parviz Taefi and Diane Miller (milestones on Tuesday), Mathew Riley (14 on Wednesday), Jim Kehoe (the big 4-0 on Wednesday) and Joanne Brand (also a milestone on Wednesday)
Looking Back 60 years - George and Carlton Alt drew in 26 tons of hay in mid July 1944 and as the local weekly paper reported, “You have to make hay while the sun shines.”••••Misses Marguerite Raines and Joan Gehrman (Hassenfratz) celebrated 15th and 13th birthdays with a joint party on Tuesday, July 25, 1944 at the Gehrman estate on East River Road. Guests included Carol Keppler (Sugg), Joyce Sheehan (Evans), Cecelia Stack, Dick Meyers, Arnold Dilliot, Bob Dworak, Norman Smith and Rick and Butch Rank and their sister Joanne Rank (Urtel).
Looking Back 40 years - Since opening day May 31, 1964, the
Rotary Club’s miniature train in Beaver Island State Park has carried 45,000
passengers.••••Mr. and Mrs. J. Norman Cahill were
first to receive a Certificate of Award which was established by the town
board for contributions of service to the community. The presentation was
made by Supervisor Raymond P. Griffin at a going away party for the Cahills
in the Knights of Columbus Clubhouse on East River Road. The Cahills were
moving to Wilmington, Delaware due to Norm’s promotion from Dupont.••••
The town board authorized spending $500 to begin developing a 40-acre park
site in Buckhorn State Park.
Looking Back 30 years - New, blue playground boxes made their first appearance at town sponsored, area playgrounds.••••A feature story in the local weekly paper by Tom Farley on "Pizza By DiRose" reported a grand opening the first week of August 1974, featuring the restaurant's "Camel Bag Sandwiches."
Did you know that Gagliardi & Wright
makes house calls? Island resident Victor Gagliardi suggests that you have a current and proper Will as well as Power of Attorney that is HIPPA compliant. Consider Gagliardi & Wright when you need legal services. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com!
If you enjoy reading this column and all the other Grand Island news at Isledegrande.com, support our advertisers. The long lists includes
Michael McDonough's McHomes.com/Hunt ERA, Betty Harris at Metro Town Center Realty, Andy Beyer's AJ's Heating and Air Conditioning, the Raepple brothers' John's Pizza & Subs and Elderwood At Riverwood.
Good luck to the following 9- and 10-year-old girls who just won their Little League district championship: Jessica Amsdill, Laura Amantia, Megan Ambellan, Kaleigh Deuser, Sydney Dudish, Paige Kippley, Taylor Kozlowski, Susan Winkelstein, Emily Jones, Ariana Mendel, Jessica Bamberg, Megan Karpie, Krissy Montaldi and Christina Ward. The all-star girls and their coaches, Joe Amsdill, Rich Karpie, Mike Jones, Dave Ambellan and Lisa Amsdill, will travel to Syracuse where the girls will compete for the regional title this weekend.
Congratulations to Adam Garlapow on winning the Empires Tuneup in Langford, NY over the weekend. Adam's time for the cycling "A Race" (38.8 miles) was 1:40:00.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Robert F. Guenot and former resident Carol Sowdon who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.
I would love to add reunion photos to the Classes of '79, '84 and '94 webpages. Email them to me at teddy@giecom.net. And thanks to the Class of '74 for the two photos submitted, "so far!"
A surprise party is being planned by the family of Norm and Mary Parisi in honor of their 75th birthdays and their recent retirement. All of Norm and Mary's friends are invited to Fire Headquarters at 5 p.m. Thursday, August 5th for the surprise celebration. Daughter Cathy Thomas, 773-4753 and granddaughter Nicole Butcher at 773-1685, ask that those attending call to let the family know - and please - keep it a secret!
The Zonta Club will hold a chicken dinner at the Town Commons Tuesday evening in conjunction with the Ramblin' Lou Family Band Concert. Click Zonta Chicken Dinner for complete information. Click National Night Out for information on that Island event also taking place Tuesday evening.
Topping the birthday list this week is longtime Island resident Lorraine Mueller who will celebrate her 90th birthday on Sunday. If you know Lorraine, send her a birthday greeting. Bet she'd love to hear from you!••••
Happy birthday to Danielle Sticka and Victoria Mordaunt (today),
baby Maya Jean Pecoraro (her first birthday tomorrow), Don Webb, Marion Fabiano and Bill Stratton (tomorrow), Michelle Botwin (a teenager tomorrow), Kady Liesenfeld (6 on Saturday), Mary Grace Egloff (entering her teens on Saturday), Marvin Zimmerman (Saturday), Mimi Banas (cheers on Saturday), Chris Barone and Tracy (Turner) Allen (milestones on Sunday), Lindsey Spiker (8 on Monday), Liz Reimann (special greetings Monday), Betty Olmstead (Monday), Dan Buckley, Bob Schmidt, Ruth Englert and Helen Newkirk (Tuesday), Casey Dahlstrom (his 16th on Wednesday), Julia Pedlow and Leo Hopkins (milestones on Wednesday).
Congratulations to the following Islanders who were listed among the winners of the recent Women's Public Links Golf Association ABC Individual Tournament: Karen Utz (AA Flight - Low gross), Marge Chase (B Flight - Low gross), and Marilyn Burak (C Flight - low net, 107-40-67).
The best way to support Isledegrande.com is to support our advertisers, including Liz Wilbert of Century 21 (www.LizWilbert.com
Non stop lobster tails, clams, lamb, roast beef, a coffee station, open bar, fabulous prizes, a live band until 11 p.m. and a major golf outing! When Billy Fuccillo does anything - it's HUGE! I am, of course, referring to last Friday's HUGEccillo Golf Tournament at River Oaks.
Very best wishes to Nida and Rolland Miller who are celebrating 60 years of marriage today. The Millers, active members of Trinity UM Church, were married on July 22, 1944. Happy anniversary also to Cheryl and Paul Roeder married July 26, 1969 and celebrating 35 years on Monday.
Looking Back 60 years - Boat races took place every other Sunday off the Bedell House in Ferry Village.
Looking Back 50 years - Taverns were changing hands on the Island 50 years ago this month. Bud and Thelma Zurbrick took over Hunters on East River and North Colony, and still in operation today as Turners. Marty and Jo Schwagler sold the Idle Hour Inn. New owner of the place that stood just north of the south Grand Island bridge was Bo Otto.
Looking Back 40 years - A 40-acre park site in Buckhorn State Park was being developed by
the Town of Grand Island. The land was leased from the state for 20 years in 1961.••••The Able Mabel, a 12', 145 class hydroplane, was recovered by
members the City of Tonawanda Police Diving Unit while they were searching
for an outboard motor. According to the boat's owner, John Gast Jr., the
engine was brought up in excellent condition despite being under water since
the summer of 1962 when the boat flipped and sank during the inboard regatta
off Isle View Park.
Looking Back 25 years - Lee Tetkowski's Craft Club at the high school made a ceramic mosaic depicting a Viking which was permanently cemented to a wall in the school in 1979. Randy Gilmore made the original drawing and Ruth Loree, Nora Klein, Cindy Carlson, Janet Morrice (Saltzman), Mary Lynn Nutting and Mike Morrissey were in charge of its production.
Looking Back 10 years - The Grand Island Republican Committee's float, a re-creation of the old Bedell
House, won the annual Chamber of Commerce Best Overall Float award which was presented by
President Bob Weaver.
Congratulations to John Wenner and Karen Marie Blaha who recently became engaged.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Donna L. Wittmann, Helen E. Hess, William Popowich and former residents William T.
Stoberl and Eddie Little Sr. who passed away this week. Click Deaths for complete information.
The Grand Island Rod & Gun Club will host its "Grand Old Day" Tractor Pulls and much more this weekend. A new feature this year will be Burning Asphalt Race Tracks: specializing in radio-controlled racing on Sunday only. These are not slot cars but wide-body, indestructible, 1/10th scale cars that measure 20" long by 9" wide and will provide you with the "ultimate interactive racing experience." According to R&G Club members, these replica Winston Cup stock cars will travel in excess of 200 MPH to scale. Click Tractor Pulls for complete information on Saturday and Sunday's events which are being chaired by Mike Yensan and Kathy Barton.
Tuesday night's town-sponsored band concert will feature the Grand Island Community Band at 7 p.m. (rain date, Thursday, July 29) Plan on eating hot dogs at the Lions Club Hot Dog Sale, rain or shine Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. Mark Bullock is chairman of the event where hot dogs and pop will be sold at $1 each to benefit the Lions Charity Fund.
Saturday and Sunday's weather is supposed to be much better than it has been. Take the time to get outside and enjoy it.
Islanders who slept through Wednesday's early morning thunderstorm are really sound sleepers! Electricity was out for as long as an hour in some parts of the Island. Grand Island Fire Company volunteer firefighters responded to a house fire on Colonial Drive, caused by a lightning strike shortly before 5 a.m., and had it out in record time.
Several people emailed me with their guess as to the location of Mary Stewart's photo of this old barn that appeared on last week's front page of the Grand Island E-News but it was Councilman Dan Robillard who correctly identified it. The barn is still standing on the Loder property on Bedell Road. Thanks to all who wrote.
Island resident Tom Cino is recovering from a rare flesh-eating disease. Click Tom Cino for the complete story.
Island resident Chris Soluri, who works as a Town of Niagara Police officer, has been making quite a name for himself and is most often mentioned in the Niagara Falls and Buffalo newspapers regarding his successes in the line of duty. Click
"Soluri - Arrest" for a Niagara Gazette report on an incident that took place in Niagara County last Saturday night. Chris was also instrumental in a burglary arrest. Click
"Soluri - Burglary" for that story. Chris is a member of the GIHS Class of '95.
Congratulations to 8-year-old Robert Palumbo who saved his mom's life yesterday morning during a diabetic problem. Robert, a 4th grader at Kaegebein Elementary, quickly brought his mother, Tammy Kilpatrick, an ice cream cone from the kitchen to elevate her sugar level, then immediately called 911.
Isledegrande.com advertiser Mike Amato of Carl Amato Collision has been with us a long time and offers expert body repair of domestic and foreign cars, accepts insurance claims and also has some great deals on used cars. Click Mike's website above and consider him the next time you need these services.
Looking Back 50 years - Mariner Scouts were meeting at the home of their leader, Mrs. Betty O'Dea on East River Road during the summer of 1954. Mrs. O'Dea, with the assistance of Mariner Scout Melinda Link, had a daily, morning swim class of Island youngsters including myself and Johnny Gast. Does anyone else remember taking the lessons?••••Johnny Gast of the Midget League hit a triple, driving in three runs while Jimmy Conrad drove in two. Butch DiTullio pitched a shutout for the "Conrad's" first win of the season. In the Youth League Phil Simpkins struck out 14 batters defeating Bill Josey's team for his first win of the season. Francis Lapine hit a triple and a double but his team lost to the Cowden Team.
Looking Back 40 years - Elementary school students John Kowzan, Robert Sepanski and his brother, Ronald attended the Mickey Owen Baseball School in Miller, Missouri in July 1964.••••Diane Loder won a radio and Tim Heyden won a baseball outfit through a drawing at the Highland Boot Shop in the Grand Island Boulevard Plaza in July 1964.
Looking Back 30 years - Robert B. Lewis was appointed director of secondary education, a newly created position by the Board of Education.••••The Town Board appointed the following residents to the first Architectural Review Board at the July 15, 1974 board meeting: Chairman Mortimer J. Murphy of West River Road, Joseph Wilke of Red Jacket Road, Lawrence Cavendish of West River Road, John Rogers of East River Road, Gary Scott of Hennepin Road, Elizabeth Greten of Driftwood Drive and Elizabeth Minklei of Stony Point Road.
Looking Back 20 years - The town's sewer department in town hall became completely state-of-the-art with computerized payroll, budget and sewer bills in July 1984 when Fran Havens, Helen Newkirk and Eileen Minton were working together in the office.••••Scissors Palace introduced the Island's first Super Tan tanning lounge.
The former Laura E. Cyman and her husband, Nicholas M. Murphy who were married Friday, July 9th. The bride, a graduate of Grand Island High School and Niagara County Community College, is the daughter of Theodore and Dawn Cyman of Grand Island.••••Amanda Corrao and Michael Karnath were married Saturday, July 10th in St. Stephen Catholic Church. The bride is the daughter of Mark and Desiree Corrao and the groom is the son of Richard and Denise Karnath, all of Grand Island. The newlyweds are making their home on Grand Island.••••Married Friday, July 9th and living on Grand Island are Jamie Marzo and Duane Evans.••••Karen M. Monaco, daughter of Michael A. and Linda A. Monaco of Grand Island and Brian Boccaccio were married Saturday, July 10th.•••• Best wishes newlyweds.
Earl and Eleanor Aylor are wished a very happy anniversary today. The Aylors were married 55 years ago - July 15, 1949.
Best wishes to Norm and Mary Parisi who have closed their Grand Island Quality Cleaners after 40 years in business, and look forward to a happy retirement.
A big happy birthday to Lou Schriver who will celebrate his 75th birthday on Monday. And just a reminder that Ramblin' Lou and his Family Band will be playing at the Town Commons on Tuesday, August 3rd and preceding the concert, members of the Zonta Club will offer a Chiavetta's Chicken Dinner. Mark your calendars!••••Happy birthday to D. J. Anderson (16 today), Patrick Morrison and Leah Hill (milestone birthdays today), Kathi Shonitsky (tomorrow), Sherry Walsh, Mary Kay Patmos and Fran Havens (Saturday), Lisa Bagley and Kevin Kloesz (both turning 21 on Monday), Andrew Sander (9 on Monday), Bill Speidel and Bill Shaw (Monday), Hank Morgan (the big 5-0 on Tuesday), Candy Padowski (Tuesday), Buck Long (9 on Wednesday), and Mr. Patriotic - Dan Linenfelser (Wednesday).
For a good story on Grand Island's tennis prodigy, Jimmy Arias, click "Jimmy"••••Mark your calendar for the Grand Island Rod & Gun Club's "Grand Old Days" - Tractor Pulls and much more beginning at 11 a.m. next Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25.
Click "Grand Old Days" for more information.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Carol-Ann (Gurrie)
Strzalkowski and Mona (Hess)
Hayward who passed away this week. Click Deaths for complete information.
Thanks to our newest advertisers - Gagliardi & Wright - diPaolo Builders - Grand Lady Cruises - Park Place Subdivision and Paddock Chevrolet - all helping to make it possible for us to bring you all Grand Island news free every day at Isledegrande.com.
Fuccillo Chevrolet Dealership will hold a HUGEccillo Open at River Oaks Golf Club tomorrow with a 12 noon shot gun start scramble. Click
Fuccillo Chevrolet for further details.••••And speaking of Billy Fuccillo - this Saturday he will
introduce The Fuel Genie for HUGE savings on your automotive fuel costs. Click Fuccillo Chevrolet's Fuel Genie for more information.
Islander Tim Phillips, involved in auto racing for several years, has been making waves as one of the top runners with the Southern Ontario Sprints.
Click http://www.southernontariosprints.com/timphillips/ for his most interesting website.
The Friends Of Lynnette 11th Annual Bike Tour takes place Saturday beginning at the Nike base to benefit Friends of Children with Cancer, and in memory of Lynnette Grisanti and Billy Gugino. Click Friends Of Lynnette for more information.••••Tuesday's town sponsored concert at the Town Commons will feature the Barroom Buzzards at 7 p.m. with a rain date for Thursday, July 22nd. It's a nice way to spend a Tuesday evening. Click Tuesday Concerts
Remember to patronize our advertisers - And say a prayer for the guys over there.
Here's our baby grandson Evan James Linenfelser, now 19 months old. He had a real good time at the parade, and also on the 4th of July when he played with his baby cousins Mark Ramsperger and Katrina Linenfelser.
For those of you who missed the Island's Independence Day parade or would like to see it again, Adelphia Channel 13 will televise it on Saturday (July 10) at 1:30 p.m.
Isledegrande.com advertiser, McMahon's Family Restaurant,
The 21st annual Vacation Bible School, sponsored by the Grand Island Ministerium, will take place July 19-23rd at St. Stephen School. Click Ministerium for more information.
Do you know where your children were the night of Saturday, July 3rd? Did they come home covered in mud, and with a new selection of CDs? Furthermore, why were they out stealing personal property at 4 a.m.? These are questions
Mike Sexton is asking the community. His stolen pickup truck, taken out of the yard on Grand Island Blvd., was recovered after being submerged in Six Mile Creek but is a total loss. He is missing one of the license plates, "from where the truck was rammed head on into a tree," and a large CD holder.
Lock your vehicles, folks! Unfortunately, the days of leaving houses, cars and trucks unlocked are long gone.
Rebecca J. Carr and Paul J. McPartland were married Saturday, July 3rd in St. Stephen's Old Church, Grand Island. The bride, a third grade teacher in Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, Town of Tonawanda, is the daughter of Island residents
Paul C. and Sandra M. Carr.••••Sidway Elementary School physical education teacher Brian G. Willats was married to
Jennifer R. Brosius on Saturday, July 3rd.••••Best wishes to Dick and Marla Crawford who will be married eight years on Tuesday.
Mark Abate of
Sound Choice Audio & Performance, 1939 Grand Island Blvd., is one of our newest advertisers. Check out his website for his outstanding work in the line of custom car audio and performance parts. For information on this beauty shown above, winner of numerous car show awards, click the website and give Mark a call.
Happy birthday to Jordan Tripi (a teenager today), Brianna Mysliwiec (9 today), Matthew Brady (16 today), Shannon Robillard (8 tomorrow), Bernice Dinsmore (85 tomorrow), Alfred Bykowicz (75 on Saturday), Earl Webb and Ernie Godfrey (Saturday), Justin Frentzel (the big 1-0 on Saturday), Skip Mrkall (the big 4-0 on Sunday), Sarah Chamberlain (her 9th birthday on Tuesday), Fayne Certo (cheers on Tuesday), Taylor Marie Benton (4 on Tuesday), and Jonathan Voyzey (10 on Wednesday).
Looking Back 50 years - Ground was broken on Grand Island Blvd. for the new State Trooper headquarters.••••
Announcement was made of a guided missile Base on Grand Island.••••Water pressure in Beaver Island State Park was once again low over the July 4th weekend, yet others serviced by the water plant seemed to have plenty of water. Mr. Andrew M. Anderson, park engineer, was informed as other park officials had been in the past, that the 6" line going into the Park was not adequate to supply water to the bath house and the comfort stations on a busy day.
Looking Back 40 years - Hughie, the Barber, Grand Island's newest businessman, opened his shop in Bell's IGA Plaza on Grand Island Blvd. near Staley Road. (Would a reader please refresh my memory and send me his proper name?) ••••Rev. Horace K. Schoenberger was appointed pastor of the Island United Presbyterian Church in July '64.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Carol-Ann
Strzalkowski and former resident James M. Fleming who passed away this week. Click Deaths for complete information.
Congratulations to the Class of 1984 on their fabulous parade float. If you will let me know the names of the talented classmates responsible for the Volkswagon etc. I will share them with our readers.
Members of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will hold a chicken bbq on Saturday.••••Of interest to senior citizens is a talk on the new Medicare prescription cards. The information will be given at the Grand Island Golden Age Center at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 14th.••••
Send me your birthdays, anniversaries and good news or anything else you would like to share with the readers of Between The Bridges. Have a nice weekend.
Were you sitting out under the stars Saturday night? Several Island residents who were, reported seeing glowing balls or forms slowly moving across the sky - a big one and couple smaller ones behind it. According to WGRZ Channel 2, the meteor-like objects were spotted about 10:52 p.m. and were parts of a Russian rocket motor breaking apart in the Earth's atmosphere. If you have a photo of the incident, and would like to share it, email to me at teddy@giecom.net
My sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Jim Stewart, are in town from California and enjoying themselves. They are staying with their son, Ted on LaSalle Ave. and expect to be on the Island a few more weeks. I've posted a couple old pictures of the two of us and friends from our neighborhood in the Old Photo Album
Former resident Caroline Alt Fraser, daughter of Rosemary and Henry Alt, is trying to track down a relative of hers. Caroline would like to get in touch with her great aunt, Evelyn "Odgie" Rankin, who lived for many years on Stony Point near Redway Road and would be 94 years old. If you have information, email Caroline at CFraser@SC.YoungLife.Org
Joan Dlugokinski - Century 21, one of our newest advertisers, has been very successful in selling real estate on the Island and finding homes for those who have decided to downsize or purchase a larger home. Click above to view her web page. Click Isledegrande Coupon Page for Joan's "free home appraisal" coupon.
Kerrie Lynn McMahon, daughter of Mike and Denise McMahon, was married Saturday, June 19th to John Brown. She and her husband will be living in Pekin, NY.••••Making their home on Grand Island are Mr. and Mrs. Peter John Robert. The groom and his bride, the former Amanda Rose Simmons were married Saturday in St. Andrew Church, Town of Tonawanda. The wedding reception was held in the new Beaver Island State Park Clubhouse.••••Best wishes to the newlyweds.
Looking Back 110 years - The Grand Island Sun, the Island's first newspaper, made its appearance July 7, 1894, staying in business until September 15, 1894 due to the fact that a Black Rock paper started to circulate on the Island.
Looking Back 65 years - The new Beaver Island Casino, boardwalk, and beach opened on July 1, 1939 in Beaver Island State Park.
Looking Back 60 years - Ray and Jack's Oakfield Inn, a showplace restaurant with dancing, screened verandas, and food to suit the most discriminating taste, was advertising in the local paper. The former Oakfield Club was located on what is now West Oakfield Road in the area of Ferry Road.
Looking Back 55 years - A little real estate office was turned into the 'Grand Stand,' a snack bar opened by the Grandyle Village Property Owners on July 1, 1949. It was located at Love and Stony Point roads, now the site of Russ Certo's Grand Island Physical Therapy.
Looking Back 50 years - Twenty Islanders graduated from Tonawanda High School in 1954. Charles Heimbach was the recipient of a football scholarship to Alfred University ($1000 per year for 4 years). Island girls Carol Kaegebein and Elizabeth Roth earned salutatorian and valedictorian status respectively.••••Beaver Island State Park had 28,000 visitors enter the park over the July 4, 1954 weekend. A new system of roads had been completed with booths for collecting parking fees near the entrances to the park. Designed to cut down on parking lot personnel and minimize traffic snarls at the parking lots, 50 cents per car was now being collected at the toll house. Some 2.8 miles of new asphalt pavement took visitors south toward the bathing beach and casino. It was designed to eliminate crossing the road from the parking lot to the picnic area. Additional space for 300 more cars was also added to the two north parking lots. Other changes were the 10¢ charge for use of all bathhouse facilities including checking of all valuables. This was a reduction from the old charge of 25¢ and 10¢ for checking. Future contracts would extend the boardwalk at the bathing beach and two bridges, one vehicular and the other pedestrian, to be built across to Beaver Island. The lagoon at this point was to be dredged and made into a recreation area for small boats.••••St. Stephen's family picnic committee members in 1954 were Bernice Dinsmore (ice cream), Ed Ball (liquid refreshments), Bob Campbell (baseball), Fred Madden (games), Leonard Forti and Tom Tierney (dancing), Paul Stefik (kiddie rides) and Ted Klingel (electricity).
Looking Back 40 years - According to Niagara Frontier State Park Commission President Joseph Davis in July 1964, the Parks Commission had purchased the Reuter marine basin on the East River in Ferry Village. The large marina continued for a time under the operation of Edward Reuter under a contract with the commission. All available slips in the basin had been rented. In addition to gas, oil, refreshments and rest rooms, the operation also offered repair facilities and winter storage.
Looking Back 10 years - Brothers Jim and Joe Dunlop locked arms as they crossed the finish line in first place during the 19th annual Dick Bessel Independence Road Race in 1994. The Dunlop boys beat out 193 runners with a time of 10 minutes, 25 seconds.
Former Harvey Road resident Ann Weingartner writes that she just attended her 50th class reunion. Ann, a member of the Mount Saint Mary Academy Class of 1954, said that 48 women of her class of 71 were in attendance, including Pat Ellis Rupp and Connie Rexford Lewis.
Grand Island's Taylor Firth, 13, is making a name for herself and for her town. The daughter of Michael and Pattie Firth, she has been named to the United States Figure Skating development team for the 2004-2005 season. Taylor, who joined the U.S. team for an event in January 2004 and gained some international experience, will compete at the novice level this season.
A belated but sincere happy anniversary to Eddie and Irene Piszczek who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Monday, July 26th. ••••A very happy anniversary to MaryAnn and Bob Arsenault, who will be married 50 years on July 3rd.••••A belated happy anniversary to Brad and Jodi Robinson who just celebrated their first wedding anniversary on Monday, June 28th.
Topping the bithday list and wished the best on his 50th birthday today is Robert Stewart.••••Happy birthday to Joey Cali (2 today), to Margaret Giles, Bob Kopf, Noreen Burke and Town Councilman Gary Roesch (today), C. Donald O'Connor (his 75th today), Wilma Greenwood (cheers on her 75th tomorrow), Jason Davis and Joey Khreis (both becoming teenagers tomorrow), Chelsea Robillard (6 tomorrow), Kyle Staub (7 on Saturday), Melissa Rayhill (21 on Monday), Betty Hopkins (Monday), Jacob Zimmerman (his 9th on Tuesday), and Earl DeGlopper Sr. and Jim Pullano (Wednesday).
Congratulations to GIHS Class of 2004 graduate Kelly Knab, who is the recipient of the prestigious New York State Parent Teacher Association Stanley Marcus Humanitarian Award.••••Congratulations to Island residents David Robida (biological sciences), Michael Syposs (physics) and Jacob Lange (sociology). The State University at Buffalo students have been inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.
Co-worker Nathan Cook's nature page, "Nature's Bounty," is like a trip back to my Grand Island childhood every week. I remember seeing so many of the flowers - and the bugs, snakes and other critters - though the names are not all familiar. The photos are beautiful and include buttercups, chicory, daisies, Toad Flax/Butter and eggs, Trillium, Wild purple violets and trout lilies. Click above for Nathan's column which is strictly all Grand Island photos.
The Grand Island Rod & Gun Club will be hosting its annual Tractor Pull events, "Grand Old Days," at the Whitehaven Road Club on Saturday, July 24th and Sunday, July 25th under the chairmenship of Mike Yensan and Kathy Barton.
Tom Rajczak had his first career ace while golfing at Tan Tara Golf Club recently. Tom's hole-in-one was on the 144-yard 10th hole while using a 9-iron. Witnessing the shot were young Islanders Matt Waz and Brian Kopf.
Congratulations to Brielle Backlund, who guessed the closest to the total of 462 gumballs in the gumball guessing contest at the "Grand Crafts On The Island" craft show last weekend. Brielle's guess was 410.
For the Independence Day weekend events including GIHS class reunions, check our Calendar of Events. As I said last year at this time, "Have fun, play safe, fly your flag and remember what we are celebrating!"
"Say a prayer for our guys over there."
Mary Dunbar-Daluisio
Best wishes and happy birthday to Mary Dunbar-Daluisio who turned the big 5-0 yesterday.••••Happy birthday to Andrew Yarne (9 today), Conor Bryan (a teenager today), Pat Arcouet and Barb Brown (today), Meaghan Grotz (17 tomorrow), Cole Glessner (8 tomorrow), Barbara McMichael and Nancy Valone (tomorrow), Tom Luescher and Margie Robillard (Saturday), Tina Lynn Sparks (Sweet 16 on Sunday), Judy Schneider and Tom Rall (Sunday), Mary Martin (85 on Monday), Mark Lange (the big 5-0 on Monday), Quinn Wright (Monday is his big day), Alicia Ann Ellson and Brian Lipp (both turning 18 on Tuesday), Marjorie Ehde Anderson and Ray DeGlopper (Tuesday), Justine Vanthoff (a teenager on Tuesday), Maxwell Costello (5 on Tuesday) and Bob Vincent (a big one on Tuesday).••••Happy big 6-0 to Gale Littler, the newest agent to join Century 21's Island office and celebrating on Wednesday.
Welcome, Morgan Elizabeth Santorio, born June 17th to Dean and Sandy (Krebs) Santorio. Click Islanders In The News for this beautiful baby girl's photo and story.
So very sorry to report that Bonnie Sciuk was injured in a car accident in Pennsylvania. Cards may be sent to her home.• • • •A speedy recovery to Skip Mazenauer who is recuperating from major surgery.
Newest advertiser "Rosemary Hill", a well-known artist of Tuscarora/Iroquois bead work, has had her work displayed at numerous local and international museums and galleries. Check out her site where you may order a kit to make your own beaded, heirloom handbag. Just click above for information and photos.
Friends of Ted Filosofos are invited to stop by the home of his daughter, Denise where he will be staying until about July 7th. Surely he would like to see or hear from his many friends here on Grand Island.• • • •Former resident Billy Williams wants to let all of his friends know that he is leaving Venice, Florida on July 2nd on his Goldwing motorcycle and arriving July 3rd for the 4th celebration at the VFW. "Looking forward to seeing you all again," Billy writes.
Happy anniversary to Bob and Mary Kopf (33 years tomorrow), Mary Ann and Bob Stawitzky (40 years on Sunday), Marcia and Dave Hammond (40 years on Sunday), Tommy and Marjorie Tetreault (their 47th on Tuesday), Pat and Gary Scott (their 25th on Wednesday) and Joseph and Patricia Gelz (their 25th on Wednesday).
There is no admission to the VFW Post 9249's Independence Day picnic. Members of the VFW are selling food and beverage tickets in advance which should save everyone time when attending the picnic after the parade. Click VFW Page for more information.
Click Parade Lineup for parade units appearing on Grand Island Blvd. July 3rd. Additions to the list will be added as they become available.
Looking Back 50 years - Millicent Ball was salutatorian of the Sidway School 9th grade graduating class. Forty-two graduated in the newer Kaegebein School auditorium on June 24, 1954. Officers were President Ron Webb, Vice President Tim Brand, Secretary Penny Ball and Treasurer Don Webb.••••The Grand Island Kiwanis Club held a dinner in June 1954 at Creighton's Edgewater Hotel to honor Wilfred "Bill" Vanthoff of Boy Scout Troop 75, and designating him Grand Island's outstanding citizen. The "Terrible Trio" as they called themselves, made up of Heber Ashley, Laverne Harding and Harry Olsen, sang several songs and led the group in a community sing.
Looking Back 40 years - A formal opening of Electronic Automation Systems on Alt Blvd. took place in June 1964. Ilona Lang donated three acres of land on which the new firm was built.
Looking Back 30 years - St. Stephen's Barn, constructed in the early 1900s, was
demolished on June 28, 1974. The old building had been the scene of many community events
including dances, political rallies and the Centennial pageant held in
August 1952.••••100 entrants among the Island's three elementary schools participated in the first Elementary School Track & Field meet in June 1974. Among event winners were Lisa Schutrum, Marjorie Bessel, Terry Henderson, Joe Nugent and Jeff Webb.••••
Jaycees Bike Rodeo winners included Todd Roughsedge, 5; Lisa Ruthel, 9; John Hoffman, 11; Debbie Chase, 8. Bob Auchu and Jim Harmody were the co-chairs. (Please send me married names and I'll be glad to add them here!)
Our sympathy to the families of Wayne F. Cook, Linda Wright and Lilian Robinson who died recently. Click for their Death Notices.
Family and friends of Meaghan Grotz, a 17-year-old Cystic Fibrosis patient, have planned a major fundraiser to assist the family in financing a double lung transplant for Meaghan. The event, which includes a chicken bbq, will be held from 1-7 p.m. this Sunday (June 27th) at the Grand Island Rod & Gun Club, 1083 Whitehaven Road. Click "Meaghan's Miracle for complete details on what should be a very good time! Meaghan is the daughter of Tim and Kate "Drexelius" Grotz.
Congratulations are in order for new New York State Troopers Michael R. Slagel and Marcus A. Vacanti who were honored on June 14th for completing the 189th session of the Basic School of the New York State Police Academy.
This is a big weekend for events on Grand Island. For information on Miss Cathy's Dance Recital, Grand Crafts On The Island, the Chamber's Island Happenings, KidBiz, and a major fundraiser for Meaghan Grotz at the Rod & Gun Club click our Calendar of Events.
The Boulevard Clean Sweep is set for 9 a.m. Saturday at the Town Hall. This is the time that all Islanders are encouraged to come out and help clean up Grand Island Blvd. to get it ready for the Independence Parade being held on July 3rd this year.
Jeffrey Harold Long Jr., born June 9th weighing eight pounds, will carry on the Long name that goes back many generations on Grand Island. Jeffrey is the son of Jay and Kristen Long and grandson of former residents Sue and Jeff Long, now living in Nunda, NY. The baby boy is the great grandson of Isle resident Mary Lou Kohlhagen and former residents Bud and Lucille Long also of Nunda.
New advertiser "Technology Camp Of America"
"Nature Ed-Ventures", one of our newest advertisers, has been formed as a partnership between Judith Thaler and Wayne Robins. Their business features Scout programs, residential camps, study tours, home-school programs and more and they are dedicated to life-long learning in, for, and about natural and cultural history. Click "Nature Ed-Ventures" above to visit their website.
Something very interesting is being offered at the Riverside-Salem Cottage at 3449 West River Road. Poets, writers, artists, musicians and crafters are invited each Tuesday from 2 p.m. to sunset. Click "Arts At The Water's Edge" for complete information.
A belated happy birthday to Skip Board who celebrated his 75th yesterday. Skip and his wife, Pat, who now live in Port Orange, Florida, will be on the Island next weekend. Welcome "home" folks!• • • •A belated happy 27th birthday to Danielle Sander who celebrated on June 13th.• • • •Happy birthday to Kester Bleich (today), Nancy Dahlquist (7 tomorrow), Justin Hoover (tomorrow), our son, Jim Linenfelser (35 on Sunday), Skipper Fred (25 on Sunday), John Frentzel (11 on Sunday), Stephen Ruotsi (16 on Monday), James McDonnell (a teenager on Monday), Matthew Carlson (4 on Tuesday) and Tom McMahon (the big one on Wednesday).
Wedding anniversaries of note are those of Jim and Terri Stewart (15 years today), Joe and Jody Chadima (10 years tomorrow), and Kandace and Harry Carter (their 25th on Wednesday). Happy anniversary everyone and happy anniversary also to Pam and John Whitney celebrating their 22nd on Saturday, Gail and George Allen (their 34th on Sunday) and Ray and Ann Dlugokinski (their 12th on Sunday).
Looking Back 50 years - A new house numbering system went into effect on Grand Island and the first official house number was assigned at town hall on June 16, 1954 by Vernon J. Davis, Grand Island real estate developer who donated his services for several months to the Town House Numbering Project. He presented that first number to Town Clerk Elsie Stamler.
Looking Back 30 years - Jamie Bessel won a Gold Medal at the AAU track meet by running the 220 yard dash in a time of 38.6.• • • • Elected to the Buffalo Evening News All League Team were Mike and Jim Rodriguez, Gyn Lipp and David Spiesz of the Vikings Baseball Team. Mike Rodriguez led the team batting average with .406.• • • •The coveted Huth Road School H pins were presented to Jennifer Haller, Edward Rowswell, Linda Jacobs, Cynthia Dinsmore, Christine Lewis, Julie Livingston, Mark Mauer, Keith Call, Deborah Munk, Paul Dannels, Donna Wakeley, Thomas J. Morissey Jr., Thomas Beck, Diane Bors (Garey) and Margaret Crowe. (Please send me your married name and I'll be glad to add it here!)
Looking Back 20 years - Carol Pownall was awarded the NYS PTA Distinguished Service Award and Iris Jircitano was presented with a PTSA Life Membership during the Grand Island High School PTA installation luncheon in the Joncaire Restaurant June 6, 1984.• • • •The Island's very first drive-thru window was added to the original McDonald's across from Fantasy Island in June of 1984.
Looking Back 10 years - Student Amber Killian brought the idea of a Town Youth Court to Grand Island.• • • •Recipients of the Gold "K" Awards in June 1994 were Lindsey Dotson, Leanne Kern, Jamie Mangus, Shannon Peters, Jennifer Raham, Melissa Rayhill, Peter Sabatowski and Eric Vivier.
Niagara University student, Christy Kilian, has made the Empire State Girls Softball team and will be pitching. Christy, daughter of Don and Joy Kilian of Staley Road, plays softball for Niagara U.
Our sympathy to the families of Joseph Kline, Joan Williams, Joseph Cinelli Sr. and former residents Gertrude Kranzmann and Dr. Richard H. Christiansen who died recently. Click for their Death Notices. Our condolences also to Joe Samrany on the death of his father, Joseph, on June 11th.
If you are looking for information about your Grand Island High School class reunion, click GIHS Class Reunions. I have posted webpages for the Classes of 1974, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1989 and 1994. Most have a "missing classmates list" so take a look and see if you can help out the various committees locate some of their friends.
Congratulations and good luck to all of the Island's 2004 graduates. GIHS commencement exercises take place Thursday evening in Kleinhan's Music Hall.
Monday is the first day of summer. Let's hope for a good one! Schools will be closed the first of the week, so be extra cautious when driving.• • • •Check our Calendar of Events for details on Saturday's Chiavetta's Chicken Barbecue at Trinity United Methodist Church, the 5-K West River walk-a-thon to benefit "Meaghan's Miracle" on Saturday morning, and registration for the town-sponsored summer youth activities. It's Father's Day weekend - enjoy it!
- Say a prayer for our troops "over there."
The town board has proclaimed this Saturday as “Charles N. DeGlopper Day” in recognition of Pfc. Charlie DeGlopper's death 60 years ago on June 9, 1944. For information on the 60th anniversary remembrance taking place at Maple Grove Cemetery, click "Charlie".
Good news! Kelly Gast and James "Jay" Petrie became engaged this week and are planning a summer of 2005 wedding.
Bob Bennett, GIHS Class of 1976, and his wife, Susan, are the proud parents of a baby girl, Rebecca Furay Bennett, born June 7th weighing seven pounds. "Becca" is the granddaughter of former residents Jean and Bob Bennett of Bayonet Point, Florida who are looking forward to traveling to Anderson, South Carolina to see the new baby and her parents next month.
Newlyweds Erin E. Edwards and Keith W. Simson, married Saturday in Niagara Falls, are traveling to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and will make their home on Grand Island.••••Grand Island High School graduate Amy Vardian was married Saturday to Jason Novak in St. Stephen's Church. The daughter of Island residents Carol and Gary Vardian, the bride is also a graduate of Daemen College.••••Susan A. Szczublewski was married Saturday to Donald J. Dever of Webster. A teacher at Veronica Connor Middle School, she is the daughter of Jerome and Lorraine Szczublewski of Grand Island.
••••Living on Grand Island are newlyweds Gary J. Lesser, and his bride, the former Christie L. Gress who were married Saturday. Christie is a graduate of Niagara University and the daughter of Isle residents Chris and Ray Gress Jr. The groom is a graduate of Hilbert College.
Best wishes to Patti "McCaffery" Gross on her 50th birthday this past Saturday. This photo of clothes lines of "extra large grandma undies" says it all - compliments of Patty's daughter, Fawn! Be sure to click it for a larger view. Thanks to Diane Hassan for the photo.
Happy birthday to Island resident Helen Groff who has just celebrated her 100th birthday on June 8th and is still going strong and enjoying life at the Islandview Apartments. Click Islanders In The News for a feature story on Helen.
Former residence Mike (Class of 1977) and Chris (Petersen) Waterson (Class of 1982) are mighty proud of their daughter, Jade, 13 who won first place and $150 in Centralia Carillon Young Artist Talent Competition in Centralia, Illinois for her rendition of F. Seitz's Concerto No. 5 1st movement on the violin. Jade, granddaughter of Bob and Sally Waterson of Whitehaven Road, is home schooled and has been playing violin for three years.
Dr. Huggs Car Wash & Detail Shop is now offering propane which is always available when the car wash is open. Dr. Huggs is located at 2127 Grand Island Blvd. - across from Tops Market. "It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com."
Happy birthday to Keith Manson who is celebrating his 50th today, to Jim Hallett and Jeff Stone (today), to Ora Glor Newton (her 92nd birthday today), Lynn Ehlert Schutt (extra special greetings Saturday), Linda Pinzel (Saturday), Kayla Lee Staub (her 4th birthday on Monday), Mary Parisi (75 years young on Tuesday), David Conboy (10 on Tuesday), Stacey Scott (18 on Tuesday), Tracy Schultz (Wednesday), and Marge Tetreault (cheers on Wednesday).
A very happy wedding anniversary to Bob and Ann Marie Stewart who are celebrating their 26th today, to Al and Betty Raepple (55 years tomorrow), Tamie and Jeff Matthews (5 years on Saturday), Jim and Marianne Tranter (40 years on Sunday), Dr. Hugh and Elizabeth Glor Allen (their 40th on Sunday), Ron and Kathy (Brobeil) Cichocki (their 30th on Tuesday) and Lisa and Peter Podlucky (their 25th anniversary on Wednesday, June 16th).
Looking Back 60 years - Eleanor Cullen entertained her Grandyle Village bridge club Monday evening, June 12, 1944. Prizes were won by Bea Daggett, Marg McMahon and Kay Grycel.••••
Aviation student Harvey E. Long was assigned to Courtland Army Air Field, Alabama; SSgt. Melvin Dinsmore was promoted to TSgt. and PFC James Williams was promoted to CPL in 1944.••••Robert Schutt of Orchard Road in Ferry Village was named valedictorian of the Riverside High School Class of 1944.••••The annual Strawberry Social sponsored by members of Trinity EUB Church was held at Wagner's Beach, East River at the foot of Baseline Road at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, 1944.
Looking Back 50 years - Children in Mrs. Jocelyn Lawson's 5th grade class at Kaegebein School were struck by lightning when their substitute teacher Kay Grycel took them outside on the afternoon of June 16, 1954 for relief from their very warm classroom. The students were sitting on the stone steps on the south side of the school when lightning struck. Mrs. Grycel was knocked from her chair and the classmates "were either knocked or they jumped from the steps in fright," the local paper reported. Twenty-six students and the teacher suffered electrical shock and a tingling sensation throughout their bodies. First aid treatment for slight burns was given to Raymond Dlugokinski, Jack Suchocki, Jack Ehde, Andrew Liesenfeld, Carolyn Martene (Leggio), Marilyn Maurer (Lewis) and Kathy Brobeil (Cichocki) by school nurse Miss Lucy French and school doctor, George Ubel.
Looking Back 40 years - Tracey Day, famous for his recording of "Gonna Get Along Without You now," was scheduled to sing at Teen Village on Whitehaven Road.••••David Pinkow, an outstanding student at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, was named the recipient of the annual Radio Station WROC scholarship award and received a check for $1000.
Looking Back 30 years - Pat Wolverton was chairman of the Island Women's Republican Club annual picnic held at the home of Elsie Bartlett of Carter Drive on Friday, June 14, 1974.••• •Dan Catalano opened Pier Seafoods in the Boulevard plaza near Staley Road in June 1974.••••Jamie Bessel was a gold medal winner in an AAU track meet after winning the 220 yard dash with a time of 38.6.••••Among students receiving the Sidway PTA citizenship awards in June 1974 were Mary Schultz, Barry Conway, Phillip Stoddard, Sandra Brown and Kristen Group.
If you haven't checked out our new "food" column, just click
Let's Talk Chow.
Our sympathy to the families of Raphael Yalkovsky, Milton Leiner, Joseph Mroziak, Ray Jones Jr., Harvey Enser Sr. and Mark Goldbach who died recently. Click for their Death Notices.••• •Gian Carlo Benedetti, 73, who had lived on his boat at River Oaks Marina from 1989 to 2000 passed away on May 20, 2004.
Check our Calendar of Events for times and details of the following:
• American Cancer Society Relay For Life - Friday-Saturday
• Memorial Service, 60th Anniversary of Charles N. DeGlopper's death - Saturday
• Dance honoring World War II veterans - Saturday
• Teen Challenge Motorcycle Run - Sunday
Bob Schutt with wife, Anna and son, Carl
A good time was had by all! GIHS Class of 1972 graduate Bob Schutt and his family, formerly of Grand Island and now living in the Florida Keys, were visited by John and Deb (Greiner) Lepore of Baseline Road, and Bobbi McNulty of Lancaster, CA who were on a trip to Key West. Deb and Bobbie are graduates of the GIHS Class of '73.
Good luck to Mike Feathers, a GIHS senior who will make his third trip to the NYS Public High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships this weekend at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. He is competing in the pentathlon.
Congratulations to Nicole Gerber and her therapy dog, Monty who were recognized by ElderWood Health Care as Volunteers of the Year for their contributions at Riverwood Health Care Center. Nicole also had the honor of being the first female to cross the finish line in the Memorial Day Run at Vets Park last Saturday.•••• Congratulations to Michele Breier who recently graduated from Medaille College with a bachelor of science degree in business administration magna cum laude. Michele and her husband of 22 years, Jim Breier Jr. are the parents of James III, Christina and Haley.
Wedding Bells! Alison Lynn Balzer was married Saturday to Patrick James Mackey. She is the daughter of Raymond and Judith Balzer of Grand Island.••••Amy E. Misko was married Saturday to James K. Hathaway Jr. and their wedding reception was held in the new Beaver Island State Park Clubhouse. The bride is the daughter of Dennis and Kathleen Misko of Grand Island.
Thomas Leo Shonitsky, GIHS Class of 1999 and son of Gary Shonitsky of Grand Island, and Cheryl Hammer of Orchard Park, is engaged to be married to Melissa Marie Alvord of Mount Vernon. The couple is planning a September 2005 wedding in Buffalo.
First off, a belated happy birthday to Nikki (Dee) Hoffman who celebrated her 30th birthday on
Monday.• • • •Happy birthday to Anne Barker and Pat (Rexford) Anderson (today), Joe Podlucky (18 today), Michael Playfair (16 today), George Rowe (75th today), Brendan Sheehan (6 tomorrow),
Becky Passanese (cheers tomorrow), Catherine DiVizio and Richard Sander (tomorrow), Ehde Beth (Stamler) Parrish, Lester Herrmann and Patti Gross (milestones on Saturday), Rev. Jim Lange (his 80th on Sunday), Frank Kustra Jr. (16 on Sunday), Bud Long and Peter Coppola (Sunday), Victoria Aronica (5 on Monday), Bob Catipovic (Monday), Ryan Osvath (12 on Tuesday), Jeanette Courey, Nathan Cook and Kirk Sciandra (Wednesday), and Victoria Kustra (10 on Wednesday).
Remember to support our sponsors, two of which are Dr. Huggs Car Wash and
Priority Computer Services. Both Island businesses have very interesting websites!
Happy anniversary to Sharon and Jim Watz, celebrating their 40th on Saturday.
Attention, Class of 1989! Amy (Pelczynski) Samplinski and members of the GIHS Class of 1989 are planning an informal 15-year reunion from 8-11 p.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2004 at the
Brick Oven Pizzeria, 2373 Grand Island Blvd (Grand Island Plaza). Check the Class of '89 Webpage from time to time for updates.
Looking Back 60 years - A dance, with proceeds earmarked for the "Grand Island Smokes for Soldiers Fund," was held in the fire hall and chaired by volunteer firemen Bill Fleming and Ed Kruse. Art Kingston was in charge of the bar, and Elmer Fleischmann made the lunch arrangements. The dance netted $195.• • • •"For the first time since the pleasure ban on power boats sent the speedsters into dry dock, the Mercury Power Boat Club will present a speed boat regatta at the Bedell House," the local paper reported. Among the entries for the Sunday, June 4, 1944 races were Patty Fix, Dick Voight and Ollie Howard.
Looking Back 50 years - Isle elementary school music teacher Carol Thompson organized a sixth grade dance in the Sidway gym from 7-9 p.m. June 4, 1954. Classmates made dance cards during the school day, and couples signed up to do the various folk and round dances Mrs. T. taught during the year. Some preteens will remember hiking through the fields across the road from the school (now the Grand Island Plaza) to Smitty's Quick Lunch for ice cream after the dance.• • • •Charlotte Sidway School's annual field day for 5th through 9th graders was held on the school grounds June 3, 1954 and featured class cheers, class songs, games and races. Gym teacher, Dave Meyers, was in charge of activities. Among the winners were: 5th grader Harry Adams (Boys Sack Race), 8th grader Claire A. Rupp (Bishop) (Girls Basketball Shoot), 7th graders Russ Anderson, Bob Stamler, Wayne Hallett and Gary Bartlett (Boys Relay), 8th grader Sandy Schwagler (Girls Broad Jump), and 9th grader Bertha vonCraigh (Girls Softball Throw). • • • •St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church held a Loyalty Dinner Wednesday, June 9, 1954 in the Buffalo Launch Club when building plans were unveiled. Parishioners on the building fund committee were Dexter Lewis, Elmer Long and Bruce Robertson with Mrs. Edwin Allen, serving as its secretary. Charles Soch, the first warden of St. Martin's, described the founding and early history of the church.• • • •For a look back at one of Betty Beck's Island dance classes, circa June 1954, click "Betty Beck Recital." You may have to scroll down a bit to locate the photo.
Looking Back 40 years - The following students were elected to the Jr. Sr. High School Student Council: President Edwin Sargent, Vice President Jayne Pless, Secretary Sandra Johnstone, Treasurer Frank Budwey and Recording Secretary Serena Anzalaco (Troyan).• • • •It was announced at the first school board meeting in June 1964 that a tape recorder was to be used at school board meetings.• • • •The very first awards assembly for 9th and 10th grade students of the new Grand Island Jr. Sr. High School was held June 8, 1964. Athletic Director Mr.
Dave Meyers presented awards to the following:
Joe Conn, Mike McNulty and
Terry vonCraigh (soccer),
Terry Funk, Paul Harper, Robert Hillock, Jay Hopper and
Paul Kaegebein (football), and Peter Hackett, Reg Schopp and
Richard Kaiser (swimming).• • • •The Jr. Sr. High String concert under the direction of Mr. Donald Wessel featured violin soloist Jeff Lesinski.• • • •Outstanding track and field stars for the 1964 season were Paul Luippold, Dave Schaffer and Dan Walgate.• • • •The International Joint Commission (IJC) issued an Order of Approval on June 9, 1964 authorizing the installation of the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom on a one-year trial basis.
Looking Back 30 years - Third grader Katherine Wozniak (Chadwick) and 4th grader Karen Lunsford (Conboy), students of St. Stephen School, were the essay and poster winners respectively in the SPCA's Humane Posters and Compositions contest. (Does anyone have the photo?)• • • •About 80 people attended the first general meeting of the Grand Islanders For Tennis on June 5, 1974 in Trinity UM Church. Temporary Board members included Betty Metz, Bev Meer, Jim Chamberlain, Ted and Zo Ann Landen, Charlie McDonough, Bob Zuchowski, Harvey and Dee Brummer, Diane and Nick Pelosi, Joanne Brand, and Diane Orr.• • • •Sheila Rumrich received the GAA award as Outstanding 8th Grader in Physical Education during ceremonies at the 5th Annual Sports Banquet held in the middle school cafeteria June 5, 1974.
Our sympathy to the families of former residents Michael J. Jarzyniecki and William Batarla who died recently. Click for their Death Notices. Our condolences also to Albert (Nadia) Condino on the death of his
mother, Rose Condino, 100, on May 30th. She resided in Niagara Falls, NY.
Sharon Nichols, her sister, Barb Zafuto and Lyn Laman opened the Village Hot Dog Stand last weekend, more or less as a trial run. They will be at the stand in Ferry Village for the official opening today (Thursday, June 3) and will be operating from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. On my visit during Saturday's lunch hour, the girls were kept very busy and it was old home week as usual and fun to see several longtime Islanders including Del Garrison, Chris Stedman and family and Marcie and Paul Malecki.• • • •By the way, the little Ice Cream Stand at McMahon's Family Restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Jazz on the River is back at the Holiday Inn Grand Island with the first concert tomorrow evening from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Music will be by Border City Blues Band.
Robert Goris, president of the GIHS Class of 2005, has announced that his class is holding a Chiavetta's Chicken Dinner to benefit "Meaghan's
Miracle" this Tuesday, June 8th in the high school small cafeteria. More information may be found on the High School Page.
Please take a moment to remember that it was on June 9, 1944 that Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper gave his life for his comrades at the Merderet River at la Fiere, France. Charlie was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army, Co. C, 325th Glider Infantry, 82d Airborne Division. The Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial VFW Post 9249 will conduct a Memorial Service at the Maple Grove Cemetery 2 p.m Saturday, June 12 to commemorate the 60th anniversary. An open house and a dance will also be held at the Post. For the story of his heroism, click Grand Island's World War II Hero.
Town Memorial Day services at DeGlopper Park begin at 10 a.m. Monday morning.• • • •Members of the VFW will conduct their annual "Buddy Poppy Drive" today through Saturday.• • • •Hopefully the American Flags flying over Grand Island will outnumber every other community in the area. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day and remember our veterans.
Congratulations to Mindi Kratz, GIHS Class of 2003, on being accepted at NASCAR
Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina. Click "Mindi" for story and photo.••••Congratulations to Adam Garlapow who tied for first place in the Dr. Alan Gross Memorial Cycling Race (Pro One Two Men division) at UB Sunday.
Kelly Shaffer's engagement to Sean Hill of Louisville has been announced by her mother, Toni Shaffer. Kelly is a graduate of Grand Island High School and Miami University. An August 28, 2004 wedding is being planned.••••
Also engaged to be married are Grand Island High School graduates Rachel Lacey White and Alex Carlton Rumsey. Rachel and Alex are planning a September 2005 wedding.
The GIHS Class of 1984 reunion committee is still looking for classmates. Click Class of '84 Missing Persons List and forward all information to
carrollpeggym@aol.com
Thank you to our constantly growing list of Advertisers who are supporting the Grand Island E-News at Isledegrande.com. ~~~~West Herr Automotive Group is one of our most recent businesses to come on board. Among Island residents who would be glad to show you around are Skip Fred, Dave Wilkinson, Marty Bidell and Larry Rogers.
Happy birthday to David Linenfelser and Stephanie Affuso (both turning 18 today), Molly Mason (3 today), Richard Bessel (30 tomorrow), Paul Sipson, Kay Haller and Diane Darmofalski (tomorrow), Liam Dodd (11 Saturday), Rachael Fraser (20 on Saturday), Victor Beach (Saturday), Robert Backlund (his 30th on Monday), Dr. Don Fontana (cheers to Don on Monday), Eleanor Swain (Monday), Eileen Stone (Tuesday), Joshua and Ryan Miller (10 on Wednesday), and Clay Clark (Wednesday).
A speedy recovery to Chuck Dunworth of X Press 1 Hour Cleaners who we hear is doing much better.
Happy anniversary to Herbert and Abigail Sullivan who just celebrated their 57th on Tuesday, the 25th. Best wishes to Chuck and Linda Berlinger on their 5th anniversary Saturday, to Pattie and Mark Frentzel on their 12th anniversary Sunday, to Pat and Doug Harding on their 30th on Monday, and to Chris and Paul Sipson celebrating 35 years on Monday. Also celebrating special anniversaries this week and wished the best are Arlene and Gilman Clark, married 25 years on Tuesday and Jack and Sandy Burns, marking their 30th on Tuesday.
Looking Back 60 years - Grand Island WWII hero Charlie DeGlopper was awarded the
Good Conduct medal 60 years ago this week. "Charlie, who has been at a rest camp somewhere in
England now tips the scales at 240 lbs," the May 27, 1944 edition of the
Island local paper reported. Charlie died a hero on June 9 of that
year.••••About 50 children, some babies in carriages (probably me among them), took part in the Memorial Day Parade in Grandyle Village. Art Meyer served as Drum Major and Carol Keppler was the flagbearer. Albert Keppler played snare drum and Butch Rank played bass drum. The pledge to the flag and singing of Star Spangled Banner climaxed the march and refreshments were passed out at "61 Love Road."• • • •Paul and Jean Hoffman moved into the Whitehaven Road home of Frank Bartram. Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Brennan of Niagara Street moved into their lovely summer home on West River Road.• • • •Mrs. Albert Prentice, Esther Livingston and Mae Thomas served an appreciation luncheon to the teachers of Sidway School on Friday, June 2, 1944.
Looking Back 50 years - Bowman R. Otto purchased the Idle Hour Inn which stood near the South Grand Island Bridge.• • • •Bud and Thelma Zurbrick were new proprietors of Zurbrick's Restaurant, now known as Turner's Port Of Call.• • • •Among Island Cub Scouts who took part in a variety show, "Niagara Showboat," on May 28, 1954 were Dale Wade, Russ Kaegebein, Jimmy Snyder, Harry Snyder, Mike Quinn, Mark Long, Barry Hamilton, Bobby Tranter and Mike Sceusa.
Looking Back 40 years - Niagara Frontier State Council of Parks President Joseph Davis drove the symbolic golden spike, on Saturday, May 30, 1964, that officially marked completion and opening of the Beaver Island and Rotary Railroad in Beaver Island State Park. Click for this week's Rotary Train Feature.••••1000 tons of new sand was being spread on Beaver Island Beach and the river was 46 degrees 40 years ago this week.• • • •Rod & Custom, a national magazine, featured Bud Link's 1934 Ford Tudor sedan that Bud resored to like-new condition.
Looking Back 30 years - Michael Rafe took the "first pitch" Saturday, June 1, 1974 at the open day of Grand Island Youth Baseball.• • • •Among students from St. Stephen School who did well in the Parochial School Athletic Association Bishop Benincasa Division Track Meet were Mark Anderson (boys running long jump), Kevin Woods (60-yard dash boys 10 & under) and Patty Anderson (Frentzel) (girls 10 & under 60-yard dash).
Looking back 25 years - Members of the Charles N. DeGlopper VFW Post 9249 held a grand opening of their brand new VFW Post on Grand Island Blvd. in conjunction with Memorial Day services in 1979.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of John G. Martin, Janice A. Roche, Florence Buzydlowski, Mary Catherine Squires
and former residents Shirley Krentz and John Krehl who died recently. Our sincere sympathy also to the family of the late Norma E. Walker.
Click for their Death Notices.
Our condolences to Rita DeGlopper on the death of her brother, Henry Mengay. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Island Photographer Fred Claus, now employed by Kodak, worked the Kodak booth at the Lilac Festival in Rochester this past weekend where he took this shot of the #77 Nextel Cup Kodak race car. "I was like a kid in a candy store," Fred told us.
Have a nice Memorial Day weekend.
Welcome, Gabriel Lawrence Wansart
Congratulations to Jeff and Elizabeth (Backlund) Wansart on the birth of their first child, a son, Gabriel Lawrence, born May 15, 2004 weighing seven pounds, four ounces. Elizabeth and Jeff, members of the Grand Island High School Class of 1999, are residing on the Norfolk Naval Base where Jeff is stationed. Proud grandparents are Barb and Butch Backlund and Jeffrey and Jody Wansart of Grand Island.
Congratulations to Norm Mrkall on his 50 years of active service to the Grand Island Fire Company. Norm, who was honored Saturday evening at the Fire Company's anniversary dinner, is shown with his son, Skip, a past Fire Chief and a member of the Board of Directors, just like his dad. (Click photo for larger view)••••Dave Birt of Orchard Road has been recognized for over 750 hours of volunteerism for the Veterans Administration Hospital. Dave, who drives a VA van three days a week, received the awards on Wednesday, May 19th. Congratulations to Dave who is a member of the DAV Chapter 168 and the Grand Island American Legion.••••Congratulations to Kelly Greene, daughter of Lynn Greene, on completing her Master's Degree at Canisius College. Kelly, who graduated yesterday, is a 1997 graduate of Grand Island High School and is currently coaching girls JV Lacrosse at the high school.
Best wishes to Fay and Bill Wood, married 55 years today. Click for their "story and photo."••••Congratulations to Peg and Ralph "Slim" Zauner on their recent 50th wedding anniversary. The Zauners were married April 24, 1954. Now retired, Peg worked in the Huth Road School as a cafeteria monitor.
Sara E. Kovach and Brian C. Wilson, both graduates of Grand Island High School and St. Bonaventure University, were married Saturday, May 15th in St. Stephen Catholic Church. Sara is the daughter of Paul and Jean Kovach and Brian is the son of Clifford and Donna Wilson, all of Grand Island.
Isledegrande.com's featured advertiser today is James M. Winter, C. P. A.. Click and check out Jim's website where he offers tax advice and preparation, estate planning, bookkeeping and accounting, financial planning and more.
Happy 40th anniversary to Maxine and Peter Dinsmore who will mark their special day on Sunday. The Dinsmores were married on May 23, 1964 in St. Stephen's Church.••••Kandace and Harry Carter of Stony Point Road were completely surprised when they arrived at a dinner in their honor last Saturday evening in Marinacchios in Williamsville. The celebration, given by relatives, was a 25th anniversary party. The Carters were married on June 23, 1979.
Special birthday greetings to Island native Esther Lozo who celebrated her 90th birthday yesterday. Click Islanders In The News for Esther's photos and story.••••
Happy birthday to Dr. David Johnson and Stephanie Rink (today), Sydney Mae Dworak and Christopher James O'Connor (both turning 3 tomorrow), Lillian Wosilait and Terry Turnbull (special greetings tomorrow), Dan Bowerman, Mike McDonough and Tom McDonough (Saturday), John Czora (cheers on Saturday), twins Bob and Scott McDonnell (30th birthdays on Sunday), Jennifer Arida (Sunday), Catherine Long (Monday), Sarah Lipp (Sweet 16 on Wednesday), Joshua Stoddard (a teenager on Wednesday), and Liz Wilbert (best wishes on Wednesday).••••Happy 30th birthday to Tiffany Luescher from Mom and Dad. Tiffany celebrates tomorrow.
Looking Back 60 years - The Roadside Stand, offering hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, pop, candy and cigarettes, was opened for business on the Stack property on East River at Staley.••••Miss Marjorie Ehde and Miss Martha Riley were hired by the board of education as new teachers for the school year 1944-45. Miss Ehde and Miss Riley taught 3rd and 5th grades respectively in the Island's only school, Charlotte Sidway.
Looking Back 50 years - Jaycees Road-E-O winner in 1954 was George Mayer of Baseline Road. Second place winner was Dick Hogue of East Park.••••Florence Cowden chaired a dance in the fire hall with music by the Star Dusters and sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary. The event was advertised as running from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. "or as long as the crowd seems to be enjoying themselves."••••The annual Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Spring Dance took place Friday, May 28, 1954 in the Buffalo Launch Club. Committee members under chairman Frank Swalm included Fred Miller, Ralph Rycroft, John Downing, Frank Pinzel, Clarence Baumann and Don Sutherland.
Looking Back 40 years - Dave Serfass and his wife, Marilyn had the leading roles in "1984," produced by the Island Theater Group in the Huth Road School auditorium May 21-23, 1964. The cast also included Dick Babbage, Henry Wunderlich, Jim Vallencourt, Joan Ballester, Shirley Jean Measures and daughter Melody Measures, Paul Jordan, Douglas Hawkes, Rich Trotter, Lannie Weiser, Joanne James and Heber Ashley.••••
Dr. Roy E. Dial, served as MC at the dedication of the Jr. Sr. High School May 24, 1964. Dr. Dial and Lee Tetkowski were the co-chairs of the citizens committee for the new high school.••••Winners of the essay contest, "What the Grand Island Jr. Sr. High School Means to Me," were Edward Milkey, Douglas Roberts and Thomas Burrows.••••Kaegebein School students in grades K-6th chose blue and red as the school colors by a majority vote.••••A large number of Grand Island's 12th grade students were part of the 1964 graduating classes at LaSalle and Kenmore West high schools.••••Among the winners of the Junior Chamber of Commerce bike rodeo held Saturday May 23, 1964 were Jeffrey Stanley, Rachel Butler, Donald Kaminska, Susan Crawford, Mary Ann Murphy, Terry Mesmer, John Martin, Kathleen Murphy, Stephen Tyrrell, Shelly Bookhagen (Sheehan), James Ray and Joyce Jones.
••••Teachers and staff at Kaegebein School were honored at a luncheon chaired by Doris Rees. Among the long list of helpers were Rita Wilson, Betty Raepple, Claire Card, Carol Sasala and Betty Magnuson.••••Dorothy Enfield (choir), Joseph Fortuna (strings) and Robert Criden (advanced band) led their groups in concert at Kaegebein School on May 20, 1964 to near capacity audience.
Looking Back 30 years - The Jr. Sr. High School held its first American Red Cross student blood drive in May 1974 when 112 seniors and 20 juniors donated blood.
Looking Back 20 years - Sarah Meyers was named a 1984 Presidential Scholar by the Secretary of Education, Terrance H. Bell, in May of 1984.••••Billy Aydelotte became the official owner of Z's Island Inn, now known as B.A.'s Saloon, on May 25, 1984.
Our sympathy to the families of Sharon G. Colosi, John B. Henshaw, Marian Skindell, Jean Cudmore, John Pater
and Bernie Bailey who died recently. Click for their Death Notices.
A five kilometer "West River Walk-a-thon" is being held on Saturday, June 19th beginning at 10 a.m. to help finance a double lung transplant for GIHS junior Meaghan Grotz . Click
"Meaghan's Miracle" for information on how you can help contribute.
This is the weekend of the Rotary Club's annual Hot Dog Sale. Great hot dogs along with beverages will be sold tomorrow and Saturday in front of Tops Market so plan your weekend shopping around lunch or dinner in front of Tops.••••Another major annual event is Gram's Garage & Mini Bake Sale being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Golden Age Center.••••The VFW Post 9249 Ladies Auxiliary will be serving their usual fantastic Chicken Dinner from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the Post on Grand Island Blvd.• • • •
Click our Calendar of Events other Island happening and send me your events to teddy@giecom.net.• • • •Have a pleasant spring weekend!
What a pleasure it is to wish Marion Pinkow a very happy 90th birthday. Marion, a music educator in the Island schools for many years, is currently visiting her son, Charlie (Pinky) in Churchville, PA, outside of Philadelphia. According to her daughter, Christine Sipson, she still takes walks when the weather is good, and plays cello a few times a week for her own enjoyment. Mrs. Pinkow enjoys doing crossword puzzles and watching the river. As she says, "There is always something to watch on the river - ducks and ice in the winter, and boats in the summer." Chris notes that her mom still remembers many good times growing up on Grand Island at the Pierce Farm on the West River. Marion and her late, husband, Bill, also have a son, David living in Colorado. Cards may be sent to Marion, born on May 18, 1914, in care of her daughter and son-in-law, Chris and Paul Sipson of East River Road.
I just couldn't resist posting both of these photos of former East River Road resident Irene Beck, turning 90 on May 17th. Irene is shown on the left during an early birthday celebration in Florida last month and during a Red Hat luncheon in March 2004. She and husband, Harold, a former town councilman, and their daughter, Barbara, moved to the Doan homestead on East River Road in 1950 and resided on the Island into the 1970s. Irene is now living in Rochester with her daughter and her son-in-law, Paul Muratore. For those who knew Irene, cards and notes may be sent to her at 190 Southridge Drive, Rochester, NY. 14626-4221
Former resident and proud father Mike Podlucky, of Sandy, UT reports that his oldest daughter, Amanda, graduated with high
honors from Georgia Tech on May 1st. Amanda's grandmother, Mary (Podlucky) Sobczak and
her aunt, Carol (Podlucky) Nickoloff were in attendance in Atlanta to recognize
her achievements. Amanda will continue her education at the Villanova
School of Law in the Fall.• • • •Home for the better part of last week to help her brother, Don, celebrate his 40th birthday was Nicole Dee Hoffman who now resides in Port Orange, Florida. Her visit was a complete surprise to birthday boy, Don.
Our sympathy to the families of former resident Marvin W. Voelker and Patricia R. McKenna who died recently. Click for their Death Notices.
Mike Carr's Village Inn is a favorite summer time spot where you can enjoy the great food and beverages inside or out on the patio. Check out Mike's complete menu on line. Just click "Village Inn" above.
Lyn Laman, Sharon Nichols and Barbara Zafuto are having a grand re-opening of the Village Hot Dog Stand at 1437 Ferry Road in Ferry Village. Island newcomers, take note. This is a summer tradition, right on the Niagara River and I'm sure these gals are going to do a bang up job, complete with hot dogs, burgers and clam broth. Opening day will be Memorial Day and hours will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Let the summer begin!
Celebrating anniversaries this week and wished the very best are Paul and MaryJo Soto (three years on Tuesday), and Richard and Joanne DelZoppo (their 25th on Wednesday).
Happy birthday to Tom Rodriguez (a big one today), Carol Volk (tomorrow), Kevin Rustowicz (the big 4-0 on Saturday), Shirley Runckel (Saturday), Daniel Sledziewski (16 on Sunday), Ted Kumlander (75 years young on Sunday), Brian Minton (4 on Sunday), Lino McGinn (cheers on Sunday), Stephanie Senn (10 on Monday), Barb Kirsch and Louise Adamczyk (Monday), Chase Luthringer (her 2nd birthday Tuesday), Nancy Landroche and Dick Lovelee (Wednesday), Pattie Frentzel (an amazing 40 on Wednesday), and last but certainly not least, Walt Hastrich who celebrates his 75th birthday on Wednesday.
Shhhhhhh! Former Long Road resident Don Dally is being surprised with a party in honor of his 70th birthday this weekend. Don, born on May 17, 1934 and blind most of his life, is an assistant district attorney working in the Erie County appeals division.
Looking Back 60 years - The boys and girls in the 3rd and 4th grade classroom of Miss Gretchen Kautz (Shavalier) at Sidway School road their bikes to Beaver Island State Park in May 1944.• • • •Among the Island businesses who paid for advertising of the Fifth War Loan which started in May 1944 were Mesmer's Grill, Sidway PTA, Alt Chevrolet, Alfred E. Yensan, Sandy Beach Grocery, Clem Scheuerman, Dr. Dewitt T. Bell, Frank Bailey, Horace J. French, Ziggie's, Reg Long, Harry Tucker, John Schutt Jr. Inc., Grand Island Volunteer Fire Company and Grand Island Tourist Camp.• • • •The town board on May 15, 1944, moved to submit a water bill for water consumption in the military camp on Alt Blvd. to Captain Janeway for payment.• • • •The local paper, delivered every other week, mention in the "Dottie On the Partyline" column that Patsy Staffen (Yell) was tearing up the road (in Ferry Village) on her bike with Captain and Brandy, her guardians, close behind!
Looking Back 50 years - Bids for a new foundation wall of the Emmanuel Chapel on Ferry Road were received May 19, 1954.• • • •School Bus #9, the newest school district bus, driven by Carl Schutt, was hit by a car at the intersection of Sheridan Dr. and Sheridan Drive extension as he drove band members and their director Bill Pinkow back to the Island from the Amherst Central High School where the Sidway School band had participated in the New York State Music Association's Annual Spring Festival Friday night, May 14, 1954.• • • •Mary Ellen Klingel (Stewart), Judy Bea Daggett, Barbara Duncan (Ochs) and Barbara Glor (Martin), members of Girl Scout Troop 437, received their First Class Award in Kleinhan's Music Hall May 15, 1954. Girl Scouts Trudy Reimann (O'Connor), Libby Smith (Borgese), Diane Meyers (Krause), Susan Turnbull, Clair Ann Rupp (Bishop), Barbara Klocke (Voegelin) and Cynthia Graveline (Mangrum) of Troop 39 also received their First Class Awards. Receiving Girl Scouting's highest award, the Curved Bar, were Bernie Glor (Pagliaro), Sally Swalm, Peggy Webster, Wilma Pankow (Volberg), Nancy Mote (Sayre) and Carol MacDonald (Ganster).
Looking Back 40 years - Winners of $100 prizes in a contest held by Acme Market in the Grand Island Blvd. plaza were Jean Crocker of Woodlee Lane and Carol Ungaro of East Park.• • • •Barbara Beck (Muratore), who was recognized with several awards, received an Outstanding Cheerleaders Award during Moving Up Day ceremonies at Alfred University.• • • •Marion Klingel received a life membership to the Grand Island Fire Company for her 19 years of service as a fire dispatcher. Her husband, Ted, also received his life membership for 20 years service to the company during the anniversary dinner in the firehall May 16, 1964. Norm Mrkall received his 10-year pin and Lee Becker and Peter McMahon were recognized for five years.• • • •Island fishermen Joseph Muranyi of Jenell Dr. and Bill Altschaft of Staley Road rescued a man from the Niagara River near the Peace Bridge where his rented boat sank.• • • •The School Board wrote the town board regarding improving highway access to the Jr. Sr. High School and the possibility of extending Harvey Road through to Ransom Road.
The 500 Mile Bike Tour in memory of Marty Prast to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County takes place this weekend. See front page article for details.• • • •Quiznos Subs opens in Tops Plaza on Monday with grand opening festivities and a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m.• • • •The late Paul H. Taylor was inducted into the Niagara Frontier Aviation & Space Hall of Fame this week. He was an inventor and founder of Taylor Devices Corp. of North Tonawanda.
The school district bus garage crew, "Busses Are Us," will hold a bake sale to benefit "Relay For Life" at the bus garage behind Sidway School, Baseline Road tomorrow beginning at 8:30 a.m. The sale is in conjunction with the PTSA geranium sale being held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Please continue to pray for Meaghan Grotz. A major fundraiser that has all the promise of a good, old fashioned Island event, is planned for Meaghan on Sunday, June 27th. For information, click "Meaghan's Miracle."
Just heard from former resident Bob Dworak of Sebring, FL who, after reading of his friend, John Fleming's anniversary trip in last week's column, decided to pass along the following very interesting 50th Anniversary Wild Fire Celebration he and his wife enjoyed last year. Bob and his wife, Sally (Staley) Dworak, almost pioneers of Grand Island, celebrated 50 years last August on a train trip across Canada and into the wild fires that were blazing in Alberta and BC. "The train was rerouted from Jasper, so we had to go by bus, and got into Jasper National Park just before closing the entrance," Bob writes. "Saw all the smoke, fire, and hoses and trucks along the road side as well as the helicopters and water buckets dropping only a few hundred yards away. Got out of Moraigne Lake at noon and the park was on fire by 12:30 p.m. Got doused with wet ashes while in Banff. This was our second visit to the area, so really didn't mind, and surely enjoyed all the excitement along with two other couple who were along," Bob said. "Always wanted to take that sleeper across Canada. Will remember this one a long time."
Grand Island School District's music departments have always excelled and this year's high school groups, just back from the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational in Tennessee, were true to form. Shown with trophies won are students Margaret Kiehl, Matthew Fields and Tim Szczykutowicz. For full story, click GI Musicians
Our sympathy to the families of William Lock, Betty Swann, Dorothy C. Erling, Mary Frances Mure and Nina C. Hurley who died recently. Click for their Death Notices.
Jennifer and Jeremy Pullano are proud parents of a baby girl. Anna Sophia Pullano was born on April 30th weighing seven pounds, three ounces. Proud grandparents are Pat Pullano of Grand Island and Babe and Marge Rotella of Niagara Falls.
A very happy birthday to Kevin Minton and Eric Ackerman Jr. (both turning 7 today), Michael Dudley, Bob Brennan and Judy Blackmore (cheers on their special birthdays tomorrow), Kim Manzo (30 today), George Minton (75 today), Kari Lynn Harding (Saturday), James Geblein (officially 16 on Sunday), Greg DeMike, Paul Fields and Greg Golde (Monday), our son-in-law Don Dee (you're turning how old on Monday?), Nikki Fadel (entering her teens on Tuesday), Mark Dahlquist and Cheryl Laible (milestones on Tuesday) and Ava Grace Ackerman (3 on Tuesday). Belated happy birthday greetings to Mark Cunningham who just celebrated his 32nd birthday on Tuesday, the 4th.
Happy anniversary to Greg and Liz Barker celebrating their 30th on Tuesday.
Looking Back 50 years -
Cub Scouts from Pack 254 who received awards for selling ten tickets or more to the Scout-o-Rama were Skippy Mazenauer, Bobby Dan, Alan Finely, Donald Clayton, Peter Baker and Jarman Benns. "Black Gold," a display showing phases of the coal and oil industry, won a blue ribbon for Pack 254. • • • •Fred Mesmer built a race track in 1953 on the same property used as a trotting track many years ago, and already had 300 entrants and expected 40,000 to attend upcoming motorcycle races when he was advised by the town board that the race track and schedule were in violation to the town zoning ordinance and legal action would be taken if the scheduled race was held.
Looking Back 40 years - An enlarged Kelly's Country Store opened for its second year in the spring of 1964.• • • •George Senn of Senn's Trading Post in Ferry Village had major work in progress including dredging out docking facilities, straightening pilings and clearing debris. This area along with other river front properties was ravaged by the winter's ice buildup. This would be the last winter before the ice boom was put into operation.• • • •
The Master of Grand Island Lodge No. 1138 F&AM, Lewis E. Morgan, observed Masonic Day at the New York World's Fair.
Looking Back 30 years - Rob Roy MacLeod spoke to the Historical Society on how his book, Cinderella Island, came to be. "It all started as a Christmas card which was to give some evidence to our friends as to the location of Grand Island. Cinderella just grew and grew until we had a regular publishing house in our kitchen on Oakfield Road," stated the former Island town historian.• • • •Marsha Fred, bowling with the Tuesday Nite Owls League in April 1974, had the high single game of 199.• • • •Supervisor Ray Griffin cast the one dissenting vote when the town board adopted the controversial Architectural Board of Review on Monday, May 6, 1974.
Congratulations to music teacher Annalea Masiello and her Connor Middle School vocal students, The Singcopations, on receiving a Gold Rating in Level 3 competition this past week.
Congratulations to Bill Schultz who has ended his two-year playing career at D'Youville by being named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association/NCAA Division III All-America team.
Congratulations to Isledegrande.com advertiser Gerrie Andolina of Century 21 Winklhofer, who was recently named one of the Century 21 System's top producing sales associates in Century 21's Upstate New York and Western Pennsylvania region. Gerrie was ranked #1 for units sold in the region and received the Double Centurion Award for production nationally.
Click for Gerrie's website, Geri Andolina - Century 21
Our American Legion Post #1346 is holding another hanging plant sale at the VFW Post, 2121 Grand Island Blvd., just in time for Mother's Day. Hours tomorrow and Saturday are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.• • • •Saturday is Opening Day for Grand Island Little League.• • • •The Republican Committee is holding its 5th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday at River Oaks Golf
Course. Click Republican Committee Web Page for more information.• • • •And just a reminder!
The School District's Budget Hearing will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday in the High School Senior Cafeteria and voting takes place May 18th.
Polly Spivey, who moved from the Island five years ago, had three visitors in February. Cheryl Dulak, Marianne Tranter and Betty Magnuson made Polly's day when they stopped to see her at her home in Apopka, Florida. The foursome attended a Tuesday Night Prayer Group together for many years.
Best wishes to Jack and Bev Mikulski who will be married 45 years tomorrow, to Donna and Frank Rodriguez and to Joan and Bob Kingston, all celebrating their 50th anniversary on May 1st, to David and Mary Fleischmann who will mark 35 years on the 3rd and to Penny and Mike Linenfelser who tied the knot 30 years ago, May 4, 1974. Happy anniversary also to Genevieve and Richard Dobmeier who just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family trip to Florida. The Dobmeiers were married in Buffalo on April 24, 1954.
Happy birthday to Sidway Principal Frank Cannata, celebrating his 40th in a big way over at Sidway School today. Happy birthday also to Mike Schneider (big 6-0 today), Samantha Warden (10 today), Gayle Derigo (today), Jessica Bykowicz (a teenager tomorrow), Andrew McLeod and Joshua Kruk (21st birthdays tomorrow), Scott York (a mini milestone tomorrow), John Podlucky (the big 5-0 tomorrow), Ava Anita DeFranks (first birthday tomorrow), Vickie Cheff, Mary Ognibene and Karen Conboy (birthdays on Saturday), Dottie Howard (92 on Sunday), Norm Parisi (his 75th on Sunday), Brent Fred Jr. (10 years old Sunday), Stephen M. Stouter (4 on Monday), Katie Hillock (a teenager on Monday), Mary Elisabeth Rustowicz (5 on Tuesday), and Lance Kohn (65 on Wednesday).
Looking Back 100 years - Earliest members of the Buffalo Launch Club purchased an old clubhouse on Squaw Island for $300 with probably no thought of building on the East River here just two years later.
Looking Back 50 years - The Card Party and Fashion Show at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in April 1954 was chaired by Mrs. Alexander Selle. Commentator was Alice Strauss, music was under the direction of Mrs. Donald Flessing, and Charlotte Bruce handled the publicity.• • • •Islanders Elizabeth Roth (Moon) and Carol Kaegebein (Gates) had the highest averages, 95.68 and 95.64 respectively, at Tonawanda High School and served as Valedictorian and Salutatorian for Tonawanda's Class of 1954.• • • •Marshall Sawdey, Arthur Killian, Henry Killian, Carlton Killian, Harold B. Long, Hans Boettcher and Arthur Bowlen of the Trinity Greys won a 2nd place trophy in the five-man team division of their bowling league. High average bowler in the league was Carlton Killian, his brother, Henry, was 3rd and Rev. J. Franklin Beck was #2 man for high triples.• • • •Connie Godfrey (Millikan) won first place in a baton twirling contest in Lockport.
Looking Back 40 years - Paul Houck and former town supervisor George Burgstahler held a grand opening for their new Esso Station on the Boulevard next to the Clown House, with entertainment by the Norma Ferrara dancers.• • • •The
miniature train and station in Beaver Island State Park, a Rotary Club project chaired by Bob Beach, was nearly ready for operation.
• • • •Dale Heimlich, Midwest Conference 500-yard free style swimming champion, was tossing weights for the Monmouth Track Team in the spring of 1964.
• • • •Bob and Elizabeth Beach hosted a painting party in their nearly completed community building on Fix Road and Legion Drive. Among the painters were Harold Doerr and Ann and Ted Goodman.• • • •Heading up the Little League Auxiliary in the spring of 1964 were President Betty Jane Harding, 1st Vice President Shirley Shackleton, and Secretary Dorothy Ragnar. Other officers installed at a party in the Knights of Columbus Hall were Sally Suttor, Melly McDonnell, Frances Gaston, Joan Boss. Betty Wunsch, Barbara Bagdy, Phyllis Rush and Shirley Hurd.
Looking Back 30 years - High School students Walter Hughes, Tom Yuhas, Alan Daily, Paul Zoltoski, Beth Walker (Boron), Jocelyn Tartock, Sal Andolina, Judd Cady, Chris Early, Barb LiVecchi (Lyke), Kathy Wilson (Ballester) and Jamie Pultz were among those taking part in the school's production of "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" on May 2-3, 1974.
Looking Back 20 years - The south end of the Island was without power for up to 12 hours when a wind storm on April 30, 1984 hit Grand Island, knocking down trees and power lines.
Do you need a lift? Weather got you down? A new stylish haircut for men or women (children, too), can do wonders for your state of mind, and Ingrid Kinney's staff at Wavelengths can give you that new look you may be after. The shop is located at 2289 Grand Island Blvd. and the number to call for an appointment is 773-2946. "It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com."
Our sympathy to the families of Dorothy Evans and Gerda J. Miller who died recently. Click for
Death Notices.
Grand Island High School sophomore Alexi Salamon, youngest member ever of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, just returned from Sweden where the team won a silver medal competing in the Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships. This qualified them for a spot on the 2006 Olympic Team. Congratulations Alexi! Click for
Alexi Salamon Story.
The Island PTA Council and the Connections Program will sponsor an Open Town Forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening in the Grand Island High School Large Cafeteria. The focus will be on "How can we help make Grand Island a safer place for our youth?" Click http://www.safehomes.org/safehomes/index.html
River Lea Quilters Guild members are sponsoring their "Fantasy In Bloom" Quilt Show in the Veronica Connor Middle School this Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5. Click Quilt Show for hours and complete details.• • • •The Little League's Opening Day, originally scheduled for this Saturday, has been postponed to Saturday, May 8 due to field conditions.
Please help if you possibly can. The family and friends of Meaghan Grotz are reaching out to the community to ask for support for "Meaghan's Miracle" to help Meaghan fund a double lung transplant. A junior honor student at the high school, she has been inducted into the National Honor Society and was a member of the GIHS Wind Ensemble and played varsity tennis until her cystic fibrosis forced her to stop. For more information on Meaghan who is seriously ill, click "Meaghan's Miracle."
Hats off to Frank Brusino, a guest at the invitation-only visit by President George W. Bush on Tuesday, and, as far as we know, the only guest from Grand Island, NY. Frank is chairman of the Grand Island Citizens Corps Council. The Council, which is miles ahead of any other town/city in the state, began with a first meeting called by Supervisor Peter McMahon on June 5, 2003 and has made major strides in accomplishing its goals. Island residents are encouraged to get involved. For story on Frank meeting the president, click President's Visit.
A speedy recovery to Honey "Austin" Atkins! Received a note from Honey's daughter, Cindy "Austin" Zurek, who wrote that her mom has had emergency quadruple by-pass surgery and some medical setbacks, but is home and on the road to recovery. Cards and get well wishes may be emailed to Honey at GGHON725@aol.com or mailed to her address: 2141 Burning Tree Circle, Sebring, FL 33872.
Did your family get together on Easter Sunday? This large group (be sure to click the little photo) belongs to Al Bykowicz and his late wife, Delores. The 16 grandchildren and great grandchildren, who range in age from 31 years to 38 days old, are the offspring of the five Bykowicz kids - Barb, Carol, Diane, Jeff and Patty. There are actually 19, however three were missing when the annual Easter Day photo was taken in front of Al's home on Stony Point Road.
Congratulations to Patrick McMahon and his wife, Mary Grace on the birth of a new baby girl. Paige Delaney McMahon was born Tuesday morning (April 20th) in Lakeport, California weighing six pounds, eight ounces and is 19 inches long. Paige will be welcomed home by her sister, Helen, 2 1/2. Proud Isle grandparents are Peter and Mary McMahon.
Dave Ziehm of Ziehm Real Estate
Looking Back 60 years - Tom Batsford was busy remodeling the "Corner Stand," now the Beach House, in an effort to open by May 1.
Looking Back 50 years - First vaccinations were given during the week of Monday, April 26, 1954 to 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students in Grand Island schools who participated in the Polio Vaccine Testing Program.• • • •Town Attorney Walter Merwin was directed by the town board to draft a resolution opposing the proposed Army Base location along West River Parkway between Staley and Whitehaven roads. Board members said that all indications pointed to a permanent installation being constructed in that area of Grand Island's choicest waterfront.• • • • The husbands took over the April 1954 PTA program under the chairmanship of Fred Strother at Kaegebein School. The piece-de-resistance was a humorous skit, "The Males Must Come Through," a take-off of a typical PTA meeting. The cast included Ted Strauss, Charles Sloan, Bill Pinkow, Ted Klingel, Howard Reimann, William Robinson, Earle Saunders, Ben Titterington and last but not least, Heber Ashley who did an uproariously funny impersonation of Miss Veronica Connor, school principal.
Looking Back 40 years - Stephen Wadon was elected president of the Grand Island Motor Court Association. Others elected in the spring of 1954 were Vice President Walter Matthies, Secretary Gladys Harnett and Treasurer Dorothy Matthies.• • • •Nearly 800 attended groundbreaking ceremonies Sunday, April 26, 1964 for the new $300,000 Trinity Evangelical United Brethren Church on Whitehaven Road.• • • •Bowling in the Grand Island Belles League at Island Lanes in April 1964, Kay Haller walloped out a big 192 and Smoky Roberts came through with a 175 for Lippen's Grill but Peg's Pins sneaked out three points with the help of Bernie Callahan's 181. Betty Magnuson had a 166 for Lippens. Jackie Filosofos hit a 180 and Ann Lichtenthal, 169 for Les Wheeler's team.• • • •Paul Houck and George Burgstahler held a grand opening for their new Esso Station on the Boulevard next to the Clown House with entertainment by the Norma Ferrara dancers.
Looking Back 30 years - Among the Town Recreation kite flying contest winners in the spring of 1974 were Debbie DeGlopper (Robinson), largest kite; Lori Webb, most patriotic kite; Allen Webb, highest flying kite; Cindy Bleich, first kite in air; and Billy DeGlopper, best home-made kite.• • • •Huth Road PTA Honorary Life Membership Awards were presented to Maxine Ridge and Shirley Jankowski in April 1974.
Happy birthday to Conner Trieskey (6 today), Samantha Mae Banas (13 today), Genna Baldassare (5 years old today), Mark Daniel Ramsperger (first birthday today), Mae Klocke (today), Carol Nogle and Linda Kutzbach (tomorrow), Marion Long Young (97 tomorrow), Paula Miller (cheers on Saturday), Brad Robinson and Mary O'Brien (Saturday), Jade Greenwood (21 on Sunday), Robert Bruce (60 on Monday), Carol Warcheck, Rita Hagerman and Robert Goris (Wednesday), Harry Lorence (his 70th on Wednesday), and Victor "V.J." Freeman Jr. (his 4th birthday on Wednesday).
Sidway School art teacher, Theresa Barnack, and her students who were featured at the February 2004 New York State Art Teachers Association Student Art Show, are pictured in the New York State Art Teachers Association spring newsletter. Congratulations to the young artists MaryKate Petz, Natalie Henderson, Taylor Latvala, Eric Ackerman Jr., Melissa Ullrich, Devon Perri, Mark Valle and Kathryn Gentz. Click Sidway School for the complete story.
Nancy and Arnold in front of their "retirement boat." Click to see full picture.
Long-time residents Arnold and Nancy Colbert are celebrating their 40th anniversary on Sunday, April 25th. Best wishes to Arnold and Nancy, and thanks to their son, Dave and daughter, Michelle for the photo and information.• • • •A very happy anniversary to Russell and Lynn Wuertzer who were married 15 years ago today, to Pat and Don Bachert who will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday and to Jack and Linda Krok, married 20 years on April 28th.• • • •And speaking of anniversaries,
John Fleming and his wife, Gail celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in February. John, who lived on the Island from 1932 to 1984 and was a member of Charlotte Sidway School's 8th grade graduating class of 1947, has just left a message in our
Guestbook.
Our sympathy to the families of Alice R. Watkins, Robert J. Hackett, Mike Strope, Marian L. Maurer, James G. Nice and former resident William Wietan who died recently. Click for their Death Notices.
Since posting the feature story on the Clown House in the March 25, 2004 edition of the Grand Island E-News, I've added three additional memories submitted by Sandra Watkins, GIHS Class of 1971, Randy White, GIHS Class of 1970 and my brother-in-law, John Linenfelser, GIHS Class of 1966. Click Clown House Chaper II for their nostalgic reminiscence.• • • •In regard to the April 8th Edgewater Park story, former resident Tom Duncan of Novi, MI wrote to say that he worked at Creighton's, as a bus-boy, many Friday night fish fries, and
occasional weekends cooking up "live lobsters" in the back for party and
catering jobs. He needed "working papers" and assumes he was employed there from 1958 - 1960. "It was the place to be on Friday's from 6-10 p.m.," Tom said. "Prior to that, I worked for the Theater Barn (Grand Island Playhouse), on the corner of Baseline
and Bedell, directing traffic and parking cars."
The deadline for reserving space at the Grand Crafts On the Island Craft Show scheduled for June 26-27th at the center of town is drawing near. Click Grand Crafts for complete details.
Summer begins just eight weeks from Monday. That must mean that we are due for some beautiful spring weather! Enjoy your weekend.
Denise Joanne Debbie
Happy birthday to Denise Klizek, Joanne Podlucky and Debbie Study, who are celebrating the same milestone birthdays this week. All Grand Island High School graduates, Denise was born on the 15th, Joanne on the 20th and Debbie on the 21st.
Erie County Sheriff's Detective Fred Vincent has reported what could have been a very serious incident involving young Island children. Please click "Warn Your Children" for the story.
Jackie Filosofos has just arrived on the Island for a well deserved vacation and is staying with her daughter, Denise. She'll be here for about a week for those who would like to get in touch with her.
Connor Middle School 7th grader Michael Rustowicz was the first to identify Larry Norton, disc jockey for 97 Rock and won a Takeo Spikes autographed jersey while visiting Wendy's on the Island this week. Congratulations, Mike.
Best wishes to Bob and Val Fraser on their 25th wedding anniversary. The Frasers were married April 20, 1979.• • • •
The engagement of Julie Marie Rathman to Adam Scott Barrett has been announced by her parents, Ralph and Judy Rathman. A graduate of Grand Island High School, Julie is a program instructor at Autistic Services Inc.
Received a nice note this week from former resident Caryl (Denler) Kershner who wrote me regarding some awards that her longtime friend, Toni Colley, recently received. Caryl, now living in Florida, and Toni of California, attended grade school together on Grand Island. Click Islanders In The News for the story.
Looking Back 60 years - Grand Island was suffering somewhat of an epidemic of fires in unoccupied buildings, especially along the river banks in the spring of 1944. Suggested was the town board rule it be mandatory for all unaccompanied groups of children to register at the bridge so there would be a record of their presence on the Island and for signs posted at the bridges warning people of the dangers of unattended fires. This was never enacted.
Looking Back 50 years - The annual trip to the Shrine Circus over Easter vacation for the Island's 4th, 5th and 6th graders took place on April 20, 1954 when school buses transported the kids to the Memorial Auditorium. The Shrine Daddies provided the tickets, Cracker Jacks and arrangements. Grand Island Shriners President Earl Blampin supervised the trip.• • • •Taking part in the Tonawanda Children's Chorus production of "Hansel and Gretel" on April 20, 1954 in the Col. Payne School in North Tonawanda were Island students, Daralene Meyers (Jones), Johnny Meyers, Diane Meyers (Krause), Marilyn Ford (Fortner), Judy Bea Daggett, Donna Senf (Carroll), Genie Daggett (Ritthaler) and Karen Donovan (Schroeder).
Looking Back 40 years - Teen Village was opened for the first time to young people 13-20 on Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, 1964 on Whitehaven Road near Grand Island Blvd. (now True Value Hardware). An advertisement listed "listening and dancing to some of the country's top name bands right here in town." The doors opened Friday at 7:30 p.m. and that first week featured the Pepsi Four, the Soul Brothers, and Grand Island's own Isle Tones with band leader Lowell Anderson. Ron McNamee was manager and owners then were Edward Arnst and Frank Anastasi.• • • •A meeting of the Grand Island Taxpayers Association on April 22, 1964 featured speaker Miran Viher discussing the proposed International Music Festival in Buckhorn State Park.
Looking Back 30 years - Jean and Skip Powers opened their new bike shop on Grand Island Blvd. at Webb Road.
Looking back 25 years - Don Less accepted the Grand Prix trophy awarded posthumously to his father Joe Less during the Niagara Frontier Boat Racing Association's annual awards banquet April 7, 1979. Joe's "Mama's Mink," driven by Jerry Hawley, defeated Gordy Reed's "Miss Jenny" in October 1978 in one of the most exciting races ever staged in the Niagara River off Isle View Park.
Looking Back 20 years - Dawn Russell was installed Beloved Queen of Aries Triangle on April 12, 1984 in the Masonic Temple on Ferry Road along with Senior Lady Danielle Martinez, Junior Lady Darlene Russell, Guardian Debbie Couch and Chaplain Heather Liddell.
Best wishes and happy birthday to Marilyn Couch (her 75th today), Carole Linenfelser (today), Jay Joslyn (30 on Saturday), Hailey Nowak (10 on Saturday), Rob Kopf (the big 3-0 on Saturday), Andrew Stange (a teenager on Sunday), Mark Hassan (Sunday), Lisa Linenfelser and Lela Mancuso (Monday), Cassidy Ann Smith (10 on Monday), Joan Howe and Margaret Villano (Tuesday), Jessica Martina and Andrew Fix (entering their teens on Tuesday), Jacob McMahon (8 on Tuesday) and Kim Domagala (Wednesday).
Click and check out Isledegrande advertiser Tim Mordaunt's Mediation Center website and give him a chance to be of assistance to you. It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com.
Ken and Ann Strott are the proud parents of a new baby girl, Sheila Kathleen Strott, born February 8, 2004 weighing seven pounds, three ounces. Sheila Kathleen has one brother Luke, 6, and two sisters, Elizabeth, 4 and Mary Helen, 1. Grandparents are Sheila Walker of Grand Island and former residents George and Carolyn Strott of New Port Richey, Florida. The baby is also the granddaughter of the late Donald Walker.
Our sympathy to the families of Douglas Henderson, Harold "Beaver" Schrutt, and Linda Peate who died recently. Click for their Death Notices.
Administrative Professionals Day - formerly Secretary's Day - is this coming Wednesday, April 21st. Why not shop on the Island at Flower A
Day Florist on Whitehaven Road. Owner Sue Berger has it all - bouquets of flowers, pretty plants, and delicious
fruit baskets and candy. Click for Sue 's website or stop by the store to look around. "Thanks for advertising at Isledegrande.com, Sue!"
The Grand Island Historical Society's headquarters, River Lea in Beaver Island Park will be open on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. An American Red Cross blood drive is scheduled from 1-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 20th at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Walk-in donors are most welcomed or call Vienna Haak, 774-0494 for an appointment.• • • •The Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year event held on April 1st will be televised on Saturday at noon on Adelphia Channel 13.
Former resident Michele Beauchamp, now living in Lubbock, TX, had a great time visiting the Island last week and seeing everyone. While enjoying the Lenten Fish Fry at St. Stephen's last Friday, she became the lucky winner of the 50/50 split drawing. "Was nice to have some extra cash to spend at the outlet mall," she said. Way to go, Michele! I just loved Michele's parting comment in her email - "Thanks so much for all the great scoops every week!"• • • •Veronica E. Connor Middle School math teacher William Brodie was married Saturday to Amy Ward. Best wishes newlyweds.
Happy birthday to Joey Beauchamp (8 years old yesterday), James Rustowicz (9 today), Trevor Matte (a teenager today), Vincent Alfred George Ricotta (first birthday today), Nancy Amato (You're how old tomorrow?), Mary Ann Arsenault (tomorrow), Rhett Bradley Robinson (3 tomorrow), Bob Clement (85 on Saturday), Dorothy Dillemuth, Stew Becker and Dodie Meyer (Saturday), Evan Daniel Ackerman (first birthday on Saturday), Andrew Cerrillo (a teenager on Sunday), Brian Ruotsi and our granddaughter Amy Bidell (entering their teens on Monday), Marsha Hammond (best wishes for a grand birthday on Monday), Max Hyland (11 on Monday), Sue Kupiec (Monday), Chuck Markarian (cheers on Monday), Nicole Butcher (mini milestone Tuesday) and Michelle Becker (10 on Wednesday).
Would you take a look at the picture in the Old Photo Album of the committee to elect Eric Reimann, circa 1977 and let me know who you think the unidentified woman is? Bev Mikulski suggests that it is Betty Trianda, but I don't think so. Email me at teddy@giecom.net if you know who she is. Thanks to Bev for identifying Jean Wholahan in the same photo.
Congratulations to bowler Mike Johnson on his fantastic win. Mike won the New York State Masters championship last week at the Rapids Bowling Center in Niagara Falls.• • • •
Congratulations, Kevin Kloesz! Kevin bowled a 287 Tuesday night with the Labatt's Men's League at Island Lanes.
Looking Back 60 years - A total of $724 was raised at a dance sponsored by the Grand Island Office of Civilian Protection in the firehall in April 1944. The dance committee, under the direction of Frank Klocke, was composed of Helen and Leon Peck, Ed Kruse, Rose Blampin, Irma Rechelt, Kenneth Winters, Ed Ball, Horace French and Dr. DeWitt Bell.
Looking Back 50 years - Edna and Art Killian of East River Road, on a combined business/pleasure trip to Kansas City, unexpectedly had lunch in the dining car of the train with former President Harry Truman and Mrs. Truman.
Looking Back 40 years - Children in Mrs. Dempsey's first grade at Sidway School presented a play, "The Magic Egg," on March 24, 1964. The cast included Keith Kinney as Papa Bunny, Hilary Hillock (Balderas) as Mama Bunny, Maureen McDonnell, Greg Golonka and Charles McDonough as the children, Brian Lewis as Mr. Feathers and Kathy Michalowski as Mrs. Feathers.• • • •Town employment of a full time psychological social worker, provision for temporary employment of town youth and the possible construction of a youth center were recommendations made by the Grand Island Youth Advisory Committee to curb juvenile delinquency and aid in avoiding school dropouts.• • • •The new North Grand Island Bridge was 40% complete with a perfect 'no construction accident' record.• • • •A huge pile of railroad ties in front of Christ Kruse's house on Baseline Road in April 1964 was for the train track being constructed in Beaver Island State Park for a miniature train, a Grand Island Rotary Club project. Fares collected for train rides would benefit the Club's community projects funds.
Looking Back 35 years - Double sessions at the high school were discontinued right after Easter vacation when the new Middle School opened April 14, 1969.
Looking Back 30 years - The Edgewater Hotel collapsed due to old age. Click
Edgewater Feature for today's feature story and photos of Edgewater Park.• • • • Tom Ott, Jim Davis and Lee Zeplowitz of Boy Scout Troop #254 achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Scoutmaster Marvin Juhl and former Scoutmaster Tom Ott took part in the presentation.• • • •Spending spring break in Spain with their Grand Island High School Spanish teacher Miss Deborah Ambrosini were Wendy Marshall, Joanne Soares, Barbara Fritschi, Vala Couch (O'Boyle), Wayne Miller, Eddie Little Jr. and Paul Zoltoski. Students Mark Ace and Jeff Wroblewski traveled to Germany.
Looking Back 25 years - The first Masonic Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast was held in the Buffalo Launch Club on April 8, 1979.
Looking Back 20 years - Jack West held his formal opening of Jackson Music on April 14, 1984.
Nearly half of Grand Island's high school graduates of 1963 attended Tonawanda High School and that Class of '63 has just posted a website. Check out Tonawanda Class of '63.
Do you have any photos of the Bedell House that you would be willing to share? Scan them and send them to me. Even snap shots taken inside the Bedell House could be very interesting for all of us who hold such great memories for the place. Email me at teddy@giecom.net.
Don Burns
Our sympathy to the families of Vito Lavango Sr. and Janice A. Roche who died recently. Click for their
Death Notices.
"Butch's Famous Perch Fish Fry at the VFW begins at 4 p.m. tomorrow afternoon when dinners will be served until the catch is gone.• • • •
Easter Brunch will be served from 7 a.m. to noon at McMahon's Family Restaurant which will be closed on Monday, April 12th. Easter Brunch will be served at the Holiday Inn Grand Island by reservation. River Oaks Club House Restaurant will be open for Easter Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Happy Easter. Really hope it is a beautiful day for everyone.
A 16-year-old Grand Island High School honor student is desperately ill with cystic fibrosis and CF-related diabetes. The good news for Meaghan Ann Grotz and her family is that she has been evaluated by a team of experts at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is fit for a double lung transplant. Meaghan has written her own story and I ask you to read it and help the Grotz family with the major medical expenses that go along with this very serious operation. Please click Meaghan's Story - and keep Meaghan in your prayers.
Town Recreation Director Linda Tufillaro hopes all of the Island's youngsters will be at Tops Market for the "Visit The Easter Bunny" event from 10:30 a.m. to noon this Saturday.
Did you see the little clock on our front page? It's there to remind you to turn your clocks ahead Saturday night.
It must be spring! Adrian's Custard & Beef opened this week in the Grand Island Plaza. For hours, menu and anything else you want to know about Adrian's, click
Adrian's
Website.
Marge and Dan Robillard are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary today and wished a lifetime of happiness together.
Happy birthday to Dave Kaiser (today), Ray Bidell (drum roll tomorrow), Madison Green (6 tomorrow), Brian Robinson, Dawn Hillock and Linda Coppola (Saturday), Theresa Velma West (4 on Sunday), Zoe Dodd (9 on Sunday), Natalie Baldassare (8 on Sunday), Adele Cole (cheers on Sunday), Linda Burkhart and Marianne Rodgers (Sunday), Barbara Burns (special greetings on Monday), Nicholas Andrew Ratajczak (two on Tuesday) and George Minton (75 on Wednesday).
Several New York State safe boating courses are being offered on the Island. For information, click Safe Boating Courses.
Louise and Wayne Weis of Marjorie Drive along with their children, Elena, 9 and Mitchell, 7, will be taking part in the Walk for the March of Dimes on Sunday, April 25th in downtown Buffalo. Wayne, whose family has set a goal of $500, is encouraging friends on the Island to join them in their effort to raise money for this worthy cause. Click www.walkamerica.org/woody1960 for details on how to donate through the website.
Looking Back 50 years - Dexter Lewis was in charge of tickets and Elmer Kaegebein was general chairman of the Fellowcraft Club of Grand Island Lodge 1138 F & AM roast beef dinner in the Buffalo Launch Club on April 6, 1954.• • • •Members of the Army encampments of the Island were attending fire drills with the Grand Island Fire Company members on Monday nights.• • • •Edward M. Ball was elected president of the Holy Name Society of St. Stephen's Church. Also elected were Vice President Edward G. Weiser Jr., Secretary Dennis Ahearn, and Treasurer Eugene Bucher.• • • •The Grand Island Town Board's reaction in April 1954 to the proposed U. S. Army base location between Staley and Whitehaven roads was No thank you.
Looking Back 40 years - Pvt. Edward R. Hardison, son of Edna and Edward W. Hardison of Bedell Road, completed US Army Military Police Training.• • • •Gil Magrum won the season "high gun trophy" on Sunday, April 5, 1964 in the final round of the Buffalo Industrial Skeet League competition at the Buffalo Trap and Field Club. Gil turned in a perfect score of 50 thereby outdistancing his closest challengers by hitting 491 out of a possible 500 targets over the last 10 weeks. He also won the Al Boyd trophy at the Grand Island shootoff. Fran Brobeil and Hollis Boss also had perfect 50 targets at the Trap and Field Club.• • • •Larry and Ed Nacke and Tom Frampton were the high scorers for the Bible Presbyterian Church Basketball Team tht won first place for the 2nd year in a row in the Youthtime League. Also on the team, coached by Rev. Bob Vandermey, were Charles Frampton, Ken Schearer, Alan Lee, Dale Richardson, Ron Richardson, Gary Richardson and Kevin Carr.• • • •Grade school students Mike Rayhill, and his sister, Christine and Ike Alliger and his sister, Mary participated in a Wurlitzer organ demonstration at the Buffalo Homes Show Monday, April 6, 1964.
Looking Back 30 years - The Grand Island Figure Skating Club, organized in 1967, had 54 families in its membership in 1974, including 160 children ages 4-18 years. Eugene Bondar was president.• • • •Jaycees Easter Egg hunt winners on April 6, 1974 were Patricia Riccotta, 3 of Jeffrey Drive; Chip Cantey, 6, of Baseline Road; Mary Anderson, 8, of West Park; and Margaret Englert, 12 of West Oakfield Road. Jaycee member Vince Letta was chairman of the annual event.• • • •Following tryouts for the Modern Dance Club's show, Donnette Hennigar (Rayhill) was chosen for the soloist's performance. Picked for duets were Barb Coulter (Krause) and Nancy Dienst, Jan Harris and Jane Stricker, Patty Mondich (Brown) and Cheryl Samrany (Caleri), and Michelle Allaire and DeDe Bonsack. The show was held April 4, 1974.• • • •It was during the first week of April 1974 that the once famous Edgewater Hotel began to collapse. (photo and story next week!)
Looking Back 20 years - All attendance records were broken when the PTSA-sponsored Video Dance Company presentation took place March 23, 1984. A rope was strung to keep the 500 kids back far enough to see the 10-foot screen clearly and protect equipment from vibrations caused by their enthusiastic participation.• • • •Members of the Grand Island Fire Company had their hands full on Saturday morning, April 7, 1984 when 21 cars and a tractor trailer collided on the ice-covered south bridge.
Congratulations to Pat Garvey on his fabulous 300 game (713) while bowling with the Labatts Men's League at
Mallwitz's Island Lanes on Tuesday night.
Our sympathy to the families of Mark J. Coffey, Harrison Rogers Sr. and Frank Del Signore Sr. who died recently. Click for their
Death Notices.
A memorial service for Kate Cady will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 10th at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 371 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.
Best wishes to Dr. Ernest J. Hoefner and his bride, the former Dr. Lucia Marin who were married Saturday in Christ the King Chapel at Canisius College. Dr. Hoefner is the son of Dolores F. Hoefner of Grand Island and Ernest L. Hoefner of Naples, Florida.
Looking for a good, used boat to spend the summer on? Dan Stedman's pre-owned boat page is up and running on his Blue Water Marina website. Click for more information on the marina located at 340 East River Road in Ferry Village. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
The Masons' 34th annual Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast is being held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Buffalo Launch Club. Click Masonic Lodge Page for more information.
Just heard Pat Kratz is having some health problems. Get-well cards may be sent to her home. "We're wishing you a speedy recovery, Pat!"
What were you doing between 8:56 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday morning? Grand Island's finest, all unpaid members of the Grand Island Fire Company, responded to five emergency calls in an hour's time. Click for the "full story" by longtime member and PR person, Ray Pauley.
Parishioners of Trinity Church will host a very special benefit concert for the Mark Lange family at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow evening (Fri., March 26). Click Trinity Page for more information.
Donna Robinson is engaged to be married. Her future groom-to-be, Jim Janssen, proposed on Day 18 out of an 18 day rafting/jkayaking trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. "I rowed he kayaked," Donna said. She's throwing him a surprise wedding in Wisconsin on August 14th, with a follow-up surprise party in Alaska on Aug. 21, "for our community." Donna, a GIHS graduate of the Class of 1973, lives in Girdwood, Alaska.
I've gotten two requests for information on a GIHS Class of 1989 15-year reunion. Is this in the works? Let me know and I'll be glad to post a Class of '89 reunion information page under "Reunions."
Just a reminder to friends of Ted and Jackie Filosofos. Ted, who has been hospitalized for nearly six weeks, is home and both would probably appreciate hearing from friends. Their address is 5568 SW 24th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312.
Happy birthday to Michael Christopher Brown (7 today), Nancy Sandford and John DeGlopper (today), Eleanor Robinson (Hurray! It's today!), Cheryl Chamberlain (tomorrow), Morgan Green (10 on Sunday), Annalea Masiello (Sunday), Keith Sciandra (cheers on Sunday), Sarah McMahon (21 on Monday), Allison Dinsmore, Carmen Hau and Jay Martin (Wednesday) and Janet Osborn (95 on Wednesday).
Looking Back 50 years - The Island finally had two doctors when Dr. and Mrs. George Ubel moved to East Park Road on March 28, 1954.• • • •Ernest Hoefner, of Winkler Dr., a sophomore at Riverside High School, won the city championship 100 yard Freestyle in the All-High meet in Buffalo with a time of 57.9.• • • •A second Boy Scout troop, Troop 254, was formed on the Island with Wilfred "Bill" Vanthoff remaining scoutmaster of Troop 75 and Arthur Fancher becoming scoutmaster of the new Troop.• • • •Sixty-six young people went on a very cold hayride Friday night, March 26, 1954. The event was sponsored by the Young People's Fellowship of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the "spring" hayride temperature was in the 30s. Three wagons engineered by Red Yensan traveled down Whitehaven Road to East River, back up Ransom and down Stony Pt. to Bedell and from there along Baseline to the Church. Hot chocolate, cookies and cupcakes were served in the Undercroft of the Chapel after the ride and the kids danced to polka records.
Looking Back 40 years - A 28-room motel was being constructed by Joseph Drago on Grand Island Boulevard next to Bells IGA Market. The building is still there, almost across from the Burger King Restaurant.• • • • Islander Vince Staley of Whitehaven Road was responsible for all of the artwork and design for Krazy Kastle Amusement Center at the New York World's Fair.• • • •Amanda Price was cafeteria manager of Grand Island schools.
Looking Back 30 years - Glyn Lipp, a junior and Mike Mesmer, a senior at the high school were selected by the Division III basketball coaches for the Division III All-Star Team. Both scored over 200 points during the season while also retrieving more than 200 rebounds apiece.
If you enjoy reading our Grand Island E-News, please support our advertisers. Serenade Music Services
Brian Michael Faix and his bride, the former Christina Irene Baker were married Saturday in California. Brian, the son of David and Diane Faix and a Grand Island High
School graduate, is United Airlines operations manager at Los Angeles International Airport.
Thanks to all who contributed to the Clown House article and thank you to
Bobby Wright, the man who opened the place in 1955 and provided me with some of the pictures. The story appears on our Features page.
Congratulations to Jeff Ehde on his 299 (794) game Tuesday night at Mallwitz's Island Lanes. Jeff bowls with the Labatts Men's League.• • • •
Congratulations again to Grand Island High School graduate Bill Schultz who had 33 kills for the D'Youville Men's Volleyball Team (14-12) when they won the fourth game, 32-30, for a 3-1 victory over Findlay (Ohio).
Former resident Robert "Harry" Milkas is still recuperating from severe injuries sustained in a May 2003 auto accident in Albany. Cards, letters and encouraging words from his friends would be very much appreciated. His address is Albany County Nursing Home, Robert H. Milkas - Room 207, 780 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211-1089. For those of you who know his mother, Ethel Milkas, a former Island resident, she would no doubt appreciate hearing from old friends who can lift her spirits. Her address is 328 County Rte. 101, Selkirk, NY 12158.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Adrian Pollock, Alma Hill, and Peter Mayo who passed away this week. Former Island resident Kay Harrison died in September 2003. Click for complete Death Notices.
Congratulations to the Lady Vikings Soccer Team and their coach, David Bowman. The girls won their second championship at the Third Annual Fredonia State Indoor Soccer Tournament.• • • •Congratulations also to the Grand Island Lady Vikings Basketball Team on reaching the Class A Far West Regionals. The girls were coached by Jenepher Banker.
Love to read? Click Friends Of Library Webpage for complete information on this weekend's Friends of the Library's Used Book Sale.• • • •Members of Boy Scout Troop 630 at St. Stephen's will hold their annual Spaghetti Dinner from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday in St. Stephen's cafetorium.• • • •The Lions Club's annual Spaghetti dinner takes place at the Holiday Inn from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday.• • • •
Click our Calendar of Events for a complete scheduled of Island happenings. Organizations, take note. Send me your events and I will inform the general public in more ways than you can imagine! Just email to teddy@giecom.net.• • • •Enjoy the spring weekend!
Photo taken on Baseline near Bush Road 7:30 a.m. today! Click photo for a larger view.
Tuesday's storm turned out to be a bit more than was predicted with 14.7 inches recorded at the Buffalo Airport. Our building had a pool to see who would guess the snowfall at our front door on Wednesday morning. The winner was Jodi Hayes Robinson who had the highest guess of eight inches. Doing the measuring was Dan McMahon, who said the snow was anywhere from 7 1/2 to twelve inches here on Whitehaven.
Detectives Fred C. Vincent, Douglas Burke and Terence Guenot have written an interesting letter which is posted on the "Viewpoints" page. It certainly hurts to find out a friend or loved one has done wrong but the problems will only continue if wrong-doers are let off the hook!
Our sincere sympathy to the family of longtime Islander Ed Pfohl who died this week. Click for Death Notice.• • • •Robert McTiernan, a member of Grand Island Rod & Gun Club, passed away on Monday.
Isledegrande.com staffer Jodi Hayes Robinson received an interesting note from Mitch Robinson (no relation) which we'd like to share with you. Mitch writes, "I just wanted to drop you a note about a weird coincidence. I recently joined the faculty at Michigan State University, and found another Islander, Michael Kroth, Class of 1982, had joined the faculty a year earlier. We both teach in the same School of Music. Mike teaches bassoon and I am in music teacher education. Although there are 75+ faculty in the School of Music, what are the odds that two of us would be from the same high school, and from so far away? We believe that this is a real testament to the quality of music education we received from the GI schools, and are sure that the great music teachers (such as Sherman Lyke, Clark Elliott, Manny Alvarez and Al Ripley) we had the good fortune to study with on Grand Island had everything to do with our successes over the years." Mitchell Robinson, Ph.D., a member of the GIHS Class of 1976, is the Assistant Professor of Music Education, Coordinator of Student Teaching in Music, School of Music, Michigan State University. His email address is mrob@msu.edu.
Congratulations to Grand Island High School freshman Ian O'Rourke who placed second out of 39 divers at the New York State Championships and has attained High School All-American status. Ian's proud coach is Terry Butler.
• • • •Congratulations to Mike Feathers on winning the Nike Indoor Championships Pentathlon over the weekend. The event is billed as the nation's premier indoor high school event.
• • • •Congratulations to three-year-old Jaidan Hiam who recently won the overall Sunburst Little Queen competition. Click Islanders for her complete story and pictures.
A very happy 50th birthday to Debbie Billica celebrating today and to Linda Trippy also having cake today. Happy birthday to Rachel Morgan (her 18th tomorrow), Byron Cole (a milestone tomorrow), Bill Tanner (tomorrow), Joe Cinelli (cheers on Saturday), Ian Cap and Jim Stockman (Saturday), Sarah Berlinger (3 on Saturday), Evelina Schopp (her 95th on Saturday), Meredith Ruland (7 on Sunday), Julie Bonnevie and Carol Galbreath (Monday), and Jill Proctor (a big one on Tuesday). A belated happy birthday to Nancy Anderson who celebrated yesterday.
Looking Back 50 years - The American Legion Post #1346 finished first in the "B" division of the Erie County Membership Drive by returning 161% of its quota. Credit for a new all-time high of 98 members for the post was given to the membership committee of Mike Meyer, Ken Maurer, Regis Shannon, John Lyden, Richard Meyer
and Bob Kaiser.• • • •Elizabeth Jean "Libby" Smith of Love Road performed at the Jr. Student Program of the Chromatic Club of Buffalo on Monday evening March 22, 1954. The 8th grader sang "Hedgerose" and "When I Was 17."• • • •Henry M. (Nick) Mager, proprietor of Mager's Grill, now the Village Inn on Ferry Road, was "elected" mayor of Ferry Village on Sunday, March 21, 1954. Nick received 291 votes to Louis Meyer's 22 votes in the very unofficial balloting.
Looking Back 40 years - The decision was made that the new Grand Island Jr. Sr. High School athletic teams would be known as the Vikings.• • • •Rotary Club members elected Jack Prentice as their president for 1964-65.
Looking Back 30 years - The Fire Company held a ground breaking ceremony at 10 a.m. March 23, 1974 for its Stony Point Road truck house.• • • •Good samaritans Terry McDonnell, Ron Fields, Tim Grotz and Mike Rodriguez played a large part in the rescue of several people from an apartment fire in Amherst 30 years ago.• • • •Earning the highest rating, 6A+, during the Erie County Music Educators annual senior high school festival March 20-21, 1974 were Grand Island High School orchestra members Amy Heist, Sal Andolina, Beth Walker and Bob Zoeckler. Band member Rom Figler also received an 6A+ rating.• • • •The Zonta Club's annual antique show and sale was held March 23-24, 1974 in the Beaver Island Casino. Committee members included Reva Kohn, Catherine DiVizio, Betty Trianda, Shirley Runions, Gladys Harnett, Veronica Connor, Betty Wheeler, Jessie Jean Buehrig, Edith Godfrey, Eleanor Campbell, Mabel French, Vera Reiner, Marilyn Couch and Ruth Horner.
Speaking of the Zonta Club's Antique Show in Look Back above,
we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Club's annual show and sale last Saturday at River Oaks. Proceeds will benefit the Club's scholarship program for women. High School senior girls are reminded to apply for this generous scholarship.
Welcome to little Islander, Sophia Catherine Black, born February 23rd to Scott and Lisa "Segarra" Black.
Our advertisers, Tammy and Paul Irving, will soon be opening their
Grinders Skate Park with Saturday being the first day of spring. Congratulations to Tammy and Paul who will be recognized as Business Persons of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce on April 1st. "It pays to advertiser with Isledegrande.com!"
Thanks so much to those of you who have sent me your memories of the Clown House. My plan is to post the feature story on this favorite spot from way back when in April so if you would like to contribute a memory or two about the polka dotted clown restaurant with the bright red nose, just email me at teddy@giecom.net.
Don Burns will resume his ragtime piano playing at River Oaks tomorrow night from at 6-9 p.m.• • • •The Chamber of Commerce 38th Annual Citizen of the Year Dinner will be held two weeks from tonight (Apr. 1st). Click Chamber Page for more information.
Click photo for a larger view.
Gail J. Lazenby, who serves with the fire company in The Villages, Florida, drives around in his own golf cart, complete with red light and fully inscribed with the Grand Island Fire Company name and logo, a surprise gift from his wife, Kathy. The former English teacher and longtime member of the Island's fire company, Gail occasionally works with another former resident, Jason Weis, a full time firefighter in The Villages. Gail and Kathy resided on Sandy Beach Road for many years.
How very deserving! Shirley Martin and Gladys Benzing will be recognized for their years of service to the Island's Republican Party during the Republican Committee's St. Patrick's Day Cocktail Party from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 17th at the Niagara Sailing Club.
Best wishes to Shirley and Lee Taylor who just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, March 6th, to Bob and Debbie Guenther, married 25 years on the 16th and to Paul and Marcy Malecki who tied the knot for keeps on March 17, 1984 - 20 years ago.
When's the last time you were at the The Beach House Restaurant
I am still hoping to hear from a few more Islanders who remember the Clown House Restaurant on "the highway." I will be posting a few pictures and the memories of those who write to me at teddy@giecom.net.
Congratulations to Glenn Holler, a member of the Men's ECC Swim Team. The team finished first in the non-scholarship division at the NJCAA finals at Fort Pierce, Florida. Glenn placed second in 1-meter diving. The previous week, Glen took a second at the National Junior College Athletic Association swimming and diving championships in Indian River, Florida. He is a member of the Grand Island High School Class of 2003.
The Connor Middle School kids put on a very enjoyable performance of "Bye Bye Birdie" Tuesday night, drawing a lot of laughs and much applause throughout. It was our granddaughter, Amy Bidell's first performance and it was easy to see that she and the entire cast were having a ball with the show. Music teacher Miss Debra Remson is tops and the Island is lucky to have her working with our children and grandchildren.• • • •Seventy-five singers from the talented Grand Island High School Concert Choir were featured during the Buffalo Choral Arts Society's Lenten Concert last Sunday at St. Joseph-University Church, Buffalo.
Bob and Ilene Dee have a new puppy, a little white powderpuff named Cloe. The four pound, 11-week-old West Highland Terrior was welcomed home Saturday by her big brother, Clancy, also a Westie.
Congratulations to 10-year-old Joey Guenther who just passed his safe boating course. Think summer, Joey!
Looking Back 60 years - Editor Shirley Kreger Luther and her staff,
Catherine Killian Long, Edna Schutt Delaney, Gertrude Cannon Wilson and Dorothy Phillips Mesmer were putting out The Islander for the
second year, to keep our men and women "in uniform" posted on the activities
in their hometown and to inform them of what their buddies were doing during World War II.
Response to the little newspaper during the first few months of 1944 was
overwhelming. The servicemen loved the paper and all wrote wonderful letters
to let the staff know they truly appreciated it.
Looking Back 50 years - The annual Girl Scout Birthday Party was held in the Sidway gym/auditorium on Friday, March 12, 1954. The Mariner Scouts did a skit titled "Fishnet," a hilarious takeoff of a popular Thursday evening TV program "whose title ends in the same three letters." The audience was told that any resemblance was "purely coincidental."
Looking Back 40 years - The Home Extension Evening Unit met in
late March 1964 when Extension members Sylvia Todd and Marge McGarvey
taught rush seats.
Looking Back 30 years - The Grand Island High School's musical production of "Fiddler On The Roof" took place on March 14-16, 1974. The cast included Irwin Zeplowitz, Walter Hughes, Jamie Pultz, Pat Meosky, Tom Gormandy, Rosemarie Eichel and Colleen Carroll. Among the adults helping with the production were Magdalene A. Miller, Kenvin Moreau, Nicholas DeAngelo, Ed Anker, Lenore Tetkowski and Lyn Laman.• • • •
Mrs. Elizabeth Reimann's kindergarten class and Mrs. Gayle Reynold's 3rd grade performed the "Wizard of Oz" in March 1974. The cast included Tina Schottmiller as Dorothy, Paul Wanek as the Scarecrow, Patrick O'Reilly as the Tinman and Scot Maurer as the Cowardly Lion.
A huge happy 40th birthday to Michele Beauchamp. Michele's birthday was yesterday.
Tiffany Turner is a teenager today. Happy birthday, Tiffany and happy birthday to Anne Linenfelser (today), Katie Doane (19 today), Karen Hayes Smith and Pat Kratz (Saturday), Adam Kratz (his 20th on Saturday), Adam Taylor (his 21st on Sunday), Mindi Kratz (18 on Monday), Martha Martin (Monday), Bob Piatek and Jeanne Szczkutowicz (Tuesday) and Daniel Patrick O'Brien, Dave Dusenbury, Pat Less and Pat Gaiser (Wednesday - St. Pat's Day).
Our sympathy to the families of George Lodick, Gladyce Trautman, Eric Lloyd and former Dolphin Drive resident Betty Ackendorf who died this week. Click for Death Notices.• • • •Though not an Island resident, Donald L. Knobloch, who worked as harbormaster at the Big 6 Marina died March 3. Readers who have kept their boats at the Big 6 Marina may remember him.
Events on the Island this weekend include the Zonta Club's Antique Show and Sale Friday evening and Saturday at the River Oaks Clubhouse, corned beef and cabbage dinners at the Knights Hall and at the VFW Post, and the Grand Island Democratic Committee's Pancake Breakfast, 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday at the Knights of Columbus. Click Calendar of Events for just about everything that is scheduled on the Island.
Congratulations and good luck to the Grand Island High School Girls Basketball Team who will play in the A-2 championship game on Saturday at ECC. The girls beat Iroquois 56-40 in the quarter finals, Hutch-Tech 60-58 in the quarter finals and Pioneer 59-49 in the finals on Wednesday.
Weatherwise on Grand Island, we've had some slightly warmer temperatures causing much snow and ice to melt - but not all. I snapped this photo of the Bush/Baseline Road ice pond this morning and there was still a lot of surrounding snow piles. Today's temperature at 8 a.m. was 37 and now at noon it is 40 degrees. Click the photo for a better view.
Happy birthday to John Simon (yesterday), Cindy "Austin" Zurek and Jane Goris (today), Dale Wagner and Fran Wilczek (tomorrow), Judy Henderson (Saturday), Hayden Backlund (3 on Saturday), Shelbi Milkas (11 on Saturday), Bonnie Peete (cheers on Saturday), Keira Johnson and Kelly Gast (both turning 26 on Saturday), Ginny Lynn Wilkinson (her 18th birthday on Sunday), Lance Robinson (a teenager on Sunday), Bud Link and Diane Grant (Monday), Grace Dorothy Wenner (her first birthday on Tuesday), Chandler Cole (6 on Tuesday), Gail "Burgstahler" Rothenberg (best wishes to Gail on Tuesday) and Diane Nesbitt and Mike Anelli (Wednesday).• • • •I will be glad to include your birthday here if you will simply email it to me at teddy@giecom.net
Bob Piatek's State Farm Insurance offers 24-hour Good Neighbor Service. Insurance is very important, so why not call Bob for a really good deal. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Members of the Class of 2004-2005 at the State University of New York at Buffalo may be eligible to receive grants made available by the Masonic Patriotic Association Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact Steve Morgan, a member of the Masonic Lodge, at 773-5905.
The many friends of former longtime resident Teddy Filosofos will surely want to send cards of cheer to him. Ted took a bad fall a few weeks ago and is in a rehab facility in Florida and according to Jackie, he still has a long ways to go. The address for Ted is Memorial Regional Hospital, 3500
Johnson St., Hollywood, Florida (Room 747 bed 2). And Jackie's email address is
JTFILOS@webtv.net.
Former Island resident Nicole Dee Hoffman of Port Orange, Florida came in first in the Amateur Ultra Light SuperBike division during the recent motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway. Nicole is a member of the Grand Island High School Class of 1992. Click for Complete Story.
Congratulations to Julie Meyer on her 236 while bowling with the Ladies A Best Roofing League this week and to Jay Raepple on his 289 in a 688 series while bowling with the Men's A Best Roofing League.
Veronica Connor Middle School 8th grader Noah Yanicki is one of 20 finalists who will compete in the annual Buffalo News Spelling Bee championship March 21st. Nearly 200 champion spellers from area schools took a standardized written test last month to determine the 2004 Spelling Bee finalists.
It was 60 years ago today that former residents Bud and Rosemary Whiting were married. They are parents of seven children who got together in Phoenix for an early anniversary celebration. Best wishes to Bud and Rosemary.
Looking Back 50 years - World Day of Prayer for all Grand Island protestant churches was held at Trinity EUB Church at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 5, 1954.• • • •Winners of the Grand Island Schools Safety Poster Contest, announced by Miss Lyn Mauri (Laman), were 8th grader Janet Mistretta; 7th graders Jim Hawley and Don Fancher; 6th graders JoAnn Radius (Vanderheite) and Lynn Sargent (DeJonghe); 5th graders Barbara Luippold (Baker) and Thomas Pierson; 4th graders MaryAnn Braddell (Stawitzky) and Mark Long; 2nd grader Richard Yensan and Jeremi Villano (Reinhold).• • • •Boy Scout Troop 75 had a membership of 92 boys. However, Boy Scouts of America contended a charter should be issued with a total registration of 35 boys. Grand Island's question was what to do with the other 57 Scouts. A meeting of all parents interested in scouting on the Island was held Friday, March 5, 1954 when eight parents attended.• • • •George and Jack Senn opened their brand new Senn's Trading Post, a sports shop featuring fishing tackle, marine hardware and paint, Trojan and Shelf Lake boats, boating supplies, Scott Atwater outboard motors, boat trailers and live bait. The 50-year-old building is on the Blue Water Marina property owned and operated by Dan Stedman.
Looking Back 40 years - The Island suffered a major wind storm on March 4, 1964. Damages included the crashing of a plate glass window in the Acme Market in the Grand Island Plaza, cutting an East River Road resident by flying glass. A roof framing being built on an addition to Kelly's Country Store blew off and power was out for several hours when a tree came down on the road at 807 East River Road.• • • •Big Bill Rees had 37 of his Celtics team's 45 points in a basketball game against the Warriors. Joe Sheehan had 8 points for the Warriors. The game was sponsored by the Recreation Commission.• • • • The first home radios were distributed to Grand Island firemen Sunday afternoon March 7, 1964. Shortly after, an alarm was sounded for a fire at 1058 Enola Road. Firemen who had connected the radios in their home for the first time were able to hear the alarm radiod from a Grand Island fire truck to Kenmore Fire Control.
• • • •The Niagara Frontier State Park Commission was in the process of acquiring another 8.8 acres of property at the south end of the Island including 800 foot of river frontage on East River Road and owned by Edward Reuter. It contained a marina and the former Offermann home, occupied by Mary Star of the Sea Council Knights of Columbus at the time. The purchase would bring the total to 195 acres purchased by the Commission in recent years.
Looking Back 30 years - Eighth grader James Ellson's science project, "Run By The Sun" was among those displayed at the Grand Island Middle School on March 5, 1974. The project, a model home powered by solar heat, was "one of many projects incorporating ideas that may well be a way of life in the future." • • • •Paul Glassman and Gary Miller, Scouts of Troop 575 under the leadership of Scoutmaster DeLoss Krause, achieved their Eagle Scout rank and were recognized at a Court of Honor on March 8, 1974.
Looking Back 25 years - Starvin Marvin's, the former Figure Head Restaurant on East River at Broadway, suffered a serious fire on March 5, 1979 and was never re-opened again. Unfortunately, the restaurant had been completely and elaborately remodeled not long before the building burned.• • • •Members of the VFW Post 9249 opened their new building on Grand Island Blvd. 25 years ago this month, though grand opening festivities took place in conjunction with the organization's annual Memorial Day services.
Looking Back 20 years - Grand Island firefighters were manning all three fire stations, under the direction of Fire Chief Pete McMahon beginning at 2 a.m. Tuesday, February 27, 1984 when it became evident that the snow falling since the previous evening had turned into a major snow storm that dumped a total of 30 inches. The Snowmobile Club rescued stranded motorists from their cars and Norm Mrkall's Highway Department continued the job (50 hours non-stop) of clearing the roads that started at 7 p.m. Monday night.• • • •Lynn Alan Konovitz was appointed library director by the Grand Island Memorial Library Board.• • • •Dan Linenfelser Sr. announced his retirement from his Wayside Furniture & Carpet Company. His son, Dan Jr. took over the business, located in what is now a strip plaza with Contract Interiors as its mainstay.
Just a reminder! This year's Ecumenical Lenten Luncheons ($3) are being held Wednesdays at noon at Trinity UM Church. For more information, click Lenten Luncheons.
Niagara Regional Interpretive Programs is offering "Birding at Buckhorn" at the Buckhorn Island State Park Sanctuary here on the Island. Those interested in participating are asked to call 826-8895 to register.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Evelyn Lesniak, Norm Manson Jr., Margaret Staub, Charles Dienst, Ruth Yensan and former Riverdale Drive resident George Schlegel who died this past week.• • • •Beatrice M. Pax, a familiar face on the Island over the years, passed away on Friday. The mother of John Pax and former Island Supervisor Jim Pax, she was 93.• • • •Click for Death Notices.
The Friends of the Library book sale is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 26-27th. This sale is an excellent opportunity to pick up exactly what you like to read and also the place to find those hard-to-find books and publications. Do you have discarded books in your home to donate to the Friends sale? Click
Friends of the Library for information on Saturday's "book drop."
Check our Calendar of Events for Island activities this week which include tonight's Historical Society meeting in the Library, the World Day Of Prayer service on Friday, and the Connor Middle School production of "Bye, Bye Birdie" on Tuesday evening.
There are a lot of parents concerned about the school budget and the fate of the music programs in the Grand Island schools. Concerned citizens are urged to attend the public forum on the School Budget at 7 p.m. Monday, March 1st at the High School. School concerts that I've attended are generally "standing room only," and the progress these students are making is fantastic. Please attend the forum which will address the fate of our Music Department.
Congratulations to Ian O'Rourke who defended his diving title by winning the diving event at the Niagara Frontier Swimming Championships this past weekend. His score of 574.25 was a Niagara Falls pool record. Ian is a 9th grade honor roll student at Grand Island High School and has been diving for the Varsity Vikings since he was in the 7th grade.
Congratulations to Dorothy Blakelock, a resident of the Island for over 50 years. Dorothy will be one of the recipients of a Chamber of Commerce Citizen Of The Year Award on April 1st in the Holiday Inn.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Granson Geis, William Titta, Ruth Hosie, Salvatore Tortorice and former resident Mary Lash who died this past week. Click for Death Notices.
Click Coupon Page for a 50 cents off coupon, good on the Wednesday lunch Fish Fry and Friday lunch and dinner fish fry at McMahon's Family Restaurant. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Received an email from Dorothy Rowswell thanking me for remembering her birthday and passing on the unique experience she had on her birthday. Dorothy's mother was just placed in the geriatrics ward in a hospital in Fort Erie. "It is housed in the old maternity wing of the original hospital, so I celebrated part of my birthday in the very spot where I was born," she wrote. "The room which was the nursery still has the old viewing window where you looked in at the babies." According to Dorothy, "Dad and daughter are doing fine.....Mom is receiving such good care."
Reg Schopp's Designet International is again breaking records in jewelry sales. Whatever your reason for purchasing something special, it will be custom made and geared to its recipient. And if you are looking for a gift today and don't have time to design your own, the in stock jewelry is extremely tasteful and affordable. Designet is located on Whitehaven Road just past True Value Hardware.
Ollie Howard's Island Dispatch was a welcomed source of Island news when first published in March 1944. The jalopy carrying a family and all their belongings was part of the Dispatch masthead from its inception 60 years ago through 1965.
Helen and Joe Thomas are celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary on March 3rd and are wished the very best.• • • •Best wishes also to Pete Hayes and his bride, Karie, married February 13th. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are featured on our Islanders In The News page this week.
Happy birthday to Donna Titterington Leary and Joyce Ott (milestones today), Kevin Koch Jr. (his 2nd birthday tomorrow), Joe Karb (cheers tomorrow), Kevin Sander (4 on Saturday), Dorothy Mesmer and Patrick McMahon (Saturday), Jim Benns, Donna Linenfelser and Jason Weis (leap year babies celebrating on the 29th), Greg Chamberlain (a big one on the 29th), Jane Cooke (9 on Monday), Karie Michaelene Stedman (2 on Monday), Kayla Schmidt (11 on Monday), Ashley Gorman (10 on Monday), Bridget McMahon (Monday) and Ed Dunshie (the big 6-0 on Wednesday).
Click photo for full view
Looking Back 50 years - Everybody Welcome! was the headline in the weekly paper announcing the grand opening of Mesmer and Sons Dairy Bar just past the Love Road Plaza over the weekend of February 27-28, 1954. This photo was taken during a fire in 1992 but does remind us of the dairy bar and cow on the top. Does anyone remember when the cow was added to the building? • • • •Home Bureau members Millie Vanthoff and Lee Tetter instructed a lesson in the construction of television chairs in the fire hall March 2, 1954. Irma Dworak and Mrs. Selby Landel were in charge of the Home Bureau's "Entertaining At Home" series in the Trinity Fellowship Hall.
Looking Back 40 years - "Bridgeview Produce" team member Kay Kaiser had the high single, 210, while bowling in the Grand Island Belles League at Island Lanes.• • • •Past Commodore Damon Averill was chairman of the Sandy Beach Yacht Club's 25th anniversary plans in 1964 when the SBYC's officers were Commodore Jim McFee, Vice Commodore Philip E. Duchscherer, Rear Commodore Rob Roy and Fleet Captain Gerald G. Wilkinson. • • • •Among those modeling in the Grand Island Jr. Sr. High School Youth Day fashion show in March 1964 were Linda Johnston (Pinzel) and Linda Smith (Johnson). Faculty members Joyce Yuhas and Hugh Sharpe planned the day-long program.• • • •Neil Tetkowski sent a letter back home to his third
grade classmates describing life in Italy. Neil, along with his two sisters
and parents, Clem and Lee, spent over a year living in Sienna, Italy 40 years
ago.
Looking Back 30 years - Grand Island Brass Quartet members Albert Courey (1st trumpet), Mitch Robinson (2nd trumpet),
Robert Zoeckler (French horn), Paul Baker (trombone) and
Amy Heist (tuba) played during a Pops Concert at Kleinhan's Music Hall March 1, 1974.• • • •The Grand Island Vikings, coached by
Roger Wise, brought home the first basketball championship in Grand Island High School history when they "trounced" Springville's Pink Griffins 84-72. Leading the scoring for Grand Island were
Mike Masters (29),
Jim Rodriguez (24) and
Glyn Lipp (12). Other team members were
Jim Hobby, Jim Kelley, Jim Mikulsky, Mike Rayhill and
Mike Mesmer. Team manager was John Kirsch.• • • •
Peggy Butler and
Kathleen Sciortino were co-chairs of the Grand Island Democratic Women's Club's 2nd annual Monte Carlo Night held Saturday, March 2, 1974 in the Beaver Island Casino.• • • •Hector's Hardware opened 30 years ago.
Looking Back 20 years - Grand Island, along with the surrounding area, was hit by a snow storm on February 27-28, 1984. Remember?
Looking Back 10 years - Larry Braddell and Bev Davey opened their brand new restaurant, The Pepper Mill,, on Grand Island Blvd. on Thursday, March 3, 1994. For the complete menu, click Pepper Mill Restaurant. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Cindy "Austin" Zurek has asked if anyone knows of plans for a 35th reunion of her Grand Island High School Class of 1969. Let me know and I will post a Class of 1969 page with the information.
Several weeks ago I reported here that I had heard through the grapevine that the Baseline Road "eye guy" had become engaged. It's true! Lou Macro proposed to Cheryl Klocke and they are officially engaged. Lou's entire crew got together for a dinner party at the Buffalo Launch Club last Friday evening. The event was a retirement party for Lou's secretary, Carol Roesch, who has been with Grand Island Optical for over 20 years. Happy retirement, Carol and congratulations to Lou and Cheryl.
My request for "Clown House" memories last week brought only two but they were nostalgic and interesting. I will be collecting email memories for several weeks so it's not too late, if you would like to help me out with my feature story to be posted in the spring.• • • •
The ice in the skating rink on Baseline near Bush Road is still adequately frozen and shoveled for skating and lawns all over are still snow covered. And as far as I know the sledders are still sledding at the Beaver Island hill. This weekend promises 50-60 degree temperatures, a good sign that the first day of Spring is now three weeks from this Saturday.
Dave and Jerri Karb were recently featured on the front of surprise party invitations in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary. The party, for family and friends and given by their children, Lisa, Lori and Joe, was held at the home of Judy Schneider, the groom's sister. The bride is the former Jerilyn Stedman whose parents, the late Mildred and Dan Stedman, built the family home together on Colony Road in the early 1940s. Click the photo for a larger view.
Make my day and send a card to my friend Rita Hagerman. Rita was injured in a fall on the ice yesterday and I'd really like everyone who knows her to totally overwhelm her with mail. Thanks in advance!!
Best wishes to Melissa Saj and Jason R. Hoock who were married Saturday in St. Stephen Catholic Church. The bride is the daughter of Robert and Donna Saj of Grand Island.
There is a blood shortage in our area and you can help to alleviate this problem by donating at the Knights of Columbus between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24th. As an added incentive, the American Red Cross is running a random drawing during the month of February with 16 donors winning portable/personal DVD players. I will announce any and all Grand Island winners!
A 30th reunion for the Class of 1974 is set for July 2nd at the Niagara Sailing Club, thanks to Mike Rayhill, Dick Crawford and Jim Tomkins. Check out the
Class of '74 webpage from time to time for more information.
Looking Back 60 years - Town Clerk Elsie Stamler, in the inaugural issue of the Island Dispatch, March 6, 1944, advised all dog owners that 1944 license fees were due February 10th. Stressed was the fact that, unless dogs are licensed, acting Justice of the Peace Frank Schutt would either execute stiff fines or order the destruction of unlicensed pets on orders from Albany. Licensing would be rigidly enforced due to the recent outbreak of rabies on the mainland.
Looking Back 40 years - Jr. Girl Scout Troop 733 Scribe Marcia Harding (Hagerty) reported that her troop, hosted by Cindy and Beverly Webb at their house on Love Road, enjoyed ice skating, a bon fire, hot chocolate and cookies in February 1964.• • • •Thomas Buscaglia
purchased a 40-foot steel Roamer cruiser which he planned to sail back from Michigan about May 29, 1964. At the same time, Ray Lippens bought a brand new 36' Roamer.• • • •A
Huth Road School pot luck featured a songfest on February 25, 1964 conducted by Onnolee Knapp and accompanied by Dorothy Holland.• • • •The
4-H Saddle Horse Club met February 24, 1964 in the Trinity Church Fellowship Hall to select a name for the new group being led by President Dale Loder, Vice President Richard Byron, Secretary Jerimi Villano, Treasurer Nancy Hughes, Publicity Art Bascomb and Recreation Leader Donna Kester.• • • •
Grand Island Memorial Library Librarian Ethel Kaiser was being assisted by newly hired clerk Gladys Staffen.• • • •Fifteen-year-old Daniel Walgate, a 10th grader at the new Jr. Sr. High School, brought the first sectional athletic honor to the school by winning the Section 6, Class B-C, unlimited weight division wrestling championship in a match at Silver Creek in February 1964.• • • •Rodney Raham
and Craig Hawkes played Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy respectively in a puppet show, "What Is Brotherhood." Others manning the puppets from Mrs. Masson's third grade class were Paul Achuff, Donna Webb, Patricia Kendzierski (Kratz), Betsy Dannels and John Simpson.• • • •
The proposed two-mile ice boom across the end of Lake Erie to control ice that has hampered power production and caused considerable damage in the area including Grand Island was announced Thursday, February 20, 1964.
Looking Back 30 years - Bill Pinkow was in charge of arrangements when Grand Island hosted the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on Monday, February 25, 1974 in the Grand Island High School auditorium.• • • •Jack Robinson was president of the newly formed "Grand Island Citizens For Responsive Planning Committee."• • • •Tina Schmidt bowled a 197 in the Tuesday Night Owls League at Island Lanes February 19, 1974.
Looking Back 10 years - Maureen Kraus, who was bowling with the "Chits" in the
Tuesday Night Sharpshooters league at Island Lanes, rolled a 232 high game and also had the high triple, 588 on February 22, 1994.
I can't believe this young man, baby of our neighborhood, is turning 50 on Ash Wednesday! Yes, it's Mike McMahon's big 5-0 and he's just as cute as ever. • • • •Happy birthday to Karen Scalise, Kathy Lommer and Dorothy Rowswell (today), Madeline Porter (double digits - 10 tomorrow), Tommy Smith (8 tomorrow), Sidway School Teacher Pat Hitcho (tomorrow), Sheila Wietan (cheers on Saturday), Hailey Lorence (first birthday on Saturday), Christina Kolkmann (6 on Monday), Kerri Lynn Peper (her Sweet 16th on Monday), David Sipos (turning 16 on Monday), John Whitney (Monday) and Bob Gesl (Wednesday). A belated happy birthday to Lisa Truitt who celebrated her 10th birthday last Thursday, February 12th.
I received a couple emails from readers who wanted to see more of our grandson Evan James Linenfelser than the sledding photos showed of him here last week. This picture was taken Friday night at a dinner party at son and daughter-in-law Jim and Laury Linenfelser's house. The baby is on his feet, walking and testing the metal of his mom and dad!
Ahhhh! This Isledegrande.com advertiser has been with us from the start and is about as easy to write about as breathing! Mike Carr's
landmark Village Inn has become "the place" for really good food. If you are looking for a burger and fries or a prime rib dinner on Saturday night as good as it gets - the Village Inn is the place to go. The help is more like family - friendly and efficient and more than willing to please the mostly familiar clientele. As I told the crew over a year ago, I'm going to take some pictures one of these days as sure as shootin' Dave Dulak, Joanne Podlucky and her sister Sherri Cooney along with a few others, will go down in the history of Isle "hot spots" with the likes of Virg Brace, Marge Lippens, Gert Gay, Del & Herb Haller and Charlotte Guenther Roesch. Almost forgot to tell you, as if you didn't know, the Village Inn is on Ferry Road in Ferry Village. Formerly a house, the building has been in the food and beverage business under various names and proprietors since 1935. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
In the request department, I would like to hear your memories of either working or stopping for ice cream or burgers etc. at the old Clown House on Grand Island Blvd. (now McMahon's Family Restaurant) Are there any pictures out there? My second request for is for your family photos of you or your relatives in their Easter bonnets. Send what you have to my email - teddy@giecom.net.
Attention Alabama ticket holders. The Alabama concert scheduled for Saturday at HSBC Arena has been postponed. Check the WYRK website for rescheduling.
St. Stephen's Parish Players youth production of "The Hound of the Clackervilles" takes place this weekend at the school. Students from all of our schools have been working hard and are all set to perform in the show at 7 p.m. tomorrow night and Saturday night and will offer a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday.• • • •The 2004 Relay For Life kickoff meeting takes place 7 p.m. on Monday in the Grand Island High School cafeteria.
A tip of the hat to Ray Dlugokinski and his crew at the highway department who have done their usual fantastic job of keeping Grand Island's roads clear during this really rough winter.
Jim Conrad and Charlie DeGlopper (above) were classmates at Sidway School in 1958 when these photos were taken and the 'boys' are celebrating their mutual milestone birthdays today. Happy birthday Jimmy and Charlie.• • • •Happy birthday to Dorothy Lovelee, Carol Roesch, Vince Ramsperger, Penny Linenfelser and her twin, Patty Rink all celebrating today. Happy birthday also to Rebecca Sue Carr (Sweet 16 today), Kim Schopp-Baldassare (30 today!), Granson Geis and Melissa Weiser (special birthdays today), Jayce Claus (3 today), Steve Polizzi (the big 4-0 tomorrow), Andrew Fred (7 tomorrow), Kellie Lynn Kehoe (a teenager on Valentine's Day), Emily Ann Cole (10 on Saturday), Lynn Kahn (Sunday), Deanna Cole (Monday), Arnie Dilliott and Sean Ford (Tuesday), Hank Fessard (83 on Tuesday), Bob Soluri (the big 6-0 on Tuesday), and Jessica Leigh Perry (Sweet 16 on Wednesday).• • • •A belated happy 50th to Bob Najjar who celebrated on February 6th.
Welcome, Noelle Marie Linenfelser. Born Friday, February 6th weighing six pounds, 14 ounces, she is the daughter of Matthew and Teresa Linenfelser and was welcomed home by her sister, Katrina Elizabeth, 18 months. Baby Noelle is the granddaughter of Dan and JoAnn Linenfelser and Marion and Stephen Bradley and the great granddaughter of Fran Clarke, all of Grand Island.
Best wishes to Michael Zaremski Jr. and his bride, the former Laina Michelle Cascio, who were married Saturday in St. Stephen Catholic Church. The bride is the daughter of Roseanne and Bob Cascio and the groom is the son of Agnes and Mike Zaremski, all of Grand Island. Michael and Laina will live on Grand Island after a trip to Mexico.
A very happy wedding anniversary to longtime Islanders Merle and Maisie Dommell who will celebrate on February 15th.
Eric Cook of Inside & Out Home Improvements has a lot to offer in the way of home maintenance, improvements and repair as well as snow plowing and salting. Check out this new Isledegrande.com advertiser's website. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Click photos for a larger view.
Our 14-month-old grandson, Evan, had a ball on his new sled last Saturday. Our son and and daughter-in-law, Jim and Laury took Evan and his cousins, Brent, Andrew and Emily Fred to the Beaver Island hill which was way to slippery for this photographer. I did manage to get to the action for these shots and several more but was glad to get back to my car without falling. Three-year-old Emily took a tumble, scrapping her nose, but quickly dried her tears and was ready in no time for a few more rides down the hill with Aunt Laury.
Looking Back 50 years - Ben Franklin, a 9th grader at Sidway School, was chairman of a Valentine's party for 7th, 8th and 9th graders on February 11, 1954 in the school gym.• • • •Mae Klocke and Dan Campion, members of St. Stephen's Altar Society and Holy Name Society, served as co-chairmen for a reception in February 1954 at the church for the Very Rev. Monsignor Edward S. Schwegler. Father Schwegler was elevated to the new rank on February 12, 1954.
Looking Back 40 years - With less than 300 residents subscribing to 4-party telephone service, it had been rumored that it would be eliminated on Grand Island. However, the phone company made it known that it would not curtail the four-party service here.• • • •Huth Road School students, including Patricia Bartholomew and Leilani Knapp and music teacher Alice Myers, wrote the words for the Huth Road Alma Mater to the music of "Holy Cross College Alma Mater."• • • •Joanne Robinson (Podlucky), participating in the Girls 13 and Under bowling league at Island Lanes, bowled the high single, a 135, on February 15, 1964 and picked up a split.• • • •Skip Board and his "Fashions In Music" provided the music for dancing and Mary Downs was chairman of the Grand Island Teachers Association Scholarship Ball February 15, 1964 in the Buffalo Launch Club. • • • •James "Mike" Niland was appointed Town Recreation Director.• • • •Girl Scout Troop 732 patrol leaders and assistant leaders were Carol Lamancuso (Vacanti), Marilyn Killian, Barbara Cornwell, Lela Coulter (Mancuso), Patricia Goodwin, Penny Costello (Linenfelser), Mary Jo O'Dea (Kane), Carol Martin, Cathy Parisi (Thomas) and Gayle Depew. Maria Blickley was serving as treasurer and Lynda Stickle, troop scribe.• • • •Betty O'Dea (Carr)
demonstrated corsage making at the February 13, 1964 Cinderella Isle Garden Club meeting held in the home of Betty Jane Harding. Marilyn Gratto and Elsie E. Stamler served as hostesses.• • • • Ray Griffin, Marion Mancuso and Sam Mancuso opened their coin operated, self service laundry on February 15, 1964 in the Grand Island Boulevard plaza.
Don Burns called this week to let us know he's enjoying his stay in Venice, Florida and has discovered a close match to the Bedell House. Don says as many as 50 banjo players from the Gulf Coast Banjo Society show up at "Snook Haven" on Thursdays for a strumming fest. If you are going to be in the Venice area in the next two weeks, look Don up. He will be back at the River Oaks Club House playing piano next month.
Former resident and Island native Jeff Long has recently had angioplasti which went well. Let's send him cards of cheer during his recovery period.• • • •For those who know Joelle Logue, former editor of the Grand Island Record, her husband, Jerry, suffered a massive heart attack last week. Notes of encouragement may be sent to Joelle's email at jblogue@yahoo.com.
If you are a member of the Class of '79 or a sister, brother, spouse, parent or friend of a member of this class, be sure to click Class of '79 above for complete information on the July 2nd 25th reunion being held at the Holiday Inn.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Frank Echelberger, Michael R. Martineck, Alma Mitchell and Antonio Saldana who died this past week. Click for Death Notices.
Last week's high school production of "Guys And Dolls" was excellent. The cast was well rehearsed and very talented to boot. Some of the outstanding leads were played by Lillian Choi (Sarah Brown), Mary Beth Lacki (Miss Adelaide) and Andy Boron (Sky Masterson).
Vocal director Carolyn Lokken and orchestra director Marty Allen did their usual fantastic job of making every student's part look like a piece of cake. In the highest rating department would be the trumpet player who played the solo near the end of the first act on Thursday evening. Sorry, I don't know his name. A tip of the hat to everyone involved, especially Donald Turner, my favorite crap shooting gambler!
Elizabeth Wright of Grand Island, an attorney at Bouvier, O'Connor specializing in disability law, was recently elected chairwoman of the board of directors for Parent Network of Western New York. Congratulations, Elizabeth.
This is the weekend of St. Stephen's Parish Players production of "Oklahoma." Call Lorrie DeRossa, 773-6982, for tickets and reservations.
Looks like another cold weekend ahead of us but this can't last forever, can it? Schools are closed Monday and Tuesday - Patriots Day. Happy Valentine's Day!
Congratulations to Steve and Amy Morgan on the opening of their new business, Contour Financial Planning, L.L.C., located at 1879 Whitehaven Road. We are happy to report that we have just added this new Island business to our long list of advertisers. Click to learn more through the Morgans' attractive website. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Lydia "Todd" Long, who grew up on the Island and was mentioned here last week, is the author of two novels - Acacia Grove and The Shadow of His Wings. Click PublishAmerica, scroll down and look for "Online Store" on the right. Paste Lydia Susan Long in the box and click "search." See if you don't agree with me that Lydia is a very talented author.
Our sincere sympathy to the family of former West River Road resident John Gilmore who died yesterday. Click for Death Notice.
Looking Back 70 years - The all-time Buffalo low temperature of 21 degrees below zero was established on February 9, 1934.
Looking Back 50 years - The town board approved the purchase
of a 1/2 ton International Harvester panel pick-up truck for Water and Sewer Superintendent Kenneth
Winters at a cost of $1582.36.~~~~Grand Island's first traffic light was erected at
Baseline and Express Highway in February 1954.~~~~
First Lieutenant John J. Rexford was presented with a Bronze Star Medal on
January 30, 1954 for meritorious service from December 4, 1952 to May 20,
1953.~~~~Henry Gardner and his brother, Don Gardner, started a garbage
pickup business on Grand Island.~~~~The Grand Island Band combined
with the Grand Island Drum Corps continued to be under the direction of
Bill Pinkow as both groups had been previous to the merge.~~~~Members
of Girl Scout Troop 437, including Mary Ellen Klingel (Stewart), Barbara Duncan (Ochs) and Luanne Bucknam (Farrell) entertained their boyfriends at a dance in the St.
Martin Episcopal Church Hall Thursday, February 11, 1954.
Looking Back 40 years - Winners of the Recreation Department's basketball shoot-off in February 1964
were Al Luhr (Intermediate Boys), Scott Herlan (Junior Boys), R. Cruz,
(Midget Boys), Kathy Geisenhoff (Intermediate Girls), Susan Benzing (Junior
Girls), and Maureen Kehoe (Midget Girls). The winners would represent Grand
Island at ECTI Feb. 8, 1964.~~~~The Jr. Theater Group's production of
"Stardust," a full-length comedy was held in the Huth Road School auditorium
February 7-8, 1964. The cast included Fred Prosser, Janice Michaels (Marci), Liz
Prosser, Andy Beyer, Linda Beach (Richardson), Ken Michaels, Chris Ryan, Casey Colley (Ebert), Toni
Colley, Pete Beyer and Janice Jasper (Thornblom). The production was under the direction of Betty Beach and the
supervision of Fred and Alphia Prosser and Phyllis
Beyer. The teenagers provided props, scenery and
costumes. "The Music Makers" played for dancing after each performance.~~~~And it was on February 9, 1964 that many of us watched the Beatles' first appearance on national television when they sang on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Looking Back 30 years - Mesmer Dairy Store opened at 2273
Grand Island Blvd.
Jerilyn and David Karb are wished a wonderful 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday. The Karbs were married February 8, 1964.~~~~Also wished a happy anniversary are Legislator Chuck Swanick and his wife Shelly who will mark their 20th on February 11th.
Happy birthday to David Ziehm (special greetings today), to Erin O'Brien (entering her teens tomorrow), Michael Podlucky (7 tomorrow), the Costanzo twins - Connie Loncar and Carol Jones (tomorrow), Glenn Skelly (10 on Saturday), Sarah Klock (10 on Sunday), Robert Podlucky (Sunday), Grace Giambra (7 on Sunday), Jadon Russell Garman (two on Sunday), Irma Dworak (her 98th birthday on Monday), Al Raepple, Tom Dzielski and Charlotte Swalm (Tuesday), Amanda Mays (Wednesday) and Jagger Robert Click (4 on Wednesday).
We are happy to announce that Dan Stedman of
Blue Water
Marina has become another new advertiser. His site is still under construction, however, he has lots
to offer and will be adding a Pre-Owned Boat Page. "It pays to advertise
with Isledegrande.com!"
Congratulations to John Colosi, a member of the Men's Volleyball Team at D'Youville. John, who graduated with the Grand Island High School Class in 2003, led D'Youville in three wins over Hilbert with eight kills and five aces.
Congratulations to Brett Kern, a member of the Grand Island High School Class of 2004 and a standout on the Varsity Vikings Football Team. He has officially signed with the University of Toledo. A punter, Brett was named to the Buffalo News Football honor roll First Team/Defense and was also
named a Commended Student in the 2004 National Merit Scholarship Program.
A power outage Monday morning in the Kaegebein School area left homeowners and the school without power from about 7 a.m. to approximately 10 a.m. Students arriving at Kaegebein were immediately moved by school bus over to the high school where the 2nd through 5th graders spent a couple hours in the school's auditorium with their teachers and principal John Wiertel. The "pre-plan" for movement of students went off without a hitch.
Students from the Grand Island High School Music Department will take part in three performances of Guys And Dolls tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7. For more on the story click Guys And Dolls #2.
Check out the St. Stephen's Parish Players web page for details on the musical production, Oklahoma! taking place Feb. 13-15th. For tickets and reservations call Ticket Chairperson Lorrie DeRossa, 773-6982.
Send me your news and notes - and have a great weekend!
Welcome, Jonathan Francis Minton, our newest native. The baby boy was born to Paul and Mary Minton on Friday, January 23, 2004 weighing seven pounds, 15 ounces. He was welcomed home by his brothers, Kevin, 6 1/2 and Brian, 3 1/2. Proud grandparents are George and Eileen Minton of Grand Island and
Jane and Francis Izadorczak of East Aurora.
Diane Hassan took this shot in her yard this week.
Weather wise, Island residents have had their share of extremely cold temperatures, wind, snow and freezing rain this week as well as several preceding weeks. The New York State Thruway and the 190 were closed yesterday morning and yesterday's after school activities were cancelled as blowing, drifting snow continued throughout the day. For those who have spent many or most of their winters here on the Island, this one is no worse, maybe better than a lot of winters. The jury is still out!~~~~The weather bureau has established that a snow record was set yesterday (Wed., Jan. 28, 2004) in Western New York - on the 27th anniversary of the Blizzard of '77!
Good news! I'm happy to report that Marcy Buell is out of ICU and in Room 418 in Sisters Hospital.
George Cady remains in fair condition and is in Room 825 in the Erie County Medical Center.
Former resident Lydia "Todd" Long had her story, "I'd Love To Know More About My Biological Family" featured in the Buffalo News on Sunday. To access her story, click "Features" at Isledegrande.com. Those of us who knew her are hoping everyone will read her article and that someone somewhere will provide Lydia with the information she is seeking.
Congratulations to Ingeborg and Sterling Haslam who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Monday, February 2nd. ~~~~Jack and Marge Breier are marking their 56th anniversary on Saturday. Best wishes to the Breiers.
Thank you, Mike Mongan of The Beach House Restaurant for placing Isledegrande.com on the restaurant's brand new menus. The complete Beach House menu appears on Mike's website posted at Isledegrande.com. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Wow! Where did the last 10 years go. Seems like we were just wishing Gary Howard a happy 50th and tomorrow he turns the big 6-0. Happy birthday, Gary!
A very happy birthday to Eric Sharpe (a teenager today), Desmond Gallagher (a milestone today), Debby Laramee and her twin sister Diane Lipp (tomorrow), Sue Radder (Saturday), Hailee Clayton (7 on Saturday), Krystal Martell (Sweet 16 on Saturday), Conner Bolles (10 years old on Saturday), Carol Kobza and Bill Dunshie (Saturday), Sydney Mazur (3 on Sunday), Mandy Malaney (Sunday), Ryan Eric Pecoraro (2 on Sunday), Lee Richard (his 18th on Monday), Maria Ramsperger (6 on Monday), Dr. Norm Courey (Monday), Samantha Ruotsi (9 on Monday), Jim Adamczyk (a milestone on Monday), Ilene Dee and Rita DeGlopper (Tuesday), Andrew Carlson (6 on Tuesday), Alissa Pioli and Sally Head (Wednesday), and Juliette Caprio (a teenager on Wednesday).
Congratulations to Mindi Kratz who was voted best speaker by VFW Post 9249 judges in the Voice of Democracy speaking event. Congratulations also to David McMichael and Elizabeth Rice who took first and second place in the Patriot's Pen writing competition sponsored by the VFW.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Gerry Nowak, Phyllis Kumlander, Lueaner Jones and Evelyn Scott who passed away this week. Click for Death Notices.
Looking Back 90 years - It was in February 1914 that School
House #2 on Staley Road (west), constructed by the Bradlaw Brothers, was accepted
by the Board of Education and $1000 was put down as a second
payment.
Looking Back 75 years - February 2004 marks the 75th anniversary of the granting of a charter to Boy Scout Troop #75. The troop, sponsored at the time by St. Stephen's Church, was led by Chairmen Eugene Bucher, John L. Mesmer Jr. and Cyril Diebold. Troop Scoutmaster was Edward Schnitter and Fred Redinger served as assistant scoutmaster.
Looking Back 40 years - The Gearjammers Car Club held a record hop in the Kaegebein School gym on January 31, 1964 featuring WKBW's famous disc jockies Dan Neaverth and Joey Reynolds and the KB Buddies. The dance, planned by President Bob Burkhardt and dance chairman Skip Mazenauer, drew over 500 students.~~~~Rev. D. A. Bennett, pastor of Grand Island Baptist Chapel at 1879 Whitehaven Road for past five years, resigned, and Rev. Jim Whitt became the new pastor.
Looking Back 30 years - Walter Hughes and John Posluszny received their Eagle Scout awards at Trinity Church on February 3, 1974.~~~~Gail Wakeley was named the Grand Island High School 1973-74 Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow.
Check out Isledegrande.com advertiser Allan Glessner's new and interesting website -
Cozy Landscaping. Al is available 24/7 for commercial snow removal. Give him a call at 773-6463. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Congratulations to Grand Island High School graduate Bill Schultz who had 26 kills for the D'Youville Men's Volleyball Team (2-2) when they won over Eastern Mennonite.
A fun-loving group from the Island's Grande Dames Chapter of the Red Hat Society, including Aggie Denler, Lyn Laman, Barbi Lare, Eileen Minton and Nancy Littler, enjoyed the Soup Night at the K of C Hall on the 21st. The annual event by members of the Knights benefits the Neighbors Foundation.
So often we have residents stop here asking where faxing services are offered on Grand Island. If you are in the need of a fax machine, Rich Milkas at the Copy Cat Print Center, 1859 Whitehaven Road, will be happy to oblige. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
According to the "hit counts" on our Grand Island Photo Album page, Lynn Kahn's cold weather picture drew a considerable amount of attention. This week's winter weather photo was taken by Emily Dahlstrom. If you have an interesting "winter on the Island" picture, send it to me for consideration at Isledegrande.com.
Alright, already! Enough of this winter type weather.
Please pray for a speedy recovery for Marcy Buell who is in the ICU at Sisters Hospital.
Congratulations to Grand Island High School soccer standout, Jessica Skelly, who is among a large number of athletes named to the All Western New York Academic Teams.
Isledegrande.com advertiser Nancy Littner and her Personalized Plus
A belated happy birthday to Merle Dommell who celebrated last Thursday and to Alice Doerr who marked the same milestone yesterday.~~~~Happy birthday to Susan Spencer (39 yesterday), Kurt Lorence and Carol Hamlin (today) Jamie Mangus (21 today), Bill Trautman (30 tomorrow), Allison Boron (a teenager tomorrow), Ashley Carminati and Joan Raab (tomorrow), Sarah Ramsperger (double digits - 10 years old on Saturday), Benjamin Paul DeFranks (2 on Saturday), Sherrie Houck (Saturday), Peter Glor and Sue Marble (milestones on Sunday), Jason James MacClelland (2 on Sunday), Kyle Greene and Amy Millar (Sunday), Daneen Gallagher, Sharon Tokash and Paul Long (Monday), Danny Dusenbury (the big 4-0 on Monday), Sam Clarke (9 on Monday), Beryl Kinney, Joanne Rayhill, my sister Mary Stewart and Brent Minet Sr. (all on Tuesday), Amy Forbes (20 on Tuesday), Elizabeth Gardell (10 years old on Tuesday), and Kelly Greene (25 on Wednesday).
Looking Back 50 years - The Grand Island Centennial Executive Committee, in January 1954, submitted to the people of the Island a final accounting for the Centennial. According to the committee, the accounting had been delayed by many things such as payments of bills, collection of monies due and redemption of certificates. At no time was the Centennial regarded as a money maker and the executive committee was proud to be able to show a small surplus of $404.73, part of it being due to those who did not redeem their certificates.~~~~Metal policemen were placed on Love Road near the Kaegebein School to warn drivers that they were approaching school zones and should curb their speed. The metal policemen were also installed at Baseline near Charlotte Sidway School with the real danger, according to Veronica Connor, supervising principal of Island Schools, at the intersection of Baseline and Express Highway. Grand Islanders were wondering when Grand Island's first signal would become a reality.
Looking Back 40 years - A total of 1057 Grand Island children were being transported to and from St. Stephen's Church by bus on Wednesdays for released time religious education classes between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.~~~~Gordon Hicks, Sylvia McCullough (Dixon) and David Tyler were among the young people observing Youth Week of Emmanuel Church .~~~~A panel representing the Town Youth Advisory Board explained activities and purposes of the board at the January meeting of the Huth Road School PTA. Panel members were George Cady, Dr. Norm Courey, Dr. Clyde Eidens and the Rev. W. James Richards, pastor of Island United Presbyterian Church.~~~~Grandyle Village and Falconwood residents were protesting a sooty condition in their neighborhoods they claimed was caused by the use of soft coal in the Kaegebein School furnace.~~~~Kay Haller, a member of the Lippen's Grill bowling team in the Grand Island Belles league at Island Lanes had the high score of 206 forty years ago.~~~~Pat Carminati (Davis-Weeks), a senior at Riverside High, was leading the majorettes at RHS in '64.
Looking Back 30 years - Kaegebein School students would start school one hour later after a vote of 247-43 to do so in the best interest of the children walking to school before sun-up due to Daylight Savings time.~~~~Cub Pack 510 held its Pine Wood Derby January 25, 1974. Scott McCarthy was the 1st place winner, Bernie DeLong, 2nd place, Brett McCutcheon, 3rd and Mark Carey, 4th.
Looking Back 20 years - Mike Leach and Kevin Savory, members of Boy Scout Troop 575, attained the rank of Eagle Scout and received their award on January 25, 1984 in St. Timothy Lutheran Church.~~~~Grand Island's top runners, Todd Moses, Steve Lunney, Jamie Bessel and Brent Fred, were chosen to carry the Goldome torch from downtown Buffalo to Chestnut Ridge Park to open the Erie County Winter Carnival on January 27, 1984.
Looking Back 10 years - Island schools were closed for two days due to cold weather. Minus 10 was registered by the National Weather Service at the Buffalo International airport on January 19, 1994. Sound a little familiar?~~~~Floyd Doring received a real estate award at the Metro Real Estate Group's Awards Dinner, recognizing him as one of the Top 10 agents (#3) in WNY.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Marilyn Robertson, Dale Frank Green and Richard Clarke who passed away this week. Their complete death notices and that of Kate Cady appear on the Deaths Page. Kate's husband, George is in fair condition in the Erie County Medical Center (Room 755) following an auto accident last Wednesday.
Welcome Wheelhouse Marine - Isledegrande.com's newest sponsor. Tom and Debbie Harrison's Wheel House Marine is located at 3049 Grand Island Blvd. and will be featured at the boat show at the Buffalo Convention Center through January 25th. Click Wheelhouse Marine for their marine product sales, both new and used boat sales, salvage, repair, canvas, new and used trailer sales, boat hauling, and more. "It pays to advertise at Isledegrande.com."~~~~Speaking of the Boat Show at the Buffalo Convention Center, Isledegrande.com advertisers Blue Water Marina and Anchor Marine will also being taking part in the show.
Barb "Buell" Brown has been keeping me informed of the plans for the Class of 1984 reunion to be held over the July 4th weekend. A 20th Reunion planning meeting is being held 7:30 p.m. Monday. Click "Class Of 1984"
Spring begins eight weeks from this Saturday - so enjoy the winter weather while you can!!!
Don Nancy John
Happy birthday to Don Burrows, Nancy "Franklin" Duysters and John Gast, who are celebrating the same milestone birthday this week. The three of them were attending 8th grade at Charlotte Sidway School when these photos were taken. Don and Nancy were born on the 16th and Johnny, on the 21st.
David Gross of Gross Plumbing and Heating is the one to call if you are having problems with frozen pipes. Dave's number is 284-7882. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Dorothy Bennett writes that she has found an Italian charm bracelet in the girls' gym locker room at Grand Island High School on January 11th. If it is yours, call Dorothy at 774-8575 to identify the charms on bracelet.
Best wishes to Islanders George Watt Jr. and Dr. Stacey Ann Schroeder who were married Saturday, December 27th in St. Stephen's Church. Alumni of Grand Island High School, the newlyweds will reside on Grand Island.
Richard "Buddy" Boss of
Boss Insurance is located right here on Grand Island - 1875 Grand Island Blvd. Check out his website and give him a call at 773-3051
for your insurance needs. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
Congratulations to Chad Kelly, a 4th grader at Huth Road Elementary School who won in the boys 8-9-year-old division in the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick national finals. Chad is the son of Kevin and Charlene Kelly of Pleasant Trail and the nephew of Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
Looking Back 50 years - Grand Island Fire Chief Henry Ehde announced 1953 Grand Island Fire Report figures as 47 calls for aid (20 grass fires, 18 other fires and nine rescue calls).~~~~Betty Rogers Beck was advertising the fact that her dancing classes were resuming in the Marina Restaurant on East River at Broadway. A photo of her students included Patty Dower (Hamilton), Peggy Cotter (Will), Kathy Cotter (Little), Ann Burns (Dlugokinski), Sue Hogue (Canty) and Bonnie Taylor (Ford).
Looking Back 40 years - The new Jr. Sr. High School PTA sponsored its first "Icicle Ball" for parents
and students in January 1964. Profits from the event, co-chaired by Madeline Colley and Betty Lovelace with assistance from Arlene Maurer,
Joe Becht, Lucy Stephenson and Peggy Thorne, were used to establish a scholarship fund. Guitarists Jerry Cahill and Cliff Greathouse accompanied singers Mary
Cudmore (Vari), Casey Colley (Ebert), Sue Milkey (Cronin), Pam Thorne, Jane
Pless (Miller) and Karen Sugar (Oswald) during the hootenany portion of the
evening. Among other acts were Grant Barrus, Bob McMoil, Ricky Whitmire and Tim Ehde who sang "Tom Dooley." Irene Satterlee and
her son, Charlie took first place in the mother/son dance contest. Alan Smudski and daughter Helen Jane were champion dancers
in the father/daughter contest.~~~~The Niagara River was choked with ice 40 years ago this week. Docks and summer cottages were damaged along the Island shore and hardest hit was the Sandy Beach Yacht Club facility.~~~~William P. Wood was installed fire chief in January 1964.~~~~Gerald Dinsmore was the new president of the Grand Island Kiwanis Club.~~~~The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce phone book project was chaired by Chamber director and treasurer Jessie Reese.
Looking Back 30 years - The Patti Mae Shop and Nick's Corner, women's and men's wear shops on Grand Island Blvd. at Baseline Road were advertising a 70% off sale.~~~~High School home economics teacher Velma Harding retired in January 1974.~~~~The School District appointed Thomas Charlton as a general music teacher at the middle school, effective January 2, 1974.~~~~Norman "Skip" Mrkall was the overall winner of Cub Pack 425's Pinewood Derby on January 18, 1974.
Looking Back 20 years - David Hejmanowski, a third grader at Huth Road School, was recognized as the top reader and top fund raiser in WNY for the 1983 Fall MS Read-A-Thon.~~~~Jim Hallett was elected commodore of the Buffalo Launch Club.
Looking Back 10 years - Marion Assenza bowled the high single, 221 and Les Dumas had the high triple (550) for the Golden Age Bowling League on January 18,
1994.
Flora Benns, a resident of Grandyle Village for 61 years, is celebrating her 90th birthday on Sunday. Wouldn't it be nice if she received a bunch of cards from old friends?
Happy birthday to Adam Mazenauer (a mini milestone today), to Joe Lukasiewicz , Karen Dallessandro and Earl DeGlopper Jr. (tomorrow), Monica Greco (18 tomorrow), Jason Sexton (his 16th tomorrow), Bryan Funk (18 tomorrow), Nora Aloian (cheers tomorrow), Felix (Phil) Grycel (85 tomorrow), Deane Long, Jason Burridge, Nicholas Kingston and Hank Kammerer (Saturday), Marge Darby (turning 80 on Saturday), Rachael McBride (Sweet 16 on Sunday), John Dinsmore (30 on Sunday), Denise "Allan" Schmadel (her 30th on Monday), Debbie Beyer (Monday), Chelsea DeGlopper (Sweet 16 on Monday), Mackenzie Hassan (21 on Monday), Terry Benton (21 on Tuesday), Kristyn Taylor Brown (3 on Monday), Josh Lange (Tuesday), B. J. Revill (30 on Wednesday) and Mary Cooke (Wednesday).
Does anyone hear from Lynn Winter Duggan who lived here and went to grade school here? She should be celebrating a big birthday on January 20th. Mary Ann Kruse Arsenault, Pat Tiffany, Arvilla Webb Kendzierski, Jean Webb Bleich, Shirley Roberts Ervin, Tim Sheehan and Joe Anderson were among Lynn's guests at her 11th birthday party - a Sunday swim and dinner affair held at the Buffalo Athletic Club - 59 years ago. Remember?
All interested members of the GIHS Class of 1984 are invited to a 20th Class Reunion planning meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 20th in the Grand Island Library Conference Room. Check out the Class Of 1984 website
for more information.
Our sincere sympathy to the families of Nick Pelosi, Richard Danheiser, Ted Hildebrandt, Santo "Sandy" Nalbone, Kate Cady, Gust Mathews and former residents Walter F. Keller Sr. and John C. Pace, who passed away this week. Click for complete Death Notices.
Congratulations to Ian O'Rourke, who is the points leader in Western New York diving. An interesting quote by Ian from the Buffalo News this week follows: "I have all my dives on (video) tape, so the night before a meet I'll usually go through all my dives. I'll watch the dive, and then in my head I'll visualize the dive and see what I can do to improve. It helps me stay focused." A freshman, Ian has been diving on the high school varsity swim team for several years.
Congratulations to sprint car racers Tim Phillips (1650) and Jim Porter 1388) who are 8th and 10th repectively after Race 16 of 16 in the final 2003 top 10 Southern Ontario Sprints standings.
Isle native Brent Minet Jr. will be playing piano at River Oaks tomorrow evening from 6-9 p.m. River Oaks is offering a Prime Rib Special on Saturday night and a Superbowl Party on Sunday, February 1st. "It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!"
The word is out! A little birdie told me that the Baseline Road eye guy is engaged to his little sweetie! Will disclose the details soon!!~~~~Be sure to send me your news!
Lyle Patty
Hey, hey, hey! Lyle Dinsmore is going to be a big 6-5 on January 12th. Remember when he was only five or just 15? If you see him after his Vegas trip, wish him the best. ~~~~The pretty girl next to him is Patty Howard Bachert and she's celebrating her birthday tomorrow. Happy birthday to Lyle and Pat.
Allan Glessner of Cozy Landscaping does parking lot salting and may be reach 24 hours a day at 818-2757. It pays to advertise with Isledegrande.com!
I just found this photo of Pat (Benton) Kaiser, taken at the 1990 Charlotte Sidway School Reunion. Pat, sadly missed, passed away on October 29, 2003.
A speedy recovery and get well wishes to Fay Avarello who is recovering from surgery at
Roswell.
We believe that Grand Island's first baby of 2004 is a boy born at 4 a.m. New Year's Day to Ken and Eileen Lippert of Fix Road. Congratulations to the Lipperts. We hope to have more details and possibly a photo next week.~~~~Also born on New Year's Day at 4:12 p.m. weighing in at six pounds, two ounces is Sophia Louise McShane to Isle resident Kathleen McShane and Alex Georgiadis of Buffalo.
A very happy 50th birthday to Mike Dowd who celebrated the big one on January 4th.~~~~Happy birthday to Julie Castiglia (24 yesterday - GI's first baby of 1980), to Sarah Burns and Kyle Podgorny (both turning 4 today), Maggie Rustowicz (7 today), Nicholas McBride (his 16th today), Dan Tranter and Philip Killian (today), George Esack (a big one today), Jeff Sipos (tomorrow), Emilie Kovacs (10 tomorrow), Skip Uonites (Sunday), Kim McMahon (Monday), Chris Dahlberg (25 on Monday), Christina Englert (Sweet 16 on Tuesday), Michael Rustowicz (13 on Wednesday) and Don Hoover (the big 5-0 on Wednesday).
Looking Back 55 years - The Sandy Beach Yacht Club was formed and received its charter on January 9, 1949.
Looking Back 50 years - Alt Blvd. resident and local piano teacher Clara Mueller Pankow was chosen as one of 50 leading pianists and teachers in the Buffalo and surrounding area to play at the Steinway Centenary Concert January 12, 1954 in Kleinhan's Music Hall.~~~~The town board re-appointed Walter Merwin town attorney at $1200 per year. The planning board was enlarged from five to seven members. Marian Narad was appointed for a six-year term, Henry Boehm for a seven-year term and Horace French for a five-year term.~~~~Mrs. Ethel Yuhas' first graders visited the Nabisco Shredded Wheat plant in Niagara Falls on Monday morning, January 11, 1954. Among the 28 students on the field trip were Lowell Anderson, Betty Bascomb (Dickey), Janet Huff (Martin), Wayne Kinney, Tom Long, Mike O'Dea, Jimmy Schueckler, Linda Simms (Fearon) and Jean Wilkinson (Smith).
Looking Back 40 years - Norman Brady II was a happy youngster even if he wasn't too comfortable after surgery performed Saturday, January 11, 1964 in Millard Fillmore Hospital. Norm received an autographed football from Dick Gallagher and Mac Yoho of the Buffalo Bills. A Grand Island Tyro League player, he was recovering from surgery necessary after he swallowed a whistle on New Year's Day 1964.
Looking Back 30 years - The Grand Island High School Band's third annual orange and grapefruit sale was in progress.~~~~Betty Jo Hasert opened her B.J.'s Beauty Shop in the Witnauer Plaza across from the town hall on January 9, 1974.
Looking Back 10 years - The long-awaited traffic signal at Staley and Baseline roads went up 10 years ago, making a total of 10 on the Island.~~~~The actions of a few snowmobilers caused the law-abiding majority of riders to lose out when Beaver Island State Park was closed to snowmobiles in January 1994.
If you are looking for a reliable plumber, call Isledegrande.com advertiser Dave Gross of Gross Plumbing & Heating. Dave is an Island resident and comes to us highly recommended.
The Grand Island Student Ski Club traveled to Holiday Valley this past Saturday. Conditions were not the best for their first afternoon of fun, but from what we've heard, everyone was glad to be back on the slopes and had a great time. Ski conditions for Holiday Valley, Holimont and Kissing Bridge will appear on our front page throughout the ski season. Have a great weekend.
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