Island Dispatch, 1997-02-21

              Island DISPATCH  February 21,1997 years |_« As the voice of Grand Island" Lj JCICO'i any regular pizza expires 2/28/97 650 (716) 773-7676 Vol. 53 • No. 46 20 Pages Silent majority should take action by Deanne Bartha "It's time for the Chamber of Commerce and the membership to take action," Chamber President Michael McDonough said on Tuesday, referring to Southpointe. "The opposition to the Southpointe project is very organized and very vocal. However, I really question, not in a bad way, how informed they are." As human beings, people have a natural instinct to fear that which we don't understand, McDonough indicated. People lash out in opposition as a natural tendency, he added, using Letters to the Editor published in the Dispatch against the Chambertrt*^o_iime_te. "It's what we have here on Grand Island," McDonough said. "You never see the Chamber of Freedom Shrine Dedicated Tuesday night's Town Board meeting began in a special way. In the foyer outside the upstairs court room were assembled Island boy and girl scouts, Tonawanda Exchange Club officials, Town Board members and an interested audience. In the audience with her family was also Sandra Styka who first contacted the Exchange Club about bringing the Shrine to Grand Island. Later she said, "God bless Grand Island. I'm very happy about this." After short speeches by Exchange Club officials, Supervisor James Pax read a proclamation. With a tremor of emotion in his voice he spoke hope and belief that the shrine would service as a living symbol of the heritage of freedom under God shared by all Americans. Then Pax and other Board Members removed American flags that had been covering the walls. Underneath were copies of historical American documents. They were part of the Freedom Shrine dedicated to providing a sense of American history through the display of the important documents who contributed to our heritage. The flags were then folded by the scouts. Boy Scout James Vinoviski of Troop 254 said, "Wow, this is our history." Councilwoman Mary Cooke said was a perfect place for the shrine. It will serve as an important teacher. Island fourth graders regularly tour the Town Hall as part of the Social Studies classes. Now they can experience a little more of American history. SENECA NATION HISTORIAN LARRY BALLAGH ADDRESSES THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE- Tuesday night Ballagh reviewed his people's culture and history. He wanted to give Chamber members a better understanding of his culture and "what was happening between your people and mine." He was referring to the Seneca lawsuit for the return of Grand Island to the Senecas. Seneca suit directed at State by Christopher Caile Tuesday night Seneca Nation Historian Larry Ballagh told the 3rand Island Chamber of Commerce that their lawsuit seeking return of Grand Island to ihe Seneca's was not directed at the xople of Grand Island but at the State. Ballagh said that he hoped his Drief outline of Seneca nation history would give the audience a better understanding of both his :ulture and what was happening 'between my people and your people." The Seneca people have an oral tradition and not a written one. Their history and knowledge of what they are is passed down through the -.tones, of their elders. Around 550 years ago the Senecas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Mohawks, and Tuscarorans established a peace and a way to settle disputes through what is known as the Iroquois Confederation. "Disputes were taken to a council of 50 chiefs who decided issues not by simple majority, but by a much more difficult consensus. It is the oldest functioning representative government in the world," Ballagh said. While the Tonawanda Senecas living around Akron still adhere to this Chief system, the Seneca Nation in 1848 did away with this form of government and established an elective system. The English philosopher, Edmund Burke, studied the Iroquois Confederation and is credited with influencing establishment of the elected par ii mental system in the United Kingdom. Burke communicated regularly with Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin through whom the U.S. form of government developed. The Confederation is also referred to in the preamble o€ the United NLatioos. During the Revolutionary War the Senecas sided with the British since they had sworn allegiance to them. As a result, Washington sent General Sullivan up into the Finger Lake's region and destroyed over 60 Iroquois villages, including crops, houses, and stores of food. After the revolution the first item on the Continental agenda was how to deal with the over 10,000 continued on page 4 continued on page 14 Southpointe protocol The following information has been provided by the Grand Island Town Board and the Town Clerk's office: The first of two public hearings on the Southpointe Projects will be held on Monday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the Grand Island High School auditorium. The second hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 5 at 4:30 p.m..to 9:30 p.m. at the Kaegebein School auditorium. Here are some important points for the community to be aware of in preparing to attend these hearings. The Southpointe Representatives will make an initial short presentation explaining the project. The hearing will then be opened up for public comments. Of particular importance is the fact that these hearings are for comments both for and against the project but will not be a question and answer session. There are three general aspects of the project residents may address: 1. The DEIS - Draft Environmental Impact Study. 2. The creation of a new Sewer District. f \. 3. The request for the rezoning of /' I j, \ the property to PUD - Planned Unit VImHKt mm\ W 1 mic limits may be necessary to kl E/l 1 accornrn°date all who wish to \1 lAif / sPeak- M mfefelt m/ Written comments are welcome Bptjl/j' ar>d encouraged and will be accept