Island Dispatch, 1989-10-13

              ISLAND DISPATCH VOL. 46 NO. 31 • Oct. 13,1989 With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS GRAND ISLAND, NY • 773-7676 24 PAGES 35« A New Welcome For Grand Island Visitors Through the efforts of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, visitors to Grand Island are now greeted by an attractive new sign located on the Grand .Island Blvd. (Rte. 324) exit ramp that approaches Grand Island from the south bridges. To enhance it further, Ken Ward (right) of Oakview Garden Center donated all the landscaping surrounding the sign which was erected Oct. 4 with members of the chamber sign committee, chaired by Robert Weaver (left), on hand to help. Chamber President Granson Geis, Gary Pickard from Anchor Marine and Tom Dworak and Ray Billica of the Recreation Dept. assisted. Photo by Mar? Stewart Weather THE OLD Farmer's Almanac says: Oct. 13: cloudy, cool. Oct. 14-15: showers, warm. Oct. 16-17: heavy rain, cool. Oct. 18-20: sunny, mild. Gas Line May Bypass Island THE NEW York State Service Commission has informed Legislator Charles M. Swanick it plans to recommend Empire State abandon its proposal to extend a Canadian gas line across Grand Island. "I am pushing for PSC to use Grand Island for its information meeting and public hearing," Swanick said Thursday. "It's my understanding it plans to schedule a hearing on the same night as the information meeting to allow for greater discussion and open participation by residents." Swanick also said: "The original plan to construct a pipeline through Grand Island was filed with PSC in June 1988 and public hearings subsequently scheduled. Unfortunately, many Island residents were unaware of the potential effects of the pipeline project and failed to attend the local evidentiary hearings. "To prove to the PSC that there was indeed interest abput this project here, I distributed information to all neighborhoods which I felt might conceivably be affected in some way by the pipeline construction," Swanick said. He received about 20-25 letters in the mail, each day for a week and a half, from residents (about 55%) who were opposed to the project. "This high rate of inquiry convinced PSC that many Islanders opposed the proposed pipeline route through the Island. I believe this was a major factor in their (PSC) decision not to recommend the project," Swanick said. He said he is continuing to encourage the Commission to hold the public hearing and informational meeting on Grand Island. "This will be important for residents to attend to again show opposition to the project in case Empire State Pipeline decides to fight the state opposition," he said, promising to keep town residents updated on the issue and requesting anyone with questions to contact his Island office in the Sidway Building (773-1441) at 2451 Baseline Road. MEK New Library To Open October 23 THE NEW $1.7 million Grand Island Memorial Library is scheduled to open at 1 P.M. October 23 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The library in the town hall will officially close at 5 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday) and service will be discontinued throughout the week while 35,000 books are transferred to the new facility in the town's Bedell Road Park. MEK Weekend At A Glance FRIDAY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEW MEMBERS' PARTY, X of C Hall. Whitehaven Rd., 8 P.M. RED CROSS BLOOD MOBILE, St. Stephen's. 2100 Baseline Rd.. 4-7 P.M. SATURDAY VIKINGS VS. LOCKPORT, High School, 1100 Ransom Rd., 2 P.M. FIRE PREVENTION OPEN HOUSE, 2275 Baseline Rd.. 12 to 3 P.M.. EXTENDED TAX HOURS, Town Hull. 2256 Baseline Rd., 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. OCTOBERFEST, St. Stephen's Church, 2100 Baseline Rd., 8 P.M. SUNDAY CROP WALK FOR HUNGER, Beaver Island Park. 1 P.M. SIDWAY REUNION MEETING, TCs Tavern (downstairs clubroom), 1 P.M. Mail To: