Island Dispatch, 1998-11-20

              Island DISPATCH  Eover / m * m "" ___  "As the voice of Graad Island" ' mmr ■ -mmw (l _if ■ Complete community coverage! November 20, 1998 24 Pages 650 Vol. 54 No. 32 (716)773-7676 j Monday NiteMadiu*** LARGE CHEEBE PIZZA 4.95 +TXX __ [J In This Issue: Automotive Section pages 11, 12, 13 .-___----_-----_-__-____---------— Flag raised over sheriff substation Post Commander Gary Howard of the Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Post No. 9249 presented a new flag Wednesday to Erie County Legislator Charles M. Swanick, Deputy Michael Hilliker and Detective Fred Vincent of the Erie County Sheriffs Department. Legislator Swanick contacted Post Commander Howard and requested his assistance in acquiring a new flag for the 1770 Grand Island Boulevard building. The location houses the Erie County Sheriffs Department, Legislator Swanick's district office and the Grand Island Police Department. Also attending the flag raising was Mr. Andrew Chambers of Chambers Radiator who donated the pole in 1997. It was at that time a used flag given to the substation. Over the course of a year and a half the existing flag became very tattered and worn, making it imperative that it be retired and deposed of with honors. "It is with great pride that we witness this new flag as it is raised over our building today. We are very fortunate to have a cooperative, coordinated governmental effort from this building for our community. I would like for everyone to look for our flag and consider it a symbol of that effort," Swanick stated. FLAG RAISING - Post Commander Gary Howard of the Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Post No. 9249 presented a new flag to be raised at the Grand Island substation on Wednesday. Present at the flag raising were: Detective Fred Vincent of the Erie Country Sheriffs Department, Gary Howard, Deputy Michael Hilliker of the Erie County Sheriffs Department, Legislator Charles Swanick and Andrew Chambers of Chambers Radiator. LRPC says, 'time for talking is over' by Cynthia A. Till In a move designed to bring the Town Center Concept to reality, the Long Range Planning Committee agreed Thursday, Nov. 12 to hire a consulting firm in order to provide a vision for area residents. "It's taken us two years of input from all over the Island to get where we are," said Tom Nowak. "We've developed enough raw materials to provide someone what they need to draw a picture to present to the town. I think we're way beyond concept. The time for talking is over. It's time to start doing. The questions is, "How do we get this done?" Addressing Dr. Hiro Hata from the University of Buffalo, Rick Gillert from URS and Adam Walters from the Law Firm of Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blame and Huber, he added, "that's why we invited you to this evening's meeting." "Public consensus is very important." said Dr. Hata. "The will of the community is what will drive this forward. A visual image is important to generate funds." Gillert agreed. "My sense is that you need to provide a visual image of the plan to the people, but," he added cautiously, "I warn you that sometimes people will accept vision but not regulation." Business Community Representative Jim Rogan expressed concern over acceptance by the community. "If this isn't (accepted), we're just sitting here blowing smoke," he said. "I think it's time we get residents involved in this." "The Town has to be willing to put up money, and everyone has to work together," said Walters. "Because this requires such a County supports Grand Island on Seneca claim by Deanne Bartha Waiting one more year to present why the Seneca Indian Land Claim on Grand Island should be dismissed disturbed several businesspeople and professionals who attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday where County Attorney Ken Schoetz was guest speaker. Representing Grand Island in the case, Schoetz advised the group that the county was "ready to go in tomorrow" to seek resolution of what has become an ongoing problem for residents. The issue festered last summer when Janet Reno announced that the federal government was siding with the Senecas. With a target date of December 1, 1999, Schoetz indicated that "All pre-trial discovery will be completed within the next 12 months, and we will finally have our day in court." Schoetz cited that the case has been brewing for over five years, and is confident the Senecas* claim will be defeated. What transpired were two and one half years that were "fruitless and frustrating, as dissension among the Senecas and replacement of their attorneys left the case in limbo," he said. "When the Supreme Court curtailed the ability of Indian Nations to sue states for land in the 1996 Seminole case and the 1997 Cover 'd Alene case, Erie County and New York State moved for dismissal of the claims," he said. "Those motions would have been successful but for the intervention of the United States on the Seneca's behalf. A very disappointing decision for sure, and completely unwarranted, but no one has ever expected common sense decisions out of Washington." These, Schoetz commented, were needless delays. He added two new matters that have come to light recently, which are "being discussed in connection with the Seneca claim for Grand Island." In the Cuba Lake decision, Schoetz argued that reports were misleading, and there is no Grand Island connection. "No treaties, federal or state, are involved. The State took various parcels of property in and around Cuba Lake in 1858 through condemnation, which land was on an undisputed and established Indian Reservation. The facts could not be any more different from what we confront on Grand Island, and there is no precedential value on the Seneca/Grand Island claim." In what could be considered an enlightening situation on all Indian land claims, Schoetz shared the story of two college students, who while wading along the Columbia River in Washington State in July 1996, stumbled upon a human skull. It was determined, along with other bones found at the site, that it was the skeleton of a 40 to 50-yearold white male. Further scientific investigation found that, along with a prehistoric stone spear stuck in the man's hip, tests showed that the skeleton was over 9,000 years old. 3 stellar shows set for Festival of Lights For the first time in 16 years, a gala parade, a fabulous new laser show, the flip of the switch that entrenches Niagara Falls, New York, with thousands of twinkling lights and three expensive yet excellent Christmas concerts in the round, at the Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center, are simply not enough to entice the large number of motorcoach tours that have been coming annually for the opening weekend of A Festival of Lights and spending lots of money with local hotels, restaurants and shopping malls. Although visitors will still see some motorcoaches around, the numbers are down so dramatically that there will be lots of empty hotel rooms, restaurants and shopping malls will not be as busy. Therefore, lots of excellent seats are available at half price for Charley Pride (Nov. 21, 8 p.m.), Charlie Prose (Nov. 22, 2 p.m.) and The Girls Choir of Harlem (Nov. 21, 8 p.m.) Tickets are available at the Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center Box Office and at all Ticketmaster Outlets. continued on page 11 continued on page 11