Island Dispatch, 1991-10-26

              ISLAND DISPATCH NIAGARA FRONTIER PUBLICATIONS Eastern Standard Time Returns Tonight Grab that extra hour of sleep Remember to turn your clocks back one hour. SERVING THE GRAND ISLAND COMMUNITY SINCE 1944 With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS GRAND ISLAND, NY (716) 773-7676 36 PAGES VOL. 48 • NO. 30 Oct. 26, 1991 Illegal USA Entry Tried Here Sunday IT WAS CALLED "smuggl ing" long before the Grand Island bridges came into use in 1935: attempts by Chinese, often successful, to enter the United States via Grand Island. The term was recalled here over the weekend when two Chinamen tried to enter the country illegally by crossing the river in a small boat from Isle Groups Join Together For Annual Shop & Dine Event The Grand Island Art Society and Grand Island Rotary Club will once again combine efforts for their annual Shop and Dine event scheduled at the high school Saturday, November 2. Some 30 exhibitors will show and sell arts and crafts, ideal for gift giving, at the "Holiday Corner" and cook's get the day off at the Rotary's famous Chili Dinner and Bake Sale - buy a complete dinner or chili in bulk. Chili will be served beginning at 1:30 P.M. in the small cafeteria. Holiday Corner will open its doors at 11 A.M. in the large cafeteria. Both will run till 6 P.M. Pictured are Art Society President Mike Cancilla, Holiday Corner Chair Phyllis Martin Wilk, General Chairperson Ed Pfohl, Holiday Corner Co-chair Melanie Koch, Rotary Club President Jim O'Connor and Chili Dinner Ticket Chair Jim Miller, all promoting the event that's sure to be double the fun. Photo by Mary Stewart Prast Questions Isle Publicity Fund CREATING a town publicity fund of more than $10,000 without first holding a manda tory referendum may lead to court action for the town board. A summons naming former Supervisor Martin T. Prast as the plaintiff and returnable in Supreme Court was referred to Town Attorney Richard Couch at Monday's town board meeting.It names the town, all town board members and the Grand Island Economic Development Corporation as defendants. Attorneys for Prast, according to the summons, request the defendants to answer the complaint or serve a notice of appearance within 20 days to avoid judgment being taken against them by default. Court action may be taken to void an agreement with the Development Corporation whereby it was to "promote the town for the purpose of locating and expanding industrial manufacturing facilities, creation of new and improved job opportunities, reduction of unemployment, and the betterment of individual and community prosperity within the town." The Company's records would seem to indicate it has complied with the terms. Questioned about the summons after the meeting, Prast said he was not against the Grand Island Development Corporation and its operations "but I do believe the taxpayers should decide how the town spends their money." The summons refers to money spent during the current year. The 1992 budget, yet to be approved by the town board, also lists financing for public relations and development. MEK School/Town Boards To Meet With ECIDA THE COUNTY Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) is scheduled to meet with the Grand Island school and town boards at 7 P.M., November 14 in the Town Hall at 2255 Baseline Road. Previously, it was announced that a meeting would be held on October 22. However, that meeting had to be cancelled. Erie County Legislator Charles Swanick, who arranged the session, said the discussion will center around the development agency's tax abatement program and overall economic develop- (Please turn to page five) i