Island Dispatch, 1989-04-28

              ISLAND DISPATCH With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS GRAND ISLAND, NY • 773-7676 VOL. 46 NO. 7 • Apr. 28, 1989 52 PAGES Fantasy Island Part Of $36 Million Sale FANTASY Island, an integral part of Grand Island since 1960, is about to be purchased by the company that owns the Ice Capades and Globe Trotters. International Broadcasting Corp. has announced it will purchase the theme park here as well as the Great Escape Fun Park at Lake George from Charles Wood. The sale, estimated to be about $36.3 million, is contingent upon International Broadcasting completing financing for the deal by the end of May. Fantasy Island Manager Thomas Wages, who is expected to remain in that position as well as vice president, is well known in the community. He said he considers the sale "very positive for the park." Thomas K. Scallen, president and chief executive officer of International Broadcasting, said his company expects to spend $4.5 million to expand Fantasy Island and the Lake George operation. Scheduled on Grand Island, according to Wages, are three new rides and several new shows. Other attractions will also be added this year, he said, including a balloon race ride, a Sky Diver thrill ride and children's bumper cars. The park is to open June 17 for the season. Interviews for 350 summer jobs in the park will be held from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Saturday in the Fire Hall. MEK Weather THE OLD Farmer's Almanac says: April 28-30: rain turnin"; to snow. May 1-3: cold wave. snow. May 4-5: sunny and mild. Sakes Alive! The Dispatch Is Forty-Five THE ISLAND Dispatch, celebrating its 45th birthday wit this issue, was ushered into town in 1944 by Oliver C.B. Howan Not with a blare of bugles or banners waving, but with a "hip hi hooray" by the town's residents who welcomed being able to reat all local news in a newspaper dedicated to that effort. "In Unity There Is Strength" was the title of the fir editorial. In part, founder and editor Ollie went on to state "Th old adage seems to have been kicked around Grand Island like outdated ration book." For our younger readers, let us expla that ration books were established during World War II equalize limited supplies of such commodities as gasoline, shoe coffee, meats and even tomato juice. That first editorial claimed "There seems to be an invisib barrier erected between the old families of the Island and those 0 more recent vintage. On one side are those hard bitten old time who are agin' anything that smacks of civic improveme because from some case histories, they have heard that tho with considerable acreage have suffered financial hardships d to increased taxes." The editorial went on to dissolving the barrier and attendi town board meetings "on any controversial subject and discuss thoroughly." That was good advice then just as it is today. "Democracy has allowed us to express our views and idea Take advantage of this privilege," Ollie further recommended The Dispatch was purchased by George M. Pagan in 19' Under George's leadership, the Dispatch acquired a home of own - an abandoned school house that was moved to 1601 Sto Point Road and eventually enlarged to accommodate a printi business and the entire publication of the newspaper. Rodney Hall was the next publisher, from 1963 to late 19 when the Dispatch became the property of the Tonawanda New The News sold it to the Grand Island Publishing Company, mac up of four Island residents, in 1973. Melody Cook was owner anc editor beginning in July 1977 and until January 1978 when became the responsibility of present owner and publisher, no other than Arthur "Skip" Mazenauer. Other publications turned out by the staff of the Islam Dispatch are the Grand Island Penny Saver founded by t Mazenauer family in 1948, the Niagara Penny Saver and the Se tinel, a newspaper devoted to Niagara County happeninj MEKlingel. Mail To: I Weekend At A Glance FRIDAY WEST BIDE STORY, Q1 Hi»?h School. 1100 Hansom Koad. 7:30 P.M. SATURDAY qi BRIDGE BOOKS, available ai town hull. 10 A.M. lo 4 P.M. 10NTA CLUB OARAGE BALE, 4368 East Wvar Road. 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. (JI COOP. NURSKRY SCHOOLS 40TH ANNIVERSARY "KIDS DAY" CELEBRATION, Trinity UM Church. 2100 Whitehaven Road, 12:30-2:30 P.M. FANTASY ISLAND EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWS, Fire Headquarters. 2275 Baseline Road, 9 AM. to 4 P.M. WEST SIDE STORY. 01 Hi«h School. 1 100 Ransom Road, 7:30 P.M. SUNDAY Gl ROD X (iUN CLUB MEAT SHOOT, (inn Club. Whitehaven Road, noon VOLKSWAOEN ASSOC. OF WNY SPRING FUN RALLY, Holiday Inn parking lot, 100 Whitehaven Koad. 12:30 P.M.