Island Dispatch, 1993-09-03

              ISLAND DISPATCH 28 PAGES VOL. SO • NO. 22 SEPT. 3, 1993 With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS GRAND ISLAM), NY (716) 773-7676 500 SERVING THE GRAND ISLAND COMMUNITY SINCE 1944 The Dispatch Has A Temporary New Address: 1854 C Whitehaven Rd. j (behind Rockwood Bros. Collision) Seneca Nation Suit Is Big News SCATTERED reports in the daily press, including the New York Times, and on television, about the Seneca Nation's threat to lake over Grand Island, are mainly aimed at the history of our town and the State's legal right to it. Rep. John J. LaFalce has promised aid from Washington in fighting the suit, referring to it as "somebody seeing an opportunity to a fast buck." County Executive Dennis Gorski promises the County will vigorously fight the Indian effort. The County is named as a defendant in the action. So are the State, Thruway and six major town property owners. The Senecas claim the 1815 Treaty, conveying the Island to the State for $1000, is illegal, contending it was not ratified by the federal government -178 years ago. Yet the Nation continued to accept an annuity of $500 each year since, a provision in that document. The latest report would seem to indicate the possibility of ill feeling between the Seneca factions - the traditional Nation of Senecas and the Senecas who filed the lawsuit August 25. They are said to differ politically but not spiritually. Indian tribes in the 17th century in what is now New York and Ontario engaged in wars to exterminate each other. According to history, in 1647 the Senecas destroyed a Neutral village. The Neutres and the Erics met the same fate. Local history buffs are watching with interest what might develop into a Senecas versus Senecas fight which is bound to be a losing battle to secure Grand Island. MEK Town Meetings Tuesday, September 7: • Town Board Meeting, 8 PM. Monday, September 13: • Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting, 8 P.M. • Planning Board Meeting, 8 P.M Tuesday, September 14: • Architectural Review Advisory Board Meeting, 7:30 PM. • Traffic Safety Advisory Board Meeting, 8 P.M. Thursday, September 16: • Drug Abuse Prevention Council Tuesday, September 28: • Cable TV Committee Meeting, 7:30 P.M. Pipeline Progress Islanders for the most part are taking the construction of the Empire State Pipeline in stride. Few inconveniences were noted such as short term traffic hold ups like the one last Saturday that was necessary to allow workers to lay down tires for tractors to cross the road The procedure causes minimal wear and tear on Isle roadways. Photo by Barb! Lara Erie Co. Takes Legal Stand Against Lawsuit COUNTY Executive Dennis Gorski and Legislator Charles Swanick, representing Grand Island, held a news conference Tuesday in response to the lawsuit filed by (he Seneca Nation seeking to reclaim the Town of Grand Island. The County is named as one of the defendants in the suit along with the State of New York and major properly owners on the Island. Speakingjfrom the Rath Building Gorski said, "I want to assure the people of Grand Island that we will vigorously fight this lawsuit." "I have instructed our county attorney, Ken Schoetz, to devote whatever manpower is necessary in his office to defend ourselves from what I feel is nothing more than an attempt to blackmail us through the courts. "We have already been in touch with the state Attorney General's office on working together to fight this." Legislator Swanick added, "I think it's important that the 18,000 residents of Grand Island know that, without question, the County of Erie is prepared to use all the legal resources within its power to win the lawsuit that the Seneca Indian Nation has filed. "Peoples' families, homes and livelihoods should never be held hostage in this manner. These issues should have been resolved through discussion, compromise, a search for equitable solutions which would not jeopardize the rights of people to live and work on Grand Island. "By filing this lawsuit, they have brought to a standstill economic WEATHER: The Old Farmer's Almanac says - September 3-5: Heavy rain, mild. September 6-9: Showers, cooler. September 10: Sunny, warm  CONTINUED ON PACE 2