Thursday, July 3, 2008
Good morning Mandy in Temple, GA and good morning Lisa in Lehigh Acres, FL.

Grand Island, for the 40th year, will celebrate Independence Day with a parade. Citizens of the Island, headed up by Doris Ryan were responsible for the Island’s first large scale July 4th parade in 1969.

A warm welcome to all who are coming into town for the July 4th holiday and class reunions, especially my former baton twirling students who include Cathy Haller, Amy Valone, Terry Burns, Robin Schendel, Valerie Goris, and Michelle Gaydica. Look for us in the parade. As head of the Teddy's Islettes reunion appearance, I would like to sincerely thank Mark Smith and his Solid Gold Entertainment (sound), Joe Mahfoud (music), and Terry and Valerie Swain for helping make this possible.

Thanks to Dan McMahon for this link to "Unclaimed Winning Lottery Tickets" - sold on Grand Island in such businesses as Tops and Wilson Farms. Check it out. "Hey, you never know."


That's Jake on the left and he is back home with the Moore family of Ransom Road. The family sincerely appreciates the Isledegrande.com readers who called with news of their missing kitty that helped bring him home.••••Also listed as missing this week and now home with his family, the Shivers, is Kingston (right), a Boston Terrier.••••And last but not least, Makita, a yellow lab, has returned to the Kenney family.

Nice to see Leah Gollwitzer out shopping on the Island with daughter, Sally Goris. Leah is living in the McAuley Residence in Kenmore.

Happy birthday to Ed McCaffery (today), to Val Fraser (special greetings today), Rev. Bob Vandermey and Marty Remmes (Saturday), Fred Mumm (Sunday), Jacob Zimmerman (a teenager on Sunday), Brianna Mysliwiec (a teenager on Tuesday), Matthew Brady (his 20th on Tuesday), Betty Barrett (cheers on Wednesday), Lois Martene and Bernice Dinsmore (Wednesday), Vivian Smudski (95 on Wednesday), and T.J. Slipko III (19 on Wednesday).

Best wishes to former residents Sue and Rich Benns who will be married 40 years on Sunday, July 6th.


John Bidell and Samantha Gieselman
Grand Island High School graduation ceremonies last Thursday night provided a very enjoyable evening. Long to be remembered will be student speaker Shana Wierchowski's speech, the long-lasting, booming applause and standing ovation when Michael Dinsmore rolled his wheelchair across the stage in Kleinhans Music Hall to accept his high school diploma, and for Jim and I, watching with pride as our first born grandchild, John C. Bidell Jr., was presented his diploma. Many students received well earned, special recognition including three students, Ellen Betterson, Christopher Eley, and Jessica Sturniolo, who had four years perfect attendance.

Looking Back 60 years - The amusement park at Edgewater was to open July 4th. The park was located in the 4000 block of East River Road. ••••The town board granted permission to John A. Sercu for his request for a peddler’s license to peddle ice cream for the Skippy Ice Cream Corp. A request for a restaurant license for a refreshment stand on Grand Island Blvd. was received and granted to Mae Anderson.••••The official grand opening of the Grand Island Playhouse, located in the Krieger barn at Baseline/Bedell took place on the evening of July 6, 1948.

Looking Back 50 years - "The Service of Buffalo" barge, weighing 120-ton and wedged on bottom of the Buffalo River, was purchased by Island resident Maurice J. Stamler. ••••A scratch single to the infield in one of the first ever Island Little League games prevented a no-hit game by 9-year-old Scott Allen as the Atlanta A's shut out Oakland, 16-0 in a minor league game. Scott struck out eight men and received strong support from his team as the A's swept to their fourth straight win. •••• Lightning was blamed for a fire that destroyed the home of the Philip L. Wisner family at 3007 Westwood Drive. The owners returned from a vacation Sunday, July 6, 1958 to find their home burned to the ground. Fire Chief Arthur Mitchell said the fire had a good start before the call came in and that the blaze was too far advanced to save the house when firemen arrived.

Looking Back 40 years - The 1968 GIHS graduating class number 182 - and this year, the Class of 2008 number 264.••••Brothers Tom and Pete Hayes piloted their 95-foot hot air balloon over the Island.

Looking Back 30 years - The Zonta Club, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 1978, installed Kay Harrison as president. Other officers installed were Vice President Betty Lovelee, Secretary Rita DeGlopper, Treasurer Ethel Yuhas and Directors Barbi Lare and Kay Long.••••Girl Scout Troop 437 boarded a chartered bus for Boston 30 years ago. Twenty girls were accompanied by their four leaders: Betty Metz, Pam Stark, Mary Ellen Kippley and Carolyn Doebert, along with six moms for a five-day trip to the Boston area. Would any of my readers have a photo of the group that was published in the July 7, 1978 Island Dispatch?

Looking Back 20 years - When a fire at the Polymer Applications Plant in Tonawanda raged out of control around 1 a.m. July 4, 1988, a shift in the wind caused the smoke to blow over Grandyle Village, the Falconwood homes and Ferry Village. Residents were requested to leave these areas and some of the evacuees made the best of it camped at Grand Island Fire Headquarters. The evacuation alert was lifted at 4:30 a.m.

Isledegrande.com reader Dorothy Bennett has sent in a very nice review on the new Riverstone Grill. See our "Thumbs Up" column and you may just want to take her recommendations.
Our sympathy to the families of Angeline M. Amorosi and Helen M. Jarzyniecki who recently passed away. Click Deaths for complete information.

Congratulations to Mary Ann Fancher who was recently honored by Mount St. Mary's for her many contributions as a teacher at the Academy since 1986.

Our advertisers make it possible for us to supply you with all Grand Island news at Isledegrande.com. Check out these spotlighted businesses and support them when you can. Creative Leather Concepts,  Kaiser Funeral Home,   Town Cafe,  and  Aronica and Company, Inc. For information on advertising at Isledegrande.com, email Dan McMahon at Dan@giecom.net.

Be sure to see the front page ad for the Holiday Inn Grand Island. A 4th of July party is being held tomorrow with carnival games, prizes and a beer tent.

The 2nd Annual "BA: Open Golf Tournament is scheduled for today at Beaver Island.••••The Class of '78 will hold an informal gathering at River Oaks this evening.•••• The first town sponsored band concert begins at 7 p.m. this evening.••••Races, the parade, the VFW picnic and fireworks activities are taking place tomorrow, July 4th.••••Six class reunions are taking place this weekend.••••The Leon D. Carr Memorial Disc Golf Tournament and Fundraiser has a 9 a.m. start on Saturday at Beaver Island.••••Tuesday night's band concert features the Dixieland music of the Morgan Street Stompers.•••• See our Calendar of Events for complete details on these and other Island happenings.

"Say a prayer for our guys over there." God bless America.

Email your notes, announcements and corrections for this column to Teddy Linenfelser, Snail Mail to: 2098 Ferry Road, Grand Island, NY, 14072, or drop off information at 1871 Whitehaven Rd. Include your email address and phone number.