Island Dispatch, 1998-01-02

              Island DISPATCH  th"oice of (?!rand Iste-"*"  r ! -..Monday Nne Madness LARGE CHEESE PIZZA Official Newspaper for the Town of Grand Island & the Grand Island School District January 2,1998 16 Pages 650 Vol. 54•N0. 37 (716) 773-7676 Sabres, Yankees to collide in Old -Timers game by Gregg Schnitzer The Buffalo Sabres Alumni hockey team will lace up the skates for another showdown with the Damn Yankees Old Timers squad at the University of Niagara's Ice Arena on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. The teams battled last year in a benefit game that entertained over 1,000 fans and raised over fivethousand of dollars. The money raised was used to help defray the medical costs of Marissa Saulino, a young Niagara Falls resident who has and to help the in the costs of the Grand Niagara Cataract Youth Hockey League. Grand Niagara has kids from all over the Niagara Region on it's various rosters. This year's contest will raise funds for Hunter's Hope/A Kelly for Kids Foundation Charity and the GNCYHL. Last year the teams were knotted at half time 1-1 but the Sabres pulled away to an impressive 7-2 victory. The Damn Yankees, a group of "older boys" from the Niagara County and Grand Island areas, has been training hard for the past 51 weeks in anticipation of the rematch. Several rounds of golf (to build endurance) and 16 ounce curls (Pepsi, of course), have been part of a complex dry-land training system for the Yanks over the summer. The improved physical state of the team has paid off with a pair of early season tournament wins. DV is led by the near unstoppable line of Dick Stien, Benny Critelli and Denny Gruarin. Doug "The Hammer" Smith, Gary "Almost Larry" Robinson and Bill "The Fury" Arcuri make up the checking line that will be used to shut down the Sabres top line. Seeing the urgency of the situation the Alumni team is again requesting assistance from former great and Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne. Dionne netted over 600 NHL during his career but failed to light the lamp last year against the Damn Yankees despite about 20 shots on goal. Marcell is said to be on a quest for this year's contest. The Sabres will suit up several other familiar names to area fans including, Larry Playfair, Richie Dunn, Morris Titanic and Tony McKegney, Rick Martin, Rene Robert, Derek Smith, Doug Rombough, Ken Breitenbach, Mike Bolaind. Jim Bedard, a former player with the Maple Leafs and the Capitols and current goaltending coach of the Stanley Cup Cahmpion Detroit Red Wings will be handling the chores between the pipes for the Sabres. Playfair still recalls the rugged treatment given to him by Doug Smith in the corner of the rink and will be looking for revenge. Players will be available for autographs. Filling out the DV roster will be Captain Jim Busch, Paul Granto, Paul Morreale, Dan Laßere, Bob Salfi, Dave Guilliams and Tom Schmittendorf. Mcl Hetrick and Pat Berrigan will share the goaltending chores for the Yanks. The event promises to be a fun one for all who attend. Local businesses have chipped in by donating hundreds of dollars worth of goods and services that will be raffled off and given as door prizes. Tickets prices arc amazing low $3.00 and can be purchased by calling Dennis Gruarin at 745-7265 or by contacting the NU Ice Complex at 286-8782. Hello Dolly Cast announced Evember, approximately 110 i auditioned for the GIHS ng production of "Hello, Dolly." A cast of 76 students was chosen. They include the following: Dolly: Elizabeth Foks; Horace Vandegelder: Andy King; Cornelius Hackl: Christopher Neuhaus; Bamaby Tucker: Michael DeDario; Minnie Fay: Alyssa Batarla; Irene Malloy: Laura Vivier; Ernestina: Melissa Bruno; Ermengarde: Alison Gangloff; Ambrose: Tom Hartwell and Rudolph: Nate Royal. Featured dancers include: Karen Case, Shannon Casey, Melissa Crockett, Tiffany Gainer, Melissa Goris, Karen Koller, Kerry Mesmer, Jordan Miller, Tamara Namaste, Victoria Ovitt and Danielle Heather Wilhelm. This year several of these dancers chose to choreogranh snecial numbers! For a good cause A WIN-WIN SITUATION - Bob Weaver of West River Road won first place in the "Reflections of Light" contest with his spectacular tree display. The businessman decided to donate his $100 prize to the Neighbors Foundation. From left are Committee Chairman and Judge Mike Sendlbeck, Judge Betty Harris, Bob Weaver, Andy Piacente from the Neighbors Foundation, Judge Jule Thompson, Rus Thompson who created the first, second and third place signs, and NFP Editor and Judge Deanne Bartha. (by Bryan Jenkins) Swanick Works to Hold Taxes Down Erie County Legislator Charles M. Swanick unveiled amendments to County Executive Dennis T. Gorski's 1998 Erie County Budget proposal, fulfilling the first phase of the three-year real property tax freeze while maintaining county services at current levels. Legislators undertook a lengthy and comprehensive process of review of the County Executive's proposed $1,079 billion spending plan in order to freeze property taxes at current levels. Legislator Swanick says that Legislators want to ensure fiscally sound budgeting practices over the next several fiscal years, and that holding firm on the tax freeze for 1998 is an important part of that effort "Far and away, the most significant accomplishment of this budget process has been maintaining the freeze on county property taxes," said Swanick. "In the 1980's, County taxpayers found out how 'smoke and mirrors' budgeting and other types of gimmickry can play havoc with county finances. Freezing taxes will ensure balanced budgets in future years, and will avoid the type of large-scale property tax increases that we had during the fiscal crisis m the mid-19805," Swanick continued. Legislator Swanick points out that Legislators removed revenue and expenditure details pertaining to the extension of the Buffalo Bills lease, in large-partly because the issue is currently unresolved. According to Swanick, while the County must budget for the routine maintenance of Rich Stadium for 1998, since the Greater Buffalo Partnership's report to the Legislature is due in early December, it would be unwise for the Legislature to leave intact any budgetary reference to the Bills lease proposal or any funding mechanism thereof. "The Buffalo Bills lease issue is still a long way from a final continued on page 3 continued on page 13