Island Dispatch, 1998-09-04

              Island DISPATCH ppjp*3 tKe voice of Grajld Islan^l^^^> Sk V ..jJ'v?PPJPP "Mm.Xllh Hi _.. Monday NiteMadneee LARCE CHEESE PIZZA 4.95 ♦T\X In This Issue: Health Care Crisis seepages 4 & 5 Complete community coverage September 4, 1998 650 Vol. 54 No. 21 (716)773-7676 Lockport Savings Bank enters the insurance market Savings bank agrees to acquire Warren-Hoffman & Associates In a first for the Western New York area, Lockport Savings Bank announced on Wednesday that it has reached an agreement to acquire Warren-Hoffman & Associates, Inc., the second largest full service insurance agency in Western New York, with offices in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Williamsville. The transaction also includes the acquisition of Warren-Hoffman's affiliate companies: Grand Island based NOVA Healthcare Administrators, a third party administrator of employee benefits, as well as the Hollis Boss Agency, Inc. (Grand Island) and the Foote- Mandaville Agency, Inc. (Newfane), also full service insurance firms. "Strategically, this is a great new partnership that will strengthen our presence in the Western New York market," Lockport Savings Bank President and CEO William E. Swan said. "Combining our bank's resources with Warren-Hoffman's insurance capabilities will enable us to provide a wide range of competitively priced financial services enhancing our ability to provide value to our customers and increase long-term returns to our shareholders." This is the bank's first acquisition since its stock conversion in April of this year. The acquisition is expected to increase earnings $0.02 per share in 1999. The transaction is expected to be closed by January 1999. By agreement of both parties, financial terms were not disclosed. Operating as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary, Warren- Hoffman and its affiliate companies will continue to be under the direction of their current management teams. John D. Hoffman, formerly president of Warren-Hoffman, has been named chief executive officer of the companies and will report directly to Swan. Michael C. Tylwalk, Jr. has been named president of Warren-Hoffman & Associates which includes the Hollis Boss and Foote-Mandaville agencies. Larry R. Thompson will continue in his role as president of NOVA Healthcare. Dan R. Mandaville has been named vice president of Warren-Hoffman and will continue to manage the Foote- Mandaville office in Newfane. Along with these individuals and other principals, the companies' sales associates and support staff will operate at all of their current Third air-drop scheduled with rabies vaccine on the Island Grand Island is about to engage in another major assault to eradicate raccoon rabies in the United States On Tuesday, Sept. 15, several small fixed-wing airplanes will be distributing the bait over woodlands in Niagara County and Grand Island. Residents of those areas are asked to keep pets on leashes for the following week, so that the wild raccoons have a chance to consume die bait. While the bait will not harm humans or pets, the more bait available to the raccoons, the more of them will be vaccinated. A cooperative Uiree-year project is being conducted by the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell Umveniiy, -»<orW«n8 Vvi wmjuncdon with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario, Canada and county Health Departments throughout New York State, establishing a "rabies-free" zone throughout this region. Once that is secured, die project will continue working southward along the east coast until the wild raccoon population is free of disease. The raccoon vaccine, which was developed Uiree years ago, is seen as a chance to stop the spread of die disease. The program will drop specially prepared bait containing the vaccine into wooded areas favored by wild raccoons. Once ingested, it will protect animals from the rabies epidemic currently spreading through our area. By working throughout northern New York State, along the St. Lawrence Seaway and into New England and Quebec, the Cornell project will establish the line of defense here, then work south all the way to Florida, where the epidemic originated. All states along the East Coast currently have rabid raccoons. It is not recommended that family pets use this procedure. Cats and dogs should receive independent vaccinations from a veterinarian. The Erie County Health Department is offering "free" rabies vaccinations tor ttontty fxs\Sk <enr* -On* «e«ona, *w.x\*», sixteenth and twenty-third of September, at various locations throughout Erie County. For furllier information, please call Erie County Department of Health at 874-1070 or Legislator Swanick's office at 773-1441. The vaccine packages are the size of ice cubes, weighing 17 grams each, made of animal fat, which surrounds the plastic vaccine pellet. They are unpleasant tasting to humans but are very appealing to raccoons. Each bait package is imprinted with a telephone number, and if family pets bring them home, MOVING ALONG - On Thursday morning, Erie County Legislator Charles M. Swanick and Erie County Highway Engineer Charles Sickler inspected the progress of the East River Road project between the South Grand Island Bridge and Bush Road. The project began this week and includes the milling of two inches off the top surface, applying a new two-inch binder and finishing with a one-inch topcoat completing the road surface and shoulder area. The stripping will be added last after all of the other processes are completed. Earlier in the summer the Erie County Highway Department installed a new culvert pipe on East River Road in preparation for the work now in progress. "We will make every effort to perform this work with a minimum of inconvenience to the immediate residents, with the ultimate result being a safer and more pleasant drive for everyone," Swanick said. Swanick is pictured lower left followed by Bob Linforth, Joe Pitirri, and Charlie Sickler. Lottery for early Canada Goose hunting season at Beaver Island Henry Brodowski, Deputy General Manager of the Western Region of New York State Parks, has announced that a limited number of blinds at Beaver Island State Park will be made available to hunters for the early Canada Goose hunting season, which runs from Sept. 9 through Sept. 25. The ten waterfowl hunting blinds in the park that will be available each day will be assigned by lottery. The first of three drawing dates will be Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m., which will be for Sept. 9 through Sept. 15. The second draw will be Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. for Sept. 16 through Sept. 22. The third and final draw will be Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. and will be for Sept. 23 through Sept. 25. All three draws will be conducted in the basement of the east wing of the casino-bathhouse building. Hunters must be present for the drawings and have all required permits and licenses with them. Additionally, proof of registration in the New York State Harvest Information Program (HIP) is required. Hunting hours in the park are from sunrise to 10 a.m. A dog or boat is required for retrieving. Further information regarding park rules and hunting regulations can be obtained by calling the park at 773--3271 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. continued on page 12 continued on page 12