Island Dispatch, 2000-01-14

              Island DISPATCH Vol 55fk>3ff f (718) 773-7676 mmi^ gpjpfoges^ —«*»»■» 55 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District -Complete Community Coverage Tops Teamwork page 5 Work of Art page 9 Winning Snowfall! page 20 Rash of burglaries on Island discussed by Rick Forgione Erie County sheriffs and Grand Island officials held a press conference Tuesday to respond to what Sheriff Patrick Gallivan called a "significant number" of burglaries on Grand Island since October. In the past four months, a total of 17 burglaries have taken place, several of which were in the Sandy Beach and Pin Oak areas. Along with Gallivan, conducting the press conference were Erie County Legislator Charles Swanick, Supervisor Peter McMahon. Councilwoman Mary Cooke, Detective Fred Vincent, Chief COMBINED EFFORT - A press conference was held al Grand Island Town Hall oh Tuesday to update residents on the status of a rash of burglaries on the Island since October. Several actions were discussed to help prevent more burglaries including the announcement of a crime prevention seminar at town hall on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. Pictured from left are Grand Island Councilwoman Mary Cooke; Erie County Legislator Charles Swanick; Grand Island Supervisor Pete McMahon; Erie County Sheriff Patrick Gallivan; and Chief Richard Donovan. Also at the press conference but not pictured above were Detective Fred Vincent and Grand Island Police Supervising Officer Tom Flaherty. Millennium baby makes Grand Island, WNY history by Kelly N. Gast Born just past midnight on January 1, 2000, baby Jessica Conrad was not only Grand Island's first born, but the first millennium baby in all of Western New York. Her parents, Sheryll and Keith, welcomed the most recent addition to their family at 12:01 a.m. at Sister's Hospital. The couple also has three other children. This wasn't the first time Mrs. Conrad delivered a child on a holiday either. Her first baby, Raymond, now 12, was born on Christmas. Mrs. Conrad said that she "has a Christmas baby and a New Year's baby and now with Jessica, the family is complete." The Conrads appeared on AM Buffalo last week with baby Jessica, sharing their new bundle of joy with the WNY community. Their story made the news on other local broadcasts as well. Baby Jessica will certainly be surrounded by a lot of love and a lot of boys. She has two other brothers, Keith, 9, and Kyle, 2, along with Raymond to help watch over her. The Conrads will receive many gifts from area businesses including: Kelly's Country Store, Mallwitz Island Lanes, Island Dispatch, Holiday Showcase, Colonial Liquor, Capital Cleaners, Village Inn, Wheelers Getty and John's Pizza. FIRST REAL SNOW OF THE YEAR - Western New Yorkers have enjoyed mild winter weather right into the new millennium, up until Thursday morning when the first real accumulation — four to six inches in some areas— fell and made early commuting slow going. The Grand Island Highway Department was prepared with their plows and salt tracks. According to Superintendent Ray Dlugokinski, when temperatures dip below 25 degrees Grand Island's road salt is loaded on to the trucks and sprayed with liquid calcium and Corguard, a corrosion inhibitor. The combination penetrates the snow and ice better and makes for quicker clean-ups. Dlugokinski reports that the department's continual attention to Grand Island's highways has resulted in fewer complaints over the years. Above, Grand Island's salt storage area behind the highway department. Inset: Snow plows hard at work Thursday morning. FIRST BABY - Pictured is the Conrad family with baby Jessica at just 10 days old. From left: Kyle, 2; Keith, Sheryll and Jessica. continued on page 7 Be in the Know every week! Subscribe to the Island Dispatch!* /"/ MllllllNl \ll\lllij\ \!< /)(!•>( 14 "*