Island Dispatch, 2000-05-26

              Island DISPATCH Exceptional education page 8 Earth Day page 9 Champs page 12 - Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverazi The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District Vol. 56 No. 5 (716)773-7676 56 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers 65 c 20 pages MAY 26, 2000 Goden Age Center celebrates 40th anniversary by Stephanie McClain Nearly 200 people came to the Golden Age Center Sunday, May 21, to celebrate 40 years of community activities. Dorothy Rows well, director of the Golden Age Center, said the current center, open to Grand Island residents over 50 years old, opened in.November, 1975. Plans for the anniversary began in early January, she said. Activities at the anniversary included a performance by the center's chorale, line dancing and tai chi demonstrations and art and craft exhibits. Erie County Legislator Chuck Swanick and members of the town council presented certificates of recognitionrecognition to the center and declared May "Older Americans Month" in Grand Island. Rowswell said the center serves nearly 100 people daily and offers dining, transportation, trips, entertainment and various activities, including aerobics, bridge, knitting and dancing. Wanda Nixon and Mildred Burgette, former presidents of the Golden Age Center who enjoy calling BINGO at the center, said the center means a lot to them. "It's the best place in the world to come," said Nixon, who also participates in the chorale. "No matter how you feel in the morning, you feel changed when you come." Lucille Jones, a photographer and historian at the center, who said she took over the job of arranging the center's record books, agreed. "It's a place to go to be with friends," she said. "There's something to do all the time. When you wake up in the morning, you say 'Good, I can go to the center today.' It's very exciting." Jones counted taking photographs of trips to Spain, Portugal, Hawaii, among other destinations, as some of her favorite activities with the center. The Golden Age Center is located on Whitehaven Road. For more information, all 773-9682. 40 YEARS YOUNG - Grand Island's Golden Age Center turned 40 recently, and celebrated with a birtnday parly complete with birthday cake and a cake cutting ceremony, above. (Photo by Stephanie McClain) Firefighters battle stubborn blaze At 11:40 p.m., on Wednesday, May 24, Grand Island firefighters responded to an alarm of fire at 1600 East River Rd., location of the former D.J. Waterworks Tavern. An occupant, 48 year old Gary Link, had been awakened by the smell of smoke, left the building and called 911 from the home of a neighbor. Within minutes, Grand Island Fire Company Chief Skip Mrkall arrived on location, observed heavy black smoke venting from the structure, and requested additional manpower, as well as Mutual Aid assistance, for a "working fire." Engines-snorttbers«Sr4,--5 and 6 proceeded to the scene and an interior attack was commenced under-the direction of Deputy Chief Pete McMahon, who led fire ground operations. GIFC fire officers noted that firefighting crews were hampered by considerable accumulations of debris that partially blocked access to the first floor bar area, where the fire apparently started. Nevertheless, four Fire Suppression Teams had the fire under control by 12:22 a.m. Thursday after a Sheridan Park VFD aerial ladder truck and Kenmore, Brighton and Kenilworth Engine crews had rendered assistance.assistance. In addition, Ellwood VFD was assigned to standby duty at GIFC Headquarters. Although firefighting units were released from the scene, they were recalled at 2:59 a.m. for a "rekindle" when detected fire in a wall reignited and spread to the second floor. Firefighting operations continued untils:s9 a.m. when several hot spots were finally eliminated. Damage to the building and contents amounted to approximately $175,000, according to Chief Mrkall. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, according to GIFC Fire -Investigator Harold Barth, who is working with his counterparts from the Erie County Sheriffs Department. The structure is scheduled for immediate demolition due to "unsafe conditions," according to Town Building Inspector Doug Learman, who was also at the scene. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene and returned to duty. One GEFC firefighter was hospitalized with a back injury, but has since been released. The occupant, Gary Link, was treated at the scene by GIFC paramedics for smoke inhalation but did not require hospitalization.Mills on a mission by Dana Grabski State Education Commissioner Richard Mills was in Western New York Tuesday to visit area schools, talk with administrators and the public. Mills has worked the last five years to raise the education standards by having ail children take and pass the Regents exams in every subject. Each year another exam will -be required for high school students. Mills visited Akron Junior/Senior High School and Como Park Elementary in Lancaster. "I picked these because both were consistently high success schools," Mills said. He emphasized the points of having a strong school and commented on strong leadership, a strong focus and the ability to give an abundance amount of extra help to the students.Since Mills has introduced the raised standards for New York State, he has seen positive results. Ninety-two percent of seniors already met the English standard. "I didn't think the success would come this early," said Mills. "I knew they copld do it - it's early good news." The results have come easy and it will take a few more years in order to introduce each Regents exam. "The first task and greatest focus is continued on page 3