Island Dispatch, 2000-12-01

              Island DISPATCH  Dancers page 2 Celebration page-9 ■■ - Equestrian page 13 56 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 :§E€?g(VIBEJEI:-1,200Q:; 20-pages 65c Vol. 56 :No. 3.1„ (736) 77£76? C!; Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage GI Connections Chairman to speak at town meeting Dr. Tom DeLoughry, chairman of Grand Island Connections, will give an update on the progress of the organization's youth project at the town meeting scheduled for December 5, at 7 p.m., in the High School Auditorium. The meeting was scheduled by Supervisor Peter McMahon and Erie County Legislature Chairman Charles Swanick as a follow-up to a previous meeting in October, which dealt with the issue of juvenile crime on the Island. Dr. DeLoughry, an Island resident and professor at D'Youville, believes that a community effort geared toward the youth of the town can help counter many of the negative influences that children and teenagers encounter. Connections has started a minigrant program whereby groups that wish to work together on a specific project targeted at youths will receive about $100-$3OO, or more, depending on the size and scope of the project. According to Dr. DeLoughry, Connections has received several requests for grants. He will be announcing the various proposals at the meeting, and speak more in detail about his organization and its potential value to the Island community. Connections is an organization scheduled to last two years. Its purpose is to bring the different pillars of the Island together to address issues and problems that may arise. Members within the group include residents from the town's economic, environmental, religious, educational, informational, and civic communities. County legislators approve amended 2001 budget On Wednesday, November 22nd, Erie County Legislature Chairman Charles M. Swanick (D- Kenmore/Grand Island), Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples (D- Buffalo) and a majority of Erie County Legislators voted to approve an amended 2001 Erie County Budget that includes a cut in the County's property tax levy, a reduction in the County's workforce and significant cuts in County spending beyond the County Executive's proposed 2QOI budget by a vote of 16-1. "We have taken a very close look at the County Executive's proposed budget, participated in a week-long department by department budget analysis, listened to concerns and requests from community agencies, and residents and have put together an amended budget that we feel effectively meets the needs of Erie County residents," said Majority Leader Peoples, Chair of the Legislature's Finance and Management/ Budget Committee. The 2001 amended budget cuts the County Executive's proposed 14.6 percent cut by an additional 3.07 percent. Residents willrealize a county property tax reduction in excess of 37 percent over a threeyear period. "Erie County is in excellent fiscal condition," said Legislature Chairman Swanick. "We are facing significant growth in sales tax revenues, and over $85 million budget surplus and a tobacco settlement totaling over $200 million. My colleagues and I felt strongly that it was important to use this fiscal opportunity to give money back to the taxpayers, invest in the services that make our communities thrive, reduce County debt and maintain fiscal responsibilities." Legislators conducted a sound analysis of budget lines and made several prudent and justified bud-.. get cuts. Cuts in the County's self insurance fund will leave the county with a total of $5 million for fiscal year 2001; by comparison, the County expended only $900,000 from January to September 2000. The 2000 surplus is expected to be Chamber to hold Christmas party The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating Christmas and helping a worthy cause on Tuesday, December 12 with a Christmas party at the Holiday Inn. The party will begin at 5 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m. Admission for the event will be a new toy or a canned good to go toward the Neighbors Foundation charity drive. The party will follow a Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Chamber office, beginning at noon and continuing until 4 p.m. At the meeting, members will vote for officers for next year. They will also be able to vote at the party, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Members may also pick up absentee ballots at the Chamber office and must have them post-marked by December 11. The following candidates have been nominated for office: President: James Sharpe Ist Vice: Gary Astridge 2nd Vice: Beverly Kinney Treasurer: Diane Dinsmore Secretary: Judy Schmidt Directors: (Five to be elected) Andrew Chambers (incumbent) John Lexo (incumbent) Skip Mazenauer (incumbent) Rus Thompson (incumbent) John Simon Dolly D'Orazio Kathy Graves Dan Robillard Dorthy Bitner EdPfohl Bonnie Sciuk Richard Milkas Margret Sand • The Chamber is also holding its sth annual lighting contest. Applications are due on December 15. Judging will be held on December 16. The contest is co-sponsored by Niagara Frontier Publications, proud publisher of the Dispatch and the Grand Island Pennysaver. Applications are also available at Town Hall. For more information, call the Chamber office at 773-3651. Christmas season on the Island... going up on houses, shoppers arc gt%T^W^?!gP^^^^yffi picking out gilts for their loved ones, *" » '*!c^_^s.__5—'S. civic groups are organizing food and clothing drives, and snow is in the forecast. One sure sign of Christmas time is that tree lots are beginning to appear. Above, John Ali, owner of Soft & Shine Car Wash on the Boulevard, sets up pine trees for sale. Customers will have their pick of a number of trees to take home and decorate. Meanwhile, Aaron and Gene Ryshkus of the Grand Island Garden Center and Gift Shop on Alvin Road display some impressive wreaths. Even the town government, is getting into the spirit. Below, Rich Dworak sets up lights on trees in DeGlopper Memorial Park, while a Santa cut-out stands before Town Hall, making sure everyone stays on his "nice" list. Santa will be at Town Hail in the flesh on Saturday, December 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. Although the days are getting shorter and the temperature is getting colder, Grand Island is quickly becoming a more colorful and festive place. The Christmas spirit is very contagious on the Island. continued on page 2