Island Dispatch, 2001-01-26

              Island DISPATCH Cub Scouts The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District 56 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers -. : Little Fishes page 13 page 8 Grandopoly page 5 Founded 1944'• Complete Community Coverage JANUARY 26, 2001 20 pages 65c Vol. 56 No. 39 (716)773-7676 Seneca Land Claim - Feds to drop ejectment by Christopher Marquis On Monday, Jan. 22, Grand Island Town Supervisor Peter McMahon announced that the U.S. Justice Department has decided to drop ejectment from the Seneca Land-Claim case. This means that land owners on the Island will not be at risk to lose their property as a consequence of the case. "It is the policy of the United States not to seek any relief from private landowners in its cases involving the New York Land Claims," stated Asst. Attorney General Lois J. Schiffer in a letter dated Jan. 19, The U.S. Justice Department is a plaintiff in a case against New York State, in which the Seneca Indian Nation claims that Grand Island and other Niagara River islands were not taken legally by the state from the tribe. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Arcara is presiding over the case. The Federal Government's motion to drop ejectment is expected to be approved by Judge Richard Arcara. "If Judge Arcara grants these motions, the question of who owns Grand Island will be answered for once and for. all," declared McMahon at a press conference in Town Hall on Monday. "It's been a long struggle and this is a big victory," continued McMahon. "We have always said that the Federal Government should separate the land from the lawsuit." Schumer spoke next. He said that he had fought since the beginning of his senatorial term to stop the WELCOME NEWS'- U.S. Senator Charles Schumer gives the thumbs up as Town Supervisor Peter McMahon announces that the U.S. Justice Department has decided to drop ejectment from the Seneca Land Claim case. Sheriff Gallivan speaks to Rotarians The Grand Island Rotary Club hosted Erie County Sheriff Patrick Gallivan last Wednesday at the Buffalo Launch Club. Gallivan explained to the Rotarians the work he does and the efforts he makes to better serve the community. Grand Island Superintendent Paul Fields noted that the sheriff's department and Grand Island schools have a good relationship. Two examples of this are the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program and the Law Enforcement Explorer group. Gallivan began his law enforcement career with the New York State Police in 1982. His remarkable abilities and dedication helped him rise through the ranks quickly to ' the position of Zone ROTARY WELCOMES GALLIVAN - Sheriff Patrick Gallivan (second from right) meets with Rotarians (l-r) Kent Webb, John White and Ted Bates at last Wednesday's Club meeting. GI students score well in state assessments By Christopher Marquis The Grand Island School Board saw on Monday that its students, performed well on state assessment tests, but there was room for improvement. Dr. Karen Karmezin, director of curriculum and instruction, presented the results from the statewide standardized assessment tests for 4th and Bth grade students to the board at its latest meeting. Dr. Karmezin began by describing the goals of the New York State Department of Education. These included measuring achievement' by. proficiency rather than minimum competency, raising the bar for school performance until the standard becomes 90 percent proficiency,proficiency, and establishing standards for ail schools, not merely low-performers.School performance is gauged by something called the School Accountability Performance Index (SPI). The SPI is measured on a scale of 0 to 200, with 200 representing 100 percent of the students reaching proficiency. A Local Assistance Plan is required if a school performs below 140. Dr. Karmezin displayed the results of the two tests, math and English Language Assessment (ELA). Grand Island students in grade 8 scored a 149 in math and a 161 in ELA, as compared to 115 and 132, respectively, state-wide. Grand Island High School to perform The Wizard of Oz WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD- Andrea Miller, right, will play Dorothy and Leanne Kern, left, will play the Good Witch in the Grand Island High School Music Department's performance of"The Wizard of Oz" Thursday- Saturday, Feb. 1-3 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school auditorium. The Huth Road Select choir, also shown, will play the munchkins in the shows. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the Music Department at the high school at 773-8820. (photo by Paul Lane) story inside Rustowicz to hold informal Wilson Farms discussion Town Councilman Kevin Rustowicz has announced that he will hold an informal community meeting at the Grand Island Memorial Library on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m, to discuss the proposed Wilson Farms store at Ransom Road and Stony Point. Rustowicz has told the Dispatch that the meeting is open to any interested parties. He hopes to hear different viewpoints from many people on what Islanders think about the plan. "I live in that neighborhood, and I would like to hear what other people think," Rustowicz said. "I'd like to see what the people actually want." continued on page 2 continued on page 6 continued on page 3 -W JWiH le THE. POWER OF &w) "77?e Keys To Your Satisfaction."  0.J4-41 IW 4130 Sheridan Dr. Williamsville, NY 14221 Your Advertising Message can be Placed Here!