Island Dispatch, 2001-06-08

              Island DISPATCH 56 Years As the Voice of Grand Island "S. Award Winning Newspapers The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage Eco Island Dedication page 5 Flag Football Champs page 12 Friday Partly Cloudy Hi 72 Lo 51 Details on pg 20 EgEBSSNo. 15 30Paggs JUNK 8,2001 « 65¢ Town board votes in favor of SEIS photo and story by Jon Sandino On Monday the shot heard round Grand Island was released; the town board voted 4-1 in favor of the resolution to require a supplemental environmental impact statement along with scoping regarding the proposed Wilson Farms. The town board concluded that the developer, Tops Markets, and the property owner, Parkland Enterprises, need to conduct new tests of the store's impact within the neighborhood. The board parted with the residents who said that a mid-1990s environmental and traffic study were flawed because it did not include gas pumps. Supervisor Peter A. McMahon and Councilmen Richard W. Crawford Jr., Michael E. Heftka and Kevin M. Rustowicz voted yes. Councilwoman Mary S. Cooke was the only board member to vote no. The result of the vote obviously pleased the majority of the capacity filled court room, but to some extent shocked them as well. Though a decision was reached, this five-month drama by no means is going to die anytime in the near future. The vote on Monday only assured there will be additional WHAT WILL COME NEXT?- The open property on Stony Point and Ransom Roads will remain empty in the wake of a 4-1 vote by the Town Board to halt the Wilsom Farms project while further research is done. It could take several more months for a final decision to be reached by the town board on the matter. Firefighters rescue woman from river's edge photo and story by Ray Pauley Public Information Officer Shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, Grand Island Fire Company Rescue Personnel responded to a call of an injured woman on the Niagara River bank near West River Parkway and Whitehaven Road. This information was received from the U.S. Coast Guard, which was alerted by a Canadian resident who reportedly heard a woman calling for help. When GIFC Deputy Chief Peter McMahon arrived on location minutes later, he found 32-year-old Mary Beth Hall of West River Road at the bottom of a 35 foot embankment. She indicated that she was in the process of clearing an area near an access path to the river when she slipped, heard something "snap" and fell down in excruciating pain. She estimated that 45 minutes passed by before she was discovered and rescue personnel arrived. GIFC Paramedic Scan Manning confirmed that she received ALS treatment for a severe lower leg fracture before being carried up the embankment in the Stokes litter basket. She was then transported by ambulance to Sisters Hospital for further medical attention and remains confined there. All GIFC Units returned in service at 6:16 p.m., according to Chief McMahon. Firefighters and ambulance personnel carry victim up steep embankment prior to her transport to Sisters Hospital. History of the Connections Program by Tom DeLoughry The initial Connections Program was developed by a community coalition led by Quality Quest, an environmental group, in association with the Grand Island GIFTS program, the Grand Island School District and the Grand Island Ministerium. This coalition conducted a successful initial program. More than 5,000 residents were exposed to a four-part Connections program in the local newspaper. Nearly 1.000 written promises were made to improve the environment.Approximately- 900 individuals attended school assemblies and community Connections workshops.About 800 students from three, elementary schools participated in the Connections We Share poster contest. The posters were displayed at the local supermarket and the Connection Tree Forest at Island Treasures. The contest was sponsored by the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. The initial program, funded by a $5,000 grant from the Erie County Legislature, was so well-received that in June of 2000 it was expanded and formalized through a board of directors currently consisting of the town supervisor, two town councilmen, the superintendent and assistant superintendent of schools, the director of Senior Services, the director of Grand Island GIFTS, the president and an additional representative from the Grand Island Ministerium (a local council of churches) as well as business, environmental and other community leaders. Recent accomplishments of the The Connections program will hold their second meeting June 12,7 p.m. at the town library. On the Leadership Council agenda will be a five-minute overview, a briefing on what Connections is, and the grant program for youths and seniors will be discussed. The meeting will also explain how the Connections program will connect residents through the Dispatch and the Internet. Look for additional information on Connections within the next few weeks in an upcoming Dispatch or visit via the Internet at: www.g-i--together.org.Connections program include the convening of a Leadership Council, through which community leaders ■ arc encouraged to communicate their needs and resources while reaching out to the community for increased involvement. The establishment of an Internet infrastructure that incorporates 50 schools, civic or other organizations, as well as a community Jcale n d a r through sponsorship by an Internet firm has also aided the cause. Over the next two years, the Grand Island Connections Program will offer a series of mini-grants to encourage Grand Island organizations to work together. Initially the focus will be on working together with and for youth. Mini-grants ranging for $100 to $300 will be available for any collaborative project in which two or more organizations (e.g., a youth and a civic group; two social clubs; two youth groups) work together on a common goal. Ideally, these activities should continued on page 2 vw continued on page 2 tSf :1 I „ j'. : i .1 . - . - 1 ~' " - I j ... ■i 1 ,~ ! "' ' :t ,' " - - I It'_ i '-"_''" i oHrr -