Island Dispatch, 2002-09-27

              An Explosive Team Page 12 IMionc: (716) 773-7676 • *'a\: (716) 773-7190 • K-Mail: MTNcwsfc clmail.com , ____^________________________________________________________________ The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Halny l\ il wj-it: Cneili '.he-■\i'.uhfr Memory Boxes To Bid On Page 3 Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage Island DISPATCH  57 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 hM_y_M___h_w Vol. 58 NO. 31 September 27, 2002 20 Pages 85c Heritage Christian Home opens new location on Grand Island Heritage Christian Home Inc. recently opened their eighth home in the Western New York area serving people with developmental disabilities.They now ha\o :> total of ?S homes between the Rochester and Buffalo area. They also have four respite programs and nine habilitation programs plus a camp in the Adirondacks. On hand for the dedication were Grand Island Councilman Dan Robillard, former owner Granson Geis, resident Libbie Hand, Grand Island town Supervisor Peter McMahon, Grand Island Councilwoman Mary Cooke and state Senator Byron Brown. The facility at 2982 Stony Point Road is a home to six young ladies with special needs. Heritage Christian Homes was recently granted the New York State Compass Program to monitor themselves to ensure they continue to exceed state regulations in all facets of residential care. Their motto is "Reaching Higher," and is taken from Psalms 108:4, "For great is your love, higher than the Heavens, your faithfulness reaches to the skies." Pictured from left at the opening of the newest Heritage Christian Home, 2982 Stony Point Road, are town Councilman Dan Robillard, Granson Geis, resident Libbie Hand, town Supervisor Peter McMahon, town councilwoman Mary Cooke, and state Senator Byron Brown. VFW Lady Auxiliary members raise money for Neighbors Foundation Lady Auxiliary members of trie Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9249 gathered at the post last Friday evening to present a representative of the Neighbors Foundation with a $1,000 check. The auxiliary members raised the money during their sixtn annua! Chicken Barbecue Dinner, which was held back in May. According to auxiliary chairperson Kathy Lommer, approximately 150 dinners were sold at the eat-in or take-out event. In addition to the mouth-watering chicken, attendees enjoyed salads galore including potato, macaroni and chef, to name a few, as well as baked beans, coleslaw and a slew of desserts. Pictured from left at Friday's check presentation were Debbie Schoenle. Neighbors Foundation Vice President David Conboy, Jaci Streicher. Lommer, Cindy Bindics, and Dick Allen, (photo by Jon Sandino) Board shares capital project updates with attendees by Lisa Otto and Jon Sandino It may have seemed like the wait was forever, but good news came out of Monday's Grand Island Board of Education meeting. Three-plus years after the district's $18.4 million capital project was approved, the board was finally able to offer residents in-depth information pertaining to the project.Within the past year, numerous residents have attended meetings in hopes of obtaining information, but more times than not, they walked away dissatisfied with the answer(s), or lack, they received. As the summer months came and went, less people frequented the board meetings, and questions pertaining to the project seemed to fade into the summer sunset,. However, the board showed their dedication to the community by giving residents multiple updates, both of which were featured in the special "Bridge" pullout section of the Island Dispatch. The first appeared in May while the second was published in late August. As the school year kicked off, it became evident that this project had finally been launched. Construction crews have congregated around the high/middle school on almost a daily basis, machinery has been on site and orange construction fences are draped around the facility. During Monday's meeting, attendees were filled in on the specifics of the projects at hand. Here is a closer look at what to expect: - Currently the front of the complex (specifically the sidewalk area by the music wing) is being demolished. Crews will then lay a new cement foundation with that portionportion of the project expected to be complete by winter. - In addition, another contractor is now in the process of improving the parking situation. A total of 34 new spaces will be created behind the middle school, while 114 will be made available in the front of the high school. Paving for both lots could possibly start as early as three weeks from now. - Work is also underway on fall weather roofing for the high school. That project is expected to be complete this week. Other Happenings With all of the hype surrounding the capital project update, we should not forget the other events that took place during Monday's meeting. They are as follows: - The approval of the Grand Island Ski Club for the 2002-03 school year. - The announcement that the Class of 2003 will have their graduation ceremony take place at continued on page 2 eg= MARTY'S TOWING, INC. TIR EE Sfc NYSINSMCnON'AUIORB'AJRS.BIWNBNAMEIIRK.BATnRIiS h _„ 24.hr. Emergency T__\gS3_» gST j£s_fr\ Road Service & Recovery p., *- ""•"n,.TI" ~ X 1741 Baseline Rd. --_■—-M mv ""l'1" -g-~*>..3» y_jr3-3S 1 3 "l^lrCcio Weekend at a Glance j Saturday, j Sesqui Ball I * Formal Dinner Dance j Holiday Inn, j 100 Whitehaven Rd. at E. River Rd. For information or tickets, j call 773-3651 1 : Grand Island Art Society | ! Silent Auction, Exhibit j Holiday Inn, I For more information call 773-3651 j Sunday J Annual Crop Walk j for Hunger Relief j Beaver Island State Park, 1 p.m. 1 Registration Deadline for j St. Stephen's sth Annual J Golf Outing I Call 773-5254 1 i Residential Contract fff . removal ; Or Pay Per Plow *Fully Insured j •Grand Island Outdoor Services 774-8717 or 444-6917 j