Island Dispatch, 2002-11-15

              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 Vikings Season Comes To An End Page 3 Students Receive Special Visit Page 8 The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Mild/Showers ■ • Is if right? Cheek ik. weather mpg2 . Phone: (716) 773-7676 • Fa\: (716)773-7190 • K-Mail: >ti . .. _..._._:,:x_ i <■ . ■- -. . -*-_'- » _*_, v..5 - ' * i ?-»i •** £• t Jobfju._. _* -_. •*_.dGH*b-£flS___Hi__a - Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage -,%3| ■„-;■-' No\ ember 15, 2002 20 Pages  Vol. 58 Veterans Day Service well-attended photos and story by Jon Sandino Threatening rain clouds and windy conditions did not prevent Grand Island res- i idents from com- j ing out and hon- i oring past and ( present Veterans I Monday morning ' at Veterans Park. ; Easily over; IQO. people, ..were.. I in attendance for : the service, '■ which took place ; directly in front ; of the Memorial I Wall - near the : Bedell Road entrance of the park. The event commenced when town Supervisor Pete McMahon introduced VFW Post 9249 Commander Mike Cutini. Cutini then led the gathering in the Pledge to the Flag. Following the pledge, VFW Post 9249 Chaplain Mike Rogan gave the Invocation. After the Invocation, McMahon once again stepped forward and delivered an inspirational and heart-touching speech. "I am pleased that so many of you took the time out this morning even though the weather isn't as good as it could have been," McMahon said. He continued, "This is a moment which this grateful nation sets aside so that we can say thanks to those heroic men and women who have gone in harms way to protect and serve u5..." McMahon concluded, "We are gathered here for one reason, to show our Veterans that we are grateful... and to simply say thanks." Following the speech, John Gorman, US Air Force; Mark Hebert, US Navy; TJ Miles, US Coast Guard; and Jack Skinner, US Air Force served as the honor guard as they placed the wreath in front of the wall during the wreath presentation.A Salute to the Fallen led by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9249 i members and the ; Charles N. SDeGlopper j Memorial Color I Guard then ;occurred. ; Members of these i groups fired three \ shots into the air. | Joe Schmidt and jD re■ .w i Armusewicz, i members of the I Grand Island | High School {Band, then played jTaps. The service {ended with a given by Cutini. Upon completion of the service, everyone in attendance was invited to VFW Post 9249 for an open house and lunch buffet. This event was put on by the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW. During the open house, VFW member Joe Synakowski told the Dispatch "This was * the best turnout yet. Each year we hope to getmore people out there (referring to the service)." All said, everyone involved was pleased with the turnout for the ser- vice and enjoyed each others company at the gathering afterward. John Gorman, US Air Force; Mark Hebert. US Navy: TJ Miles. US Coast Guard- and Jack Skinner. US Air Force served ns the honor guard during 'ho presentation of the wreath at the Veterans Day Service Monday at the Memorial Wall in Veterans Park. As always, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9249 anci Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Color Guard ied the Salute to She Fallen, as they pointed their firearms towards the air and fired three shots Swanick presents check for Sidway Complex renovation I The unseasonably warm weather coupled with a special announcement from Erie County Legislator Charles M. Swanick made all memibers and officials of the Grand Island Soccer Club jump joy for this past weekend. Swanick held a Saturday morn, ing press conference/check presenjtation on the soccer fields at the j Sidway Complex. When all said 1 and done, Swanick presented offijcials of the.club with a $4,000 I check for the renovation of the soc-1 cer fields. | The $4,000 appropriation will 1 correct the rutted surface, aerate, top dress, and oversees the top surface. Completion of this project will create a safer playing surface for the estimated 1,200 youths who use the fields. "I am very pleased to be able to fund this renovation for the youth J of Grand Island.," Swanick said. I"The Grand Island Soccer Club I offers very worthwhile athletic pro- Igrafns for our young Grand Island j residents." I He added, "Sports, and the many lessons it teaches in teamwork, discipline and leadership play an important role in a healthy child's development." This is not the first time Swanick has stepped up over the past several months and helped aid a sports program on the Island. In early October, he.presented a check to the Grand Island Jr. Vikings program.Erie County Legislator Charles M. Swanick presented a $4,000 check to Grand Island Soccer Club officials on Saturday. The club is going to use the money for the renovations of the soccer fields next to Sidway School. (photo by Brian L. Garman) I Weekend at a Glance j j Friday j J Connor Middle School f I 4th Annual International Night 1 j 1100 Ransom-Rd., 6to 9 p.m. | I Open to the public 1 j For more information call 773-8830 f j Friday & Saturday f 1 Discard Book Sale j 1 Grand Island Memorial Library, 1 j Community Room, 1715 Bedell Rd. J 1 . Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3 j Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. j I Saturday j J. Snowmobile Club I I Youth Safety Course 1 I Moose Lodge #180, 2524 Grand j I Island Blvd., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. g j Register by calling 773-9258 f I This course is free for youth ages I j 10-18 years - Parental signature j ■ L_______l_ siiow.p.LCiwiiie sebiiice" I ' PgrWMWts£? £kH\ftP*rt i~tin n •20 years of experience /--_~_>v For Grand lsland Residents on|y m MUVCI LJ-Silll^J • Sign Up by Nov. 18 -10 % DISCOUNT (smDr) Now Booki"9 Contracts for the 2002-2003 Season *-* —*+ A « . j-t. • Inquire Neighbor Discounts Fully-Insured • Very Reliable«J&M Enterprises Wj %j\ _rW «3 113 I9 I © ' RadioDisPatchedTrycks Owner Grandlsland Resident TIS-l-fIS | | Call 773-7676