Island Dispatch, 2002-11-22

              Island  DISPATCH Seniors To Compete in Area All-State Page 8 Awards Presented At Banquet Page 12 The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Rain/Mild Is it right? Check the weather on pf> 2 Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 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 Councilman attempts 2003 property tax reduction; board has other plans by Lisa Otto and Jon Sordino Who says town board or political-related meetings are no fun? Do not tell that to the attendees of Monday night's Grand Island Town Board meeting. Those who decided to visit town hall got a first-hand look at how it is possible for two parties not to see eye-to-eye, and the semi-heated arguments that could arise from this type of situation. In an attempt to lower the amount of tax rates facing Island residents, Councilman Kevin Rustowicz opened the meeting by proposing the town board reduce the general and highway funds by 10 percent. "Looking at the supervisor's recommended budget for the general fund'-and budget for the highway, I'm asking the town board to take those funds and reduce them by... 10 percent...." Rustowicz then made a motion to move his aforementioned proposal, but other town board members were not ready to put it to a vote. Councilwoman Mary Cooke did, however, make a motion to discuss Rusiowicz's proposal. "First question is, what's the plan?" Cooke asked Rustowicz. "The plan looks at taking the aspect of budgeting and putting it back on the shoulders of the departmentdepartment heads, by looking at criteria that would be successful in helping reduce the budgets," Rustowicz responded. He continued, "Because they are experts in their departments... they could cut some of the fat out of the budget, but if we looked at it, we would (probably) cut some of the meat out of the budget."Following that explanation, it was obvious Councilman Dick Crawford Jr.: did not see eye-to-eye with Rustowicz. "Your plan in theory has a lot of good words in it, but, however, if you don't go to the actual numbers and try to figure out where and how Prior to states, girls soccer team received large send-off As many Island residents know by now, the Grand Island Girls Varsity Soccer team participated in the state semi-finals this past weekend at Honeoye Falls. However, prior to the team boarding the bus and leaving, they received a large send-off from family members and friends. Even members of the newspaper and television media were on-hand for the send-off— the first-ever for a girls team in school history. After posing for a few group shots and then releasing blue and white balloons high into the cold fall air, team members and coaches boarded the Bus. The send-off did not end there, as Grand Island Police Department officers escorted the bus and many decorated cars (owned by the players' parents) to the Thruway. For results from this past weekend, lock on page 12-13 of today's Dispatch, (photo by Jon Sandino) Unsupervised parties can have an influence on the community, parents and young adults by Jon Sandino Whether you want to believe it or not, unsupervised parties, particularly involving underage youths and alcohol, are more common than you might believe. Unfortunately, Grand Island is no exception. According to town Supervisor Pete McMahon, the town has received a number of complaints recently from parents and neighbors regarding kids being involved in unsupervised parties. And: as! is with most parties, inevitably alcohol is involved. "Some of these parties are organized," McMahon said. "People pay a fee to come to the party, and the fee includes alcohol." McMahon added, "Others are impromptu parties, a spur of the moment thing. Sometimes parents go out of town and kids have their friends over... Of course, alcohol is involved." Regardless of whether these parties are organized or unorganized, they are not safe. For starters, there is always the issue of somebody drinking too much and becoming seriously ill. Secondly, there is the drinking and driving issue. Both of which could lead to disastrous outcomes. "We have had an increasing number of arrests for alcohol-related issues, as well as a number of DWI arrests," he continued. However, there are more issues than the two aforementioned, one's that can seriously affect the parents of the children that are throwing the party. If a person, especially a minor, attends a party at your house and causes injury to another or to themselves, you may be civilly liable. You may also be held liable if: - A person is injured on your property. - A person is injured off your property after obtaining an intoxicating substance on your property. - Your neighbor's property is damaged by those attending a party at your home. - A person is involved in a motor vehicle accident, after obtaining an intoxicating substance on your property. - There is a fight on your property and anybody is injured - A person becomes sick from any substance obtained on your property. So what are you to do if you must go out-of-town and leave your teenager home alone? Taking the time to explain all of the legal ramifications is a good starting base. Explain to your children, that mom and dad will be responsible, and could possibly be sued for their children's mistakes. continued on page 2 Eg* continued on page 2 US' Weekend at a Glance Saturday Apple Pie Contest . ; V.F.W. 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