Island Dispatch, 2003-01-03

              Island DISPATCH  Last Look At 2002 Page 5 The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Flurries ■0. Cold % hit right?' Ckck the weather on;;? 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 2003 has Arrived Page 2 Phone: (716) 773-7676 • \a\: (716) 773-7 PJO • K-Mail: M PVwsc tlmail.com Vol. 58 No. 45 Januan 3. 2003 20 Pages 85c Sesquicentennial year officially ends with burial of time capsule photo and story by Jon Sandino The biggest and brightest celebration the town of Grand Island has possibly ever seen reached its conclusion early Tuesday morning when town officials, county and state-level politi- cians and sesquicentennial committee members officially buried a time capsule containing an assortment of sesquicentennial items including newspaper articles, sesqui programs and photos to name a few. Including the aforementioned officials, approximately 40 people gathered outside of town hall to listen to a short press conference, and then watch as the gigantic gold and black time capsule was lowered into the ground and covered with dirt. The event kicked off with town Supervisor Peter McMahon introducing the town board members .- Mary Cooke, Dick Crawford, Dan Robillard, and Kevin Rustowicz; town Clerk Nancy Samrany; Erie County Executive Joel Giambra; Erie County Legislator Chuck Swaniek; state Assemblyman Sam Hoyt; sesquicentennial chair Mike Schneider; and sesquicentennial vice chair Jim Sharpe to those in attendance. Following McMahon, Schneider was the first in the line of many to address the attendees. "This is ..very easy for me," Schneider said. "This is simply a matter of saying thanks... to all the committee chairs... and all the folks on Grand Island that helped to make this sesquicentennial such a huge success." "It's a pleasure to be here this morning, and just thinking about this, I'm not sure that I'll be here to see the opening of this capsule" Swaniek joked." He continued, "For the people of Grand Island, it's a great day, it's a great memory for what went on this year... we're blessed to have what we have on Grand Island... let's prayer that the next 50 years are as good as the past 150 years we've had on Grand Island." "I want to join Supervisor McMahon and Chuck Swaniek in thanking particularly Mike Schneider, Jim Sharpe and the entire committee who did such a magnificent job in putting together the series of events that we participated in over the past year," Hoyt said. As Hoyt wrapped up his comments, a car pulled up in the background and it was none other than state Senator Byron Brown - who just happened to be the next person .scheduled to speak. " And r >ur next speaker istne state senator from Grand Island, and I'll have to give him a little bit longer introduction because he is still making his way up here," McMahon playfully said. "How's that for timing?" Brown asked as the attendees joined him in a laugh. "I'm just very pleased to join all of you in the 150 th birthday celebration for Grand Island... this has been a wonderful year... I've been very pleased to be a part of it...and I hope to be here for the 200 th birthday celebration for Grand Island." "This is very exciting for me because I love birthdays... Peter I appreciate you inviting me to your birthday bash out here today... it's a great day to be out here in the great town of Grand Island," Giambra said. "As Sam (Hoyt) said, we're going to be burying some of the past in the hopes that someday our children will be able to see some of the contributions that we all had the chance to make." Giambra concluded by joking with his fellow politicians by saying "I don't know about these guys, but I am definitely planning to be here when you open this capsule." McMahon then re-approached the podium to give the closing comments."We are gathered here today to take part in the final event of this The sesquicentennial celebration came to a close Tuesday morning during the time capsule burial event at town hall. Town Supervisor Pete McMahon (front) is flanked by numerous politicians and sesquicentennial committee members as he addresses the attendees. Community rallies in support of Island child It is said that all journeys begin with the first step. In April of this past year, then two month old Grand Island resident Jadon Garman took his first step on a journey that none of us would ever want to go on, a journey for his life. It was in April, during a routine eight-week medical checkup, that his family doctor noticed jaundice in Jadon's eyes. Arrays of medical tests were performed. One month later, Jadon was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. On Sept. 25, parents Scarlet and Robert Garman traveled with their son Jadon to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. Jadon underwent further tests under the supervision of Dr. Reyes, a leading transplant specialist. Since the time of Jadon's initial diagnosis, the Garman family had done much research into the Alpha-1 disorder. They knew it was a very serious life threatening disease that usually affected older adults. They also knew that in rare cases, the disease affected children. Just how badly the disease had struck Jadon wouldn't be known until the tests came back from the lab. After a full day of testing, Scarlet and Robert returned to their hotel with a very tired and sore Jadon. It turned out to be a night like so many they had been having with their baby, awake late, trying anything to ease Jadon's discomfort, and feeling like helpless parents. Maryalice Dernier (left) recently hosted a fund-raiser at the Grand Island Holiday Inn to benefit Jadon Garman, the Island child in need of a liver transplant. Also pictured is Jadon and his parents Scarlet and Robert. continued on page 9 CS" continued on page 2 £3= Classified! Ads Get Results  Our Classified! Secffon I2IrTTTIrT $BSOO & under ads FUMM  Weekend at a Glance Saturday 55 Alive/Mature Driving Course St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 1453 Staley and Stony Point Rds„ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.* Conducted by AARP For more information or to register, call 773-9781 V.F.W. Chili Cook-Off Grand Island Knights of Columbus, 1841 Whitehaven Rd., 1 to 5 p.m. Registration from 1 to 2 p.m. and Judging by Baby Joe Mesi from 3 to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Charles N. 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