Island Dispatch, 2003-03-14

              Island DISPATCH Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District Advancing To The Next Round Page 5 Never Too Early To Plan Page 9 The Farmer's Almanac '• predicts: ; Seasonable ; Snow Showers ! /./»,'..,./. i i • i 1 i .-('ift ii< W111« ' • - i Phone: (716) 773-7(,76 • I n\: (716) 773-7190 • E-Mail: \TP\e\\s('cliiiiiil.com 57 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers Vol. 59 No. 3 March 14.2003 20 Pages 85c Holiday Inn, Deborah Croft Beis to be honored by chamber during 37th annual Citizen of the Year Ceremony The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has selected the Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center as Business of the Year and will honor them at the 37th annual Citizen of the Year Award Banquet on Thursday, April 3. The Holiday Inn is being recognized as a "fine business and wonderful corporate citizen" that employs residents, draws visitors from afar, attracts business professionals and trade shows, and has been a long time supporter of all island businesses, organizations and groups. The enthusiasm of the management and staff has contributed to the success of the business that has played a very active part in this small community. Quality service and customer satisfaction is synonymous will Holiday Inn Grand Island, known as one of the finest resort attractions in the area. The Holiday Inn sponsors a wide variety of educational programs for local students such Job Search, Shadow Day, Corporate Bowl, Youth Ambassador, and Scholarship Raffle. They have donated to many local events such as the Island Expo, Island Treasures, Isledegrande Baby Contest, Reflections of Light, Sesquieentennial Classic Car Show, and the Independence Day Race. They have supported benefits, charities, and fund-raisers including the Variety Club, Give the Kids the World, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, American Diabetes Foundation, The David Fund, Research for Childhood Cancer, American Heart Association, Victims of Domestic Violence, Kevin Guest House, Benedict House American Cancer Society, and the Lupus Foundation of WNY. Deborah Croft Beis Also during the ceremony, the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will honor Deborah Croft Beis for her contributions in the area of education. Beis has been a teacher in the Grand Island School District since 1972. She is well-known and highly regarded within the educational and civic community here. Her dedication to the teaching professionprofession and the needs of the learners placed in her charge is unparalleled. Her fourth grade classroom is rich in literature and her students are avid readers. Conversations about classic fiction and informational text abound and are encouraged.She was a member of the executive board of the Grand Island Teacher's Association, Huth Road PTA and the Grand Island Credit Union. For the past 10 years she has organized Bouquets for Hospice campaigning within the school. She has also coordinated UNICEF, Grand Island Neighbors Foundation and Hospice collections at Huth Road School. Beis places a" high value on continued professional growth. She avails herself of the many programs, workshops and graduate courses offered by area colleges and universities. Since 1996 she has been a fellow of the Western New York Writing Program an affiliate of the National Writing Project. Every summer she spends the month of July as codirector of The Summer Institute held at Canisius College, presenting many workshops for her colleagues.In addition to the Holiday Inn and Beis, others who will be recognized, for their contributions at the annual event include Business Persons: Gene and Christine Ryshkus - Grand Island Garden Center & Gift Shop; Civic: John Harbison; Community Service: The Grand Island Sesquieentennial Committee; and Service to Youth: Karen Conboy. This year's event will once again be held at the Grand Island Holiday Inn Resort and Conference Center. News 4 anchor, Jacquie Walker, will return as Master of Ceremonies to present the award to each of the aforementioned winners.Those interested in attending are asked to call the chamber office at 773-3651 for ticket information. Make sure to check out next week's Dispatch for in-depth Citizen of the Year coverage, as we will profile the next set of winners. The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has selected the Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center as Business of the Year. Members of the Holiday Inn will be honored during the 37th annual Citizen of the Year ceremony on April 3. Holiday Inn staff members from left include: Joanne Kud, Karen Phillips, Lori Walton, Deanna Arraiz. 2nd row: Ron Kowalski, Meghan Van Alstine, Tiffany Anderson, Chris Fiorella, Paul Anderson, Dale Van Alstine, General Manager Dan Gilliland, Debbie Jarosz, Kelly Kline, Rick Arnold. 3rd row: Marcia Malizie, Jill Schmitz. Deborah Croft Beis Weekend at a Glance J Saturday ' 1 St. Patrick's Day Dinner j V.F.W. Post 9249, 1 2121 Grand Island Blvd. J 4 to 7 p.m. - Take-out available 1 School Bazaar Huth Road Elementary School, 1773 Huth Rd., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Family fun for everyone with food, games, baked goods, and basket raffle Sunday AU-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast Knights of Columbus, 1841, Whitehaven Rd. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Irish dancers perform JPrfmre Adverilsiiio I. |marty's towing/inc-"TIRES " MS m aMmmmmSSr inLM 1 I Mlwfl otsinskchon. auto kpmk. brand nam* m > ™-»— -—>■—^ Spot Available 24^i,4TS"cy S55S' Call 773-7676 | I yaT3-3g 1S "■ .-,!--l-l-CsS-^S