Island Dispatch, 2003-11-21

              Island DISPATCH The Farmer's Almanac p red ids: Rain/Mild Is U risih'' Check the v,\ ailur v." pit 2 Students Participate In Lend-A-Hand Program Page 11 Lady Vikings Compete In Semifinals Page 14 Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 58 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 Hiom: (716)773-7676 • l-'ii\: <716) 773-7IW • I-.-Miiil: NN'NcusO'eliiiail.com Vol. 59 No. 38 November 21. 2003 24 l*;i«es 85e Wendy's, Tim Hortons celebrate grand opening, new partnership by Lisa Ariganello The new Wendy's/Tim Hortons facility on Grand Island Boulevard, officially opened its doors on Tuesday, Nov. 18. J i m Sharp c , president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, town Supervisor Peter McMahon, Amy Reynolds, Wendy's marketing director, and Craig Buckley, area director of Western New York Wendy's, celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.Reynolds then thanked the town on their welcoming the new restaurant facility to Grand Island. This location is the first Wendy's/Tim Hortons combination restaurant offered in New York state. "We have never been in a building with another restaurant before, so we're learning. But it's a great partnership," Reynolds said. Great Lakes Restaurant Management, Tim Hortons owners Bryan and Wendy Clark, and Reynolds then presented McMahon and the town council with a plaque, featuring an honorary key to the establishment. Usually the town presents a new Reynolds, the new restaurants see the town as being key to their success. business with a key, however, according to The presentation of the key reflects Wendy's and Tim Hortons' commitment to being an integral part of the Grand Island community. New Employees The new Grand Island Wendy's/Tim Hortons employs 48 new staff members at its combined facility, the vast majori- ty of them Island residents. The employees come in trained fresh from the start, except for a handful of managers that were transferred from other locations. Guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony were given the opportunity to j-.,,..,*....,,j ™ put the n c w Wendy's. .staffto the test: ■■ The registers w-.' c r' c turned on so i employ- J ees could f practice ■taking * orders in prepara- tion for opening day. According to Reynolds, opening day ran very smoothly for both restaurants. "From 7:30 to 8:30 in the morning (on opening day), every mom and dad and their children were in here. "We had a steady stream of business right until we closed. It was like Grand Island came to welcome us to the Island," she said. The new Wendy's will be part of the Great Lakes Restaurant Management franchise, which is owned by Richard C. Fox, who operates 20 Wendy's in the Western New York area. Tim Hortons will be owned and operated by Brian and Wendy Clark and Members of the new staff at Wendy's I practice, taking orders during the ribbon I cutting ceremony. Shown in above photo, from left to right; Grand Island Chamber of Commerce President Jim Sharpe; Supervisor McMahon; Wendy's marketing director, Amy Reynolds; and area director of Western New York Wendy's, Craig Buckley cut the ribbon at Wendy's during the grand opening ceremony last Monday. Supervisor Peter McMahon (center), on behalf of the town board, accepts a plaque from Tim Hortons owners Bryan and Wendy Clark (right), and Wendy's marketing director, Amy Reynolds (second from left). Also pictured is Councilman Dan Robillard (left). Tim Hortons owners (left to right); Bryan Clark, Wendy Clark, and Rob Robinson prepare for opening day. Town board withholds salary increases, finalizes 2004 budget by Lisa Ariganello The Grand Island Town Board moved through the regularly scheduled agenda items with lightning speed at last week's meeting. The main topic of business was an approval of the 2004 budget proposal, which has been in discussion since October. The final budget numbers come off of board reviews discussions at several board: meetings,. workshops, and even a public hearing. But when Supervisor Peter McMahon motioned for an approval of the 2004 town budget, some recent business first had to be discussed. Number Crunching The board approved a suggestion from Councilman Dan Robillard to withhold a three percent personal salary increase, in order to keep the tax rates at lower numbers. This is the third year in a row that the board members voted to forego a raise. Councilman Kevin Rustowicz then suggested that the board should reconsider the general budget fund and work out a way to prevent the tax rate from increasing at all. However, the board could not act on Rustowicz's suggestion, due to the lack of a valid plan or proposal. "If you look at the general budget, there's more to it. Seventy percent is personnel services, so where are you going to start shaving (from the budget)?" Councilman Dan Robillard responded. The 2004 budget has to account for new roads, housing, highway repairs and continued community services in the town. The town has reviewed the importance of services for the residents and has reasonably worked these needs into the budget over the course of the past year. Small Increase The board was able to limit the tax increase, to some extent. The combined 2004 budget totals $6.9 million, up slightly from this year's $6.5 million budget. The proposal reflects a spending increase of about $400,000. The tax rate will increase by 4 percent from last year, based on the combined general fund and highway rates. McMahon blames the tax increases on pension contributions to the state. Low interest rates and a suffering economy due to 9/11 have also contributed to state increases. The 2004 general fund and the highway funds were approved with a 4 -1 vote, Rustowicz being the lone no vote. The remainder of the budget, including the fire protection district, the sewer fund, the water district, the lighting district, the refuse and garbage fund, and the debt service fund were unanimously passed. Regular Agenda Items As part of the regular meeting, the board unanimously voted: •To approve a town-wide inspection and maintenance of all fire continued on page 24 «sr continued on page 24 £3= i Advertising ! Spot Available I Call 773-7676 At a Glance Friday and Saturday Used Book Sale Grand Island Memorial Library 1715 Bedell Road Times vary, contact the library at .' 773-7124 for more information Friday Veronica Connor Middle School International Night 1100 Ransom Road 6 to 9 p.m. For more information call 773-8830 For a complete listing of area events, visit NFP's Web site at www.wnypapers. com • Your Local  Forecast in ftecfers Paper! x \j£~%%7 Lewiston • Porter • Town of Niagara • Wheatfield • Grand Island Swot Pay Forecast»Oeiajferf ffepert ♦ Salty Averages & Rseerds mi mere.„