Island Dispatch, 2004-01-02

              Island DISPATCH Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 58 Years As the Voice of Grand Island V Award Winning Newspapers The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District Rotary Club's Holiday Tradition PageS Duct Taping For Charity Page 9 The Farmer's Almanac proilit'fs: Showers &Cold Is it right? Check the weather on jig 2 Phone: (716) 773-7676 • Fax: (716) 773-7190 • K-Mail: MTNcwsCy clmail.com 20 Panes 85c January 2, 2004 No. 44 Vol. 59 A look back at 2003 on the Island by Lisa Ariganello As we take a glance back to the events featured in the Dispatch during the past year, it is clear that Grand Island has experienced a whirlwind of ups and downs and struggles arid joys. The first portion of 2003 kicked off in a major way, with an event to close the town's Sesquicentennial year in 2002. Residents, along with town officials, gathered at town hall for an official burial of the time capsule, which contained an assortment of memorable Sesquicentennial items, including newspaper articles, programs and photos, to name a few. January continued on, and the weather got worse. Grand Island Firefighters were kept busy rescuing residents from weather-related accidents and injuries. But that didn't stop Islanders from having a good time. The ski season, buoyed by tons of snow, kicked in big time, and residents flocked to local snow hills to enjoy the winter months. February arrived and proved to be a slow period. Plans and preparations for the fifth annual Grand Island Corporate Bowl were set forth. It included the academic challenge, consisting of scholarly trivia, which challenged Grand Island students to test their knowledge. During March, the local sports leagues scene began to take hold of the news pages. Grand Island's girl's basketball team -moved through their undefeated season with flying colors. Local gymnasts met for the Niagara Cup and the Lady Vikings basketball team finished at the top of their league. Later that month, the Grand Island Chamber honored numerous new and old members in the area, including Childtime Childcare, Island Pediatrics, and the Grand Island Garden Center. As spring approached, so did the warm -weather and the annual community clean-up brought residents to town hall for a major clean-up of the boulevard.A controversial town board meeting approached the issues of a proposed airstrip and hangar to be built on Love Road. Many residents rejected the proposal and the board put the issue aside, only to approve it weeks later. All business issues aside, as Grand Island school children gathered to prove the need for drunk-driving awareness. "The Grim Reaper" himself toured through the local schools, pulling students out of classrooms to show how many lives are lost every day to drunk-driving. McMahon offers look ahead to 2004 business, recreation plans for Grand Island by Lisa Ariganello In preparation for the new year, the town of Grand Island has been hard at work finalizing some business and recreation improvements that will take place in 2004. Residents can look forward to an assortment of renovations, upgrades and improvements to the streets, parks, and businesses of Grand Island. According to Supervisor Peter McMahon, a major recreation project has been in the works for quite some time, and will lift off shortly after the first of the year. The board, in conjunction with the Recreation Department, has approved numerous capital plans, including significant improvements" to Veterans Park. An allotment of $150,000 has been received in grants, which the town will match, in addition to another $50,000 grant from Assembly member Sam Hoyt, for a grand total of $350,000 to be utilized solely for the park. The plans, which have already been designed and finalized by the town, include softbal! diamonds, additional parking, an extension of the open wilderness area, and landscaping improvements. Bike Path Extensions A major extension of the existing bike path will create a continuous trail throughout the Island. Cyclists, runners, and roller skaters will soon be able to continue from Baseline Road, through BuckhOrn State Park, and out onto the West River Service Road. Currently the south bike path runs over the north bridge and through the park, but it ends before reaching the West River Service Road. With grant money, the Recreation Department will extend the current Verizon bike path, so it flows down Bedell Road, north to Buckhorn Park, and crosses the north bridge to connect the West River to the East River. The state Department of Transportation is also planning to resurface and widen the shoulders of Grand Island Boulevard, which will make room to form a bike path straight through the Island along the boulevard, connecting the north bridge to the south bridge. Integrated Youth Programs The Town Board has just begun a discussion of plans to improve youth recreation facilities on the Island. The first item in consideration is to form one individualized board to concentrate solely on youth activities. The Community Enrichment Council, the Youth Advisory Board, and the Parks and Recreation Department currently control various aspects of youth recreation programs and events around Grand Island. However, the town board feels that an ideal situation would be to the have all responsibilities in one concentrated continued on page 10 *®° continued on page 3 .US' Head* Over 30,000 Homes (Over 90,000 Readers} Os^,! Mgk Calf 778-7G76 to plefr mp yoar Jbrnmiamsm. 1 V?«SS* w iff** / SPECIAL 4 PAPER DEAL. |J|Sas«s|y fay Sewfee Directeiy fa 4 focaf yapew and retefce a FRMMti&ssifietl each i every week (With a 1 year signed contrarf) At a Glance Wednesday Grand Island Night at HSBC AH Grand Island residents are invited to the 7 p.m. Buffalo Sabres game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo For more information contact Bob O'Connor at 855-4553 Wednesday. 'Hour of Power' Prayer meeting St. Stephen's Church 2100 Baseline Road 7 to 8 p.m. I For a complete listing, of area events, I visit NFP's Web site at I www. wnypapers. com J MOtiVated Seller - OWlier Financing 5.3 Acres Seats 290 Patrons, Parking for 120 Cars Available to Qualified Buyer-Could Be Great Sports Bar - 7300 Sq. Ft. of Space $245,000. 'Nelson-Vrooman Associates, Realtors 1-800-682-9495 (Ask for Bill Vrooman)