Island Dispatch, 2004-04-09

              Island DISPATCH New Anti DWI Device Page 2 A Look Back At G.I. Vikings Page 12 The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Sunny/Coo! Ch.-ikilu wi'iiriwr on ,-)•; 2 Phone: (716) 773-7676 • 1 a\: (716) 773-71% « 1,-Mail: MTNe\\s(" ilmail.com Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 59 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 \ol. 60 No. :> April 9, 2004 $1.00 20 l»aj»es Job shadowing helps Grand Island students explore the real world by Bobbie Frisoni and Rustie Dimitriadis On Ajpril 1, nearly 200 Grand Island High School juniors and seniors, their business sponsors, and invited guests participated in the annual Shadow Day program. This highly successful program promotes career development and provides students with a clearer picture of an actual job setting in their area of interest. Sponsored by the Grand Island School Business Alliance and the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce,Commerce, the day began with a breakfast buffet at the Grand Island Holiday Inn Resort and Conference Center. Over breakfast, students and their sponsors discussed their plans for the day. School Superintendent Dr. Tom Ramming and Chamber President Jim Sharpe welcomed the participants and the Rev. Paul Nogaro of St. Stephen's R.C. Church delivered the invocation. Guest speaker Jodi Johnston, co- ] anchor of "Daybreak" for WGRZTV Channel 2, spoke to the students about "real world" employment. Later in the program, the Channel 2 News Team member was made an honorary alumna of GIHS. In honor of Johnston, program coordinators Sandy Burns and Bobbie Frisoni made a donation to her favorite charity, the National Kidney . Foundation. The money was raised in the book store run by Burns and through Frisoni's yearbook class. Valuable Program Tony Brindisi of the Keller Insurance Group provided an overview of the Shadow Day program . and Deputy Town Supervisor Richard Crawford proclaimed April 1 as the official Grand Island Shadow Day. The purpose of Shadow Day is to provide an opportunity for students to spend a portion of their day in a business watching and working with an employee in their area of interest. This shadowing experience not only gives students valuable exposure to the world of work, but it also helps in selecting a future course of study. Students who participate not only take on the responsibility for learning, but gain a better understanding of what the Business sponsor, Fateen Abdellatif of Performance Autosound (right) shows GIHS student Ashraf Abdellatif what it's like to work in his retail store. GI Youngsters show up for Easter egg hunt Despite the wet weather, plenty of children showed up for last Satruday's Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Tops and the town of Grand island In addition to nunting Easter egys. every child had the opportunity to spend a little time with the Easter Bunny and to enter a coloring contest. Be sure chock out ihe collage in today's Dispatch for more on the Grand Island Easter Egg Hunt Shown in tiro above photo (left to right) are 5-year-oid Max and~3-year-o!d Tyler Russell having their fun with the Easter Bunny, (photo by Barbie Lare) Fuccillo expansion proposal remains on hold by Larry Austin Two local business groups have expressed their support for the proposed expansion of the Fuccillo Automotive Group's dealership, but the subject is at a standstill before the Grand Island Town Board. The Grand Island Economic Development Advisory Board and the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce have sent letters to the Grand Island Town Board in support of the Fuccillo expansion on Alvin Road. Jerry Doane, chairman of the EDAB, wrote that the expansion "will not only create new jobs and improve the Grand Island tax base, but will also serve as a model that sends a message to the WNY Business Community that Grand Island has a growing and viable business environment." The chamber also supports the Fuccillo project and asks the town to expedite the approval process. The officers and board of directors of the chamber signed a letter dated March 26 saying the expansion "will create new jobs, add to the tax base and provide exposure of our community to Western New York and beyond." Wetlands Issues Remain Regrettably, Supervisor Peter McMahon said, unresolved wetlands issues prompted the town board at its April 5 meeting to leave the expansion process tabled. The town is awaiting action by the U.S. Grand island Town Supervisor Peter McMahon read a proclamation hon! oring Eagle Scouts Robert Goris and Timothy Szczykutowicz at Monday's Town Board meeting. Goris constructed 10 bat houses for Grand Island High School's nature center at Eco Island. Szczykutowicz helped rehabilitate the Buckhorn Park paths. Shown in the above photo (left to right) are Szczykutowicz, Councilman Daniel Robillard (behind Szczykutowicz), Councilman Gary Roesch, McMahon, and Goris. (photo by Larry Austin) continued on page 9 sff* continued on page 9 isf* At a Glance . Friday 'Butch's Famous Fish Fry' at VFW Post 9249 2121 Grand Island Blvd. 4 p.m. until it's gone Proceeds go to worthwhile causes 1 Wednesday J Grand Island Women's Club I Monthly Meeting I Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant | .3785 S.Park Aye., Blasdell jj Meet at GI Burger King at 10:15 a.m. | I For a complete listing of area events, ii 1 visit NFP's Web site at 1 www, wnypapers. cam ' ?m«I  mttm a*W»mWtn |^^::';- ,:'  I! Ms* 111 If n °- ™  II ■■W™H» ™ Celebrating Hometown Life  I RiSTAURiiiiT | Mo Reasonable Offer Will Be liiusid FOR SALE IH Available to Qualified Buyer-Could Be Great Sports Bar YOUNGSTOWVN "JAcres&ats 290 Patrons, Parking for 120 Cars Mgp|*f|j| HHTiYliP''^'"^"^"^^