Island Dispatch, 2004-10-15

              Island DISPATCH See Us On The Web at www.wnypapers.com !—. , i I ho i ;«j hut's Vim in.it pmlkN: Sunny ' Chilly Dance Classes Offered Page 5 NU In Full Swing Page 10 Phone: (716) 773-7676 * lax: (716) 773-7190 • K-Muil: MPNcwsfc' clmuil.com - Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 60 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 Vol. 60 No. 31 October 15,2004 Sl.OO 24 Pali's Town may be forced to pay for Sheriffs services by Robin M. Woolson Erie County Executive Joel A. Giambra has warned communities that they would have to pay the cost for the Erie County Sheriff's Department services in their areas or risk losing them come Jan. 1. This proposed move is to close a significant budget deficit, $130 million due in Medicaid costs, for the coming year for the county. Erie County Sheriff Patrick Gallivan is opposing the proposed layoff of 99 road patrol deputies.. "Public safety is paramount in the post 9/11 environment that we live in," Gallivan said. "All the services provided to the citizens of Erie County by the Sheriff's office are vital and everyone loses with cuts like this." Gallivan pointed out that the services the county is proposing to cut for the 16 towns and villages that use the Sheriff's Department services, amounts to just 12 percent of the sheriff's operating budget. Other Expenses He noted that Erie County taxpayers currently fund, among other things, $8.6 million for sheriff's patrol - services and $51.6 million for county jail operations. Of this money, the sheriff said the city of Buffalo receives 60 percent, or $36 million of services, and that the first-ring suburbs amount to 22 percent, or $12.9 million of services. Gallivan then released numbers by municipality referring to total services, complaint calls, and jail intakes. The Erie County Sheriff police services on the Island totaled 4,561 calls, or about 9.15 percent. Buffalo had the highest numbers with 12,797, or 25.66 percent of the Chicken and biscuits served up for dinner John Dormer, left, chairman of the Kn-ghls of Columbus Charity Committee, serves ur;- the Jhicken and b.s-cuiis curing Wednesday's dinner. Helping to Donnei's left is inembei Rob Mart:r:o. Dozens of area residents attended the function, proceeds o' which onabli? the Grand Isiand X of C to continue its program of sundi'-Ki gi'i p.ioMijes to Ihe * ati'UDj seiiMecit-vi -tnj /.omen overseas, (photo by Larry  Hundreds enjoy GIFC open house by Larry Austin The Grand Island Fire Company estimates more than 600 visitors enjoyed its Fire Prevention Open House on Oct. 8. The event offered residents a glimpse into the GIFC's operations and all the hard work and training that go into services most people hope they never need. The company has had an open house "as long as we've been around, I think," said Grand Island Fire Company Chief Greg Butcher, which would be in 1938 - the time of the fire company's beginning. This year's open house took place on a Friday night and drew a large crowd made up mostly of families with small children. "This is the way it used to be in the old days. We're turning back the clock," Butcher said. The activities last Friday included a water hose practice for young visitors, the arrival of the Mercy Flight helicopter, and an auto extrication demonstration, during which In the photo above, Kurt Villani, left, and GIFC firefighter Scott Kujawa practice with the fire hose during the open house. At right, Grand Island Fire Company firefighter Jeff Loder spends time with his 16-month-old son Brandon at the open house on Oct. 8. (photos by Larry Austin) continued on page 15 US' continued on page 14 *®° ! Cliecir Oiurf Your ! Mffefo Site [ (or Grand <s!3;iti stones & photos H www.wnypapers.com At a Glance Saturday Special Friends (and Family!) Festival Whitehaven Road Baptist Church gym 1290 Whitehaven Road 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday October Festival Trinity United Methodist Church. 2100 Whitehaven Road 4 to 7:30 p.m. For more information call 773-3322. For a complete listing of area events, visit NFPs Web site at www.wnypapers.com !ka»Jm.m„..-,..,..m„-.m».Tro3m;gj 2nd Section ~|j|S~