Island Dispatch, 2004-12-03

              Island DISPATCH Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage www.wnypaperS Us On The Web S^ 60 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newsnapers The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District V01.60 • No. 37 December 3. 2004 $1.00 24 Pages MOD Set to Open Page 5 Bridge Project Continues Page 3 Phone: <716)773-7676 - • la\: (716) 773-7190 « • L-Mnil: NPPNewsC" c 1 nu.iU'oin River accident prompts warnings from officials by Karen Keefe An early-morning car crash Nov. 26 that sent three young men into the east branch of the Niagara River has become an all too familiar scene on Grand Island. Law enforcement officials say the combination of excessive speed, alcohol and youthful driving has proven to be a deadly combination. In this case, the three young men are lucky to be alive. "You don't joyride on Island roads in the dark when you've been drinking," cautioned Ray Pauley, public information officer for the Grand Island Fire Company 'Extremely Fortunate' "Those guys were extremely fortunate not to have a fatality," he added. On a chilly winter morning Feb. 10, 2002, a 19-year-old Grand Islander lost his life in a similar accident along the West River. A passenger managed to escape the sinking vehicle. In last week's accident, two men were seriously injured and a third charged with Driving While Intoxicated after their car plunged into the water at about 1 a.m. at East River and Ransom roads. All three were able to escape from the partially submerged wreckage, make their way to shore and request 911 assistance at a relative's residence in the 700 block of Ransom Road. Driver Charged The driver, Kevin White, 22, of West Lafayette, Indiana, formerly of Grand Island, was treated at the scene for a minor hand injury. White was charged with DWI by Grand Island Police and taken to the Erie County Holding Center. He A guard rail was sheered off along East River Road at the foot of Ransom Road when a car driven by Kevin White, 22, plunged into the Niagara River on Nov. 26. Authorities say the car was traveling at a high rate of speed. White was charged with Driving While Intoxicated. One passenger is hospitalized in fair condition, and another was treated and released at Erie County Medical Center (photo by Ray Pauley, public relations officer, Grand Island Fire Company. Trees sales branch out to Toys for Tots by Karen Keefe Christmas tree customers can put a little something extra under the tree for needy kids, thanks to a special connection established by an Island company. This is second year X Contracting and Landscaping has sold the holiday trees, and it's also the second year Toys for Tots has benefited from the sales. The children's gift drive is sponsored nationally by the U.S. Marine Corps. I Tree Discount for Toys " Each customer who brings in a :. new, unwrapped toy receives a 10 : percent discount on any tree on the ■i lot, said Mindy Koschuk, of X \ Contracting. She and her husband, j Jason, have a year-round business j with an extra sparkle around this j time of year. Douglas firs and blue j spruce trees of all shapes and sizes 1 fill the lot at 2035 Baseline Road, 1 across from St. Stephen's Church. I All the trees are grown in Western I New York." I Jason Koschuk has had the land-1 scaping and contracting business on 1 the Island since 1992. The land- I scaping service ranges from simple j lawn-cutting to seeding, putting 1 down topsoil, stone and mulch, I flower bed design and installation j and Bobcat work. j Since X Contracting does snow- I plowing, the 10 percent discount for j a toy donation can also apply to I new snow-plowing customers who 1 sign a contract for the season. 1 Teamwork In Business I "Jason and I work together as a j team," Mindy said. She enjoys dealfing with the customers by phone, j doing the billing and providing pub- I lie relations support, while her husbandhusband has the hands-on job of fullservice landscaping, plowing and contracting. During Christmas tree season, she gets to meet some of the same year-round customers face-to-face. Customer service is a hallmark of their business. Their ad in the Grand Island phone book reads, "Give us a ca11.... We will call you back." And when they do, some customers are surprised. "No one ever calls me back," Mindy said, pointing out how they'll respond, " I'll call six people, and you're the only person who got back to me.' " The Koschuks juggle their business chores with the responsibilities of raising two tots of their own, Sebastian, age 3, and Skylar, 6 weeks. Many Happy Returns The tree lot is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, through Christmas Eve. The season started right after Thanksgiving. "Everybody that came up this weekend was a return customer," Mindy said. "They were so happy with our trees. "Some people come up and donate toys and don't even buy a tree," she added. Last year, the Koschuks collected about 70 toys. "We'd like to double that," she said, noting how they bought more trees this year. Mindy hopes that means not only more business, but also more Toys for Tots. Sebastian Koschuk, 3, gets into the spirit of the Toys for Tots campaign. His parents, Jason and Mindy Koschuk of X Contracting and Landscaping, 2035 Baseline Road, are providing discounts on Christmas tree prices for those who donate a new, unwrapped toy. continued on page 2 eg" BLinda Klltzbach do you need to buy or sell a | Associate Broker horns'? ? Top Selling Island Company I 743-7321 orBMHH ca"Linda Kutzbach>she knows} 628-1719 HSffli how and would love to help you ; At a Glance ! Tonight Sandy Beach Yacht Club Women's Orpnization Christmas Party Cocktails at 6 p.m. Dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday Grand Island Republican Women's Club Christmas Party Pane's Restaurant 984 Payne Aye., North Tonawanda J Noon I For a complete listing of area events, visit NFP's Web sue at www. wny papers, cum 11l I HIV ■ ■wWH W Celebrating Hometown Lite Tj* *ZT i , , , ______—*-*f *--<—: 1