Island Dispatch, 2005-01-28

              Island DISPATCH  Island Marine Writes of Peace Page 4 Seniors Save the Day Page 12 7 widsas to x it perfect! r-X"^ Phone: (716) 773-7676 * Fax: (716) 773-7190 • E-Mail: NFPNevvs@clmail.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 $1.00 24 Pages January 28, 2005 ■ No. 45 Vol. 60 Take a holiday at the Inn on the Island by Joshua Maloni The idea of spending a weekend in a local hotel is foreign to many people. In fact, just visiting a hotel situated within the area you live can be sort of weird. Or so you may think. The Holiday Inn Grand Island, 100 Whitehaven Road, is changing that perception with its slate of events and activities designed for Western New -York residents. Imagine a hotel that actually markets ■as much - if not more - to locals as to out-oftown guests. Such is the strategy of the threedec ad c - o 1 d establishment, the only full-fledged resort hotel on Grand Island, locally owned and operated by lifetime Buffalo-area residents Howard Schweitzer and Maury Zeplowitz. Entertainment As residents are increasingly more aware of - thanks in part to a well-designed, eye-catching puzzle ad - the Holiday Inn features an abundance of entertainment land events throughout the year. The popular "Blues on the River" music series occurs each Friday during the summer. In: the winter, an "Inside Edition" ruris in the Settlement Room. "It's been a growing pleasure to see how it's increased (in size)," Dale Van Alstine, director of catering, said. of the soon-to-be fiveyear-old venue. "There has been a very positive return." Live entertainment at Currents, "A Bistro on the Niagara" features complimentary hors d'oeuvres, drink specials and appetizers every Friday and Saturday night. The magnitude of events is a prime way to appeal to the surrounding area. "It's a method to bring locals out here, to show them what we have and what we can do," Van Alstine said. "We're more than just a place to put your head." Dining An assortment of good eats can be found at The Holiday Inn. The establishment's top chef, Rick Arnold, is an award-winning cook. His special prime rib dinner is offered on Friday and Saturday. Dinner discount specials are also available, from 5 to 7 p.m. Van Alstine, who worked at the hotel when it first opened, says the quality of food is equal to that of when the Holiday Inn first began, food preparation. "We have attained that levelagain, both on a service and a food level," he said. Currents has recently split into two rooms. The primary dining area features a magnificent view of the Niagara River, as well as a piano and ambient lighting. The secondary room is currently being upgraded. Health and Wellness The hate! is also a great place to get in shape. The Holiday Inn recently completed extensive renovations to the indoor pool, which measures approximately 45 feet by 90 feet, as well as upgrades to the sauna, locker rooms and Jacuzzi. One of the largest indoor pools in the area, the six-lane water spot is open to guests and visitors for regular swimming and assorted swim classes. There, is also a spacious kids pool. Across the hall is Island Fitness Center, a 1,000-memb.er health club run by personal trainers. The facility is fully-equipped with an assortment of free weights, cardiovascular equipment and space for classes Extensive pool and fitness renovations are just some of the amenities awaiting visitors to the Holiday Inn Grand Island, (photo by Joshua Maloni) Life sciences is focus of economic development by Karen Keefe The life sciences industry has become the lifeblood of Grand Island's commer. cial and industria . 1 growth. That's why a town advisory board wants to grow that busine s s even further , while maintainingthe rural quality of life that attracts residents to the community in the first place. Focus On Life Sciences Grand Island's Economic Development Advisory Board is not looking for smokestack industries, but for companies that would fit into the town's current profile. Accordingly, the board has four big initiatives for the first quarter of 2005 that zero in on the town's life sciences or pharmaceutical businesses. Four Big Initiatives Chairman Jerry Doane summarizes them as: •A site inventory by the CB Richard Ellis Group, a worldwide commercial real estate firm, that will help identify where new companies can locate on the Island. The focus would especially be on areas such as the north end of the Island that already is zoned M-l, light industrial and research, and M-2, for general industrial, where there already are businesses and fewer residences. Some suitable existing sites might be th c Dunlop Building and the Isle Ch c m building on Long Road. A needs assessment, or servicing survey, of existing companies.This would find out what kinds of help the town can provide to maintain and expand businesses, such as attracting some of their bigger vendors to relocate here. The Economic Development board also hopes to learn what these companies see as the advantages and disadvantages of being on Grand Island. Economic Development Advisory Board members have set a goal for 2005 to expand opportunities for life science companies to locate to Grand Island. Shown in front of the town's zoning map are, from left, Councilman Gary Roesch, Town Board liaison; John Bonora; and Chairman Jerry Doane. (photo by Karen Keefe) continued on page 2 cg= continued on page 18 tw SssQ T IClltyllJlfll See page 3 for an Open House on Sunday, January 30th. mm Associate Broker • C'° 0U neeC'to Of Seii a OB #/ Island Agent in the IJa home? JiFJH Selling Island Company  JM Jl'liSßl Jlk • call Linda Kutzbach, she knows mir 628-1719 ii'SSßli how and would love to help you At a Glance Tuesday Bridgeview Garden Club Monthly Meeting 6 p.m., followed by dinner at the Buffalo Launch Club Wednesday 'Hour of Power' Prayer Meeting St. Stephen's Church 2100 Baseline Road 7 to 8 p.m. For a complete listing of area events, visit NFP's Web site at www.'wnypapers. com 2nd Section Sill" n This Ween111 lip■■ ■ mMmmW SB? S* W WBIB *Mr Celebrating Hometown Life s