Island Dispatch, 2005-04-15

              Island Dispatch 24 Pages $1.00 /sSST!!\ Niagara fFI pl Frontier Publications proud publishers of Island Dispatch lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver Niagara Wheatfield Tribune www.wnypapers.com V01.61 No. 4 April 15, 2005 Chamber Citizen of me Year page 3 j Eagles Win Title  page 15 St. Stephen's Welcomes Luis page 17 Family values New signs went up Tuesday at the former Super Gas/Sunoco announcing ! new management by Family Express Mart. Don Moeller, left, and Ted Bistroff j of Moeller Sign Company of Cheektowaga installed the signs at the gas sta- ] tion and convenience store at 2024 Grand Island Blvd. The new manage- j ment is offering more merchandise, more prepared foods and a line of gift ! items. Christopher DeMartino is manager of Family Express Mart. 1 (photo by Karen Keefe) j School Board OKs budget, 2.8 percent tax hike by Karen Keefe Although several anti-tax residents still spoke out against anything but a zero-increase budget, the Grand Island School Board was satisfied to approve one with a 2.8 percent tax increase on Monday night. The $43.2 million budget that goes before voters on May 17 includes a projected tax rate of $36.64 per $1,000 of assessed value, $1 more than last year's rate. The budget is $2.5 million higher than the 2004-05 budget, an increase of 6.27 percent. The board reduced the tax rate hike from an earlier 4.9 percent. "After listening to strong concerns from our residents about higher taxes, we felt we had to get it lower," said Board President David Goris. Budget Cuts Superintendent Thomas Ramming credited three factors for the further reduction: __ 'More than $1 million in cuts from this year's budget, including nine teaching positions and $470,000 in capital projects; and transferring $100,000 in employee costs to the food-service budget, which will result in higher lunch prices. •Half a dozen teacher retirements and two teaching assistant retirements. •An on-time state budget that increased aid to Grand Island by nearly $500,000. Teacher Job Losses Ramming said the loss of nine teachers would increase class sizes in grades five to 12 by about two students per class. Artpark set to welcome summer crowds by Joshua Maloni The loudest sound coming from Artpark last summer was not created by big band boppers, lounge singers or rock guitars. Rather, it was the collective. "Eureka" coming from the corporate offices. After years of decent crowds and average bands at "Tuesday in the Park," the everything-art company discovered the bigger the band, the bigger the crowd. National recording artists were brought in more regularly, and "Tuesday" attendance records were bested week after week, culminating with a record-shattering 12,000 patrons lining the grass last August for Blood, Sweat and Tears. Having found success, critical praise and overall buzzworthiness thusly, Artpark officials will continue along that path. On Wednesday, company president George Osborne unveiled this summer's lineup, which not surprisingly features even more big name musical acts. Headlining the list of headliners is former Doobie Brothers singer and current Motown man Michael McDonald and '80s supergroup Foreigner. "We are extra excited about 'Tuesday in the Park,'" Osborne said during the kickoff press conference at the Niagara Falls Country Club. "This will be the most Grammy winners that have ever been to Artpark." introducing the Artists The season begins with the Celtic Fest featuring returning favorites Kilbrannan and the Glengarry Bhoys on June 7. Multiple Grammy Award-winning country artists Asleep at the Wheel hits the stage June 14. The Marshall Tucker Band, one of three acts (McDonald and Foreigner) company officials expect to challenge BST's record-setting crowd, performs July 5. McDonald, who has found current success with his two "Motown" tribute albums, comes to town on July 19. Lou Gramm of Foreigner Artpark and Company President George Osborne reads through the venue's summer -entertainment schedule. (Photo by MifeFreedman) ■ • Island socked with NCCC charge-backs by Lorry Austin How's this for a way to save the town money? Convince your neighbor's kid not to go to community college outside the county. The town of Grand Island paid $359,770 in 2005 to help subsidize the education of approximately 150 town students who attended community college outside Erie County in 2004. Erie County pays its local share of operating costs for Erie Community College from general tax revenues, aid from the state and tuition. New York students who choose to attend a community college outside their home county also enjoy a subsidy from their county of residence. Non-resident Students Article 126, Section 6305, of New York State Education Law says"A county may charge back such amounts in whole or in part to the cities. and towns in the county in proportion to the number of students who, on the basis of certificates of residence issued by such county, were attending each such college as non-residents."continued on page 6 continued on page 2 continued on page 6 f Linda Kufzbaeh Associate Broker #1 Island Agent in the ?1 Island Company 743-7321 or i 628-1719 | Do you need to buy j JJ or sell a home? j A Call Linda Kuf zb;>eh, j 9 she knows how wd $ would love to help you fcwaQ j ! I sj Ii j : a  > _\$ 'ii _m______&___W_\ - ii>. ¥ i^itfraifftfEiiiff Is J* <* msSaK&adnSwSHaaHsSSBSS ;11 - EmF^3 i  I j I I ! •" ?. n:' i - ~~-i -—— 1924Creekside IIiBSBrJWWI your Heal estate j JSEffiBMBJBSSSBraMBB NOGdS! f I ' I ii ______i