Island Dispatch, 2006-05-19

              Island Dipatch Niagara I Frontier Publications for Home Delivery °f *h* Island Dispatch Call 773*7676 proud publishers of Niagara-Wheatheld Tribune Island Dispatch Lewkton-Porter Sentinel Grand Island PetmySaver www.wnypapers.com V01.62 No. 9 May 19, 2006 20 Pages $1.00 Buddy Poppy days coming i Pa9c 3 Solar viewing at Kaegebein • Q j page 8 Oliverio makes  his mark  j -I j page! 2 I School budget passes by 66 votes by Kathy Duff A group of about 50 parents, teachers, administrators and students waited in the Viking Mall at Grand Island High School on Tuesday night and cheered as election chairman; Ruth Baker announced passage of the 2006-07 i school budget. District Clerk Nancy Sandford stood with Baker as she told the onlookers that the "yes" votes to Proposition 1 were 2,065 and "no" votes! amounted to 1,999. Proposition 2, which involved purchase of new school busses, also passed, but by a wider margin, with 2,158 voters saying "yes," and 1,870 saying "no." Incumbent school board trustee George Casey received 2,437 votes to retain his seat for the next three years, and Jim Hanna and Glenn Bobeck got their official nods with 2,306 and 2,386 votes, respectively. Record Turnout The announcement came 35 minutes after the polls closed. Sanford remarked Wednesday that the turnout of 4,106 voters was the largest in district history, with a steady stream of Island residents passing through the polls set up in the high school gym starting at 10 a.m. "In years to District officials and school board members react to the passage of the 2006-07 school budget as vote results are announced this past Tuesday at Grand Island High School. From left, they are School Board member Richard Little Jr., Transportation Supervisor jack Burns, Superintendent Dr. Thomas Ramming, School Board President Michael Dallessandro and board member David Goris. (photo by Fred Claus) Town thanks Slaughter for sewer grant by Karen Keefe Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, D-28th District, came to Grand Island on Monday at the Town Board's request to take a bow for her role in a project that is expected to pump up the town's economic growth. The Fairport Democrat obtained a $240,000 federal grant to complete funding for a $1.1 million sewer project on the south end of Grand Island Boulevard. Slaughter and Town Board members took to the podium at Town Hall to explain to the media the significance of the project that took 10 years of planning and is now nearing completion along approximately 1.6 miles of the primarily commercial strip. "The economic benefits that this is going to bring are going to be immediate and lasting," Slaughter said. "Existing infrastructure is an absolute part of any plan developers would have when they come to invest in a new area. And state-of-the-art sewers are essential to any strong infrastructure system," she said. Town Supervisor Peter McMahon thanked Slaughter for her assistance. "For all of the years that I can remember, there's been a desire to have a sewer system... on the south U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-28th District, Fairport, received the thanks of the Town Board for a grant of $240,000 she obtained toward a $ 1.1 million sewer project on Grand Island Boulevard, (photo by joe Eberle) Chicken BBQ by Junior Polka Dot Chix to support Cancer Society by Donna M. Webb i"It affects a lot of people, not just the one in three who have been diag- j ! nosed with cancer, but everyone who is attached to that person," Mary j j Dunbar-Daluisio pointed out as she talked about how devastating a cancer j { diagnosis can be. \ j Dunbar-Daluisio, the warranty administrator at Fuccillo Auto Park, is co- \ | chair with Town Supervisor Peter McMahon of the Island Relay for life, | i which will be held from 6 p.m. Friday, June 9, through 6 a.m. Saturday, June } j 10, at the Grand Island High School track. She is also a cancer survivor. \ j As a part of that awareness effort and to further raise funds to benefit j \ cancer research, there will be a chicken barbecue tomorrow, Saturday, j J May 20, sponsored by the Relay team called the Jr. Polka Dot Chix. j 1 The event will take place at the Town Commons area, near the gazebo, i i from 2 to 7 p.m. Diners are encouraged to bring along their own chairs. | BW's Catering, a division of Will's Poultry, will be preparing the meals \ which include tasty barbecue chicken, cole slaw and potato salad, a roll j ! with butter, your choice of drink, and dessert. Tickets may be purchased , I at the event and drive-up service will be available as well. j Members of the junior Polka Dot Chix Relay For Life team are, bottom row, from left: Jessie Loßrutto and Jenna Stufkosky; row two, from left: Emily Sammer, Julianne LaVallee, Elizabeth Loßrutto, Cassie Loßrutto and Jenna Patemostro; and top row, Alicia Sommer. The team is organizing a chicken barbecue fund-raiser at the Town Commons this Saturday, from 2 to 7 p.m. continued on page 2 continued on page 2 continued on page 2 Monday Madness LARGE CHEESE PEZA $*795 m plus tax 2131 Grand Island Blvd. KutzbachflH| Associate Broker ■MfjMß #1 Island Agent V^^Hf #1 Company in WNY 743-73 M or 628-1719 Q. Do yon need to tay or • sell a hone? Jk •Call Linda Kutzbach, *™*#she knows how and would love to help you. I cm