Island Dispatch, 2006-10-06

              Island Dispatch October 6, 2006 $1.00 24 Pages Vol. 62 No. 29 For Home Delivery of the Island! Dispatzh Call 773-7676 - S Niagara Frontier Publications proud publishers of Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver www.wnypapers.com Helping community mission page 10 Vikings hold on page 15 Fall Decorations page 24 Proposed budget hikes taxes 3.3 percent by Alice E. Gerard Town residents face a 3.3 percent tax increase over last year in the 2007 budget proposal, submitted by Supervisor Peter McMahon and presented at Monday's Grand Island Town Board meeting. Spending is up 4.3 percent over last year. Both figures are based on the combined general and highway funds. Taxes and spending are proposed to increase for the second year in a row. The increase in taxes, however, has been minimized due to an increase in the tax base, McMahon said. Continuously rising prices of fuel and employee benefit costs are responsible for the increases, he added. Beaver Island goes to the dogs by Alice E. Gerard Despite ominous clouds, the swirling waters in the Niagara River and the gusts of wind, Saturday, Sept. 30, turned out to be a good day to walk the dog and raise some money for the SPCA at Beaver Island State Park. Neither the wind nor the steelgray sky was going to stop more than 650 dogs and approximately 2,000 human companions assembled at the park for the SPCA's fund-raiser, titled "Paws in the Park," presented by the Buffalo Bills. According to Gina Browning, SPCA public relations director, so many people and dogs were lined up to register that the official start of the 5 kilometer fun run and walk were both delayed by nearly 10 minutes to allow everyone a chance to be present for the ribbon cutting. Paws in the Park brought out 650 dogs and about 2,000 human participants for the area SPCA's fund-raiser held last Saturday at Beaver Island State Park, jphoto by Joe Eberlej Islanders invited to support local friend, mother by Karen Keefe Her smile is the first thing you probably notice about Sheri Robinson-Cooney.You may have seen her as your friendly, welcoming, hard-working waitress, either at the Village Inn - where she has worked for 18 years - or at Apple Granny's restaurant in Lewiston. Or, if you are a bit younger, you'll recognize her as the outgoing, upbeat lunch monitor at Huth Road School, where she has worked for the past year. The 44-year-old mother of four has managed to keep a positive outlook through challenges faced at work or at home. "I never brought my problems to work with me," she says. And her customers have told her they get a warm feeling when they see her. Tve made a lot of friends through work." Now, Sheri has a new challenge - one that her family and friends are helping -her with: fighting a very aggressive form of breast cancer. She has had two surgeries and faces a third. Currently, she is undergoing a lengthy course of chemotherapy. The surgery and chemo have prevented her from working since her diagnosis this past June, and will keep her from working for several more months. Oct. 29 Benefit That's why family and friends have organized a benefit for her on Sunday, Oct 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Grand Island Rod & Gun Club, 1083 Whitehaven Road. "As kind and generous a person as Sheri always is to everyone else, I'm glad that we now have the opportunity to reciprocate and express our own kindness and generosity to her in her time of need," said her nephew, John Yensan. He and Brian Robinson are the organizers of the fund-raiser. "I have good days and bad days," Sheri says."The first week, I pretty much cried every day. This week, I'm feeling good." Before her illness, Sheri could be seen four or five days a week, running 5 miles a day. She said the cancer caught her by surprise because of her active, healthy lifestyle. She discovered the lump herself, and a week later learned it was malignant. "You can't sit there and say, Why me?' You try to make the best of it," she explains. She already has a wig, and plenty of hats and scarves in preparation for the eventual hair loss that comes with the cancerfighting chemicals she takes. These include some powerful medicines, including a newer drug, Herceptin, which is said to increase her chances for a successful outcome by 90 percent "Every doctor I've had has been very nice," she says. Her medical team includes Dr. Ronald Bauer and Dr. Soni Wala. A Large, Supportive Family Sheri is the first in her family to go through cancer, and is the youngest of seven siblings. Kevin Hale is also a significant member of her support network. Sheri Rdbinson-Cooney continued on page 2 continued on page 18 continued on page I8 \ Monday ji i Madness j | I LARGE CHEESE PIZZA ! \ \ $795 ji jf plus tax | j ! 11 ; 2131 Grand Island Blvd. I j JPHMPMNN j i Linda j&il j KutzbachKJll j Associate Broker Hp**3y| j i #1 Island Agent I i#l Company in WNY , j I 743-7321 or j | 628-1719 I Q« Do you need to buy or ! •sell a home? i ik • Call Linda Kutzbach, \ »•• she knows how and} would love to help you. UUi i 3.3 percent;fcix increase  ■* 4.3 percent spending increase