Island Dispatch, 2006-10-27

              ISLAND Dispatch  773-7676 October 27, 2006 40 Pages proud publishers of Niagara-Wheatheld Tribune Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver www.wnypapers.com Niagara Frontier Publications For Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 V01.62 No. 32 $1.00 Reality Cafe is fun for teens page 5 Coast Guard training page 20 Sabres off to flying start page 23 GI expects FEMA aid for storm cleanup costs by Karen Keefe Now that Western New York has received a federal disaster designation for the big snowstorm of Oct. 12-13, Grand Island is in line for funds to compensate for its expenditures in the big cleanup. Town Supervisor Peter McMahon was in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday talking to Dave Paulison, head of the Federal Emergency- Management Agency. "We have been reassured that all of the town expenses related to the storm will be reimbursed," McMahon said. He is fairly certain that the Island's costs will exceed the original estimate of $150,000 in storm-related expenditures. The town spent $53,000 in overtime as of Oct 17, doing its part in restoring all services to Islanders after up heavy, wet snow piled up and dragged down trees and power lines in its wake. The overtime figure grows, as town crews continue to clean up the massive amount of brush from downed tree limbs. Costs also include equipment purchases and the replacement of a damaged lift station. McMahon invited Paulison to visit Western New York to see the damage first-hand, and the FEMA director accepted. McMahon is among area leaders who will meet with him today. The FEMA funds would be in addition to the town's share of $5 million in emergency funds committed to Western New York the weekend after the storm. Such federal aid would take the burden off local taxpayers in footing the bill. As a result of the storm, more than 400,000 Buffalo area customers lost power across the region, including an estimated 70 percent of Islanders. While it took about four days to turn the last of the power on across the Island, estimates were that the cleanup from downed trees, Deputy Highway Superintendent James B. Tomkins talks to Amber Ramsey, coordinator for independent contractors, (photo by Fred Claus) $2.7 million grant will redesign Grand Island Boulevard by Karen Keefe Getting off the Island via the South Bridge in morning rush hour could get a whole lot safer and easier, thanks to a $2.7 million state grant designed to upgrade the intersection of Grand Island Boulevard and Staley Road. It's arguably the Island's busiest section, with three fast food restaurants, a popular Chinese restaurant, two retail plazas, a car wash and an auto parts store. With the addition of Tim Hortons and Wendy's, traffic has steadily increased at that corner, especially for westbound drivers on Staley. Traffic congestion and lengthy backups try motorists'motorists' patience as they negotiate the entrance to the Thruway. Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, Grand Island, said he secured funds that "will allow us to add turning lanes to this specific intersection," as well as traffic light modifications. Hoyt said the Town Board would also like to do improvements along the boulevard, adding bike paths and sidewalks - for as far as that particular pot of money can extend them. The cash would be coming from the Highway and Bridge Bond Act, passed earlier this year, Hoyt said. Af left, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, Grand Island, joins town officials in an announcement of $2.7 million in state aid to upgrade the intersection of Grand Island Boulevard and Staley Road to improve traffic flow and ensure safety. With Hoyt, from left, are Grand Island Supervisor Peter McMahon and Town Board members Mary Cooke, Dick Crawford and Gary Roesch. (photo by Joe Eberle) 'No more tolls' possible for Buffalo by Terry Duffy Here's some great news for Buffalo area motorists. After years of pleading their case for removal of both the Breckenridge and Ogden Street toll barriers on the Niagara section of the Thruway in Buffalo, it now appears that state interests are finally listening to the gripes of area drivers and will move to take permanent action on Monday. Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-144th District, who offered a proposal to the Thruway Authority outlining an alternative funding mechanism to replace the $14 million in lost Niagara section toll revenues, which covers its operations and maintenance, announced this week that SEE ISLAND continued on page 2 SEE CLEANUP continued on page 2 SEE UPGRADE continued on page 17 Kutzbachflilf Associate Broker Sp_M| #1 Island Agent fl_fl^H #1 Company in WHY 743-7321 or 628-1719 Q« Do you need to buy or * sell a home? A.a Call Linda Kutxbach, _ '_.• $j,e |ntoWS how and would love to help yon. ESH __£______! ■fl ■4__~_y Call Joan for a 11_9_FRIEE No ot>!isa,i°n |fPIHBI Market Analysis immiii.ii «aii on your home- Tricfc-or-fredt hours on Grand island Children are invited to go trick-or-trealing on Grand Island from 5 to 8 p.m., on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct. 31. Parents and guardians are asked to exercise extra caution as debris remains from the recent snowstorm.