Island Dispatch, 2007-11-09

              Island Dispatch November 9, 2007 V01.63 No. 34 20 Pages 773-767© $1.00 Niagara ttfl Dm fron*'er \w. L*r Publications proud publishers of Island Dispatch Lewkton-Porier Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune www.wnypapers.com for Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 Board Hears About Drive page 3 'Artist of the Month' page 9 Islanders in Chicago Marathon page 14 McMahon re-elected to fourth term Iannello beats Thompson on Island by Larry Austin Grand Island Town Supervisor Peter McMahon was re-elected Tuesday, winning by a margin of more than 600 votes with. 6,100 votes cast. The Democrat won his fourth term over Republican Grand Island Couhcilwoman Mary Cooke 3,364 to 2,739. McMahon won 14 out of 15 Grand Island voting districts. He lost District 5 by 12 votes (324-312). "I.think it says that the people recognize that we are getting the job done, the job that they want done," McMahon said during a post-election get-together at Town Cafe where he was joined by friends, family and political supporters."I think that, certainly, Mary Cooke worked hard, and it was a relatively clean campaign, and-I commend her for that," McMahon said. "I'm looking forward to the next four years of doing some more exciting tilings for the town." Tm very pleased with the results."Cooke said she was disappointed with the results, but proud of the race that her campaign team ran. The Island needed a choice for supervisor, she said. A lack of a race for supervisor for the second time in a row, would have meant a lack of articulation of goals, she said. "Ifs good for the town £0 have a choice," Cooke said. "I'm gratified by the support I received, and I think it was a respectable showing."She said she's ready to serve her last two years as councilwoman. "I have no regrets about the campaign," she said. "I was strongly encouraged to go negative. I wouldn't do it. There are people who are going to tell me that had I done it, I would have won, but that's not my nature and that's not how I want to run a campaign." McMahon didn't have a challenger his last time up for election."I was nervous this year," he said, with a laugh. "Sure. Mary is a formidable campaigner, and you always have to work hard, and Peter McMahon listens to reports on voting results Tuesday night at Town Cafe, -{photo by Larry Austin) Rotary holds .clothing drive in memory of Christine Ryshkus by Donna M. Webb On Nov. 4, she would have celebrated her birthday, had she still been with us. No doubt, she would have spent hours standing in front of Tops, as other Grand Island Rotarians did last Sunday, collecting, undergarments and socks for the needy. Christine Ryshkus would have been very pleased to have the Rotary's Undie Sunday drive fall on her birthday and learn that our community came through in a big way. Before she lost a most courageous battle with cancer, Christine even took the lead in running this event. Now her husband, Gene Ryshkus, and son, Aaron, chair Undie Sunday in her memory. Packages of new clothing - underwear, T-shirts, socks, and stockings - are all needed by the men who stay at Buffalo's City Mission, as well as the women and children who are at Cornerstone Manor. Many of the women who live there have been victims of domestic abuse, When all was said and done last Sunday, more than 1,850 individual clothing items had been collected, along with $310 in cash donations. Gene will use the money to purchase additional clothing. Then, everything will be taken and donated to the two facilities. A number of local churches aided this charitable effort by having a container into which the parishioners put their contributions of clothing. These churches included the Bible Fellowship Center, St. Stephen's, Whitehaven Road Baptist, Trinity United Methodist and Harbor lights. Special recognition should be given to Bible Presbyterian Church, which contributed the largest number of items. Gene explained that more clothing donations have been dropped off at his Grand Island Garden Center.Center. He is hopeful that this year the total will top 2,200 items, which was what the Rotary Club collected last year. Aaron and Gene and all the Rotarians wish to sincerely thank the. community for their terrific response to this appeal. "Christine would have been so proud," Gene said. He hopes to make Undie Sunday a project that is undertaken by other Rotary Clubs in District 7090, to which the Grand Island club belongs. Standing next to the Rotary Club's banner are two Islanders who donated clothing to the club's "Undie Sunday" drive on Nov. 4. Handing their packages to Rotarian Gene Ryshkus (center) are Bonnie Sciuk (left) and Evelyn Swarts (right). Go jump in the river Saturday Special Olympics to benefit from Polar Plunge Special Olympics New York has announced the first-ever Western New York Polar Plunge, set for Saturday, Nov. 10, at Beaver Island State Park. Money raised in the plunge will benefit the more than 3,000 Special Olympians who live, train and compete in the Western New York Region. Registration takes place from 9 to 11:30 a.m., with the plunge to follow at noon. To participate in the Polar Plunge, individuals must raise a minimum of $100 for the privilege of running into the Niagara Riven Students with valid school identification can make the plunge for a minimum of $25, with the school raising the most money earning a special prize. Prizes will be given to ! the top individual fundraiser, the top fundraising team, the top fundraising school and the largest team. Buffalo radio station WEDG 103.3-FM ('The Edge") is on-board, with the personality from the "Shredd and Ragan" show who raises the least amount of money being the one to take the plunge. Participants are encouraged to register on-line at firstgiving.com/wnypolarplurige.'The New York State Police are committed to helping make this first-time event a success in support of our long-standing relationship with Special Olympics New York," said New York State Police Captain Steve Nigrelli. In February of this year, more than 600 people took the Plunge in Rochester, raising approximately $95,000 for Special Olympics.Special Olympics New 1 York provides year-round I sports training and athletic I competition in a variety j of Olympic-style sports to j more than 43,000 children j and adults with intellectual I disabilities. 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