Island Dispatch, 2008-01-04

              ISLAND Dispatch  For Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 Niagara Frontier Publications proud publishers of Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver Niagara-WheatHeld Tribune vsAvw.wnypopers.com 773-7676 $1.00 V01.63 No. 42 January 4, 2008 20 Pages Buffalo Launch Club Installation page 5 'American Gladiators' page 11 First Team All-League page 12 Inside The Dispatch Business 7 School 8 Sports 12 Classifieds 16 Crossword 17 Service Directory :. 19 Picture Page 20 2007 in review Tolls top issue in 2007 Eight-thousand people can't all be wrong. Nearly 8,000 citizens have signed petitions calling for the removal of the Grand Island Bridge tolls, making the topic the No. 1 issue of 2007. Tolls made the front page of the Island Dispatch in several ways. In 2007, the New York Thruway Authority announced a possible hike in the toll rate. At last count, nogitolls.com had received 6,980 signatures asking for removal of the bridge tolls. La- Salle PRIDE had received another 1,000 signatures. NoGltolls.com founder Rus Thompson was asked to speak to a state Assembly conference in December concerning the tolls in the Niagara Frontier LaSalle PRIDE and No GI Tolls held a march across the North Grand Island Bridge to protest the tolls and a proposed increase to tolls at the 1-190 Grand Island toll barriers. In May, developer Carl Paladino wrote a letter to Gov. Eliot Spitzer urging free passage on the bridges. His earlier efforts helped spur removal of the toll barriers at the Ogden and Breckinridge streets in Buffalo. Other top-stories for 2007: Re-Tree Grand island Grand Island received three checks for $264,664 to compensate for expenses in the October 2006 storm. More than 70 percent of the money came from the federal government. In May, 25 American elm trees were donated by the Home Depot Foundation and planted in Veterans Park on Bedell Road as part of the Re-TreeWNY program. In the fall, more trees were planted at Veterans Park and at Town Commons Park. McMahon re-elected to fourth term Peter McMahon defeated Town Couheilwoman Mary Cooke to return for another, term as Grand Island town supervisor. GiCSD hires Christmann February saw the addition of a new superintendent of schools in the Grand Island Central School District with the coming of Robert Christmann. Christmann said on his first day on the job, he "learned how to close school," as winter weather forced a shutdown. Later in the year, the school made news when 19 athletes suspended at GIHS for their involvement in a party where alcohol was present Island shooting Thomas A. Dodge was shot and killed by an Erie County Sheriffs deputy after he shot his estranged girlfriend. In other news: •Erie County Legislator Michele lannello, whose district includes Grand Island, was appointed represent the county on the Greenway Fund Standing Committee. •The Relay For Life raised more than $128,000 in donations in the fight against cancer. Aerial photo by Joe Eberle GI: resolve to be happy in 2008 by Michael J. Owen U.S. Navy Journalist (Ret.) This time of the year many of us make resolutions to change or improve our lives. They usually seem like monumental lifestyle changes that we wrestle with throughout the year. However, we put them off until New Year's Day as if magically on that morning we'll make the change and stick to it. We may feel that if we just acquire, leave behind or change these specific things, then and only then well finally be happy. Of course, we're talking about the tradition of making "New Year resolutions." But as the new year progresses, most of us unfortunately slide back into our old routine along with a little guilt, anxiety and disappointment. Some of us claim we'll do it next summer, while others just forget about it all together, saying "maybe next year." After all, they were just promises made under the influence of the holiday spirit or spirits. Some admit defeat: If we didn't do it then, we probably never will. Why let it stress you out? Wait a minute; we can't give up that easy. This is our life we're talking about And life is short. Let's make it simple. Lef s set just one small goal. Resolve to be happy in your life, just for today. That's right, just for today. Oh, we can learn from the past and plan for the future, but no matter what we're doing or where we are, we will be happy today. If we don't, our "today" and eventually "tomorrow" will become "yesterdays" of regret. Time is our most precious resource. If s the only thing we can't replace, and we use it up whether we choose to or not. We should view life as a continuous flow rather than an order of steps, failures or unanswered statements: "I should have done it that way ... if only I had gone to ... if only I knew that when I was younger... I never had the chance to .... I'll start that next week... etc." Next try this; lets compare "life" to something abstract, maybe a sailor's experience of living aboard ship. For some, it could be a long train ride, a car or boat trip, or an experience on a cruise ship. Think back howyou felt on that long journey. Life seemed temporary while waiting to get somewhere - your destination. So, maybe, life is like a cruise. Figuratively, we sail from place to place gazing out a porthole towards "life" in the future, possibly on some distant shore. We even get off from time to time, enjoy a little shore leave, but it's not that final port or intimate stop, that final place where our life will suddenly begin and be perfect At Town officials sworn in A brief installation ceremony took place on New Year's Day at Nike Base Park for recently elected officials to Town of Grand Island government posts. From left: Town Councilman Richard W. Crawford, Town Councilman Gary G. Roesch, master of ceremonies Francis B. Pritchard, Town Justice Sybil E. Kennedy, Town Supervisor Peter A. McMahon, Town Clerk Patricia A. Frentzel and Judge Mark J. Frentzel, who administered the oaths of office to the five elected officials. See page 2 for more. SEE ENJOY, continued on page 5 Find out everything you need to know Linda Kutzbach UHM (Xr—""""II about your Hometown! illiffilliiHiiilHßifH 628-1719 W :W] /dbW  ® NIAGARA FRONTIER PUBLICATIONS | WWi I 9\ Niogaro-Wheatfield Tribune • Lewiston-Porter Sentinel 'S?wS W-JSHm I *1 m www.lindakulzbaeh.com / ?,Sf3tkee*re f || *''"*'" ' c«» office MW«tiden«» .. c Other as-