Island Dispatch, 1995-03-17

              THE ISLAND DISPATCH - Furniture Inc. Interior Design Service Hows: Mori. Wed. * Thin. 9-9 Pri. * SM. 910 5 • Tun. 9 til Noon 6001 Porter M. Purler-Packard Pku • MP, NY 14304 297-6666 X-PRESS 1 HOUR DRY GUMIERS "Trust the X-Perts" Drop off your clothes with confidence 2275 Grand Island Blvd. Town Hall Square Ca11... 77KLEAN Mon-Fri - 6:30-7 PM; Sat • 8 AM- 6 PM March 17, 1995 ' ■ I 65c _J State Grant Sought For Veterans Park THE TOWN'S application for state funding to improve Veteran's Park is now in the hands of the Parks & Recreation Historic Preservation for consideration, Councilwoman Mary Cooke said Thursday. A bike path through the park, a walking/jogging path around its perimeter and two regulation size soccer fields are to be added. In a report to Town Board, Cooke noted the 123-acre community park now includes four baseball and four soccer fields, an ice rink, sledding hill, model plane airfield and cross country ski trail. The former farmland donated to the town is the site of the library as well as a picnic shelter and concession stand. Cooke said the town's application for funding also points out that the Commissioner's priorities for 1995 grants include development projects with a maximum cost of $500,000 and a maximum grant share of $200,000. "The Veterans Park improvements project clearly fits within this range,'' she said. MEK Pataki Planning For Beaver Island Casino ASSEMBLYMEMBER Sam Hoyt revealed that Governor George E. Pataki's revised budget proposal contains a new plan for funding the restoration of the Beaver Island Casino. According to Hoyt, the initial budget proposal simply reduced last year's allocation of $2.5 million for Casino restoration by $1 million, to help balance next year's budget. The Governor's revised budget, issued earlier this month, contained an extra $3 million authorized for the restoration of the Beaver Island Casino. "The key word is authorized," said Hoyt. 'That means that the Governor is allowing an additional $3 million to be spent if other interests, such as private, developers, will donate the funds. This does not provide the actual funds, but does lay out a plan for getting them, and allows monies thus raised to be spent" Hoyt continued, "Governor Pataki gets an 'A' for imagination, but it remains to be seen how much his administration is willing to put into actually raising the extra funds. I have met with Parks Commissioner Bemadette Castro and I know she is aware of the issue. Now is her chance to prove how important it is to her." Hoyt concluded, "As far as I'm concerned, the jury is still out on this one. If the administration makes this plan work, it deserves a lot of credit. If not. Grand Island deserves its money back." Free Rabies Clinic Slated Here AT THE request of Dog Control Officer Andy Liesenfeld, Erie County will be holding a free rabies clinic on Grand Island. It will be held Saturday, April 8 from 11 A.M.-l P.M. at the Nike Base located at 3278 Whitehaven Road. Dog and cat owners are invited to bring their pets. Paper work for animals who have had prior rabies vaccinations should be brought. Those animals will be given a three-year vaccination. Puppies and kittens receiving their first vaccination will be given a one-year rabies shot. New York State law requires dogs and cats to have rabies vaccinations. For further information, call the Town Clerk's office at 773-9622. Chamber Of Commerce Citizens Of The Year For 1994 The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has selected nine individuals and a Business of the Year to honor at its Citizens of the Year Dinner slated for Thursday, April 6 at the Buffalo Launch Club. The Dispatch will profile the honorees over the next three weeks beginning in this issue with Business Person of the Year and Business of the Year. Tickets, $25 per person, may be purchased from Chamber board members or by calling the Chamber offices, 773-3651. THE CHAMBER of Commerce recognizes Shirley J. Martin, as its distinguished Business Person of the Year for 1994. Owner and president of Fleischmann Healing & Cooling Inc. she was the office manager of the business for 23 years previous to her taking over the company. She learned the business from her father, Christ L. Kruse, who operated a heating and cooling business on the Island for 20 yean1, and was a life member of the Grand Island Fire Co. Not only is Shirley an astute business woman she is an active participant in community government and civic minded as well. The first and only female member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Shirley has served in that capacity for over 13 years. Additionally, she is a well known Isle Republican, co-committee person in District 15 and past president of the Republican Club. She is also past president of the GI Taxpayers Association. A longtime member of the Grand Island Zonta Club of which she is a former president and treasurer, Shirley epidomizes the true meaning of service to the community. Shirley was married to Richard J. Martin who was also active in community affairs as an elected school board member. He died in 1977. She has three daughters scattered about the country - Cathy who works for Ingrahm Book Co. in Tennessee; Carol, an art teacher in Texas; and Christine who is working towards a master's degree in Albuquerque, NM. KELLY'S COUNTRY Store began in a small two room building in 1962. Walter Kelly, his wife Grace and their son, Michael, were selling candy at county fairs during the summer and decided that there was a market for their candy year round. Their choice of Grand Island as a business site proved to be a fortunate one. The two-room building on Grand Island Blvd. has grown to two buildings and includes the historic school house which was originally located at Ransom Road. At first, three employees took care of the business and customers. Today the work force has grown to 18 employees. From the start, one of the most popular attractions at Kelly's has been the Santa Claus. The Kellys have dedicated one large decorated room just for his yearly visit. In 1968, Mr. Kelly began making chocolate Easter candy. Presently many pounds are produced during the Easter season. And likewise at Easter, the Easter Bunny and a totally tbemed Easter room attract thousands. In 1991, Kelly's Country Store expanded by opening a chocolate factory in Tonawanda which supplies chocolate in the shape of Precious Moment figures to many cities across the United States. Kelly's Country Store is now managed by Michael Kelly whose plans for the future include expansion and the continuation of serving the public in the best tradition of a family business. SHIRLEY J. MARTIN Business Person Of The Year KELLY'S COUNTRY STORE Business Of The Year Weekend At A Glance Friday LENTEN FISH FRY, St. Stephen's, 2080 Baseline Road, 5-7 P.M., seniors seated at 4:30 P.M., call 773-4347 for take-out Saturday ST. PATRICK'S DAY DINNER, VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 9249, VFW Post, 4-7 P.M. GI LIBRARY CKCULATION MILESTONE CELEBRATION, GI Library, 2-4 PM. ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY, K Of C, doors open 6:30 PM., dinner 7:30 P.M. LITTLE LEAGUE CLINIC, Huth Road School, 10 A.M.-noon