VFW Chaplain Mike Rogan and Earl DeGlopper of the American Legion presenting the wreath.
by Fred Claus
Members of the Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9249 and the American Legion post joined residents Saturday as Grand Island held its Veterans Day Service for the first time at new Veterans Park Memorial Wall on Bedell Road. Town Councilwoman, Mary Cooke began the service with the pledge to the flag, and then turned the program over to VFW Chaplain Mike Rogan for a short prayer. VFW Commander Ralph Lommer spoke briefly on the history of Armistice Day, and also his appreciation for his fellow veterans.
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Open house at River Lea
Members of the Grand Island Historical Society will hold an open house at their headquarters, River Lea in Beaver Island Park from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, November 19. The farm house which dates back to the mid 1800s, is filled with old Island photographs, antique furnishings and memorabilia and society docents will be stationed throughout the house to answer questions. There is no charge and refreshments will be served. Isle residents contribute to Baby Quilt-a-Thon
River Lea Quilters Guild went above and beyond in its donation to a Baby Quilt-a-Thon recently held in Worcester, Massachusetts. The project was the brain storm of Christine C. Stebbins of Paxton, Massachusetts who started the labor of love to benefit premature babies in the neonatal care unit at St. Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center. Islander and River Lea Quilters Guild member Hazel Rowe, who was accompanied on the trip to Worcester by Guild members Jesse Tromanhauser and Ruth Landel, explained that the Island Guild's original goal was to make 200 quilts for the year 2000 but the trio presented 366 baby quilts nearly all finished by River Lea Quilters Guild members. The recipients of the little quilts cannot wear caps and sweaters to keep warm as the sleeves and ties interfere with the tubes the nurses use to feed the babies and administer medicine. High School announces annual fruit sale
The Grand Island High School Music Department has announced its annual "Fresh Florida Citrus Fundraising Sale" which will continue through November 28. Offered this year are grove-fresh Florida navel oranges and grapefruit available in small, large or mixed cartons. The drive is expected to raise much-needed funds for the high school instrumental music students to attend national competitions during the year. To place an order, contact a high school instrumentalist or call the Grand Island High School Band Office at 773-8868. GI Chicks thank sponsors The G.I. Chicks Soccer team would like to thank the following sponsors for supporting them in their efforts to represent Grand Island and Western New York at the Sunny Delight 3 v. 3 Soccer National Championships to be held in Orlando, Florida this coming January
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My vote really does count By Stephen H. Cornell I was musing the other night on the state of Florida, where I presently reside, and the election and presidential politics. Here in this corner of the USA which is often forgotten until we wish to escape winter's worst, or decide to retire from our labors in a sunny tropical clime, and it holds up the election process of the most powerful nation on the planet.
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There will be a crime prevention meeting in the Grand Island High School auditorium Tuesday, December 5, at 7 p.m., in response to a rash of crime especially in the Love Rd.-Duplex area. The meeting follows a similar discussion held October 25 at the Grand Island Memorial Library. Since the last meeting, four white teenagers have been arrested and charged in the "hate crime" assault of a black man in front of his home in the Duplex neighborhood. Several other incidents have been reported. The meeting will be attended by Grand Island Supervisor Peter A. McMahon, Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark and (from the Erie County Sheriffs Department) Technical Sergeant Vincent Delgato, and Detective Fred Vincent.
Five injured in I-190 Hit Run
Grand Island Fire Company rescue personnel responded at 4 a.m. Sunday, November 12 to a MVA in the southbound lane of the I-190 near the Baseline overpass. When Assistant Fire Chief Greg LButcher arrived on location, he utilized (Heavy) Rescue 2, Engine 3 and Rescue 7 and their manpower to commence extrication of five occupants of a vehicle which had traveled about forty feet into a roadside ditch, after reportedly being "rear ended" by another auto which left the scene. Otis Jemison, 23; Otis Brown, 18; Jermaine Brown, 18; and Quantrell Carson, 18; all Buffalo residents were treated by paramedics for head, neck and back injuries and transported to Erie County Medical LCenter and Lbuffalo LGeneral Hospital for additinal medical attention. A 16-year-old cheektowaga youth was treated for similar injuries and also transported to ECMC for further medical evaluation. Assistant chief Butcher noted that Mercy Flight was placed on standby but was not needed, because of the "swift response" of rural Metro ambulance crews, which assisted at the scene. Grand Island Fire Company Report
Nov. 12 Baseline Rd. - First call - patient treated by paramedics for seizure, transported to hospital by ambulance West River Rd. - First aid - patient assisted by squad, refused transport Thruway South- First aid - five patients treated by paramedics for injuries from auto accident, transported to hospital by ambulance Carol Ln. - First aid - patient assisted by squad, refused transport.
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Knights of Columbus honors past grand knights
Members of the Knights of Columbus, Mary Star of the Sea Council honored their past grand knights at a testimonial dinner Saturday, November 11 in the K of C Hall on Whitehaven Road. Seated front left is current Grand Knight Paul Klock and Immediate Past Grand Knight Dave Forster. Standing from left are Past Grand Knights Tom Kolniak, Bob Savoy, Mike Niland, George Minton, Bob Kopacz, Don Scalise, Jo Osinski, Don Forster, Wayne Anstett, John Tsikalas, Jack Fries, Dick Dietrich, and Denis Dzielski. Friends of Library book sale
A discarded book sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, November 17 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, November 18 at the Grand Island Memorial Library, 1715 Bedell Road. The sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Grand Island Memorial Library, will benefit the library.
Growing up on the Island
By Ted Kumlander
In my last column I wrote about my parents buying a farm house at 3114 Baseline Road, near Long Road. We installed a bathroom, a water pump, hot water heater and a modern kitchen. It was great to have hot water, especially on Saturday night - bath night.
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While driving down Grand Island Blvd. readers may notice subtle changes in the "TCBY" building across from Martin's Fantasy Island. This is due to the expansion of Jackson Music, one of Grand Island's most successful businesses, and the happy story of three people "living the American dream." Sixteen years ago, a month after starting his business, Jack West met his wife, Mary. Mary, then just 17 years old, answered an advertisement for a piano teaching position. Soon after they met, they became partners in business and life.
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Conservation Commission receives special award
The Grand Island Commission for Conservation of the Environment is one of only a handful in New York State to receive a special award from the NYS Association of Conservation Commissions. The 2000 Special Projects Award, announced November 3, is in recognition of the commission's work in protecting and preserving the Gun Creek ecosystem. The project was deemed to be the best in the state due to its magnitude according to Commission Advisor and Grand Island Council Member Mary Cooke. The NYS Association recognized the commission for eight years and "840 hours" of work identifying the island's six major ecosystems and protecting the Gun Creek system (deemed to be the most important) with a series of purchases, culminating with the town's "Scenic Woods" purchase of 206 acres on Ransom Rd. near the Grand Island High School. The commission's Chairman Sam Akinbami sought the award in recognition "of the work involved with this project ...done by volunteers without any compensation except for town officials in the normal course of their duties."
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Islander writes from Bosnia
James Baldwin, Grand Island High School Class of '81, writes from Bosnia where he is supporting TASK FORCE EAGLE ( TFE). "The base is called Eagle Base and it's just outside the town of Tuzla, Bosnia. Tuzla is a small town about the size of Grand Island, 100 miles north of Sarajevo. During the war, it was held by the Serbs who had no use for the Muslim (a majority of the population) and Croatian people. The Serbs tried very hard to "eradicate" them... we call it ethnic cleansing. Whatever you want to call it, these folks went through hell. Many of them still don't know where members of their families are. Many of them hoped they were simply "displaced." However, after several years the reality of the situation has to be acknowledged. Most of them were killed execution style and buried in mass graves. It was very reminiscent of what the Nazis did during WWII. The Muslims are not the stereotypical Muslims that you see on TV or hear about in the Middle East. They are not Arabs, they are Eastern Europeans, more like Russians than Arabs..but don't say that to them. They don't like Russians. The Russians supported the Serbs. The US is part of a multi-national task force called SFOR, or Stabilization Forces. Most Americans will refer to it as Peace Keeping forces. I'm one of three Sailors here supporting the Army. I'm attached to the 103rd Military Intelligence Battalion. It's been quite an experience, especially during our election. The Bosnians read in the press that George W. Bush wants to pull U.S. Forces out of here. The prospect of us leaving right now scares them. They suffered at the hands of the Serbs. NATO came in minus the US, and not too much changed. The US came in and the war ended shortly afterward. They trust us and feel that if we leave, it will all start again."
By William D. O'Connor
The Grand Island Planning Board, on Monday, November 6, met with the Town Board in a workshop session. For the past two years, the Planning Board has been working with Town Attorney Dan Spitzer of the law firm Hodgson, Russ, Andrews, Woods, and Goodyear to redraw the town's zoning map, and to make it consistent with the master plan (adopted in 1994). The board presented the town with its second preliminary draft of this effort which will likely be available for observation at the library and town hall beginning this week (November 13).
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Tower opposed on Whitehaven Rd.
The Town Planning Board tabled two referrals and approved two others at its meeting Monday, November 13. The board tables requests to give applicants time to re-write their proposals and save application fees. Whitehaven Road Baptist Church, 1290 Whitehaven Road submitted a plan for a 125 foot radio tower to transmit programming from Family Life Ministries Inc. on 89.3 FM. Church officials also requested a variance for the set-back (fall zone) regulations so that they could use more of their land. If it were to fail, the proposed tower is designed to fall in a smaller radius according to church engineer Jim Travis.
Mary Dunbar-Daluisio of Whitehaven Rd. and other neighbors opposed the project, because it is in a residential neighborhood, possible negative health effects due to radiation from the tower, and loss of property value due to having an unsightly structure near their property. The board tabled the request and suggested the church change the proposed location of the tower (moving it deeper into the church's lot) to comply with set-back regulations.
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School board refers school-uniform decision to committee
By Lee Cohen
At its Monday night regular meeting, held at the bus garage, school trustees deferred any decision about optional school uniforms at Sidway School until they receive a recommendation from the school's Shared Decision Making committee. Board President Richard McCowan reminded trustees that uniforms cannot be mandated. The board approved a trip by 52 music students to the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational to be held in Chattanooga, Tenn., from April 18-22. Grand Island is one of only 16 groups nationwide which received an invitation to the event, based on its superior performance last year at the National Invitational.
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High School Spotlighters to perform
The Grand Island High School Spotlighter's Drama Club will stage "Up the Down Staircase" in the school auditorium, 1100 Ransom Road at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, evening. Admission is $3.
