Island Happenings, KidBiz to fill Town Commons

by Karen Keefe
Grand Island Dispatch, June 29, 2007

Jane Cooke prepares items to sell at her KidBiz booth,
Jane’s Jewelry and Stuff. (photo by Jeff Cooke)

The Grand Island business community’s premier event of the summer is this Saturday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Town Commons along Whitehaven Road, near Town Hall. Entrepreneurs of all ages will showcase their goods and services at Island Happenings and its junior counterpart, KidBiz, which is open until 2 p.m.

Booths featuring a wide variety of businesses will set up tents, hopefully under sunny skies, dotting the town center green space and lining the sidewalks with the sights and sounds of a busy summer marketplace. It’s a chance to mingle, see friends and neighbors, and get to know retailers in your hometown.

One of the new businesspeople at Island Happenings this year is Sue Zinter, a licensed massage therapist, who will be offering chair massages for a nominal fee at her booth, Soma Cura Body Care. She was invited to participate in Island Happenings by Chairman Angelo Grande. “I jumped at the chance,” she said.

Kid Biz Veteran

While Zinter is a first-time participant, Jane Clark, at 12, is a veteran of Kid Biz. Her “Jane’s Jewelry and Stuff,” will be back for about the fourth year. “I’m making necklaces, bracelets, key chains and ‘beady’ animals.”

The seventh-grader says she looks forward to the event each year. She has also learned that it takes work and a business plan. “Usually, through the course of the year, I work on making different things. Then, by the week before KidBiz, I know what I need to make more of.”

Earlier this month, KidBiz trainer Mike Heftka taught young entrepreneurs the various aspects of running a real-life business. Topics such as pricing, marketing and customer service were covered. DECA students from Grand Island High School are helping the youngsters, too, for the first time this year, under the guidance of business teacher Cheryl Chamberlain. The Grand Island School Business Alliance, under the leadership of Jim Sharpe, is new as the sponsoring group, along with the Chamber of Commerce, which orchestrates both events.

Zinter is an independent contractor who rents space for her business at the MOG, the Medically Oriented Gym at 1801 Grand Island Blvd.

Sue Zinter adjusts the massage chair she’ll feature in
her booth, Soma Cura Body Care. (photo by A. Grande)

Getting the Word Out

“I’ve been working diligently to build my practice,” Zinter said. She is eager to get the word out about the healthful, therapeutic benefits of her business. She believes being a part of Island Happenings will help her establish herself in the community – and bring in customers who might ordinarily cross the bridge to go to a specialty spa. She offers all kinds of massages, including hot stone, sports massage. Why set up a booth at Island Happenings? “What better place than this well-attended event to showcase” her services, she said.

While buyers and sellers will get to know each other on a one-to-one basis at this unique business expo, the event also includes music, food and fun for all ages.

The Strangers will be playing at the Rotary Gazebo, and there will be a battle of the bands, as well.

The fifth annual Youth Ambassador Hot Dog Sale and Raffle also will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in conjunction with Island Happenings and KidBiz. The cost is a $2.50 donation for a hot dog and a beverage. This year’s sponsors include: Budwey’s Supermarkets, Tops Market of Grand Island, Wilson Farms of Grand Island and John Lexo. All proceeds will go towards the Youth Ambassador Scholarship program.

Also, look for the ice cream sale, a fund-raiser for “Dollars for Scholars," at the Pepsi Trailer. Appropriately enough, the ice cream costs $1, and proceeds go for scholarships for local students. This is sponsored by Budwey’s Supermarket and Island businessman John Lexo.

A Special Thank You

The Chamber of Commerce said a special thank you goes out to all the sponsors of KidBiz, co-hosted with the Chamber by the Grand Island School and Business Alliance:

•Platinum: Fuccillo Auto Park; Gold: Niagara Frontier Publications, River Oaks Golf Club; Silver: Grand Island Holiday Inn Resort and Conference Center; Bronze: Legend Group and M&T Bank (Grand Island Branch), and the Grand Island Town Board. For sponsor photos, visit our Web site, www.wnypapers.com.

A thank you from the Chamber also goes to Island Happenings sponsors, including Fuccillo Auto Park, Niagara Frontier Publications, publishers of the Island Dispatch and Grand Island PennySaver, Sam’s Club, First Niagara Bank, Grand Island Women of the Moose Lodge 180, Creative Leather Concepts, GRAfx Signs; state Sen. Antoine Thompson; Carol Ann’s Hair Fashions, North Point Embroidery, First Investors Corp., Stephen O’Donnell, TCA Consultants (Technology Camp of America Inc.) and Bleich Inc. (Miracle Ear).