State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-60th District, has announced he has started a petition drive to show members of the New York State Assembly that people are tired of paying higher premiums due to the abuses of the state's no-fault insurance system.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Rose Harvey has announced the Beaver Island State Park golf courses will reopen on April 5 with new, lower rates and specials in effect.

Work of Grand Island native on "Bones" return episode.

Niagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour reminds everyone of the "Move Over" law that took effect Jan. 1.

Grand Island Moose Lodge No. 180 will be the site of a benefit for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on Saturday, April 28.

Brothers Gregg and Jeff Richard have been selected the Athletic Persons of the Year 2012 by the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce.

Young Life is Christian organization that is committed to reaching teenagers with support and encouragement that they may need during their tumultuous teenage years.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has announced that Fuccillo Chevrolet is going to be a platinum sponsor for this year's 46th annual Citizen of the Year awards ceremony, taking place on April 26 at the Holiday Inn Grand Island.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2012 Citizen of the Year Awardees.

•Community Service Person of the Year: Francine McMahon

•Athletic Persons of the Year: Jeff and Gregg Richard

•Organization of the Year: One Island, One Team, One Dream, To Be Drug Free

•Service to the Youth: Young Life

•Business of the Year: Dick & Jenny's Bake & Brew

•Educator of the Year: Bruce Benson

These citizens, organizations and businesses will be recognized at the Citizen of the Year awards ceremony on Thursday, April 26, at the Holiday Inn Grand Island.

A Dream Team took down the money at the Corporate Bowl on Tuesday, March 20.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-60th District, has announced that the New York Senate passed three bills to combat auto insurance fraud -- which costs New Yorkers more than $1 billion a year -- as well as legislation that would impose stronger criminal penalties for staging auto accidents.

On Sunday, April 1, at 7 p.m., an organ recital given by Bishop William Franklin and the Rev. Earle King will take place at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 3587 Baseline Road, Grand Island.

Niagara University has announced that Lori A. Soos, director of health services, has been selected as a recipient of the American College Health Association's (ACHA) Affiliate New Professionals Award for 2012.

A sure sign spring is here: planning is under way for this year's annual Father's Day Lawn Mower Race to benefit the Grand Island Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-60th District, last week announced sponsorship of the "Sewage Pollution Right To Know Act" to amend the environmental conservation law to establish a procedure for the operator of any sewage treatment plant to notify the public of all raw sewage overflows within 24 hours. The bill spells out all the information that must be reported to the New York State Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation, including when, where and how much has been spilled. The purpose of this legislation is to provide valuable information to the public about spills in a timely manner and in an effective way.

The Citizen of the Year Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 26, at the Holiday Inn Grand Island. The announcement of this year's Citizen of the Year honorees is scheduled for the March 23 edition of the Island Dispatch. This special community event will honor businesses and individuals whose contributions have made Grand Island a better place to live.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz reads "The Rainbow Fish" to students in Tricia McDonald's fourth-grade class Monday during the Parents As Reading Partners program at Kaegebein Elementary School. (photo by Larry Austin)

Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard has announced the arrest of the person allegedly responsible for an 18-month long graffiti spree on Grand Island in which both public and private buildings and properties were defaced totaling between $20,000 and $30,000 in damage.

Monday evening the Grand Island Board of Education continued the 2012-13 budget process. Superintendent Robert Christmann pushed the budget adoption date out one week from March 26 to April 2 because of possible changes in state aid.

Katie Crombe, from Catholic Charities, spoke at the Masses at St. Stephen Church last weekend about the upcoming Catholic Charities drive.

The Good Government Club of Western New York has selected State Sen. Mark Grisanti as the recipient of its 2012 Achievement Award, to be presented on March 15 at Salvatore's Italian Gardens during the St. Joseph's Dinner.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-60th, has announced his support for the senate budget resolution, which passed by a vote of 39-21, He favors its control on spending, tax cuts and potential for creating new jobs.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-60th, today announced that the Senate has passed the "Protect Our Children Act," which he sponsored, to change the laws of New York to save and protect children from cruel and repeated maltreatment.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced that boaters who sign a slip rental agreement at Big Six Marina on Grand Island between Feb. 1 and April 15 will be entitled to a 10 percent discount off their 2012 rental.

Tuesday, March 13, a Relay For Life meeting will be held in the small cafeteria of Grand Island High School, 1100 Ransom Road, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Grand Island Central School District, in cooperation with the Grand Island School and Business Alliance, will present the 14th annual Corporate Bowl on back-to-back Tuesdays, March 13 and 20.

Life Technologies Senior Director of Operations Scott Baird was happy to meet recently with Citizen of the Year Committee Chairperson Liz Wilbert to make a $1,000 gold sponsorship donation for the Citizen of the Year awards ceremony.

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, Grand Island Fire Co. firefighters responded to a large fire in a garage area discovered by wastewater plant operator Ken Kinderman at 3500 Baseline Road. Kinderman reported heavy black smoke in the converted filter building.

At 11:22 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, Grand Island Fire Co. rescue personnel responded to a report of a person in the water in the vicinity of 2196 West Oakfield Road, which is located between Beaver Island State Park and Bush Road.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, D-NY, 28th District, this week applauded the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for agreeing to continue monitoring air quality in the neighborhoods surrounding Tonawanda Coke. The DEC announced that two air monitors in Tonawanda will remain in operation through 2012 and 2013.

Rehearsals continue for "Willy Wonka Jr.," a production of Veronica Connor Middle School. The show will take place March 26 at 6 p.m., and March 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. in the Grand Island High School auditorium.

The friends of Ken Lenz are holding a fundraiser for him on Sunday, March 11. The event will be held from 2 until 6 p.m. at the St. John de LaSalle church hall, 8477 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls.

Today, the New York State Senate passed a resolution to rename the Scajaquada pedestrian bridge that connects Nottingham Terrace with Hoyt Lake as a memorial honoring people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Two weeks after Hamburg beat the Grand Island boys basketball team with a last-second shot in the Section VI playoffs, the Grand Island girls beat Hamburg with a last-second basket of their own to claim the Class A-1 title.

On Saturday, March 17, at 10:30 a.m., National Scenic Byway Foundation will name the late Teresa Mitchell as the first recipient of the National Scenic Byway Foundation's first lifetime achievement award. The presentation will be made in the third floor ballroom exhibit area of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center at 401 W. Main St., in Sackets Harbor.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) wrote to the commissioner of New York's State Department of Environmental Conservation asking DEC to maintain a strong presence in Tonawanda as they monitor the air quality in the neighborhoods surrounding Tonawanda Coke.

At the Monday evening meeting of the Grand Island Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools Robert Christmann gave trustees a list of possible reductions in spending for the proposed 2012-13 budget. Administrators and trustees are struggling to close a $7 million-plus gap between spending needs and revenues coming into the district.

The anxiety is etched on the faces of spectators in the Hamburg student section as they watch Tom Lipomi's last-second jump shot make its way to the hoop during last Wednesday's Section VI Class A-1 boys basketball playoff game at Hamburg High School.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti received good news and bad news as he seeks political endorsements in the race for the seat to represent Grand Island in the New York State Senate.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has announced that the Holiday Inn Grand Island will once again show its community support by being a platinum sponsor for the 46th annual Citizen of the Year awards.