Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, wants its neighbors to grill safely as Memorial Day rings in the unofficial start of the summer cook-out season.

Grand Island Town Supervisor Mary Cooke said the drug takeback day conducted April 27 at Town Hall was a great success. During a four-hour period, volunteers accepted 374 pounds of unused and unwanted medications from 125 vehicles.

At a joint evening meeting with the Town Board April 29, the Grand Island Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution naming Dr. Teresa Lawrence as its choice for the position of superintendent of schools. The district has been led by Interim Superintendent Paul Hashem since mid-January.

There was a true Grand Island flavor to the Chamber of Commerce's 47th annual Citizens of the Year Awards - from the heartfelt thank you speeches by award recipients - to the delicious filet of sirloin dinner served by the staff of the Holiday Inn Grand Island, under the direction of Islander and general manager Scott Swagler.

Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs is hosting the first-ever teen driver's "Learner Permit Testing Day" for high school students who are interested in taking steps to get their driver's license, while encouraging driver safety and care while operating a motor vehicle.

If your mind wanders off at times to a tropical fantasy of drifting in a sailboat just off a Caribbean island covered in white sand beaches, coconut palm trees, a beautiful sunset and the music of Jimmy Buffett and steel drums coming from a thatched-roof tiki bar on the shore, you might be a Parrot Head.

The Grand Island Board of Education will announce its selection of a new superintendent of schools during Monday's joint meeting with the Grand Island Town Board.

The Board of Education and the Town Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Grand Island Town Hall, 2255 Baseline Road.

The Board of Education has identified its two finalists for the position:

The next Paddles Up Niagara will promote Grand Island at the eighth annual edition of the signature event of the Niagara River Greenway Commission.

Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick reminds residents that the annual Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is on Saturday, April 27, and several sites across Erie County will accept medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Members of the Grand Island Riverside-Salem congregation joined 30 environmental activists at the Buffalo waterfront on April 16. The church was one of the sponsors of the Sierra Club's "Turn, Not Burn" campaign press conference.

Ty Gallagher of Grand Island played defense for the Buffalo Senior All-Stars in the 2013 Bowman Cup at First Niagara Center.

The Father's Day Classic Car Show and Lawn Mower Race, benefiting the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Grand Island, will be held again this year on West River Parkway at Long Road, Sunday, June 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Grand Island Town Board spent more than an hour in a work session April 15 discussing the fine print on a proposed local law governing special events. During a subsequent public hearing on the law, they heard the proposal called "over-reaching" by interested residents.

Grand Island is making progress on what is called a prescription drug problem on the Island.

Yolanda (DiBartolomeo) Ortenzi of Grand Island passed away at 95 on Thursday, April 11, 2013, at Niagara Hospice House in Lockport.

Charles I. Livingston, born April 28, 1926, entered into rest April 9, 2013. He is survived by his wife Annette (Sabella) Livingston, his daughter Cynthia (Nicholas) Petito, granddaughters Colleen, Victoria, Theresa and Christina, and a great-grandson Scott. He was brother of Joan Bidell Fred, Ronald Livingston and Jerry Livingston. He was predeceased by his son, Charles A. Livingston, and brother, Martin Livingston Jr.

Ruth M. (Hodson) Stahl, entered into rest April 13, 2013. She was a resident of Grand Island.

Gertrude Schilke Reimann, 103, of Grand Island, died Dec. 8, 2012.

Assemblyman John Ceretto participated in West Point Day by welcoming Cadet Lt. John Charles Asbach of Grand Island to the Assembly.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, has introduced legislation to protect dogs and cats from what animal advocates worldwide deem animal abuse. Senate bill S.2271 would prohibit devocalization, an elective procedure in which vocal cords are cut just to alter an animal's voice.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, a member of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, has introduced legislation to provide grants to upgrade wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes basin.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has named Paul Leuchner, recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award, as Civic Person of the Year

The Grand Island Market is enjoying a honeymoon in the first week of operation since the marriage of the store with Marco's Italian Deli.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has expressed its thanks to the local businesses that have given their support to the annual Citizen of the Year Awards event.

The Planning Committee for the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year Awards Banquet met with Mark Raepple, owner of John's Pizza & Subs, as he presented a bronze sponsorship for the Citizen of the Year event

On April 1, the Grand Island Economic Development Advisory Board launched its awareness campaign in a big way.

Bert D. Dunn, a 12-year veteran of the Erie County Sheriff's Office and a community and business leader, announced Tuesday that he is running for Erie County sheriff.

At its April 8 meeting, the Grand Island Board of Education heard the details of the recommended budget for the 2013-14 school year. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Support Services Joe Giarrizzo presented the figure of $54,417,562, an increase of $1,337,773 over 2012-13.

Marilyn L. (Abbotoy) Henderson, entered into rest April 5, 2013. She was formerly of Buffalo.

Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick has announced that Teresa Hooper of Grand Island has been named the April 2013 Citizen of the Month in recognition of her efforts to make the Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York a reality.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced that the golf course at Beaver Island State Park is now open.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will honor Dr. Kevin Backus, pastor of Bible Presbyterian Church, and Grand Island High School music teacher Martin Allen at the annual Citizen of the Year Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 25.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has expressed its thanks to the local businesses that have given their support to the annual Citizen of the Year Awards event.

Three Island service clubs got together to share information about their goals and talk about working more closely together.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has expressed its thanks to the local businesses that have given their support to the annual Citizen of the Year Awards event.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has named Linda Tufillaro and Wavelengths Hair Design as recipients of the Citizen of the Year Award.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has released two separate requests for proposals for food, beverage and catering operations, as well as operation of the golf course and food and beverage, for the golf course at Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island.

The Beach House has won Niagara Frontier Publications' second annual Best Fish Fry contest. Following a record number of entries, the Grand Island restaurant netted 13.1 percent of the 268 votes - more than double the tally of the second-place winners.

Founders of Grand Island's Robert G. Hoch Winter Memory Walk donated a check for $10,114 to the Hospice Foundation of Western New York.

Since 1973, the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation has been providing emergency assistance to Grand Island residents who find themselves in temporary need.