The Grand Island Central School District (until May 1) will make available to all hall walkers an individual locker in which to store their personal items while exercising. These lockers are conveniently located close to the high school Viking Mall.

Call Bobby Cushing at 773-8820, ext. 6, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to obtain a locker number and personal locker combination number. Should there not be a person to answer a phone call, press "0" and leave a message, which will promptly be returned.

The next airing of Grand Island High School's Viking Vision news program establishes another milestone for the student-driven news program.

On Sunday, Dec. 30, the Buffalo Launch Club installed its new board of directors for the 2013 season.

The Launch Club is one of the oldest and most highly regarded powerboat clubs in the United States. Newly installed Commodore Andy Barbasch says that the club is anticipating one of its best years ever; "While half of our members are non-boaters who join for the facilities and activities, our boating members consider the park-like setting of the 95-slip marina the premier boat club in WNY."

A sign that spring and a new boating season is not far away is the annual installation of officers of the LaSalle Yacht Club in Niagara Falls.

Robert A. Savoy, entered into rest Jan. 10, 2013. He was a resident of Grand Island.

Claude "Bob" Pettitt passed away Dec. 25, 2012, at the age of 88 in Dayton, Ohio. He was formerly of Grand Island.

Jerome L. Szczublewski passed away on Jan. 16, 2013.

John A. McCarthy of Grand Island entered into rest on Jan. 16, 2013.

The Village Inn and Serene Gardens were winners Sunday at the third annual Buffalo Soup Fest, held at the Hearthstone Manor in Depew. Village Inn owner Mike Carr and Sarah Mallare took home the Best Chili award at the event for their Mayan Chocolate Chili, while Satomi and Dr. Joshua Smith of Serene Gardens took home an award for Best Kept Secret.

Rehearsals are ongoing for the Grand Island High School Music Department presentation of the Cole Porter musical "Anything Goes" in the auditorium of Grand Island High School.

Cassie Oursler scored the 1,000th point of her Grand Island Vikings basketball career Jan. 4 in Niagara Falls.

Students from Grand Island High School had a record-setting weekend in Lockport. A team of 101 students in the DECA program traveled to Lockport High School for the Region 12 DECA competition. Fifty-seven returned with awards, the most Grand Island has ever had in the program's history.

Starting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, and every week after that, bingo is back on Grand Island.

In an unexpected addition to Monday evening's Board of Education meeting agenda, board President David Goris announced his resignation from the board, stating he no longer has sufficient time to devote to the position.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church for John Joseph Wesolek of Grand Island, who passed away Jan. 9, 2013.

Niagara County Community College hosted more than 800 students from 22 Western New York school districts at Tech Wars 2013 on Wednesday. Competitions ranged from RC Heavyweight Sumo Robotics to 3D Modeling and CO2 Car Races.

Temporary overnight lane closures are scheduled on the Niagara Thruway for both the northbound and southbound South Grand Island Bridge through Friday, Jan. 14, the New York State Thruway Authority announced.

A car fire broke out on Friday, Jan. 11, by the Buckhorn Island onramp ahead of the northbound Grand Island bridge.

Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard reports that sheriff's deputies made two arrests on the Island for driving while intoxicated over New Year's Eve.

As part of a yearly tradition since 1999, members of the boys junior varsity basketball team at Grand Island High School and the members of the GIHS Venture Yearbook have teamed up for a noteworthy cause.

Young Island singers have a new outlet for their talents.

Students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades at St. Stephen School diligently created unique Christmas ornaments for the clients of Western New York's Veteran's Housing Coalition.

Grand Island Venture Yearbook staff and editors spread their Christmas spirit this year by fundraising a little harder for a great cause. The group, which includes students from all grades in the high school, raised an extra $500 to donate in gift cards from the Boulevard Mall to the Ray family of Grand Island.

The kindergarten students at Sidway Elementary School entertained parents and grandparents with the annual Kindergarten Holiday Show.

On Dec. 12, the Grand Island Lions Club held its annual Christmas party at the Holiday Inn Grand Island.

One familiar face and one new face were sworn in to public office on New Year's Eve.

At a ceremony in Grand Island Town Hall, lifelong Islander Chris Aronica was sworn in to a seat on the Grand Island Town Board, and John Ceretto took his oath of office to the New York State Assembly.

Grand Islander Dr. Adrienne Cassata, an optometrist with Fichte Endl & Elmer Eyecare, will take her skills and experience to benefit the less fortunate when she travels on a medical mission to the Dominican Republic in January.

Notable events of the past year.

The U.S. Border Patrol's Buffalo Sector participated in numerous charity events this month to provide assistance to local communities during the holiday season.

Buffalo Border Patrol employees donated approximately $50,000 to the Combined Federal Campaign program, which ended Dec. 15. CFC is the world's largest annual workplace charity campaign. Buffalo Sector increased its donations by $1,000 from last year's totals, which accounted for 9 percent of Western New York's CFC efforts.

For the past 15 years, the GIHS DECA Club has sorted food for needy families during the holidays. The distribution place originally was at the Stony Point Road firehall, until the generosity of the community forced the Neighbors Foundation to find a larger space, the Knights of Columbus.

The "Give Change to Make a Change" fund drive at Veronica Connor Middle School raised $1,653.33 for the Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island.

Temporary overnight lane closures are scheduled on the Niagara Thruway for both the northbound and southbound South Grand Island Bridge through Friday, Jan. 14, the New York State Thruway Authority announced.

Children at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will learn about the real meaning of Christmas this weekend through the medium of musical theater.

Director of Transportation Jack Burns called the approval of a proposal for a new transportation center on Baseline Road "a good day for Grand Island."

The Grand Island Neighbors Foundation and volunteers brought pallets of donated food to the Knights of Columbus hall on Whitehaven Road for unboxing, sorting and distribution to needy Island families at Christmas.

"There is such joy in the building when you are here," said Pastor Larry Baird of Trinity United Methodist Church as he addressed the 110 women who attended the 25th anniversary celebration of Women of the Word on Thursday, Dec. 13.

The Christmas spirit brought out the creative spirit in students at Veronica Connor Middle School. The school and its students continued a tradition of holding a door decorating contest.

Members of Interact Club at Grand Island High School were ringing the bell for the Salvation Army again at Tops Market last weekend.

The Christmas story came alive for 180 visitors at Trinity United Methodist Church Sunday afternoon, Dec. 2. The program, written by Group Publishing, called "One Starry Night," was the culmination of 10 months of preparation.