Students at Grand Island High School will raise money for local veterans with the first-ever Vikings for Vets 5-kilometer event.

Last call for Island homeowners to get their tree trimmings/brush out to the curb.

To address the need for children to stay active in the winter months, a local business has added a new program to its offerings.

Island native LeighAnn Martinez is a Kessler Foundation employee who is sponsored to be one of 200 hundred disabled people to participate in the New York City Marathon.

When a new restaurant opens three establishments in just 18 months, you know that the owners must be doing something right.

Grand Island left no doubt who they wanted to play for the right to advance to the Section VI Class A Football Federation championship at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Changes are in store for the 2013 Grand Island Relay For Life, but two things remain constants: getting in touch with survivors, and developing new teams and volunteers for committees.

The Town of Grand Island 2013 Reassessment Project is on schedule to be completed in the spring of 2013, according to Town Assessor Judy Tafelski.

There have been three-dozen murders of women by a husband or boyfriend in the past five years in Erie and Niagara counties. The cold hard facts of domestic abuse were the topic Tuesday (Oct. 23) as the Zonta Club of Grand Island heard about the work of the Family Justice Center from its executive director, Mary Travers Murphy.

Islanders are advised to have a cup of coins ready, as well as all that candy, when the gremlins come to the door this Halloween.

Former administrators, teachers, staff and students are invited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of William Kaegebein Elementary School.

The festivities will take place on Monday, Nov. 19, from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. in the Kaegebein gym. Also, an evening celebration is being planned from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. for those who are unable to attend the morning ceremony.

Matt Schreiner of Grand Island was the lucky winner of a painting by artist Terry Klaaren in a raffle to benefit the Grand Island Mural Project.

A hospitality company in the United Arab Emirates was the high bidder for the Holiday Inn Grand Island this week.

Byblos Hospitality Group of Dubai and several local investors teamed to bid $4.4 million for the property.

Blackbird Asset Services of Williamsville with Tulsa, Okla.-based AmeriBid conducted the bank-owned hotel auction of the Holiday Inn Grand Island on Oct. 24.

"The hotel is running close to full occupancy most nights, and we expect that to continue right through our sale process and into new ownership," noted Stephen Karbelk, co-chairman of AmeriBid LLC. "This is an awesome opportunity for an investor to pick up a full service hotel that's running really well."

Joe Petrozzi, and his son Russ, of Capitol Cleaners, are again collecting, cleaning and giving gently used coats and other winter wear to needy families in Western New York. The days for distribution to the community are Saturdays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rep. Kathy Hochul released the following statement last week on the start of Medicare open enrolment:

The New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Troop T are reminding motorists of the danger of deer season with their annual "Antler Alert." Most deer-vehicle collisions occur from October through December.

Temporary overnight lane closures are scheduled on the Niagara Thruway (I-190) for the northbound South Grand Island Bridge beginning Wednesday, Oct. 24, and continuing through Friday, Dec. 14, the New York State Thruway Authority this week.

The Business Council of New York State Inc. and the New York League of Conservation Voters have come together to endorse Mark Grisanti in the 60th New York State Senate District.

Paul Robinson, coordinator of the Grand Island Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk, reports that this year's event will top the $5,000 mark in funds raised for the first time in more than 10 years.

The St. Stephen R.C. Church Altar Society will hold a basket raffle and bake sale fundraiser on two weekends, Oct. 20 and 21, and Oct. 27 and 28.

At its Monday evening meeting, the Grand Island Board of Education heard a report from Charlotte Sidway School teachers Alicia Szyprowski, Stephanie Powers and Joanne Johnson on their Reading Recovery program.

Heavyn Dreher will compete with the fastest rowers in America when she travels this weekend to a regatta in Massachusetts, but the trip there had anything but smooth water.

Grand Island dropped its first football game of the season with a 22-16 loss to McKinley Saturday at Riverside High School.

Jesse Tromanhauser was recovering from a war injury when he was given a gift that he's been passing on to others ever since.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz formally presented his fiscal year 2013 proposed Erie County budget, calling it "the county's most challenging budget year since the 'Red-Green' fiscal crisis."

From all quarters, the first-ever Taste of Grand Island Fall Fest on Saturday was a huge success.

More than 2,000 Sidway Elementary School students and other fire prevention open house visitors came to Grand Island Fire Co. headquarters to learn more about their GIFC volunteers, equipment, and operational capabilities.

The kids of Jack & Jill Preschool are getting ready for their upcoming vendor show and basket raffle.

Candidate for Congress Mike Madigan, right, and other Republican candidates for Congress met Oct. 6 with Speaker of the House John Boehner at the headquarters of fellow Congressional candidate Chris Collins in Lancaster.

Several Islanders recently graduated from the U.S. Border Patrol Citizen's Academy. During six weeks of training at various sites, including Grand Island, participants learned about the efforts made in protecting U.S. borders.

The left lane on the North Grand Island Bridge (northbound) will be closed from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, the New York State Thruway Authority announced.

The good news is Grand Island is still undefeated in Class A of Federation football.

The Grand Island Vikings swimming and diving team beat North Tonawanda 126-42 in the last home meet at the GIHS natatorium.

The Grand Island Board of Education began its meeting rotation through various district buildings last Monday at Eco Island nature center on Staley Road.

Seventy students at Connor Middle School will present another musical based on a popular children's book this week.

Robert Rogers will present "Live a Life of No Regrets" at St. Stephen R.C. Church, 2100 Baseline Road, on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

The Grand Island Golden Age Club will hold its annual Holiday Happenings on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 6, Grand Island Fire Co. firefighters, medics and cadets reported to fire headquarters for their annual state of readiness inspection by Fire Chief Kevin Koch, who was assisted by line officers as well as Town Supervisor Mary Cooke.

The Rev. Paul E. Robinson anticipates nice weather for Sunday's Community Response to Overcoming Poverty Walk at 1 p.m. at Beaver Island State Park.