Congressman Brian Higgins announced $98,435 in new federal funding to support telehealth expansion at Erie County Medical Center. The funding, approved by Congress, is distributed through the Federal Communication Commission's COVID-19 telehealth program.

Governors in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced a travel advisory on June 25 that requires all individuals traveling from states with significant community transmission of COVID-19 to remain under quarantine for a period of 14 days. As of June 30, those states include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

At its June 18 legislative session, the Erie County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a mill-and-overlay project for Stony Point Road, between Whitehaven and Beaver Island State Park.

Ronnie Mansour had one word to describe his exuberance of the successful "Fuccillo Feeds the Front Lines" promotion being held this month: "HUUUGE," bellowed the general manager of Fuccillo Chevrolet on Grand Island in his best Billy Fuccillo Sr. voice. His team delivered enough meals from the Brick Oven Pizzeria & Pub to feed more than 100 members of the Island's police and fire departments on June 18.

Rebel Ride, an indoor cycling and fitness boutique in Amherst, is hosting four zoom workout classes this weekend benefiting The Community Action Organization of Western New York (CAO). Each class costs $10 and can be purchased online at rebelride.com.

The Buffalo City Mission received a $20,000 donation from Citi, in collaboration with the National Disability Institute (NDI), to help advance its work with the homeless community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City Mission is one of just 39 national community-based nonprofit organizations to receive a share of a $1 million donation from Citi, which is helping organizations provide direct services to low-income people with disabilities.

The "New York Forward" website has begun to detail the fourth phase of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's reopening plan. Western New York is expected to enter this stage on Tuesday, June 30.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn is reminding residents that setting off fireworks is not only dangerous and disruptive, but also an illegal activity.

Island Dispatch for June 19, 2020

After a long Tuesday night and Wednesday morning of counting absentee ballots for the budget vote and trustee election, the Grand Island Central School District announced Wednesday passage of its $64 million 2020-21 school budget.

The Town of Grand Island Board approved motions at its meeting on Monday to open playgrounds and begin accepting registrations for adult and youth recreation programs this summer because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions being lifted by the state.

The Town of Grand Island and the Erie County Board of Elections announced this week that the Western New York Welcome Center on Alvin Road will be used as an additional early voting location for the upcoming elections in New York state.

The Town of Grand Island has partnered with two local agencies to provide a virtual, live presentation with a question and answer session about solar parks and community solar.

Trinity United Methodist Church has announced the first of a series of monthly food giveaways.

Based on guidance issued Wednesday morning by the New York State Department of Health that requires hospitals across the state to submit their updated patient visitation information 48 hours before implementing those changes, Erie County Medical Center this afternoon submitted to NYSDOH the institution's updated patient visitation information.

Island Dispatch for June 12, 2020

The Grand Island Neighbors Foundation has received many donations from members of our community during this COVID-19 pandemic and would like to thank all members of our community who have provided food and cash to help us in our mission to serve those in need on Grand Island. We would like to highlight several of our more significant contributions.

Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns announced that, effective Wednesday, four Erie County auto bureau locations will be reopening to the public by appointment only. The facilities slated to reopen are the Southtowns Auto Bureau (located in the Southgate Plaza), the Northtowns Auto Bureau (located in the Sheridan Plaza), the Downtown Auto Bureau (located in the Rath Building) and the Cheektowaga Auto Bureau (located in the Urbandale Plaza).

Project Olive returned to the town government's agenda with an online joint meeting of the Grand Island Town Board and Planning Board Thursday night.

New York State Sen. Chris Jacobs announced he has secured $1 million in state funding to support the redevelopment of Buffalo's Delaware, Lackawanna ad Western Terminal Railroad station on the city's waterfront.

The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning has announced the continuation of the county's program for residents to dispose of their household hazardous waste with the first HHW collection event scheduled for Saturday, June 27.

Kelly's Country Store will host a return of food trucks on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. This week, three trucks are scheduled to visit Kelly's, 3121 Grand Island Blvd., said Kevin Kelly, owner and president of Kelly's.

Laboratory Assistant Jane Markarian, right, draws a blood sample for antibody testing from Grand Island Fire Co. EMS Director Robert Meyer at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's Porter Road Patient Service Center in the Town of Niagara.

As Western New York moves through the phases of reopening with "New York Forward," the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) contact tracing program will continue to be an important part of reducing community transmission of COVID-19 in Erie County.

The Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District's annual summer fish stocking program has begun. Landowners looking to restock their warm/cool water ponds can place orders for largemouth bass and/or fathead minnows now through July 13 with the pick-up scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at the district office in East Aurora.

Following the announcement of many pandemic-related cancellations across the region, the Erie County Agricultural Society announced the launch of the "Western New York Youth in Ag Bonanza" program.

U.S. Air Force Reserve Capt. Tara Gensler, a clinical nurse in the 914th ASTS based at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, was in her Grand Island home last Saturday morning asking why her family wanted her to immediately join them outside.

A motion was passed in Monday's Grand Island Town Board workshop for a letter to be sent from the board to gas station operators on the Island expressing feedback members have received from residents regarding the disparity in fuel costs in comparison to stations over the bridge in Tonawanda.

The annual Rotary Club of Grand Island's Shred-It fundraiser will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 27, in the Tops parking lot adjacent to KeyBank on Grand Island Boulevard.

Island Dispatch for June 5, 2020

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on Thursday announced his 2020 COVID-19 budget deficit remediation plan, identifying budgetary gap-closing measures to address a projected $137.8 million pandemic-related deficit in the county's fiscal year 2020 budget. The plan identifies seven key measures, including usage of some fund balance and closeouts of some capital projects, to bridge the gap caused by significant losses in sales tax, hotel occupancy taxes, and other revenue generators since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns announced the Erie County Pistol Permit Department will once again be accepting new applications for pistol permits by mail only.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announced a curfew will be in effect tonight, Tuesday June 2, starting at 8 p.m., and ending tomorrow at 5 a.m. in the cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna and the towns of Amherst, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda and West Seneca.

In light of Monday's violent protests, the City of Buffalo is enacting a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. tonight through Monday.

Erie County will be assisting licensed local barber shops and hair salons reopening their businesses by providing face shields for barbers and stylists' use as they return to work in phase two of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to reopen New York.