The Erie County Department of Public Works has announced "DPW Day" at Ellicott Creek Park, a free, family event that will give children an up-close look at a wide variety of more than 30 DPW trucks and other vehicles, including fire trucks and emergency service vehicles. "DPW Day" will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Ellicott Creek Park and will also include family-friendly activities, safety demonstrations and food trucks.

On the last day allowed by state law, the Grand Island Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a 2018-19 budget of $62,481,712 Tuesday.

The Town of Grand Island will take part in a Solarize Campaign, a program that will make investing in solar power easier and more affordable for local residents and businesses. Project leader Councilwoman Bev Kinney and vice leader Councilwoman Jennifer Baney have put together a team of community leaders to spearhead the campaign.

As work on converting the West River Parkway into the West River Connector Trail began April 16, residents long opposed to the parkway closure went to Town Hall for one last-ditch effort to keep it open.

Developer Jayesh R. Patel is on the threshold of turning the long-vacant Dunlop building into a vibrant, new hotel on the north end of Grand Island.

Audience members at an encore presentation of the St. Stephen's Parish Players production of "The Lion King Jr." were bidding on front row seats to see a show dedicated to a 6-year-old actress in the show.

Fahim Mojawalla of Island Ship Center was in Atlanta studying ways to improve his business when he realized his company had consistency in brand and consistency in message. He needed consistency in hours of operation, too.

New York State Sen. Chris Jacobs announced he has secured a major investment of $1 million in state funding to support People Inc.'s efforts to build a brand new Elmwood Health Center.

It seems to be taking forever for the area's boating season to come around this year, with early March-type winter weather now extending well into April.

Grand Island's Golden Age Center honored some of the people who contribute to its success by holding a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, April 18, in the GAC dining area.

Norman J. Mrkall, lifelong resident of Grand Island, a retired highway superintendent and long time firefighter, died peacefully in his home on April 17. He was 81 years old.

The Erie County Department of Public Works Highways' Division has announced the initial 2018 program of county roads targeted for repairs, including roads in each of the county's five highway districts. This includes mill and overlay work designated for several roads that sustained damage over the winter, along with an extensive pavement preservation program for roads in outlying areas.

Wall Street rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Erie County's "A+" credit rating and pronounced the county's rating outlook as "stable" in the county's most recent ratings assessment, announced April 13.

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced his office finalized the ECDA school critical incident initiative and will begin collaborating with school districts and law enforcement to improve investigative response to school threats.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz has unveiled "Examining School District Expenses and Potential for Consolidation in Erie County," his administration's report providing an overview of school district administrative expenditures throughout Erie County, potential savings from consolidation, and examples of three potential school district mergers.

The Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation announced this week that work to convert the West River Parkway into an 8-mile multi-use trail will begin on Monday, April 16.

Trinity United Methodist Church will have a unique collection of media "soul food" available when it hosts a faith-based book/media sale.

When the Grand Island Board of Education meets April 17, it will consider adoption of a 2018-19 budget that is marginally smaller than the current operating budget and that will increase the tax levy by 1.02 percent.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will hold the 52nd annual Citizen of the Year awards dinner on Thursday, April 26, to honor six award recipients who have made Grand Island a better place to live, work and play.

On Thursday, the Erie County Legislature voted to approve Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns' request to hire 11 additional civil service employees for the county auto bureaus. The resolution passed through a bipartisan effort. Kearns will use these new positions to add additional Saturday services at the Northtowns Auto Bureau in Tonawanda.

The Erie County Department of Central Police Services is joining counterparts nationwide this week to participate in National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, an annual event held in the second week of April to honor and recognize 911 call takers - the "first" first responders - for their dedication and service to the public during some of the most difficult moments in a person's life.

The Erie County Department of Senior Services and the Center for Elder Law and Justice have announced Elder Law Day 2018 will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 18, at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 120 Church St., Buffalo.

The Erie County Agricultural Society, sponsors of the Erie County Fair, invites brass, woodwind and percussion musicians, as well as color guard members in grades 7 through 12, to join the Erie County Fair Marching Band this summer. The band is an "all-star" county ensemble representing schools across Western New York. The band performs at parades and events across the region during July and is featured daily at the Erie County Fair.

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles renewal schedule, Erie County auto bureaus will hit a record number of transactions in 2018. The main cause of this substantial uptick in transactions is due to New York state license renewals. Because of this, Erie County Auto Bureaus are experiencing a significant increase in volume, leading to lengthy wait times of up to two hours.

Shortly after midnight Friday morning, March 30, at the direction of Gov. Cuomo, the Thruway Authority successfully flipped the switch on cashless tolling at the Grand Island Bridges. It was a historic occasion, as Grand Island successfully became the Thruway Authority's second cashless tolling location across its 570-mile system, the first in upstate New York.

This year's Island Dispatch/Grand Island PennySaver Easter Coloring Contest drew 131 entries. Winners in the three age groups were presented their awards last Saturday at Tops Market of Grand Island, one of the sponsors of the contest along with Kelly's Country Store, John's Pizza & Subs, and Phil Mastantuono Allstate Agency.

After having some heated arguments in the last two years about items on the meeting agenda, the Town Board argued Monday about who should even set the workshop agenda itself.

The late Charles N. DeGlopper of Grand Island is slated to become a member of the inaugural induction class of the 82nd Airborne Hall of Fame.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has announced that WIVB-TV Channel 4 news anchor Dave Greber will once again preside as master of ceremonies for Grand Island Citizen of the Year Awards.

Grand Island Town Supervisor Nathan McMurray said residents were so adamant that the Town Board not allow a Love's Travel Stop location on the Island that they were ready to leave town if the truck stop empire set up shop here.

This coming Sunday, April 8, will be the 40th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of the Rev. Judith Burrows. She was ordained a priest at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church on April 8, 1978, thus becoming the first woman ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York.

Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw recently updated school districts throughout Erie County on their share of collected sales tax from the first quarter of the year. Checks that support programs and services for children, teachers and administrators have been delivered to Erie County to school superintendents. Grand Island School District's share totals $837,310.65.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and Commissioner of Central Police Services James Jancewicz were joined Thursday by Bronte Williams of Buffalo to spread an anti-DWI message and review DWI numbers from the first quarter of 2018.

Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns and the Western New York Law Center on Wednesday announced a groundbreaking new partnership with Columbia Law School to help Erie County municipalities track and monitor zombie foreclosures.

St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral invites the community of Western New York to a multi-faith service commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on what will be the 50th anniversary of his death, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4.