Veronica Connor Middle School Assistant Principal Eleanor Payne was honored this week by Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick for her part in helping save the life of one of her students.

With the Grand Island school year well underway, and with the capital project expanding the high school terrain a few feet further every day, the high school building foundations formed in the past are being restructured in the present with the intent to revolutionize the Island's future. In effort to preserve today's customs for the future, the Grand Island High School DECA business and marketing organization has coined a time capsule project to embody the atmosphere of the current school and community's culture.

The Grand Island Rotary Club reminds Western New Yorkers the club will once again hold a Document Destruction Day on Saturday, Oct. 5, in the KeyBank parking lot of the Tops Plaza on Grand Island Boulevard. For $10 per box, patrons will get assured, confidential shredding of all papers.

The Grand Island Fire Co. will host its annual open house on Thursday, Oct. 10, at GIFC headquarters, 2275 Baseline Road. Check out photos of last year's live fire demo.

On Friday, family, friends and first responders paid tribute to Russell M. Pecoraro, who recently passed away. An elaborate procession - complete with helicopter escort - took place across Whitehaven Road.

The feeling of a red carpet beneath the feet of a Grand Islander is simply as foreign as the feeling of the lunar surface. To put it bluntly, the limelight does not shine on the Island; it would rather shine on the international music centers of the nation - like Nashville or Los Angeles - to find the next big music star.

When Chris Jacobs took office as Erie County Clerk last year, he inherited a veterans program in name only. The discount program had but 27 participating businesses and very few veterans were issued the complimentary card.

"I pledged to make this program a real benefit to the over 60,000 veterans in Erie County and vowed to have 250 businesses signed-on by the end of my first term in office," Jacobs said. He has doubled his goal, recently hitting the 500th mark of participating Erie County businesses offering discounts to enrolled veterans.

Veronica Conner Middle School Assistant Principal Eleanor Payne stepped in Monday, Sept. 9, to do CPR on a 10-year-old student who had collapsed in the school hallway.

Shortly before 4 p.m., the Grand Island Fire Co. responded to a report of a "student down" at the Ransom Road school.

According to the GIFC report, the student had left the school earlier in the day with an unspecified illness, but had returned with her mother to pick up some items when she collapsed near her locker.

Sisters Sarah Mallare and Christine Carr of Grand Island have opened a new bakery in the City of Tonawanda. Magpie's Bake Shop & Café, named after their mother, Christine "Maggie" Smith, recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting. Located at 38 Niagara St., they offer soups, pizza, cakes, pastries, many other baked goods.

Everybody remembers their first day of school on a school bus, said Jack Burns, the director of transportation in the Grand Island Central School District.

The Erie County Conservative Party recently sponsored a family picnic at VFW Post No. 8113 in West Seneca. Party members and endorsed candidates wished to meet and thank supporters and especially those who worked to obtain signatures on petitions for those seeking office this fall.

At its monthly meeting on Aug. 19, the Grand Island Town Board issued a proclamation thanking the members of the Cinderella Isle Garden Club "for their continuing dedication to serving" the Grand Island community.

Grand Island town justice candidate Mark J. Frentzel took every party line in Tuesday's primary election, outpacing Joy M. Carrier LaMarca.

Christopher K. Aronica (81 votes) and Beverly A. Kinney (77) took the two town council spots, outdrawing Raymond A. Billica (54).

Superintendent of highways candidate William M. Stanley defeated James B. Tomkins by a 10-vote margin, 76-66.

Officials at the University at Buffalo are elated by the performance of an Islander who was chosen to introduce the president of the United States for his policy speech.

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, more than a dozen people underwent training for the 2013 CROP Walk in preparation for this year's event on Oct. 13.

Grand Islander Silvana D'Ettorre had the honor of introducing President Barack Obama before his speech Aug. 22 at the University at Buffalo.

The Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York welcomed units from Sheridan Park, Niagara Falls and Grand Island for the league's second annual firefighters day at the ball diamond in Veterans Park.

The Grand Island Fun Center has added "festive" to its menu.

The Grand Island Town Board recognized Islander Phyllis Lange at its meeting on Monday at Town Hall for her ministry to the poor in Buffalo since 1982.

Tom Witkowski, past president of the Grand Island Lions Club, accepts a donation to the Lions White Cane Days last Friday in front of First Niagara Bank on Baseline Road. White Cane Days is a major fundraiser of the Grand Island Lions Club.

Work continues on the new science, technology, engineering and mathematics wing at Grand Island High School.

Grand Islander Bob Weaver of Bob Weaver Motorsports took home three national trophies at the Vintage Snowmobile Club of America's eighth annual Vintage Snowmobile Show in Boonville.

An Island mon's frustration with her third-grader's math homework was the inspiration for a new product.

No one is happier about the new addition to Grand Island High School than the teachers who will teach in it.

Grand Island's Jodie White wants to be a musician. She will use her scholarship from the Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, to attend SUNY Fredonia to major in music education. Her classes start Aug. 26.

Students going back to school received an assist from a local business on Saturday.

The Grand Island Town Board has proclaimed Aug. 16 as National Airborne Day on the Island.

The first-ever CROP Walk for Hunger car wash took place Saturday at Adrian's Custard and Beef on Grand Island Boulevard.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has extended the deadline for two separate requests for proposals at Beaver Island State Park for food, beverage and catering operations, as well as operation of the golf course and food and beverage at the State Park golf course. The revised due date for both RFPs is 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23.

The Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York held another feature game with celebrity buddies.

Three Grand Island residents will host the "The Three Cousins Art Show" beginning Aug. 3. Angelo F. LaDuca, Thomas A. Insana and Marilyn L. Wilson, all cousins, will host an art show at the Partners In Art Gallery in North Tonawanda.

The eighth annual "Paddles Up Niagara," hosted by the Niagara River Greenway Commission at Beaver Island State Park, will take place along the southeastern shores of Grand Island on Saturday, July 27.

The Zonta Club of Grand Island presented four $750 scholarships and the 2013 Spirit Award at the club's annual Scholarship Dinner held at the Buffalo Launch Club on June 25.

Independence Day week was full of class reunions, family reunions, friends getting together, smiles and laughter this year. The Corrao family of Grand Island was no different, only more so.

Jo and Paul Klock of East River Road celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with family and friends at the Mary Star of the Sea Council No. 4752 Knights of Columbus Hall. A party with a Hawaiian theme was enjoyed by a gathering of an estimated 120 people.

Compu-Mail, a direct marketing and printing service, has been recognized in the 2013 Premier Print Awards for outstanding achievement in the production of variable data digital printing. Compu-Mail's 2013 desk calendar, featuring variable data and images, and highly personalized campaign mailing earned two certificates of merit for the company.

Dr. Joshua Smith of Serene Gardens on Grand Island Boulevard is hoping the Grand Island Garden Tour will open some horizons when it debuts July 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"It's the first time Grand Island's been a part of the national garden tour," Smith said. "It's all free for everyone to join as well as free for everyone to visit the tour, visit the houses."

The eighth annual "Paddles Up Niagara," presented by the Niagara River Greenway Commission - the organization that initially created a 25-mile length paddle-sport trail in the Niagara River in 2006 - is to take place along the southeastern shores of Grand Island on Saturday, July 27.

Last week signaled the end of the 2012-13 school year at Grand Island schools and featured ceremonies and events marking the occasion. Graduation week culminated with a commencement ceremony for the Grand Island Class of 2013 at Artpark in the Village of Lewiston.

The annual Father's Day Lawn Mower Race on the Island's West River took place over the weekend to raise money for the Grand Island Relay For Life in its ongoing support of the American Cancer Society.