As a result of severe blizzard conditions that caused Niagara River ice jams, Grand Island residents encountered shoreline damage in the vicinity of 4300 East River Road. Although docks and boat houses sustained the most damage, residential properties in low-lying areas were also at risk.

The Metz Building on Long Road has been sold, clearing the way for development of what many consider the Island's most notorious eyesore.

Councilman Gary Roesch said at the end of Monday's Grand Island Town Board meeting that owner Jim Metz had sold the building, former home to Dunlop Tire headquarters, to Rudra Management of Cheektowaga, which he called developers of other hotels and motels in the area.

Roesch said he didn't know the sale price but said Metz, probably didn't get "anywhere near what he was asking" for all along in the sale.

An anonymous donor has provided what some are calling a "Christmas miracle" to the Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York.

Fuccillo Automotive Group presented the Salvation Army with $200,000 Dec. 23 at Fuccillo Chevrolet of Grand Island as part of this year's campaign in which Fuccillo matched red kettle proceeds throughout Upstate New York.

The Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island would like to thank the hundreds of individuals and organizations who contributed to make our 2013 holiday distribution so successful. More than 65 of your neighbors were helped with food baskets and, where appropriate, gift cards or toys, for their children.

The foundation itself is a small, all-volunteer organization; we cannot do anything "ourselves." We depend on the community to recognize the need around us, and to respond so generously. Even in beautiful, pleasantly suburban Grand Island, there are needs, and you have helped. Thanks to all of you!

The Miracle League of Grand Island and WNY Inc. is closer to realizing the dream of a handicapped-accessible playground at the Miracle League baseball complex in Veterans Park of Grand Island.

The Miracle League of Grand Island and WNY announced Dec. 21 that it is the recipient of a $60,000 grant from an anonymous donor. Members of the board of directors accepted a $60,000 grant to be used toward the construction of the playground, a disability-friendly play area, purpose-built to accommodate all children.

In addition to the immediate grant, a matching challenge has also been made.

The students at St. Stephen School performed their Christmas Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the parish church.

On Saturday, Dec. 14, more than 100 children and parents enjoyed making graham cracker houses with Explore and More, A Children's Museum.

Grand Island Fire Chief Kevin Koch reports Grand Island firefighters responded to 12 storm-related incidents during a seven-hour period on Sunday, Dec. 22. Most of these early-morning calls involved instances of flooding, power lines down, and transformer failure, but no major structural damage, he noted.

St. Stephen's Mission Club students were busily preparing Christmas greeting cards for the elderly. These cards, made with loving care, are being delivered to the residents at Our Lady of Peace Skilled Nursing Facility.

The Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island is assisting a record 68 families in temporary distress this holiday season.

The Grand Island Town Board approved a $1 million service contract with the Grand Island Fire Co. at its meeting Dec. 16.

During a public hearing on the contract, Greg Butcher, chairman of the board of the GIFC, said the contract with the town "has been longstanding and the fire company provides an incredible amount of services to the residents of Grand Island, and I would challenge any other community in Erie County to provide as many services as we do to this community."

The Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island is happy to report that we will be helping 68 families, your neighbors on Grand Island, this holiday season. Well, no, we are not happy to report that number of families in temporary distress on the Island; all wish that the economy and sources of good-paying employment were better. What we are happy about is that so many Grand Islanders have helped: financial and food donations, gift cards, hands-on help, to allow the Foundation to provide that service to some of our less fortunate neighbors.

Fahim Mojawalla, owner of Island Ship Center, has announced the launch of his new website at www.IslandShipCenter.com.

After running his ship center business for seven years under the umbrella of his corporation, Creative Leather Concepts Inc., Mojawalla decided to make a new site for the pack and ship portion of his Island business, which has grown to offer services like package holding and printing.

The Niagara River Greenway Commission has announced that the public comment period has opened for the 37th round of projects. In addition, the commission announced that the public comment time will close at the end of the day on Dec. 31.

Projects are posted at www.niagaragreenway.org. Comments may be submitted either at the website or by hard copy to the Commission at 2136 West Oakfield Road, Grand Island, NY 14072.

Sixty-three years to the day after his actions saved the lives of his fellow soldiers, a Marine was honored Wednesday on Grand Island.

At the Charles N. DeGlopper Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, Congressman Brian Higgins presented the family of Cpl. Richard J. Blasinski with medals earned by Blasinski as a member of the "Chosin Few," a name given to the Marines who fought in the Battle of Wonsan-Hungnam-Chosin in North Korea during the Korean War. Outnumbered 8 to 1 on one of the coldest days in North Korea, Marines fought Chinese forces in rough terrain.

The Grand Island Town Board has proclaimed Nov. 30, two days after Thanksgiving, as "Small Business Saturday" on Grand Island and urged all residents "to support local businesses that we value in our community by patronizing them on 'Small Business Saturday' and repeatedly throughout the year."

The St. Stephen Mission Club has been busy collecting gently used and new winter coats, hats, mittens, and scarves for the "Coats4Kids Drive" for the needy of Western New York.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce is hoping the second edition of the Light Up the Boulevard 2.0 will top the first.

For the first time in the history of the Grand Island CROP Walk, the Golden Sneaker Award has been given to the walker who raised the most donations online at www.cropwalkonline.org.

The Grand Island Town Board issued a proclamation naming the month of November 2013 American Legion Membership Month.

At a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Grand Island, governor of District 7090, Kevin Crouse, called the club "exemplary," and so much so that the community should be called "Grand Rotary Island." Crouse was in town on his annual visit to the Island.

Work on this year's edition of the Huth Road Elementary Newspaper began Wednesday with a meeting of the Newspaper Club, under the direction of Angela Hamilton.

Winners of the Grand Island Central School District's School Bus Safety Poster Contest were honored an award breakfast at Tops Market.

Fundraising efforts to build a new playground at Kaegebein Elementary School received a hand from a neighboring business. Kevin Slachciak, owner of Say Cheese Pizza Company, located just up Love Road from Kaegebein Elementary, presented the Kaegebein Playground Committee with a check for $750.

At a crowded Grand Island Board of Education meeting Monday evening, Veronica Connor Middle School Assistant Principal Eleanor Payne received official recognition from the American Heart Association for her administering of CPR on one of her students who had collapsed in full cardiac arrest in a school hallway Sept. 9.

Grand Island High School alumni from the 1960s to the present took the field one last time at their alma mater Saturday.

The Huth Road Elementary School PTA presented Honorary Life Membership to Carolyn Thompson and Tracey Shickluna at a recent PTA meeting. Honorary life memberships are presented to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding effort on behalf of the welfare of children and youth.

The members of the Grand Island chapter of DECA, a business and marketing club, were present to be inducted into the state and national level of DECA at Salvatore's Italian Gardens.

The penalties for driving while distracted in New York state are finally catching up with a problem that seems to grow more serious each day.

We have all seen motorists talking on their cellphones as they navigate busy thoroughfares and small neighborhood streets alike. Do drivers who try to conceal their smartphones by pressing their entire device between their ear and the palm of their hand actually think the ruse is working?

Participants had a great time recently playing two rounds of laser tag and enjoying some pizza and soda during a get-acquainted event for Grand Island High School's Interact Club.

Two proclamations at the Grand Island Town Board meeting involved an Islander to whom "the world's children have been a priority."

In honor of School Board Recognition Week Grand Island PTA Council hosted a reception for school board members prior to Monday night's meeting.

The Mary Star of the Sea Council No. 4752 celebrated its annual Past Grand Knight's Dinner honoring Paul Minton on Saturday, Oct. 19. This was Minton's second term as Grand Knight.

The big prize is a golden sneaker mounted on a board. The sneaker was once the Rev. Earle King's running shoe. Running shoes get retired more quickly than walking shoes, and the pastor of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 2587 Baseline Road, transformed his shoe into the most coveted prize of Grand Island's annual CROP Walk, held on Oct. 13 in Beaver Island State Park.

More than 2,000 Sidway Elementary School students and Fire Prevention Open House visitors came to fire headquarters on Thursday, Oct. 10, to learn more about their Grand Island Fire Co. volunteers, equipment, and operational capabilities.

The Town of Grand Island will honor veterans of past military campaigns during the annual Veterans Day program. This year, the town will honor veterans of the Cold War, Iraq War and Afghanistan War.

Veterans, family members, and friends are invited to attend the program on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park, located at 1717 Bedell Road. Each Veteran will receive a memento.

Grand Island veterans are asked to notify the Recreation Department if they will attend the program on Nov. 11, or if a veteran will be represented by a family member.

The Grand Island High School Art Club brings Halloween this year to the Island's Nike Base on Whitehaven Road. On Oct. 25 and 26, the students from the Art Club will treat young families, teens, and adults to a fun-filled spooktacular event.

Grand Island Fire Co. Lt. Tom Dewey and firefighter Chuck Piccone, with the help of a volunteer, teach students at St. Stephen School how to use a fire extinguisher during a fire prevention assembly.

Nearly a dozen dogs and one cat attended a pet blessing Saturday at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church on Baseline Road.