The next airing of Grand Island High School's Viking Vision news program establishes another milestone for the student-driven news program.

On Sunday, Dec. 30, the Buffalo Launch Club installed its new board of directors for the 2013 season.

The Launch Club is one of the oldest and most highly regarded powerboat clubs in the United States. Newly installed Commodore Andy Barbasch says that the club is anticipating one of its best years ever; "While half of our members are non-boaters who join for the facilities and activities, our boating members consider the park-like setting of the 95-slip marina the premier boat club in WNY."

The Village Inn and Serene Gardens were winners Sunday at the third annual Buffalo Soup Fest, held at the Hearthstone Manor in Depew. Village Inn owner Mike Carr and Sarah Mallare took home the Best Chili award at the event for their Mayan Chocolate Chili, while Satomi and Dr. Joshua Smith of Serene Gardens took home an award for Best Kept Secret.

Rehearsals are ongoing for the Grand Island High School Music Department presentation of the Cole Porter musical "Anything Goes" in the auditorium of Grand Island High School.

Students from Grand Island High School had a record-setting weekend in Lockport. A team of 101 students in the DECA program traveled to Lockport High School for the Region 12 DECA competition. Fifty-seven returned with awards, the most Grand Island has ever had in the program's history.

Niagara County Community College hosted more than 800 students from 22 Western New York school districts at Tech Wars 2013 on Wednesday. Competitions ranged from RC Heavyweight Sumo Robotics to 3D Modeling and CO2 Car Races.

A car fire broke out on Friday, Jan. 11, by the Buckhorn Island onramp ahead of the northbound Grand Island bridge.

Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard reports that sheriff's deputies made two arrests on the Island for driving while intoxicated over New Year's Eve.

As part of a yearly tradition since 1999, members of the boys junior varsity basketball team at Grand Island High School and the members of the GIHS Venture Yearbook have teamed up for a noteworthy cause.

Young Island singers have a new outlet for their talents.

The kindergarten students at Sidway Elementary School entertained parents and grandparents with the annual Kindergarten Holiday Show.

On Dec. 12, the Grand Island Lions Club held its annual Christmas party at the Holiday Inn Grand Island.

One familiar face and one new face were sworn in to public office on New Year's Eve.

At a ceremony in Grand Island Town Hall, lifelong Islander Chris Aronica was sworn in to a seat on the Grand Island Town Board, and John Ceretto took his oath of office to the New York State Assembly.

Notable events of the past year.

The U.S. Border Patrol's Buffalo Sector participated in numerous charity events this month to provide assistance to local communities during the holiday season.

Buffalo Border Patrol employees donated approximately $50,000 to the Combined Federal Campaign program, which ended Dec. 15. CFC is the world's largest annual workplace charity campaign. Buffalo Sector increased its donations by $1,000 from last year's totals, which accounted for 9 percent of Western New York's CFC efforts.

For the past 15 years, the GIHS DECA Club has sorted food for needy families during the holidays. The distribution place originally was at the Stony Point Road firehall, until the generosity of the community forced the Neighbors Foundation to find a larger space, the Knights of Columbus.

The "Give Change to Make a Change" fund drive at Veronica Connor Middle School raised $1,653.33 for the Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island.

Children at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will learn about the real meaning of Christmas this weekend through the medium of musical theater.

The Grand Island Neighbors Foundation and volunteers brought pallets of donated food to the Knights of Columbus hall on Whitehaven Road for unboxing, sorting and distribution to needy Island families at Christmas.

Approximately 100 people attended last Thursday's Grand Island Chamber of Commerce holiday party at the Buffalo Launch Club.

The Rose Liquor Store of Grand Island is giving its neighbors a hand by assisting the Neighbors Foundation in its annual holiday food and fund drive.

At a surprise birthday party for Les Dumas, a Knights of Columbus member, guests brought contributions to Toys for Tots and the WNY Food Bank in lieu of birthday gifts.

In keeping with the holiday spirit of giving, the Zonta Club of Grand Island donated $1,500 to the Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island on Tuesday at the Zonta Club's annual Christmas Party at the Buffalo Launch Club.

In a surprise addition to Monday evening's agenda, the Grand Island Board of Education voted to terminate the contract of Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Christmann.

Christmann officially resigned as superintendent of schools on Oct. 1 after six years of service to the district. He has been functioning as interim superintendent since then and has a full-time position as executive director of the Western New York Education Services Council. His last day of service to Grand Island should be in mid-January.

Student volunteers at Grand Island High School helped to make the holiday a little brighter for children, the needy, and student clubs at the Share the Holiday Magic fundraiser.

Brian Stiller, medical center director of the VA Western New York Healthcare System, was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Grand Island American Legion Post.

For the third year in a row, Kelly's Country Store, at 3121 Grand Island Blvd., is selling Christmas trees, with proceeds to benefit the Grand Island Lions Club's annual Special Kids Picnic, as well as the club's other service projects.

Approximately 30 dancers from the Grand Island Dance Center performed Saturday afternoon, Dec. 1, at the 84th annual Niagara Falls Firefighters Christmas Toy Fund Telethon, which was broadcast on cable access television on Time Warner.

With the holiday season officially upon us, it's important to make time to celebrate with family and friends - and holiday lighting is a key part of those festivities. By following a few simple tips, customers can benefit from a more environmentally friendly, safe and cost-effective way to light up the holiday season.

The Thanksgiving celebration in Cyndi Booker's second grade classroom at Kaegebein Elementary School included learning activities with a Thanksgiving theme, Colonial wardrobe made by Booker herself, complete with collars for the boys and bonnets for the girls.

Members of the Grand Island Dance Center are lending their assistance to local charities.

The efforts of Grand Islanders are making a great difference in the lives of people on an island 1,500 miles away.

During the anniversary celebration of its construction, Grand Island Central School District officials said Kaegebein Elementary School is still the school William Kaegebein envisioned 60 years ago: a place where Island children become engaged in learning and begin to make a difference in their world.

The weather was dreadful on Halloween night this year. Some people said they had no trick-or-treaters! Did that happen to you?

Paul Minton, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus on Whitehaven Road, is packed up and ready to bring relief supplies to the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

The first-ever Light Up the Boulevard Parade & Festival Saturday was popular beyond the expectations of event organizers, and so successful that the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce is promising more next year.

Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9249 is coming to the aid of downstate veterans who suffered losses due to the impact of Hurricane Sunday.

The Grand Island Town Board issued a proclamation at its Monday meeting calling on residents to support local businesses on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24.

The Grand Island High School National Honor Society held its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser last Friday in the high school cafeteria. The dinner coincided with the second night of the high school Spotlighters drama club production of "Done to Death."

Students uncovered William Kaegebein Elementary School's time capsule from the 1952 cornerstone in celebration of the school's 60th anniversary.