Marcus Foligno of the Buffalo Sabres signs an autograph on the shirt of Miracle League ballplayer Ian Cameron during a night game at the Miracle League Field in Veterans Park Wednesday. (photo by Larry Austin)

Gerald Bergdorf has the gift of gab, a trait that comes with his job selling home appliances.

Saturday just after 9 a.m., a sudden gust of wind that one resident estimated at 60 mph toppled a tree across East River Road, blocking the roadway.

The Island held its 11th annual Patriot Day ceremony Tuesday at the Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9249.

Meet the Teacher Day on Sept. 7 drew children to Jack and Jill Preschool 3s class.

Susan Zinter and Sheila Daminski have joined their unique and knowledgeable backgrounds and decided now was the time to go into business together.

St. Stephen School opened for the 2012-13 school year on Tuesday with a half day of classes.

A big-screen television was dedicated in memory of Library Trustee and Friends of the Grand Island Memorial Library Treasurer Scott Smith.

Grand Island shook off some nerves and beat Kenmore East 26-14 in the first Section VI football game of the season on Sept. 1.

The Grand Island Town Board issued a pair of proclamations at its meeting on Tuesday.

The first recognized the 50th anniversary of the Grand Island Historical Society.

Kaegebein Elementary School recognized a group of unsung heroes in education Thursday.

A pair of Grand Island High School alumni are lending their expertise to the ongoing Grand Island Mural Project.

The project, to paint a giant mural on the back of the Grand Island Plaza facing Baseline Road, has received commitments from Grand Island High School Class of 1969 alumni Terry Klaaren and Stan Clifford that the organizer of the project Corey McGowan believes will make the concept a reality.

Robert Christmann, Grand Island superintendent of schools, will serve as the honorary chairperson of this year's Grand Island CROP Walk. The Sunday, Oct. 14, event aims to help stop hunger and poverty on Grand Island and around the world.

The town's six-week long water advisory has come to an end.

A press release from Town Supervisor Mary Cooke's office Aug. 21 said the Town Board "is pleased to report we are past the need for voluntary restriction of water consumption. Adequate pressure is now being maintained in the system for effective firefighting, and everyday domestic use. We are grateful to Grand Island residents for their attention to the recent restrictions, and their responsive actions of being conservative and thoughtful with their water use."

Grand Island High School kept the tradition alive Saturday in Lewiston by winning the high school Chalk Walk competition at the Lewiston Art Festival for the third year in a row.

Members of the Grand Island Lions Club will conduct their annual White Cane Days on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24 and 25.

About a dozen volunteers began work Saturday on what is being called the Grand Island Mural Project.

The September issue of WWE Magazine is scheduled to include a photo of Chuck Grunzweig of Grand Island.

The Grand Island Plaza holds many prominent local businesses. However, many residents overlook the plaza because of the appearance of its back wall. Grand Island resident Corey McGowan, with the help of his mother, conceived a mural project for the wall.

"I often thought that the true colors of Grand Island (are) not depicted by what could be seen from the passing eye," explains McGowan, "and three weeks ago ... (my mother said) that ... an artwork of a mural would suit the plaza well." Inspired by her suggestion, McGowan spoke with Don Singh, the owner of the Grand Island Plaza, who was enthusiastic about the idea.

Just under 200 boats hit the water off the shore of Grand Island for the seventh annual Paddles Up Niagara.

Wednesday morning at the Holiday Inn Grand Island, 25 Island Rotarians listened to guest speaker and president of Angry Patriots and Pinheads video game application David P. Lipinoga.

Some of the paddlers at Saturday's seventh annual Paddles Up Niagara were novices making their first effort on the water at the signature event of the Niagara River Greenway Commission. Others, like the seven-man contingent from the Scajaquada Canoe Club that powered through the course in a long canoe, had vast experience.

Both the Grand Island Board of Education and Grand Island Town Board want some more information about the prospect of allowing the Niagara Sunday Fliers to use school property on Staley Road.

Students as young as 4 years old happily showed off their hard work at the year's end piano recital of teacher Debbie Bastian.

The Grand Lady, a passenger vessel that offers public cruises and exclusive charters for private events like weddings, corporate events and parties, has called Grand Island home for about 15 years since its founding in 1991.

Last week, when it was so hot the trees were whistling for the dogs, my wife and I took a little car ride.

The Town of Grand Island Department of Parks and Recreation reports that Ed Ball Park playground at the corner of Love and Stony Point Roads is now up and ready for use.

Law enforcement came out in numbers Sunday to go to bat for children with special needs.

Islander Mike Madigan's campaign to represent the newly formed 26th Congressional District received a boost at a July 23 fundraiser hosted by Carl Paladino, New York's conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2010.

This Wednesday, 740 kids from Niagara and Erie counties came out to enjoy a spectacular picnic filled with food, fun, and games. The Grand Island Lions Club Special Kids Picnic, an annual event dedicated to offering safe, supervised activities to developmentally disabled and physically handicapped children, has become a Grand Island tradition.

At the Final Historic Trinity Garden Tour, the organizing committee went above and beyond to offer an exhibition of seven diverse local gardens and one business.

At 3:38 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, Grand Island Fire Co. rescue personnel responded to a two-car motor vehicle accident on Baseline Road near the intersection of Bedell Road.

Fire Chief Kevin Koch states that although this head-on collision caused considerable front end damage to a pickup truck and passenger van, the occupants claimed no injuries, during evaluation by GIFC medics. Islander Mary Westlake-Douds, age 36, and her 1-year-old son, who was safely secured in a child car seat, both escaped injury. The other driver, 34-year-old Jacob Kolb of Buffalo, also claimed no injuries.

The Zonta Club of Grand Island awarded $750 scholarships to five women in ceremonies on June 26 at the Buffalo Launch Club.

Before his death, Bill Litto dreamed of a co-op babysitting program that would give adoptive parents an opportunity to "swap out" babysitting with other adoptive parents, providing them with a chance to have a respite.

Before Kelly's Country Store put down roots on Grand Island, it began at tiny fairs along the East Coast where Walt Kelly and his son Mike would sell knick knacks and later the candy that would help make their company an Island institution.

Shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 8, Grand Island Fire Co. firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the Holiday Inn Grand Island, 100 Whitehaven Road on East River Road.

Nine-year-old friends Mike Valle and Jack Dlugokinski have been friends since kindergarten. Even though they attend different elementary schools, one at Huth Road Elementary and one at Kaegebein Elementary, they still do things together. Mike and Jack decided to team up as business partners and participate in this year's KidBiz event held on June 23. This Grand Island Chamber of Commerce event allows students in grades 2 through 8 to get an idea of what it is like to run a business. Mike and Jack made 60 marshmallow shooters and sold them all at KidBiz for $5 apiece. After seeing just how successful their product was at KidBiz, they decided to make another 125 marshmallow shooters to sell up and down Grand Island Boulevard during the Independence Day parade. The students went to Town Hall and applied for a peddler's permit and got to work. Mike and Jack decided after reviewing costs to make the product and to decorate each shooter with paint and duct tape they made a business decision to sell the shooters for $6 apiece during the parade. They worked together and sold 115 shooters on the Fourth of July. After paying their parents back for purchasing the materials, they had a nice profit. Mike and Jack play hockey together and decided to put some of that profit towards a hockey camp, but first they wanted to make a contribution back to their community. Mike and Jack met with Kim McMahon of the Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York and donated $115 towards the organization, which provides an opportunity for disabled baseball players to play games on an adaptive diamond. Both boys love baseball, but Mike has a cousin who is now 4 years old and has special needs. His hope is to someday play baseball with his cousin at the new Miracle League Field located at Veterans Park on Grand Island. Mike and Jack are looking to continue the growth of their business. Those interested in purchasing marshmallow shooters for gifts or party favors can contact them by emailing [email protected].

The Historic Trinity Committee will present its final garden tour this upcoming Saturday, July 14, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The tour costs $15 after Thursday, July 12, and at the door.

Shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday, July 9, Grand Island Fire Co. rescue personnel responded to a motor vehicle accident in the southbound lane of the I-190 near the Staley Road overpass. The horrendous crash was reportedly caused by a driver who was travelling in the wrong direction and then collided head-on with another vehicle.

Tom Igiel has been chairman of the chicken barbecue and silent auction at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church for 10 years. To him, it's more than just a chicken dinner fundraiser, it's a means to bring the 100 or so families in the parish together.