grand island

Assemblyman Angelo Morinello (R,C,I-Niagara Falls) and Grand Island Deputy Supervisor Pete Marston will  partner with the American Red Cross for a Blood Drive taking place on Tuesday, December 27 at the Grand Island Fire Hall. Donation times will be between noon and 5 p.m. The American Red Cross is looking to exceed their goal of 35 donors. “I am grateful for the support from Deputy Supervisor Marston and the American Red Cross for our local blood drive. During this holiday season, it is essential that we continue to provide blood and other essential life-saving treatments to hundreds of individuals in the area,”

Fellow Islanders, The year 2017 marks the 100-year anniversary of women in New York State gaining the right to vote. When you vote on November 7, you will get a sticker with a logo created to commemorate the occasion. I’m sure you’ve noticed that three of the Town Council candidates are women. For the first time ever, we may have a majority of women on the Town Board. All of the candidates running for office are fine people. But two of the candidates are particularly qualified, and they just happen to be women: Cyndy Montana and Dr. Celia Spacone. Cyndy

Dear Islanders, The two Town Councilmen who are leaving office, Ray Billica and Chris Aronica, wrote a letter last week. Their message, essentially, was that we need to elect Town Council Candidates who will do the will of the people rather than the will of a select few. And thus, their inference was that Supervisor McMurray is not listening to the people, but doing the bidding of a select few. But what does the record say? After 18 months in office serving with both of the gentlemen who wrote this letter, I can say that I know one of them

When Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that cashless tolls would be coming to Grand Island, many people hailed it as a long overdue change.  It also, however, highlights one of the most obsolete jobs in the world, the toll collector.  A human being sits in a booth, breathes exhaust fumes all day and handles cash and coin. It is definitely not a glamorous profession.  Arguably, is it really a profession?  I don’t know of any children aspiring to be a toll taker. There aren’t schools for it, and I can’t imagine the training being overly difficult.  Still, it is a paying job, and there’s always dignity

By Nate McMurray Town Supervisor of Grand Island I was in a public park in San Francisco once and I saw a young woman pray to a tree. Yes, a tree. And it wasn’t even a particularly nice tree. She was covered in crystals, she spoke loudly, and made grand gestures as she said, “Dear goddess, we worship you, and we ask forgiveness for our crimes against nature.” After much of that, she wept loudly. I want nothing to do with any of that scene. It’s strange and insincere. I’m not going to pray to any trees. I’m no extremist.