The Erie Community College board of trustees held an 'emergencymeeting' behind closed doors Wednesday to discuss an offer of anundisclosed amount for naming rights to the South Campus stadium.
Details of the proposal for naming the facility Jim Ball PontiacBuick Stadium were not disclosed. Before the session opened, sometrustees said the proposed title is too long.
Trustee Raymond F. Gallagher said 'Jim Ball Stadium,' without theauto brand name, might be more appropriate.
The name was not the stumbling point, President William Marianisaid after the meeting. He declined to reveal the amount of moneyoffered. 'It isn't public yet,' said Mariani. 'We haven't approvedit.'
Mariani said the opportunity to buy naming rights was offered tobusinesses by Christopher Luterek, former director of marketing inthe athletic department, and Ralph J. Galanti, athletic director,assisted by a panel.
The board will hold another special meeting on the matter at noonMonday.
Heat prompts ozone health advisory
The onset of late-spring heat led the state Department ofEnvironmental Conservation to issue an ozone health advisory forWestern New York Wednesday.
Such alerts are made when meteorologists forecast that the ozonelevels are expected to exceed 8 parts per million averaged over aneight-hour period. Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of smog.
In addition to Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming,Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, the advisory alsocovered areas in the upper and lower Hudson Valley and eastern LakeOntario.
The state suggests that people, especially children, who exerciseoutdoors, are involved in vigorous outdoor work or those withrespiratory problems consider curtailing their outdoor exposureduring days when there is an advisory.
Grant to help prevent teen suicide
The Health Community Alliance has received an $88,000 grant fromthe John R. Oishei Foundation of Buffalo to establish a RuralPartnership to Prevent Youth Suicide.
The alliance is a rural health network serving more than 100,000residents in five Western New York counties. The partnership willbring together public and private mental health providers,government agencies, educators, mental health service consumers andcommunity leaders.
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people ages 15 to19, according to the alliance.
During the 2000-01 school year, the alliance surveyed 1,657students in the five districts in southern Erie, Cattaraugus andWyoming counties. The results showed that 13 percent, or 221students, gave serious consideration to ending their lives.
Grant awarded for new learning centers
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Education has awarded the BuffaloPublic School District $1.2 million to create two '21st CenturyLearning Centers,' Rep. John J. LaFalce, D-Town of Tonawanda,announced Wednesday.
The centers will serve 575 pupils and students in kindergartenthrough grade 12 and 200 community leaders with academic support,recreational and social services after school, on weekends andduring vacation periods.
The money, LaFalce said, will help Buffalo provide 'students andtheir family and community members with homework help, careerguidance and recreational opportunities.' The programs, he said,will help make schools 'the hub of our communities once more.'
ECC, Buffalo schools to expand pact
An agreement between the Buffalo Public Schools and ErieCommunity College will augment the number of continuing-educationcourses offered in the city schools and the number of adults seekinghigher education.
Under the agreement, ECC will co-sponsor about 300 continuingeducation classes at various city schools, creating a pathway formore than 3,500 adults enrolled in the district's ContinuingEducation Program to advance into higher education at ECC.
AIDS event will be held June 23
An AIDS Awareness Community Day Celebration on June 23 will beginwith a rally, prayers and a walk ending in Martin Luther King Jr.Park.
The rally will begin at 9 a.m. at 1490 Jefferson Ave. Prayers andthe walk will begin at 10, ending at about noon in the park. Freefood, face painting, clowns, dancers and a drummer will provideentertainment until 4 p.m.
For information, call Gwen Neal at 838-4343.
