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JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

+ DID THAT JUST HAPPEN? - There is only one reason I am glad that Monday's Amherst Town Board meeting lasted five hours - the students were gone after the first hour and weren't present to see how some of the board members act during their drawn out sessions. One of the council members acted incredibly rude to another elected official. If you want to see what I am talking about watch the meeting when it is broadcast on Time Warner. Just before 10 p.m., three hours into the meet- ing, there was an interaction that caused a hush in the crowd. Many of us in the audience looked around to see if others were witnessing this display of immaturity and lack of professionalism. It unfortunately has happened before.

But the students attending during the first hour saw the true meaning of public service as four outstanding citizens were recognized for their service to the community.

+ YOUTH DINNER TONIGHT - The Amherst Youth Board will hold its "Service to Youth" awards dinner at 6 p.m. tonight at Classic's Banquet Center, 2425 Niagara Falls Blvd. The cost is $30 for adults and $20 for youth. Call 631-7215 for information.

Being honored with the adult volunteer Service to Youth Award is David Dengler, who has been actively involved with the Amherst Central School District for more than a decade.

Thomas Lucia, a sixth-grade teacher at Casey Middle School, is the recipient of the adult professional award for an array of significant contributions during his 36-year teaching career.

Youth awards will be presented to Stephanie Mulhern, a senior at Williamsville South High School and Mike Alcazaren, a senior at East High School. The Amherst Soccer Association will be honored through an Organization Award.

The memory of Melissa Reed Chudy will be honored by the Youth Board through a special "Spirit of Hope Award."

+ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Ten Lives Club, a nonprofit cat adoption group, needs help with its many volunteer opportunities, which keep the group running. Currently, the organization has more than 400 cats and kittens.

Volunteers are needed to help clean the cages, which are located at various pet stores that cooperate with the group. The work involves a commitment of once a week for about half an hour. The locations in Amherst are Pet Supplies Plus, 3340 Sheridan Drive, as well as the Petco stores at 4401 Transit Road and 1459 Niagara Falls Blvd.

Many volunteers tend to the cages during early morning or lunch hours, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or after work from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Volunteers must be 21 years or older.

Also needed are volunteers to help with cat adoption shows from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Training for the cat shows will be provided. Rides are needed in the morning and mid-afternoon on Saturdays to transport the cats to and from these shows, whether they originate from the Hamburg shelter or the South Buffalo location.

Ten Lives Club can be contacted by phone at 646-5577 or by completing a volunteer form through the Web site at www. tenlivesclub. com.