Island Dispatch, 1997-08-01

              Island DISPATCH  "As the voice of Grand Island" """"'* " 'IT —w~— '•" " a 2352 Grand Island Blvd. FRESH FISH FRIDAYS We feature a different fresh catch each and every Friday, abng with our famous Haddock fish fry. Take-Out Available 775-3211 Official Newspaper for the Town of Grand Island & the Grand Island School District (716) 773-7676 August 1,1997 20 Pages Including Lewiston Artfest &50 Vol. 54 • No. 75 Students participate in Drug Awareness with help of canine by Bert Brochey Children who are participating in the YMCA Day Camp at the Grand Island Middle School took part in the Erie County Sheriff Department's K-9 Drug Awareness Program on Monday. Nearly 100 YMCA "campers" watched as Deputies Mike Licata and L.C. Hudson showed what Lars, a four year old German Shepard could do. The deputies explained how "Deputy Lars" was trained and what the dog could do in providing the Sheriffs Department with another tool in which to fight crime. The children watched intently as Deputy Licata showed how Lars would react if someone were to threaten Deputy Hudson. If Licata approached Hudson and Lars in a nonthreatening way, the dog would sit next to Hudson undisturbed. But when Deputy Licata approached in an agressive manner, Lars responded with a menacing bark that made it clear that no one was going to harm Deputy Hudson. They also showed how Lars would sit at attention regardless of what was going on around him. They also hid false contraband in a car to show how Lars could search and detect where it was located. Deputy Licata also explained that Lars is trained to believe what he is doing is play instead of work. Much like the Sheriffs Mounted Division where Deputies are the owners of the horses used in their police work, the K-9 Division works in the same manner as Lars is owned by deputy Hudson. Deputy Licata explained to the children that Lars goes home with Deputy Hudson every night and they are best friends who must depend on each other when on the job. After the demonstration, the children were able to pet the well trained German Shepherd. Theresa Barrett, YMCA Program Director, thought it was a wonderful demonstration. The Day Camp is in its third year and is operated with the help of the Ken-Ton YMCA. Barrett said that each year more and more of the Islandd's youth are becoming involved with the day camp. "The first year we had 45 children, the second year we had 80 and this year we have around 110," Barrett said. DEPUTY DOG - Kinder-Camper Ashley Gordon gets a chance to hug Lars, who is a deputy in the Sheriffs K-9 division, while Deputies Mike Licata (L) and L.C. Hudson look on. The deputies were at the Grand Island Middle School to give a demonstration for the YMCA. (by Bert Youngstown Regatta's success due to volunteers by Bert Brochey As the day's first light fell upon the Niagara River Saturday morning, a familiar voice greeted the thousands of sailors who were in the Village of Youngstown to compete in the 1997 Youngstown Yacht Club Level Regatta. The voice coming from the public address system was that of Susan "Granny" Orr, better known as the "Mouth of the River." From under the red canopy of the information tent located at the Youngstown Yacht Club, Granny helped to slowly start the day's activities. Granny is the central figure in helping Regatta participants stay informed. With nearly 400 sailboats and an estimated 3,000 sailors assembled at the Youngstown Yacht Club, communication is a key factor in keeping such a large event running in an orderly manner. Granny says that she has been doing the announcing for what seems like forever. "Don't get me wrong—I love doing it. In the old days, we would have kids running around everywhere to deliver messages, now with the radios and the public address system, the job is a lot easier." She added that Friday night she had to shut the P.A. system down around 10 o' clock because it was starting to become a dating service. While Granny is undeniably the most visible volunteer at the Level Regatta, there are over 400 volunteers that help to make the event the largest of its type on the Great Lakes and one of the 10th largest in the world. This year marked the 22nd year the Youngstown Yacht Club has hosted the event. From a modest start of 20 yachts, it has grown to be the largest keel boat regatta in the world. Level racing refers to no handicaps where similar boats compete against each other. Stan Warren of the Youngstown Yacht Club accompanied photographers and news crews on Saturday morning when they were taken out to record the racing action via motorboat. Warren explained that due to poor wind conditions, much of the action was on hold. "The bigger boats (32-35 foot) have much larger and heavier sails and it takes quite a bit of wind to get them going." As the press boat circled the Amber Course, one of the five courses laid out for some 50 classes of sailboats, many of the skippers and their crews didn't seem to mind the delay. As the signal boats flags lay lifeless, many of the sailors worked on their boats or took a swim to cool off. Most were just kicked back, relaxed and enjoying themselves. Warren explained race rules and other sailing information. He also suggested that it might be a good continued on page 8