Island Dispatch, 2001-02-23

              Island DISPATCH Founded 1944 •.Complete Community Coverage 56 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District FEBRUARY 23. 2001 20 pages 65c V01.56 No. 43 (716)773--76761 -i Memories page 12 Wonderland page 9 Commerce page 3 Arrival: Refugees come to a 'journey's end' photo and story by Heath Part 3 USAir flight number 758 arrived at 10:13 am Thursday the 22nd from Laguardia. Five of the flight's .weary passengers have put an unwanted journey of turmoil behind them. Ishaka Kamara and his family exited the gate at Buffalo International Airport exhausted and hungry. The family departed Cairo, Egypt some 40 hours prior. But their journey started years before. "When the war was going to take a long time my father told me to go, that was early 1994," said Kamara. With no added emotion he continues, "that was the same year my father and little brother were killed. I apologize for my English, not so good, I speak Arabic fluently." His English is broken yet easily understood. If past refugees, are any litmus, the entire family will have absolutely no problem mastering the native language of their new home. The Kamara family traveled to Saudi Arabia and Nigeria before settling into a refuge camp in Cairo in 1997. The family waited there hoping for the war in their home of Sierra Leone to end or to receive sponsorship that would allow them to emigrate to another country and AIRPORT FOOD - Seated are the new arrivals: Santice Kamar, Alimamy Kamana, Ishaka Kamara, Mouna Adam and Yenor Kamara. Standing: Christine Ryshkus, David Ziehm, Gene Ryshkus and John Harbison. G.I.girls, boys escape with playoff wins photos and story by Paul Lane The Grand Island High School girts' and pons' basketball teams both held on to win their first round Section VI playoff games this week. The girls nearly surrendered a 16--poini fourth quarter lead, but held on for a 43-41 over Lewiston- Porter Tuesday. The boys gave up seven points in (he last minute to Kensington but walked away with a 52-5! victory Wednesday. Both games were at (hand Island. The fourth-seeded Lady Vikings had a tough' time in'theTi'rs't'quarter* with 13ih-seeded Lew-Port, as the game was tied at 12 after one quarter. Grand island used a press to force turnovers through the second quarter. They went on a 7-0 run at the end of the quarter and led 23-16 at halftime. The run continued into the second half, as the Lady Vikings scored the first four points of the third quarter. Grand Island continued to pour it on in the third, and built a 40-24 " lead after 24 minutes. Lew-Port countered with a fullcourt press in a last-ditch effort to get into the game. They began the quarter with a 10-0 run of their own to gel within six points. Grand Island could not get any easy shots, but Lew-Port foul trouble allowed the Lady Vikings io produce some points down the stretch. Lew-Port got to within 43-41 with two minutes left and had the final possession of the game, but they were unable to produce one more baskei. Lew-Port ended its season at 4-17. Katie Remus led the Lady Vikings with 14 points- while Sally Head added 10 points. Haley Mercer led the Lady Lancers with 16 points. The bojs were in a tight game from the tip-off. Twelfth-seeded Kensington developed an outsideinsideoutsideinside game that seemed to confuse fifth-seeded Grand Island initially. They were hitting their outside shots, which allowed their guards to penetrate the Vikings defense for some easy baskets. Grand Island responded with crisp passing and strong rebounding, and was able to muster a 19-18 halftime lead. Both teams kept up their strong defense in the third quarter. The teams went up and down the court trading shots, Mark Hejnos hit three straight 3-pointers at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth quarter to open up a 41-33 lead with six minutes left. The combination of Hejnos, Jon Steele and Bryan Brown' picked up their games in the filial, quarter, as they combined for 15 of the Vikings' 17 fourth quarter points. " Grand Island maintained an eightpoint lead at 52-44 into the final continued on page 2 continued on page 2 Weekend at a Glance Friday OPEN GYM ACTIVITIES Kaegebein Elementary School, 1690 Love Rd., ages 8 to 13 - 6 to 7:30 p.m. ages 14 to 16 - 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday 2ND ANNUAL LAS VEGAS NIGHT Buffalo Launch Club, 503 East River Rd., 7 p.m. Sunday ISLAND-WIDE FOOD DRIVE St. Stephen's Church,. 12:30 to 3 p.m. ORCHID DISPLAY AND SALE Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, South Park Aye., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.' the i»ow<i_r of &u|_) You? .LJvrrtisznir *\:rt ; ;ililiriilili|Wir|-|lii>T<HlimiMlM lIMB _IW«lllllllr]i___W- lll|lilllllllllllHlllllli^Hrl_«rTTV«M1-W ' "The Keys To Your .Satis: faction.,> hp I^ll §('(?& H&Ff: ' I DJ4-4 JL UU 413Q Sheridan Dr. Williamsville, NY 14221 j _.. J