Island Dispatch, 2001-03-23

              Island  DISPATCH G.O.P. Update page 3 Makeup Master page 5 Dribblers page 12 . Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage --_____«___— —> -_____________«__, ___——■»«_ a~.i ~„..,i.,i. "q  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 Chamber announces 'Citizens of the Year' The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will hold their 35th Annual Citizen of Year Awards Dinner on Thursday, April 5 at the Holiday Inn, 100 Whitehaven Road. This year's event will once again honor businesses and individuals whose contributions have made Grand Island a better place to live, work, and play. Recipients of this years Citizens of the Year Award are Leo and Betty Hopkins of E.H. Enterprises, Business People of the Year, Michele Harris cJ_J_____Maj:ket_ "of the Year), Maisie Dommell (Community Service), David Jayme (Service to Youth), Jane Stanley (Education), Chic Daring (Art), Eleanor DeGowin (Senior Citizen). The celebration will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktail hour and a performance by the Grand Island High School String Quartet. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. and will consist of Roast Sirloin with Bordelaise sauce, spinach salad, red roasted potatoes, sugar snap peas and car-. rots, desert, coffee and tea. The cost of the dinner is $30 and tickets can be purchased at the Chamber office, 1980 Whitehaven Rd. or by calling 773-3651. Tickets for the Chamber spring Corporate Bowl finals take place The third annual Grand Island Corporate Bowl culminated on Tuesday, March 20 with the scholarship round of the competition between the three finalist teams. Preliminary rounds, held the previous week, reduced the total entrants from nine teams to three teams. The Eternal Champions consisting of Anna Czapla, Jennifer Falvo, Scott McMichael, and Sat Virk reigned victorious, beating out the Mighty Dorks and Team Five to bring home $4,000 in scholarship money. Second place belonged to Mighty Dorks, Drew Armusewicz, Christian Dommell, Danielle Henry and Katherine Yaksich who were awarded $2,000 in scholarship money. Third place went to Team Five consisting of Nicholas Hahn, Robert Kujawa, Lauren Mergel, and Anna Quider who will receive $1,000 in scholarship money. The students will be honored at a reception on Friday, March 30 at the Grand Island High School cafeteria. The three teams (above) pose after the finals and discuss the effectiveness-of their game strategy; The Eternal Champions (below) were the winners for the evening, (photos by Cassandra Fallacaro) Town Board goes to the dogs by Cassandra Fallacaro The Grand Island Town Board met on Monday, March 19 to discuss, among other issues, a newlyproposed noise ordinance that effect dog owners in Grand Island. Channel 4 news recorded as residents both for and against the proposed ordinance discussed their concerns. The present law, described as vague by Town Board Supervisor Peter McMahon, states that dog owners are in violation if their animal's barking "unreasonably and habitually annoys any person."The proposed ordinance would clarify specific time limits and decibel levels, stating that dogs could not bark for more than 15 minutes during a one hour period at a decibel level violating the ordinance (50, 65, or 85 depending on time of day and distance). Several residents in attendance agreed that something had to be done about the current barking problem on Grand Island. Barbara Fritchey of East River Road, a selfproclaimed dog lover said she saw no problem with dogs barking to protect their property, but was troubled by neighbors whose dogs barked from neglect and boredom. "We would like to see owners who do neglect their dogs know that they will go punished," said Fritchey. Norman Gibbon of East River Road agreed that something needs to be done about the, barking dog issue in his neighborhood, but saw problems with the proposed ordinance."Who times the barking of the dog?" Gibbon asked members of the Town Board, who responded that it was the responsibility of the resident filing the complaint. Gibbon pointed out that under the proposed law a dog could bark on and off for the better part of an hour without violating the noise ordinance, but still disturbing neighbors if the dog took frequent pauses. Gibbon also claimed that there was a difference between a dog barking during the day and barking in the middle of the night, an issue he claims was not addressed in the proposed ordinance. "I see no provision for time of day," said Gibbon. However, not all in attendance felt that the ordinance was even necessary. Husain Syed of East River Road, owner of three trained German shepherds, said that the proposed ordinance was "picking on people unfairly." , . "My dogs, are there to protect me and my family," Syed told the Town Board. "I don't think there is anything wrong with, a person's dog barking to protect them." In a letter read by Council woman Mary Cooke,. Marsha Full agreed that the ordinance was extreme. She questioned whether children would be next on the list of noise ordinance targets, .She also voiced her concern about the bureaucracy and red tape involved. The Town Board did not take action on the hearing at Monday's meeting, but could vote on the issue as soon as April 2. Dogs appeared to be the issue at hand before the meeting as well, as members of the Board met in a workshop session to discuss unfinished business. At the March 5 meeting of the Town Board, Councilman Michael Heftka proposed the hiring of a full-time dog control officer, which was met with objections from Councilman Richard Crawford and Cooke, who claimed it was too soon to vote on the issue. Cooke asked that the board meet prior to the March 19 meeting to discuss the issue more in depth. At the workshop, Heftka brought forth figures which showed the positive aspects of a full-time dog control officer. Cook and Crawford appeared unimpressed at Heftka's findings and said it was still too soon to vote on the issue. "This is very premature," said Cooke. "Ten minutes before the meeting is not the time to be making decisions like this." continued on page 5 continued on page 5 Weekend at a Glance Friday OPEN GYM NIGHT Kaegebein Elementary School, 1690 Love Rd., Grand Island 6 to 7:30 p.m. (ages 8-13) and 7:30 to 9 p.m. (ages .14-16). Saturday LAS VEGAS KNIGHT Grand Island Knights of Columbus, 1841 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island 8 p.m. to midnight. (must be 21 years of age) Sunday SPAGHETTI DINNER St. Stephen School, 2080 Baseline Rd., Grand Island noon to 6 p.m.