Island Dispatch, 2001-08-24

              Island DISPATCH Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage Friday ' &\ Partly Cloudy in 7'> l«. 55 New Leader for Vikings Football Page 17 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 This Issue is Dedicated to Kay Page Page 6 Entertainment page 21 28 Pages + 8-Page Bridge Section Vol. 58 No. 24 August 24. 2001 Grand Island planning Sesquicentennial Bash for 2002 The scenery and landscape of Grand Island may have changed over the last 150 years, but the history behind it has not. Many people are unaware of the events that took place during the course of the town's growth. Grand Island might be known as a small town, but it has as much history as any other location on the map. Take a look back at the history of Grand Island You only turn 150 years old one time, so if you are going to celebrate, why not throw the biggest birthday bash of your life? The theme for the Sesquicentennial Celebration says it all: "We only get to do it once, so lets do it right." Plans have been underway for the town-wide celebration, which will take place from June 28 to July 27, 2002, since early this spring. Over the past few months, various individuals throughout Grand Island have formed a Sesquicentennial Committee and have all the intentions of accomplishing the aforementioned. The committee consists of Chairman Mike Schneider, Vice Chairman Jim Sharpe, Research and Promotions Consultant Peggy McNulty, Co-Secretary Sonja Hill, treasurer Chuck Lawrence, Co-Treasurer Patty Weatherston, Town Historian Teddy Linenfelser and Parliamentarian Joanne Hartman. One of the committee's first tasks was to find an appropriate logo for this gigantic occasion. Hence, the Sesquicentennial Logo Design Contest was launched in early spring and all entries had to be submitted by June 14. The contest was open to Grand Island youths, ages five to 18. Recently, after 135 designs poured into the Grand Island Recreation Department, Rob Hopkins, Maria Fusco and Maureen McCarthy learned their logos finished first, second and third place, respectively. Hopkins first place logo will be used as the official logo for Sesquicentennial 2002, while Fusco's logo will be displayed on T-shirts that will be on sale in the near future. In addition to the official logo contest for the sesquicentennial bash, certain events are being booked at a rampant pace while others are in the process of being worked out or finalized. To date, the following events are already in place: This photo of lifelong island resident Dorothy Kiilian (now Dorothy Loder) was taken by Don Loder in 1942, His ihen-girifrtend is pictured in front of a 1938 Chevrolet near the south bridge (note that there was only one bridge then, as pictured in the background). Loder can remember life on the island back around the time of the 1952 centennial. :'lf a car went by, you knew who was in it," he said while remarking on the island's population boom (he cited the town's population to be about 1,300 in 1938, as compared to over 18,000 now). He also can recall the ferrys that had to be used to travel on or off the island before the bridges were constructed in the mid-19305. "If you missed the ferryboat (which docked on the island at what is now the Holiday Inn), you were stuck," he said. He added tnat travel was difficult in the winter because ice often prohibited tne ferry from being able to run. Both Loders worked at the old post office on Whitehaven Road for over 20 years. Chamber well-represented by younger generation by Paul Lane The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce may temporarily be without a youth ambassador, but whomever takes over in the fall will have some big shoes to fill. Kristina Tetkowski won the honor in June 2000 with her essay "Teenage Vandalism on Grand Island and What Can Be Done About It." The position brought with it a $1,000 cash prize, but she said it was worth much ■ more than that. "I think it's great that the chamber is recognizing the youth's importance in l the community and their involvement," said the 18--year-old Tetkowski. "It's (the ambassadorship) led to many other activities." , ...-.-. The position appealed to her because she said she enjoys participating in activities that impact the community. "I wanted to be involved," she said. "I love speaking to people." In being the youth ambassador, Tetkowski represented the chamber in a number of activities. The ambassador traditionally participates in the Fourth of July Parade, the Business Expo and other community functions. "The Citizen of the Year Banquet, in particular, was a lot of fun," she said. "Kristina proved to be an excellent ambassador who represented the youth of Grand Island with poise and charm," said Joanne Kud, the chamber's youth ambassador chairperson. "She is an articulate young lady who enthusiastically participated in numerous chamber of commerce events." Tetkowski also took on an important role at Grand Island High School, from which she graduated in June. She participated in the Superintendent's Advisory Group, the Shared Decision-Making Team and the Healthy Lifestyle Leadership Camp at school. She also spoke on behalf of the chamber and the students at a meeting held last fall after an apparent racially-motivated attack in Grand Island in October. "I will always remember Kristina for the speech she gave during that meeting," said Superintendent Dr. Paul Fields. She leaves her position and her home this weekend to begin study at the Pratt Art Institute in Brooklyn, where she will study -interior design. She said she hopes to start a design firm someday and return to Grand Island to raise a family. "We are sad to see (Kristina relinquish her reign, but have asked her to keep in touch with r all of us," said Kud. "I would enjoy further involvement with the chamber of commerce," Tetkowski commented. "I will continue to keep close ties with Grand Island." She added that she enjoyed being a leader of sorts and hopes to establish herself as a business leader in the future. Tetkowski participated in a number of other activities while in high school, including lettering three years for the cross-country team and four years for the track team, participating in the New York State Mock Trial and being in several musicals. She received the continued on page 2 #g= continued on page 28 US" Week at a Glance Monday - Grand Island High School Student and Parent Orientations Grand Island High School Auditorium Student orientation, 10:50 a.m. Parent orientation 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday Connections Board Meeting Grand Island Town Hall, Conference Room, 7:30 p.m. Thursday Charlotte Sidway School Open House Students may bring in supplies and meet their teacher and classmates, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.