Island Dispatch, 2002-01-25

              Island DISPATCH The Farmer's Almanac predicts: j Shooting For The Stars Page 9 Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 2002 Platinum Sponsors Page 3 Phone: (716) 773-7676 • Fax: (716) 773-7190 • E-Mail: NFPNews@aol.com 57 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers Vol. 57 No. 48 January 25, 2002 • 20 Pages 65c The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District Jacquie Walker to present Citizen of the Year Award The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will host the 36th annual Citizen of the Year Award Banquet on Thursday, April 11, at the Holiday Inn Resort- and Conference Center. This year's event will once again honor businesses and individuals whose contributions have made Grand Island a better place to live, wdrkTand "play 7" As mentioned, Master of Ceremonies for the prestigious event will be News 4 Anchor Jacquie Walker. Walker joined News 4 in 1983 and now anchors the number one rated noon and 5:30 newscasts. Her work has won numerous journalism awards. Walker is also involved in many community service projects. She is a board member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a frequent guest speaker for community and charitable organizations. She has been named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club, 1996 Humanitarian of the Year by the New York State Chamber of Commerce, recipient of the 1997 Governor's Award for Excellence in Communications, and the recipient of the 1999 Service to Mankind award from the Leukemia Society of America. In 2000, the Amherst Chamber of Commerce honored k Walker with its first rVWoman of j Distinction Award, and in 2001 Walker accepted the Sister/Brotherhood Media Award from the National Conference, for Community and Justice.. Grand Island Chamber of Commerce President Jim Sharpe is excited that Jacquie Walker has once again agreed to host this year's event. "Jacquie brought such professionalism to the event along with her own personal touch. Her warm and gracious ways made it a truly special day for our award recipients." Sharpe said. Sharpe added, "It will be especially festive as it is the town's 150 th birthday. Also, the VFW, Grand Island String Quartet and Madrigals will play a special role in the event making it a true community celebration." Letters nominating this year's Citizen's of the Year should be submitted to the chamber office. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 15. For more information call the chamber office at 773-3651. News 4 Anchor Jacquie Walker has once again agreed to host the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Banquet. Preparing for a birthday bash Oil Wednesday, Jan. 23 town o! Grand Island crews wore taking clown holiday decorations and replacing them with sesquicentennial banners. Grand Island is celebrating its 150 th birthday this year and sesquicen- S.nmal mernbe'S have an abundance of events pinnnetl. Tomorrow the town recieanon department *iH hold us annua! Winter Fes? The Winter Fest is the first evert of 2002 for the sesciuicenlennia! cnteb'ation. Indoor and out.joor even:?, wii! fun norn 10 a m. to 3 p.m. (photo oy Jon Sandino) Board approves permit for Mesmer Airstrip by Jon Sandino On Tuesday night, the Grand Island Town Board approved a special-use permit for a private airstrip at 2548 Love Road. The approval, which passed 4-1, was good news for Robert Mesmer. However, it was not what the majority of the residents in attendance wanted to hear. Board members explained to the attendees that their hands were tied by the town code, which was last updated in 1973. The code allows for the use of a landing strip such as the one that was approved Tuesday night. . - ' Councilwoman Mary Cooke made it clear the board was not voting to approve the airstrip, but they were voting on whether the applicant (Mesmer) was meeting specific requirements. "The decision was made years ago," Cooke said. "The thing Mr. Mesmer had to do was meet requirements." Councilman Richard Crawford Jr. added, "The code book allowed for this... we had to make sure every T was dotted and Y was crossed." According to the board, all requirements were met. However, their decision did not come without delay. The board went into a 25-minute executive session to discuss "public comment."When the board returned, Town Supervisor Peter McMahon read the proposal aloud. As he concluded, one patron blurted out "you guys are crazy." Councilman Kevin Rustowicz, the lone "no" vote, did not believe the proposal "was in the best interest of the people of Grand Island." "I can't vote for something that I don't believe in," Rustowicz said. It was evident Rustowicz was not the only individual in attendance who felt the proposal was not in the best interest of the public. Over 70 residents attended the meeting, and the majority of them were opposed to the airstrip. "There's no benefit to the community.. It's all about one person's pleasure," said Michael Judd of Staley Road. "I don't think-an airstrip should be in a residential area. I think there's enough danger in the world without us creating another one," said Lawrence Zelonis of West River Road. "How much more information will the board require before they recognize the fact that take off and landing are the most dangerous," asked Kristine Lavango of Love Road. They will pose a real threat to our neighborhood," Lavango continued on page 2 cgp MARTY'S TOWING, INC. "!"■ F^EE5> NYS INSPECTION • AUTO REPAIRS • BRAND NAME TIRES • BATTERIES 24 hr. Emergency Tf 1 B9 ■SE' *s_> x Road Service & Recovery ■» ** ■» ■*■■*■«. "**«JP ; b#*# i DC19611 Ii«; RQi irYWiiwwiriifiiiiiii mm _vnn§lihiiM. SJffIWJWPSfIWRt ___SBD|BH!i___i < Week at a Glance Saturday Grand Island Recreation Department Winter Fest Nike Base, 3278 Whitehaven Rd. iO a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday 'Financing a College Education' Information Seminar Huth Road Elementary School Cafeteria, 1773 Huth Rd., 10 a.m. Tuesday. Home Bureau II Meeting Island Presbyterian Church, 1822 Huth Rd., 10 a.m. Wednesday Grand Island Knights of Columbus All-You-Can-Eat Soup Night Knights of Columbus Hall, 1821 Whitehaven Rd., 4:30 to 7 p.m. Samcoe RV Show Jan. 19-27 Time to think Summer Vacation - RV's off all shapes and sizes will be shown - Held indoors during mall hours