Island Dispatch, 2002-07-26

              Island DISPATCH Ph0ne:(716)773-7676 • la\: (716) 773-7190 • K-Mail: NFPNe\\s(« clmail.coin (The Farmer's prodicls: Haiti ii ■ ' ■'. . " '■ ■...'! ' District Champions Crowned Page 12 Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 57 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 Blonski Wins Award Page 9 Xol. 58 No. 22 .liilx 26.2002 20 Pajjcs Plus 4 Pajjc Pnllont Section 85c Lions Club annual picnic truly a special event photos and story by Jon Sandino Last week on July 17 marked the third Wednesday of the month, and with it comes one of the most specialspecial and heartwarming annual events that take place on Grand Island. Thousands gathered on a steamy 90-degree day at the Buffalo Launch Club for the 44th annual Lions Club Special Children's Picnic. The outrageously humid weather did not scare away the hundreds of volunteers, comprised of Island and non-Island residents, from showing up and making sure all the children walked away with a smile on their faces. And there were an abundance of special children who showed up for an afternoon that was filled with fun and plenty of good food. According to event co-chairs Dick Crawford and Pat Patterson, a total of 41 buses transported an estimated 1,100 special children from the Buffalo and Niagara region. Upon arriving, the children had plenty of activities to choose from. Whether they wanted to ride a pony, zip around in a golf court, cruise the parking lot in a go cart or drift along on the Niagara River, it was all there to be had. "Once again the Grand Island Lions Club and its many good neighbors have come together to Volunteers from all across Western New York gathered at the Buffalo Launch Club last Wednesday for the 44th annual Lions Club Special Children's Picnic. Pictured above, a variety of Island residents and volunteers take a quickbreakand posefor.,the Dispatch. The favorite part of the day for the majority of the children was the boat ride on the Niagara River. "Group Therapy" loads up and pulls away for a voyage on the river. Induction into Gallery of Distinguished Employees Andrew P. Piacente In recognition of his exceptional service to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, Andrew P. Piacente is honored with induction into the Buffalo District's Gallery of Distinguished Employees. Piacente began his career in May 1954, working as a draftsman plotting by hand from field notes for flood control projects in the Engineering Drafting Section of the Buffalo District. In November 1955, he transferred to the Hydraulics Section of the Hydraulics and Hydrology Branch and became an Engineering Aid (Hydrology) in March 1958. There he was involved in numerous flood reconnaissance projects and studies of levels and flows in the Niagara River as well as throughout the District, including monitoring operations and data collection for the Mount Morris Dam. Piacente was promoted to Engineering Technician in 1962 and provided assistance to other District functions during the dewatering of the American Falls in 1969, part of an extensive Preservation and Enhancement of the American Falls study completed in June 1974. In July 1974, Piacente was reassigned to the Water Control Section where he remained until his retirement in January 1997. In this capacity, his service added greatly to the District's support of the International Niagara Board of Control, International Niagara Committee and the International Joint Commission. Through his professionalism and expertise, he has represented the District extremely well at international meetings throughout his career, thus forging stronger bonds between the U.S. and Canada. With the Water Control Section, Piacente was responsible for many special assignments. To highlight just a few, he conducted ice reconnaissance flights over and thickness measurements on Lake Erie. He was responsible for the annual continued on page 2 eSP continued on page 5 JSP Weekend at a Glance Sunday Trinity United Methodist Church Outdoor Summer Concert 2100 Whitehaven Rd, 5:30 p.m. Featuring Silers Bald For more information call 773-3322 Tuesday Sikora Post American Legion Band Town Commons, 6:30 p.m. Friday Blues on the River Holiday Inn, 100 Whitehaven Rd. 6 to 10 p.m. Rain or shine Featuring DD Ellis and the Wildcats For more information call 773-111, Ext. 2207 SEE PAGE 2 FOR LISTING OF UPCOMING ARTPARK EVENTS NYS INSPECTION • AUTO REPAIRS • BRAND NAME TIRIS • BATTIM6S ' . j£*l - - . i.' ,-."-, ■_,■* 24 hr. Emergency ~Hr*f*i3» K_r *Bfc\ -Uf^*?--'""■ £ Road Service & Recovery - ■ --■~ w~%>- Wmmm - <--.-..-._- .-* „.- „« -_--,«.*, /^^_t^s.-'"A:- l-"._ r 1741 Baseline Ud ,<\ < « ' * '■*■■-,■** .1.- fc«,T-,7„fe*<? \ f,£WSS ■S.af-JVii&l 'V*r.ti '.». , ' "■. Baseline Ra. »w«im«ai»»» «m «gmM»_. mmmmt m^,, < «*'— «■ «'.".«■«« ' ■ Ssiii __■'_. . . ..:. 773-35 15 - TIRfES" 1 i:■:_?.'" :■:_?.'" .. ."^iP'^1"' ':