Island Dispatch, 2004-01-30

              Island DISPATCH  The Fanner's Almanac predicts: Cold, Showers i j\ I I I , (' III«. Ill' ii.j.Vii ".v _ Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 58 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 Vol. 59  No. 47  ,|ainiar\ 30. 2004  24 Pages  Si.oo 4Bald for Buds' Page 10 Art Society ; Celebrates , Page 3 Phone: (716)773-7676 • 1 ti\: (716)773-7190 • 1.-Mail: \I TV \^'clnuiil.com Kaegebein fifth-graders learn about life in Iraq photo and story by Lisa Ariganello \\li;li on a iwo wlvk vacation from arliw mihlaty diuy in Iraq. U S. Aim;, Ik. Miv.-h.iol Fedes spiel tPl>k >he tiillO ll' MMI lllS I,'liUnlll Genii'- fitrii-giado class at KacgyK-m r.loiioniary V-luml lasi week. Federspiel answered the children's questions about life in Iraq, the military, war, and Saddam Hussein, with every bit of honesty and integrity. The pride that gleamed from the 20-year-old soldier was reflected in his father's eyes, as Mike Sr. sat proudly at the back of the room listening intently. Originally from Niagara Falls, Federspiel enlisted in the army 18 months ago, and has been serving the last 10 months in the Middle East. His unit, the 4th Infantry Division, acted as the security force during the recent capturing of Saddam Hussein. The troops entered Iraq through Turkey and continued training for two months, before liiey saw any comboi aoiion. ii-cy sci up outside of iikni and propaivd tui Saddiini"-. aw cm. "Y>>u »ii mm the pal.ices in Tikrit and e\et\thins! is marble and jjold. It's unia/im:." l-'odcrspiu! .-aid. I'hoii wo s;iv. whoie Sadd.iPi was hiding mm) U was the oompliio opposite lie Mas baMoi'lly In ins; m a hole roughly the size of a casket, with-only the basic necessities to survive." Determination and Recognition One of the first questions asked to Federspiel was also the most honest and touching. "Was it scary fighting in Iraq," asked one fifthgrader."Once we were there, the training just took over." said Federspiel. "We knew what to do and where to go when we were being fired at." His determination and accomplishments did not go without recognition - Federspiel was honored with the Soldier of the Month award last \o■ ir. Aikiircliwi in hs- tiitho!. !!ie A;my \Minlcd lo s:i\o Inin a i'muida> \aciiiion in conv.r.i'ni'naiiuri of ihe .iv.au!. Uui. lederspiei itiriicvl u down, Niiymj; thai ho would much riithor "»ij\ in hag a:id col ihejub J-me." Life in Iraq The ohilJivn v. ere more mioros! oil in l:edeispie!'*. day -to day hie in liai! ■- whore does he vei-p. what I ... I 1,... 1,. ~. 1,„.,!. ■> uvjcei lie tai, uuw gwi ivju^ijf. "It is unbelievable what we have out there. We are treated really well," Federspiel said. "We have taken over an old Iraqi military base, so we have a roof over our heads, which is more than what most Iraqi's have." He also mentioned that the military has created their own Walmart style shopping center in Baghdad. The troops pool their money together to purchase personal items like TVs, Play Stations and food. Pfc. Michael Federspiel, of Niagara Falls, visits with Mrs. Skrabacz's fifth-grade class at Kaegebein Niagara Greenway project hopes to extend onto the Island by Lisa Ariganello The Friends of the Buffalo Niagara Rivers met recently at the Grand Island Holiday Inn to discuss their on-going projects designed to preserve and protect the local watersheds of Western New York. One particular topic of interest for Grand Island residents is the current "Lake to Lake Greenway" project. It is a proposal that was created by the Buffalo Olmstead Parks Conservancy. The concept is to create an open greenway and bike path, similar to the parkway on the Ontario side, stretching from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. "The Niagara Parkway on the Ontario side of the lakes has been in development for such a long time, that there is a real opportunity to implement a similar environmental setting in Western New York," FBNR executive director, Julie O'Neill said. Most of the elements are already in place; there are existing open spaces, some protected as parks, and others are not. The Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Commission has created a complimentary plan to create a trail from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, which will continue on down the Lake Erie shoreline. "It is a proposal that has been around for a while, but the time has really come to start moving it into reality," said O'Neill. Pataki Announcement The most obvious evidence on the need for a greenway came from Gov. George Pataki announcement of the plan as one of his few projects for this region during his State of the State address. On becoming a reality, it all depends on whether or not the project will fit into the governor's budget for this year. "...Building on our successful efforts to revitalize Niagara Falls and its park land, and by working with the Western New York delegation, let us create a Niagara River Greenway that stretches from Buffalo to Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario," Pataki said, during his State of the State address. Earlier this month, Assemblymember Sam Hoyt applauded Pataki's dedication to the greenway project. "The development of the Niagara River area as a greenway is a matter of state concern that would benefit all residents of the state." said Hoyt. Hoyt has introduced a similar legislation A7418, the Niagara River Park Act, which would establish a public park with boundaries from the United States side of the mouth of the Niagara River to Lake Ontario to the Ice Boom in the city of Buffalo. continued on page 24 tv continued on page 2 i;g= At a Glance^j Saturday I 17th Annual Rotary Club Chili Sale Grand Island High School gym 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. I Tickets are available at the I door - I Thursday - Saturday 1 'Guys and Dolls' I Grand Island Senior High I Auditorium I 7:30 p.m. For more information call I 773-8868 I For a complete listing of area I events, visit NFP's Web site at 1 I www.wnypapers.com | Sat. Jan. 31st, 2004 • 11:30am-6:00pm [HiMH^jfP^B^WiW^^^^>4JJiifflH^H Grand island High School Cafeteria « 11QQ Ransom Rd., Grand Island j Virtual Tour at www.nelson-vrooman.com Call for More Details