Island Dispatch, 2004-03-26

              Island DISPATCH Can You Help? Page 19 — Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 59 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 The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Mild/Rain h il n^l'.i: Check Hie 2 Relay For Life Celebrations Page 3 Phone: (716) 773-7676 « 1 a\: (716) 773-71% • K-Mail: M l»V\\s(«clniiiil.com \ol. 60 No. 3 March 26, 2004 40 Pa»cs 38th annual Citizen of the Year banquet Grand Island Chamber honors David N. Johnson, M.D. As the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce finalizes preparations towards its 38th annual Citizen of the Year awards banquet, Thursday, April 1, 5:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center, in today's Dispatch we conclude our series of profiles on the award recipients, with a look at David N, Johnson, M.D., honored as the Grand Island Chamber's Civic leader. Raised in Jamestown, David Johnson began his medical education in Italy, and graduated from the.New York Medical College in 1976. After a one-year internshipinternship at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York, David worked for two years as a member of the U.S. Public Health Service bringing medical care to the Ojibwa (Chippewa) Native Americans in Red Lake, MN. David has lived on Grand Island since 1979. He has been practicing medicine in Kenmore since completing a Family Practice residency in Buffalo. His wife, Patty, recently retired as a cancer research scientist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Their oldest son, Damien, is teaching David N. Johnson, M.D. Speed watch underway on the Island The Grand Island Traffic Safety Advisoiy Board has initiated a speed safety check program on Island roadways. In the above photo. Aowsory Board members are pictured with the eye-catching s.qn during a recent set-up on Sion\ Pomt Road. Shov.n. left to right, are members Bill Vampoiic, Betty Harris, Grand Island Highway Superintendent Ray Dlugokinski, Board Chair Dorothy Bitner, and members Paul Leuchner and Ann Ehlert. Not shown in the photo is Grand Island Town Board member Richard W. Crawtord Jr. who also serves as liaison 10 the Traffic Safety Advisory Boaid. Sne related story in todays Dispatch, (photo by Larry Kensinger) Grand Island growing for the future by Dave Burns For decades, locals have called Grand Island "Western New York's Best Kept Secret." But now with the population steadily increasing, businesses expanding, and the number of single family new starts and upgrades climbing noticeably, it seems the secret is getting out. The reasons for recent and ongoing growth on the Island are many. A realtor would probably say that the number one reason is, "Location, location, location." And indeed Grand Island is perfectly located just outside of, but mere moments from, the city of Buffalo, right on the beautiful Niagara River, and on the 1-190. John Stickl, Island developer/builder, along with his wife Kathryn, owners of Stickl Construction Company Inc., attributes much of the recent economic surge on Grand Island to the ruling in the Seneca Indian Land Claim. Stickl said when the judge in the case ruled against the Seneca Nation's claim to Island ownership, many people felt more comfortable investing money in the area, even though an appeal was filed. "People just have a lot more confidence'confidence' now," Stickl said. He is developing Spicer Creek Townhouses, a 54-unit project started half a dozen years ago, now with 34 homes completed and occupied. Four more units are sold and under construction, and three more are sold but not yet started. Low Maintenance The Townhouses, which overlook Spicer Creek, are single family units, with choices of two or three bedrooms or formal dining room or den, a great room, and an attractive Signs of well-planned growth are found in Fairway Greens at River Oaks as seen in these new home models by CT Enterprises. continued on page 31 &S" continued on page sgg= At a Glance J Sunday ' I Boy Scout Troop 630 J Spaghetti Dinner St. Stephen's cafeteria 2080 Baseline Road Noon to 6 p.m. Thursday Grand Island Historical , Society General Meeting 1 River Lea . I 7:30 p.m. j For a complete listing of area events, visit NFP's Web site at www.wnypapers.com I CheeS* Out Our I TSSTSffifff I JI'S^KSR, ! Waste Sit& __jg^~LF"^^°*Mng" 12° c"  ; for Grand island stories & photos al www.wnypapers.com BMliMlffl^