Island Dispatch, 2005-08-05

              ISLAND Dispatch For Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 Niagara Cn D 1 Frontier Publications proud publishers of Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune www.wnypapers.eom $1.00 August 5, 2005 Vol. 61 No. 20 24 Pages Celebrating his 80th  page 3" Islander wins silver page 14 Super cruisers at VFW page 24 Island has Night Out Residents learn about resources by Karen Keefe Organizers of Grand Island's third annual National Night Out know the town isn't a high-crime community. But they also know it's \ important that resi- j dents get the infdr- ? mation they need to keep safe. That's why the town and various helping agencies put together a night designed to fight crime and drugs and promote "community wellness." "I'm very pleased at the community turnout," said Night Out organizer Terry Wall, outreach worker for the town's Enrichment and Referral Center. She was surprised that 80-100 people came to the Town Common Tuesday night, because the weather, admittedly, was "iffy." But the clouds and rain gave way to that special golden light of a mid-summer evening. Lalin Musk Concert Families, empty-nesters and seniors enjoyed the free concert in the Town Gazebo by Orengue, a Latin dance band. Boy Scouts from Troop 254 sold hot dogs, pop and chips. There were plenty of young people there, curious about the various booths that groups set up. A number of kids took a closer look at fire engines the Grand Island Fire Company brought out for the occasion. Elsewhere, Brittany Little, 9, and her sister, Brianna, 7, were busy making visors. Kids' ID kits offered Michael Pless, 13, signed up for the free ID kit and fingerprinting available from Explorer Scouts through the National Child Identification Program. The ID kit includes a photo and a lock of hair and fingernail clippings to obtain DNA for identification. Michael's mom, Cheryl Pless, said. "They go on their own to Beaver Island. I worry. ... When I read about the fingerprint thing, I said, 'That's it.' I'm glad they had it." "Better Every Year" State Trooper Christopher Pyc, who many students know as just "Officer Pyc," said of the National Night Out, "It gets better every year." Pyc is the school resource officer for Grand Island schools, and as such, gets to J know a lot of the youngsters and * talks with them about their problems. He said at Tuesday's event, "A lot of the questions are about drug and alcohol abuse, even a few crime prevention questions." Free Gun Locks Pyc was busy that evening promoting Project Child Safe, whereby police agencies across the state give out free gun locks to be used by homeowners to safeguard rifles, shotguns or handguns.Sheriff's Deputy Terry Guenot and his K-9, Rikor, a drug sniffing dog, attracted attention from adults and children who wanted to know what role Rikor plays in crime prevention.Drug abuse prevention advisers were on hand to explain their services at the National Night Out held Tuesday at Hie Town Common. In the photo are, from left, Marge Robillard, Town Councilman Dan Robillard, State Police Officer Christopher Pyc and Lisa Cox Pyc. (photos by Barbi Lore) Explorer Scouts help youngsters obtain ID kits and fingerprinting through the National Child Identification Program. Participating Explorer Scouts are Nolin Jackson, Ken Ratigan and Joe Pfonner, who were working with sheriff's deputies Scanio and Eaudo. (photos by Barbi Lore) A toddler daps to the beat of the music of Orengue, a band that played everything from "La Bamba" to "Besame Mucho" during Grand Island's National Night Out celebration on Tuesday in the Town Common, (photos by Barbi Lore) Town OKs law to preserve environment by Karen Keefe Grand Island, a town surrounded by water, has taken an important step to safeguard its coastline. The Town Board on Monday approved a local law intended to help preserve the town's natural waterfront resources. The new law is called the "Waterfront Consistency Review Law." , When projects or regulations could have an impact on the shoreline areas, the town will make sure such actions comply with the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The program, known as LWRP, will provide a framework or lens through which Grand Island views future development. Adopted earlier this year, LWRP is a thorough set of policies and standards designed to prevent pollution, protect wildlife and wetlands and preserve and upgrade scenic resources. Proper Balance The new law enacted Monday has as its stated purpose to "ensure a proper balance between the preservation of natural resources and.the need to accommodate population growth and economic development." The goal is to prevent: •Loss of fish and wildlife and their habitats. •Diminishing open space areas or public access to the waterfront. • Shoreline* erosion. •Impairment of scenic beauty. •Damages from flooding, erosion or sedimentation. •Permanent adverse changes to ecological systems. Enforcement Provisions No work or activity on a project in the coastal area will take place until compliance with the LWRP is shown. If work is not consistent with the program's standards, the new law says the town's enforcement officer can issue a stop work order. 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