Island Dispatch, 2007-07-20

              Island Dispatch Niagara frontier Publications For Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 proud publishers of Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver Niagara-Wheaffield Tribune Anrvw.wnypapers.com V01.63 No. 18 24 Pages 773-7676 $1.00 July 20, 2007 Visiting Iran page 2 Park Dedicated page 5 Friends of Lynnette page 8 Youngsters enjoy Lions picnic by Kathy Duff Photos by Barbi Lare and Shelia Ferrentino "We serve." If s a motto the lions Club takes to heart throughout the year, but especially this week, with the picnic for special needs children held at the Buffalo Launch Club-on Wednesday. Grand Island lions, headed by picnic organizer Mike Ziegler, were joined by lions from Kenmore, Wilson and other areas, as well as by local civic, government and business leaders, willingly taking on service roles. With rain threatening but spirits high, kids and adults alike ate, played, relaxed and just enjoyed each other's company at the Launch Club from 10 a.m. on into the late afternoon. "These are all special needs kids," said a teacher from School 84, one of several Buffalo area schools represented, for a grand total of about 1,200 kids plus adults spread out over the grounds from dockside on back to East River Road. The youth musical group, the Niagara Experience Players, entertained with songs and dances from the 19505. Theirperformance was occasionally punctuated with a horn blast from a child happily seated inside a Grand Island Fire Company truck or by a toot from a an incoming tram driven by "mini kab" men from the Ismalia Shriners. There was no lack of movement from kids who supposedly need help with mobility. Ginger the horse and others of her four-legged Mends from Spirit Wind Stables in Sanborn gave helmeted youngsters rides near the freshly mulched playset at the side of the club parking lot Patiently waiting in line for his tarn, student Antonio Occinio said, "I can't ride, but I can pet horses," and the animals and their lions Club handlers were good for that, too. The picnic has been a tradition on the Island every third Wednesday of July for the past 49 years, said Ziegler, who shared some of his set-up responsibility Wednesday morning with his 6-year-old son. "He went home tired," Ziegler explained. "He didn't get to stay for the relaxed part of the day." Working hard, too, were the people who donated cabin cruisers and nautical skills to take kids, families and teachers out on the Upper Niagara River for a scenic boat ride. One lion stationed on the docks commented that for the boaters determined to show the picnickers a good time it "is not recreation. If s gas and go, go, go." Sure enough, as soon as one boatload of passengers disembarked, another left and yet another continued to load. Great picnic food, face painting, Aunt Tootsie the Clown, and Ted Kumlander, balloon animal artist and oftentimes, TooMe the Clown, rounded out the festivities for an outing that, once attended, seems to become a "Wouldn't miss it"on the calendars of all involved. Kutzbach ff^Jl 628-1719 BhJJ 773-2573 |f .Jlfff Q* Do you need to buy or sell a home? I A; Call Linda Kutzbach, \ she knows how and I would love to help you! Each office mdepeisSefflSy ~2? * *wj* * •"* owned & operated §A NOftll >»M«,T--Ma..w«^^i»Mw»*-w.«iMwi.i'ii.ii'.i'i-iw' win www;.«■—■■■■■  !3 Call Joan for a figHli FREE No Obligation jsEESSSI Market Analysis Ion your home joandiugokinski @cenlury2l .com