Island Dispatch, 2007-09-14

              Island Dispatch Niagara In Dl Firon**er Vjj Publications proud publishers of Island Dispatch Lewiston-Pdrter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver Niagara-Wheatßeld Tribune www.wnypapers.com For -Home Delivery of the - Islond Dispatch Call 773-7676 ■.'"■ ■ Vol. 63 No. 26 September 14, 2007 20 Pages 773-7676 $1.00 Coming Home page 3 Open for Business page 5 GI Wins in the Pool page 13 Boat Show was largest gathering of boats to date Photos and story by Michael J. Owen U.S. Navy Journalist (Ret.) "The 30th annual Antique Boat Show and Race Boat Reunion held at the Buffalo Launch Club on Grand Island was a resounding success," said the show's chairman, Rich DeGlopper. Organized by the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, according to DeGlopper, the event attracted 154 boats, 118 of them antique and 36 race boats. This year's show featured the 33-foot Baby Gar boats and Ventnor race- and production boats. Eight Baby Gar boats "Shuffled off To Buffalo" coming from the northeast to the midwest. Six boats were in the water and two were displayed on shore. "This was the largest gathering of these boats to date," DeGlopper added. Built from 1922-28, only 67 were made. The boats cost $12,000 dollars then and were powered by 12-cylinder Liberty engines capable of traveling at 60 mph. "Extremely fast for a boat that • Bize and at it's time, during the prohibition era the iberty engine became the motor of choice for bootleggers. Estimating their current value, one sold recently for $600,000," he said. It was Gar Wood that modified these aircraft engines for marine purposes and put them in his Baby Gar boats. "He was truly the speed kingduring that era with his 'Miss America' race boats. His reputation for speed and innovations created a demand with sportsman and wealthy businessmen for his boats," DeGlopper said. DeGlopper also said that Ventnor race and production boats were featured at the show. Peter Kreissle of Bradenton, Fla., brought' his 1937 Gold Cup Hydro "Juno" to the show. Peter was one of the three seminar speakers at Friday afternoon's series. He spoke about the history of his boat that was produced by the Ventnor Boat Works of New Jersey. According to DeGlopper, one totally unrestored boat was donated to the Niagara boat chapter. The boat is a 1935 29-foot Richardson built in North Tonawanda. "Over the winter the club will be restoring the boat at the Buffalo State College Maritime Center," hesaid. Twenty-four irfdividuals signed up at the show to work on this project. Once completed, the boat will be on display at the new Maritime Heritage Center of WNY that will be located in the former Remington Rand Building on the Erie Canal. "The club is excited about our new home, which will be a tying and working museum where the public can watch boats and motors being restored. The place will display the rich boat building, engine manufacturing and boat racing history of our area," said DeGlopper. At the show, -the Niagara Frontier Chapter also accepted the donation of a 6-cylinder Sterling Marine engine that was manufactured on Niagara Street in Buffalo. George* Kreissle of Sarasota, Fla., donated this mammoth engine weighing 5,100 pounds and having four spark plugs for each cylinder. Last weekend's event also featured a variety of boats from runabouts to cruisers, plus various nautical land displays, model race boats, manufacturers and 80 antique cars. "Meticulously prepared and displayed by owners, every boat and car glistened under Saturday's afternoon sun. And even though pouring rain deterred most boats from making the annual run around the island Sunday morning, thousands of spectators enjoyed what most call one of Western New York's premiere events," he continued. "Our show is the second largest in the United States and draws many participants, including landlubbers to the island each year." Among those participants, the excitement was obvious as the show opened with six Gar Baby boats running together in a V Pictured cruising on a 33-foot Baby Gar boat named "Whooter," are, from left, Rich DeGlopper, Rebecca Stahl and Carol Wesp. They enjoyed a Saturday afternoon run off Grand Island's Buffalo Launch Club at the 30th annual Antique Boat Show and Race Boat Reunion. The boat's owner is Jean Hoffman of Lake George. More than 150 boats participated in the 30th annual Antique Boat Show and Race Boat Reunion held last weekend at the Buffalo Launch Club. Grand Island remembers Sept. 11, 2001 Even today, six years after the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001, the nation suffers. Grand Island remembered the victims in a ceremony at Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Post No. 9249 on Tuesday, a ceremony that honored the memory of the victims of terrorist attacks and the courage of the troops fighting the war on terror around the world. '■"'." Guest speaker Town Supervisor Peter McMahon remembered the more than 3,000 people who , died in the attacks, including more than emergency first responders, "400 brave men and women who died in a valiant effort to save others," he said. "Even today, people in New York City are suffering and dying from a lung disease attributed to the dust and the smoke and the chemicals from the World Trade Center collapse," McMahon said. VFW Post Commander Daniel McMahon, pictured left, presides over the Sept. 11 memorial ceremony Tuesday. Pictured above right, Edward Komowski, far right, presents a flag to McMahon, center, commander of VFW Post 9249, that was carried to the all three sites of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 .Town Supervisor Peter McMahon, left, was guest speaker at a Sept. 11 ceremony on Tuesday. SEE BOAT, continued on page 2 Linda yW|fc.| Kufzbaeh - Associate Broker "* # S * 628-1719 EHll Mm; the othe*7 / I £*UiofSM-mdepc!!denlly | I « North oftied & opernW j :lI|H|IUMiyUjI  UialiilimfiiiMiißilt*il*lBiiii*iwi'_wgggs__^_)___W_m\aTaammmmmm——m^mm: Coif Joan for a I IBBBf FRK No Obligation '■ iBBI Market Analysis j I Ion your home ; ! joaml!ugokinski@ceittury2lxom j