Island Dispatch, 2008-08-15

              Island Dispatch ¥vr Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 772-7676 Niagara ((n dI fro,,**er \w. Publications proud publishers of Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune www.wnypapers.com 773-7676 $1.00 V01.64 No. 22 August 15, 2008 24 Pages Summer Golf I page 5 1 'Beauty' page 10 Fundraiser j page 16 i Inside The Dispatch Church 6 School 9 Sports 16 Classifieds 18 Crossword .....19 Service Directory 23 Picture Page 24 Art Festival shines, even amid rain by Joshua Maloni Photos by Larry Austin "FreaMn' bizarre." Thafs what one member of the Lewiston Council on the Arts called the weather at the 42nd annual Art Festival on Saturday. At about a quarter to four, participants in the Western New York High School Chalk Walk competition were rushing to finish their murals before the rain set in. As ominous black clouds gathered above Center Street, the event judges scur- ried around as fast as ! they could, trying to pick a winner.With each of the teams and coaches huddled in front of the announcer's table, it began to sprinkle. As lighting was seen above Water Street, the artists and a large crowd nervously waited to heartheresults. Shortly after 4 p.m., LCA board president Jerry Mosey thanked everyone for their patience. "It gets kind of scary when the weather is like this," he said. "We're almost there." Sure enough, he produced the results a few minutes later. Lewiston-PorterLewiston-Porter High School took first place; St. Joe's Collegiate was the People's .Choice Award winner, and Niagara Falls High School the Presidents Choice selection. Perennial ribbon winners Grand Island and Tonawanda were surprisingly shut out this year, the equivalent of Michael Phelps not winning a medal in an Olynipic swimming event. Grand Island High School art teacher and Chalk Walk coach Megan Gaiek said her team of Alissa Bailey, Jenna Hutzler and Chris Jurga "had excellent effort." The students' timeline mural incorporated elements of the Art Festival, the Lewiston Kiwanis Peach Festival, the Seneca Nation of Indians, the Seneca Niagara Casino and Old Fort Niagara. Most notably, it also featured the Toronto skyline., "We look for a visual impact; like that Vow" thing," Gaiek said. Student teams of three drew the murals on the asphalt of Center Street in the Village of Lewiston interpreting the theme of "200 Years of Cultural Diversity." "When we first started, it was really difficult because we were like, Wow, what are we going to do with that?' " Bailey said of the theme, Jenna Hutzler, Alissa Bailey and Chris jurga of Grand Island High School work on their Chalk Walk mural in Lewiston Saturday, (photo by Larry Austin) Animals seized at GI business A Grand Island man faces 17 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty* onecount for each animal, after the Erie County SPCA seized his 12 horses and 5 sheep Tuesday. Peter Sparks of Sparks Trading Post Inc., at 2660 Bedell Road, will answer the charges on Aug. 27 in Grand Island Town Court. Peace officers from the SPCA took the animals after receiving complaints from witnesses. Browning said the charges are misdemeanor violations of state agriculture and markets laws. Each count is punishable by up to one year in jail, she said. According to SPCA spokesperson Gina Browning, the SPCA has made several visits to the Bedell Road location over the last 18 to 20 years following similar complaints. Browning said the preliminary exams have been done on the malnourished animals, which she said are recovering. Further medical tests will be done, including blood work. The animals rescued are still the property of Sparks unless they are surrendered, Browning said. Browning said the SPCA has 11 peace officers with poEce powers servicing Erie County. See page 4 of today's Island Dispatch for a letter in support of Peter Sparks. GI firefighters assist sanitation worker by Chris Russell Grand Island Fire Co. On Tuesday morning, Aug. 12, at approximately 10 a.m., Erie County Sheriffs called the Grand Island Fire Co. to the 700 block of Baseline Road after they received a call of a pedestrian struck by a car. Upon arrival, paramedics and other EMS personnel found a 46-year-old man lying in the street. Initial assessments found him to be unconscious but breathing. Advanced life support was started and the Mercy Flight air ambulance was summoned to transfer the patient to Erie County Medical Center due to the nature of his injuries. Witnesses of the accident stated that the sanitation workers, using their vehicle's warning system, had stopped to load roadside refuse when a pickup truck operated by an elderly Grand Island resident failed to notice the workers on the large truck in front of him. After striking the worker, the pickup truck continued on and struck the truck as i well. The Operator of the pickup was evaluated for injuries | at the scene of the accident but refused care, saying he was only "shaken up." ' . Grand Island Fire Co. turned the scene over to the Erie County Sheriffs Office and returned to service at 10:20 a.m. Mercy Flight and Grand Island Fire Co. responders load an injured sanitation worker into the helicopter for transport to the hospital following an accident on Baseline Road Tuesday, (photo by Ray Pauley) SEE ART, continued on page 2 ■■.A-+^-iy; " UpoumiigFaffFasAioi)ShowatTheSuntmrtMa/ff _Ail lrt.M eno *~ v/mib L- WJMm / *!/»««•. f '• .v-iAj/ ~ '~. , ..,„. ~ „ JO. . CALL JOAN FOR ALL YOUR om. w mmm a . •'««//l/Hrf_ f .-**.*.-■ Setodteedonte£nl,US,asm,Confiteandtee; |Sl|| REAL ESTATE NEEDS DfuglLki W www.lil«lak«lzb«h.«om / t'V*** *Tre I m^r " || 19ailtHlig0lHllSkliyallfla,e9m 310-4238 | | ;ty , ---•-^-I!^^/