Island Dispatch, 1994-03-11

              THE ISLAND  DISPATCH March 11, 1994 24 Pages 50c Vol. 50 -No. 49 Chamber To Honor 1993 Citizens Of The Year The following outstanding citizens and seven others will be recognized for their achievements in the Grand Island community at the annual Citizens of the Year dinner hosted by the Chamber of Commerce Thursday, March 24 at the Buffalo Launch Club. Tickets are available at the Chamber, 1763 Baseline Rd„ 773-3651. LARRY Playfair has devoted much of his time through the years to various charities and organizations. His goal is to make Grand Island "a better place for our children to grow up in." Larry believes that the opportunity for recreation is an important element in a child's life. An organizer of the successful golf tournament last summer to benefit the development of Veterans Park, Larry says he hopes to have it continued on an annual basis "to keep making our Island facilities places our kids can be proud of." A resident of Grand Island for IS years, Larry played 12 years in the National Hockey League, nine of them with the Buffalo Sabres where be gained fame for his prowess. Presently he is an analyst on the Sabres radio broadcasts. Larry and his wife, the former Jayne VanderVoort, have four children: Jena, six; Michael, five; Dennis, two; and Anna, who is six months old. STACEY Ann Schroeder is a 1992 graduate of Grand Island High School where she was a National Honor Society Member, on the honor roll for four years, recipient of the PTSA Academic Award and cited as Outstanding Art Student. CurrenUy she is a sophomore at the University of Florida. Stacey's athletic honors include being named to the USA Today's Girls National Track Team, the state's Female Athlete of the Year, Empire State Games Champion, Keebler Invitational (Chicago) gold medalist and Gatorade Circle Champion. At Florida University she has won five consecutive shot/discus titles, was Collegiate All American as a freshman and currently holds the second best all-time Florida throw in discus at 180 feet, one inch. Stacey was a gold medalist in the Boston Classic earlier this year and the only university athlete to compete in the Mellro.se Games. She is looking forward to the Empire State Games' and to competing at the Olympic Festival and (roodwill Games. Grand Island is proud of Stacey Ann and the fame she has brought to the town. MEK COUNCILMAN James R. Sharpe, re-elected to a second term on the town board in November, has for much of the past four years directed the development of a town parks and recreation plan and the update of the Master Plan. Owner of James R. Sharpe Associates, Jim is a member of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Medical Center Advisory Group, BOCES Advisory Council, City of Tonawanda-Grand Island Teachers Center and the Kcnmore-Tonawanda Adult Education Board. He is also a founder and member of the Landing Homeowners Association, Island School District Technology Committee, GIRO and Grand Island Historical Society as well as other town organizations and committees. The councilman is 'co-founder of the Erie County Concerned Citizens,i past president of the Grand Island Taxpayers Association and for two years served on the subcommittee of the Consumers Federation of America. Jim and his wife Carol are the parents of a son, Eric. The family attends Trinity United Methodist Church. MEK Larry Playfair Recreation Stacey Ann Schroeder Outstanding Athlete James R. Sharpe Government