Island Dispatch, 1996-03-08

              THE ISLAND DISPATCH  Vol. 52 • No. 48 16 Pages 65c March 8, 1996 Serving Grand Island n—_--i X-Pr7_S£^*^ Dry Cleaners &Sh)rt Laundry 2270 ami laland Blvd. TOWN HALL BQUARE V-mmty OwrmO I OptntKT CALL 77KLEAN or 773-41141 Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year for 1995 by Marion E. Klingel The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has selected 13 individuals and one Business of the Year to honor at its Citizens of the Year dinner, to be held Thursday, March 28 in the Buffalo Launch Club. Honorees are being profiled weekly in the Dispatch. Tickets to the dinner, $25 per person, may be purchased from the Chamber office, 773-3651. ROBERT J. PIATEK will be recognized for his many years of civic service to the town. "I have worked at positions where focus has been on service to the development of relationships and mutual respect. This has provided me with personal satisfaction, and hopefully the respect of those I've encountered," Piatek said in summarizing his civic career. Owner-manager of Multiline Insurance Agency on Grand Island, Piatek has served as school psychologist from 1973--1982, where he has worked with the school district's administration, faculty, students and parents in facilitating learning in the school setting, individually evaluating students and providing individual and group counseling. He has also assisted the special education committee in placing students in the proper educational setting. A Niagara University graduate, be holds a master's degree in educational psychology from the State University College at Brockport, earning first his bachelor's degree from St. John Fisher College in Rochester. Piatek is licensed by the state for property and casualty insurance, and life, health and accident insurance and holds the Legion of Honor, Bronze Table, and Star level agent designations given by the Slate Farm Insurance Company. A past Chamber president, Piatek has been active in many of the organization's committees. He is also a member of the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Mary Star of the Sea Council, St. Stephen's Home School Association, Cardinal O'Hara School Home School Association, and Young Life. A former member of the town Drug and Alcohol Prevention Council and Help Center, he was assistant coach of the Island Soccer Club and Little League as well as an officer of the Full Gospel Fellowship International. Piatek is a lector and Holy Name Society member of St. JOAN A. DROIT earned her bachelor of science and master of science degrees from SUNY College at Buffalo. She has taken additional graduate work at the University of Buffalo, Canisius College and St Rose College. Miss Droit's long association with Grand Island began when she accepted high school band director Bill Pinkow's invitation to join the Grand Island Community Band. She continued as a band member throughout her college career. Because of this positive association, she applied to teach in the Island schools. She was hired and began her career with the opening of Huth Road School. She also taught in the Middle School and is currently teaching English in the High School. Parents and students remember her introducing and advising the safety patrol at Huth Road. She also adapted several children's classics into plays which were performed by her sth grade students. In the Middle School, Miss Droit and a team of teachers introduced outdoor education by talcing students on extended camping trips. She also made it possible for Middle School girls to swim competitively by being a volunteer cbaperone for their meets. Miss Droit believes her greatest contribution to extracurricular life occurred when she assisted High School students in forming the SADD chapter. As the English Department program coordinator, she actively and successfully pursued acquiring a computer lab at the High School. The writing lab concept the administration allowed her to develop with a team of English and technology teachers became a model for other schools in Western New York. Miss Droit's professional community, and cultural activities are diverse. She was named to the GfTA executive WILLIAM "KESTER" BLEICH, Navy Veteran, and a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, has been married for 42 years to Grand Island native Jean Webb Bleich and is the father of Wayne, Deborah, Bryan and Cindy. He also has seven grandchildren. Bleich was one of the co-founders of Grand Island's Adult Recreation Program, going to work during the day and playing, organizing and coaching baseball evenings and weekends. For 35 years, he was employed by the New York Telephone Company. He is now retired and continues to give of his talents as a coach and organizer for men's and women's teams. A few years ago, Bleich was presented with a well-earned Voluntary Service Award. This award is given to a person who shows unselfish service as a volunteer in recreation on the Niagara Frontier for a period of three years or more. To many on the Island, Bleich is known as "Mr. Recreation" and for good reason. He has coached and/or managed as well as played men's slow pitch so ft ball, men's fast pitch softball, teens/women's slow pitch softball, men's basketball, men's "30 and ,over" basketball, men's volleyball, men's slow pitch softball Erie County tournament teams and men's volleyball Erie County tournament teams. After 20 years, he is now retired from active umpiring but continues to manage and schedule all the umpires used in the Grand Island softball games. He has helped the Grand Island recreation director in many ways, including lending assistance in winter carnivals, Fourth of July parades, teen Halloween parties and Grand Island road races. Over the years. Bleich has demonstrated his sincere and dedicated devotion to all aspects of Grand Island recreation. Robert J. Piatek Civic Joan A. Droit Education William "Kester" Bleich Recreation CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 CONTINUED ON PACE 4