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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-08-30, Page 12New Items 10% + No Tax = 25% SPECIAL TABLE OF NEW ITEMS 50% off 2 1/2 miles north of Brussels on Cty. Rd. 12 WHEELS DECORATING PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1995. 53 years of music continues with Generation II A Walton couple is carrying on a family tradition of making music in their new band, Generation II. Keith and Gloria Wilbee and their two boys, live on a farm just outside the village of Walton, Ontario. They arc the second generation of a family that has played in this area since 1942. Keith's grandmother Edna Wilbee was a well known Ethel-area music teacher, who decided to form a band called The Victory Orchestra with her two sons, Ken and Ian. Eventually the brothers had two bands. The Ken Wilbee Orchestra was well known for his dance music at Park View Gardens, Listowel. Younger brother, Ian and his wife, Elva started their band in 1958 and played until November 1994 sharing 36 years of music together. Many young local musicians began their music career with Ian and Elva Wilbee, among them Barry and Chuck Smith of the Royalaires. When Ian and Elva's three children were old enough, each joined the band. Daughter, Carol, played tenor saxophone and sang, son, Keith, played tenor sax, alto sax, trumpet and drums and Brian played tenor sax, making it unique as an all family band. Keith's wife was the former Gloria Hart, a Mitchell-area girl. She sang with a Stratford band called the Tee Keys in the late 70s. Gloria has appeared on local television stations CKNX, Wingham's Circle 8 Ranch and CKCO Kitchener's children's program Tree House with the late Danny Couglin. She recorded a record album in 1978 at the Mercey Brother's Studio. Her single from that album I Like Country, a song V Gloria wrote, was played on radio stations across Canada. Gloria joined the Ian Wilbee Band in 1981 and married their son Keith in August 1982 making the band unique again as two husband and wife teams made up the band along with Keith's younger brother Brian. "Music is a family business that we are very proud of. We think people still appreciate live music, and we would like to carry on the family tradition", they say. Keith and Gloria have used computer technology to create a professional sound combined with live instruments and vocals. "We hope our music has something to satisfy all ages and we are available for weddings, anniversaries and buck and does." Playing a local dance at the Walton Hall in April and another dance for the Liberal candidate John Jewitt in June, the couple got off to a faster start than they had planned and are very happy with the response they have been getting since forming their new band Generation II. This summer they appeared at the Park House in Goderich, and at The Walton Trans Can Moto Cross beer tent. They will be appearing at The Harp and Whistle, an Irish Pub and Restaurant in Kincardine, Saturday, Sept. 2 and on Friday night, Oct. 6 at the Seaforth Fall Fair. "Fifties and 60s music seems to be the most popular in this area," says Keith, "but we also play country, line dance, modem pop and traditional polkas and waltzes." "Usually we look at the crowd," says Gloria, "and try to decide what they might like. It's very important to us to try and please people. We spent a lot of time picking out the most popular songs and making sure that the music was danceable. That's part of our family tradition too," says Keith, "Good dance music." The couple's children are too young to play in the band yet. "We hope they will consider it someday," says Gloria. Kevin has taken violin lessons and won a first and second prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival in Stratford at the age of eight. He is now 10 and takes piano lessons. Mark is eight and he plays-hockey? "Well, he does like to sit at his dad's drums once in a while," says his mom. Keith also farms with his dad and brother as well as working full time as a petroleum driver for the Hensall Co-op. Gloria job shares as part-time activity director at the Mitchell Nursing Home. "Music is our hobby and we love it. Sometimes it's a lot of work too, but it's what we do. We really enjoy entertaining people. Wheels Decorating-the perfect touch for all those special occasions For one Brussels area woman, a business which began just over two years ago has continued to grow and keeps her very busy. Shiriey Wheeler, proprietor of Wheels Decorating, operates the business out of her home, located two and a half miles north of Brussels on County Road 12. Shirley first entered the business of cre- ating exqutsite flower and balloon decora- tions more than five years ago as a partner in Balloon Busters in Seaforth. In January 1993, she began Wheels Dec- orating and continues to produce spectacu- lar ornamentation for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays or anything else worth celebrating. Wheels will decorate for the client or rent the necessary equipment to them. The list of articles which can be rented from her establishment is long, and the numerous hand-crated and uniquely designed items available for purchase are equally impressive. In addition to beautiful bridal party bou- quets, bell clusters and balloon arches (some of the most requested items) avail- able for purchase, Wheels Decorating also offers guest books, plume pens, cake knife and server, sparkle confetti, confetti cards, candles, table coverings, party favours, flower girl baskets and ring bearer cush- ions. Some of the pieces available for rental include: head table arrangements, church baskets, floor or table candelabra, lattice backdrop, large wooden or metal arch, var- ious heart creation, hanging double rings with doves, cake baskets, green and flowering trees and shrubs, candle holders, brandy sniffers and envelope collection receptacles designed as mailboxes, covered baskets, a carriage or a heart. Wheels Decorating's floral arrangements are created of silk or dried flowers in an assort- ment of colors and types.The balloons can be hzlium or air, printed or plain in any colour. Aside from the wedding or anniversary styleThf decorations, Wheels also has gift and craft items such as wicker, vases, mugs, ribbon, tulle, curling ribbon, lace and foil doilies.