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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-08-10, Page 44 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesda , ' tut 10, 2011 t1(oshoro Advance PUBLISHED WEEKLY P.O.BOX 1195 58 Ontario St., North Grand Bend ON NOM 1TO phone: 519-238-5383 fax: 519-238-5131 email: ladvance®bowesnet.com SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher/ Advertising Manager nd ittordGbowesnet. com LYNDA NIU.MAN-RAPLEY Editor IadvanceGbo wesnet. tom STEVE NORTHEY Advertising Sales MARK STEPHEN Advertising Sales JULIE NARRISON iypeeetting/Classffieds KATHY YOUNG Accounts Receivable WWWeialteshoreadvance,com SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular $39.95 (38.0541 90 GST Online subscriptions available—same rates Publications Mall Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO LAKESHORE ADVANCE CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.0. Box 1195 58 Ontario St North Grand Bend ON NOM 1 TO Fot any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519.238.5383 e•maN: IadvanceOboweenet.com Changes 01 a0dtosa, orders tor subscriptions, and undeliverable copies (retum MOO plNnnteed) am to be sent to Lakeshore Advance at the address Indicated here. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item together with a reseonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertise- ment te* be paid at the applicable rates. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Hind (CPP) for our publishing activities. Canada Monter of d51unti Aoc� NhnpeMaodsSse and tM ontarfo Community New104pen Mancinnon editorial Summer theatre is a gift Summer theatre is a gift this area does not take for granted. After reading James Murphy's book "Huron Country Playhouse Memo- ries of Starting it" about the trials and tribulations of starting a theatre in Grand Bend- 1 want to embrace the courage and determination of those who knew this lake -side community could and would be a future summer theatre destination and to those who have continued to make that happen. Today, Huron Country Playhouse is part of Drayton Entertainment's fleet of six theatres. The Guild now and always has been a constant reminder of how hard work and ded- ication make it work. The crews and casts of yesteryear- after Murphy and before Drayton have been stepping- stones to what we have today. Sumner theatre in Grand Bend is a magical time where we are invited to sit back, relax and be entertained. Music, drama, a world far, far away from home- on a stage, in a ham, in the middle of nowhere. We are fortu- nate that James Murphy was tena- cious in his wants and dreams. This may have been the first step to bring- ing culture of this caliber to the area. Although he has not seen the changes of today, Murphy knows how important summer theatre is today, as he knew it in his heart in the 1970s. The purchase of one ticket will allow you to begin your journey to the magic of live theatre, as it has done for thousands of patrons for forty years. From the Tower Scott Ruddle Lakeshore Advance "Lots of pretty flags, I wonder what they mean?" There are many flags that we fly down at the beach and they all have important messages to pass along to our beach visitors. The first flag many people see as they drive down Main Street is the big Canada Flag at the turn around in front of the bath- house. Although very beautiful with the lake as a backdrop, this flag can give us a great deal of information. It will show us wind direction and give us an indication of wind speed. Many times this flag has given me a clue to wave height, wave direction, water currents, and other hazards while l'm still waiting up at the stoplights. The Canada Flag also makes a great landmark to help orient children so that they might not get lost on the beach. The next set of flags people might see is a shorter white flag pole on the sand in front of the bathhouse. This pole flies the Blue Flag and the Beach Patrol water con- dition color flag. The Blue Flag is some- thing we can really be proud of and you can learn more at www.blueflag.org. It shows a commitment to environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, safety, and services. There are three water condition color flags and these are flown on the white flag pole and off of each occupied lifeguard tower. Green indicates safe swimming conditions. Yellow tells people that they should use caution while in the water. There are many reasons that the Beach Patrol will fly a yellow flag and if you are not sure of the hazard the best thing is to ask one of the patrol members. Some of the hazards are, strong currents, increased wave height, fog, approaching stones, and winds blowing off shore toward the mid- dle of the lake. This flag is separate from the caution sign that alerts people that high bacteria can occur after a storm. Red flags are flown when it is not safe to go into the water and NO SWIMMING IS ALLOWED! (Egad to emphasize that last point. It always surprises ale when people walk through a line of red flags and swim where the currents will sweep them away. Even a five year old knows that red flag means stop or danger, not a place to hang your towel on.) The final flag I'd like to mention is the red and yellow swim zone flags. The Beach Patrol sets these up at the outer edge of the portion of the beach that they are inten- sively protecting that day. Patrons are encouraged to swim between the flags. The swine zone markers are set up to keep swimmers away from some hazards and are set at a distance that if you get into trouble a lifeguard can reach you quickly. The swim zone can change through the day as conditions change, so keep watch- ing to make sure you are in the zone. So look at the flags as you arrive, watch for changes through the day, and ask the Patrol if you have questions. Stay close and stay safe. Scott Ruddle is a 1 4 -year member of the Grand Bend patrol team www.lakeshoreadvance.com Sands of Time Lynda Hillman-Rapley Editor, Lakeshore Advance Should restaurants ban children When is it okay to ban children from res- taurants? It is not unusual to ban smoking or pets from our favorite eateries, but what about when the owner wants to ban children under six? A restaurant in Pennsylvania made head- lines in July when the owner decided to no longer allow kids under six years old to dine at his establishment. He was quoted as say- ing the child may be the centre of your uni- verse but he/she is not the centre of the uni- verse. He says children have become a nuisance to his regular customers. While he doesn't dislike children, he said, he feels that allowing them to scream at a public dinner table is "the height of being impolite and selfish." There are Facebook and other social net- working sites for and against. Some feel it should be the complainers who are banned while others say they have heard enough cus- tomer complaints -so its time to ban the kids. Parents want to dine out like everyone else. After all, restaurants are public places. Fast food- play area themed establishments are not always the dining preference with people with kids. Some parents insist the misbehaving -kid issue is not only exagger- ated- but also a myth. Is there a difference between babies who cry because that is how they communicate -and toddlers who should he taught how to behave in a public place? In my experience of being a restaurant patron or even working in restaurants 1 have rarely heard the whaling curdling whales of a child. l hardly ever witness the children who are permitted to run around a busy restau- rant or bother ale at the table. I can't see these as being myths --they are just not situ's tions 1 often experience. A screaming chil 11, a baseball game or on a plane are a diffent matter altogether. At the end of the day- whose responsibility is it to tame these kids? The restaurant sup- plies the crayons and paper. They don't have to do that. Some have children menus and treasure chests. Some do not. It can't possibly he the responsibility of the restaurant to con- trol the children who become unruly as oth- ers are attempting to dine. Whether it is bad enough to ban the little ones- is entirely up to the restaurant.