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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-06-17, Page 15crougoot LATE ARRIVAL — Bob Wright of SWOOP (South Western Ontario Organization of Parachutists) dropped in a little late at a Chamber of Commerce meeting held at Pineridge Zoo Tuesday night. Wright floated over the zoo's tree tops and landed safely in zookeeper Ted Relouw's front yard. Board sailing Continued from page IA of the board sailer, which weren't too difficult to remember. You have to know the front of the board from the back of the board — which is easy because the front end is pointed. You also have to recognize the sail. The rope with which you pull up the sail is the up - haul, and the things you hang on to while you are sailing are booms. Once I had everthing down pat on land, we moved into the water. This is where the lesson started to get a little tricky. The board sailer was firmly anchored to a tether line, to prevent the rookie student from sailing off to sea unwittingly. First I kneeled on the board. After many tries and many falls into the cold lake, I stood on the board. (After those first few shaky attempts, I considered stan- ding on the board a real feat.) Next came the tough part — the circling drill. Kim ex- pected me to walk around the board sailer in circle, while holding the sail. We kept at it until after many splashes, I was able to make the rounds in both directions with out falling off. The circling drill enables the sailor to move the sail, and change direction. Next came time to grasp the boom, and make like you're sailing. Nothing to it, except that I was still tied to the teather line and not mov- ing. Kim untied the line, and I was away. He sailed on his own board alongside, calling out in- structions to keep me afloat. Most times his hints worked, sometimes they didn't and I ended up in the water. It's hard to believe you are actually moving — the ride is so quiet and smooth. But a quick look at the shore in- dicates how fast you are travelling. That half hour of skimming was well worth all the falls in the previous hour. Before I knew it, it seem- ed like I was halfway across Lake Huron. In my attempt to turn around and tack my way back to shore, I ended up in the water. Again. Kim and Richard are right. Board Sailing is not strenuous. It's just climbing back on the board after all those falls that wears you out. Fortunately Kim was theretotow me back to shore after the last fall. Meet at zoo Times -Advocate, June 17, 1981 Page 3A Skydiver drops in on chamber meeting One member of the Chamber of Commerce dropped in on Tuesday's meeting a few minutes late. That's not unusual. What is unusual is the fact that he literally dropped in. Bob Wright, of the SWOOP club (South Western Ontario Organization of Parachustists) jumped from an airplane and landed just a few hundred feet from the Chamber meeting. The chamber was holding their meeting at Pineridge Zoo Pjust south of Grand Bend. rior to the meeting, Chamber members looked at the animals. Wright landed safely among the trees on zookeeper Ted Relouw's front lawn. His arrival at the meeting came among com- ments from other members, such as "Glad you could drop in," "How was the traf- fic?" and "You didn't hit any stoplights." Wright arrived just as his name came up on the agen- da, and spoke briefly to the other Chamber members. He said SWOOP will be jum- ping on the beach at Grand Bend every Wednesday evening and on weekends, to publicize their group and try to attract new members. He said that they had received permission from council to jump on the beach on the weekends, if they in turn did the Wednesday night jumps to draw people into the village in the mid week. Wright asked the Chamber if they would help cover some of the costs of the Wednesday night jumps. be- cause it was promoting Grand Bend He said that council was going to pay for adver- tisements in the Times - Advocate. He estimated that it cost $5 each for four peo- ple to make the jumps, mak- ing a total of $20 every Wednesday. The Chamber voted to donate $200 to the SWOOP group to help cover the costs. The chamber also voted to donate $200 to the Busy Bee program. The Busy Bees is a playground program spon- sored by Grand Bend council and the Ministry of Culture and Recreation. It operates daily during the summer in the parkette behind the village hall, adjacent to the new washrooms and showers and the municipal parking lot. Dennis Snider, a new Chamber member, and a member of the village coun- cil and rec committee, out- lined the Busy Bee program. Snider said that funds were needed to cover the costs of craft items for the children. Two supervisors have been Mary's musings hired, and along with an assistant, they hope to look after about 30 children a day. Snider said that businessmen will benefit, as parents will have a place to leave children while they go shopping. The Chamber also voted to let the SETOC (School is Essential to Our Community Committee) purchase a gift for principal Betty Fitchett who is leaving. The SETOC group solicited funds from the Chamber and other area service groups to work to keep the local school open, when the board threatened to close it due to declining enrolment. SETOC sent a list of expenses outlining how funds were spent. Presi- dent Mac Dunlap praised the SETOC group for their work, A visit to Wonderland Continued from page lA ly, they've only been having 10,000 a day, and I'm sure the crowd last Wednesday was much less than that. But they'll be able to han- dle the crowds once they come. They have long maze - like arrangements to keep line-ups in order. Fortunate- ly, we were able to skip right by these mazes, which would keep people waiting in two hour lines. Perhaps Canada's Wonderland is not as awe- inspiring as Florida's Disneyworld. But give it time, I'm sure Disneyworld wasn't so great in its first season either. They don't have anything that equals Disneyworld's Haunted House, or Pirates of the Caribbean. But instead of the animated figures, Canada's Wonderland offers live entertainment. In what seems to be a copy of the Pirates of the Carib- bean, Canada's Wonderland puts on a display of a pirate battle, but with live actors. The battle takes place at various intervals throughout the day, in the middle of a pond in Medieval Faire. We enjoyed the show, which featured a lot of acrobatic stunts, but a little four year old friend who went with us was terribly frightened by the realistic booming can- nons. There is also a live musical revue which is put on throughout the day at Canterbury Theatre. It's a salute to Hollywood, called Those Magnificent Movies. Scenes from old favourites like The Wizard of Oz and Oklahoma!, right through to The Rose are performed. All ages enjoyed it. and it was nice just to sit down in the cool, comfortable theatre for 45 minutes. You have to check your schedule closely, to catc.rall these shows. We missed the trained dolphin and seal show at the Saltwater Cir- cus, and the parrot and bird show was rained out. I would advise visitors to climb the mountain first. Then you can get your bearings, and see all the sights. From there you can decide which rides you want to catch. There's bound to be something for everyone. We also enjoyed the Zum- ba Flume -- a water rollercoaster, much like the Flume made famous at Expo 67.'The log style boats seat six. Try not to sit on the front seat -- it seems to take most of the splashes. Now for our complaints the continuous marching band music blar- ing from a million speakers hidden in every nook and cranny drove us crazy after the first few hours. I think we heard "Scotland the Brave" 15 times that day. They're certainly not going for the soothing effects of Musak. And the other complaint I would like to make is on behalf of our four year old friend. While he loved Hap- pyland with Yogi Bear and Fred Flintstone where most of the rides are aimed at kids his size. he did have problems seeing what was going on in the other parts of the park. Too many of the walls and fences are built chest high on adults, and way over a four year old's head. He found the climb up the mountain boring and tedious, because he couldn't see any of the sights over the wall. His Mom spent much of her time picking him up to satisfy his curiosity. The same thing happened when we were in line for the Zumba Flume. Half of the fun is watching other riders come splashing down, with their mouths open. But a wooden fence prevented young Joshua from seeing the action. I'd like to suggest they put in peek holes for the small fry. And about the cost -- well, four adults and one four year old managed to spend over $100 between 1:00 and 9:00 p.m. in one day. We had a lot of fun, too, so who's to say what's a reasonable price. We each purchased the 12 attraction coupon books as a cost of $11.95 per adult and $10.95 for the little boy. (That price is for children 3 - 8, and seniors.) We didn't even use up all our coupons. either. For those who jump off rides and then run to line up to do it all over again. I'd recommend the one day un- limited passport for $17.95. The food prices weren't out of line. We nibbled and drank throughout the day. A big glass of lemonade was 65 cents, and a large soft ice cream cone was the same price. We enjoyed a spare ribs and chips dinner for $4.25. Perhaps the one item we purchased which was over priced, was a little stuffed Yogi Bear for $12.95. But it made one four year old boy very happy. and suggested that they throw a party with the ex- cess funds, after they purchase the gift. Toby Tyler of Knapp's Amusement Park announced that Tuesday night's were now going to be' Optimists nights at the amusement centre. Any proceeds from the park, after expenses are paid, are going to be donated to Optimist youth work in the community. The Chamber finalized plans for Canada Day ac- tivities in Grand Bend The biggest display of fireworks ever held in Grand Bend will be shown on the beach July 1. In order to keep crowds in- terested the chamber decid- ed to hire a marching band to parade down the street and entertain until it becomes dark enough for fireworks. The chamber voted to hire the New Dundee German Band at a cost of $425 The band dresses in clown -type costumes. and plays oompa music. Secretary treasurer Bob Simpson said that they entertain children, and give people something to do while waiting for dark. Gene Grenier is in charge of the fireworks. Grenier an- nounced that he isn't con- cerned about bad weather. "We'll knock the clouds out of the sky with the fireworks," he said. At the meeting it was an- nounced that the chamber now has 54 paid up members. EKEY1O EASIER BANKING ThE COMMERCE ‘1grKEYACCOUNT •E�1 The Commerce Key 'Ir" Account is more than a per- sonal bank account. It's a package of all the personal banking services you are likely to need. Approved Key Account holders receive a Commerce VISA* Card and free custom personalized cheques; plus overdraft protection with Covercheck, unlimited chargeless chequing, cheque cashing privileges at any <1) Commerce Branch in Canada. And they never pay service charges for money orders, drafts, and bill pay- ing. All for one low monthly fee! 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