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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-08-31, Page 26Page 14A Times -Advocate, August 31,1988 Exotic animals on show at Pineridge Zoo By Yvonne Reynolds The 22 -acre setting is a typical rural Ontario bush, -but many of the furred or feathered residents are walk under i L anopy of trees you can see a tiger, a lion, a leopard, a cougar, a jaguar, a large brown bear, a yak family, llamas with pens. for his 17 varieties 01 pheas- ants and 18- kinds of ducks. and geese. • Gradually he began to acquire some four -legged specimens, be-- ginning e=ginning with a herd of fallow deer. The collection kept growing, and Rclouw kept -building more pens. (He also kept planting trees, adding more than 4,000 white pines and spruce. Of the 1,500 planted this. spring, only a handful survived the drought.) The Pineridge'Zoo opened offi- cially in 1970, and now draws 30,000 visitors a year, about 45 percent from the -US, Many are re- peat customers, who come at least once each season. School tours have come from Kincardine, Listowel, Sarnia and London. .r "Most children are well behaved, but I can tell as soon as a group walks- in which kid I have to watch", Relouw said: He warns the children about staying on the right side of the guard rails. If a child disobeys, he is asked to comd and A TREAT - Ted Relouw, owner of th monkey a candy. natives of more exotic climes. At. the Pineridge . Zoo, a few short minutes south of Grand Bend on Highway 21, shaded footpaths lead past a large variety of clean. and comfortably housed bird and ani- mal species that originated in fara- way lands. Just inside the gate -is Squeaky, the rhesus monkey. Those who disregard the warning not to go • past the guardrail may wish they hadn't. The mischievous creature can snatch one's glasses from one's nose, or the bracelet fromone's wrist, quicker than you can say 'monkeyshines". One young lady clad in shorts and a halter top sud- denly found herself topless a few years ago. During a pleasant, leisurely e Pineridge Zoo, gives Squeaky the their four -week-old offspring, a herd- of . wild goats, baboons, wolves, huge South American.por- cupines, mom and dad monkey and - their cherished baby that arrived on Mother's Day, plus a -host of other animals as'wcll as pcacocks,.nceas (smaller cousins of the ostrich), wild turkeys, finches, crimson ro- scllas,. parakeets and other parrot - type birds, a nd'.g.;esc and black swans on the pond. A boa and a python look back at you through the glass windows in their pens. - Owner Tcd Rclouw explains that his zoo 'came into being more by accident than design. He bought the bush lot next to his home back in 1962 to provide room for his ever-expanding hobby of raising birds. He needed more room for JOKE - Zoo visitors following...is sign are headed for a surprise. wait at the entrance until the tour is over. Such precautions have pre- vented any serious accidents over thc last 18 years. There has been only one monkcybite during that time, and the victim was Tcd Rc- TRY ANTIQUE TSF FRESHER Grace-McCahon_is ready to feed a sheaf into an antique threshing machine dur- ing the weekend Rural Nostalgia Days at the t,ambton Heritage Museum -Looking on are husband Herb and son Jim along with thresher owner Ernest Roadhouse. News from around av MRS. HUGH MORENZ • Mrs. Elda Adams rcturnzd home on the weekend after a two-wcck holiday to the West Coast. She was accompanied by her daughter and son-in-law, Pauline and Don 1lcndrick of Wyoming. Thcy flew from Toronto to Edmonton, rcntcd a van and drove to Vancouver, where they attended the wedding on August '19 of a friend, Karri Nicole Price to Kevin W. Flynn, at Cres- cent United Church in Suny H.C. Reception was held at Fantasy Gar- den World.. Elda's granddaughter, Pam Hen- drick was one of the bridesmaids. She said it was a very beautiful wedding with so many lovely flow- ers. Aftcr the wedding they took the ferry boat ride to Vancouver Island and spent two days in Victoria, where they had a tour of the city, saw the Parliament buildings and • Butchart Gardens. While there they visited friends, Herb and Betty Johnson, of Cordo- va Bay. These arc former Ontario folks, who retired to Victoria last • year. Thcy travelled by van back to Calgary, where they saw Lakc Louise, Banff, Jasper and many more western scenic spots, then flew home from Calgary to Toron- to, last Saturday. Elda said the weather was lovely during their va- cation. Fifty-seven members of the Plaj'- house Guild held their August noon luncheon at Captain's Cove, Bay- field, last week. Mr. and Mrs. Doug Burns of Pc jtcrborough are holidaying at Huron .�r Vista, and have been visiting Mrs. Irene Kennedy. . A number of Church of God members attended the Provincial Camp meetings held last week in Thamesford from August 20 to 26. Gast speaker was Rev. Paul Tan- ner, of Anderson, Indiana, who was a former pastor in London. Iliman reunion . The Illman annual family reunion was hold in the Pinedale Subdiv. G.B. last Saturday and Sunday. Bob, Kitty, Carrie and Maggi were joined by relatives from as far away as L.A., California. Don and Marg .Allman, Chatham, Doug Illman,- L.A., Bob and Kitty, G.B., Gord and Charlene Illman, Burlington, and Barb and Kevin Capcling, Chat- ham, and children Sarah, Meredith, Matthew, Carrie, Maggi Illman and Kyle ,Capcling enjoyed Sunday lunch at Oakwood. • Also a lively campfire, pictures and family skits of the growing years were thor- oughly enjoyed by all. Coming •Events The Community Bible study group will hold their first meeting on September 13 at Saublc Court, at 9:30 a.m. All ladies welcome to attend. • •The first fall meeting of Grand Bend Golden Age Club will be Sep- tcmbcr 7 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John's Parish hall. We welcome visitors and newcomers to our meetings which feature speakers, pictures, games and programs. United Church Women will hold their first fall meeting September 8, in the S.S. rooms at 1:30 p.m. La- dies please note the roll call to something you have canned, jammed or grown to exchange. United Church Due to early morning rain show- ers the service at Grand Bend United Church was held indoors with a good aftcndancc. Guest pastor was Rev. Earl Burr, a former local resident of this area. • the Bend His message was "Good news for the middle aged." Special music at the service was by Mrs. Leona Walters of Wyo- ming. .Her numbers, sung to re- corded music, were "We are the rea- son", a medley of "A mighty fortress, Rock of Ages, Victory in Jesus and Because He Loves." Hcr second two numbers were, "When answers aren't enough" and "In Heaven's eyes." We enjoyed her lovely singing voice and she received hearty ap- plause. Rev. K. (Teddy) Smits, our inter- im pastor is on vacation until Sep- tember 15. Minister for September 4 will be Rev. Robert Peebles for both Greenway and Grand Bend, with an- othei guest musician; Grand Bend United Church Sun- day School will begin on Sunday. September 11. Catholic Women League Winners in the Catholic Womens League quilt draw held recently -were: hand-knit sweater - won by Joanne Smits; R.R. 6, Forest; hand -made afghan - won by Mrs. Dina Kclders, R.R. 2, Grand Bend, and lovely hand -made quilt - won by Mrs. lyladge Costello, of South- cott Pines. Congratulations ladies. Still time for registration GRAND BEND - All those in- terested players who missed the mi- nor hockey registration last Satur- day in Parkhill at the NM arena will be able to sign up at Sharen Realty, Grand Bend, on Wednesday, September 7 from 7 until 9 p.m. • Bring your birth certificate and OHIP numbers. 1 louw. The nipper was a pet mon- key. The big cats are a main attraction. All have been bred and raised in captivity, and are declawed. The lion was a bottle baby 17 years ago; the tiger is only two. The kits are fed regular human baby formula. "They are not vicious. They could play you to death though. You have to respect big animals", Rclouw observed. The cougar is a favourite of Re- louw's 15 -year-old son Gary, who, bottle-fed the animal when it was a cub. Now the sight of Gary sets off a purr as loud as an idling car. • All caged animals are exotic. Many of the domesticated fowl and rabbits scratching and .hopping around the zoo have been pushed under the gate at night by people who have tired of their pets, or are. closing up the cottage at summer's end. Weasels and cats that have .gone wild cause the most trouble at Pine - ridge. Weasels killed all the penned pheasants last year. Ingested plastic bags are another killer wiping out most of the deer herd and a pair of black swans. The animals come through the winter very well; as long as they have shelter, they can withstand the cold. Only the monkeys are brought inside, then put back out the week before Mothers Day to get acclimatized before the zoo once again opens for business. Relouw figures he spends about S30,000 a year feeding his Menage- rie. The bears and monkeys go through six bushels of apples and 50 20 -kilogram bags of dog kibble a week. The cats dine on dead tur- keys and chickens picked up at arca farms. The food bill goes down in the summer, as zoo visitors buy tits to feed some of the inhabi- nts. The Pineridge Zoo will be open daily until after Labour Day. It will then be .open only on weekends. But, whether open or closed, you can bet that Ted Rclouw will 'be there "13 hours a day, seven days a week", because "I enjoy animals". IN THE PEN ridge 7oo. - Rheas and wild turkeys share the. same- pen at the Pine - PALS - The cougar. who with her friend. was bottle-fed by Gary Relouw, enjoys a .visit Fall activities in Stanley By JOAN BEIERLING VARNA - The Stan -Lee Club will begin Fall Activities on Tues- day, September 6. They will meet at the Stanley Complex at 7:30 p.m. and then proceed to Bayfield for a tour of Penhale's Wagon and Carriage Shop, through the courte- sies of Tom and Rick, returning to the complex about 9 p.m. • • Former members and new mem- bers are most welcome and they -would really like to have new mem- bers come. Stanley Township has many eligible folks and you do not have to be 65 to loin nor does your spouse. Membership fee is $2 per year. $1 gots to the local club, and $1 goes to the United Seniors Citizons of Ontario. U.S.C.O. works very hard for seniors in Ontario, contrib- uting greatly in securing ways to help seniors with OHIP premiums, drug plans, housing, legal aid, etc. The membership fee to U.S.C.O. is well spent, so if you enjoy a nice social evening, come along. U.C.W. meeting Varna U.C.W. meeting is to be held Thursdlay _Septcmbcr 8 at 8 p.m. at the Varna -Church:—hues speaker will be Mary Sehl from • Godcrich. She is an associate 'of the Children's Services and the co- ordinator of the Committee on Child Abuse in Huron County. This should be very interesting, so plan to attend. Regular Church Services will • Shipka �- by Mrs. ugh Morenz SHIPKA - Sue Anne Schroeder left Monday, August.29 for Germa- ny. While she lived and,worked in Ottawa for the past several years, she was employed in a government translation office, and is fluent in French. She took night school courses in' Ottawa and won a bur- sary to study German. She will be studying at Schwabisch hall, for an indeterminate time. We wish her luck, and happiness in this new ad- venture. Mrs. Evan Swcitzcr and Mrs. Marilyn Pickering and her grand- son, Justin, have returned from a week's' holidays in Welland, visit- Lng the girls' mother, Mrs. Elsie Comfort, their sisters, nieces and nephews. Personals Lorne and Dorothy Fenner recent- ly returned from a l0 -day sightsee- ing motor trip to Prince Edward is- land. They drove around the Gasp'c Peninsula, stopped in Halifax and visited Anne of Green Gables' home. Those from this area who attend- ed Church of God Provincial Camp meetings held August 20-26 at Thamesford were Fcrmon and Lcota Snyder, Harold and Lucille Vincent and family. A large number from this arca were in Zurich last Saturday, enjoy- ing the many activities and the good supper at the annual • Bean Festival. continence for Varna -Goshen on. September .4 . and Sunday School will bcgin.ori Septcmbcr 11. Pancake breakfast The Stanley Township Annual Pancake Breakfast is to be held Sat- urday, September 3 from 7-11 p.ni. Everyone Wciciime' While there, you can'also shop or Int nvsc. around at the Community Yard and Bake -Sale starting at 9 a.m. at the Ball Diamond right- next door to the complex. Anyone into re stedin set ting up a booth should contact Deb Rathwcll at 233-9153. The proceeds from the bake sale • go to help support ibe Bayfield Mi- nor Hockey, who arc looking for more Pec Wee hockey players. Despite the miserable weather on August 23, the . Stanley Tykes played their parents. Everyone cn- joycd the game and -on September 4 at 1 p.m. the parents will have the opportunity to improve their score When thcy play the Tykes once again. . . Tournaments The .Pee Wcc Girls had their ball tournament in Blyth over the week- end; Thcy played three games.. Thcy won the first two, and the -tIm—ToAtigaittwCoderick Iii 'ave them the "A" Championship. 01 - gratulations girls! Their coaches arc Jean Horton and Elaine Stcphcn- son. • The Bantam -Midget Boys lost their first guns and won inctr sec- ond one which put them into the. "B" category but unfortunately they lost their third one which put them out. Annual Family Day Please remember Sunday, Sep- tember 4 is the Annual Family Ball Game and Pot -Luck Picnic Supper at the Stanley •Ball Diamond. Please return your ball shirts that day and those- teams tlrat won, come -pre= pared for pictures. The schedule for this day is: Diamond A Diamond 13 1:00 T -Ball Tykc Boys 1:30 Alitc Girls Mite Boys, 2:30 Squirt Girls Squirt Boys 3:30 Pcc Wcc Boys Pee Wcc Girls 4:30 Bantam Boys Midget Girls Kids vs. 'Parent and Pot Luck supper at 5:30 p.m. Come on out and enjoy a fun day with your fami- ly! Personals Marg and Mervin Ilayter have just returned home from a ten day visit -with their daughter and son-in- law, Darlene and Marshall Babych in Salmon Arms, B.C. . John and Erncly Coultis and fam- ily spent four days camping near Wiarton. ----Congratulations to Raymond and I feather Bcierling Pirwirming severr_ al prizes for their exhibits at the Hayfield Fair. Final regular bingo attracts large crowd GRAND BEND - A great crowd and successful evening ended thc fi- nal rt.gular night of bingo for 1988. Jackpot winner was Maryann ---144eksweietith the 50/50 dr, won by Myra Harter. Eye. and El. Gowing wish to thank all the faith ful players for attending, including those wonderful pcopfc who donated their help t� make it such a great success. On August 26 the winners of the meat drawswcre Pat Romphf, Brian Hitchcock who won kw ice, Judy Roane and Liz Lcatherland. Cord Wulf... 1 ystery prise. ' Remember to pick up your tick- ets for the ,Grand Cove Revue in "Flying High". It's coming to the Legion Branch 498 on Monday, September 19. ROPE MAKERS - Lambton Heritage Museum curator Bob Tremain shows how to make rope during the weekend's Rural Nostalgia Days with help from Margaret and James Logue and their mother Helga.