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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-05-22, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, May 22, 1991 !NTHFVFWI'i______ Condomery should stay, condominium should go?' By Rhonda Vandeworp GRAND BEND - Like a ritual, hordes of peo- ple from London, Toronto, and Michigan flock to Grand Bend's beaches for the Victoria Day weekend (Huron County folk know when not to go). Each year it looks the same. Traffic jams, loud music, tacky souvenirs, skimpy bathing suits, and wandering male eyes. The Bend appears to be predictable. But have there been changes this year'? Municipal parking is new. Well, new in the fact that one now needs to pay in order to park where one parked last year for free (municipal parking fees are four dollars at one lot and five dollars at another one a block away!). The installation of the GST is new since last year's Victoria Day weekend: a possible mason for a decline in American business claims one shop owner. "GST sucks. We're not going to get much American business, just those who work here and old yachters," he explained. Tightning of the drinking policy is new. Well, not technically, but some visitors believe "Papa Smurf' and "Ranger Rick" (pet names given by some Hamilton youth) have been handing out too many drinking violations this year. As one under -ager remarked, "the drinking pol- icy is too strict this summer. What ever hap- pened to door men who took bribes?" The new addition to the Bend which is causing big controversy amongst some Grand Bend coun- cillors is John Kelly's Condomery, a store that spe- cializes in a variety of condoms. Most of this weekend's beach bums, however, did not find the Condomery offensive, but instead believed the owner identified a market and went after it. One cannot refute that Grand Bend is owned by the high school and university students during the summer (wink, wink). "It's going to be such a great business here.. . Ah, not that I'm going to be there, but I think it's necessary. Guys are nervous, and they won't mind going in there," one Michigan male said. Women are also supportive of this new addition to the string of businesses along the main drag. One 20 -year-old Oakville woman said "it's a good idea because you can buy it as a joke, but you can use it too." She continued to say "it's an issue that needs to be dealt with, and the shop owner is doing that in a humourous way." A majority of the tourists didn't even notice the sex -indulging, prophylactic enterprise. Instead of the condom shop catching everyone's attention, it was the beach's new condominium that was this weekend's biggest controversy. One man from Ottawa admitted, "I didn't even notice the Condomery, but someone did put a real- ly ugly building on the beach." Volleyball - Summer's official sand sport was launched on the weekend. Several tournaments are planned for later In the season. Parking lot used for sleepover spot GRhhND BEND, - 13espite the many' cars that parked on Archie Gibbs" lot, and those on the Beach - place Condominium property, the municipal lots were well used. Although it ended up being an overnight camping ground, com- plete with a couple of tents on the soccer field, the lot operated by the village was busy. "Actually we did very well," said councillor Bill Uniac, the chairman of the parking committee. Those who used the lot at the mu- nicipal building and behind the Le- gion were charged $5 for the day, an additional $5 was collected at night and for overnight parking it was $10. Uniac said the OPP did monitor those cars which stayed overnight. There were still dozens of cars on side streets which, according to signs posted, were illegally parked. "It's still a communication thing. There are so many that don't know we have that area back there," said Uniac. As far as the tents are concerned, Uniac said those who park at the municipal lot are advised not to set up a campsite. Unfortunately at Jest a F.9aP e;tiida,4P fl1x vt: al i; 'lt's.apt.a canN3 gres4. iwe'rear allowing them is to sleep in their vehicles. There should be a big sign back there." When asked if they would be fined, Uniac said probably not al- though it is against the village's by- law. There was expected to act as a shuttle service from the municipal lot to various destinations. Howev- er, Uniac said the owner of the • company won't be coming to the village until July. Shopping - While t shirts and sunglasses are a favourite Grand Bend souvenir trade, they are also es- sential beach accessories. Record charges laid in Grand Bend Continued from front page "We charged one with careless driving for doing that. We had one accident with someone fallin? out of one. That is a concern of the po- lice right now," said Sgt. Smith who added at least one person was in- jured. The bars on Sunday night were overflowing with night people and the sidewalks were shoulder -to -shoulder. Smith noted the fine for drinking underage has gone up from $53.75 to S103.75 and so far it hasn't bothered those being charged. In fact, total fines in dollars and cents could add up to over $45,000 going to the province's coffers. Monday morning garbage was piled high, small parties still contin- ued down in an area called the jungle and it was obvious some damage had occurred. (The jungle is where cottages have been built closely to- gether and most of the after-hours parties go on.) A portion of the fence surrounding the Beachplace Codominums had been knocked down. "The problem is when you get that large number of people you get the drinking and the ripple effect and the damage happens," said Sgt. Smith. He noted there were a lot of individuals locked up at the station who were released in the morning after being charged. Sgt. George Allison at the Pinery Park detachment of the OPP said there were about 54 charges laid. Sgt. Smith said the ban on alcohol at the Pinery Park definitely resulted in more charges being laid in Grand Bend. "Kids attract kids and this is the place to be," said Sit. Smith. "We have a lot of people under -19 and it's certainly no place for them." Cleanup: At 7 a.m. Monday morning, Grand Bend works superin- tendent Bud Markham and his crew began cleaning up the morning af- ter the night before. Markham said there was more garoage on the beach Sunday morning and more people sleeping on the beach. There were a few Monday and others, by 7 a.m. had wrapped themselves up and began to head up Main Street. "This is pretty good," said Markham while dumping heavy cans full of refuse. Td say there's not as many people. I guess the police crack- down had something to do with it." While Markham was on the beach cleaner and dodging the odd life- less sleeping bag, the main section of beach owned by Archie Gibbs was already neat and tidy. Bags of garbage had been filled and there was no sign of bottles or cans. "It's nice to see h. He (Archie) does a lot of work and it saves us two hours," said Markham. Still, b of garbage were piled high on the Main Street. Local busi- n�x� had packed it to be picked up. Cars along the back streets of the village had lots of garbage under them. "What we don't get cleaned up today, we do it when they're gone," said Markham as he went about his morning routine. ci Photography by Fred Groves and Rhonda Vandeworp Time for tanning - Despite a chilly Friday, the weekend's weather was perfect for sun worshippers, mak- Ing this one of the first good -weather Victoria Day holidays in a few years. Utter- The signs of some wlld parties. Cleanup - By 6:30 a.m. Monday, much of the debris was ready for hauling away.