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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-04-29, Page 27Times -Advocate, April 29, 1998 • Page 27 13th Annual Exeter Optimist Club IIOMEIcIEIRDEM E1MDLEIS(JE SNOW A new Wonder highlights Home and Garden Show EXETER - Although atten- dtince was down this year, people had something new to Wonder about on the week- end at the 13th annual Exeter Optimist Club Home, Garden and Leisure Show at South Huron Rec Centre. The new 'Wonder' was the latest painting by artist Frank DeBlock. The painting • depicts a white squirrel with a baby with a grey squirrel for comparison at left. DeBlock, 53, got the inspi- ration to paint Exeter's claim to fame after he watched the CBC mini-series It's Your World that featured many rare animals including white squirrels. DeBlock was taken with the white squirrel and travelled to. Exeter from his home in Staples (27 km north of Leamington), to try to cap- ture Wonder on his camera. He was lucky enough to real- ize his goal. Later he did research on the white squirrel and found out Exeter's animals are unique_ to North America as they are the only non -albino white squirrels on the continent. He received more informa- tion from the Exeter town office who gave him Andy DeBoer's name. DeBoer is the Exeter com- munity booster that urged Exeter council to use the white squirrel as .a tourism .tool. A great animal -lover, DeBlock wants the world to ,know about Exeter and the white squirrel. • "I like to .make people aware of something special,". he said. Like all his paintings, 'The White Wonder' isa realistic interpretation of . what DeBlock sees through his research, photography and first person experience. "I try to reach out and touch people in a way that's unique and different from the mainstream," he said: "1 reach deep inside._ to grab. -the heart and. soul of the paint- ing." . . All of. DeBlock's originals hang at Driftwood Galleries in Kingsville. You can purchase a print of 'The White Wonder' for $125, an artist proof for $ 175 and a printer's• proof for _ $225, all in limited quantities, 'by v.isiting -, Driftwood Galleries or order by calling 1-888-862-9951. DeBlock plans on giving the town a print sometime soon. . Exeter Optimist Home Show chairperson . Bill Dinney said about 1,500 peo- ple attended the event -Over the weekend, down from last year's about 1,700. Dinney said those who did- n't visit the Rec Centre on the weekend missed out on per- haps the best Home Show yet and that he is getting positive feedback from exhibitors and those who attended the show. "People thought the quality of. the Home Show this year was excellent," he said. -There were 75 exhibitors from throughout the region. New this year was a complete Northlander home. "A lot of .people don't know what Northlander does," Dinney said. "Alot of people were impressed." Businesses were also impressed with the response. For example, Hensall Co-op Do -It Centre sold three hot tubs and Dinney, the owner of Dinney Funeral Home, sold three monuments. . e our guests. Exeter Optimist Club members Cathy Dinney, left, and Alide Struyke show off some of the items local busi -nesses donated for door prizes at the 13th annual Exeter Op- timist Club Home, Garden and Leisure Show at South H_ uron Rec Centre on the weekend. Sixty-eight businesses from throughout the region used the show to heighten awareness about what products/services they have to offer. Sales pitch. Brian March of Dashwood listens to Huron Trac- tor and Lawn Equipment's Jason Carter describe some of .the features on this riding lawnmower at the Exeter Optimist Home, Garden and Leisure Show at South Huron Rec Centre on the weekend. Testing it out. Right, Parte Gold Services owner, Al Tayloh tests a club out on a shaft frequency analyzer at the Ex- eter Optimist Home, Garden and Leisure Show at South'- Huron outh'Huron Rec Centre on the weekend. The machine meas- ures club stiffness. Above Par offers golf.club repairs, regripping, refinishing, swing analyzing and custom club building. SkJIied...you bet. Zurich's Lloyd Otterbein, shown at left, works on yet another woodworking project at his booth at the 13th annual Ex- eter Optimist Home, Garden and Leisure Show at South Huron Rec Centre on, the weekend. Otterbein said he's been "whittling" for over 50 years. What does it take to be .a good woodcarver? "Pa- tience!" Otterbein exclaimed. A new Wonder unveiled. Exeter community booster Andy DeBoer, left, and artist Frank De - Block are seen here with the latest depiction of Exeter's claim to fame, white squirrels, at the Exeter Optimist Home, Garden and Leisure Show at South Huron Rec Centre on the weekend. DeBlock, of Staples (27 km north of Leamington) got inspired to paint our Wonder after watch- ing a CBC mini-series called It's Your World that featured many rare animals including Exeter's white squirrels. Tool time. Handyman Harry Brooks of Exeter showed his expertise during demonstra- tions at the Exeter Optimist Club's 13th annual Home, Garden and Leisure Show at South Huron Rec Centre on the weekend. Brooks is shown here working on a scroll saw cutting a tiger for a 'Noah's Ark' craft.