The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 5

WINDSORAREA A5 THE WINDSOR STAR MONDAY, MAY 28 1984 Star photoRandy Moore Falling Star is the star as BoMo opens season I TRIO FROM AMHERSTBURG stands by Falling Star ride. From left: Adam Fox, 1 1, Sean Yoell, 12, and Glen Manser, 11. With the screams of the people on sel said, "We've been coming to Boblo the Falling Star in the background and since we've been kids and the park the sun warming the island and soak- people seem to be friendlier this ing up the the morning rain, Van Tas- year." rBlpui Vv I iff vi SC-T i.n,.,..., DAVE PARCO, applying polish to Vicki Halmo's pumps, hopes to earn his tuition by shining shoes Taking a shine school "WIN HER HEART" With A Beautiful Diamond Ring From the Diamond Specialists at cjpidin jevvollpnj Story and photo by John Wawrow Star Staff Reporter Fears of a rain-soaked opening day at Boblo Island faded as the sun poked through the clouds early Saturday morning. On cue, the sun began warming the park Just as the first ferry from Detroit began docking about 11 a.m. Dan Aylward, director of the Island of Boblo would not divulge Saturday's attendance, saying only that it was about one-third higher than last year's opening day.

A year ago, a company spokesman said attendance was 2,897 on a cloudy, chilly opening day. This year temperatures were above 21C (70F) and the sun stayed out most of the time. Only last year, Boblo's future was uncertain. It wouldn't have opened at all if a new owner, the Automobile Club of Michigan, hadn't put out $6.5 million for the island and its debts. THIS YEAR, the sunny weather which was probably ordered by the auto club showed how the park is beginning to turn around after past difficulties.

The most exciting addition is the Falling Star, a 21-metre (70-foot) contraption that takes 60 people to its maximum height and plunges them back to the ground in a spinning motion to give some of the strongest stomachs butterflies. Island patrons began trying out the ride the minute they stepped onto the grounds. "You feel like you're just floating for awhile," said 15-year-old Peter Levata of Windsor after his three-minute twirl on the ride. "This is the best ride ever," said Debra Foote, 13, of Detroit. Not that she rode it.

She didn't want to go on it just yet but she could tell it was a good ride from watching it. Roland Matthews, a 40-year-old kid at heart from Detroit, tried the ride out and said, "It was nice. I got a few more butterflies than any of the other thrill rides and, yeah, it was nice." ONE DETRACTOR, Kevin Post, 14, of Amherstburg said although it was one of the better rides at the park he thought it could have been a little more exciting. Ride attendant Shirley Bellefleur of Amherstburg said, "It's about the easiest ride to work in the park. You press one button, step on the gas pedal, and away you go." Another new addition is Fort Fun, located where the zoo area was in the past.

The animals are gone and in their place one can find a pool filled with 10,000 soft balls to dive into, a punching bag maze and a teepee village. Deanna Van Tassel, Mary Anne Fleury and Trudy Bedard were sitting at Boblo's new outdoor eating patio. The three came to the island with their husbands who were at the marina with their boats. The Michigan women unanimously liked the new look the park is taking on. Van Tassel said she likes the new patio "because I like sitting around and talking to people." Fleury said, "Before, you either sat on the grass or you didn't sit down at all when you were outside." French pair takes global bicycle path A dream is coming true for two young men from Nancy, France.

Yves Baunez and Francois Gobillot are travelling around the world on bicycles. i They set out in 1981, with 75 kg (165 pounds) of gear on each bicycle. They have already travelled about 38,000 km (24,000 miles) through three continents: Europe, Africa, and South America. Now they are conquering North America. From Los Angeles the pair will fly to Australia, then go to Japan, Thailand, India, the Middle East, and through Eastern bloc countries back to France.

They have no corporate sponsor for the trip, which they estimate will take another year and cost $20,000. Baunez said they have experienced problems getting into some countries, especially in Central America. EVERY PART of their bikes has been replaced, except the frames. "We lost four weeks in Algeria waiting for tires," Baunez said. Drivers are another problem, Baunez said.

After Central America, the pair travelled through Mexico. They took a bus from Mexico City to New York City, and then came up to Canada, visiting Quebec City and Montreal. They took Highway 2 to Toronto, and then to Windsor. The pair arrived at the Askin Avenue home of Rakesh and Chantel Sawhney Saturday afternoon. Chantel's parents, who live In Africa, met Gobillot and Baunez and gave them the Sawhneys' address.

The Frenchmen said it's unusual to have digs planned In advance. A Beautiful Custom Designed Ladies Ring. Crafted from Pink. White Yellow Gold Onlv $250.00 "He's fantastic Tarcea said. "You've got to be a bit of a showman too," Parco said with a smile and a modest shrug of his shoulders.

Parco said he's been averaging fewer than 10 customers a day and at $1.50 per shine, he'll have to polish off more shoes than that to earn tuition money. He said he could do better if he were located on (Duel-lette Avenue and plans to open a second stand if City Council takes a shine to him. Parco said he plans to approach council soon for permission to set up shop on the downtown mall. Parco said he's been received warmly by all who've seen him at work. "They think it's a great new idea, but actually It's old." MOST OF HIS customers have been men but he confessed he "wouldn't mind" polishing a woman's pumps.

A shine at Roxy takes only about five minutes and Parco even supplies reading material. Parco said he's had no flak from area merchants, but Sam Freed of Freed's Men's Wear is one Ottawa Street businessmen who's not fussy about Parco's presence. "I don't appreciate it," Freed said. "He's blocking people on the sidewalk." But if other merchants accept the shoe shiner, Freed said he won't Parco takes special pride in his neatly-kept stand, particularly because the equipment he's using belongs to his grandfather who's recovering in hospital from a stroke. What does Eugene Parco think of his grandson's idea? "He was really excited about it," Panco said.

"He likes the idea." By Eric MayneStar Staff Reporter Dave Parco is a shining example of enterprising youth. The 20-year-old University of Windsor engineering student has opened a curbside shoe shine shop on Ottawa Street near Gladstone Avenue to earn money for his return to school in September. And jie's also carrying on a family tradition. His grandfather, Eugene Parco, owned and operated Roxy Shoe Repair in downtown Windsor for 47 years. That's how Dave learned the business.

"I started shining shoes there when I was eight years old and I worked there for another eight years," he said Saturday. When Eugene Parco closed his business and retired two years ago, Windsor was left without a shoe shine service. Now another Parco has taken up the trade and even revived the old shop's name. Dave Parco and his partner, Maurice Seeger, a 20-year-old University of Windsor business student, call themselves Roxy Shoe Shine. Since they launched their business last week, Parco says business has been slow.

"But it's picking up," he said. PASSERSBY SMILED and watched with interest 'Saturday as Parco demonstrated his flashy "double-brushing" and "buff-cloth snapping" style. George Tarcea, a salesman for Brotherhood Men's and Boys' Store, was more than a little impressed with the results. A Gorgeous Custom Crafted 14K Ring with lOpts. of rubies 20 pts.

of diamonds SAVE $275.00 Reg. $1,095, NOW 820.00 A Internationally known as quality and fully warranted ror i year. Sold exclusively at Goldin Jewellery mi Star photoRandy Moore WEDDING PARTY GIFT SUGGESTIONS 50 E) 25E (ol(l Chains Gold Pendants If For Tin Groomsmen COLIBRI ghJ? ychns COLLECTIONS 'Collar Bars 'Money Clips 0rCiC Pens Cuff Links 5ptl7i whip imii up Button Covers For Our Friendly Police Officers 4- Solid 10K Gold Handcuffs Solid 10K Gold Pistol Fun run raises cash for charity LEAMINGTON They came in cars, in trucks and even in strollers to the fifth annual Leamington charity fun run. Most of the nearly 200 runners who showed up reckoned their distance in kilometres the longest distance was 16 km (10 miles) but there were two women who made it for six blocks and were proud of it: There again, Susan Thuss and Rose Hatt were each pushing a stroller with another youngster in tow. Thuss said that, Instead of waiting an hour for their husbands to come in, the two mothers decided to take advantage of the sunny but breezy day and get themselves and their children Ryan and Jeff Thuss and Jamie and 17-month-old Jordan Hatt into the charity spirit.

Although the more dedicated runners had problems with exhaustion, blisters and thirst, the two women and their children only received one setback Jeffs balloon broke. ALL PROCEEDS are equally distributed among the Ontario March of Dimes, Essex County Lung Association and the Ontario Heart Foundation. Last year the run raised about $8,000 and organizers were hoping that with the good weather this year they would get $10,000. Final totals were not available. To enter, runners had to pay a $2 entrance fee or raise $5 in pledges.

The run started at Marathon Ford, went down Talbot through the heart of the town all the way to Ruthven and back by the same route 3 SAVE SAVE $27.50 811.25 Hep. SI 10.00 if si; $33.75 82.50 WINDSOR'S LARGEST JEWELLERY STORE USE OUR CONVENIENT OPEN DAILY TILL 9 P.M. EXPERT REPAIRS LAYAWAY PLAN VUMyUVLAJ 11 ENGRAVING 1 1 "iinnTin 'in liMflftrii ii TiiiiirrTT--r 7 were KIM SCHNEIDER leads Karen Robertson and Jennifer Andry through the Egyptian Rope Maze during a Girl Guides of Canada outdoor activity day Saturday. The girls were among more than 500 Brownies, Guides and Pathfinders at Ojibway Park for fun and games with an international theme. Participants and their 70 leaders were from the national organization's Webster Division, which encompasses LaSalle and all of Windsor west of Walker Road.

OJJ VISAMASTERCARD QJ 1179 LAUZON RD. 944-2711 i.