The Races Are On!!
The OpenMinder has been following the development of the BMX track
in City Park and
with the Grand Opening on the June 26 & 27 weekend we were
fortunate to catch Frank
Astofooroff of Silver Barn Bike & Board, who has been involved
with the track from the
start, for an interview.
Argosy Construction, Bannert Readimix Ltd., Canpar, Cantex, City
of Grand Forks,
Emcon, Grand Forks Construction Services, Pacific Abrasives, Phoenix
4 Elements, Silver
Barn Bike & Board and more individuals than can be printed
here put time, supplies,
equipment or money into making this happen, setting an example
for others to follow. Way to go!
OpenMinder: Something like the BMX track doesn’t come about overnight. When did the idea first come about?
Frank Astofooroff: We started this whole thing about 2 years ago.
OM: How did you get it started?
Frank: You get all your plans going after you find an actual piece of property.
OM: Did you have to approach the city for this and how did they respond?
Frank: The whole concept was completely new, so they basically wanted some proof that it was viable, that it was going to work. We talked to Neill Krog and Steve Burt and Phil Taylor, who was the city administrator. At first we tried to get it behind the ball diamonds and the arena, but they suggested that the city park area would be better for them.
OM: I guess there had to be some extra benefits to this other than the kids riding around on their bikes?
Frank: Definitely. The
whole idea was to find things for the kids
to do. Every kid’s got a
bike, it’s not like you have to go out to buy some special equipment.
And the downtown core,
I feel that the people are
really going to get some benefit out of it, once the bigger races are
coming in. The provincial
race that will be coming up
at the middle of August, will probably bring about 300 people into town.
Then, with a national race,
which we are hoping for the following
year, that would bring about
1,000 people into town for 3 days. That’s something we haven’t really
pushed with
the downtown core yet, but
we’re going to approach the Chamber of Commerce just to make them aware
of what’s
happening, so we can get
some support. We are a non-profit society, so there is no money going
into our
pockets. Whatever we get is
going back into the tracks.
OM: As a non-profit society, a lot of effort must have come from a lot of people for free?
Frank: Yes, there’s been hundreds and hundreds of hours that have gone into it, donated.
OM: What is the difference between a BMX bike and, say, a mountain bike?
Frank: BMX bikes all have 20″ wheels. The frame size would be bigger for the bigger kids, but the wheels are all 20″ and there is no gears on them, just one rear hand brake, whereas the mountain bike has multiple gears.
OM: With all the work that has gone into this project, and looking at international competition, how does our track compare to other tracks on the circuit?
Frank: The people from out of town that have seen it so far, say that ours is as good, if not better, than most.
OM: As in length, width, that kind of thing, or… ?
Frank: Basically, when we started designing it, we kind of went for the gusto, where it’s big enough to hold a national race.
OM: That brings Grand Forks in touch with the world. How does one get into being a BMX racer?
Frank: As far as age limits
go, kids from about 4 years can do
it, and it goes right up to
50+ categories. The way it works, kids are racing against kids their own
age, and once they
buy a licence they kind of
get a little more serious about it. There is actually 3 categories per
age group that they
race, there is a novice,
intermediate and expert
category. In the novice
category, you have to win 8 times, that
bumps you up into the
intermediate, then there you have to win 15 races. There is quite a big
jump once you get into the expert group,
the competition gets quite
tough. And again, you are not
seeing a 6 year old racing a 12 year old.
OM: You mentioned something about a licence, does it cost anything?
Frank: Once you get a
licence, you join the Canadian BMX Association,
which allows you to move up
to other categories. If you don’t have a licence, you are racing novice
all the time. The cost of a
licence is $50 per season, that’s good for one year. We keep track of
all their points and
they are submitted to Prince
George, which is the head
office of the Canadian BMX
Association. Everything is tabulated,
and with the licence there
is a monthly catalogue magazine that everybody gets and points are
listed there so you
can rate yourself among all
the kids in Canada.
OM: When the track is not being used, can anybody use it with any kind of bike?
Frank: Yes, the track is open at all times, only thing we want you to do is wear a helmet.
It’s a Wonderfull World
I’ve been hanging around on
this planet for quite some time now
and I hardly ever watch news
or read the paper because it depresses me. There is certainly more bad
than good
news, or so it seems. But
when I look closely at what’s happening in my own little world, I am
realizing more and
more that the world isn’t
all bad. Every once in a while my faith in the good of humanity is being
restored by some
person out there who was
just plain nice to me for no apparent reason, or someone that went out
of his or her way
to help a fellow citizen,
when another person would have just “minded their own business”. The
more I think
about that, the more events
like that come into my mind and that makes me believe that just maybe we
are entering a “new
millenium” and that there is
hope after all! Here is one of those “little miracles”:
When Brian (McAndrew, he’s
my husband and co-owner of this publication)
and I moved here a few years
ago, we had so much stuff that we decided to bring some of our
belongings
to store in our new house a
week before we moved with our 3 kids, 2 cats, a hamster, a few budgies
and a
ton of plants and “more
belongings” (a wise
decision!). Brian and a
friend of ours who was helping him were
not even unloading the
“belongings” into our new (empty) house for half an hour, when Murphy
Clarke, a neighbour
who has since moved, shows
up with a tray full of cookies and some home-made lemonade with the
comment “I
thought you might like some
refreshments,” a
gesture which certainly was much appreciated!
When Brian told me about this, I thought it was a good omen, but what happened after we just moved in, blew my mind. The very next day after moving in – we had barely had our breakfast – another neighbour, Harold Brown (a long-time resident of Grand Forks) walks into our driveway and asks Brian “Are you gonna do something with that field?”, pointing at what we now know is a few acres of alfalfa/hay mix growing on our 10-acre lot. Well, before we knew it, Brian got a (4 hour) crash course in field irrigation, how to set it up, where our irrigation pump was and how to turn it on (we didn’t have a clue!) and a lot of necessary details about that kind of stuff in general.
Since then Harold has always been available for advice on anything that had to do with “farming” or even things like fixing the handle on our espresso maker! I tell you, we just love our neighbours and we are glad we moved to Grand Forks, a place that we call “little paradise”.
Brian’s note:There are too many other events of the same nature for me to mention all of them, but the most recent incident was last week. Another neighbour, Ron Rohatynchuk, appeared at my door, just after I had driven home, with tweezers and fuse in hand. He’d followed me home and noticed my brake lights were out and before I knew what was going on, he had found and replaced the faulty fuse. The seatbelt warning bell now works too. What can I say Ron but “Thanks”.
I am sure there are a lot of you people out there that have had a kind soul turn to you at one time or another and made your day bright. If you have a “little miracle” that you would like to share, put it into an envelope titled “Wonderful World” and drop it into one of our drop-off boxes at Pharmasave or Value Drug Mart or send to: OpenMinder, S320 C17 RR#1, G.F. V0H 1H0 or e-mail to: bgraphic@sunshinecable.com
Just for a laugh!
If a new-born lice lands on a leaf of lettuce, is it a new lice
on leaf?
*
A guy goes to a
psychiatrist. “Doc, I keep having these alternating
recurring dreams. First I’m a
teepee; then I’m a wigwam; then I’m a teepee; then I’m a wigwam. It’s
driving me
crazy. What’s wrong with
me?” The doctor replies:
“It’s very simple: you’re two tents.”
*
A hungry lion was roaming
through the jungle looking for something
to eat. He came across two
men. One was sitting under a tree and reading a book; the other was
typing
away on his typewriter. The
lion quickly pounced on the man reading the book and devoured him. Even
the king of the jungle
knows that readers digest
and writers cramp.
*
Confusius say “Man who fall over cliff jumps to final conclusion.”
*
If a man with multiple personalities threatens with suicide, do
you have a hostage situation?
*
When a cow laughs, does milk come out of its nose?
*
I have gone to find myself. If I get back before I return, keep
me here.
*
Editorial Teen Solutions Winners
The great and venerable Sufi
sage Mullah Nasrudin, once raced
through Baghdad on his
donkey, galloping as fast as the poor beast could travel. Everybody got
excited and people
rushed into the streets to
find out why the philosopher was in such a great hurry.
“What are you looking for, Mullah?” somebody shouted.
“I’m looking for my donkey!” Nasrudin answered.
Like most Sufi jokes, this
one seems calculated only to annoy
us, like a Marx Brothers
routine that doesn’t quite succeed in being funny. Actually, Nasrudin
had a strong tendency
to act out his parables, and
he was merely dramatizing that the answer we are looking for resides
inside
ourselves.
I chose to quote this Sufi parable because it seemed to fit with
the theme of the first place winner of our “Teen Solutions” contest.
Due to several factors, including the OpenMinder being a new publication
and, I think, young people’s indifference, we had more prizes than entries.
Copies of the submissions,
with the names removed, were given
to 6 separate and impartial
judges who marked them in the order of first, second, and third place.
Here are the results:
First Place – winner of the AM/FM Bicycle Radio/Headlight/Horn
from Pharmasave: Ashley Reekie, age 15 of Grand Forks.
“One of the main problems facing teens in the Boundary is peer pressure… Peer pressure is most effective on people with lower self esteem It is not solely a youth problem, adults are subject to peer pressure as well… it takes someone who is strong in their convictions someone who dares to be different you need to ask yourself some basic questions Is what I’m doing really right for me?”
Second Place – winner of the Mini Stereo Cassette Player from Andy’s TV Centre Ltd.: Lydia McAndrew, age 13 of Grand Forks.
Third Place – winner of the
$10.00 gift certificate for Grand
Forks Dollars & Sense
from Grand Forks District United Way Society: Sandra McAndrew, age 14 of
Grand Forks.
Winners 2 and 3 were recognized for suggesting arts and music
as an addition to sports in a youth centre type of setting.
5W’s
If you are an elementary school student you could win $5 by telling
where was this picture taken? Include your name,
grade, school, and phone number. Drop off your entry at Value
Drug Mart, or at Pharmasave Grand Forks. The first
correct answer drawn from our hat will win the $5 prize.
Boundary Proud
Dynamic Design, a hot new
graphic design company in Grand Forks
came up with the design for a
new button to be introduced at this year’s Boundary Showcase Trade Show
that
will let others know that
you are “Proud to be in the Boundary”!
Admission to this year’s Trade Show is free again, so bring the whole family and get your Souvenir Program for the Passport to Fun draws and a chance to win GREAT prizes. Visit with your friends! Eat and have fun! Get answers to those questions you’ve been waiting to ask!
Decor Corner
Tips for exterior painting
Did you know that latex
paint is really the best paint to use
on exterior surfaces? This
is because the chemical nature of latex paint allows it to remain
flexible, whereas oil paint
becomes brittle over time.
Due to the influence of the weather more problems occur on exterior
surfaces than interior ones.
The freeze/thaw cycle can have devastating effects on decks, for
instance, if
the top of the planking
boards are protected but the undersides and edges are left uncoated.
Why? Moisture from the
ground penetrates the wood
and this, pulled through the wood by the warmth of the sun, peels and
cracks the coating
in the process. The solution
is to protect ALL
surfaces with stain before building the deck.
Peeling galvanized metal
eaves troughs are another common problem.
Never use oil paint directly
on these. Prime with a latex galvanized metal primer first, then top
coat with
either oil or latex paint.
If the eaves troughs are new,
they should be allowed to weather before painting to remove the
oily film. There is some primers that will allow you
to skip the weathering process.
Metal garage doors should be painted with latex, not oil paint,
as latex paint has more elasticity to deal with
temperature changes. Wood garage doors should be primed, then
painted with latex paint, including the back and
especially the bottom edges, which have contact with the ground
moisture.
Aluminium and vinyl siding or brick can be painted with latex
paint. If you do have bubbling or peeling paint, you
must scrape it thoroughly to remove all loose bits before repainting.
All dust from scraping as well as dirt or mildew
must be washed from the surface by hand or pressure washer. If
you don’t do this important step, the peeling will
continue soon after you have repainted.
Trans Canada Trail
Soon now, a local group of
volunteers will receive a license of
tenancy from B.C. Assets and
Lands, a Crown corporation, to manage the stretch of the abandoned CPR
railbed
between Grand Forks and
Eholt. This follows the announcement last fall by the provincial
government that the entire
former CPR line has been
dedicated to the Trans
Canada Trail project. For
locals, working initially under the
banner of the Boundary Rails
to Trails Society, it is the culmination of years of effort begun when
the railroad was abandoned
in 1991. Upon completion,
the Trans Canada Trail will be the longest continuous trail in the
world, stretching
15,000 km from New-foundland
to Vancouver
Island and north to the
Arctic Ocean. The local management group will operate as a subcommittee
of the
West Kootenay Regional
Council, a division of B.C. Trails. While drawing upon the national,
provincial, and
regional organizations for
support and expertise, actual management decisions remain in the hands
of local volunteers.
In addition to drafting a
management plan, the local group recently
completed a physical survey
and polled adjacent landowners. Actual improvements to the grade such as
signage,
controlled access points,
and user facilities will begin soon. Volunteer labour by local users
will be supplemented over
the summer by one and
possibly two Environmental Action Teams, a provincial make work grant
program that provides
supervised employment
opportunities for youth. Broad community involvement is crucial to the
success of this
exciting project which will
provide superior recreation
opportunities for local
users as well as a world class tourist
attraction with huge
potential for drawing visitors to our region. Local organizers will be
calling on area businesses, associations,
and individuals for
contributions of materials, labour, and/or funding. For more information
and to
learn how you can help,
phone David at 442-3966 or Chris at 442-2620 or stop by the recreation
department office
at the arena for brochures.
Trails BC can be reached at 1-888-908-7245. You can contact Trans Canada
Trail Foundation
at 1-800-465-3636 or at
www.tctrail.ca. In the meantime, explore the new trail on foot, by bike
or on horseback
and discover what all the
excitement is about!
Reiki
(pronounced ray-key) is a
Japanese word meaning “universal
life energy, the energy
which is all around us”. This system, the “Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki” was
born out of
the experience and
dedication of Dr. Mikao Usui. Dr. Usui was a Japanese christian educator
who, in the 1800’s responded
to a challenge from his
university students by
undertaking an extensive
study of the healing phenomena of history’s
greatest spiritual leaders.
Through travel, study research and meditation, he evolved a healing
system based on
ancient Buddhist teachings
written in Sanskrit. He spent the rest of his life practicing and
teaching this method
of natural healing, which
involved attunement to the energy and the laying on of hands.
Reiki is a holistic therapy that addresses all issues of the mind, body and spirit. Reiki goes beyond the symptoms and treats the root cause of disease and disorder. Reiki helps us maintain balance in our own health and is adjusted naturally to individual needs. Reiki is for those people who wish to take more responsibility for their health and it is for those who want to live more holistically. Reiki is a powerful health care method and it reduces stress and tension and promotes relaxation. Reiki works as a complement to mainstream medicine and has been shown to speed up recovery from surgery. Reiki provides persons with the means of maintaining balance in their own health and that of their families and friends. Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki, the original form as taught by Dr. Usui, is a natural healing art which uses Reiki in these ways.
Reiki is not a religion, cult or organization. It is not a psychic healing nor is it faith healing. It is also not a form of mind control, wishful thinking, meditation technique or hypnosis and it does not require the removal of one’s clothing. For more info. contact Eva at 442-3604.
What’s Happening?
**The Boundary Artisans
Market needs a logo. You could win $50
and a one-year membership
with the Boundary Artisans Market co-operative, if your design is
chosen. Send your
entries to: Boundary
Artisans Market, Box 806, Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0
or e-mail to kthomson@wkpowerlink.com
**”A Little R&R” is a
student theatrical production
happening at the auditorium
at G.F.S.S. on June 24th, 25th & 26th at 7 pm. Tickets are
$5/adults, $3/students, available at
the door.
In Memoriam
On October 18th, 1998 at
approx. 8:45 am Marie Radmore died serving
her God. She was ringing the
church bell when it broke loose falling upon her and, sadly, fractured
her
skull resulting in her
death. She was well known for her cooking and baking in Greenwood and
Grand Forks and surrounding
areas as well as her love of the people she took to her heart. Those
same people are holding a commemorative memorial service
under the “new bell tower”
at St. Judes Anglican church in Greenwood on June 19th, 1999 at 3 pm to
remember her
devotion to God and those
she loved. It is hoped
that all who knew her will attend. There will be coffee and sandwiches
provided afterward.