i ad 48 ~ Wednesday, September 7, 1994 — North Shore News Seaing red IN JULY, a 32-year-old woman who works in the wardrobe depart- ment at Universal Studios in Hollywood got lost while driving on the Jot and found herself follow- ing a tram. The tram, carrying visitors, pro- eceded down the middle of the “Red Sea” attraction, in which the waters are mechanically “parted” for the tram. However, at the instant the tram completes the trip. the water is released, and the woman was thus trapped in the middle of the “sca” for about an hour until firefighters rescued her. Durham, Nerth Carolina — In March, suspected drug dealer Anthony Mason, 21, took off run-. ning from police as they attempted to question him. Mason was wear- ing fashionably droopy sweat pants, and during the chase, they slipped down his legs, sending him sprawi- ing, making for an easy arrest. Peru, Vermont -— In July, the -town council ordered Roland Wiiliams out of his house fora month while authorities cleaned the place up. — Wiiliams had been purchasing NEWS OF THE WEIRD 3 tose ii 9 Compiled by A.P. McCredie large quantities of dog food and cola every day to feed the hundreds ‘of rats that had been gathering on his property. And in New York City, officials reported in May that a woman feeding cereal to rats in her apartment and singing to tiem had also relinquished her bed to them while she slept in a chair. Police in Coldwater, Ontario, pera TOU A With so many channels to choose from, television can finally become i the educational tool that it was m t to be. me SA ‘temoctows Cormea? nr rT LaF aR DAGNEY WANT “TO A RAFFLE Raters «ITS FOR A GOOD CAUSE Tom ow's Corns Junk drawer dog. RAFFLE TICKET 2 SURE , WHATS First PRIZE? Un, WHATS _ SECOND PRIZE S A COOKING LESSON From mom / suspected that i€ was potential thieves who placed the bomb that exploded inside the night deposit box at the Toronto-Dominion Bank in June. However, Constable Doug Langlois said he doubted the cul- prits got any of the money because the blast sent the several thousand dollars fying through the air and brought neighbors out quickly to fight for whatever money had not been burned or shredded by the explosion. Morristown, New Jersey — Police recently arrested Stantey Robinson. 34, for drug possession. Robinson had stopped his car to allow a parade, with police escorts. to pass. About a dozen officers were standing in front of Robinson’s car when he decided to pass the time by counting the 10 vials of cocaine he had with him. Odenton, Maryland —- Robbery suspect Phillip Christopher Hines, 23, was shot by police in January inside the grocery store he was accused of robbing. According to police. Hines charged at them while yelling “Bang! Bang!” © Paige Anderson TWO COOKING ee ; Photo submitted NORTH SHORE volunteer Fraser Ennis and his father Gordon hoist the Queen’s Baton durin the Victoria Commonweaith Games. thelr recent trip to raser won the trip, courtesy of 8.C. Hydro, for volunteering during the Powor Smart Tour's visit to the Narth Shore Folktest. Wiserider program teaches safety first THE MAJORITY of bicycling acci- dents happen because adults and children forget the basic rules of safe cycling. But the injuries that result are not always just scrapes and bruises. By M.H. Parnu Contributing Writer Statistics show that cycling acci- dents injure about 13,000 and kiil about 200 Canadians each year, about 75% of whom die from head injuries. Children aged five-14 account for nearly hulf the fatalities. Since 1992, The Co-operators has sponsored the WiseRider pro- gram in Regina. WiseRider is com- mitted to educating, motivating, changing and influencing safe cycling. The program goals include: & Family cycling safety protection (helmet usage); fi Personal cycling safety education (cycling culture); and Cycling property protection (cod- ing, anti-theft, proper insurance). This summer, the annual eveit attracted an estimated 2,700 children and adults. Cyclists of allages explored two 4,000 square-foot exhibit tents focusing primarily on safety and loss-prevention educa- tion. Displays included bike security coding and exhibits on bike safety, security, licensing and helmet sizing. “It’s gratifying to know that more people are listening to the message about keeping themselves and their childzen safe while bicycling for exercise or to work or school,” says Ken Berglund, chief operating offi- cer for Co-operators Life Insurance Company. “There were more bicycle helmets being worn by cyclists at WiseRider Day this year, which was wonderful to see.” Bicycle helmets have been preven to save lives und reduce the risk of serious disability for riders involved in both spills and danger- ous collisions. The estimated cost for rehabilitative long-term care for a head-injured cyclist is $1-1.5 mil- lion. A correctly sized helmet worn properly is estimated to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85%. Helmets that meet safety stan- dards display a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) label. The helmet should sit snugly atop the head in a level position and noi rock back and forth, or from side to side. if the helmet is too loose, it doesn’t offer sufficient protection. You should be able to fine-tune the fit by adding or taking away the foam pads on the inside. The chin strap should also be adjustable and always fustened. Helmets are essen- tial for all riders. Make sure your children wear a helmet every time they get onto a bike, even if they’re just standing in the criveway. Head injuries don’t occur only at high speeds or in collisions; they occur simply tecause of the distance between your head and the ground. That distance is the same whether you're ridling or straddling your bike. Choose brightly cclored hel- iets; they*re more visible and more attractive and therefore more fun to wear. There's nuthing wreng with having a little style and panache while you ride -— particularly #f it keeps you safe, too. Be Properly Outfitted * Wear brightly colored clothing; yellow and orange are the most visi- ble. Wear comfortable, non-restric- tive clothing but ensure it does not flap as you ride. Pant legs should be fastened. * Shoes shculd have stiff inner soles for maximum gripping. * Fastening a load securely on a bicycle luggage rack is muchrsafer than carrying it on your back. $€ Bicycle helmets have been proven to save lives and reduce the risk of serious “disability... 99 ¢ You need lights and reflectors to ride in the dark. Be prepared for this at all times; you never know when you’ li be delayed. Safety Pointers To Keep In Mind (bey all waffic signs; they are designed to keep all traffic moving as safely as possible. Doing so will earn the respect of motorists for all cyclists. * Keep your eyes on the road and on traffic around you. Ignore alll distrac- uons. Use “shoulder checks” and hand signals to let others know what you intend to do. * Learn to make left turns correctly. » Be cautious withouc being timid: be assertive without being belliger- ent. Behave as though you were oper- ating a vehicle — you are! The same laws and rules of the road apply to cyclists as they do to drivers.