Bike Week

First -- mea culpa -- I have been on hiatus due to uncontrollable factors, but I intend to come back with a vengeance -- and with pics.
Thanks
Jeffrey B. Roth

Attendance at Gettysburg Bike Week three times more than last year*
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Despite more than 50 acres of land available to them at the Allstars Sports Complex, south of Gettysburg, organizers of the 5th Annual Gettysburg Bike Week still had to cancel its Bike Games competition, Saturday afternoon so that the field could be used to park motorcycles – and more riders were arriving by the minute.*
Hordes of bikers streamed by in waves, combing every square yard of the complex of avenues, thoroughfares and designated parking lots, hoping to find an abandoned niche large enough for ride. By 2 p.m., helicopter rides were curtailed because the relatively small landing site had to be sacrificed for parking. Just entering or leaving by the main entrance to the complex required a minimum five-minute wait time.*
John H. Summers Jr., president and chief operations officer for Bike Week, initially estimated that the event would draw around 15,000 riders, but speculated on Saturday that the actual number might climb into the 40,000-region. That number did not include all the bikers who came to the area but did not participate in events at the sports complex, he said.*
“This is the biggest and best crowd we have ever had this early into the event,” Summers said. “They started showing up at 8 a.m., even though we did not officially open until 10 a.m.”*
Volunteers, Steve and Annette Shipley, both of Taneytown, MD, said they are members of the Battlefield Harley-Davidson Hog Chapter, and have attended the event in the past. This was the first time they volunteered to help.*
“The people are really friendly here,” Annette said. “They are just wonderful to work with.*
The Shipleys said there were more people than they would have predicted. Despite the large influx of people, the event was still family-oriented, she said.*
Summers said there were more vendors and activities available than last year. The addition of a headline musical group, as well-known as Mustang Sally, was a major drawing card.*
“We also have more activities geared towards younger people,” Summers said as pointed to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle built with balloons. “There are a lot of families here with a lot of kids.”*
The Indian Larry Legacy exhibit was a focal point for many motorcycle buffs. They asked friends and even strangers to take photographs of them standing next to one of the unique motorcycle creations.*
While Indian Larry Desmedt, whose name engenders visions of one-of-a-kind, priceless chopped motorcycles, died in a motorcycle accident in 2004, his legacy lives on. Considered by many as an artist in the field, his business partner, Paul Cox, and one of the current owners of the Brooklyn, NY business said the exhibit features one the earliest choppers built by his friend.*
“We do shows every weekend,” Cox said. “This is our first time here, but it’s a real good venue and has a great atmosphere.”*
East Coast Kitty of Ridgefield, New Jersey, owned by Karen Badre and Anthony Campione, said they were thrilled with the turnout on Saturday. Specializing in custom T-shirts and other specialty items, said it was their first time at the event.*
“We had learned of the event through word-of-mouth, Badre said.*
Campione said they have been in business for about three years and travel to shows on both the east and west coasts.*
If Saturday’s attendance was any indication of the event’s potential for growth, it may not be more than a few more years before it becomes a week-long event, he said.*
For more information visit http://www.gettysburgbikeweek.com.*/

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven was inspiration for balloon twister

A lot of people are inspired by music, but not in the same way as Dustin Queary.*
While attending the 2004 Millennium Jam in Belgium with his family, he became inspired by a performer like his mother. Today, Queary, 15, a junior at Gettysburg High School is one of the best balloon twisters in the world.*
“I saw a guy from Canada, who made a guitar out of balloons and played (Led Zeppelin’s) Stairway from Heaven on it,” Queary, who now performs with his two sisters and mothers as part of Adventures in Fun. “It sounded like Stairway to Heaven. I got interested then.”*
Others were using balloons to fashion remote control cars that worked, he said. Queary said he also liked the atmosphere of the event. There were also clowns, magicians and other performers showcasing their skills. Queary’s father, Rob, worked for the government, and his family lived in Germany, Austria, France, Spain and Switzerland. He came to Gettysburg about two years ago.*
“My Mom’s been doing it (performing) my whole life,” he said. “I really didn’t want to do it until two years ago.”*
Sisters Alayna, 14 and Alysa, 9 are also part of the act. Alayna is an unicyclist and stilt walker. Alysa is leaning how to be a balloon twister, he said. Rob does magic, stilt walking and twisting. Dustin also does caricatures. His mother, Shonna, said it is a great way to keep the family doing things together. In fact, it is now the family business – which also involves face painting and character mascots for special occasions, both public and private, such as weddings, anniversaries, Bar Mitzvahs, etc..*
Shonna started dressing like a clown and putting on puppet shows as a girl in Amsterdam, NY. She said she had a friend who worked with disabled children and she volunteered to help. Many of the children were autistic and responded well to that type of interaction.* Eventually, she became “Silly Shonna,” her registered clown character. She prefers to use the European-style clown face, instead of the full-face paint of the American variety. She said it is less intimidating to children.*
Both Dustin and his mother have recently completed their first of a two volume set of instructional DVDs that demonstrate the art of balloon twisting – Squeaks Like Teen Spirit that demonstrates his award-winning designs; and Shonna’s instructional demonstration called Batallic Outstanding Specialty Shapes, which depict her unique designs. Shonna said they will be producing the second volume in the near future.*
So far, this year, Dustin has placed first in a new competitor’s division of Diamond Jam at Mesa, AZ; second in the Diamond Master section at Mesa; second in the Large Sculpture Division of Twist and Shout at St. Louis, MO; and second place for Medium Sculptures at BAM (Balloon and Magic Mania) Virginia Beach, VA.*
Dustin’s work is so highly respected that he was offered a full scholarship to Belgium for six weeks to teach twisting. While he could not go this year, it appears the offer will be extended again next year, his mother said.*
Right now, Dustin is brainstorming ideas for an international twisting competition. He said his entry can be no larger than 12 feet tall. He is used to making life-sized creations. During Bike Week in Gettysburg, he created a full-sized Harley Davidson motorcycle. For this competition, he is considering creating a dinosaur of some type.*
“I was thinking of creating some kind of dinosaur,” Dustin said. “Or, I might do something on a jungle safari-type theme.”*
Dustin performs three times during the week at various restaurants. The family also travels to various functions. They have performed at the White House. for a Christmas celebration and at a Hillary Duff concert in Washington, DC, Shonna said.*
“I like seeing other people smile,” Dustin said. “I enjoy it because I make other people happy.”*
While balloon twisting and drawing caricatures take up a lot of his time, he still has to contend with school in the winter and trying to find time for his hobby – snowboarding. For a career, “I’d like to be an architect or professional snowboarder,” he said.*
Shonna said Dustin’s friends and those of his sisters, often ask them why they spend so much time working. She said some of their schoolmates are jealous of their success. For the family, it’s a great way to spend time together and to travel and experience new things.*
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Adventures in Fun*
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Adventures in Fun, is the family business, created by Shonna Flannigan and her family. They perform on uncicyle, as costume characters, create caractures, present puppet shows, story telling and face-painting. In all they have more than 20 years experience entertaining at schools, corporate gatherings, grand openings, at sales promotions, family nights in restaurants, weddings, and various private and public events.*
Award-winning balloon twister, Dustin Queary and his family, performs from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays at Ruby Tuesdays, York Road, Gettysburg; Wednesday 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Damon’s Grill, Eisenhower Drive, Hanover; 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, at Friendly’s Restaurant, Steinweher Avenue, Gettysburg; and Shonna performs, 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesdays at Friendly’s in Carlisle.*
For more information visit http://www.adventuresinfun.com.*/