KIDS

Frames

Continued from preceding page

Remember the
1 1 th Commandment:

"And Thou
Shalt be
Informed"

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P-N

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You've read the
five books of
Moses. Isn't it
time to try the
Fifty-Two Issues
of the Detroit
Jewish News? It
may not be
holy, but it's
weekly! And
such a bargain.
To order your
own subscription
call 354-6060.

group of handicapped indi-
viduals also participates in
Bumper Bowl on the first Fri-
day of each month. People have
been traveling to West Bloom-
field Lanes from Novi, High-
land, Detroit, Sterling Heights
and Milford, just to try the
game.
The idea originated in 1985
in Texas. Bowling centers
placed carpeting on their lanes
and shortened the approach.
The concept spread to the
metro Detroit area this past
year where a few bowling cen-
ters began to offer the pro-
gram.
"The object is to teach hand
and eye coordination," said
Franz. "It's not competitive as
we just want to acclimate chil-
dren to understand the game of
bowling."
West Bloomfield Lanes also
added an extra twist to
Bumper Bowl in "Mr. Pin." Lo-
cated 15 feet from the approach
line is a plastic bowling pin
tied to a stretched-out hula-
hoop. If a bowler hits "Mr. Pin,"
he receives two extra bonus
points in addition to the pins
actually knocked down.
"My son (Jason) gets more of
a thrill hitting Mr. Pin than
knocking the actual pins
down," said Jim Danek of
Madison Heights. "I think
Bumper Bowling is great for
children. I look at it as some-
thing to do together with my
son. I take him out to lunch,
keep score while he bowls and
we have a good time with the
program."
Jason, who is only 31/2 years
old, averages 86 a game. But
his dad quickly added that
Jason rolled a 101 a few weeks
ago.
The structured program at
West Bloomfield Lanes in-
volves approximately 220
Bumper Bowl participants
each week. Leagues and open
bowling are offered seven days

a week. The children also
select team captains, who col-
lect their team's bowling fees
and make sure everyone knows
the rules of the program.
When Bumper Bowling
began last summer at West
Bloomfield Lanes, only four
lanes were set up for the pro-
gram before expanding to six
lanes last fall. "We are in the
process of adding more Bumper
Bowl lanes," explained Franz.
"I could fill 48 lanes if we had
that many Bumper Bowl al-
leys". Plans are to expand
Bumper Bowl to 20 lanes in the
spring of 1987.

"It's just a great activity for
the children and their par-
ents," said Larry Sisson, Jr.,
co-owner of the facility. "There
is more quality time spent on a
one-to-one relationship with
parents and their kids in
Bumper Bowl than I've seen in
years. There are no bad experi-
ences for the participants, no
gutter balls and they always
knock down some pins.
"My son (Chris, age 6) has
really enjoyed it despite being
non-athletic," said Sandy
Kondos of Southfield. "They
always get some pins and the
children enjoy that."
"It is a good opportunity for
kids to get out and participate,
not competitively," said
Leonard Swistak of West
Bloomfield who enjoys watch-
ing his son Stephen (age 4) and
daughter Stacy (age 6) bowl.
"It's fun," added Stacy. "I
like to knock down pins."
"They have shown im-
provement over the course of
the program," added Leonard
Swistak. "The kids don't get
frustrated and they look for-
ward to coming out to bowl. I
don't bowl, I hate that game,
but the kids love it. The chil-
dren feel a sense of success .. .
and no one walks away with
tears."

❑

Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus will be among the Sesame Street
characters appearing in Sesame Street Live's "Save Our Street"
show Wednesday through Feb. 8 at Cobo Arena. For tickets, call
Cobo Arena, 567-6000.

80

Friday, January 23, 1987

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS