The Chinese have one-upped us again. This past month, according to a report from the Associated Press, China began operating the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.
The wheel is 525 feet high. It tops the previous big wheel, the London Eye, which held the number one spot in the Guinness Book of Records at 443 feet.
To give you an idea just how high that is, the Ferris wheel on Mariner’s Landing pier is billed as the tallest on the East Coast. It’s the one you can see from the Garden State Parkway that has the lights that hypnotize you as you drive across the wetlands to reach the Wildwoods.
That Ferris wheel stands 156 feet from the boardwalk at Schellenger Avenue.
My guess, based on the numbers, is that if the Chinese wheel were relocated to the boardwalk, you could see it from the Tacony Palmyra Bridge as you cross from Philly on a Friday night to head to the shore.
China’s wheel takes a half hour to make a complete rotation, not counting stops to pick up passengers. Imagine how many tickets that would cost on the boardwalk?
Being ever the spoilsport, I, of course, wonder what the electric bill runs on the Chinese wheel. The wheel is lighted by 21,300 feet of stringed lights colored in fluorescent red and blue.
And I wouldn’t want to be the guy whose job is to go through each and every bulb to find out which one is causing the short if the lights were to go out.
Imagine how you’d be feeling if you got to the top and the wheel stopped and the little smart aleck sitting beside you decided to alleviate his boredom during the down time by rocking the car.
Just a little at first, to see how much you can take. Then a whole lot, once he sees that you can’t take very much.
For history buffs, the original Ferris wheel debuted in 1893 in Chicago at the World’s Fair.
That wheel rose 264 feet and carried more than 2000 people at a time in 36 cars, each of which was the size of s school bus.
China may not have the final brag on this metal pie in the sky issue. Singapore is working on a wheel that will go higher. So is Las Vegas.
Rumor has it that the Vegas wheel will fit right in with the gambling spirit of the town. Instead of cars, the Vegas wheel will carry numbers, flashing multi-colored neon through the desert night.
The wheel will spin instead of slowly rotating. Naturally, ravenous bettors will wager on which number comes out on top when the wheel stops spinning, making it the world’s largest roulette wheel.
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Wildwood Crest’s first Gazebo by the Sea craft show for the season takes place Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the gazebo, Rambler Road and Ocean Avenue. Free.
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The Cape Harmonaires open North Wildwood’s 12th annual summer concert season on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Lou Booth amphitheater, Second Avenue and the beach. Free
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Free! Celebrate the Fourth of July in Wildwood with a free fireworks show Tuesday at 10 p.m. from the beach at Pine Avenue. Plenty of great viewing spots along the boardwalk. Call 523-1602.
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Wildwood City Commission meets tonight at 7 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall, 4400 New Jersey Ave.
Wildwood Planning Board meets Monday, July 3 at 7 p.m. at the same location.
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The annual Sports Card, Comic Book, Beanie and Toy Expo takes place this weekend at the Wildwood Convention Center, Burk Avenue and the boardwalk. Friday, 3-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The expo boasts more than 100 vendors selling sports cards, toys, NASCAR items, autographed items, comic books and much more. Free.
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What’s Fourth of July weekend without a parade? And what’s an All-American parade without dogs and bicycles?
North Wildwood holds its parade on Tuesday at noon. This year’s will actually be two parades in one.
The first is a bicycle-decorating contest. Prizes will be awarded to the best-decorated bikes having a patriotic theme. In the second phase parading pooches will also be awarded prizes based on best patriotic finery. All dogs must be on leash and under control.
The Philly Phanatic will be joining the dogs’ segment of the parade
The parade travels along Atlantic Avenue from 15th to First Avenue, down to Surf and the reviewing stand. Mayor Bill Henfey will award prizes at the conclusion.
For more information about the dog parade, call 729-4533 or 374-0562. For other parade information, 522-2955.
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Delia’s Warehouse returns to the Wildwoods for a weeklong designer clothing shopping spree at the convention center. The spree starts Saturday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Call 729-9000.
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The third annual West Wildwood All American Family Festival takes place Saturday from 4-9 p.m. Plenty of food, games, vendors, and beer garden.
Other highlights are a parade, and the South Philadelphia String Band. The grand finale will be a fireworks show.
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Not enough July Fourth excitement for you? How about skydiving?
Free Fall Adventures teams up with Splash Zone Water Park to present sky diving exhibitions on the Schellenger Avenue beach throughout the holiday weekend. Free hourly programs daily, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
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Hey surfers, the Wildwoods welcome surfers to specially designated beaches.
In North Wildwood, surfers can ride the waves between Eighth-10th avenues; Rambler Road beach for Wildwood Crest surfers.
Wildwood allows surfing before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
After scheduled beach hours, anything goes, but surfers knew that already.
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Plenty of congratulations for Margaret Mace School’s Class of 2006. Bill Henfey attended his first graduation ceremony as North Wildwood’s mayor. He presented Board of Education Honors Trophies to Sean Holton (First Honors) and Alec McAlarnen (second)
A number of students won graduation awards presented by area civic organizations.
The Greater Wildwood Elks Outstanding Students in Art are Erin Fuller and Cole Accardi.
Wildwood Civic Club Outstanding student in Industrial Arts is James Dempster.
Crest Savings Bank’s Outstanding Math students are Sean Holton and Tara Tolomeo.
Optimist Club’s Outstanding Optimistic Students are Christopher Gonzalez and Kylie Smith.
Alec McAlarnen and Kylie Smith were honored for their outstanding citizenship.
The Home and School Association Outstanding students in Music are Alec McAlarnen and Joe Rogowski.
Other awards include the Howard W. Tipton Humanitarian award, which went to Alec McAlarnen.
Christina Feather won the Sharon Stubbs Scholarship award.
Principals’ Awards were given to outstanding students in specific subject areas.
These include: Joseph Rogowski for Band, Industrial Arts, Physical Education/Health, and Computer Applications.
Alec McAlarnen earned awards in Language Arts, Reading, and Social Studies.
Kylie Smith was honored for Choir, Physical Education/Health, and Technology.
Sean Holton was honored for Algebra I, Science.
Cole Accardi was recognized for Art and Angelo Walton for Spanish.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
