April 2000

Member Profile: Don Lebold-Town and Country Lanes

Bowling is about the only business that smiles in the face of ongoing strikes. Town and Country Lanes, in Keizer, has seen more strikes in recent years than ever before. According to Don Lebold, co-owner of Town and Country since 1967 and sole owner since 1993, "It's because of new technology: reactive resin bowling balls and new lane treatments (oils that hold the ball better).  The high individual average in Oregon in 1958 was 205. The 12th highest average just on this center’s lanes this year is 214!" he exclaimed.
      Lebold grew up in Salem and lived down the street from a bowling center. "It's the one athletic event I could do well," he explained. At 61, he’s been a member of at least one league for 46 years running. He held the state’s best average for two years and was a pro bowler for a short time after graduating from Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University). He still loves the game, bowling in two leagues each week, currently with an astounding league average of 221.
      “I started working here in 1962,” Lebold explained. Automated pin setting machines were still quite new and that alone revolutionized the game, creating an immense national following. "Back then, we had daytime bowling leagues four days a week, made up of housewives," said Lebold. "The children’s nursery was completely full. These days, the moms are working," he continued. "We have just one women's daytime league and no daycare because of the cost of insurance."
      As job patterns changed and the options for entertainment grew, bowling centers responded creatively to develop a new customer base. While the percentage of league bowlers (55%) has fallen slightly in the past decade, the percentage of "open" bowlers has risen (45%) as has the number of leagueofferings. In addition to "Bantam Prep" (ages 6-11) there is a Junior Major league (12-21 years), Adult leagues, a "Scratch" league and a very healthy Senior league. Smoke-free weekend parties, before 5 p.m., have become a popular birthday outing, especially with the advent of "bumper" bowling, where kids toss 6-pounders at the pins and gutter balls are impossible. On certain nights, fog machines, special lighting and strobes create an otherworldly mood for teen bowlers, accompanied by the driving pulse of popular music. Lebold has bought heavily into new technology, currently investing more than $100,000 in automated scoring computers and exterior improvements.
      The Lebolds, with three daughters, six grandchildren and a strong Christian faith, have embraced these trends and have put a decidedly "family" stamp on their business. Among 40 or so bowling centers participating in a statewide scholarship program for Junior league members, Town and Country raises more than any other, averaging about $500 per recipient per year. "We generally raise more money in scholarships than they pay in bowling fees," Lebold said.
      But Lebold and his wife, Ann, have refrained from other bowling center trends.  The most noticeable is the lack of video poker machines.  "Some bowling centers make $200,000 a year off those machines," he said, "more than they make in the business itself."  But I don't like it and what it does to people.  We're probably the only bowling center in the state that doesn't allow them," he said.

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Important Safety Recall Information

Realizing that many Salem Electric customers may have these heaters installed in their homes or businesses, we felt it was important to pass along this recall information provided by Cadet Manufacturing Company.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cadet Manufacturing Company is recalling approximately 1.9 million in-wall electric heaters under the brand names Cadet and Encore. The recall includes all models and variants of Cadet and Encore Series listed below. These heaters were sold from 1982 to 1999.  
      According to the CPSC, these heaters may be defective, and could overheat, fail, catch fire and spew flames and molten particles. Under the terms of the recall, Cadet will provide you with replacement heaters at prices substantially below the normal retail prices for these heaters.

      Timing is critical, because owners of recalled Cadet heaters must complete the necessary forms and return them within 24 months of the announcement of the recall to receive replacement heaters and/or reimbursements.
      If you have a Z model heater, you are urged to stop using your heater and use an alternate heat source if available. If no alternate heat source is available, use the heater only while you are in the room and able to watch it carefully, keep everything at least 3 feet away from the heater.

How to Identify the Model of Your Heater 

1. WARNING! Before removing grill, turn the electrical poweroff at the circuit breaker panelor fuse box and lock or tag the circuit breaker door. Failure to do so could result in seriouselectrical shock, burns, or possible death.

2. Turn the heater thermostat all the way up. If the heater turns on, you have turned off the wrong circuit. If the heater does not turn on, proceed to Step 3.

3. Remove screws and take off grill.

4. Locate sticker on heatbox (usually clear sticker with gold lettering). This will have the model number of the heater.

5. If the letters FW, FX, LX, TK, ZA, Z, RA, RK, RLX, RX, or ZC appear within the model number, your heater is part of this recall program.

In order to participate in thissafety recall, please call the Cadet Recall Hotline at (800) 567-2613 or visit the Cadet website at www.cadetco.com. This recall program is offered only by Cadet, not through its retail, wholesale or distribution channels. The hotline and website are the first places consumers should go to participatein the recall.

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