Balloon fest quiz answers, Tracy Cusey and the YMCA make Close Up

By Mike Fak

[August 28, 2009]  With the annual Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival upon us, most other activities take the week off in order to all be a part of this signature event. We hope you will check out our festival information section just below Close Up to find out all you need to know about the weekend's activities. For your convenience we have included the complete art and balloon fest book so that you can find everything at the tip of your fingers. See all of you at the festival.

Congratulations to Tracy Cusey. Tracy is the winner of our balloon fest quiz and gets two festival shirts and passes. Thanks to everyone for playing. For those of you who just gotta know, the questions with the correct answers in red are below.

1. The nation credited with the first hot air balloon flight is:

1. China.

2. England.

3. France.

4. The Kennedy family.

2. The first American president to witness a balloon launch was:

1. Millard Fillmore.

2. James Buchanan.

3. George Washington.

4. Mark Twain.

3. Stimulated by ballooning, a young author wrote "Around the World in Eighty Days." His name was:

1. Rudyard Kipling.

2. Jules Verne.

3. H.G. Wells.

4. Mickey Spillane.

4. The Hindenburg wasn't really a hot air balloon because it used this other gas to remain airborne:

1. Helium.

2. Argon.

3. Hydrogen.

4. Flatulence.

5. The World War I ace known as the balloon buster was:

1. The Red Baron.

2. Eddie Rickenbacker.

3. Yves Montgolfier.

4. Cedric Gadsworth.

6. When the word "dirigible" is added to a hot air balloon, it means:

1. The balloon is really big.

2. The balloon has a frame.

3. The balloon is steerable.

4. The balloon was made by Georges Dirigible.

7. The first recorded hot air balloon was made of:

1. Silk.

2. Paper.

3. Linen.

4. Thermosote.

8. The first balloonist to soar into the atmosphere was:

1. Yves Garlicki.

2. Jonathan Swift.

3. Yves Trombley.

4. Hawthorne Gray.

9. The first powered hot air balloon was introduced by:

1. The Mario Brothers.

2. Anselmo Triskanopoulis.

3. Henri Giffard.

4. Frank Gifford.

10. The first balloon race was sponsored by:

1. James Gordon Bennett.

2. Sir Charles Mountbatten.

3. Napoleon the III.

4. Wilbur Wright.

11. Balloons are classified according to volume by:

1. The World Balloon Organization.

2. The Hot Air Society.

3. The Balloon Society of France.

4. The French Federation of International Aeronautics.

12. Recreational ballooning became popular in the 1950s because of lighter materials for the balloon and:

1. Cheaper prices on sandbags.

2. Propane burners.

3. Prize money increases in races.

4. The removal of air restrictions on balloons.

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The YMCA is still accepting registrations for the Before and After School programs offered at all District 27, Chester-East Lincoln and Olympia South elementary schools. You can call 217-871-9432.

Space is still available for the YMCA Preschool Play Center programs and Preschool P.E. classes. These fun programs will be offered throughout the school year. Dates and times for all preschool program activities are available via http://www.lincolnymca.org/Preschool.aspx.

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Got a good piece of news, information or something that we can all brag about? If you do, e-mail Mike and let us tell everyone about it. Plus you can win cash. Every submission, whether we use it or not, will get your name in the "Close Up" grab bag. At the end of the month we will draw a name and someone will get $25 just for dropping us an e-mail. If you wish, we will be happy to donate your winnings to the organization of your choice.

You can contact Mike at [e-mail].

[By MIKE FAK]

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