By Jane Smith
4/5/07 — SADSBURY TOWNSHIP — Eileen Bertera is on a mission: To get Conneaut Lake Park open this year so she can remain in business.
Bertera and her husband, John, operate the miniature paddle wheel boat, Kaylee Belle, and have lots of business already lined up. But if the park doesn’t open, there is no dock available for the boat, she said. “There is no other dock big enough for a 13-ton boat,” she explained. In fact, a crane is scheduled to put the boat back in the water next week.
“I’m on a mission,” she said. “If the park closes, we will be out of business,” she said. “I have 28 bus tours from six states coming in,” she added as example of the tourist business which will be lost.
“I have a bus from Delaware booked for Pumpkin Fest,” she added, referring to the annual event held at the park in October.
Another caller wants to have a bridal shower on the boat June 2. Bertera doesn’t want to turn away customers or lose those busloads of tourists to Conneaut Lake Park and Crawford County.
While she is booking events for her private business in conjunction with the B and J Bus Tours, she also has been volunteering her services to line up summer entertainment for Conneaut Lake Park.
She said she has entertainment lined up for nearly every weekend at Dreamland Ballroom and the Beach Club. However, she said she can’t confirm anything until she knows the park will open. “I have bands on hold,” she said.
“When the judge signs the papers, I will be dancing in the streets,” she said, referring to the court approval needed for Gregory Sutterlin to purchase 3.3 acres of land, which will give the park money to open for the season
