DEFER, REMOVE, VOTE AGAINST BEQUEATH PLAN TO PAY DOWN DEBT
THE RECENT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION, TO USE THE MILLION DOLLAR BEQUEATH, TO THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, FROM THE ESTATE OF TERRENCE HAIGHT, SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE MINUTES, DEFERRED, OR DEFEATED, WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, APPARENTLY AT THIS WEEK'S PUBLIC MEETING. THIS IS A LAST DITCH ATTEMPT, TO REACH THE FEW UNDECIDED COUNCILLORS, WHO COULD VOTE THIS MATTER DOWN……OR AT LEAST DEFER IT FOR FUTURE PUBLIC CONSULTATION, BASED ON PUBLIC OBJECTIONS RECEIVED. THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I WOULD TRULY LIKE TO REPORT TO MY READERS, THAT GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS REVIEWED THE COMMITTEE DECISION, MADE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, AND DECIDED TO REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC, FOR ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS, AS TO WHAT THE MEMORIAL GIFT CAN BE USED FOR, TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE COUNCILLORS WHO BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND IT IS INCUMBENT ON THEM TO VOICE THERE STRONG DISAPPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. WHILE THEY MIGHT NOT BELIEVE AN ARMCHAIR CRITIC LIKE ME, I HAVE NO REASON TO LIE ABOUT THE GROWING ANGER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, ABOUT COUNCIL'S GENERAL DISREGARD FOR PUBLIC OPINION. IT IS A MISTAKE TO DISMISS THIS MOST RECENT DISSENT, AS EITHER MINOR OR FLEETING, BECAUSE THERE IS A MUCH WIDER CONSENSUS, AMONGST CONSTITUENTS, THAT COUNCIL IS EVER-DISTANCING ITSELF FROM THE DEMOCRACY WE STILL HAPPEN TO RESPECT. AS A GESTURE OF GOOD FAITH, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE MATTER CAN BE DEFERRED SIMPLY, AND WITHOUT FUSS, TO ALLOW FOR MORE CONSULTATION BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE. I'D REALLY LIKE TO BELIEVE OUR COUNCILLORS WILL AGREE, AND OPT TO INCLUDE US IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
I WILL NOT ATTEND. I HAVE OFFERED MY OPINION, AND I KNOW COUNCILLORS HAVE BEEN AWARE OF MY PROTEST. I THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND THE GREATER GRAVENHURST RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION, A GROUP I TRUST TO REPRESENT THIS ISSUE WITH FAIR MINDEDNESS AND INTEGRITY.
THE ENTERTAINMENT AND COMMUNITY HISTORY THE TOWN HAS EXTENDED - COUNCILLORS MIGHT NOT HAVE CONSIDERED IN FULL
MAJOR STAGE REPAIRS BEGIN THIS WEEK ON THE BARGE
YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME TODAY. I MAY BE THE ONLY BLOGGER IN THE WORLD, AT THIS MOMENT, WEARING A CAT AROUND HIS OR HER NECK. I'D REMOVE THE POOR LITTLE SOUL, BUT HE'S SITUATED HIMSELF SO COMFORTABLY ON THE BACK OF MY CHAIR, TO WATCH A WOODPECKER TAPPING AT THE OLD BIRCH TREE, I HATE TO PUSH HIM OFF JUST NOW. ACTUALLY, I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO ADMIT THIS, BUT THE WARMTH OF HIS LEG ON THE BACK OF MY NECK IS KIND OF NICE, EXCEPT WHEN HE STRETCHES AND THE CLAWS DIG IN TO MY SKIN. ANGUS IS ONE OF THE KITTENS BORN HERE, AT BIRCH HOLLOW, BELONGING TO A SKINNY LITTLE CAT WE CALL BEASLEY. SHE HAD THREE KITTENS AND WE KEPT THEM ALL, BECAUSE OF THE LARGE VOLUME OF CAST-OFF CATS AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY SHELTER. WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH ROOM, AND NOW THAT OUR MUCH OLDER CAT, FESTER, DIED A MONTH OR SO AGO, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE ROOM FOR THE WHOLE GANG. ANGUS LIKES TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW, AND MY CHAIR AFFORDS A REALLY NICE VIEW OF THE BIRD FEEDER AND THE TREES IN THE YARD. OUR CATS ARE OF THE INDOOR VARIETY, WHICH SPARES ALL THE WEE BEASTIES THAT LIVE HERE, AND FREQUENTLY VISIT OUR GRAVENHUST URBAN HOMESTEAD. I LIKE THAT ABOUT BIRCH HOLLOW. THIS TIME OF YEAR IT BECOMES VERY LUSH AND FLOWERY, AND IT'S CERTAINLY AN INSPIRATIONAL PLACE TO WRITE. HAVING ANGUS ON MY NECK WOULDN'T PLEASE MANY WRITERS, BUT ITS MY LITTLE CREATURE COMFORT, AND WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING. IF HE LETS ME GET MY WORK DONE, THERE WILL BE A LITTLE EXTRA TUNA FOR LUNCH. SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION THIS, IN CASE THE BLOG BELOW SEEMS A LITTLE DISJOINTED AT TIMES. SOMETIMES I KIND OF FALL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL (TYPEWRITER), AS THE WARM FUR OF THIS LITTLE FELLA, IS THE BEST PILLOW I'VE EVER HAD.
"AS THE SUN PAINTED GRAVENHURST IN SUNSET RED SUNDAY EVENING, THOUSANDS CROWDED GULL LAKE PARK AWAITING THE SOUNDS OF 'YOUTH '67' TO TAKE OVER. AND IT DID," WROTE RON SMITH, IN AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE GRAVENHURST NEWS BACK IN, YOU GUESSED IT, THE SUMMER SEASON OF 1967.
"LEADING OFF THE MUSIC ON THE BARGE PROGRAM WERE THE 'MARCATES' FROM TORONTO, WITH A 'TASTE OF HONEY,' FOLLOWED BY A DAVE CLARK NOISE MAKER, 'YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES,' AND A SOUL ROCK, 'MERCY, MERCY, MERCY," WRITES RON SMITH, OF THE WELL ATTENDED CONCERT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
"BY THE TIME THEY FINISHED, AN ESTIMATED FOUR TO FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE, MAINLY THE UNDER 25 CROWD, HAD JAMMED THE PARK FROM THE SWIMMING DOCKS TO BEYOND THE BARGE. THE 'MARCATES' CONSISTED OF A DRUMMER, 2 ON TRUMPET AND ONE OTHER WHO PLAYED EITHER TRUMPET OR GUITAR, AS WELL AS THEIR LEAD SINGER, B. J. LAWRENCE. THE BEST TUNES THEY PLAYED AT THE OPEN AIR CONCERT HAD TO BE 'THE LONELY BULL,' THEIR OWN HIT-TO-BE, 'I REALLY THINK A LOT OF YOU,' AND B.J.'S SINGING OF ROY ORBISON'S HITS, 'CRYING,' 'WORKING FOR THE MAN,' AND 'CARAMEL.' UP TEMPO; WAY UP. 'THE STACCATOS,' CANADA'S NUMBER ONE ROCK AND ROLL BAND, ARRIVED FROM HUNTSVILLE, OUT OF THE TRAFFIC JAM, AND WERE ON STAGE," WRITES SMITH OF THE CONCERT LINE-UP. "LEADING OFF WITH THE 'BRAND NEW BABY,' A 'RAIDERS' SMASH, AND THE 'MAMAS & PAPAS' MILLION SELLER, 'DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE.' THEY FOLLOWED WITH THEIR OWN RECENT RECORDING OF 'HALF PAST MIDNIGHT.' UP TEMPO; HIGHER. THE 'HIDDEN VALLEY GO-GO DANCERS,' CANDICE BIST AND AVRIL CHOWN, PUT IN THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE AND THE MUSIC WENT ON. THIS TIME A NUMBER OF GREAT 'BEACH BOYS' HITS, AND THE CURRENT 'SAN FRANCISCO,' WERE PLAYED."
"THE STACCATOS, AN OTTAWA BASED GROUP COMPRISING OF THREE ON GUITAR AND TWO ON DRUMS, WERE RECENTLY IN HOLLYWOOD CUTTING A SONG FOR COLUMBIA (RECORDS). IN THE FALL, THE BOYS WILL BE AGAIN BE FLYING SOUTH, PROBABLY TO CUT THEIR SECOND ALBUM," WRITES SMITH, FOR THE GRAVENHURST NEWS. "AS THE LAKE CALMED ALMOST TO REFLECT THE STARS, THE CROWD LEAD BY THE GULL LAKE YACHT CLUB MEMBERS, IN THEIR PARKED BOATS, BEGAN TO GYRATE TO THE STACCATOS, 'WALK TALL.' THROUGHOUT THE EVENING HUNDREDS OF TEENY-BOPPERS WERE MADLY SEEKING AUTOGRAPHS. SOME GIRLS WERE FINDING DISCARDED CIGARETTE PACKS, AND GETTING THEM SIGNED, AND THE GIRLS, WHO COULD NOT FIND ONE, WERE GETTING THEM TATOOED ON THEIR ARMS."
THANK YOU MR. SMITH FOR TAKING US BACK TO THE SUMMER OF '67. YOU SEE, THE BARGE COULD ROCK AND ROLL WHEN IT HAD TO. MOST RECENTLY, THE ROLL WAS BECAUSE OF THE FAILING PIERS.
THE STAGE WHERE THE GOOD BROTHERS HAVE WOWED CROWDS, AND THE DISTRICT AND THE BIFOCALS BANDS HAVE PERFORMED IN THE TWINKLING GLOW JUST BEFORE SUNSET, IS A SKELETON OF ITS FORMER SELF. IT WILL SOON BE DOWN TO ITS BARE BONES, OUT THERE ON THE RIPPLED WATERS OF GULL LAKE, HERE IN GRAVENHURST. WHAT WILL LOOK, TO THE VOYEUR IN THE PARK, LIKE A MISSION TO COLLAPSE THIS CENTURY-PLUS ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, IS ACTUALLY ITS NEW BEGINNING. WHAT WAS POTENTIALLY A HISTORY FOR THE TEXT BOOKS, AND THE SCRAPBOOK-FILE KEPT BY THE BARGE MANAGER, HAS BECOME A LOCAL REVITALIZATION PROJECT THAT HAS STIRRED THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY. WHY? WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE BARGE ANYWAY? WHY WAS IT WORTH ALL THE RESTORATION MONEY TO KEEP IT IN OPERATION? WHY NOT JUST BUILD ANOTHER ONE IN ITS PLACE? OR MOVE IT ON SHORE, LIKE THE ORIGINAL BANDSTAND, THAT WAS TUCKED UP IN THE PARK'S PINEGROVE?
SOME TIMES, IT IS JUST NECESSARY TO ABANDON THE WAY IT WAS! THERE'S A TIME WHEN NOSTALGIA, AND HISTORY IN FIXED STRUCTURES, JUST BECOMES TOO EXPENSIVE TO RESTORE. IT'S NOT ALWAYS A BAD OR SAD SITUATION, BECAUSE CHANGE CAN BE A MARVELOUS, LIFE ENHANCING REALITY. FRED SCHULZ KNEW THAT A TOWN COUNCIL, ONE DAY, WOULD LOOK AT NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE BARGE, BUILT IN THE LATE 1950'S, AND DEEM IT ANTIQUATED AND IN NEED OF UPGRADE. FRED PROBABLY FELT FEAR WHEN HE'D HEAR A LOCAL COUNCILLOR MENTION "UPGRADE," OR "IMPROVEMENTS" TO THE VENUE. FRED HAS ALWAYS HAD A VERY CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED OPINION ABOUT THE BARGE, AS ITS LONGEST SERVING MANAGER / CUSTODIAN. HE'S BEEN TENDING ITS BIG AND LITTLE BRUISES FOR A LONG TIME, AND WHEN YOU'RE AS INTIMATE AS HE HAS BEEN WITH THE GULL LAKE PARK STAGE, WELL SIR, YOU KNOW THINGS. YOU KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. OFTEN THIS IS A GOOD THING. OCCASIONALLY IT'S NOT SO GOOD. SUCH AS WHEN YOU START FINDING DEFICIENCIES WITH THE WOODWORK AND PIERS BELOW, AND RECOGNIZE AS ITS CARE-GIVER, COSMETIC REPAIRS WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, FRED HAS LIVED WITH THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY, THE BARGE WAS GOING TO REQUIRE THE KIND OF MAJOR SURGERY, WHERE LIFE EXPECTANCY WOULD BE FIFTY-FIFTY RISK. AT TIMES, IN DISCUSSIONS AS TO WHETHER TO FINANCE REPAIRS OR RIP IT DOWN, IN THE PAST YEAR, THE ODDS WERE EVEN GREATER AGAINST KEEPING THE PLATFORM THE SAME. MAYBE A NEW DESIGN WOULD BE BETTER. GET RID OF THOSE DATED FIBERGLASS PANELS. PUT UP A ROOF OVER THE STAGE. DIG A HOLE IN THE EMBANKMENT OF GULL LAKE, TO BUILD AN AMPHITHEATER, TO LOOK OUT OVER A NEW ULTRA MODERN, SPACE AGE BARGE STRUCTURE. THE RUMORS ABOUT THE BARGE'S FUTURE WERE SMOKING AND SO WAS FRED. YOU MIGHT EVEN FIND HIS PICTURE BESIDE THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF STATUS QUO, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE APPEARANCE OF THE GULL LAKE VENUE, AND HIS TRADITIONAL DEFENSE OF ITS NOSTALGIC DESIGN. IT WORKS. IT REMINDS PEOPLE OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
A site inspection a couple of years ago, revealed a problem with the iron posts, keeping the highly recognizable curved platform out of the water. Over the years the ice-action rubbing against the iron-work had sheared a few of them off, and it had become a serious safety issue. The side-wing of The Barge was actually starting to tip-over, so the revelations weren't all that surprising. Fred just hadn't thought that this was the biggest problem. He was concerned about the decay of the wood deck, and the joist holding it all in place. To get the double-whammy, of having to repair the support piers, (adding new ones) and replace the planking of the large structure, and straighten the bridge to shore, was staggering. Fred didn't admit he was overly worried about the pending crisis. He didn't have to, because it showed through his show-time facade, as master of ceremonies. It was as if, at times, he was saying goodbye to the structure, sensing that Town Council was going to have a hard time, allocating the money to save a half-century old island platform, in the lake, that probably should have been replaced or removed a decade ago. Fred won't tell you, even if you asked, that he's been doing as much as possible to make the kind of repairs that ensure "one more season." He's had many helpers over the years, especially in wood working, that he couldn't have done without. They tried to stay up on all the repairs needed, but it just became to overwhelming and beyond an easy fix. There was always the danger of personal injury, if someone crashed through a rotting board. Now that would have been a show-stopper.
If you were to watch Fred carefully, on the final concert night, when the Good Brothers gear has finally been loaded into their vehicles, and just before the lights are switched-off for the last time, for the season, you will be able to see him walk onto the stage one last time, and utter one, subtle, quiet "Thank God!" Not because it's over. But because everything held together to get the season covered, and the thousands of fans in the audience, had been well entertained. As he's taking that final exuberant walk back to his car, he may turn once or twice, to thank all the carpenters who have worked on site upgrades, and all the councillors who have, over the years, given him enough budget to pick up a few board feet, to replace one or two that had failed. Who really knows, what's going on in Fred's mind, as he leaves the plank walkway from The Barge, in August, knowing what an autumn storm or Muskoka winter might do to the structure in his absence. For the past two years, he has had to face up to the fact, the small repairs of the past, couldn't possibly save The Barge from the toll of time and weather. The real conundrum, was that he knew how much the total restoration would cost, and he was fully aware the town was entering a serious austerity period of town history. Add to this a municipal election, a few new councillors, and a different agenda which you would expect from a new council. He was competing for funds, and convincing council to save what some felt should be yanked down, and a new one constructed, would have, in his mind, been the same struggle as if he had decided, as an elder statesman, to climb Mount Everest with Sherpa guides. I'm going out on a thin limb here, but for what he's worried about, for at least two years, was likely harder on him, than if he had decided to scale Everest. Rightly, or wrongly, he felt that if The Barge was removed, it would never be rebuilt.
The cost demands would put it out of reach for the present council, having to deal with Recreation Centre costs, and a new roof for the Opera House. He may have believed, that if The Barge was removed, his history as manager, and as an assistant to Wanda Miller before that, would be relegated to the old and yellowed news clippings, stuck into file folders in a desk drawer. Even though something would have been erected to takes its place, he wouldn't have seen this as his future, but rather for someone younger with a more contemporary concept, of what entertainment should be in this new century. The poet might look upon this story, and find that The Barge and the Manager were one in the same. He felt his future was a shaky as The Barge, on busted piers. But there was insight, and respect for tradition, that started to emerge from all the places you might have expected. His supporters rallied, and patrons offered their support with whatever he needed. The Town re-invested in The Barge, and all of a sudden, the old manager, became renewed; even feeling rather spry these days, as he works the main street, handing out Concert on the Barge brochures, promoting the coming season. He might not wish to spend much time staring out over The Barge, in the midst of this most recent surgery, but the man has his faith back. That's good for all of us, and you, if you like the Sunday concert series.
It has been a tough couple of years for everyone involved in The Barge. There were a few personal conflicts, between volunteers and the town, that still haven't been resolved, despite the fact there are now new iron piers holding it up, and the old, rotting planks are today, being pulled off the joist in preparation for new pre-cut boards. It would of course be nice, if Fred could see it all resolved, and all the hard feelings patched up, because that's what Music on the Barge is all about. Bringing everyone together, young and old, to have an old fashion fete, where everyone can relax and recline, with a background of music and the glowing majesty of Muskoka. It's the magic of the whole concert tradition, that it brings people together, to celebrate the good life we have here in Gravenhurst and Muskoka. The performers feel that way. They tell us about it, when they introduce themselves, thanking the people of Gravenhurst for inviting them to come for a visit. And that's what it is, after all. A really nice visit. So when Fred would try to explain something like this, to some councillors, who don't even attend the regular summer concerts, he knew from the get-go, that mustering the support to save the stage was at best, no better than a snowball's chance.
What Fred didn't count on, was the vast amount of support from his loyal followers…..the volunteers and the regular patrons, who have offered him whatever support is necessary, to keep The Barge operational. I'm pretty sure councillors heard all about this, over the past year especially, and I am delighted they had the foresight to see what tradition means…….beyond having to sit down and flip through the piles of news clipping spanning more than fifty years. A newly designed Barge may have been desirable to some, but Fred insisted, that losing its historic integrity, would vastly change the whole aura of Music on the Barge. I couldn't have written what Fred was conveying, handshake after handshake, with concerned citizens, about the reasons it should remain a fixture of summers in Gravenhurst. It's always tough selling the concept of "tradition," with this kind of price tag, to those folks who aren't traditionalists, and are frugal at the same time.
So it's understandable, that Fred briefly entertained the idea of retiring as manager, if in fact, The Barge was to be hauled-down, instead of being restored. You had to be as close to Fred as our family was, to know he definitely saw the proverbial writing on the wall. Frankly, so did we. We just didn't want to admit it to him, as Fred is a career worrier. We did what we could to support him, and for me it meant quite a lot of editorial writing, and approaching councillors with a most basic appeal. "Save The Barge! Please!" It would have become a huge public fundraising campaign eventually, if Council had voted against the upgrades. We always had two alternative plans to help Fred, in case of a failure to secure town funding for the restoration. We couldn't tell him, because he'd freak out, knowing we had doubts in the first place. We had confidence etched on our mugs every time we met-up. It was our protocol, even if we'd just heard a rumor, the stage was being torn down…..that afternoon. Maybe we did see it as protecting him. But at times, it seemed a little bleak. So watching the crews bring the stage back to performance-durability, this week, is all rather marvelous, and fascinating at the same time.
There is such excitement now, having reached this stage of reconstruction, when the old woodwork, having done its service, and then some, will be removed and gradually replaced, to support the weight of the 2012 Music on the Barge Concert Series, which will begin officially, on Sunday, June 24th. It may be the case, that the first two concerts of the year, will be held in the Rotary Pavilion, instead, should the work run slightly over schedule. The two concerts that were held in the Pavilion last summer, due to work on the bridge piers, were so successful, and appreciated by the audience and the performers, that it will not be any hardship whatsoever, if they have to be relocated again this summer. The acts that follow, require a greater dedication of electrical service, that the Pavilion doesn't currently possess, so these do require The Barge facilities.
The "Barge Debating Society," (what we call the volunteer support group), wants to extend thanks to the Town of Gravenhurst, for the thoughtful and insightful decision, to maintain an entertainment tradition in this town, and the continuance of Sunday evening fetes, that bring permanent residents together with citizens from neighboring towns, with cottagers, tourists and general passersby. It really is a show of good faith in Fred Schulz, and his band of volunteers, to keep pulling successes from his hat, and that Gull Lake shoreline full of happy, contented concert goers. I've never known Fred Schulz to disappoint his followers, and you know…….if he could stop the rain, he most certainly would. Which brings up another point, I want to stress to everyone interested in coming out to the concerts. There will be no rain re-location this year, for the first time in decades. Due to inadequate facilities to house these big events, Fred has been forced to announce that rain-outs will mean cancelled-concerts entirely. He advises, on overcast and threatening days, for patrons to bring along umbrellas and rain-wear to the park, in case of a brief shower. In the case of severe weather, he will cancel the concerts well in advance, to avoid any dangers to members of the audience. He's sorry to have to make this decision, but over the past several years, re-locations to the Opera House, have created hard feelings due to seat limitation. All the volunteers and Fred himself, received some rather harsh comments, when regular concert goers had to be turned away from the Opera House, because there was already a full-house, even an hour before show-time. The difficulties of moving equipment from The Barge to the Opera House, simply became too hard and time-consuming for the crew. Additionally, when the Terry Fox room was re-located in the present Recreation Centre, it's capacity was well beneath the minimum seating needed, for these well attended concert events. Fred has purchased a shelter for The Barge, for use by performers, in the event of a light rain. Sensitive sound equipment has to be kept moisture free. But mortals can survive getting a little wet. Look at Woodstock, for gosh sakes. Look at this past weekend's flotilla on the Thames, for the Jubilee celebration. Rain isn't so bad. England? Muskoka? Rain is rain.
If I read Fred's mind, as I usually can, I'm pretty sure he's hoping for record crowds this season. I'm not sure he's going to break the 5,000 mark, allegedly set in the summer of 1967, (regarding the concert for young people), for one evening concert, but that won't stop him fantasizing that it's possible. I think it would be fabulous to see, and the kind of support, that would send a message to the councillors of this town, that they made the right decision, to restore this internationally known, and respected entertainment venue, on our own Gull Lake. Now wouldn't that be a fitting tribute to manager and the town.
If you could spare some time, to help out with the donation pails, that volunteers take through the crowd to help offset costs, just let Fred know a little in advance, so he can give you a time and date he needs assistance. If you would just like to make a donation, to help out with Fred's entertainment expenses, which he covers through the kindness of patrons, you can also give him a call. He'd be glad to hear from you.
Folks, this has been a precarious journey, for the Barge manager, since the fiftieth anniversary celebration, a few years back, when he knew the repairs were becoming harder to patch, and stay ahead of each season. So to get to this point today, when The Barge is in its final stage of restoration, is just a really good feeling, for all of us close to the project. I really hope that Town of Gravenhurst Councillors will take the time this summer, to sample the fare. We'd all like to see them, and give them the credit they deserve, for sparing an important entertainment landmark in this country……when logic may well have indicated, the stage had outlived its usefulness. I think we can show them, just how wise and intuitive they were, and what "history-repeating-itself" looks like, up close and personal.
Several times each week, I will try to provide a timely update about the progress of the restoration, and highlight the upcoming shows which of course begin on Sunday, June 24th, with The Muskoka Concert Band; Sunday, July Ist (Canada Day), The Bifocals Concert Band (both bands conducted by Neil Barlow); Sunday, July 8th, "That's 60's Show," the ultimate tribute to the music of the 60's; Sunday, July 15th, "Walk Like A Man as The 4 Seasons," tribute to Frankie Vali and the "Four Seasons"; Sunday, July 22nd, "Johnny Cash & June Carter & Tammy Wynette Tribute, an entertaining evening for all your country favorites; Sunday, July 29th, "Freddy Vette and The Flames," step back in time to the 50's with this fabulous full stage show with endless energy, a full band, and back-up singers; Sunday, August 5th, "The Fabulous Knockouts," playing a mix of hits from the mid 50's to the early 70's; Sunday, August 12th, "The Endless Summer Beach Band," a new show with a California look and sound; and Sunday, August 19th, "The Good Brothers," celebrating over 40 years in the music business, the Good Brothers continue their annual performances at The Barge.
The concerts start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise stated. Collections are taken during the concerts.
Thanks so much for visiting today's blog.You all come back now, ya hear!
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