DON'T FORGET SUNDAY IN GRAVENHURST - THAT'S WHEN WE GET TO GO BACK TO THE 1950'S
MUSIC ON THE BARGE CONCERT TO FEATURE "EDDY AND THE STINGRAYS"
IT'S GETTING A LITTLE TRICKY AROUND HERE, THESE DAYS, TO GET THE KIND OF PUBLICITY FRED SCHULZ IS USED TO, AND NEEDS, IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE MUSIC ON THE BARGE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, AT ROTARY GULL LAKE PARK, IN GRAVENHURST. THE MEDIA IN MUSKOKA IS GETTING PERSNICKETY ABOUT WHAT THEY HAND OUT AS FREEBIES, AND FRED HAS A DIFFICULT TIME COMING UP WITH THE EXTRA MONEY TO COVER EXPENSES AS IT IS. SO BUYING AD SPACE IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE ON THE TIGHT CONCERT BUDGET. MEDIA OPERATIONS ARE GETTING A LITTLE MORE STINGY ABOUT WHAT THEY ALLOW AS PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THIS IS A WEE PROBLEM FOR EVENTS LIKE MUSIC ON THE BARGE, BECAUSE OF ITS CONNECTION TO THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, YET ITS INDEPENDENT OPERATION ON A SMALL BUDGET. ADVERTISING IS EXPENSIVE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. I WAS IN THE PRINT INDUSTRY, SO I KNOW WHAT COSTS CAN BE, FOR EVEN SMALL ADS IN A WIDELY CIRCULATED PUBLICATION. SO TO GIVE HIM A HAND THIS WEEK, WHEN PUBLICITY WAS THIN TO NON EXISTENT, I'VE PUT TOGETHER THIS LITTLE ADVANCE BILLING TO HELP OUT………THE MUSIC ON THE BARGE WILL FEATURE A NEW ACT, THIS COMING SUNDAY, TO TAKE US BACK TO THE MUSIC OF THE 1950'S. THE CONCERT WILL FEATURE "EDDY AND THE STINGRAYS," AN EXCITING ACT, PERFECT FOR A NOSTALGIC SUMMER NIGHT ON THE BARGE. SO GET THERE EARLY TO SECURE A GOOD SPOT ON THE BEACH, OR EMBANKMENT OVERLOOKING BEAUTIFUL GULL LAKE. THE CONCERT BEGINS AT 7:30 P.M. AND IN THE CASE OF A LIGHT RAIN, THE EVENT MAY PROCEED, SO YOU SHOULD BRING SOME RAIN GEAR JUST IN CASE. IN THE EVENT OF A HEAVY RAIN OR THUNDERSTORM, THE PERFORMANCE UNFORTUNATELY WILL BE CANCELLED, BECAUSE THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INDOOR SITE WITH THE SPACE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED, TO HANDLE THE LARGE BARGE ATTENDANCE. IT'S LOOKING GOOD IN THE LONG RANGE FORECAST, SO PACK THOSE LAWN CHAIRS IN THE CAR, AND GET READY FOR A NIGHT OF GOOD FUN, WITH NICE FOLKS. IT PROMISES TO BE A LARGE CROWD, AND THAT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE. DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DONATIONS RECEIVED BY FRED, ALREADY THIS SUMMER, THAT WERE A SURPRISE…..MEANING TOTALLY UNEXPECTED WHEN THEY ARRIVED, INCLUDING A GENEROUS OFFERING FROM MEMBERS OF THE GRAVENHURST ROTARY CLUB. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CORPORATE, BUSINESS, SERVICE CLUB, OR FAMILY DONATION, FRED WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO MEET YOU, AS THESE KIND GESTURES, GREATLY HELP OFFSET COSTS TO BRING THESE FINE GROUPS TO GULL LAKE. AS FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE BARGE, AND DO SO EVERY WEEK, WHEN VOLUNTEERS COME AROUND WITH THEIR DONATION PAILS, FRED IS GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE KINDNESSES SHOWN. IT HAS BEEN A GOOD SUMMER SO FAR, AND THE WEATHER HAS BEEN HOT BUT WITHOUT RAIN ON THOSE IMPORTANT SUMMER SUNDAYS. SEE YOU THERE ON SUNDAY. SUZANNE AND I ARE THE FAITHFUL TWOSOME, SITTING BY THE LEANING BIRCH, ABOVE THE BARGE WALKWAY. GIVE US A WAVE!
MUSKOKA LAKES AND THE HYDRO PLANT STANDOFF
I HAVE READ EVERY STORY PUBLISHED ABOUT THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC INSTALLATION TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE IN BALA. EVERY TIME I GET A CHANCE TO TALK WITH SOMEONE FROM THE COMMUNITY, I LIKE TO ASK THEIR OPINION OF THE FIGHT, THAT DESPITE APPROVAL, SEEMS TO SHOW LITTLE SIGN OF ABATING. LIKE BARBER SHOPS, AND TAVERN BARS, ANTIQUE SHOPS TEND TO BE ACCEPTABLE PLACES TO CARRY ON THESE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS, AND SEEING AS I AM A REGIONAL HISTORIAN, I DON'T FEEL ANY HESITATION ASKING BLUNT QUESTIONS. NOT TO SCARE CUSTOMERS AWAY, BUT TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR OUTRAGE, OR ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL, OR GENERAL INDIFFERENCE. I DO THIS ALL THE TIME WITH SHOP PATRONS WHO SEEM INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT LOCAL AFFAIRS IN GRAVENHURST, AND AROUND THE REGION. I USED TO DO THE SAME THINK OVER THE FRONT COUNTER OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE IN BRACEBRIDGE, DURING MY TENURE AS EDITOR. THAT WAS THE GOOD OLD DAYS, WHEN NEWSPAPER OFFICES WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN…….A STONE'S THROW FROM THE MAIN BUSINESS CORE.
I'M ALSO LIKELY TO ASK TOURISTS ABOUT THEIR HOME REGIONS, AND THAT OFTEN LEADS TO AMAZING CONVERSATIONS, THAT ARE USUALLY QUITE ENLIGHTENING. I SHOULD NOTE HERE, THAT I DON'T OFFER MY OWN OPINION, OR ANY OFFHAND COMMENT, ABOUT THE BALA PROJECT, BECAUSE IT ISN'T PRUDENT; AND IT MOST CERTAINLY ISN'T FAIR TO COMMENT ON WHAT'S IN BALA'S BEST INTEREST, WHEN I LIVE HERE. IT'S THEIR COMMUNITY; THEIR HOME TOWN, AND TO PASS JUDGEMENT FROM MY LITTLE HOMESTEAD, IN GRAVENHURST, A FAIR DISTANCE OUT OF THE LOOP, JUST ISN'T FAIR IN MY MIND. I KNOW IT'S AN EMOTIONAL DEBATE, AND THE MOST RECENT SITUATION OF A LAWSUIT, DOES REMIND ALL OF US ACTIVISTS-IN-WAITING, WHAT CAN GENERATE FROM PASSIONATE INVOLVEMENT, FIRST AS A WORRY ABOUT THINGS TO COME, LEADING TO MINDFUL STUDY, SINCERE CONCERN, AND THEN ACTIVE POLITICAL AND EMOTIONAL OPPOSITION. OPPOSITION TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS COMES IN VARYING DEGREES, BUT MINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN OVER THE TOP, OR SO I'M REMINDED BY LOCAL POLITICIANS. I UNDERSTAND THIS, RATHER WELL, CONSIDERING THAT I WAS PREPARED TO CHAIN MYSELF TO A TREE, OVER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WETLAND, A FEW YEARS BACK, TO STOP THE TOWN FROM SELLING OFF THE TWENTY PLUS ACRES FOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS……WITHOUT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WETLAND ACTUALLY REPRESENTED, TO THE WATER QUALITY OF MUSKOKA BAY. SO AS FAR AS THE MAYOR AND SOME COUNCILLORS BEING PASSIONATE, OUTSPOKEN AND AGGRESSIVE ABOUT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE TOWNSHIP, AND BALA CITIZENS, IN THIS LATEST LONG-PLAYING FORAY……I TIP MY HAT, BECAUSE IT TAKES A HUGE AMOUNT OF PERSONAL COURAGE TO CHALLENGE THE POWERFUL, FINANCIALLY RESOURCEFUL FORCES OF PROGRESS. IT IS BEYOND DAUNTING, AND YET, IF WE DON'T OCCASIONALLY REAR-UP, AND FIGHT FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN……WE SHALL SOFTEN TO THE PRECARIOUS DULLNESS, THAT WE WILL NOT SEE THE POINT IN CHALLENGING AUTHORITY EVERMORE.
SOME BELIEVE THAT THIS KIND OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESS IS BADLY NEEDED. SOME OTHERS BELIEVE IT ISN'T, AND A DAMNATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PICTURESQUE FORMER BEAUTY OF THE RIVER SITE. IT'S A COMMUNITY DIVIDED, AND A TOWNSHIP LOOKING A LITTLE BEDRAGGLED BECAUSE OF INNER CONFLICTS, AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES OF OPINION. WHILE I MAY HAVE TO FALL ON MY OWN SWORD FOR ADMITTING THIS, I WOULD STILL, IF I HAD THE OPTION, RATHER HAVE THE KIND OF VIGOROUS POINT, COUNTERPOINT, AND CRITICAL ASSESSMENTS IN PUBLIC VIEW, FROM OUR POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES, THAN HAVE A STATUS QUO COUNCIL THAT COULDN'T EVEN MUSTER A CHUCKLE, WITHOUT WRITTEN APPROVAL, ABOUT THE INTRUSION ON THE SILENCE, SHATTERED THE RESULT OF A ONE CHEEK SNEAK. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS, MOST RECENTLY WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE LOCAL PRESS, OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ATTEMPTING TO DELAY THE DEVELOPMENT……AND TO CREDIT THEM WITH BEING HEROES MIGHT PROVE SILLY ON MY PART……IF THE JUDGEMENT GOES AGAINST THEM. I DO HOWEVER, UNDERSTAND THEIR MOTIVATION. IT IS THE SAME COMMITMENT I MADE TO "SAVE THE BOG," AND ALSO TO SAVE BRACEBRIDGE'S JUBILEE PARK, WHEN THE TOWN DECIDED TO YANK IT AWAY FROM THE TOWNSFOLK, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, TO SELL TO A UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE INTEREST. I WAS PROUD TO CARRY A PLACARD AGAINST THAT DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS AN HISTORIC MOMENT IN BRACEBRIDGE HISTORY……THAT WILL ALWAYS BE DOCUMENTED, AS LONG AS I WORK AS A REGIONAL HISTORIAN, AS A DEBACLE AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF THE HOLLOW NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO COULD NOT FIGHT THE TOWN AND THE UNIVERSITY….DUE TO LACK OF RESOURCES. PERSONAL FORTITUDE AND SENSIBLE PROPORTION WAS WHAT THEY HAD TO FIGHT TOWN HALL. THE SHORTFALL OF MONEY, IT CAN BE SAID WITH SOME ACCURACY, COST THOSE CITIZENS THEIR PARK. AND THERE WAS NO APOLOGY FROM THE MUNICIPALITY, THAT SOME PEOPLE FELT TRULY BETRAYED, BY THE COUNCIL THEY HAD ELECTED, TO BE STEWARDS OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. ONE OF THOSE RESOURCES WAS JUBILEE PARK. THE RULING OF THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD IN FAVOR OF THE TOWN'S INITIATIVE TO TURN THE LAND INTO A CAMPUS, MADE ME SICK…..PARTICULARLY, AS I KNOW FULL WELL, I DIDN'T GO TO BAT FOR THOSE FOLKS AS I SHOULD HAVE……..AND I WILL ALWAYS REGRET NOT MAKING AN HISTORICAL PLEA, BASED ON MY CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH, WHY THE PARK SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPARED. THE REGRET? THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THE PASSION TO CARRY ON WITH WHAT I BELIEVED WAS AN ERROR IN JUDGEMENT, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DAY. I THINK I WOULD HAVE FELT BETTER, IF I HAD GONE THE DISTANCE, AND MADE MY DEPUTATION TO THE OMB. THE LOSS WOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DEVASTATING IN RETROSPECT, BUT I WOULD HAVE GONE DOWN FIGHTING. NOT HANGING MY HEAD, WALKING OUT THE DOOR OF THE HEARING.
LESSONS OF THE PAST
I HAVE KNOWN ANOTHER TIME, IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1980'S, WHEN A MAYOR AND COUNCIL WERE ALSO AT SERIOUS ODDS, ABOUT THE DEGREE OF MUNICIPAL PROTEST, REGARDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE; AND IT ALSO RESULTED IN A GOOD MAYOR, BEING LEFT TO WEATHER THE STORM, FINANCIALLY…..IT IS SAID, HE CREATED FOR HIMSELF…..WHILE EMBARRASSING THE TOWNSHIP. A SUMMARY OF THOSE CONTROVERSIAL DAYS IN OFFICE, IS CONTAINED IN THE OPENING CHAPTER OF THE BOOK BY FORMER MAYOR, BOB BENNETT, ENTITLED "BINDLE STIFF," DETAILING HIS PERSONAL MISSION, TO FORCE INCO TO REDUCE ITS ACID RAIN CAUSING EMISSIONS….WHICH WAS, HE CLAIMED, INFLICTING SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE TO THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA GENERALLY. I WAS A REPORTER COVERING THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, BACK THEN, AND I KNEW HOW EMOTIONAL IT WAS FOR BOB, WHO IN MY ESTIMATION, WAS A DEDICATED MAYOR, AND ONE OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY ASTUTE COUNCIL REPS I'VE SEEN IN ACTION, TO THIS POINT IN LOCAL HISTORY. NOW JUST A NAME, AND DISTANT MEMORY, RECALLED AMONGST THE CONSTITUENTS, PONDERING THE FATE OF THOSE REPS WHO HAVE KEPT UP THE PROTEST OVER THE BALA DEVELOPMENT……AT A SIMILAR RISK TO THEMSELVES PERSONALLY, AND TO THE TOWNSHIP. I ALWAYS SUPPORTED BOB BENNETT, EDITORIALLY, BECAUSE I KNEW HIM PERSONALLY, AND COULD ATTEST TO THE DURABILITY OF HIS CONVICTION, AND RESEARCH, ……THAT ACID RAIN WAS DESTROYING PARADISE. HE LOST THE FIGHT, AND IT COST HIM DEARLY. YET WHENEVER WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS, IN YEARS FOLLOWING HIS DEPARTURE FROM COUNCIL, HE NEVER REALLY CHANGED HIS OPINION……OR HIS DISAPPOINTMENT, THAT FELLOW COUNCILLORS HAD ABANDONED HIM, TO FIGHT THE MAJOR INDUSTRY ON HIS OWN. I WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS PASSAGE, IN TOMORROW'S BLOG, AS A LITTLE TASTE OF "PROTEST FROM THE PAST," AND WHAT KIND OF PASSION A FORMER MUSKOKA LAKES MAYOR HAD, TO TAKE ON A MAJOR CANADIAN INDUSTRY.
IN THE CASE OF THE BALA PROJECT, I HAVE NO OPINION EITHER WAY. BUT I DO HAVE ADMIRATION FOR PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS, WHO PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY, BECAUSE THEY TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING IT FOR OUR BEST INTERESTS. ARE THEY DELUDED? ARE THEY MISGUIDED BY TOO MUCH PASSION? ARE THEY HOPELESSLY OBSESSED BY THE FIGHT? I WAS PUMMELED WITH THE SAME QUESTIONS, PRONOUNCED HOWEVER, IN THE FORM OF POINTED STATEMENTS, ON BOTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS I OPPOSED. I WAS A BAD GUY TO SOME, A GOOD GUY TO OTHERS. I WON ONE, AND LOST ONE. AND THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES. I HOPE IT WORKS OUT FOR THE CITIZENS OF BALA, BUT I KNOW, AS A LONG TIME MUSKOKAN, THAT THE SCARS WILL LAST A LONG TIME…..AND THAT'S A REAL SHAME FOR A FINE LITTLE COMMUNITY, SO IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR HOME DISTRICT.
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