Christmas In Muskoka; Will You Offer Assistance To A Local Food Bank Near You?

CHRISTMAS IN MUSKOKA - WE DON'T JUST HAVE POVERTY AT CHRISTMAS - THERE'S THE REST OF THE YEAR TO WORRY ABOUT

THE SUCCESS OF OUR REGION DEPENDS ON HOW WE DEAL AND MANAGE CRISIS

     SON ROBERT TOOK A FEW PHOTOGRAPHS (photos follow) EARLY THIS MORNING, OF THE VISUAL SOLITUDE OF THE BOG, WITH THE MIST ROLLING OVER SEGWUN BOULEVARD, FROM THE ADJACENT HOLLOW. THE CHICKADEES WERE OUT IN FORCE WITH COMPANION BLUE JAYS, FLITTING AROUND THE BIRD FEEDER, AND ONE OF OUR FAMILIAR, AND BY THE WAY, MAGNIFICENT WOODPECKERS, WAS AGAIN TAPPING ON THE HYDRO POLE AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY. IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A SLIGHT RISE IN TEMPERATURE, WITH A LOT LESS BLUSTER THAN WE FELT, EACH TIME WE LEFT THE HOUSE, SMACKED HARD IN THE FACE BY A STINGING WIND. WE GET A LOT OF WIND EVENTS RUSHING UP FROM THE HOLLOW OF MUSKOKA BAY, ON STORMY DAYS, AND IT POUNDS ITS WAY THROUGH THE BORDER FOREST HERE, TOPPLING ANY TREE PAST ITS EXPIRY DATE. IT'S QUITE A FRIGHTENING SOUND, LIKE A JET ENGINE, OR TRAIN, BUT WHEN YOU HEAR THE POPLARS AND BIRCHES TUMBLING INTO THE BOG, YOU REALIZE ITS MOTHER NATURE PROVIDING CONTRAST TO THE DAY. IT WAS A MUCH GENTLER START TO THE MORNING, AND THE FREEZING RAIN TURNED OUT TO BE A SMALL VEIL OF DRIZZLE. WHAT A NICE DAY FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. WE HAD A MUCH BETTER TURN OUT OF CUSTOMERS TODAY, THAN WE SAW FOR THE PREVIOUS FIVE DAYS. SUZANNE SPENT THE QUIET TIME KNITTING A CUSTOM ORDER PAIR OF SOCKS, AND HER LATEST BEST SELLER, FINGERLESS GLOVES, GREAT FOR OUR MUSICIAN FRIENDS; AND FOR THOSE WHO LIKE QUICK FINGER ACCESS TO THEIR CELL PHONES. SHE LOVES TO KNIT AND WE HAVE MOUNTAINS OF MATERIAL HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A WILD TIME HERE UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE, FINISHING UP HER ORDERS. HEY, SHE'S HAPPY, AND LEAVES ME ALONE TO WATCH MY FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOWS. COMPARED TO THE WEATHER THEY'VE BEEN GETTING IN CALIFORNIA AND NORTH UP THE WEST COAST, AND EAST COAST, WE'RE PRETTY LUCK TO LIVE IN MUSKOKA. I EVEN FOUND OUT THAT I KIND OF LIKE SHOVELLING SNOW, WHICH IS JUST NUTS, RIGHT?

     HAVE YOU EVER PONDERED JUST HOW MANY CHARITIES ARE VYING FOR OUR DONATIONS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY ALL MANAGE TO GET ALONG. I KNOW THERE ARE A GREAT MANY NEEDS OUT THERE, AND IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL COMPELLED TO DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN, WHEN THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN PLAYS ITS FUNDRAISING DOCUMENTARY, ON SATURDAY MORNINGS ON CTV. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DOZEN TIMES I'VE WATCHED IT, AND EVEN THOUGH THE OUTCOME IS ALWAYS THE SAME, AND SOME OF THE CHILDREN DIE, I ALWAYS THINK TO MYSELF, INNOCENTLY ENOUGH, WHAT IF THIS TIME, DEATH DOESN'T WIN. AS A PARENT IT RIPS YOUR HEART IN TWO. I WISH WE HAD MONEY FOR ALL THE CHARITIES OUT THERE, WHO DO SUCH GOOD WORK HELPING THOSE IN GREATEST NEED. ON A LOCAL LEVEL IT MUST BE INCREDIBLY HARD FOR THE LOCAL FOOD BANKS, TO PUSH THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OTHER CHARITIES TO GET THEIR SHARE.
     FOR QUITE A FEW CHRISTMASES, OUR FAMILY PUT ON ANNUAL FUNDRAISERS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY FOOD BANK, HERE IN GRAVENHURST. IT IS A CHARITABLE SERVICE FOR THOSE IN NEED, WE THINK HIGHLY OF, AMONGST SO MANY FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES IN THE REGION. WE HATE THE FACT THERE IS SUCH A GROWING NEED FOR FOOD BANKS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME WHO BELIEVE THEY AREN'T REQUIRED AT ALL. I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE FOLKS, AND WHILE THEY'RE CERTAINLY ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINIONS, CLOSING FOOD BANKS WILL, DESPITE THEIR CONVICTION TO THE CONTRARY, NOT SQUEEZE THOSE IN NEED, TO HUSTLE-UP JOBS. MANY OF THOSE USING FOOD BANKS, YOU SEE, ARE THE WORKING POOR. THEY SOMETIMES HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILIES. IT IS NOTHING SHORT OF DELUSIONAL, TO THINK THAT FOOD BANKS KEEP PEOPLE FROM EARNING THEIR KEEP. IT IS A CARRY OVER, OF COURSE, FROM WHAT, FOR DECADES, WAS IGNORANTLY THOUGHT OF THOSE RECEIVING WELFARE PAYMENTS; KEEPING THE LAZY, AND CONNIVING, IN THE LIFE THEY WERE ACCUSTOMED AND MOST COMFORTABLE. IT IS UTTER NONSENSE TO MAKE THESE CLAIMS, WITHOUT HAVING FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE, JUST HOW SERIOUS THE PROBLEM OF HUNGER, IN A LAND OF PLENTY IS, IN THIS "MOVE FORWARD," BIG SPENDING, MODERN ERA. I'VE HAD CLOSE ACCESS TO A LOCAL FOOD BANK AS A FORMER SALVATION ARMY VOLUNTEER, AND IT WAS TROUBLING, PROFOUNDLY SO, TO SEE HOW MANY YOUNG AND ELDERLY ARE FORCED TO REGISTER FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE. MOST OF US HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT THE AGE AND FAMILY SITUATIONS OF THOSE AMONGST US, IN THE KIND OF DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE, WHO MUST ASK FOR THIS KIND OF ASSISTANCE. WELL, IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG AS A VOLUNTEER, THAT BY HAPPENSTANCE, BEFORE I HAD MY VIEWS SERIOUSLY AND FOREVER ALTERED, AND FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THE BREADTH AND WEIGHT OF THIS ADVANCING PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY. SEEING THE ELDERLY IN NEED, ESPECIALLY, SHOULD BE A WAKE-UP CALL HEARD, AND FELT IN EVERY QUARTER OF THIS COUNTRY, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG. AND THOSE DOING THE BULK OF THE WORK AT GROUND LEVEL, ARE VOLUNTEERS, WHO ARE THE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, WORKING LONG HOURS TO FILL GAPS IN LIVING STANDARDS. OUR LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ARE NOT MANAGING THIS PROBLEM ADEQUATELY. THEY NEED THIS THRUST AT THEM CONSTANTLY, SO THEY CAN'T BYPASS IT CONVENIENTLY, BY WITHOUT SHAME, BRAGGING ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE; THAT CERTAINLY ISN'T ENOUGH. IT'S HARD NOT TO BE DISILLUSIONED BY THE LACK OF PROPORTIONAL INITIATIVE, BY OUR LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. POVERTY IS DRAGGING CANADA INTO A HOME GROWN RECESSION.
     THE VERY REAL CRISIS POTENTIAL, I'M AFRAID, IS EVER-LOOMING, AS I HAVE WORRIED ABOUT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. IF THERE IS A SHARP BLOW TO THE ECONOMY, THE POOR ARE GOING TO GET A LOT POORER AS THEY SAY. AS A SPIN-OFF COLLATERAL DAMAGE, TO WHAT IS HAPPENING, WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DROP IN THE PRICE OF OIL, AND AN OFF-SHOOT HOUSING-MARKET ADJUSTMENT. SOFT LANDING, OR HARD, THE DEMANDS ON THE FOOD BANK AND SOCIAL AGENCIES FROM SEA TO SEA, NORTH TO SOUTH, WILL BE MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT, AND IMPOSSIBLE FOR POLITICIANS TO BYPASS. I WAS LISTENING TO THE NEWS LAST EVENING, ABOUT THE EXTRAVAGANT EXPENSES BEING RUN UP BY THOSE MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, CONNECTED TO THE UPCOMING PAN AMERICAN GAMES, IN TORONTO, AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THE PENALTY, WAS TO FORCE ABUSERS TO PAY THE MONEY BACK. WHAT ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS? REMOVED FROM THEIR POSITIONS? IF YOU DID THIS, BUYING SHIRTS AND BOTTLES OF EXPENSIVE WINE ON THE COMPANY DIME, AT YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT (UNLESS YOU OWN IT), WOULD IT BE TOLERATED BY THE BOSS? WOULD YOU JUST WANT THE MONEY PAID BACK, OR BE MORE LIKELY TO DISMISS THE PERSON WHO TOOK THOSE KIND OF LIBERTIES, WITH FUNDS THAT WEREN'T THEIR OWN? BUT THIS IS WHAT GOVERNMENT DOES ROUTINELY, IN TOLERATING THE EXTRAVAGANCES OF THOSE IN THEIR EMPLOY; BECAUSE IN MANY WAYS, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SET A CRAPPY EXAMPLE FROM THE GET-GO. I'M STILL SEETHING FROM THE GAS FIRED HYDRO GENERATING PLANT CANCELLATIONS, AND THE VAST AMOUNT OF MONEY LOST, AND AIR AMBULANCE OVER-SPENDING DEBACLE, PLUS A HALF DOZEN MORE RIDICULOUS CASES OF EXTRAVAGANCE AND BAD, BAD INVESTMENTS. I WON'T BE WATCHING THE PAN AM GAMES. IT'S SICKENING TO ME. THAT MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BEST SPENT HELPING THE POOR IN THIS PROVINCE, CLIMB OUT OF THE RUTS GOVERNMENT HAS HELPED DIG. THE PROPONENTS WILL SPIN THE POSITIVES OF HOSTING THE GAMES, AND THIS IS WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM. MAKE IT APPEAR AS IF THERE IS NO DOWN-SIDE WHATSOEVER. SECURITY COSTS DOUBLING? THAT'S WHAT ESTIMATES ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, IN THESE CASES. HAVE IT APPEAR A BARGAIN, AS A PREAMBLE, AND THEN GOOSE-IT WHEN THE GAMES ARE CLOSE ENOUGH, THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CHANGE DIRECTION. AS A RESULT COSTS ARE SIMPLY SWALLOWED, OR LEFT AS A DEFICIT FOR ANOTHER GENERATION OF TAXPAYERS TO PAY BACK. YET IT IS A CYCLE OF POVERTY THAT COULD BE INTERRUPTED, AND SLOWED DOWN, BY A GOVERNMENT INTERESTED IN CHANGING THE WAY IT SPENDS THE MONEY WE CHIP IN, ALWAYS WITH THE SINCERE HOPE, IT WILL HELP OUR PROVINCE SUCCEED. YET FULLY APPRECIATIVE, OF HOW OUR POTENTIAL IS BEING DAMNED, BECAUSE OF A GROWING ATTITUDE OF DEFEATISM. UNLESS WE HELP THE POOR OUT OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, WITH SENSIBLE, ENLIGHTENED PLANNING AND POLICY, ONLY ONE THING WILL CHANGE. THE DEPTH OF DESPAIR WILL INCREASE ANNUALLY. TRUTH IS, GOVERNMENT CAN'T CHANGE ITS WAYS, FROM WHAT IS, ALMOST LEGENDARY MISMANAGEMENT OF TAX DOLLARS.
     WHILE ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE TO WALK THE PATH OF CELEBRITY, AND POSTURE FOR THE CAMERA THAT LOVES THEM, THE ONGOING LACK OF A GOOD, NATION-WIDE PLAN, WITH A LONG TERM COMMITMENT, MEANS THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A LOT OF VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE AND FUNDRAISING NEED IN THIS VERY WEALTHY COUNTRY. IT TAKES MORE THAN A CELEBRITY VISIT, FOR A PHOTO OP, TO CONVINCE ME OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TRULY CARE, WHAT IS ERODING CONFIDENCE AND GOODWILL IN OUR RESPECTIVE HOME TOWNS.
     I WISH TO ASK, OF OUR LOCAL COUNCILLORS, ONE IMPORTANT QUESTION. DO THEY BELIEVE THE SALVATION ARMY FOOD BANK IS HERE FOREVER? WHAT IF THEY HAD TO CLOSE THE FOOD BANK? DON'T WE, AS A COMMUNITY, HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL DOWN THE ROAD? WHAT IS THE BACK-UP PLAN? MY GOD, WE'D BE IN AN AWFUL SITUATION HERE. I AM CONVINCED, GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS ARE GENERALLY UNAWARE, OF THIS POSSIBILITY, THAT ONE DAY, THE FOOD BANK WILL REQUIRE A NEW MANAGEMENT BODY, OR FACE CLOSURE. I WONDER IF GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS HAVE EVER VISITED THE FOOD BANK AS A GROUP, MAYBE FOR A FEW HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE, TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES, WHAT THE SALVATION ARMY IS UP TO; AND LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE CLIENT CASELOAD, AND WHETHER IT IS EXPANDING OR SHRINKING. IT IS RELEVANT TO THE "MOVING FORWARD" ASPECT OF IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY IN ECONOMICS, AND INVESTMENT, AS I FREQUENTLY READ, AND HEAR ABOUT, AS BEING AN OBJECTIVE FOR COUNCILLORS THIS TERM OF OFFICE. YOU CAN'T MOVE FORWARD, IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY, AS WE SHOULD BE ABLE, WITHOUT A FULL APPRECIATION, OF WHAT IS DRAGGING US UNDER AS A REGION; AND TAKING STEPS, EVEN ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, TO HELP ALLEVIATE AT LEAST SOME OF THE STRESSES. AT PRESENT, WE ARE LEAVING IT UP TO VOLUNTEERS. AT SOME POINT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH OF EVERYTHING WE REQUIRE, AND THE GENEROUS CITIZEN KINDNESS, OF WHICH WE HAVE BECOME SERIOUSLY DEPENDENT.
     PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO THE FOOD BANK THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, TO HELP THE SALVATION ARMY KEEP THE SHELVES FULL TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE COMING WINTER SEASON. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CASH DONATION, TO THE SALVATION ARMY, IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THEY HAVE PROVIDED AN IMPORTANT SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THAN WE DO, AND JUST WHAT WORRIES THOSE WHO TRY TO KEEP FOOD SUPPLIES UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE CAN'T BEGIN TO REPAIR WHAT, FOR MOST OF US, IS AN UNDER-KNOWN QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF NECESSITY.
      THE COMPOUNDING PROBLEM, OF COURSE, IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY WORKING POOR THESE DAYS; A LARGE PORTION OF OUR POPULATION, BECAUSE OF ALARMING DEBT LOAD, CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE THE DONATIONS THEY ONCE COULD BESTOW UPON CHARITIES WITHOUT COMPROMISING THEIR FAMILY ECONOMIES. IF THERE WAS A SLOWING OF THE ECONOMY, TO EVEN A MINOR BLIP OF RECESSION, RESULTING IN MORE JOB LOSSES, A SERIOUS PROBLEM WOULD BECOME FAR MORE LIFE ALTERING AND DANGEROUS TO THE MOST VULNERABLE. IT'S NOT LIKE THIS ISSUE HAS JUST ARRIVED ON OUR DOORSTEP. THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO GENUINELY BELIEVE IN THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES OF PRO-ACTIVE GOVERNMENT, AND PREPARATORY INITIATIVES, TO STAVE OFF CALAMITIES, ADMITTEDLY, AND TO OUR GENERAL DISADVANTAGE, ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN THESE DAYS. TALK IS CHEAP. ACTION TAKES GUMPTION AND LEADERSHIP. IT'S ALWAYS SO HEART-BREAKING, TO BE DEALING WITH THE RETROSPECTIVE SIDE OF THE CYCLE OF POVERTY; AND KNOWING IT IS UNLIKELY THAT WE CAN EVER FIND A GOVERNMENT, FEARLESSLY WILLING TO SACRIFICE THE POLITICS OF IMAGE, AND POPULARITY, TO BOLDLY, AND FORCEFULLY STEP OUT IN FRONT OF THESE POVERTY ISSUES; INSTEAD OF, AS HAS BECOME TRADITION, WAVING AT THEM FROM BEHIND YELLING OUT, "ONE OF THESE DAYS, ONE OF THESE DAYS!" KNOWING, FROM THIS ANGLE, THE PUBLIC WILL ASSUME THAT BY WAVING AT IT, THEY WERE AT LEAST, SOMEWHAT INTERESTED TO SEE WHERE IT WAS ALL GOING. FOR GOSH SAKES, WHAT WILL IT TAKE, TO MAKE POVERTY AND ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE, SEXY AND VOTE-GETTING ENOUGH, TO WARRANT SERIOUS ATTENTION? LIKE TAKING MONEY FROM BULKED-UP PUBLIC RELATIONS JEWELS, LIKE THE PAN AM GAMES, TO USE IT INSTEAD, AS A MEANS OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUE THAT IS BEATING THE HEART AND SOUL OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WE NEED FOOD BANKS, AND MORE MONEY TO KEEP THEM STOCKED. THE MORE ECONOMIC STRESS ON THIS COUNTRY, THE LESS MONEY FOR SOCIAL PROGRAMS. THE POOR? YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER WHAT EBENEEZER SCROOGE ADVISE, WHEN HE WAS ASKED TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION, TO BUY THE NEEDY FOOD AND DRINK FOR CHRISTMAS. ARE THERE NO PRISONS? IS THE POOR LAW STILL IN EFFECT? ARE THERE NO WORK HOUSES? CHARLES DICKENS WAS WRITING ABOUT ENGLAND IN THE 1800'S. WHY ARE THERE STILL SO MANY RELEVANCES TO HIS STORY, IN THE MODERN ERA. IF WE ARE SO FAR ADVANCED AS A SOCIETY, AND POLITICAL SYSTEM, THAT THE POOR STILL FEEL THEY ARE STILL MIRED IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE VICTORIAN ERA?
     I AM ALWAYS IMPRESSED TO HEAR, AND READ ABOUT, THE MANY ACTS OF GENEROSITY, OFFERED BY GROUPS AND ASSOCIATIONS IN OUR MUSKOKA COMMUNITIES, EARNESTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE DREADFUL SHORTFALLS, AND CUT-BACKS IN SOCIAL SERVICES. JUST HOW MANY OF OUR VULNERABLE CITIZENS FALL THROUGH "THE CRACKS" OF THE SYSTEM, OF THE SAFTEY NET, PUT IN PLACE TO HELP THEM? WHETHER THEY'RE HOSTING TOY DRIVES, FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES, OR NEIGHBORHOOD EXPRESSIONS OF GOODWILL, FOR THOSE IN NEED, HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE NAVIGATE THE SEASON'S STRESSES, MAKES OUR HOMETOWNERS RISE TO THE OCCASION. I'VE SEEN IT UP CLOSE, AND IT IS ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES IN THIS TOWN. IT'S THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE POWER, AND IT MAKES ME FEEL GREAT TO LIVE IN SUCH A CARING, GIVING PLACE. I THINK THIS APPLIES TO ALL OUR MUSKOKA COMMUNITIES.
     IN CASE YOU WONDER WHY I LEFT IT UNEXPLAINED, IN THE OPENING PARAGRAPH, THE STORY GOES LIKE THIS: WE HAD TO ABANDON OUR YEARLY CHRISTMAS SEASON FUNDRAISING CONCERT AT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE, BECAUSE IT BECAME TOO EXPENSIVE TO RENT THE VENUE, AND WE COULDN'T AFFORD THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE FEE TO HAVE THEM PRINT UP AND SELL OUR TICKETS. THE ONLY WAY WE COULD CONTINUE, AFTER THIS WAS IMPOSED, WAS TO OFFER ADMISSION BY DONATION, OF CASH OR ITEMS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY FOOD DRIVE. WITH LOW TURN-OUTS A REALITY OF THE TIMES, WE WERE MAKING ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OVER THE RENTAL FEE. IT WAS LATER REVEALED TO US, BY THE OPERA HOUSE, THAT WE HAD BEEN CHARGED TOO MUCH ON PREVIOUS RENTALS, RELATED TO TECHNICAL STAFF DEPLOYMENT. WE ALWAYS BROUGHT OUR OWN TECHNICIANS, EACH AND EVERY TIME, BUT THERE WAS ONLY ONE RENTAL OF NUMEROUS, THAT WE WERE GIVEN THIS CONSIDERATION, AS A COST SAVINGS. IT WAS NICE THAT WE GOT THE DISCOUNT AT LEAST ONCE, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THE DECIDING FACTORS, TO DROP THE CONCERTS FOR THE TIME BEING. THE NUMBER OF HOURS IT TOOK TO PRACTICE, GET NEW ACTS READY FOR THE STAGE, AND TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THE STORE TO SET THE SHOW UP, BECAME TOO MUCH OF A DRAIN PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY. IT'S NOT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE HELPERS, A FEW FRIENDS AS SPONSORS, AND MUSICIANS WILLING TO DONATE THEIR TIME FOR A GOOD CAUSE, BUT THE BENEFITS TO THE FOOD BANK WERE DIMINISHING EACH TIME AROUND. TODAY WE JUST FIND OTHER WAYS TO DONATE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, TO HELP OUT OUR NEIGHBOR CITIZENS, A LITTLE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK. THANKFULLY, WE'VE GOT SO MANY GENEROUS SOULS IN THIS TOWN, AND IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THIS IS THE TRUE STRENGTH, RESOLVE AND DYNAMIC, OF WHAT WE REPRESENT AS A "HOME TOWN". IT'S NOT A POLITICAL THING, IT'S A HUMANITY THING! YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE APPRECIATED. YOU MAY WONDER IF THESE DONATIONS HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THOSE IN NEED. HISTORIANS KNOW THIS STUFF. AND YES, WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED IN SO MANY WAYS, BECAUSE OF ONGOING BENEVOLENCE. IN SMALL WAYS AND LARGE, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN. WE WOULD BE LESSER AS A SOCIETY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, NOT HAVING GOOD FOLKS LIKE YOU LENDING A HAND TO THOSE AMONGST US NEEDING A BREAK.

Photos of The Bog on a misty late autumn morning. Rob Currie photos