The BARGE, GULL LAKE PARK, RED PIANO

BREAKING NEWS FROM THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST. RED PIANO IS GONE!

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GONE BEFORE THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY. BUT BEING TWO WEEKS LATE, IS BETTER THAN A MONTH OR SIX MONTHS WHICH I WAS STARTED TO THINK WAS MORE LIKELY. THE PARTLY LEGENDARY RED PIANO, THAT MAINSTREET EYESORE, HAS BEEN HAULED AWAY BY EITHER THE TOWN, OR SOMEONE JUST WISHING TO PUT IT OUT OF ITS MISERY. IT WAS PRETTY MISERABLE. FOR ALL ITS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS, AS A NORMAL WOOD-FINISHED PIANO, IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF FAMILY SING-SONGS, IT WOUND UP PAINTED RED, AND PLACED UNCEREMONIOUSLY IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE PROPERTIES, STRUCK BY LAST SPRING'S UPTOWN FIRE. THE IDEA WAS THAT IT WOULD BE A MAGNATE FOR LOCAL BUSKERS….WHO TO THE CONTRARY, PREFERRED THE SHADY SIDE OF THE STREET, WHERE THERE WAS A CONVENIENT PARK BENCH. ALAS, WHAT WAS PERCEIVED AS A MAINSTREET ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, BECAME INSTEAD, A MONUMENT TO POOR PLANNING, AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION. WHEN ROAD RE-CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THIS BLOCK, LAST SEPTEMBER, THE BACKBOARDS USED TO BUFFER THE VACANT LOTS, WERE REMOVED AND THE PIANO WAS MOVED BACK IN THE LOT…..FOR SAFE KEEPING, I SUPPOSE. SO THE VANDALS AND NON-MUSICIANS SIMPLY BEAT IT UP SOME MORE, TO ADD TO THE INDIGNITY OF A FORMERLY NICE PIANO. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED A LONG TIME AGO. AS TOWN COUNCIL AND THE LOCAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION HAVE PUT A SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT INTO BUSINESS REVITALIZATION, WELL, SEEING THAT PIANO DAILY, TORN APART, WAS A TAD CONTRADICTORY TO THE MISSION STATEMENT OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENT. MANY OF US PIANO WATCHERS, ARE DELIGHTED BY THE ACTION OF SOMEONE….SOME GROUP…..ALIENS, THIEVES, WHO HAULED THE RED PIANO TO A FINAL RESTING PLACE. THANK YOU!

WHAT'S THE CONTROVERSY WITH ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES? SORRY, I JUST GET SIDE-TRACKED BY LOCAL POLITICAL JOCKEYING

I STARTED HAMMERING OUT A COLUMN THIS MORNING, FOR MY "WALDEN AS MUSKOKA" BLOG-SITE, BUT NOT BEFORE READING THE WEEKLY PRESS, AS I HAVE DONE EVERY PRESS DAY SINCE I WAS EDITOR OF THE FORMER HERALD-GAZETTE, IN BRACEBRIDGE. SUZANNE HAS FREQUENTLY SUGGESTED I SPEND MY MONEY ON A BOTTLE OF IMPORTED BEER INSTEAD, OR GAMBLE IT AWAY ON A LOTTERY TICKET. SHE DOESN'T THINK IT'S GOOD FOR ME, TO GET SO BLOODY MAD ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS. EVEN IF I HAD THUMPED-OUT THREE OR FOUR PARAGRAPHS OF MY DAILY ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE TOME, OR THIS LANDSCAPE BLOG, "WALDEN" THE NEWSPAPER WOULD HAVE COME MY WAY SOONER OR LATER…..(IT ALWAYS DOES, AS IF GOD HAS HAD A HAND IN IT) MOST LIKELY ONE OF MY SONS, WILL ARRIVE AT THE DOOR TO MY OFFICE YELLING "EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT." ANNOUNCING, AS HAPPENED THIS MORNING, "DAD, YOU SHOULD READ THE FRONT PAGE STORY ABOUT THE BARGE." (THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE IN GRAVENHURST'S GULL LAKE PARK)

WHAT BEGAN AS A GOOD MORNING FOR SOME LANDSCAPE STUDIES, HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, OVERLOOKING THE LOWLAND WE CALL "THE BOG," TURNED INTO CAULDRON OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, SUCH THAT I'M SURE THE BOYS REGRETTED BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WON'T RE-HASH IT NOW, BUT HAVE ATTACHED, WHAT I WROTE IN RESPONSE, TO THE BOTTOM OF TODAY'S ANTIQUE BLOG…..JUST IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WATCHING "A DEBACLE" IN ITS EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.

SO WHAT BEGAN AS A WALDEN STORY OF INSPIRATION, ABOUT NATURAL PLACES, BECAME AN EDITORIAL FOR THIS "HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE" SITE INSTEAD. I CAN ONLY OFFER AN APOLOGY TO REGULAR READERS FOR THIS DIVERSION OF FOCUS, BUT I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING A PROTEST TO THOSE WHO REPRESENT MY TAXPAYER, CONSTITUENCY RIGHTS.

A LITTLE HUMOR IN THE ANTIQUE FIELD - WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES A LOT

SOMETIMES I DON'T DESERVE TO BE SO HAPPY. APPARENTLY I'VE GOT A LOT OF COMPLAINTS TO MAKE. A LOT OF GRIPING TO DO, WITH NO ONE TO LISTEN. NO ONE WHO REALLY CARES ANYWAY. SHOULD I ACCIDENTALLY COME UPON AN UNSUSPECTING AUDIENCE, THEY'D IMMEDIATELY DISPERSE, SENSING AN UNSOLICITED LECTURE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. FUNNY THING, I'M NOT A VERY SERIOUS FELLOW AT ALL. I TAKE LIFE AS IT COMES, AND WHETHER IT IS AT WORK, DOMESTIC CHORES, OR PREACHING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BY GOLLY, I'VE ALWAYS GOT AN ANECDOTE…….WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY MAGIC BULLET. I'D SOONER LAUGH THAN CRY, AND I MAKE THIS A POINT IN MY LIFE. A FEW TIMES A MONTH, I JUST GET ANGRY ABOUT SOME ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED INJUSTICE IN OUR TOWN, OUR PROVINCE, OUR COUNTRY. I'M PRETTY ORDINARY WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT. BUT I LOVE TO WRITE. SO HERE IT IS, FOR THE 15TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2012. A FUNNY LITTLE STORY ABOUT THE FOLLIES OF THE COLLECTOR.

THIS IS A LITTLE ANECDOTAL GEM OF PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY, RECALLING MY MANY YEARS CHASING ELUSIVE BIG FINDS, AND TRUSTING A NEWLY PURCHASED ANTIQUE, TO PAY AN OCCASIONAL DIVIDEND. BUT WHAT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD, IS THE "PERSONAL SIGNATURE" WAY WE CONDUCT BUSINESS. WE DON'T RUN CLOTHING SHOPS, BAKERIES, TEA ROOMS, COFFEE SHOPS, OR MARINAS. WE OPERATE BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS BASED ON OUR SENSE OF PROPRIETY….OUR PERSONAL BIASES, INTERESTS, AFFECTIONS, LIKES AND ALL THE REST. YOU CAN GO INTO JUST ABOUT ANY ANTIQUARIAN AND RARE BOOK SHOP, AND IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR, KNOW PRETTY MUCH THE CUT OF THE VENDOR'S JIB. EVEN BY PRICE COMPARISON. A TRAINED BOOK SLEUTH WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT BOOKS THE VENDOR PRIZES ABOVE ALL OTHERS. WELL KNOWN CANADIAN AUTHOR, ROBERT FULFORD, ONCE WROTE A MEMORABLE COLUMN, ABOUT VISITING SOME OLD BOOK SHOPS, IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, I BELIEVE, WHERE THERE WERE STRIKINGLY SIGNIFICANT PRICE DIFFERENCES FOR PARALLEL TITLES, EVEN SHORT DISTANCES BETWEEN COMPETING SHOPS. WITHOUT ANY APOLOGY, VENDORS WERE PRICING IMPORTANT BOOKS TO THEM, AND THEIR COLLECTING INTERESTS, HIGHER THAN OTHER SHOPS. WITHOUT APOLOGY, OR ANY REAL INTEREST IN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, TO PLACATE COMPARISON SHOPPERS. SO IT ISN'T TOO HARD TO FIND WHAT THE FAVORITE ANCHOR BOOKS ARE, IF YOU LOOK IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MOST ANTIQUE BUSINESSES, AND NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE CHINA THAN QUILTS, OR DEPRESSION GLASS, MORESO THAN PRESSED GLASS. THAT MAY JUST BE COINCIDENCE OF BUYING OPPORTUNITY. YOU MAY FIND THE EXACT OPPOSITE TO WHAT YOU EXPECT, AND DISCOVER AN EXPERT IN OLD QUILTS, AMIDST ALL THE GENERAL INVENTORY. I'VE NEVER MET A DEALER YET, WHO WASN'T EXPERT IN SOMETHING BEYOND WHAT WAS VISIBLE TO THE PATRON. THEY ALL HAVE THEIR SIGNATURE INTERESTS, THAT PROBABLY GOT THEM STARTED IN THE BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I'VE HAD MANY SIGNATURE COLLECTIONS IN THE PAST. MINE AREN'T ACCIDENTAL OR INADVERTENTLY CONSTRUCTED BY CHANCE ENCOUNTER. I'M USUALLY PRETTY MINDFUL, AND INTENTIONAL BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T BE INFLUENCED BY HAPPENSTANCE FROM TIME TO TIME. SOMETHING THAT POPS UP THAT I SIMPLY HAVE NO ACTIVE STRATEGY, OR POLICY ABOUT; WHETHER I SHOULD BUY IT……. OR RUN AWAY AS FAST AS MY STUBBY LEGS WILL CARRY ME. HOW TO REACT? I DON'T THINK ABOUT TOO MUCH. I'VE SHIFTED WITH AGE. I'VE BEEN VIOLENTLY SHIFTED FROM COLLECTING OLD CHAIRS, TO QUILTS, TO CANADIAN GLASS, TO BOOKS, AND THEN TO ART, OF WHICH I'M CURRENTLY OBSESSED. BUT IN THE QUEST TO ENHANCE COLLECTIONS OF WHAT WE MOST ADORE, THERE ARE LITTLE SIDEBAR DIVERSIONS…..THAT ARE STILL MIRROR REFLECTIONS OF WHO WE ARE AS HUMANS. THINGS THAT PARALLEL OUR SENSE OF HUMOR, OUR FAITH, FOLLIES, SUCCESSES AND FAILURES. IT COMES WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE ARE FACED WITH SOMETHING, A PIECE OF POTENTIAL INVENTORY, WE HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE. BUT WE EMPLOYED THE "IT'S ME" PERSPECTIVE, MAKING THE PURCHASE BECAUSE IT IS SOMEHOW PROVIDENTIALLY REFLECTIVE OF OUR VALUES, AS TRULY BIZARRE AS THAT MIGHT BE. OR WHETHER WE GAVE IT A LOT OF THOUGHT AT THE TIME WE WERE EXCHANGING MONEY, TO MAKE THE ACQUISITION. WE'VE ALL COME HOME, FROM TIME TO TIME, WITH SOMETHING IN THE CAR THAT OUR PARTNERS, AND ASSOCIATES REMARKED….."WHAT ON EARTH POSSESSED YOU TO BUY THAT THING." I WILL PURPOSELY BUY SOMETHING TO GET THAT KIND OF COME-BACK. I LOVE IT. I'M ALL ABOUT SURPRISES. SUZANNE EXPECTS THE BIZARRE AND THAT'S WHAT I DELIVER.

SO ONE DAY, I POPPED INTO A LITTLE SECOND HAND SHOP, NEAR ORILLIA, LOOKING FOR SOME "SMALLS" AS DEALERS LIKE TO CALL THE LESS CUMBERSOME, TRADEMARK, AFFORDABLE COLLECTIBLES TO INFILL OUR SHOP SHELVES. I USED TO GET A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CROCKS AND OLD BOOKS FROM THIS RATHER SAGE VENDOR, WHO I LIKED TO CONVERSE WITH, ON MY TRIPS DOWN THAT WAY. I WAS IN THE SHOP ABOUT A HALF HOUR, BEFORE I SAW IT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES. OPENED UP, AS IF A PARADE WAS ABOUT TO START, WAS A GORGEOUS HAND-PAINTED BANNER, WITH NICELY TURNED, WOODEN CARRYING POSTS, WITH RIBBONS HANGING DOWN, SUPPORTING THE HUGE FABRIC PANEL ADORNED BY WILLIAM OF ORANGE…."KING BILLY." I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFIC ORANGE LODGE IT REPRESENTED, OTHER THAN IT WAS FROM THE ORILLIA AREA. DESPITE THE FACT IT HAD A FEW TEARS IN THE SATIN BANNER, THIS WAS A BRILLIANT, WELL EXECUTED PAINTING OF A VERY COLORFUL INDIVIDUAL. MY FATHER ED, WHO HAD ACTUALLY MARCHED IN ORANGE PARADES, BACK IN HIS DAYS GROWING UP IN TORONTO'S "CABBAGETOWN," COULDN'T BELIEVE IT EITHER, WHEN HE ROUNDED THE OPPOSITE CORNER….AND WE MET SQUARELY IN THE CENTRE OF THE PAINTING, DEPICTING THE WHITE HORSE, THAT KING BILLY WAS SO ELEGANTLY MOUNTED.

IF THAT BEAUTIFUL OLD BANNER HAD BEEN WORTH FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS, I'D HAVE FOUND THE WAY TO MAKE THE PURCHASE. DEALER'S LIKE SHOW-STOPPER PIECES, AND THIS WAS PERFECT AS A SIGNATURE PIECE, FOR A NEW SHOP WE WERE PLANNING TO OPEN ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE. SUZANNE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT IT, CONSIDERING MOST OF HER ANCESTORS HAD BEEN MEMBERS OF LOCAL LODGES, IN MUSKOKA LAKES IN THE PAST (THREE MILE LAKE AREA). "AH, YOU FOUND A KING BILLY…..AND YOU'VE ALREADY BOUGHT IT," SHE SAID, AS ED AND I PARADED THROUGH THE STORE…..IN CASE THERE WERE ANY ORANGEMEN THAT MIGHT HAVE WISHED TO FOLLOW ALONG. NOW THIS IS A STUPID THING TO BUY FOR A STORE, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT APPEAL TO ALL CUSTOMERS, PARTICULARLY THE IRISH CATHOLICS WE MIGHT HAVE HAD DROP BY, FROM TIME TO TIME. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY. A CONVERSATION PIECE. IT DIDN'T MEAN I WAS A LATENT ORANGEMAN, JUST AN ADMIRER OF FOLK ART AND TRADITION. AS I LIKE BARGAINS AND TRADITION, THIS FIT PERFECTLY. I PAID SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS.

BEFORE WE ACTUALLY MOVED INTO OUR MAINSTREET STORE, WE OPERATED A LITTLE COLLECTIBLE SHOP IN OUR GARAGE, ON GOLDEN BEACH ROAD IN BRACEBRIDGE. WE HAD IT JAMMED FULL OF ALL KINDS OF NEAT STUFF, BUT AS A BUSINESS LOCATION IT SUCKED….AND WOULD ONLY ATTRACT A DOZEN CUSTOMERS A WEEK. WE DECIDED TO SELL THE HOUSE, AS THE MARKET THEN WAS EXPLODING, AND POSSIBLY FIND A BETTER PROPERTY TO PURSUE BUSINESS. IN THE MEANTIME, "KING BILLY" WAS FULLY UNFURLED, AND WITH THE CARRYING-POSTS ANCHORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE, AND THE STREAMERS HANGING DOWN AS IF READY TO ROLL….IN THE VERY NEXT PARADE TO WANDER BY, IT WAS JUST THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR OLD PINE, CROCKS, BUFFETS, SIDEBOARDS, SLEIGHS, SKIS AND VINTAGE CHINA. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS PERFECT…..BUT THE COLORS AND THE WHOLE VINTAGE, CEREMONIAL BANNER-THING, JUST ENHANCED EVERYTHING ELSE ON DISPLAY. TRUTHFULLY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE USED THE BANNER IN THIS FASHION. I WAS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE TRADITIONS OF THE ORANGE LODGE. I WAS LOOKING TO PROFIT FROM IT, AND THAT MADE IT SEEM SO MUCH WORSE. BUT I LOVED IT THERE, CONSEQUENCE BE DAMNED.

SO WITH REAL ESTATE TOURS HAPPENING EVERY OTHER DAY, WE JUST LEFT EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP THE WAY IT WAS…..HOPING POTENTIAL BUYERS WOULD SEE PAST THE CLUTTER, TO BE ABLE TO IMAGINE THEIR OWN CARS TUCKED SAFELY INSIDE. WE MUST HAVE HAD THIRTY TOURS THAT SUMMER SEASON, BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GOT A BUYER. THE SECOND LAST REAL ESTATE TOUR WAS A WINNER…..AT LEAST IN IMPACT. SO IMAGINE IF YOU CAN, THE VERY FOLKS YOU WOULD NOT WANT EXPOSED TO A WILLIAM OF ORANGE PARADE BANNER. IF YOU SAID IRISH, OF CATHOLIC FAITH, YOU'D BE BANG ON. HOW DID I KNOW THERE WAS A REAL ESTATE AGENT WITH THOSE PRECISE QUALITIES OF HERITAGE AND FAITH, TO POP THROUGH THAT GARAGE DOOR, WITH CLIENTS IN TOW…..ONLY TO BE MET AT THE CONFLUENCE OF PINE ROCKERS, AND A HOOSIER CUPBOARD, WITH LESS THAN WELCOMING BANNER-ART. THE ICY GLARE OF A BOLD AND CONQUERING, KING WILLIAM OF ORANGE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THIS ELDERLY IRISH GENTLEMAN, A SORT OF FATHER O'MALLY TYPE (PLAYED IN THE MOVIE BY BING CROSBY) RESORTING TO SOME INAUDIBLE CURSING….SO AS NOT TO RUIN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THE HOUSE, WONDERING IN GOD'S NAME, WHAT HE HAD UNCOVERED IN THE MUSKOKA COUNTRYSIDE….OF OLD BATTLES BETWEEN THE ORANGE AND THE GREEN.

"NICE ONE TED," SUZANNE MUTTERED, AS WE TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS, TO REAFFIRM, AND EXPLAIN OUR RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN SUCH MATTERS…..THAT WE REALLY, NOT EVEN ON ONE OF OUR MOST CELEBRATORY DAYS, WOULD THINK OF TAKING THAT BANNER FOR A STROLL THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE DIDN'T SELL OUR HOUSE. WONDER WHY? "YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID," SUZANNE ADDED, TO THE EXTENDED BERATING SHE'D BEEN BESTOWING ON ME, FOR A HALF HOUR AT LEAST. "WHY COULDN'T YOU BE A NORMAL ANTIQUE DEALER, AND SELL PAINTED CROCKS OR NICE OLD QUILTS." I HAD NO ANSWER. AFTER A QUARTER CENTURY TO THINK ABOUT IT….I STILL HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ON THE MATTER. WELL, ONE THING. I'D BUY ANOTHER KING BILLY IN A HEARTBEAT….BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A CONVERSATION STARTER IN AN OTHERWISE CONSERVATIVE, RESERVED, POLITE AND OFTEN POLITICALLY CORRECT PROFESSION. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN BY A SIGNATURE PIECE, THAT REFLECTS ON THE DEALER'S TRUE INTERESTS….DESPITE WHAT YOU SEE OTHERWISE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SHOPS. I AM AN ARSE! AT LEAST I ADMIT IT! AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER, TWO TIMES AN ARSE. BET I CAN MAKE YOU LAUGH. PUT THAT WITH THE REALITY I WAS ABLE TO DOUBLE MY MONEY ON KING BILLY, (AND SOLD THE HOUSE THE NEXT WEEK), AND CRACK-UP FOLKS WHO SELDOM EVER LAUGH…….YUP, I'D DO IT ALL AGAIN. NO DISRESPECT TO KING WILLIAM OF ORANGE, MIND YOU.

WHEN THE SIMPLE, BASIC, WONDERFUL QUALITIES OF NATURE ARE COMPLICATED BY TOO MUCH OF EVERYTHING

GULL LAKE PARK IS A JEWEL TO BE PRESERVED NOT A FOR PROFIT VENUE

OVER THE PAST YEAR, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO FANDANGO, RIGHT THROUGH THE LOCAL BUREAUCRACY, AND THEIR LESS THAN STELLAR ACTIONS AND REACTIONS, REGARDING THE FAILING CONDITION OF "THE BARGE," THE FAMOUS ENTERTAINMENT ISLAND, AT GRAVENHURST'S GULL LAKE PARK. THE PROBLEM IS A SIMPLE ONE. WOOD ROTS. DESPITE LAYER UPON LAYER OF PAINT, SURFACE BOARDS, EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, PRE-OCCUPIED WITH MANY OTHER CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, OVER ABOUT A DECADE, FIGURED OTHERWISE. AND THEY LET THE STRUCTURE OF THE BARGE DETERIORATE. THAT'S CLEARLY NOT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR INVESTMENT. DID I MENTION, THE BARGE IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SUMMER-TIME VENUES.

THE BARGE HAS HAD AN AMAZING HISTORY DATING BACK MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY. IT WOULD TAKE A SUBSTANTIAL TEXT….A MEATY BOOK, TO PROFILE THE ENTERTAINERS WHO HAVE PLAYED THAT TINY, MAN-MADE, GULL LAKE ISLAND. THE LONGEST SERVING MANAGER OF THE BARGE, FRED SCHULZ, HAS BEEN RUNNING THIS WELL ATTENDED VENUE FOR DECADES, AND HE HAS ALWAYS "JUST MADE-DO" WITH WHAT HE'S HAD TO WORK WITH…..A TIGHT, TIGHT BUDGET, WITHOUT A LOT OF ROOM FOR EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, WHICH WERE REQUIRED FIVE YEARS AGO. FRED WOULD INITIATE SMALL, AFFORDABLE REPAIRS, MANY UNDERTAKEN BY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, BUT THOSE CLOSE TO HIM, COULD SEE THAT HE WAS CROSSING HIS FINGERS ALOT…..HOPING AGAINST HOPE, THAT A SUDDEN STORM OR PUSH OF WINTER ICE, WOULDN'T SINK HIS LITTLE WOODEN AND FIBREGLASS ISLAND.

THE TOWN SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKING ON THAT STRUCTURE EVERY YEAR, TO MAKE SURE THE PILLARS SUPPORTING THE PLATFORM, WERE PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE BRACING OF THE STAGE. FINDING OUT THAT QUITE A FEW OF THEM WEREN'T SECURELY ATTACHED, LAST YEAR, SUGGESTS TO A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS TOWN, STEWARDSHIP WASN'T A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST. IF IT WAS A BIG DEAL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A THOROUGH INSPECTION EVERY YEAR. NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE MANAGER, DUE TO HIS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT ITS SAFE USE, TO CONDUCT ONGOING CONCERTS. IT WAS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER FOR MR. SCHULZ LAST YEAR, WHO HELD UP PRETTY WELL, DESPITE HAVING A DOZEN REASONS I CAN THINK OF, FOR ABANDONING SHIP ENTIRELY. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE. BUT THEN THE TOWN SEEMED TO COME AROUND, AND FRANKLY, I WAS STARTING TO THINK SERIOUS CONCERN WAS BEING SHOWN, FOR ITS FUTURE WELL-BEING. I MUST ADMIT, AS AN OPTIMIST, I'M HAVING MY DOUBTS TODAY.

THE PROBLEM NOW, IS THAT REPAIRS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BARGE, LIKE A LONG-OVERDUE ROOF STRUCTURE, MUST BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND THIS WILL INVOLVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY. THEN THERE IS A PLAN TO CONSTRUCT SOME TYPE OF AMPHITHEATRE, THAT MAY INVOLVE CARVING OUT A CHUNK OF GULL LAKE PARK EMBANKMENT, AS A SORT OF ENTERTAINMENT BUNKER. APPARENTLY IT WILL LOOK NICE, AND HAVE MUSKOKA-LIKE ATTRIBUTES. YOU KNOW….NICE WOODWORK ON TOP OF CONCRETE, I SUPPOSE. REMEMBER THE WOOD WORK I REFERRED TO EARLIER IN THIS BLOG……AND HOW IT WAS IGNORED EXCEPT FOR THE ANNUAL PAINTING OVER ROT PROCEDURE…..POSSIBLY A WAY OF BREAKING IN THE NEW PARKS AND RECREATION SUMMER-SEASON RECRUITS. WHILE A ROOF ON THE BARGE WOULD BE NICE, BECAUSE IT WOULD ASSIST FRED GREATLY, AND PREVENT SOME RAIN-OUTS, IT HOPEFULLY WON'T BE LUMPED ON TOP OF THE OTHER EXPENSES, SUCH AS BASIC STRUCTURAL REPAIRS. THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH RAIN-OUT ALTERNATIVE SITES, DUE TO THE REFURBISHING OF THE RECREATION CENTRE……AND THE FACT THEY BUILT AN AUDITORIUM WAY TOO SMALL TO HOUSE THE HUGE CROWDS THAT COME TO SEE "MUSIC ON THE BARGE" CONCERTS. GO FIGURE! THE OPERA HOUSE MANAGEMENT DOESN'T LIKE HAVING THEIR VENUE TIED-UP ON SUNDAY EVENINGS, AS A CONCERT SITE ALTERNATIVE, AND THE SEATING IS STILL TOO SMALL.

MANY CONCERT GOERS ARE FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY WHEN THEY FIND NO SEATS AVAILABLE FOR THESE RAIN-OUTS. FRED HEARS IT ALL. IT'S ONE OF THER REASONS A ROOF ON THE BARGE DOES MAKE SENSE OVERALL, BUT ONLY IF THE BOARDS AND THE SUNKEN IRON SUPPORTS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. MY POINT? IN ORDER TO HELP MR. SCHULZ RUN HIS VENUE THIS SEASON, THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IS FINDING THE MONEY TO FIX WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED YEARS AGO. MANY OF US WERE OF THE BELIEF, THIS MONEY WAS SET-ASIDE PRIOR TO THE 2012 BUDGET, AS IT DAMN WELL SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT CONCERNED REPAIRS HAVEN'T COMMENCED YET, CONSIDERING THE ADVANTAGES OF THE ICE ON THE LAKE, FROM WHICH TO WORK. I'M PRETTY SURE, IF I ASKED FRED, THE 2012 BARGE SEASON HAS ALREADY BEEN BOOKED, AND WITH THE FAILING CONDITION OF THE BARGE GENERALLY, IS IT INSURABLE TO USE WITHOUT IMPROVEMENTS? OR IS THE ROTARY PAVILLION GOING TO BE SUBSTITUTED BY OFFICIAL DECREE, AS THE NEW AND IMPROVED BARGE WITH A ROOF.

THE TOWN MUST STEP UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, ON THIS ONE, AND NOT FOB-IT-OFF ON THE TAXPAYERS TO HELP THEM MAKE A DECISION….WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE CAN HAVE, AND MUST SHELVE BECAUSE OF BUDGET LIMITATIONS. THE TOWN ALLOWED THE BARGE TO SINK IN DISREPAIR, WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ITS LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP. APPARENTLY A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAD NO INTEREST IN THE BARGE, OR IF IT ONE DAY, JUST FLOATED AWAY TO A DISTANT SHORE. THE ALLUSION HERE NOW, IS THAT COUNCIL GIVES A CRAP, AND WANTS TO BESTOW NOT ONLY A ROOF, BUT AN AMPHITHEATRE, ON A SITE THAT ONLY A YEAR AGO, THEY HAD AT BEST, ONLY A MARGINAL INTEREST…..AND MADE REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A TIGHT SPOT IN PUBLIC OPINION…..ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE NEAR-WILD SPENDING ON THE TOWN HALL, AND NEW RECREATION CENTRE. THE BARGE DESERVED THEIR ATTENTION TEN YEARS EARLIER. INSTEAD, THEY GOT ANOTHER BOX OF PAINT CANS, BRUSHES AND SHEZAM, A BRAND NEW (APPEARING) BARGE.

GULL LAKE PARK IS A WONDERFUL OASIS FOR THE TOWNSFOLK TO ENJOY. THE MAJORITY OF DAY-USERS OF THE PARK PROBABLY WON'T CARE WHETHER THERE IS AN AMPHITHEATRE CARVED INTO THE SHORELINE OR NOT…..JUST THAT THEY HAVE A NICE PLACE TO SWIM AND PICNIC. THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS OF CONCERT-GOERS, ON THOSE BEAUTIFUL SUMMER NIGHTS, WHO WILL PARK THEIR FANNIES IN AN AMPHITHEATRE, IF IT IS AVAILABLE. NO QUESTION. BUT IS THIS A NECESSARY EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY (GRANTS ARE COURTESY OF TAXPAYERS BY THE WAY), WHEN ALL THAT IS NEEDED, HONESTLY, IS AN ARRAY OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAKE THE BARGE SAFE TO USE……AND THE PARK, A NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED PLACE TO VISIT AND ENJOY.

MANY PARENTS MIGHT SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WOULD BE SWELL, OR BETTER WASHROOMS AND CHANGE AREAS, AND IF THEY HAD THE CHOICE BETWEEN PUTTING MONEY INTO INSTALLED SEATING, VERSUS MORE PICNIC TABLES AND SIMPLE BENCH SEATING, I THINK FOLKS MIGHT BE SWAYED TO OPT FOR THE LEAST INTRUSIVE CHANGES TO A PARK THEY LOVE, AS IT IS!

I DON'T SPEAK FOR THE MAJORITY. DEMOCRACY WILL SERVE THAT PURPOSE. AND IF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WANTS THE PARK TURNED INTO A GRAVENHURST WONDERLAND OF ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION, THEN THIS SHALL BE THE "BETTER PLAN," FOR THE MAJORITY OF PARK USERS. ON THE OTHER HAND, I STILL HAVE FAITH THAT MOST CITIZENS HERE, AND OUR VISITORS, COME TO THIS PARK BECAUSE OF ITS SIMPLE PLEASURES, AND BEAUTIFUL VIEW, FOUR SEASONS OF THE YEAR. THEY WILL STILL COME AND ENJOY THE PARKLAND WITHOUT AN AMPHITHEATRE, AND A BIGGER PLAYGROUND, OR EVEN IF THEY HAD TO SIT ON A SPREAD-OUT BLANKET ON THE GROUND. EVEN IF THERE WAS NO BARGE AT ALL, AND FRED WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF A CONCERT ON THE BASEBALL DIAMOND, FOLKS WOULD COME AS THEY HAVE FOR YEARS. SURE, THEY'D COMPLAIN, BUT MUSIC SOOTHES THE SAVAGE BEAST, AFTER ALL, AND PRETTY SOON IT WOULD BECOME THE NEW NORM AROUND HERE.

THE POINT IS, THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS STILL A POWERFUL DRAW TO OUR TOWN……GULL LAKE PARK AND THE BARGE, AND OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS PARK, AS TAXPAYERS, HAS BEEN PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. IN FACT, IT IS THE REASON THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS AND THE TOWN ARE GETTING TURNED ON TO THIS BIGGER AND BETTER THING…….MONEY….MONEY…..MONEY. SO THAT'S ALL IT TOOK, TO GET THESE SAME FOLKS TO LOOK MORE SERIOUSLY AT THE BARGE AND THE PARK…..ECONOMIC STIMULUS. YOU SEE, IT BECOMES LESS AND LESS ABOUT FOLKS ENJOYING THE PARK, AND ITS SIMPLE ATTRIBUTES, AND MORE ABOUT MONEY MAKING……YET WE HAVE AN UNDER UTILIZED OPERA HOUSE, ON THE MAIN STREET OF OUR TOWN……THAT COULD BE A DANDY PROFIT MAKER….BUT…….

THE BARGE NEEDS TO BE RESTORED. THE MONEY SHOULD BE FOUND IN THE TOWN COFFERS, IN A RAINY DAY FUND OR OTHERWISE, BECAUSE THIS MAJOR RESTORATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, IF SERIOUS STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS HAD BEEN CONDUCTED EVERY YEAR. THIS WAS THE FAULT OF MANY PREVIOUS COUNCIL TERMS, AND AS SUCH SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED A NEW PROJECT, STACKED-UP WITH OTHERS, TO SECURE NECESSARY FUNDING TO REMAIN FUNCTIONAL. YOU DO NOT READ THAT THIS IS THE CASE, IN TODAY'S GRAVENHURST BANNER ARTICLE, POSITIONED ON THE FRONT PAGE.

OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED AND LONGTERM SUPPORTERS OF THE BARGE, AND FAITHFULLY IN ATTENDANCE, FOR FRED'S WONDERFUL CONCERT SERIES. OUR BOYS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, ARE TWO OF FOUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS, WITH FRED EVERY SUNDAY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SCHEDULE. SO IF YOU THINK WE'RE CHUCKING STUFF FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY…..WELL, WE'RE A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT!