Highway 11 Folks Need Council's Loyalty To Constituents

THE HARD OPTION OF FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL!  OR DO WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!

HIGHWAY EXPANSION HARDSHIPS ARE REAL AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WILL BE SEVERE

     THERE'S A SCENE IN THE MOVIVE "HAPPY GILMORE," WITH ADAM SANDLER, THAT COMES TO MIND, WHEN PEOPLE LET ME KNOW THEY'RE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE. ESPECIALLY ON THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL. I LOOK AT THEM, SENSE THEIR PREVAILING AURA, LOOK INTO THEIR EYES TO CHECK OUT THEIR SOUL, AND EITHER NOD OR SHAKE MY HEAD…..WHICH THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY CARE FOR. TOO BAD. THE SCENE I'M REFERRING TO, IS THE ONE WHERE "HAPPY GILMORE," GETS INTO THE BATTING CAGE, WITHOUT A BAT, AND TAKES THE PITCHING MACHINE "FASTBALLS" WITH HIS CHEST. THE IDEA, OF COURSE, IS THAT IT WILL TOUGHEN HIM UP TO PLAY HOCKEY. WORKS FOR GOLF AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE MOVIE IS ALL ABOUT. MY POINT IS, WHEN I GET A CHANCE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE ADVICE, ON THE SUBJECT, OF WHAT KIND OF STAMINA AND RESOLVE IT TAKES TO BE A MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR, I TELL THEM THE HAPPY GILMORE STORY. I ASK THEM HOW TOUGH THEY THINK THEY ARE, AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, I TRY TO DISCOURAGE THEM FROM GETTING INVOLVED IN WHAT CAN SHORTEN ONE'S LIFE, AND AT THE VERY LEAST, CAUSE ULCERS.

     NOW IT CAN BE SUGGESTED, THAT I'M LIKE THE PITCHING MACHINE, FACED BY THE GOOD MR. GILMOUR. I CAN BUY THAT. I WON'T APOLOGIZE FOR RAPID FIRE CRITICISM, AND I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO DEFEND AND DEBATE ISSUES THAT I RAISE. IT'S NOT LIKE I FIRE OFF STUFF FROM AN ARMCHAIR, AND HIDE AT HOME. I'M OUT IN THE PUBLIC EVERY DAY, AND EVEN HELP AS A STORE CLERK IN OUR SONS' VINTAGE MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP, ON MUSKOKA ROAD. IT'S NOT TOO HARD TO FIND ME. I DON'T VALIDATE CRITICS WHO DON'T LIKE IT WHEN THEY'RE SINGLED OUT. WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE, IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER. I DON'T EXPECT ANYONE TO TAKE CRITICISM WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. I BELIEVE IN CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, AND I HAVE OFFERED EVERY COUNCILLOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE ISSUES, ONE ON ONE, AND AS REGULAR READERS KNOW FOR FACT, I HAVE EVEN OFFERED TO INTERVIEW THEM FOR THIS BLOG-SITE……ALLOWING COUNCILLORS A FREE RUN TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD…..THAT THEY MAY FEEL IS UNFAIR TO THEM, BUT ADVANTAGEOUS TO ME. I'M OLD SCHOOL JOURNALISM, AND WHEN I INTERVIEW SOMEONE, IT'S NOT AS A COLUMNIST OR A BLOGGER…..BUT AS A REPORTER. OPINION IS NOT WELCOME.  IF I'M NOT CONDUCTING AN INTERVIEW, IT'S MY WAY BABY!

     THE POINT OF THIS OPENING DIATRIBE, IS TO SUGGEST, THAT GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS HAVE A CHOICE HERE AND NOW…….AT LEAST THE WAY I SEE IT! IF THEY DON'T FEEL TOUGH ENOUGH, OR ARE STARTING TO GET REGULAR INDIGESTION, AND ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE COMING STRESSES, THEY SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER RESIGNING. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS, BUT THE NEXT TWO YEARS ARE GOING TO BE BRUTAL…..AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. COUNCILLOR LOLA BRATTY WAS ABSOLUTELY BANG-ON, WITH HER OVERVIEW OF THE WAY MTO IS APPROACHING THE HIGHWAY 11 CORRIDOR RE-ALIGNMENT, AND THE EXPROPRIATION PROCESS. THE MUNICIPALITY IS UNDERSTANDABLY CONCERNED, AND PROBABLY HAS TRIED TO NEGOTIATE WITH MTO, ON THE KINDER SIDE OF PROTEST; BUT THE WORD ON THE STREET, IS THAT COUNCILLOR BRATTY WAS THE CLOSEST TO CALLING THE ISSUE….. A DEBACLE OF EPIC PROPORTION. AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS ARE LIKELY FEELING AS IF THEY ARE ON AN ICEBERG IN A BIG, BIG OCEAN, FLOATING WITH THE CURRENT TO NOWHERE IN PARTICULAR…..AND CERTAINLY NOT WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. ARE COUNCILLORS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LOLA BRATTY, TOUGH ENOUGH TO BARE-KNUCKLE-IT WITH THE CIVIL SERVANTS, PUSHING THE MEAN PENCILS? BACK TO HAPPY GILMORE. THIS IS HOW TOUGH AND MEAN WE WILL HAVE TO GET. I'M SORRY IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S AS BASIC AS I CAN MAKE IT, AND STILL GET THE POINT ACROSS.

THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, WITH THE LIBERALS IN DISARRAY

     Town Council must, in this case, have sensitivity to the property owners, businesses and residents, who are in the affected area. Even though they will find aspects of the re-development project significant to the future of moving people into, and out of our region, they have a moral obligation at present, to side with constituents, who probably feel isolated and abandoned by their municipality……and left to fend for themselves. What we do hear and read about is the financial impact, which is important of course. But it is the personal tragedy of this realignment and expropriation project, that we need to focus on…..because it is the most immediate crisis of confidence. We know the project is well down the road, but the area has been contaminated by future potential…..and it's not something that will become more palatable as time goes on.

     With the Liberals in self imposed exile, with a lame duck Premier, and a crap-load of problems to deal with before the next election, in the spring, this is when Gravenhurst Council needs to decide on their future. They have an obligation to act on behalf of constituents. We've already ascertained this, but what I'm concerned about, frankly, is whether the present council has the stalwart, aggressive capability, to take this matter "political" as far as they have to……with whoever they must, to let the bureaucrats at Queens Park know, there's an earthquake quivering up here. Not a tremor. A tremor of effort won't do a damn thing, to help these people voice their concerns at the highest level. For the coming two years, this will be a huge ongoing issue for councillors, and it will be emotional for all concerned. The iron is hot, folks, so it's time to strike. Gravenhurst doesn't need to be polite. They need to be planning out a strategy, to get the attention of other political parties in this region, to let them know, this is going to be a big deal in South Muskoka for the imminent spring election. It needs to be made clear, we might be considered kindly, peace loving constituents, until you hurt our own. And our own have been hurt by this MTO intrusion. So as far as taking sides, it should be clear from the onset, that no matter how council perceives the good qualities of the realignment…..there is every need to work out problems with our citizens in this precarious situation…..locked between governments rocks and hard places.

     If Gravenhurst Council was to vote on my performance as a blogger, well, I'm pretty sure my marks would be low. I'll work harder, but not to gain your trust. Just to be sharper and more responsive to big news and current events. I don't care whether council trusts me or not. If they trusted me, at present, they would have provided answers regarding the Opera House roof delays, or offered to give my idea of an Opera House Advocacy Committee a whirl at open council. If I was to offer them a mark, on their two year performance, I would have to be a conscientious objector, because I want to give them an opportunity to prove themselves, dealing with this Highway II nightmare for property owners and residents. This is their big opportunity to step up, "move forward," and take a swing at the ball. Forget the past two years. Forget what may have gone wrong and right for that matter. This is the most important council opportunity, to put up, or resign. These constituents need a committed council, unwavering, unfaltering, and full of courage, to take on civil servant bullies, who think there is no opposition big enough to get in the way. They have short memories. If our municipality gets behind this debate, and negotiations, on behalf of constituents, it will make a huge difference to the fear and trembling running unabated. Town council needs to be the cavalry. They need to appreciate, they are the last line of defense. Many of those affected, won't have the money to fight the province. Even combined, the court battle could drain hundreds of thousands of dollars, from those who can't afford the luxury of a lengthy case…..which most will see as pointless anyway.

     This needs to be made an election issue. When the parties start prepping for election, which is now in fact, councillors can and should speak their mind. They should be doing some up close and personal interviews with the candidates, and reporting their findings to us. The community at large needs to know about this, and it may well become a huge election issue. Council has some time to mull this over, but not a lot of wiggle room.

     There may be councillors who aren't interested in this, other than to follow the will of others. They may admit to having a marginal interest, but will not sign on to the cavalry concept, or lead any kind of protest charge. As representative of their ward, they will have to live with the fall-out of opinion. If there are councillors, who are not prepared to fight, because they are pacifists, then they should resign and allow their places to be filled by those who are committed to seeing those affected constituents treated fairly and legally, in this turbulent period. Every council position is important in this initiative. It will be challenging and emotionally draining, as the battle-lines are drawn in earnest. So the first sign of courage, for a councillor not prepared to fight for constituent rights, is to bow out gracefully. I would have much more respect for a councillor who wishes to abstain from this protest-yet-to-be, than stay in office, and fail to deliver what constituents need the most. First and foremost…..a committed council, unwilling to allow bullying on their watch.

     Yes indeed. There have been a lot of difficult challenges to the present town council. Yet, it is unimaginable, that they didn't know the potential was there, for ongoing trials and tribulations. If they'd been watching this blogger, like I begged them to, two years ago, they would have known I painted a rather bleak picture of what it was going to be like over four years. I'm not clairvoyant. Just a good news hound. So my conscience is clear.

     It will mean a lot for these affected residents and business owners, to know that their municipal representatives, are prepared to fight for their rights……and carry this protest right to Queen's Park. Are our councillors game for this kind of fight? Personally, I hope so. That is my trust in Gravenhurst Council……and as its most prolific critic, I think I just endorsed them as having the right stuff to carry-on! We shall see!

     Thank you all for joining me for this blog. We really need all hands on deck for this issue…..that is hurting our friends and neighbors. Please join me again for updates, and overviews of current events

They Shoot Badgers Don't They?

OPERA HOUSE STILL STANDING - TOWER WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE, ROOFING STILL IN A FLAP BUT HOLDING

A BULLET DODGED IS WHAT? GOOD LUCK? UNBELIEVABLE NATURE DEFYING CAPABILITY? OR ONE OF THOSE "WHEW" KIND OF SITUATIONS?

     IN ENGLAND, CATTLE FARMERS WANT TO CULL BADGERS BECAUSE OF THEIR LARGE SCALE INFECTION OF LIVESTOCK WITH TUBERCULOSIS. I'M A GRAVENHURST BADGER. I APPARENTLY ANTAGONIZE SOME FOLKS AT TOWN HALL. GEEZ, YOU DON'T SUPPOSE I'M BEING CONSIDERED FOR A LOCAL CULL, WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIVISTS KEEPING ME COMPANY? IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU STARTED A CAMPAIGN TO "SAVE THE GRAVENHURST BADGERS." YOU SEE, AND I GUESS I SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR BORING SOME OF MY READERS, BUT I SIMPLY HAVE TO BADGER FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE DAY, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW STRONGLY I FEEL ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF OPERA HOUSE CONSERVATION.

     ADMINISTRATORS WITH THE TOWN COULD WELL BE A LITTLE SMUG TODAY. THE SKY DIDN'T FALL. THE WINGS OF THE HURRICANE ONLY TOOK OUT POWER, SOME TREES, AND GARDEN GNOMES LEFT OUT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. THE BADGER WAS RAISING UNWARRANTED FEARS AGAIN . THEY MIGHT EVEN CALL IT "FEAR MONGERING", AND "DOOMSAYING!" GETTING THE GOOD PEOPLE OF GRAVENHURST ALL HOT AND BOTHERED, THAT THEIR OPERA HOUSE WAS AT RISK FROM HIGH WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAINS……WHEN IT WAS SAFE AND SOUND. NOT QUITE. WELL EXCUSE ME FOR WORRYING ABOUT THE STAYING-POWER OF A PARTLY FINISHED ROOF, COVERING AN HISTORIC INTERIOR. GIVEN THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE STORMFRONT ELSEWHERE, EVEN IN OUR REGION, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR……WE DODGED A "RIGHT HOOK," "A POWERFUL JAB," AND A HONKING BIG BULLET! IN THIS CASE, I AM A PROUD BADGER, EVEN IF IT MAKES ME JUST AS UNPOPULAR AS MY ENGLISH COUSIN. I FEEL OUR TOWN TOOK A HIGH RISK WITH AN IMPORTANT BUILDING……AND I'M JUST ONE OF MANY OBSERVERS WHO THOUGHT THE RISK OF STORM DAMAGE WAS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY.

     CONSIDER A BUSINESS SIGN FLYING OFF IN THE WIND, AND KILLING A PEDESTRIAN BELOW. IT WASN'T NEW YORK. THAT INCIDENT WAS JUST OVER A HUNDRED MILES FROM OUR TOWN. TORONTO. STUFF LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN IN HIGH WINDS.  WHERE THE FRANKENSTORM HIT HARDEST, THIS WEEK, IN NEW YORK STATE, WITH STORM SURGES AND COINCIDENTAL HIGH TIDE, BREACHING LEVYS WITH A COMBINATION OF NASTY ELEMENTS, IT WILL COST MULTI BILLIONS TO RESTORE WHOLE COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE PROPERTY OWNERS TODAY WITHOUT HOMES AND BUSINESSES. WITH POWER OUTAGES ACROSS A WIDE SWATH OF THE EASTERN SEABOARD, ADD ON A HUGE DISCOMFORT, INCREASED DANGER, LOSS OF INCOME, AND LOSS OF LIFE. WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR, TO REALIZE HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT EVENT. FALLING SIGNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE WITHOUT SOMETHING GOING TERRIBLY WRONG. AND IT DID. JUST AS IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER LOCATION, WITH SOMETHING OR OTHER RIPPED FROM ITS MOUNT, AND CAST DOWN TO THE GROUND…..AND POTENTIALLY ON TOP OF SOMEONE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.

     THE OPERA HOUSE TOWER DID NOT WIND-UP IN THE MIDDLE OF MUSKOKA ROAD. THE HALF-FINISHED ROOF, FROM THE OUTSIDE, HELD THROUGH THE WIND AND RAIN. AS FAR AS WHAT OCCURRED INSIDE, THAT WILL BE UP TO COUNCIL TO REVEAL TO THE PRESS, WHICH UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WOULD BE A WORTHWHILE PUBLIC RELATIONS MOVE AT ANY RATE. IF THERE HAS BEEN PENETRATION OF THE PROPERTY, AND SOME WATER DAMAGE, IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE TOWN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS, AT THE VERY LEAST, AND MAKE SOME SORT OF COMMITMENT TO RESOLVING THE DEFICIENCY.

     POSSIBLY THE GREATEST ADJUSTMENT IN THINKING, ONCE THE FULL MEASURE OF STORM DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AROUND US, AND HOW THE STORM FRONT MADE LIFE A MISERY FOR MILLIONS, IS FOR OUR MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP, TO APPRECIATE THAT THEY ARE A VERY LUCKY CLUSTER OF CITIZENS TODAY. IF THEY DON'T KNOW THIS, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE CHAT WITH THEIR INSURER, TO FIND OUT JUST HOW THEY WOULD HAVE FARED, GOING INTO THE DEEP AUTUMN SEASON, AND THROUGH A MAJOR STORM, WITH AN UNFINISHED ROOF……AND HAVING TO REPORT A MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE INCIDENT. FOBBING IT OFF ON THE CONSTITUENTS AFTER THE FACT, WOULD HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY FOOLISH, BECAUSE FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS, I'VE BEEN WARNING THE TOWN, AND MY READERS, THAT UNFINISHED ROOF JOBS AND SNOW DON'T MIX WELL. THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN ARE NOT GOING TO BUY THE "WE JUST DIDN'T EXPECT THIS KIND OF WEATHER" EXCUSE. THEY KNOW BY PASSING THE OPERA HOUSE DAILY, WORK ON THE NEW ROOF HAS DEFINITELY NOT BEEN SAILING RIGHT ALONG, CONTRARY TO PRESS STATEMENTS. IT DOESN'T TAKE ANY ROUTINE SURVEILLANCE TO REALIZE THAT INCLEMENT WEATHER HAS CERTAINLY CAUSED DELAYS TO THE WORK. OF COURSE WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY BALANCING OUTSIDE WORK WITH SUNNY WEATHER. BUT FOLKS, THIS IS THE INCLEMENT WEATHER SEASON. WHAT WAS EXPECTED? A PROLONGED INDIAN SUMMER? ANOTHER DROUGHT THIS YEAR?

     THE CRITICAL, "MOVING FORWARD" (WHICH IS TOWN HALL'S NEAR-OFFICIAL MANTRA IN THESE SITUATIONS), ASPECT OF THIS LATEST BRUSH WITH FATE, AND UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER, IS THAT WE MISSED A NASTY EVENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED CONSIDERABLE GRIEF AND DAMAGE COSTS. I'M NOT CONFIDENT THE TOWN WILL SEE THIS THE SAME WAY; AND THUSLY CONSIDER THE RISK OF A PARTLY FINISHED ROOF, STILL, AS ONLY A MINOR OR "MOOT" ISSUE, FOR THEIR GOVERNANCE ATTENTION. CAN COUNCILLORS STAND BELOW, LOOKING UP AT THE ROOF AND THE SKY, AND FEEL CONFIDENT THAT EVERYTHING IS "MOVING FORWARD," BECAUSE THEY ARE TOLD THIS…….OR READ THIS……WHEN THEIR EYES SEE THE PROJECT DIFFERENTLY? BUT BASED ON NEW INSIGHTS, AND ATTENTION TO RISK MANAGEMENT,  AS WE CARRY-ON WITH THIS MARCH OF TIME, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN ALSO, AND CONTENTLY, WATCH OUR ROOF PROJECT "MOVE FORWARD"….. QUICKLY.  COMING UP SOON….. A BRAND OF MUSKOKA WINTER YOU DON'T WANT TO SCREW WITH!

WILL MOVE AHEAD TO SEEK AN ADVOCACY COMMITTEE FOR THE OPERA HOUSE

     It would be an amazing occurrence, to me and quite a few others in this town, many reading this daily blog, to discover that the Town of Gravenhurst has found reason enough, to pursue what I have suggested in columns over the past year, that an Opera House Advocacy Group be formed. It would be such a show of good faith, respect in stewardship of an historic building, and cement a working relationship with the public to breathe new life into this storied entertainment venue. They don't have to give up their authority for the building. They don't have to feel their jurisdiction is being eroded by allowing the public to have input, via a three to five person committee. As the Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge has its citizen board of directors, to liaison with the town, and presumably the Board of Education, there is a need in this town, to incorporate public stewardship, if only on an advisory basis…….even without a formal committee structure. Setting up such a Board of Directors, on the formal side, or an Advocacy Group on the advisory-only level, would show a sincere interest in establishing a more dynamic relationship with constituents, who ultimately are stake holders in the future success of the Opera House.

    As the town continues to grapple with what they want the Opera House to be in the next decade, there is a distancing, for whatever reason, from the citizens themselves. This isn't about having a group of individuals the town can occasionally call upon, to ask a few questions, or run some ideas past. This is about having a free-standing group of citizens, who are not prone to being influenced by the town, or tithed in any way to the municipal way of doing things. The group may not have the ability to over-rule the Opera House management, or out-muscle the town via given authority, but they will have the inherent privilege to remain independent, and non-political, and without the kind of vested interest, that would lead to unfair lobbying for projects where a conflict of interest might develop. The Advocacy Committee needs to be made up of Opera House guardians, conservators, stewards, and lovers of its tradition; a social-cultural way of life that has sprouted from the Opera House, like vegetation exploding out of a chia pet.

     The problem for the town, is to realize they aren't the best stewards of this historic facility. If they could admit this, the first full step would be taken, and indeed we could "move forward." If we expect that the new town CAO, and Council with a few selected advisors, will set down the most advantageous future for the Opera House, it would be, in my opinion, like standing at the crossroads pondering, and then, without sage advice, selecting the wrong road. In this case, the wrong road will always be the one that was taken without public consultation. Period. The best plan, and I'm sure my readers are pondering this reality right now, is for Council to ask themselves collectively…….why this advocacy committee wouldn't work….or on the other hand, why are we being so stubborn, denying what would be a show of good faith in the citizenry of this town; to let them, once again, into the process of determining the building's future. My strong recommendation, is that those councillors who have not read the conclusive book, "The Many Stages of Our Lives," dig their own copy out of those held in reserve (boxed)….and read it thoroughly……to fully appreciate the legacy they represent and protect. Maybe after reading it, they might understand why folks like me are deeply concerned about a partly finished roof project, and the reality there is no citizen board of directors, or advocacy group, to help craft a constituent friendly future. If our citizens are not renting this building to put on community events…..every month, then council needs to know why……not simply opinions from paid staff…..but rather, advice from those residents who have no reason to toe the line with their responses.

    The Opera House, for most local, low budget uses, is cost prohibitive. Now once again, after you read the book, you will appreciate that the Opera House history, is deeply etched by community events, theatre, concerts, emergency relief events, and fundraisers throughout more than a century of use. The past decade has seen a pretty significant change, a watering down of its former heyday, and should new chapters be added to the book……it would be impossible to dismiss the fact, there are less and less of the events in modern history, that made the Opera House a community hub in the annals of town history. Council doesn't seem interested in this truth of our heritage. They refuse to compare the past to the present, as a critical analysis…..of the way it is being destined to run in the future. If the Opera House doesn't serve the needs of the community first, then it must be considered a failure. If council really wanted to know the truth about the Opera House, they would endorse an Advocacy Group, charged with finding out for them…….what does the community expect from Opera House rates, rentals, and entertainment. They'd be enlightened. To my way of thinking, enlightenment helps us at the crossroads, make the best suited choice for where we wish to travel.

     I will personally herald this Advocacy Group proposal for the next municipal election. Not because I want to be placed on the Committee, but because I know capable people here who should be……and who would make exciting new history, by helping the town create a powerful dynamic for an old building. This may read like a sale's pitch. It's not. I shouldn't have to sell the town on an idea, that is as imbedded in the Opera House history, as its concrete footings. Advocacy for the Opera House is as old as the building. 1901-1912!

     Thanks so much for joining today's blog. Hope you fared okay during the big storm. Please drop by any time.

      Excuse me. Now I have to run like a badger.

The Night and Day of The 2012 Frankenstorm

I WAS ON MY ROOF TODAY, GETTING READY FOR THE AURA OF A FRANKENSTORM MONSTER

 ANYBODY SECURING THE OPERA HOUSE ROOF?  MAYBE I MISSED SEEING EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS?

     BEFORE NINE A.M. THIS MORNING, I STOOD ON MUSKOKA ROAD, OPPOSITE THE OPERA HOUSE, AND WATCHED THE GUSTING WIND, LIFT AT LEAST THREE SECTIONS OF ROOFING MATERIAL. I CAN'T SAY WHAT THOSE CORNERS WERE COVERING, OR OVERLAPPING, AND I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER THIS WIND ACTION WAS EXPOSING VULNERABLE OLD ROOFING. I JUST GET CONCERNED WHEN THINGS GO FLAPPING IN MODERATE GUSTS, WHEN MUCH STRONGER WINDS ARE YET TO COME WITH THIS SLOW MOVING STORM. WHILE I CAN'T BE SURE WHAT, OR IF ANY EMERGENCY PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED, AT THE OPERA HOUSE, AS I HAVE BEEN WATCHING AT OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS SITES IN OUR TOWN, AND THOSE PROFILED ON THE TORONTO AREA NEWS, I GUESS IT WAS DEEMED SECURE-ENOUGH TO WEATHER WHATEVER GOD TOSSES FROM THE SKY. I RESPECT THEIR RIGHT TO CALL THE SHOTS ON THIS ONE, AND THEY MUST HAVE BEEN ASSURED, THAT NOT EVERYTHING THAT FLAPS IN THE WIND IS DANGEROUS, OR REPRESENTS VULNERABILITY. NOW IF MY MOTHER WAS ALIVE, SHE'D TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO TUCK STUFF LIKE THIS IN…..BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE A TEAR SOMEWHERE ELSE. SHE WASN'T A ROOFER. JUST AN OLD WIFE WITH A LOT OF SAGE ADVICE.

     I GUESS THE POINT HERE, IS THAT THE OPERA HOUSE ROOF IS NOT IN THE BEST SHAPE TO FACE THE REMNANTS OF ONE OF THE LARGEST HURRICANES IN HISTORY, AND EERILY SIMILAR TO HURRICANE HAZEL THAT TOOK QUITE A FEW LIVES IN ONTARIO. I GREW UP HEARING STORIES ABOUT HAZEL, BECAUSE I WAS BORN A YEAR LATER, (1955), AND BECAUSE OF IT, MY PARENTS, LIVING IN TORONTO AT THE TIME, WERE ALWAYS WATCHFUL OF WEATHER REPORTS IF THERE WAS ANY MENTION OF A HURRICANE TAKING AN UNUSUAL TURN INLAND. MY MOTHER WAS DREADFULLY FRIGHTENED OF STORMS, AND ALWAYS TOOK WARNINGS SERIOUSLY. SO FAR "SANDY," THE FRANKENSTORM OF OUR ERA, IS LIVING UP TO ITS ADVANCED BILLING. SUZANNE JUST NOW, CAME INTO MY OFFICE, HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, TO TELL ME A BUILDING IN NEW YORK HAD JUST BEEN DESTROYED BY THE POWERFUL WIND. NEW YORK ISN'T GRAVENHURST, SO WE STILL SHOULDN'T EXPECT OUR BUILDINGS TO GET HIT WITH THE SAME OOMPH. JUST HOW IT WILL RAGE OVER OUR REGION OF THE PROVINCE, IS STILL UNDETERMINED. THE FACT THAT MOST OF OUR HARDWOODS ARE FREE OF LEAVES IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE OVER OUR AMERICAN NEIGHBORS, AS THEIR TREES ARE STILL FULL IN MANY LOCALES. I WAS CLEANING THE RAIN GUTTERS THIS MORNING, FREEING THE FLOW OF WATER FROM THE DAMMING-UP, OF THE TRILLION LEAVES THAT HAVE FALLEN FROM ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL MAPLES. THEY LOOK MUCH BETTER ON THE TREES, THAN STREWN ON MY ROOF, AND IN THE WATER OF THE TROUGH.

     OUR BOYS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, HAVE SPENT THE PAST WEEK IN OTTAWA, WHERE THEY RETREAT TWICE A YEAR ON BUYING TRIPS, WITH A LITTLE RECREATION MIXED-IN. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE HERE AT AROUND 10 P.M., JUST AHEAD OF THE FIRST SERIOUS WAVES OF POWERFUL WIND THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO CARESS US FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. WE'RE SCHEDULED TO OPEN THE MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP, ON MUSKOKA ROAD (OPPOSITE THE OPERA HOUSE) TOMORROW MORNING, BUT THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE SEVERITY OF THE WEATHER. I'M HOPING IF WE DO OPEN, THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO LOOK OVER AT THE OPERA HOUSE, AND SEE A LOT LESS TAR PAPER THAN IS CURRENTLY ATTACHED TO THE PEAK. I WOULD BE A VERY ANGRY BLOGGER AT THAT POINT.

A CONFIDENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT! THAT'S A GOOD THING! SOMETIMES!

     The wind is howling outside my office, and I can hear some small limbs on the huge pine out back, cracking and falling to the ground. It's my neighbor's pine and I've mentioned my concern about it this year, (without response) as it leans precariously over our master bedroom, and sings in the wind, whats I consider a most ominous song. This morning, as I was pulling out huge clumps of brown pine needles, from the rain gutter, I started wondering if this "being surrounded by trees thing," is a good idea, as the threat of worsening weather, around the globe, produces more Frankenstorm events. I have been a stalwart tree planter here at Birch Hollow, and I once had a policy, that for every tree that my neighbors senselessly hacked down, or unceremoniously uprooted, I would plant one more on our property. Maybe even two if it was a mature tree. I had to stop that, a while ago, because I would have completely blocked out the sun from Suzanne's gardens. I love trees in the summer months, and this little homestead is mostly in the shade on those wickedly hot days in July. Of course in the autumn, the leaves are well over my ankles in most places on the lawn. The neighbors don't like the fact that I don't rake until spring, as I prefer to let the canopy protect the lawn over the winter months. Actually, as my partners in this neighborhood are persnickety about things like grass length and fallen leaves, they'd gladly offer to mow and rake my lawn for free, just to get their neat-freak fix. I just don't worry about things like that, because life is too short. Suzanne and I have always had a pioneer outlook, and lifestyle, and for our urban neighborhood, this is not the preferred lifestyle to please those with Martha Stewart decorating ambitions. With this upcoming windstorm, I'm thinking that my neighbors will still be able to rake our leaves, but this time on their own property. Keeps them busy with their riding mowers on postage stamp residential lots. What is it about riding mowers anyway? I can understand if you've got a pasture-sized lot, but ours are all small and easy to cut with a push mower, let alone a beast of a machine.

     We have a well stocked pantry here at Birch Hollow, that we rotate and replenish all year long, with the bonus of Suzanne's annual canning, which I absolutely adore in the mid-winter, when comfort food makes all the bad stuff go away…..temporarily. I have lots of alternate heating choices if the power goes out, and we can cook on our portable kerosene heaters, and have a cozy night in the warm glow from my vintage oil lamps, of which I have over forty working at any one time, if and when necessary. I have been collecting vintage lighting for decades. I often write with one illuminated on my desk, because it adds to the historic actuality. We know there are people even better prepared than we are, but our provisions and alternatives to switching things on, will keep us for more than a week, if a disaster gave us a knock-out punch. So how's the town faring for this wild weather? How is their emergency planning? Is the Opera House a safe place for emergency re-location, as it is for neighborhood schools during the day? If there had to be an evacuation, is the Opera House one of the safe places to gather? Or is the fact there is a half-finished roof, a safety concern on its own, limiting its use in the event of an emergency? I'll be listening to the local radio station just in case.

     Even in the time it has taken to write three paragraphs, the wind gusts have become much more substantial, and there's some cracking out back that I really need to check, to make certain I'm not going to be wearing a huge pine on my back. I hope for the sake of our town, and the good old Opera House, that a half-finished roof is storm-worthy. They seem to ooze confidence, these days, that they know how to navigate this town safely through stormy seas…..at least that's the official mantra. Of course, on a few occasions, rhetoric has proven a tad inflated, when compared to current realities. The fact I didn't see workers or town staff doing any additional preparations on the roof, during several trips I took uptown today, suggests they're downplaying the warnings about potential wind and rainfall damage. As a constituent, I have no choice but to accept their conviction, that nothing nature can throw at the Opera House, in this latest, greatest storm, will damage our most historic building. And I bet they'll be pretty smug about it all, when the rain and wind subsides by mid-week, when they can show off a perfectly dry and preserved Opera House interior, of which I'm sure they will be delighted to offer the press, as a "proof in the pudding," kind of event.

     On the other hand, should they be wrong, it will certainly be difficult…..no impossible, to hide from the wrath of this community; because going into the deepest, darkest part of October, with a half-finished roof, is not the case of a restoration project sailing smoothly along, as some argue is the case. Even the casual, once-a-day gawker, looking up while passing, knows that's not true. With a whole week of rain, wind and just shy of pestilence, ahead,  this roofing repair is heading into the most unpredictable month of the entire year. So might this have been done differently in retrospect? Do you think council might be having regrets it has an unfinished roof, on its most historic building, as a hurricane ripple comes ashore? Well, if nothing else, I hope their confidence allows them a nice evening's nap. For me, one who respects the dynamics of a really big storm……I'm going to sleep intermittently, and always with one eye and one ear open. I've lived through a lot of bad storms, here and in Florida, where I spent many winters as a kid. I suspect, even on the outer banks of this one, it will make for some interesting, "do you remember October 2012," stories for the kiddies.

     As for our dear friend the Opera House, we can only hope and offer a little prayer on the side. If there is a ghost in the house……let it be the kind of protector spirit, that keeps the place spooky-dry, and in one piece. Thank you for joining today's blog. I hope you'll be okay, where you reside, when the winds of October come thundering through the Muskoka lakeland. I'm going to sit by the hearth now, and rest up for a long evening ahead.

     If you're reading this on Tuesday……that's good. You made it. I hope we did. Geez, wouldn't that be a bummer? What would Gravenhurst Councillors do without this blogger to remind them of their civic responsibilities?

Have a party!

The Many Stages of Our Lives in Gravenhurst

THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE HAS FACED AND SURVIVED MANY WICKED STORMS IN THE PAST CENTURY PLUS. AND IT WILL HAVE TO SURVIVE YET ANOTHER THREATENING WEATHER SYSTEM, EARLY THIS WEEK. ARGUABLY, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BETTER IF THERE WAS A COMPLETED ROOF TO SHIELD HER ANTIQUATED INTERIOR. WITH THE HEAVY RAINFALL ANTICIPATED, WE HOPE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE, THAT CAN BE DONE, FOR SECURITY'S SAKE, PRIOR TO THE FRANKENSTORM'S ARRIVAL LATE MONDAY EVENING. WE ARE ALL COUNTING ON GRAVENHURST COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN. THERE IS STILL TIME.

"THE MANY STAGES OF OUR LIVES," ONE OF GRAVENHURST'S BEST KEPT SECRETS

HAVE YOU READ THE OPERA HOUSE HISTORY? DID YOU KNOW ONE HAD EVEN BEEN PUBLISHED?

     IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, I'VE HAD SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE ONGOING OPERATION OF THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE. I AM ONE OF HUNDREDS WHO HAVE HAD ROUGHLY THE SAME CONCERN. OLDER RESIDENTS WHO REMEMBER THE HEYDAY, THE COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, AND THE EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED MUSICIANS, AND PERFORMERS WHO HAVE PLAYED THAT HISTORIC STAGE. WHEN THE OPERA HOUSE HISTORY WAS PUBLISHED, TO COMMEMORATE THE 100TH YEAR OF ITS EXISTENCE, BACK IN 2001, I READ IT TWICE THEN, AND NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE, INCLUDING ONCE MORE IN THE PAST THREE DAYS. IF I RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE OPERA HOUSE, WHETHER IT IS THE WONKY ROOF, NOT QUITE REPAIRED YET, OR THE DECLINING ENTERTAINMENT AT THE MAIN STREET VENUE, IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME HOLED-UP IN THIS ENTERTAINING BOOK, "THE MANY STAGES OF OUR LIVES."

     WHEN I HAVE SUGGESTED, VEHEMENTLY SO, FORMING AN OPERA HOUSE ADVOCACY GROUP, TO HELP LOOK AFTER THE IMPORTANT HERITAGE SITE, INSIDE AND OUT, I CAN GO BACK IN THIS BOOK AND FIND MANY EXAMPLES WHERE CITIZENS TOOK ACTION, IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES, TO LOOK AFTER THEIR TOWN RESOURCE. IT IS A BOOK FULL OF CIVIC PRIDE. IT IS A BOOK THAT RELATES MANY INSTANCES WHERE THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN HAD A TOUGH CHOICE AHEAD OF THEM. YANK IT DOWN, OR FIX IT UP. BUT WHILE TOWN COUNCIL MUST LOOK AT MY INTRUSIVE SOLUTIONS WITH DISDAIN, REGARDING CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT, TO HELP THE OPERA HOUSE IN THE FUTURE, THERE ARE HISTORIC PRECEDENTS THROUGHOUT THE BOOK, THAT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE A HANDS-ON RELATIONSHIP IN THE PAST, WITH THE TOWN THEATRE…..THE MEETING PLACE. I DIDN'T INVENT THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE OPERA HOUSE, BUT I DO STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT IT BE RE-VISITED AND MOST DEFINITELY RE-STATED……AND THAT'S NOT HARD TO DO. WHAT'S HARD TO ACCOMPLISH THESE DAYS, IS TO CONVINCE TOWN COUNCIL THAT DESPITE THEIR ELECTED POSITION, THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY DELEGATE AUTHORITY, AND RESPONSIBILITY, BACK TO THE CITIZENS IN TRUST. JUST LIKE THE OLD DAYS, WHEN THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO ENTERTAINMENT ON STAGE……AND FUNDRAISING WHEN DISREPAIR THREATENED THE WHOLE BUILDING. FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.

     I WOULD SUGGEST VERY SINCERELY, THAT ALL THOSE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, REFRESH THEMSELVES WITH A COPY OF THIS BOOK, SO THAT THEY APPRECIATE THAT THE BUILDING THEY ARE IN THE MIDST OF REPAIRING, EVERSO GRADUALLY, IS VERY MUCH AT THE HEART OF THIS COMMUNITY'S HERITAGE. NOT A LITTLE TO THE LEFT, OR A TAD TO THE RIGHT. SMACK-DAB IN THE MIDDLE. THE OPERA HOUSE HAS BEEN A DEMONSTRATION SITE OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND PRIDE, SINCE IT CHEERFULLY BYPASSED THE TEMPORARY MISTRUST BY CITIZENS, AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, OF BEING AN ILL-AFFORDED EXTRAVAGANCE; TO THE DAYS, REPEATED TIME AND AGAIN, WHEN THE QUESTION HAD TO BE RAISED ONCE MORE……TO PRESERVE OR SCRAP. EACH TIME, THE RALLYING CRY WAS HUGE AND A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH TEN PAGES OF THIS FASCINATING BOOK, WITHOUT APPRECIATING JUST HOW EMOTIONALLY SIGNIFICANT THIS BUILDING WAS, TO THE TOWN THAT GREW AROUND IT. THEN THERE IS THE EVIDENCE, THAT WHEN IT WAS THREATENED, BY WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHATEVER ERA, THE BATTLE FOR ITS PRESERVATION WOULD UNFURL WITH PEOPLE-POWER. WHEN CIRCUMSTANCE PUT THIS BUILDING IN PERIL, ITS DEFENDERS CAME OUT OF EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY, TO HELP WITH FUNDRAISING, WITH AMPLE MANPOWER FOR WHATEVER PROJECT WAS NEEDED, TO HELP IT SURVIVE THROUGH YET ANOTHER GENERATION. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, READ ITS HISTORICAL ACCOUNT.

HOW MANY BOOKS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE?

     I'D PERSONALLY LIKE TO KNOW, HOW MANY OF THESE BOOKS ARE STILL AVAILABLE? DOES THE TOWN HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT QUANTITIES OF UNSOLD COPIES? WHY ARE THEY NOT IN STORES AROUND THIS TOWN, WHERE FOLKS INTERESTED CAN BUY THEM? I WOULD BE GLAD TO PROMOTE THEM ON THIS BLOG SITE. I HAVE TWO CHERISHED COPIES, AND I KEEP ONE AT OUR MAIN STREET SHOP, IN CASE VISITORS ARRIVE WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPERA HOUSE…..RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. SO POSSIBLY, A COUNCILLOR OR TWO COULD DO A LITTLE EXTRA RESEARCH, AND FIND OUT IF THERE ARE BOXES OF THESE BOOKS THAT COULD BE DISTRIBUTED, TO HELP FUND ONGOING WORK AT THE OPERA HOUSE. THERE'S A DANDY IDEA. IT'S NOT LIKE WE DON'T NEED THE MONEY.

THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO GET INVOLVED AGAIN - OR LOSE THE VENUE

     I don't care how many administrators, at town hall, it takes to come up with a swell plan for the Opera House…..it's not up to them. Council might give them the task, but those who have ultimate responsibility for the Opera House's future, are the constituents, many reading this blog. In two years, during the next municipal election, the Opera House administration is going to be a major issue. I don't break promises. There is a chance to work co-operatively now, ahead of the curve so to speak.

     The Opera House has become very much disassociated with the citizens of this community. It is run by the town on their assumption of what is in its and our best interest. That's a big hairy problem. Yet from the beginning, in 1901, there were many citizen-driven organizations, societies, and period initiatives, that utilized what they knew was a town asset…..and took full advantage, to use the Opera House as the hub of many community activities. Citizens worked with the town to establish programs, and you will find dozens upon dozens of examples, where history lapped page upon page, without even the mention of town council's inherent control of the site. Reading the book in fact, is by itself, a clear demonstration, that while the town backed-up the administration of the site, it didn't give the appearance of being a typical municipal holding; as an arena or recreation centre. The Opera House was tied much closer to constituents, and I'm pretty sure, that if you read the book carefully, you will see the huge relationship distance that exists now, between administration and potential user groups…..many by the way, that can not afford to rent the facility, to put on events for community benefit.

     I have read that the CAO will be looking at the Opera House situation, as it relates to future long-term agreements, such as theatre rentals most recently proposed. I would like to suggest to the CAO that imminent failure, will result if the town continues to look at suggestions, such as an Opera House Advocacy Committee, as a weakening of their control over a town property. The faulty logic, is that they see community involvement as almost inconvenient and unproductive, when they can look back in the book they helped publish, and find that the only reason the Opera House is standing today, is because of citizen involvement during many crisis periods…….and the binding and quilting together that tied all the decades together. The reluctance of the council of this town, to call on the citizenry now, to safeguard and assist the Opera House, is far out of character for the tradition of our town. In the past decade, citizens have noticed this clenching of control, and dominance, particularly with the high rental rates and most recently surcharges, that has quite substantially, taken our venue away from us. I am only one of many who have observed this trend, which has severely limited what can be put on stage……if profit is the desired outcome.

     The citizens are to blame. I hate to write this, because it seems an unfair assessment. There has been a reluctance, you see, to stand-up to town hall, and let them know the rules have to be changed. There is a definite reluctance to rear-up, with protest, when it comes to asserting constituent authority, over the council we elected. There is a general apathy to challenge authority, because it does take a yeoman's effort to initiate. Once again, the book shows how determination, of the public, kept the Opera House active, vibrant, and open against the odds. Now we appear to have surrendered everything to town council, and I don't see much willingness on their part, to give some of it back where it rightfully belongs. An Opera House Advocacy Committee might be a new name, and that can be tweaked. But it isn't a new idea. It's been a subtle but powerful force within the community since the early 1900's, when they took this expensive new building, and made the most out of it……getting their investment back year over year, by making it work hard for the town…..and thousands of important projects to knit the citizenry together. This isn't about council calling a few folks together with a vested interest. This is about a town appreciating, that they really don't have the experience to be running an entertainment venue of this calibre. They need the community to interact, and play a pivotal role from within…..not just with their little faces pressed against the glass. I'm sure a public call for such a group, would draw a significant number of names. What a place to start. What an exciting way to heat-up emotions, and make future plans that titillate instead of frustrate.

     On the other hand, how would town council react, if a committee was to form on its own, and develop its own constitution, and then challenge the town hall on its authority for the facility. Do town councillors think this couldn't happen? Do councillors disbelieve that there are dissenters in this town, who would love the chance to form a lobby group, to herald new realities at the Opera House? So confronted by such a group, how would the town greet this challenge to authority? With open arms? Or with disinterest generally? Would their response be, "We've got the Opera House under control?" Or, "Thank goodness, the cavalry has arrived?" What great public relations it would be, that with a new roof, would arrive a new open-mindedness, that they "need and require," the enthusiastic participation of the public, to revitalize the Opera House tradition. Imagine the goodwill this would create. And yet, it's all here in this book, in front of me now. The book that may be stuffed into musty boxes somewhere, that aren't even serving the purposes of leveling wonky-legged tables. There are precedents in the book, that allow council to drop their guard a tad, and acknowledge, that without community activism, especially in determining how best to proceed with the Opera House, they will eventually be faced with a budgetary situation, that forces serious cuts to maintain a building that needs hundreds of thousands in upgrades. I suspect this has happened already.

     The Opera House is getting a new roof. Slowly. But there are other needs of an old building, that will soon have to be addressed. While council will not like the concept of subscribing to the unsolicited ideas of a "small bananas" blogger, I'm relaying a basic truth, the CAO is welcome to investigate. The building in the next twenty years, will absolutely need the fundraising activities of the public. Instead, like what happened in the past, when locks were placed on the door by provincial authority, due to architectural shortfalls, what sensible proportion it would be, to have a Town Council sensing the sweat equity value, of getting citizens involved early……before the next huge expense to come from this historic landmark. If you read the book, once again, you will find this has happened quite a number of times, but the citizens weren't as distant from the square, in sentiment, as they are today. As council has helped create this distancing, it also has the chance to be future-minded, not just with debentures, but with the common sense knowledge, that it has taken an entire community, over numerous generations, to keep the Opera House functioning. So it could never be considered wrong-minded, to try, at all costs, to bring it back to the sharing relationship it needs to be, in order to even have a future. Without the community participation it needs, in all quarters, it is just another old building getting to the end of its usefulness, and one day, a council will again be faced with that dreaded question. Spend or demolish? 

     Town administration is not going to be able to run the Opera House in this fashion for much longer. It needs a partnership with the people who share its ownership, and stewardship. It's the way it began and the way it must return. Go ahead. Read the book. Tell me I'm wrong. If you can't find me wrong, then here's an idea. How about even one councillor, having the courage to represent this issue to the larger council, as a way to build back public confidence, and citizen goodwill, to reignite the enthusiasm for our landmark entertainment venue. One voice in favor, can spark a lot of good stuff to come. Admitting that the public today, doesn't feel like they did about the Opera House once…..should by itself, be reason to enquire why? The citizens of this town, know why. So ask them!

     We are so fortunate, not to have been hit by an earthquake here, of the size that rumbled below British Columbia in the past 24 hours. That may have been unkind to our historic architecture, not built to withstand serious earthquakes. Now all we have to worry about is a Frankenstorm, and the fact we have a half-finished roof on the Opera House. Whatever religion you follow, how about a few words of prayer for a cherished landmark.

     Thanks so much for joining today's blog. Get your rain gear ready for Monday night. It's looking a little like Hazel…..but hopefully it will be more like a fizzle.

Frankenstorm, An Old Roof, An Outhouse and Hobgoblins

REMNANTS OF A HURRICANE - AN OPERA HOUSE WITH A PARTLY FINISHED ROOF - AND HOBGOBLINS

     I HAVE RE-PUBLISHED A HALLOWE'EN STORY THAT APPEARED IN THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF THAT FABULOUS LITTLE MONTHLY NEWSPAPER, "THE GREAT NORTH ARROW," BECAUSE I REALIZE IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FIND A COPY, IN THIS SOUTHERN CLIME. THE PAPER IS PUBLISHED OUT OF DUNCHURCH, ONTARIO, AND I THINK THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR ANNIVERSARY COMING UP. IT'S AN OLD FASHION, FUN FORMAT, AND TAKES ME BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN WE HAD A HUGE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT THE HERALD-GAZETTE, WITH COLUMNS FROM BEATRICE, PORT SYDNEY, UTTERSON WEST ROAD, BAYSVILLE, DORSET, PORT CARLING, WINDERMERE, ULLSWATER, BENT RIVER, BARKWAY, MILFORD BAY, WITH REPORTS COMING FROM THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTES, 4-H CLUBS, AND ALL THE SERVICE CLUBS FROM THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. BACK ONE HUNDRED YEARS, IT WAS MOSTLY THIS KIND OF COMMUNITY NEWS MAKING UP THE EDITORIAL CONTENT IN OUR WEEKLY PUBLICATIONS. I LIKE THE NORTH ARROW'S TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO MODERN TIMES, AND IT WORKS. THE SMALL TOWN PUBLICATION IS DOING VERY WELL SERVING THE REGIONS NORTH OF MUSKOKA, AND FOLKS ARE GLAD AGAIN TO HAVE THE PRINT CONNECTION TO ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS LIKE THE COMMUNITY NEWS I JOINED MYSELF AS A CUB REPORTER BACK IN THE LATE 1970'S, AND IT FEELS NICE TO BE A PART OF IT AT THE OTHER END OF MY CAREER AS WELL.

STORMY WEATHER FOR MUSKOKA

     HERE'S A PREDICTION. JUST CALL ME "TED THE ENCHANTER!" CONTRARY TO SOME UNTUTORED OPINION, I'D SAY IT'S PRETTY UNLIKELY THE OPERA HOUSE ROOF WILL BE REPAIRED BY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER. AND HERE'S ANOTHER PREDICTION. IF IT DOESN'T RAIN INSIDE THE OPERA HOUSE, WITH A HALF FINISHED ROOF, THEN IT MUST BE AN IRISH BUILDING, WITH FOUR LEAF CLOVERS PRESSED BETWEEN THE WOODWORK FOR GOOD LUCK. THE UPCOMING TORRENTIAL RAIN, COURTESY THE STRONG ARM OF A FRANKENSTORM HEADED OUR WAY, MIGHT SEEM TO SOME OF US FEAR MONGERS, A WEATHER "GAME CHANGER" FOR THOSE WHO REPAIR AND ADMINISTER THE REPLACEMENT OF ROOFING. IF IT STAYS AS DRY AS MY JULY GARDEN, THEN CITIZEN PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. IF IT DOES RAIN INSIDE……THERE WILL BE MANY EMBARRASSED FACES AT TOWN HALL, TRYING TO EXPLAIN, LIKE LUCY TO RICKY, WHAT AN ACT OF GOD MEANS. WITH THE HUGE RAINFALL PREDICTED OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS, WITH HIGH WINDS, EVEN BRAND NEW ROOFING IS GOING TO GET A WORK-OUT. SO HAVING A VULNERABLE ROOF SUCKS.

     NOW IN CASE COUNCILLORS ARE THINKING I'VE GOT A BET THAT THE MAKESHIFT COVERING WON'T HOLD, AND WHAT FALLS OUTSIDE WILL ALSO DRIP INSIDE, THE TRUTH IS QUITE THE OPPOSITE, AND I MOST DEFINITELY WANT THE OPERA HOUSE TO COME OUT OF THIS RECONSTRUCTION WITHOUT BATTLE WOUNDS. IF HOWEVER, THE ROOF BECOMES A TAD POROUS OVER THE RAINY DAYS AHEAD, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW……WHY IT HAD TO HAPPEN THIS WAY? WHAT WE'RE HOPING, IS THAT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND DAMAGE DOES OCCUR, THAT THE TOWN WILL MUSTER UP THE COURAGE TO ADMIT THIS, AND NOT FORCE THE CITIZENS TO DEMAND AN ENQUIRY TO FIND OUT INFORMATION THAT OCCURRED IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. SO THEY'VE GOT SOME TIME TO MULL IT OVER, AND MAKE SURE THE PATCHING AND TARPAPER ROOFING IS GOING TO HOLD IN HIGH WINDS AND POUNDING RAIN. AS I NOTED IN YESTERDAY'S BLOG……AS GOD DIDN'T REMOVE THE SHINGLES THIS LATE IN THE SEASON, IT'S NOT FAIR TO BLAME GOD FOR A TRACE OF HURRICANE EITHER.

A HALLOWE'EN FAVORITE

     THE FOLLOWING STORY IS A LITTLE BIT IN THE TRADITION OF "YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUSE," ONLY THIS REPEATED ONE IS FOR HALLOWE'EN, AND WELL, DESERVES TO BE RE-RUN FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T READ IT THE FIRST TIME. THERE'S A MORAL SOMEWHERE HERE, ABOUT GIVING SOMEONE CRAP, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PRANKS AT HALLOWE'EN, BUT THIS ONE WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES FROM THOSE COMMUNITY NEWS "GATHERING" DAYS, IN MUSKOKA. THE RUNNER-UP TO THIS, FROM MY CHILDHOOD DAYS IN BRACEBRIDGE, WAS WHEN A BUDDY OF MINE PUT A FLAMING BAG OF DOG POOP ON A GUY'S PORCH, KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, AND THEN RAN AND HID BEHIND HIS CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. GEEZ, WAS THE HOMEOWNER EVER PISSED-OFF, WITH A POOP COVERED, SMOKING SHOE. SO MUCH SO, THAT WHILE CURSING US AS DEMON-SEEDS, HE GRABBED THE CAR KEYS (CAUSE WE COULD HEAR THEM JANGLING AS HE RAN), AND JUMPED IN HIS CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS, MY BUDDY WAS STILL BEHIND THE BACK WHEEL, ON HIS BELLY, TO AVOID DETECTION. WE PULLED HIM OUT FROM BEHIND THE CAR WITH ONLY SECONDS TO SPARE, BEFORE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED TO DEATH. SO THEN, WE COME TO THE STORY OF A COUNTRY OUTHOUSE, MINDING ITS OWN BUSINESS, ON THE EVE OF HALLOWE'EN. ENJOY. YOU HAVEN'T EATEN RECENTLY HAVE YOU? YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES. WOULDN'T WANT ANY UPSET TUMMIES, THE RESULT OF RE-TELLING HISTORY. NOW IF YOU HAVE AN OUTHOUSE, SAY AT YOUR NEW HOUSE SITE, OR WORK LOCATION, YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK TWICE ABOUT RE-SITUATING IT PRIOR TO THE BIG EVENING. THERE MIGHT BE SOME COUNTER-PRANKSTERS READING THIS BLOG, COMING UP WITH REACTIVE STRATEGY….JUST LIKE THE BOYS IN OUR STORY.

NOT JUST ABOUT GHOSTS AND GOBLINS AT HALLOWE'EN

Specially written for the October issue of The Great North Arrow

     In my first year working as a poorly paid cub reporter, for the community press, admittedly I had a lot to learn. It was on-the-job training for sure. A lot of mistakes were made in those first few years, and a lot of people took advantage of the green reporter with the hastily compiled notebook. Who of course didn't always ask the right questions, of the most reliable people. For this I suffered for my craft.

     If I wanted to keep my job, I had to learn fast. In a small town, and sparsely populated region, it was necessary to gain acceptance by whatever means was necessary. I bought a lot of lunches and a lot of beer. Being considered an outsider, working locally until a better job offer came along, meant many trials and tribulations for a rookie writer. I got scammed a lot in those days, by the locals having some fun with the green reporter. I just had to be careful where I got my news information, and expect to be offered some less than genuine news leads, that yes, sent me on many wild goose chases, you might say.

    While my so-called new friends were killing themselves laughing at how far they made me drive, and the ridiculous questions they gave me to ask the subject, (knowing I'd stir something up) I had to figure out counter measures to protect myself and the newspaper's reputation. I didn't want to get hauled into court for misrepresenting a news story, being accused of misquoting a source, or getting the article wrong because of horseplay, by those who thought such a thing was funny. It could have been a career-ender.

     There was a situation, and a great story hanging in the balance, that I heard about, after I'd already spent nearly two years in the community. By this point, I'd sort of figured out when and from who, I would get some crazy news tip, and simply avoid contact with them. But one day, I got a story-tip, corroborated by several friends who I trusted. I was working on a Hallowe'en feature article, and was looking for some local angles to make it a nice regional piece. Over a few cold pop one night, at my little cottage on the lake, these chaps spun a most interesting and hilarious story about a lady they had both known, in the village, from their youth, and how a routine Hallowe'en prank turned into an amazing tale of revenge and counter attack. Maybe this isn't a true story. All the parties immediately involved were either deceased or not to be found. I made the lads swear it was a true story, but as I had been duped before, I did take this story as a "Hallowe'en Yarn," and not necessarily as an actual reported occurrence, recorded on the police blotter. So here goes.

     Every Hallowe'en in the village, a certain chap, with mates, tipped over an elderly lady's outhouse. They didn't like her, and this was their way of letting her know what her approval rating was, at that moment, and time of the rolling year. She didn't care much for them either, and when they rode their bikes across her lawn, she'd take-off like an olympic sprinter, chasing them with a broom. They yelled back at her to "fly away you old witch," and she may or may not have extended them a middle finger in retreat. They didn't like each other, but it was pretty much run-of-the-mill stuff anyway. Except one thing.

     Every year, the old woman expected the outhouse to be on its side, on the morning after Hallowe'en "trick or treating." Every year, she had to call the neighbors to help set it back over the hole, so it could be used again. She was only glad not to have been inside, when the raid and toppling occurred. It is said, that from sunset, through until daybreak, she used a "thunder mug," or what is more properly called a chamber pot, to relieve herself. It would have been terrible to have been in the outhouse as it was tipped over, especially if the little pranksters, brought it down on the door-side, which would trap her for the night. She wasn't going to take any chances.

     On this particular Hallowe'en she'd got this idea, to give the local rapscallions a taste of their own medicine. With the help of two burly neighbors, who didn't like the teenage lads either, the outhouse was moved about five feet back (toward the house) from where it sat over the hole. As the attacks always seemed to be from the same direction, from the back of the property forward, she assumed the boys wouldn't see the hole on their approach, and before they could put their hands on the outhouse, they'd be waist (waste) deep in a hole of excrement.

     It wasn't a moonlit night. It was a dark overcast, near-rain Hallowe'en. At about ten o'clock she heard faint rustling in the back woodlot, and sense the outhouse attack was in progress. She had the rear window open to hear the results of misadventure, that would happen any minute. The boys did exactly what they had done the year before, and for about three years before that…..stepping over the fallen rail fence, getting caught-up briefly in the old raspberry canes, and then rustling the leaves that hadn't been raked, up to the backside of the outhouse. She could hear them giggling. In fact, she was so excited, she went to the backdoor, and opened it a crack. Her intention, once they fell into the hole, was to flick on the outside lamp, so she could get a look at the results of her prank on the pranksters. She was going to enjoy this.

     She listened for their footfall, as if counting the necessary feet before they reached the pit. All of a sudden, there was the sound of dismay. "Help. We've fallen into a hole," they yelled in unison. Well, it wasn't just any hole was it? "My God, I'm covered in poop," screamed one lad. "It's in my mouth….my nose, I'm going to puke," said one. While the other, of the two that had fallen in, yelled, "I'm going to get that old lady." The only thing the property owner had forgotten, somewhat, was the reality the lads might be stuck in the hole for some time, wading in feces. Once she felt they had probably learned a lesson, she put the back light on, and went out into the yard to get a step ladder, to help the trapped teens exit the pit. What she saw in that hole made her laugh. It is said she really let them have it, while they were gagging and sputtering in the dung. When she felt they had suffered adequately, and wouldn't likely be back to topple her outhouse any time soon, she dropped them the ladder, and watched the poop-encrusted youths climb out.

     Of course, with all plans of such revenge, there is always the possibility of a counter attack, when one leasts expects it. When the two lads had successfully climbed from the hole, and got some of the muck off their heads and shoulders, they saw an opportunity open to them, in the illumination of the back yard. As if it had been part of the plan all along, both boys nodded to each other, in acceptance, and while the old lady continued to scold them, they took off like it was a hundred yard dash. And it pretty much was. She had mistakenly left the back door open. So there they went. Running right through the house, taking a few moments to visit the bedrooms as well as the living room, and stepping on her favorite chair in front of the television. By time they exited her house, it can be said, they had a total real estate tour. The woman stood in her backyard, mouth gaping open, mumbling "I never thought they would do that!" "Happy Halloween," the boys yelled back, at the woman, now approaching the back door, with a hand over her nose. The moral of the story? If you're going to get even with those who topple your outhouse, make sure the doors of your house are securely locked. Or else!

     The article was a big hit. Was it true? Let's put it this way. I never let the truth mess up a really good story. Happy Hallowe'en to you.

The Visit of Frankenstorm to The Opera House

FRANKENSTORM "SANDY" AND AN UNFINISHED ROOF AT THE OPERA HOUSE

ANOTHER MONTH AND THE ROOF STILL HAS ITS VISIBLE PLYWOOD

     I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE BANNER THIS WEEK, REGARDING THE OPERA HOUSE ROOF. IT'S OBVIOUS, THE REALLY BIG NEWS OF THE WEEK WAS THE USE OF THE WORD "NAZISM," BY AN ANGRY GRAVENHURST COUNCILLOR, PROTESTING THE UNFAIR WAY HIGHWAY II PROPERTY OWNERS, IN GRAVENHURST, ARE BEING TREATED BY MTO. THE OOMPH WAS SPENT ON THE FRONT PAGER, I GUESS, WITH LITTLE ENTHUSIASM LEFT TO GO AFTER THE OPERA HOUSE STORY. THERE WAS A STORY. BUT IT WAS SORT OF LIKE WAVING A TEABAG OVER A CUP OF HOT WATER, BUT NOT LETTING THE TWO MEET. YEA IT WAS THAT WEAK. THE OPERA HOUSE, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS, HAS BEEN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ON AND OFF, FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, THIS MONTH, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE SMALL NOTE POSTED ON THE DOOR, HAD SOMETHING OR OTHER TO DO WITH THE ROOF RESTORATION. THE EXPOSED PLYWOOD KIND OF GIVES IT AWAY, THAT SOMETHING IMPACTED THROUGH THE ROOF, DURING REPLACEMENT WORK, THUSLY MAKING AN UNEXPECTED OPENING WHERE THERE SHOULD BE WOOD. WAS THE OPERA HOUSE CLOSED AS A RESULT OF AIR QUALITY OR FROM WATER PENETRATION OR BOTH? IT DIDN'T APPEAR IN THE ARTICLE, EXACTLY WHY THE BUILDING WAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. I HAD SUGGESTED AT ONE POINT, ON THE EVENING OF A PARTICULARLY HEAVY RAIN EVENT, THAT COUNCILLORS MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER DONNING RAIN GEAR AND TOTING SOME PAILS, JUST IN CASE THE ROOF WAS LEAKING, AS WELL AS EMITTING SOME DEBRIS OF UNKNOWN QUALITIES INTO THE THEATRE AREA. THAT WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

       WHILE I HAVE SEEN SOME PROGRESS ON THE ROOF, I'VE ALSO, LIKE MANY OTHERS IN THIS TOWN, HAD REASON TO PONDER WHY IT IS TAKING SO LONG TO FINISH THIS PROJECT. I HAD ALSO SUGGESTED THROUGH THIS BLOG, TWO WEEKS AGO, THAT IT WOULD BE A SWELL IDEA FOR THE TOWN TO OFFER-UP EVEN A BARE BONES PRESS RELEASE, TO THE LOCAL MEDIA, TO EXPLAIN WHY THE OPERA HOUSE…..OUR BUILDING, HAD TO BE CLOSED AT ALL. NOW A COUNCIL COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY, WOULD SEE THIS AS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY. CAN ANYONE AT TOWN HALL, EXPLAIN WHY WE WERE EXCLUDED FROM THIS PUBLIC INFORMATION? IF WE CAN READ A NOTE ON THE DOOR, FROM MANAGEMENT, SURELY WE COULD HAVE HAD AN EXPLANATION FOR THE NOTE, SENT TO THE MEDIA, FROM THE TOWN, TO INFORM US…..THE CONSTITUENTS. WHEN COUNCILLORS YELL BACK, "WE ARE TRANSPARENT," THEN MAYBE THEY COULD ALSO DO THEIR OWN RETROSPECTIVE…..AND OFFER US THE REASON WHY THEY COULDN'T SPARE A FEW WORDS TO THE MEDIA, ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT HAD BEEN ENCOUNTERED.

           NOW I'M NOT A BORN AND RAISED MUSKOKAN. BUT I'VE KNOWN AND INTERVIEWED MANY OF THEM. MY WIFE AND FAMILY ARE FROM PIONEER STOCK IN MUSKOKA, DATING BACK TO THE 1860'S AND 70'S, AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WEATHER, AND LEGENDARY WINTERS THAT POPPED UP WITHOUT WARNING, THAT WERE ALWAYS MORE SEVERE THAN THE LEGEND BEFORE IT. EVEN THE FARMER'S ALMANACS DIDN'T SEE THE MONSTER COMING. WHAT I AM HAVING A REAL PROBLEM WITH, OTHER THAN THE FACT THE TOWN DOESN'T FEEL IT NECESSARY TO SHARE WITH OTHERS, WHAT THEY KNOW, IS THAT WE HAVE A HAD A LOT OF RAIN THIS AUTUMN. IT HAPPENS IN MUSKOKA WHENEVER WE HAVE A LENGTHY DRY SPELL. GOING BACK IN THE HISTORY BOOKS, IT HAS WORKED THIS WAY FOR GENERATIONS. MUSKOKA HAS AN AVERAGE RAINFALL / SNOWFALL AMOUNT THAT STAYS PRETTY CLOSE YEAR AFTER YEAR. IF WE GET LESS ONE SEASON, WE'LL MAKE UP FOR IT IN ANOTHER SEASON. SO THIS FALL MAKES UP FOR THE DROUGHT OF JULY AND AUGUST.

     IT USED TO BE THAT YOU'D RUN STUFF LIKE THIS PAST THE OLDTIMERS. THE ONES WHO REMEMBERED THE GREAT FALL AND WINTER EVENTS DATING BACK THROUGH THE PAST HUNDRED YEARS. THESE OLDTIMERS, IF THEY'D BEEN AROUND TO SEE THIS UNFINISHED OPERA HOUSE ROOF, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE LATE SEASON, AND CATCH-UP OF PRECIPITATION, WOULD PROBABLY SHAKE THEIR HEADS, MAKE SOME GROANING NOISES AND HAND GESTURES, CHOMP DOWN ON THEIR PIPES, OR WAD OF CHEWING TOBACCO, AND SUGGEST "IT'S TOO LATE IN THE SEASON TO HAVE A PARTLY FINISHED ROOF." I KNOW THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION WAS UNFAIRLY CLICHED, AS A LOT OF OLDTIMERS DIDN'T SMOKE PIPES, CHEW TOBACCO, AND ALWAYS  OFFER DOOM AND GLOOM SCENARIOS, FOR THOSE WHO WERE BEHIND THEIR TIME FINISHING A PROJECT. THEY'D STILL UTTER THE SAME OBSERVATION HOWEVER, THAT IT IS RISKY BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE KIND OF WEATHER THAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE IN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS.

     SUZANNE SAYS I WORRY A LOT. SHE'S RIGHT. I DO. AS AN HISTORIAN, AND FORMER MUSEUM MANAGER, AND SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH HISTORY RELATED DISASTERS, FROM FLOODS TO EXPLODING OIL FURNACES, I KNOW HOW AVERAGE CAN TURN TO HORROR IN A MATTER OF A FEW MINUTES. "ON MY WATCH," I'D TELL SUZANNE. "THAT'S WHY I HAVE TO WORRY. IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG, I'M RESPONSIBLE. THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO BLAME IF THERE'S A PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY ONE I COULD HAVE PREVENTED." MY QUESTION TO TOWN COUNCILLORS, IS THIS. WHAT BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU HAVE, EACH OF YOU, IF THERE IS A SERIOUS WATER ISSUE, BECAUSE OF THE COMING STORMFRONT, THAT CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE OPERA HOUSE? WHAT IS THE LIABILITY? WITH A ROOF STILL SPORTING A PLYWOOD PATCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AND THE SURFACE STILL VISIBLY UNDER-PROTECTED, FROM WHAT IT HAD BEEN, EVEN WITH DAMAGED SHINGLES, BEFORE THE ROOFING WORK BEGAN, WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCE OF A LEAKY ROOF OTHER THAN WET THEATRE CHAIRS……AND A MOP-UP EXPENSE? WHAT WILL THEIR STORIES BE, IF THERE WAS A REPORTER ACTUALLY WILLING TO INVESTIGATE THE ROOFING DELAY…..BECAUSE IT IS A DELAY. CASUAL BYSTANDERS, PEDESTRIANS, OLD FARTS AND YOUNG FARTS, CAN SEE WHEN WORK IS ONGOING, AND WHEN IT ISN'T. SO IT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS PROPAGANDA TO SAY EVERYTHING IS WHIPPING RIGHT ALONG.

     SO BRING ON A FRANKENSTORM, NAMED SANDY, INTO THE MIX OF A SUBSTANTIALLY WET MUSKOKA AUTUMN SEASON, THUS FAR, AND AN UNFINISHED OPERA HOUSE ROOF. I'M ONLY ASKING A QUESTION HERE ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY. NOW IF THIS STORM HITS ON MONDAY AS THEY ARE PROJECTING, WITH LOTS OF RAIN AND HIGH WINDS, WILL OUR COUNCILLORS FEEL CONFIDENT IT'S NOT GOING TO RAIN INSIDE THE OPERA HOUSE? CONSIDERING THAT IT MAY RAIN FOR MOST OF THE NEXT WEEK, HAVING A POROUS ROOF IS A DEFINITE DRAG ON HOUSEKEEPING. WE WILL SOON BE IN NOVEMBER AND MAYBE IT WILL BE A FOUR WEEK INDIAN SUMMER. REMEMBER THE EDMUND FITZGERALD, AND IT BECAME A SONG. I'D HATE TO HAVE ONE WRITTEN ABOUT THE OPERA HOUSE.

     THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR SNOW DURING THE BRUSH WITH SANDY, IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. SO HOW MUCH WORK WILL GET DONE ON THE OPERA HOUSE ROOF, IN THE NEXT SEVEN TO TEN DAYS? ONE MIGHT ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT THE STUART MCLEAN VISIT IN LATER NOVEMBER. ANY CHANCE OF IT BEING DONE THEN?  THESE ARE JUST A FEW ROUTINE QUESTIONS THAT, YES, COUNCILLORS DO HAVE TO ANSWER……ESPECIALLY KNOWING THE OPERA HOUSE, WITH A PARTIALLY REPAIRED ROOF, COULD BE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO A SERIOUS DELUGE. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE BEING PROMISED, SO I DON'T FEEL I'M OUT OF LINE ASKING THIS.

     NOW HERE'S A LITTLE SOMETHING TO MULL OVER. I HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDING AN OPERA HOUSE ADVOCACY GROUP FOR SOME TIME, TO SHOULDER SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE HISTORIC MAIN STREET FACILITY. IF THEY HAD TAKEN MY ADVICE, AS SOMEWHAT RESPONSIVE AND LEARNED, FROM EXPERIENCE, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CALL ON THE MEMBERS OF THIS ADVOCACY GROUP, ON A STORM WATCH, TO ASSIST WITH ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT MIGHT DEVELOP AS A RESULT OF CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS. IT WOULD HAVE SHOWN, THAT THE TOWN WAS WILLING TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS, TO PUT PROTECTION OF OUR ASSETS ABOVE THE TYPICAL PROTOCOL OF, "WE CAN HANDLE IT." THIS IS THE CASE, OF COURSE, AND IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH OF A GAMBLE, FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, BECAUSE WILLPOWER CAN STOP BAD THINGS FROM HAPPENING. RIGHT?

     THE REASON I PEN THIS KIND OF WARNING, IS THAT THERE IS STILL A GOOD CHANCE TO BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES, BEFORE THE STORM IS PREDICTED TO HIT OUR AREA…..WHICH BY THE WAY, IS IN A SPECIAL WEATHER WARNING AT THE PRESENT TIME. SO IT WOULD SEEM NOT JUST PRUDENT, BUT "MOVING FORWARD" SENSIBLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, PRIOR TO NEW ROOFING MATERIALS STILL BUNDLED AT THE BACK OF THE BUILDING, ARE GOING TO HOLD IN HIGH WIND AND HEAVY RAIN. THERE'S STILL TIME FOR DOUBT AND IN THE CASE OF OUR HISTORIC ASSET, THE JEWEL OF THE MAIN STREET, I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT EVERY ELECTED MEMBER OF OUR COUNCIL, UNDERSTANDS THE RISK THEY'RE TAKING, IF A PROBLEM WAS TO DEVELOP DURING THE WORST PART OF THE STORM. IT WILL NOT BE AN EASY OUT, SAYING THEY "WEATHER DID IT, SO IT WAS UNAVOIDABLE." IT WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER IF WE HAD A FINISHED ROOF, HEADING INTO A WEEK OF WET WEATHER. DON'T YOU THINK? IT IS A MATTER OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THERE IS NO ESCAPING, AND NO CRAFTED PRESS STATEMENT ABOUT IT BEING AN "ACT OF GOD," WILL SUFFICE. GOD DIDN'T TAKE THE SHINGLES OFF THE ROOF.

     RIGHT NOW, THERE'S TIME TO MAKE DAMN SURE, THE ROOF IS SECURE ENOUGH TO SURVIVE THE REMNANTS OF A HURRICANE. MAYBE IT WILL JUST BLOW OVER. I'M SURE MANY ARE HOPING SO, INCLUDING ME. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL BUILDING DAMAGED, SEEING AS I'M A PART OWNER, JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU. SO HERE'S THE THING. I'M GOING TO BE WORKING ON MY OWN ROOF THIS WEEKEND, TO MAKE SURE I'VE DONE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AHEAD OF FOUL WEATHER, TO MITIGATE DAMAGE INSIDE AND OUT. AS I DON'T WANT WATER IN MY HOUSE, OTHER THAN FROM A TAP, I'M SURE THAT IS HOW COUNCILLORS AND TOWN STAFF FEEL ABOUT THE OPERA HOUSE. SO GIVEN THIS WIGGLE ROOM, I REALLY THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO MAKE SURE IT CAN WEATHER THE STORM UNDER ITS PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCE. IF NOT, AND IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT, THEN BY GOLLY, COUNCILLORS SHOULD CONDUCT A LITTLE INFORMAL PHONE TREE, JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED.

     IF THIS CAME TO COUNCIL, AS A FULL BLOWN DISASTER, AFTER THE FACT OF SANDY'S SCHEDULED VISIT, IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ANY COUNCILLOR THEN, TO SAY, "I DIDN'T KNOW," OR "I THOUGHT IT WOULD HOLD." WITH A LENGTHY TURN OF WET WEATHER ON A PARTIALLY FIXED ROOF, AND WINTER A HAIR'S BREADTH AWAY…..ALONG WITH STUART MCLEAN, I THINK IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS ROOF THING…..AND THAT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK, CONSIDERING THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HAS BEEN SPENT ON IT SO FAR.

     HERE'S A LITTLE TIP FOR THE ROVING REPORTERS OUT THERE. FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, WHY THE DELAYS, WHY THE OPERA HOUSE WAS CLOSED OFF AND ON FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, AND IF THERE'S A COMPLETION DATE BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST AND STAYING SNOW.

     HERE'S HOPING FOR THE BEST. THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. I HOPE SANDY DOESN'T BECOME A MODERN DAY HAZEL.

A Council With Bigger Fish To Fry! Bigger Things To Come.

DIPLOMACY, GENTLE NEGOTIATION, AND BEING THANKFUL FOR SMALL GAINS?

SO WHERE HAS THIS GOT US SO FAR?

     I THREW OUT A CHALLENGE TO GRAVENHURST COUNCIL MORE THAN A MONTH AGO, TO MEET THE PUBLIC FOR A TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY "Q. AND A." I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A SHOW OF TRANSPARENCY, AND RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY, IF COUNCILLORS WOULD AGREE TO A BEAR-PIT KIND OF EVENT, AT THE OPERA HOUSE (WINTER'S COMING WITH AN UNFINISHED ROOF), WHERE THEY COULD ENTERTAIN ALL KINDS OF PUBLIC COMMENT. MAYBE SOME TESTIMONIALS ON THEIR BEHALF. POSSIBLY AN OVATION OR TWO FOR A JOB WELL DOWN, FOR HALF THE MUNICIPAL TERM OF OFFICE. AND, OF COURSE, I IMAGINE THERE ARE A FEW CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE, WHO WOULD LIKE TO VENT A LITTLE FRUSTRATION AS WELL. THERE MAY BE SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS, AND IT COULD GET UNCOMFORTABLE FOR A FEW COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, WHO AREN'T BIG ON ANSWERING PUBLIC CONCERNS, UNLESS THERE'S A VOTE IN IT FOR THEM. I DO KNOW OF TWO COUNCILLORS WHO WOULD ATTEND. BUT IT REALLY DOES DEPEND ON A COUNCIL AGREEMENT, TO HOST SUCH AN EVENT, WITH ALL COUNCILLORS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE. OF COURSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT WOULD CLEAR THE AIR. ALLOW AT LEAST ONE COUNCILLOR, GETTING ALL THE HEAT THESE DAYS, TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HONESTLY, REGARDING HER CONCERNS ABOUT THE HIGHWAY II CORRIDOR EXPROPRIATIONS. I THINK WE COULD FILL A VENUE RATHER NICELY. COMFORTABLY. AND WHO IS TO SAY, IT WOULDN'T BE AN ENTIRELY AMICABLE AFFAIR. BUT THERE IS NO MANDATE FOR THEM TO HOST SUCH A MEETING. IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO…..THEY WON'T. THEY PREFER TO DEFER! EXCEPT OF COURSE IF ANYONE USES "NAZISM" TO EXPRESS THEIR OUTRAGE. EVEN THE PRESS GOES APE SHIT OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BECAUSE FRANKLY, IT'S BEEN SO DULL IN THAT COUNCIL CHAMBER, EVEN HEARING A ONE CHEEK SNEAK COULD MAKE IT TO THE FRONT PAGE.  

     WHEN I SUGGESTED IT, AND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE DID MAKE COMMENT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, I KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY IN HELL THIS WOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I'M USED TO MAKING SUGGESTIONS, TO DEAD AIR MOSTLY. AND LIKE TURNING DOWN ANY DEAD END ROAD, YOU JUST TURN AROUND, BACKTRACK, AND THINK OF ANOTHER APPROACH. WHEN I RECOMMENDED THE ESTABLISHMENT, RECENTLY, OF AN OPERA HOUSE ADVOCACY GROUP, I KNEW THERE WAS MORE LIKELIHOOD OF MY HAIR GROWING BACK, THAN COUNCIL TAKING THE MATTER SERIOUSLY. IT'S THE RIGHT IDEA BUT UNLESS THEY INVENT IT THEMSELVES, (WHICH I WOULD LET THEM HAVE FOR FREE) NOTHING WILL HAPPEN UNTIL THE OPERA HOUSE IS DEALT WITH BY A MORE PROGRESSIVE COUNCIL, WE WILL ELECT TWO YEARS FROM NOW. I EVEN SUGGESTED THAT COUNCILLORS OPEN UP TO THE PRESS, AND PROVIDE REPORTERS WITH INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES ON A MONTHLY BASIS. I EVEN OFFERED TO DO COUNCILLOR INTERVIEWS MYSELF, TO GIVE THEM SOME AIR TIME. THE CONDITION BEING, I WOULDN'T GIVE THEM THE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE. SO I'M NOT REALLY SURPRISED I HAVEN'T HAD ANY COUNCILLOR RING ME UP TO DO AN INTERVIEW. WHY WOULD THEY? WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM? FOR ONE THING, I'D GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO GIVE ME CRAP, AND FOR THIS, GEEZ, WHAT A FUN TIME THAT WOULD BE. IF I CAN DISH IT OUT, I CAN TAKE IT.

     LIKE I'VE WRITTEN MANY TIMES BEFORE, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NEWSPAPER WARS HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, AND IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES FOR CONSTITUENTS WHO GOT THE BIG SCOOPS BY HUNGRY REPORTERS. TODAY? LET'S JUST CALL IT "NEWS LIGHT," AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM ISN'T A BIG PRIORITY. IF THE WORD "NAZISM" HADN'T BEEN USED THIS WEEK, BY ONE PISSED OFF COUNCILLOR, GEEZ, WHAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ITS PLACE? SHE GAVE THEM SOME HEADLINE INK. IT WALKED RIGHT TO THEM. AND THEY MADE IT INTO WHAT, I'M SURE THEY THOUGHT WAS GOING TO MAKE THE NATIONAL NEWS. THE BIG PAY-OFF OF CUB REPORTING. WITHOUT ONE WORD, TO EXPLOIT, THE STORY IS PRETTY MUCH RUN-OF-THE-MILL WOULDN'T YOU SAY, IN TERMS OF OOMPH? IT WAS A SHARP CRITICISM BY AN ASTUTE, KNOWLEDGABLE COUNCILLOR. AND THE HIGHWAY CORRIDOR PROPERTY OWNERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEIR STORIES, AND KNOW THAT COUNCIL IS WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF. BUT THE WORD IN QUESTION WAS THE BIG HOLLOW FIZZ…..THE MEDIA FELT IT WAS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT. THE GIFT QUOTE OF THE YEAR! AS I WROTE LAST EVENING, THE COUNCILLOR USED THE WORD TO REFERENCE AN UNDEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE MODEL. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, SHE DIDN'T REFER TO THEM AS A BUNCH OF NAZIS, OR USE IT WITH ANY RACIST INTENT. AS FAR AS GRAVENHURST COUNCIL RECOVERING FROM THIS ALLEGED SLUR…..GIVE US A BREAK. GRAVENHURST COUNCIL HAS A LOT OF MAKING UP TO DO, ALRIGHT, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A COUNCILLOR'S ROBUST DESCRIPTION OF QUEEN'S PARK CIVIL SERVANTS. 

     THE POINT OF THIS ALL? THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MUNICIPAL CHANGES IN GRAVENHURST. BIG TIME. AND BEFORE THERE IS ANY JOCKEYING FOR POSITION, FOR THE NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION, THERE'S GOING TO BE A FAR GREATER PUBLIC SCRUTINY TO GET RID OF THE POPULARITY CONTEST ONCE AND FOR ALL; AND ELECT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THERE JUST FOR THE CELEBRITY OF ELECTED OFFICE…..BUT WHO ARE BUSINESS-TOUGH, OUTSPOKEN, WELL-SPOKEN, WILLING TO SPEAK WITHOUT THE MUZZLE, SUPER RESILIENT, HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, AND A LITTLE COMBATIVE, WHEN IT COMES TO REPRESENTING US…….THE CONSTITUENTS, WHO COUNT ON OUR TOWN TO TAKE OUR ISSUES AND CONCERNS WITH THE ZEAL OF A CHAMPION. A TALL ORDER? WE SHOULD MAKE IT A TALL ORDER, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING INTO AN ECONOMIC DECLINE THAT WILL BE MEMORABLE…..AND WE NEED COUNCILLORS WHO HAVE THE COURAGE TO DEAL WITH OUTRAGEOUSLY PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS.

ECONOMIC WOES WILL STRESS EVERY PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT

     The other night I was watching the evening news, and I was absolutely stunned, to see the huge turn-out of job seekers, for a new box store in Toronto I believe. It was said that there were 40 applicants for each job, and the line began early in the morning, and stretched around several blocks. Many of the jobs were part-time. It didn't matter, as one young man said. "I just lost a job, so part-time is better than nothing at all." He's right. It was worth lining up for hours. With what the Bank of Canada is warning about huge household debt, and the necessity, at some point, of raising interest rates, one expects with all the warnings about this inevitability, that the big giant heads of economics in this country, know how serious it could get if something goes tilt in the near future. The European debt crisis is worsening, with many countries there, are already in recession, with riots in the streets, in countries like Greece, where austerity measures have killed whatever economy was left after the initial rounds of cost cutting, and government collapses.

     Now Canadian household debt is at record levels. It's a record we don't want, and can't live with. I think it was in the area of $1.65. So for every buck we earn, we spend $1.65. That can't be good over the long haul. We've got young people in our community holding $200,000 dollar plus mortgages. They tell us we won't have a bubble-burst like they did in the United States five years ago….which is still hurting them today, and nothing like the real estate depression of the late 1980's, and early 90's, which nearly cost us our new house……that lost forty thousand dollars in value in two years. Even then, we couldn't sell it. No one could. So having a recession now, as a rebound of the small one we just came through, could be catastrophic……and I do pity the folks who have mortgages in the nose bleed section. I've been there, and it's lucky we had a home economist and a modern day homesteader in this family, because we had to fall back on a lot of skills dating back to our grandparents and their parents. I had has as many patches on my pants as an adult, as I did as a kid……and yes, they did call me "Patches." They even called Andrew "Patches" because his mom had to sew a small one, on the knee of brand new trousers. So what? He and his brother grew up resourceful, and learned how to get what they want without depending on a bank. They have a solid six year old business without a penny of credit. Not once have they bought anything on credit, short or long. We saw what happened to businesses indebted to banks, when the going got tough…..and they wanted their money back.

     I don't believe this economic catastrophe is imminent. I think it will hit us hard in a year or two, just about the time we're looking at replacing Gravenhurst Council, with a group of councillors who will have constitutions to fit the requirement…..and it may be a bleak environs. Just about every week, I hear about another economic woe in the business community of South Muskoka. Is it the seasonal thing? I hope so. But the social calamity that may exist two years from now, is going to take this being a "councillor thing" to a new level of commitment……and yes, it can't be business as usual……because it won't work. The next time we put our faith in democracy, we want a much greater, more tithed commitment from our elected officials……that they won't just say, while walking into town hall, "nuts to you, we're in charge now!"  They may not have said this in chorus, using these words, but everything I see, hear and read today, suggests they were thinking it!

     Our Council has a chance to make the last two years better and more productive than the first two. They need to stop worrying about their tidy little protocols, and political correctness for a few moments, and start having a really good discussion…….in private, if must be, to break away from the quiet, gentle, unassuming, unresponsive council, and give us the representation we want……big, bold, loud, aggressive, stalwart, determined and absolutely in the free spirit of democracy. There's still a chance. I don't want anyone to resign. I want them to sense and research public opinion today, about their term of office, and decide to do something about it……and not just showing up for grip and grin photographs, to show their "public" side. They need to demonstrate leadership above and beyond what they think they are accomplishing at this moment. If they think the public loves them, then they are delusional. If they are worried about their public perception, they should be. It's all salvageable. If there is a will to do so.

     As for the Opera House roof. We need an advocacy group, now! That would be a brilliant first step in responsible stewardship for that historic building. It would show that council knows it's the right move at the right time. They have a quandary about the Opera House…..and they need more time to study the issue. No they don't. They need to appoint a committee of people, who do know what to do!

     Thank you for joining me today. Thanks to your support, I'm well on my way to 27,000 hits since last fall, and for a small time blogger, this is pretty impressive. Especially seeing as I haven't resorted to writing blogs about celebrities to get cheap hits. So thanks again for you patience and loyalty. By the way, I have just set up my new writing office in the former Muskoka Theatre building, where our boys have their music shop, and beginning on December first, I will be writing from their antique shop daily, to present my Gravenhurst Christmas blog, until New Years day. No politics. Just stories about our town, at this festive time of the year. You're always welcome to drop in and visit

Much Ado About Nothing at Gravenhurst Council

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO SUCK THE AIR OUT OF THE GRAVENHURST COUNCIL CHAMBERS THESE DAYS

GOOD GRIEF - GET A GRIP

     THIS MORNING I DAMN-NEAR CHOKED ON INHALED TOAST CRUMBS, WHILE READING THE BANNER FRONT-PAGER, "COUNCILLOR HAS HARSH WORDS FOR MTO." I INHALED BECAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED THAT AT LEAST ONE GRAVENHURST COUNCILLOR, IS IN A KICK-ASS MOOD, AND ISN'T AFRAID TO DEMONSTRATE HER ANGER AND FRUSTRATION WITH GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVANTS. I'VE BEEN READING THIS PAPER FOR YEARS WITH MY MORNING TOAST AND COFFEE, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN SO EXCITED TO READ SOME CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS, SPOKEN AT A GRAVENHURST COUNCIL MEETING, THAT I INHALED AFTER A HELL OF A BIG SIGH…..OF "AT LAST, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING BREWING OVER AT THAT COUNCIL CHAMBER, OTHER THAN BACK SLAPPING AND HUGS FOR ONE AND ALL."

     I'M NOT GOING TO QUOTE THE NEWSPAPER, OTHER THAN TO REFERENCE THE WORD "NAZISM," USED BY COUNCILLOR LOLA BRATTY, WHEN DESCRIBING THE BEHAVIOR OF MTO, AS RELATES TO THE HIGHWAY ELEVEN RE-ROUTING AND EXPANSION PLANS. BRATTY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE HUMAN AND BUSINESS DISHARMONY AND UNNECESSARY FINANCIAL WOES, BEING EXPERIENCED BY PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG THE REVISED CORRIDOR, SOUTH OF GRAVENHURST. I SUGGEST, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS WEEK'S BANNER, YOU SHOULD, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ONLY A GOOD ARTICLE, FOR A POLITICAL WATCHER LIKE ME, BUT IT WAS A MOMENT IN MODERN HISTORY FOR GRAVENHURST COUNCIL, WHEN SOMEONE ACTUALLY BLEW OUT OF THE BUBBLE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, AND MADE A PERSONAL STATEMENT BASED ON CONVICTION. YOU DON'T USE THE WORD "NAZISM" UNLESS YOU'RE PRETTY DETERMINED TO PAINT A PICTURE WITH SHARP EDGES. APPARENTLY THIS CAUSED A LOT OF INHALING AROUND THE COUNCIL TABLE, AND IT'S GOOD THEY WEREN'T EATING TOAST, LIKE ME.

MAKING A POINT - WELL, NAZISM IS DEFINITELY A HEAT SEEKING MISSILE

     I know Lola Bratty. She knows me. We're both an acquired taste. Love us or hate us. It's one or the other! It's like the case, we're too similar in philosophy to ever be close friends. We have sat down over coffee, and exchanged viewpoints, and found that we are both interested in the same improvements in government. If we'd been around in the days of the Rebellion in Upper Canada, we'd probably have been in the middle of the uprising, in the never-ceasing bid for Responsible Government. We might have even been hung for what was then, perceived to be treason…..because we didn't, as they say, toe the line in our political views. We both, as civilians, a few years ago, were anxious about the way municipal government was behaving, and I must tell you, if it hadn't been for Lola Bratty, and the Greater Gravenhurst Ratepayers Association, and her coaxing of some cottager groups, we might have lost The Bog here, in our neighborhood. With other members of the executive of the GGRA, they mounted a significant challenge to the town, with intensive scrutiny at all council and committee meetings, and with our own ground work, as a group protest, we partnered on one of the most successful fights against town policy ever mounted. With the editorial space provided by Muskoka Today, it was our own version of shock and awe. It took some political savvy, don't kid yourself, and I found Lola to be particularly astute to political ways and means, and her suggestions sensible, and effective. She didn't give us bad advice. And she stepped up to help, immediately, knowing full well that it would be a difficult battle, the way some councillors had reacted to the initial protest.

     If we'd been out for a hot brew, some time in the past week, and she ran it by me…..as a supporter, and public relations professional, I probably would have advised her against using the reference of "nazism," even though the way it was used refers to the governance protocol imposed by the Nazis; and it wasn't to suggest that MTO practices Nazi brutality and ethnic cleansing. It was a verbal punch to get the message across, and apparently, it caused some fuming and fussing around the council table as the latest, greatest, unprecedented disruption of the monthly love-ins. I have no reason, as an editor, or public relations specialist, to feel she used the reference based on insensitivity, to the realities of what horrors the Nazis inflicted, but in the realm of free speech in this country, expressed outrage with this particularly raw personal assessment. Lola is well versed in history and more knowledgeable in politics, than most of her contemporaries, and I know the person behind the statement. It got my attention, and it provided a clear, concise, well articulated point of view, about what it has been like, to deal with civil servants, and the political process, to try and represent the interests of the constituents in this Highway II corridor.

      Here's something to think about. How many of us, reading the articles regarding the Highway II reconstruction, have thought to themselves, "thank God we don't live in that area." Well, this is a common thought, if not a common statement bandied about the coffee shops, and at social engagements, during the "local discussion of politics part" of the evening. Many of us know what these people and business owners are going through, but by golly, you don't see much in the press, such as letters to the editor, offering to switch places with those facing an expropriation nightmare. Lola Bratty is right, about the way these folks have been under-represented, and how awful it has been for them, to be caught between a town council that loves too much, and a hard ass, "we'll do it our way," bureaucracy at Queen's Park. You know, they get to stay, even though the government may change. This Gravenhurst Councillor isn't rolling over on the issue, and it's amazing to have some vigor and counter-point at town hall, when most of us have assumed nothing at all was going on……or at least being debated.

     This week there was a letter to the editor, in The Banner, suggesting council might as well resign, as relates to the ongoing saga of the Albion Hotel balcony. I don't agree with that, but it's an exercise of free speech to challenge authority. I don't think council should resign. I think they should come to life.

     Now, on the other hand, and quite refreshening to us council voyeurs, we've got this alleged rogue councillor, speaking her mind, about a hugely important issue facing this town, and the constituents who must feel abandoned, and doomed to their fate of relocation. Out of ten issues on the table, for discussion, Lola and I might only mutually agree with action on one of them. But debating the other nine would be an exercise in democratic privilege, because she's well positioned and particularly savvy on matters of government history, and frankly, she's someone I can, and have learned from, in our years of informal association. So when she gives a quote, I want to know about it! While others might wince, and feel it a slap across the cheek, I am inspired by her courage, to speak with conviction, and insight, about what she so profoundly demands of responsible conduct. If she's wrong, and she missed noticing the iceberg, well, she's not going to fob-off responsibility for her actions or inaction. She's a trooper.

     There have been so few controversies and wrenching debates at the council table, in the past two years, that it doesn't surprise me that Lola's retorts are considered "outbursts," and assumed breaches of protocol and council behavior, and refusing to sign on to the "good times were had by all culture," at town hall. Speaking out, and vehemently, is what chips our way back to democracy. Some elected officials want to impose their concept of democracy, but it is based on following the leader, and getting the controversy worked-out in the wash……not visible on the line.

     I feel the media has unfairly singled out Lola Bratty over the past months, and made it seem irrational and borderline corrupt, when she takes a turn to speak her mind. As far as another councillor's comment, about her statement, setting relations with the MTO back 20 years, I really hope that was a misprint, or misquote, because that is the kind of comment based on knee-jerk and shooting from the hip, to a reporter, versus astute observation and projection, based on reality. In short, it was a cheap shot. An opinion. Yes it was. But it was still a cheap shot.

     Lola Bratty is a keen representative of constituent values. Some may misunderstand how methodically and enthusiastically she works, and how aggressive she pursues the projects that she deems important. She may play the devil's advocate. She may be a fly in the proverbial ointment. But by golly, I like having her on that complacent, obtuse council, because the sharp points are better than no points at all. No, even after a considerable debate on the subject, if she and I had discussed the issue beforehand, Lola would have felt confident that the way she going to use "Nazism" was proper, in the context of her presentation, no apology required. It would have been thusly thought out in advance, and meant to strike a chord, about the sorry state of politics and administrative governance in this province. In her use of the word, there was nothing racist in its context. It referred to political dominance, and anti-democratic conduct. It is her opinion.

     Lola Bratty probably won't like me going to bat for her. She's tough on her own. She certainly doesn't need a blogger like me, rallying to her side. But she is someone I have come to respect, as a fighter for our town…..and while some may not approve of her vehemence, a few of us like to have firebrands, working on our behalf, toward a better municipal democracy.

     My advice to Gravenhurst Council, as it has been for much of the past two years, is to let the "individual" shine through, as representatives of constituents……not as planks in a political philosophy.

     To Lola Bratty. Hang in there. Let the force be with you!

      Thank you for visiting today. I always look forward to our time together. Please visit again soon.