Will The Storms of October Find A Leaky Roof

HOPE OPERA HOUSE PLYWOOD PATCH HOLDS AGAINST TYPHOON

SOMEHOW IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE BEST SOLUTION TO WEATHER THE STORM

    HEY, HEY, HEY…..WHAT'S ALL THIS GETTING UPSET STUFF; YOU'RE GOING TO RUPTURE SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T SETTLE DOWN…….AND AFTER ALL, IT'S JUST ABOUT THE UNFINISHED ROOF OF THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE. COME ON, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING ELSE TO WRITE ABOUT. I MEAN IT'S TURNING INTO A COMPULSIVE THING, DON'T YOU THINK? THE PLYWOOD PATCH UP AT THE PEAK OF THE OLD GIRL WILL HOLD AGAINST A MUSKOKA GALE. SURELY IT WILL KEEP OUT THE HUGE AMOUNT OF RAIN WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET IN THE NEXT TWENTY FOUR HOURS. ARE GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS WORRIED ABOUT THE WEATHER WARNINGS. THE ONES I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO ALL DAY, REGARDING RAINFALL AMOUNTS FOR OUR LOCALE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA? IF I WAS A GRAVENHURST COUNCILLOR, AND I HAD A ROOF THAT MAY BE SOMEWHAT POROUS, BY JESUS, I'D BE SWEATING BRICKS…..ESPECIALLY IF I HADN'T DONE ANYTHING, OR MADE AN OBJECTION, TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN, ABOUT THE PLYWOOD PATCH NEAR THE PEAK (ON THE EAST SIDE). NOW CONSIDERING THE OPERA HOUSE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR WELL MORE THAN A WEEK NOW…..BARRED TO THE PUBLIC, WITH NO EXPLANATION RELEASED TO THE LOCAL MEDIA LAST WEEK, JUST WHAT MIGHT OCCUR IN A DELUGE, POUNDING DOWN ON A PARTIALLY RESTORED ROOF? SEEING AS WE HAVE A PRETTY HEFTY INVESTMENT IN THAT BUILDING, AS DOES THE BIA, IT MIGHT BE A DAMN GOOD IDEA, TO HAVE OUR COUNCILLORS RIDE OUT THE RAIN STORM INSIDE…….JUST IN CASE THE PLYWOOD DOESN'T STOP THE RAIN. THEY CAN RUN AROUND CATCHING THE DROPS BEFORE THEY HIT THE SEATS.

MR. CURRIE, YOU WORRY TOO MUCH!

     I think Town Council relies too much on staff, to keep the old ball rolling here in Gravenhurst. I often hear, during political discussions, in this coffee shop, or that, how our political system locally, is the case of "the tail wagging the dog." I don't get that close to town hall to know that for sure. I am concerned that our councillors are stepping back from the front line more than any council I've known in the past…..seemingly happiest when problems disappear, thanks to the due diligence of municipal staff. I'm not keeping score here, because I've got better things to do, than check up on people just doing their jobs as required. I'm assuming this is why we pay taxes. What I fear however, is that, especially in the case of the Opera House, there is a profound lack of interest……being there, during this critical time, when the inside is as vulnerable as the outside. Some of us Opera House obsessives, wonder if the watchdogs on this project, are protecting our heritage building, the way we would……..and given a chance, that's exactly where we would be to assist…….even over night if need be. But we are "the public," and we have been denied entry. How many councillors have been inside the Opera House during roof work? Have they been a witness to the reasons the building was closed? If not….why? Is it not their ultimate responsibility to be the stewards of our building assets? I know it is!  I was just checking up on you! And so are the people reading this blog, who consider our Opera House the jewel of everything else we own.

     We are led to believe, by the silence from town hall, and the lack of any press material, which by the way, is a week overdue, that everything is hunky dory. I guess what their silence tells us, with nothing more than a plaintive sigh, is that we shouldn't be so foolish, as to worry about collateral damage, the result of a roof with holes. It could be worse after all. Totally roofless! We should just look upon those in charge, as our faithful, unfaltering stewards, who won't make a mistake, that could cause serious damage to our Opera House. Do we have their word? Well not really. Just assurance from the Town, that this whole thing won't hurt a bit. Well, you'd have to be blind not to see the chunk of misshapen plywood, tacked to the roof, and the note on the door that says the Opera House is closed.

     Here's a little message about accountability. By time this blog is published, which will be a little early this evening, we will be well ahead of the coming heavy rain. So if a few of our councillors are reading this little note on Saturday night, or early Sunday morning, there's still an opportunity to chat with colleagues and town staff, to make sure their confidence in the Opera House roof, as-is, holds water. If they are even mildly concerned about potential water damage to our building, my suggestion is that they don the sou'wester, get a couple of buckets, and head over to the Opera House, and protect our asset one drop at a time if necessary. If I was a gambling man, and I'm not, I'd look at some of those vulnerable areas on that roof, and decide that if the tarpaper, plywood and old broken shingles won't stop the rain…..then a bucket may be the last resort.

     If they fob it off on staff alone, then they're not even garden variety fools. We will hold council accountable for damage, the result of being ill-prepared for a major rain event. It's that time of year. Most Muskokans know about this unpredictable period, mid to late October, when it can rain and snow in the same five minutes. It's not the time to be replacing a roof unless it is an emergency. Now we've definitely got an emergency. So there's a bit of gamble here for all concerns. Seeing as there isn't an Opera House advocacy group, as I suggested forming six months ago, for just this kind of community effort, (who would have been all over this repair thing like a happy fungus), instead we've got this potential calamity stirring about, that will either be picked-up as significant, or dismissed casually, as the fear mongering of a wise-acre blogger, with too much time on his hands. So which way do you go? Be prepared for the worse? Or just wait for the call Monday morning, that the Opera House interior is a little moist? What's the liability here? It's certainly off my shoulders. It's not like councillors can't watch the nightly weather. So what's the next move, if there's a move at all?

     You're right. Maybe it won't rain long or hard enough to truly test the dynamic of plywood over a hole in the roof. And this blog will have been a jolly waste of good cyberspace. And by the way, as it is one of the most important buildings we own, I'm crossing my fingers too. Cause I know you are! Hoping that its historic roof holds for yet another storm. It's that cursed devil's advocate thing, where I just feel compelled, to mention this concern, so that if a proactive measure could be taken, to guard against leaks, that it would be employed…..because it would be the right thing to do? Are we on the same page? If there's a parade of mops and buckets on Monday morning at the Opera House……by golly, I won't have to say a word. If, on the other hand, nary a drop of rain water hit the Opera House interior……I'd been delighted if a Gravenhurst councillor would let me know….so I could make this news available to people who genuinely care about its welfare. So either way, I'd like to update my readership on what is a damn important story, whether the media thinks the same or not. It wouldn't be the first time I went out on a big old limb……and sat there for a better view, and a more informed opinion.

     It's autumn in Muskoka. It comes with all the bells and whistles. There really isn't much excuse, for not being prepared…… for what it brings besides Thanksgiving and Hallowe'en.

     Let's batten down the hatches and hope for the best. But some folks, aren't going to get much rest.

     Goodnight and a pleasant tomorrow. Please join me again soon. As always, I do appreciate your company. Get your rain gear. It's going to be a little stormy out there. I might have to lash myself to the mast of the good ship Birch Hollow.