Happy New Year South Muskoka - Thanks To One And All

A Beautiful Sunset over the Barkway United Church

 

A beautiful blanket of newly fallen snow, a crisp winter’s evening and the lovely setting of the Barkway United Church.

Winter in Muskoka at it’s best.  Fred Schulz Photo

1935 Portrait of German Gentlemen, member of the family of Richard Wagner.

An Autumn Scene by Bracebridge's Barber/ Artist William Anderson

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2014 FULL OF SURPRISES - FULL OF PROMISE

THIS STAY-CATION HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL RESPITE

      WHAT'S A NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION WITHOUT A LITTLE HISTORY? A TOAST? GOOD WISHES FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE? FOR HISTORIANS AND ANTIQUE DEALERS, IT'S TRUE...., WE CAN GET A TAD MAUDLIN, WHEN WE START TOASTING ALL THE FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN INSPIRING US THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR. I WANT TO EXTEND SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FRIEND, AND WELL KNOWN MUSKOKA PHOTOGRAPHER, FRED SCHULZ, FOR JOINING THIS BLOG FOR THE PAST NUMBER OF MONTHS....SHOWING US ALL, SOME OF THE HIDDEN GEMS OF LANDSCAPE, ITS MYSTERIOUS NOOKS AND CRANNIES, AND THE NATURAL AND HISTORIC TREASURES OF OUR REGION. HE HAS TAKEN US INSIDE REGIONAL CHURCHES, AND HALLS, TO CAPTURE EVENTS TAKING PLACE, PLACING EMPHASIS ON THE SOCIAL / CULTURAL HERITAGE OF OUR DISTRICT. IF YOU EVER NEED THE SERVICES OF A FINE PHOTOGRAPHER, WITH A HUGE PORTFOLIO OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN WEDDING, PORTRAIT AND LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY, WE WOULD HEARTILY RECOMMEND YOU CALL MR. SCHULZ. WE WOULD BE GLAD TO FORWARD ANY EMAILS TO FRED.
      
      AT MIDNIGHT, ON THIS SNOWY WINTER'S EVE, I WILL TOAST MY WIFE, MY FAMILY, ANCESTORS, OUR CLOSE FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES, YOU FINE FOLKS WHO VISIT WITH ME DAILY, AND OF COURSE THIS HOME TOWN; AS WELL AS MY OLD HOME TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, AND THIS BEAUTIFUL MUSKOKA THAT HAS BEEN MY HOME SINCE THE MID 1960'S. SUZANNE AND I WILL OFFER A SPECIAL TOAST TO DR. WILLIAM DAWSON LESUEUR, WHO NAMED OUR HOME COMMUNITIES, HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. WE WILL MAKE MENTION OF WASHINGTON IRVING, IN REGARD TO THE NAMING OF BRACEBRIDGE, AND WILLIAM HENRY SMITH, AS RELATES TO THE NAME "GRAVENHURST," WE HAVE WORN SO PROUDLY THROUGH THE CENTURIES. SUZANNE WAS MY RESEARCH ASSISTANT, DURING ALL THE YEARS OF SLEUTHING, WHICH CULMINATED WITH OUR OWN VERY MODEST CELEBRATION, OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY, OF THE NAMING OF GRAVENHURST, A YEAR AGO; WHEN WE RAN A MULTI-PART SERIES BEGINNING IN EARLY AUGUST.....TO COINCIDE WITH THE DATE LESUEUR, OFFICIALLY REGISTERED THE NAME OF THE NEW POST OFFICE - CALLING IT "GRAVENHURST". IT WASN'T RECOGNIZED WIDELY, DURING THIS ANNIVERSARY, BUT SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN ARCHIVED BY READERS AROUND THE WORLD......AND WE THINK THAT'S PRETTY NEAT.
    
     "THERE ARE CERTAIN HALF-DREAMING MOODS OF MIND, IN WHICH WE NATURALLY STEAL AWAY FROM NOISE AND GLARE, AND SEEK SOME QUIET HAUNT, WHERE WE MAY INDULGE OUR REVERIES, AND BUILD OUR AIR CASTLES UNDISTURBED."
     WASHINGTON IRVING MUST HAVE WROTE THE QUOTATION ABOVE, PRIOR TO THE YEAR 1819, AND HIS RETREAT AT THIS TIME, WAS LONDON'S WESTMINSTER ABBEY. AN AMAZING HISTORIC SITE, I CONCUR, HAVING BEEN THERE IN THE 1970'S. THE ABBEY WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRING LOCATION FOR A CALMING SOJOURN; THE VOYEUR, IRVING, WANDERING SILENTLY AMONGST THE TOMBS OF NOTABLE CITIZENS. BUT OF COURSE, IRVING'S FAVORITE RESPITE, WAS HIS HOME AT SUNNYSIDE, IN NEW YORK, IN THE SAME DELICIOUSLY HAUNTED ENVIRONS, OF THE HISTORIC HUDSON RIVER VALLEY, THAT HE WROTE ABOUT FREQUENTLY.
     "IRVING DIED ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 28TH, 1859, AND ALL THAT WAS MORTAL OF HIM WAS BURIED ON THE 1ST OF DECEMBER, AT TARRYTOWN. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WINTER DAY, CLEAR AND SUNNY, RADIANT WITH THE STILL LINGERING INDIAN SUMMER, WHICH SHED A SOFT AND MELANCHOLY LIGHT OVER THE SOLEMN SCENE. 'IT WAS ONE OF HIS OWN DAYS,' SAID THE MOURNERS, AS THEY RODE FROM SUNNYSIDE TO CHRIST CHURCH, WHERE THE FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD, AND THENCE TO THE CEMETERY, ABOUT A MILE DISTANT, ON THE SIDE OF A HILL, WITH A VIEW OF THE HUDSON ON ONE SIDE, AND ON THE OTHER, OF THE VALLEY OF SLEEPY HOLLOW - CLASSIC GROUND WHICH THE GENIUS OF IRVING HAS MADE IMMORTAL."
     IN JUST UNDER FIVE YEARS, FOLLOWING HIS DEATH, (AUGUST 1864), CANADIAN POSTAL AUTHORITY, WILLIAM DAWSON LESUEUR, BORROWED THE NAME "BRACEBRIDGE," FROM  THE TITLE OF IRVING'S BOOK, "BRACEBRIDGE HALL," AS A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO THE EXCEPTIONAL CAREER OF THIS LEGENDARY AMERICAN AUTHOR.....AND SPECIAL PROVENANCE, FOR THE HAMLET, BUILT ON THE ROCKY SHORE ABOVE A CATARACT, ON THE MUSKOKA RIVER; WHICH WOULD BECOME KNOWN THEREAFTER AS BRACEBRIDGE FALLS.
     TWO YEARS BEFORE THIS, LESUEUR HAD DONE ROUGHLY THE SAME, FOR THE HAMLET OF MCCABE'S LANDING, AWARDING THEM THE NAME "GRAVENHURST," AFTER THE BOOK BY BRITISH POET PHILOSOPHER, WILLIAM HENRY SMITH. IT WAS ALSO INTENDED TO BE A MEMORIAL TO A WRITER, LESUEUR BELIEVED HAD BEEN EXCEPTIONAL, THROUGHOUT HIS BODY OF WORK, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH HIS BOOK, "GRAVENHURST, OR THOUGHTS ON GOOD AND EVIL." IT WAS INTENDED TO BE BOTH A TRIBUTE TO THE WRITER, AND A LITERARY PROVENANCE TO THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST. IN BOTH TOWNS, IT JUST WASN'T SEEN THAT WAY UNFORTUNATELY. EVEN TODAY, IT'S GROSSLY MISUNDERSTOOD BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. I'D LOVE TO CHANGE THAT OPINION, BUT IT WILL TAKE QUITE A FEW MORE YEARS TO DO SO.

I'M SURROUNDED BY HISTORY - BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS

     I DON'T HAVE FREQUENT ACCESS TO THE HISTORIC PLEASURES, AND INSPIRATIONS, OF SUCH PLACES AS WESTMINSTER ABBEY. I DON'T SENSE THE SEASIDE AIR, THAT WILLIAM HENRY SMITH WOULD HAVE ENJOYED, THROUGH THE OPEN WINDOW OF HIS SMALL COTTAGE, LOOKING OUT OVER THE EXPANSE OF BEACH AND WATER; AND WITHOUT QUESTION, I HAVE A MUCH LESSER VIEW THAN WAS AFFORDED WASHINGTON IRVING, FROM HIS HOME AT SUNNYSIDE. AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT, MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, I FIND THIS NO DISADVANTAGE WHATSOEVER. I GET ALL THE PLEASURE AND INSPIRATION I NEED, TOURING ABOUT THIS ENCHANTING HINTERLAND OF SOUTH MUSKOKA.....ITS TOWNS AND HAMLETS, ARE ALL INTERESTING LOCALES TO EXPLORE AND ENJOY. I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A TWENTY HOUR FLIGHT, OR A CROSS COUNTRY RAIL ADVENTURE, OR EXTENSIVE MOTOR TRIP, TO GET AWAY FOR SOME REST AND RELAXATION. POSSIBLY I'M NOT A VERY EXCITING FELLOW, AND MY PARTNER, SUZANNE, EQUALLY DULL, WHEN IT COMES TO WORLD TRAVEL. BUT EACH OF US RISES CHEERFULLY IN THE MORNING, AMONGST OUR HISTORIC RELICS, FROM BED TO BUREAU, OUR ANTIQUITIES PASSED DOWN FROM FAMILY MEMBERS, AMIDST THE SHELVES OF OLD AND DEAR BOOKS, AND THEN WE GREET OUR HOUSEHOLD PETS WITH ENTHUSIASM AND DELIGHT....AS THEY DO US, EXPECTING TO BE FED. EACH OF US LOOKS OUT UPON THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM OUR FRONT WINDOWS, DOWN ONTO THE HOLLOW OF "THE BOG," AND LIKEWISE, WE FEEL WHOLESOMELY INSPIRED BY WHAT WE SEE TODAY.....OF SNOW UPON THE BRANCHES OF VENERABLE TREES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE MUCH LONGER THAN US. AND WE DO FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS CORNER OF PARADISE AT OUR BECK AND CALL. IT BENEFITS US CONSTANTLY, BECAUSE IT IS THE WAY BOTH OF US GREW UP IN THIS DISTRI CT. MY RETREAT WAS THE SHADY INTERIOR OF "BAMFORD'S WOODS," "THE GROVE," AND "BASS ROCK," IN BRACEBRIDGE, IN MY EARLIER YEARS. FOR SUZANNE, IT WAS THE SHORELINE WOODLANDS OF WINDERMERE, ABOVE THE SPARKLING WATERS OF LAKE ROSSEAU, THAT TEMPTED HER TO EXPLORE. NOW IT IS MOST DEFINITELY "THE BOG," THAT HOLDS THE ALLURE FOR US.....AND THE GOOD GRACES OF OUR HISTORIC HOMETOWN....THAT KEEPS US HERE.
    
     IT'S UNFAIR OF COURSE, TO ASSUME MANY PEOPLE THESE DAYS, WILL BE INTERESTED IN THE WORK OF IRVING AND SMITH, OR EVEN THE ESSAYS WRITTEN BY DR. LESUEUR; MUCH AS WE ARE, SIMPLY BY THE DAILY IMMERSION IN THESE BOOKS OF OURS. WE LOVE BOOKS. I WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE COMPANY OF BOOKS; IT'S WHERE I WANTED TO BE AT UNIVERSITY....IN THE YORK LIBRARY; AND IT'S WHAT I GENERATED TOWARD AS A BOOK COLLECTOR AND DEALER SEEMINGLY A LIFETIME AGO. THERE IS SO MUCH IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO BE GARNERED FROM OLD BOOKS, AND IN THE VERY ACT OF READING THEM AS PUBLISHED.....WITH LIGHT SHINING FROM ABOVE. I'M NOT LIKELY TO EVER READ FROM A ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AT LEAST THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF A BOOK. THE EXCEPTION OF COURSE, IS WHEN I CAN'T SECURE A COPY OF A BOOK I NEED, AND WILL THEN RELY ON GOOGLE BOOKS TO HELP ME OUT.
     THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE, IS THAT WHILE I STILL FIND SOLACE IN THE WORDS OF THE GREAT BARDS, IT IS A LOT TO EXPECT, THAT OUR CITIZENRY WILL FIND THE SAME HOLDS TRUE. I AM IN AWE OF THESE TWO WRITERS, WHO HAVE PLAYED THEIR ROLE IN OUR HERITAGE. I WISH TO SHARE WHAT I BELIEVE IS REMARKABLE ABOUT IRVING AND SMITH, BUT I'M ROUTINELY SET IN MY PLACE, BECAUSE VERY FEW SHARE MY ENTHUSIASM. IT IS A DIFFERENT TIME. THERE ARE MANY MORE CONCERNS TO DEAL WITH, IN THE BID FOR PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE RESPECTIVE TOWN ADMINISTRATORS, TO GRASP, HOW BENEFICIAL ATTACHMENTS CAN BE MADE, TO WRITERS REMOVED BY CENTURIES OF HISTORY, FROM WHAT CONTEMPORARY TIMES DEMAND. THERE MAY BE A DAY, OR OCCASION IN THE FUTURE, WHEN SOME SCHOLAR MIGHT DECIDE TO PUSH FORWARD, AND MAKE MORE OF THESE ATTACHMENTS THAN I CAN MUSTER AT PRESENT. I THINK THERE ARE SOME RICH REWARDS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT UP TO THIS MOMENT IN THE CHRONICLE, IT HAS ALL BEEN AN EFFORT FOR HISTORIC RECORD, AND ARCHIVES DEVELOPMENT, OF WHICH I AM PARTICULARLY SATISFIED. IF THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A "SMITH DAY," OR A "SLEEPY HOLLOW FESTIVAL," TO CELEBRATE IRVING'S AUTHORDOM, THEN SUFFICE, THAT YOU FOLKS AT LEAST, KNOW ABOUT IT, AND SOME RESEARCHERS ARE BENEFITTING FROM IT IN THE PRESENT TENSE. WHILE I THINK IT WOULD BE NEAT TO CELEBRATE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WORLD LITERATURE, TRUTH IS, EVEN THE LOCAL LIBRARIES AND HERITAGE GROUPS, HAVE NO DESIRE TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITIES. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE WE CAN OFFER, ON OUR OWN, IS TO OFFER OURSELVES AS YOUR SERVANTS IN THIS REGARD.....FOR EXAMPLE, BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH THE INTERESTED PATRONS OF OUR SHOP, WHO DO APPRECIATE THE PROVENANCE, AND ITS UNIQUENESS IN CANADA. SO WHILE I HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RESULTS OF THIS WORK IN THE PAST, I NOW HAVE THE VALIDATION OF KNOWING, THE INFORMATION AND STORY IS BEING USED ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD.....BY EXPATRIATES OF OUR TOWN, AND THOSE WHO ENJOY THE WORK OF SMITH AND IRVING.
     TODAY'S TEXT WAS PREPARED IN THE STUDIO OF OUR ANTIQUE SHOP, AND MUSIC STUDIO, HERE IN THE FORMER MUSKOKA THEATRE BUILDING, ON MUSKOKA ROAD, OPPOSITE THE OPERA HOUSE. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF OUR FRIENDS DROPPING IN TO WISH US A HAPPY NEW YEARS, AND OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN DELIGHTED TO HAVE THEM VISIT. BOTH ANDREW AND ROBERT HAVE BEEN RECEIVING TEXT-MESSAGES WITH NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS ALL MORNING, AND EVEN A FEW TO EXTEND TO MOM AND POP IN THE BACK. SUZANNE SOLD EIGHT PAIRS OF HER HAND-KNIT SOCKS YESTERDAY, SO SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT SUPPLY FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. I THINK SHE ALREADY KNIT A PAIR THIS MORNING BEFORE LUNCH. HER WOOLENS ARE NOW KNOWN ON TWITTER AS "MAMA CURRIE'S" KNIT-WARE; AND THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN PHOTOGRAPHS PUBLISHED RECENTLY, OF CUSTOMERS WEARING HER TOQUES AND MITTS. I HAVEN'T SOLD ONE OF MY BOOKS IN MONTHS. I'D BE JEALOUS IF I WASN'T OF THE OPINION, THAT HER CRAFT WORK IS BETTER THAN MY WRITING. I'M WORKING FOR THE EVASIVE PULITZER, AND SHE'S PAYING THE BILLS. SHE TELLS OUR FRIENDS, "THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU MARRY A WRITER." I RESPOND, "I'M BEING SUPPORTED BY A HOME CRAFTER. I'M GOOD WITH THAT!"
     I BELIEVE THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST IS IN FOR AN EXCITING, ADVENTURE-FILLED YEAR. AS CONSERVATIVE AS I CAN BE THESE DAYS, TEMPERING MY FORECASTS WITH PESSIMISM, I STILL BELIEVE 2014 WILL PRODUCE A LOT OF FUTURE TRACK FOR US TO RIDE. I THINK INVESTORS ARE GOING TO SENSE THAT THE TIME IS RIGHT, TO TAKE HOLD OF THIS CHARMING LITTLE SOUTH MUSKOKA TOWN, AND REVITALIZE THE OLD INTO THE NEW AGAIN. MY OLDTIME REPORTING SENSES ARE TINGLING. WE FEEL IT IN OUR SHOP FOR SURE. WE ARE GETTING THAT GREATLY DESIRED YEAR-ROUND TOURISM, AND MOST OF IT IS COMING FROM OUR INTENSIVE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA INSTEAD OF NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING. THESE DAY-TRAVELLERS, ARE SPENDING THEIR MONEY LOCALLY, AND DINING AT LOCATIONS WE MOST FREQUENTLY RECOMMEND. WE'RE A LITTLE BIT PROUD OF OURSELVES, BECAUSE WE'VE DEFIED SO MANY OF THE DOOM AND GLOOM PREDICTIONS FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I HOPE THEY'LL EVENTUALLY COME AROUND, AND JOIN US FOR THIS NEW BURST OF ECONOMIC ENERGY.....FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE FINDING THE GRAVENHURST EXPERIENCE RATHER REWARDING.....IN MANY WAYS. YOU MAY SEE THESE REFERENCES SHARED ON TWITTER, AND YES, IT MAY EVEN REPORT ON "CURRIE'S MUSIC." HEY, THIS IS CALLED "BLOWING YOUR OWN HORN," RIGHT? THE EXCEPTION HERE, IS THAT ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN TAP INTO THE SAME MARKETING STRATEGY.....BUT FIRST OF ALL, THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WHAT HAVE THEY GOT TO LOSE? THERE'S A MISTAKEN PERCEPTION, THAT ALL YOU CAN DO IS "BUY" WHEN YOU SHOP ON-LINE. THE REALITY IS, THE PREAMBLE TO SHOPPING IS RESEARCH, AND THIS IS LEADING TO DISCOVERY; AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THESE ON-LINE FOLKS ARE STANDING IN THE SHOP THAT THEY SAW FIRST IN CYBERSPACE. THEN HEAP ON THE BENEFITS OF NETWORKING (SHARING ON FACEBOOK), AND ALL THE CONNECTIONS MADE THERE-AFTER. FRANKLY WE'RE SHOCKED BY HOW IT IS ALL COMING TOGETHER IN THIS FASHION......VIA THE INTERNET. WE SHALL NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ECONOMY IN 2014. TODAY IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT "WALK-INS."

     ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR BEST REGARDS FOR A HAPPY NEW YEARS. FROM ALL OF US AT BIRCH HOLLOW, AND ANDREW CURRIE'S MUSIC AND COLLECTABLES.
     NOTE: THE PORTRAIT OF THE GENTLEMAN WAS PAINTED IN GERMANY, CIRCA 1935, SIGNED ON MASONITE, AND IS SAID TO BE RELATED TO THE FAMILY OF COMPOSER, RICHARD WAGNER. THIS WAS ACQUIRED FROM A LOCAL ESTATE.
     THE LANDSCAPE ABOVE, WAS PAINTED BY BRACEBRIDGE'S FAMOUS BARBER / ARTIST, BILL ANDERSON, AND IS ONE OF THREE OWNED BY THE BIRCH HOLLOW COLLECTION, AVAILABLE FOR CLOSER INSPECTION IN OUR GRAVENHURST SHOP.

Gravenhurst; The Talent We Have At Home That We Never Tap

A peaceful Winter Scene over the “Barge” in Gull Lake Rotary Park, Gravenhurst

A very crisp day on Monday, December 30th in Gravenhurst overlooking the “Barge” in Gull Lake Rotary Park, Gravenhurst.   Fortunately, very minimal damage to the remaining white pines during the large accumulation of snow over the past few days.  Fred Schulz Photo

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY BY ASSOCIATION - THE HISTORY OF LITERATURE - THE HISTORY OF WORLD WAR

OUR TOWN LOOKS EVERYWHERE ELSE FOR ANSWERS - TO ANYONE ELSE TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS - EXCEPT WHAT CAN BE FOUND RIGHT AT HOME


     THE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE "MAYOR'S TEA," IN GRAVENHURST, IN THE SPRING, WAS PROVIDED BY A CHOIR FROM HUNTSVILLE. NOW, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T ALWAYS ENTERTAIN OURSELVES, BY USING LOCAL TALENT. IT'S NICE WHEN WE CAN, BUT IT'S OFTEN NECESSARY, AND ECONOMICALLY ASTUTE, TO EMPLOY ENTERTAINMENT FROM OTHER REGIONS OF NORTH AMERICA....AND SOMETIMES BEYOND. IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE INSULTING TO LOCAL MUSICIANS, THAT THEY DON'T GET ASKED TO PERFORM AT HOME MORE REGULARLY, BUT THIS HASN'T CHANGED IN CENTURIES. THERE IS HOWEVER, A TIME, OCCASION AND PLACE, WHEN IT IS HUGELY, GLARINGLY, POLITICALLY INCORRECT, NOT TO USE LOCAL ENTERTAINERS TO REGALE A LARGELY TOWN AUDIENCE.
      AT THE LAST MAYOR'S TEA, AT THE OPERA HOUSE, WE WERE APPARENTLY SO VOID OF LOCAL TALENT, THAT WE HAD TO SEEK OUT A GROUP FROM HUNTSVILLE, TO PROVIDE THE AFTERNOON ENTERTAINMENT. HERE WE ARE, HOSTING A TRULY GRAVENHURST EVENT, IN ONE OF OUR MOST HISTORIC VENUES, AND IT'S DECIDED TO BRING IN A HUNTSVILLE (MUSKOKA-BASED) CHOIR. THE LOCAL MUSICIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLY INSULTED, BUT IF YOU WERE TO ASK THEM, THEY'D BE SURPRISED A GUY LIKE ME WOULD PUT UP SUCH A FUSS IN THEIR SUPPORT. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED TO BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE ANYWAY, BECAUSE IT'S A NORMAL SITUATION.....EVEN WHEN AN EVENT IS PERFECTLY SUITED TO THE CELEBRATION OF LOCAL TALENT. IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THIS ONE GLARING SHORTFALL OF PROTOCOL, IT EXPLAINS SO MUCH THAT MISSES THE MARK IN THIS TOWN. WE CONTRADICT A LOT. WE WANT A STRONG HOME TOWN, AND ALL THE GOOD STUFF THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT, EXCEPT WE WOULD RATHER INVEST OUR HOPES ON SOMEONE ELSE - GIVING US SOLUTIONS THAT WERE DEVELOPED SOME PLACE ELSE. AND IF YOU WERE TO DO A POLL, TO FIND OUT IF THIS BOTHERS LOCAL RESIDENTS OR NOT, THE RESULTS WOULD REFLECT THAT IT'S PRETTY MUCH ACCEPTED PRACTICE......AND EVERY COUNCIL FINDS A WAY OF IGNORING LOCAL INGENUITY AND TALENT; PREFERRING LEADERSHIP DIRECTION FROM ANY SOURCE, OTHER THAN ONE FOUND RIGHT AT HOME. IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. WE ARE BEING INFLUENCED BY DIRECTIVES, AND OPINIONS, THAT ARE NOT SENSITIVE TO WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR HOMETOWN PRIORITIES. BUT IT'S BEING FOISTED ON US NONE THE LESS. I'M NOT ADVERSE TO OUTSIDE OPINION, AND ASSISTANCE, BUT NOT WHEN IT CHANGES OUR HOMETOWN VALUES. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING, AND THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN HAVE WATCHED MUCH OF IT TRANSPIRE; ALMOST TO THE EXTENT OF ACTUALLY ENABLING COUNCIL, BY BLIND, WILLING ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR LESSER ROLE IN SELF DETERMINATION; MORPHING THE TOWN INTO A PLACE, WHERE AT TIMES, WE FEEL SOMEWHAT LIKE STRANGERS. UNTIL WE READ ON OUR TAX BILL, THAT WE ARE STILL DESIRED, AT LEAST AS INVESTORS IN THE MUNICIPALITY.
    THERE ARE PLENTY OF TALENTED MUSICIANS AND ENTERTAINERS GENERALLY, IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, WHO WOULD HAVE PERFORMED AT THE MAYOR'S TEA; IF THAT IS, SOMEONE FROM TOWN HALL, HAD BOTHERED TO CONSIDER US LOCALS, TO HAVE BEEN WORTHY OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT EVENT. THIS IS JUST ONE SMALL EXAMPLE, OF THE WAY OUR OWN COUNCIL LOOKS FOR SOLUTIONS ANYWHERE BUT RIGHT AT HOME....WHERE LOW AND BEHOLD, MANY WISE FOLK DWELL DESPITE BEING ROUTINELY BYPASSED. IT'S PRECISELY THE REASON WE NEED IMPROVEMENTS AT THE OPERA HOUSE. WE NEED SOME HUGE CHANGES OVER THERE, BEFORE IT IS LOST AS A SIGNIFICANT VENUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOCALLY APPOINTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WITH AN ELECTED CHAIR PERSON, WHO CAN IMPOSE OUR INTERESTS ON HOW THE OPERA HOUSE IS USED IN THE FUTURE. WE ARE NOT TORONTO. WERE ARE NOT OTTAWA, THE LAST TIME I LOOKED. OR BARRIE, OR ORILLIA. WE HAVE OUR OWN IDENTITY HERE, AND WE'VE GOT QUITE A BIT OF HISTORY TO CORROBORATE OUR PAST ABILITIES TO USE THIS BUILDING APPROPRIATELY......SO THAT EVERY ONE OF US CAN BE PROUD OF WHAT WE PAY TAXES TO SUPPORT.
     HERE'S A SHOCKER FOR YOU. A REAL TIME BELIEVE-IT-OR-N0T! IF YOU WERE TO DO A POLL, LET'S JUST SAY AS PART OF THE COMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION, ASKING THE CONSTITUENTS HOW MANY HAVE ACTUALLY VISITED THE OPERA HOUSE, FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES, IN THE PAST DECADE......WHAT RESULTS WOULD YOU GET? HOW ABOUT THE PAST TWENTY YEARS? WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU TO FIND OUT, THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE NEVER ONCE, SET FOOD INSIDE THE DOOR OF THE OPERA HOUSE? YOU'D BE AMAZED AT SOME OF THE REASONS GIVEN, FOR NOT ATTENDING. THE OPERA HOUSE HAS BEEN PURPOSELY DISTANCED AWAY FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION FOR A LONG TIME NOW. AS FAR AS LOCAL GROUPS RENTING THE FACILITY, LIKE OUR FAMILY USED TO, OFTEN TWICE A YEAR FOR COMMUNITY CONCERTS, THIS REPRESENTS A TINY PORTION OF REVENUES; AND NOW, THAT'S PROBABLY MORE FOR SPECIAL USER GROUPS (CLUBS), THAN FOR ON-STAGE PERFORMANCES. WHY? WELL, THEY'VE BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE PICTURE. RENTALS? FOR MOST OF US, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, EVEN AS A FUNDRAISER NOW, TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO OFFER DONATIONS TO GROUPS IN NEED. OUR CONCERTS IN SUPPORT OF THE FOOD BANK, WERE ACTUALLY COSTING US MONEY TO RUN. WE HAD TO GO OUT AND SEEK DONATIONS IN ADVANCE JUST TO COVER RENTAL COSTS. WE HAD TO FINALLY RESORT TO ASKING FOR DONATIONS INSTEAD OF SELLING TICKETS, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD THE SURCHARGE THAT WAS HEAPED ON TOP. SO FINALLY, WE JUST GAVE UP, JOINING A LOT OF OTHER TOWNS FOLK WHO HAVE JUST WRITTEN THE PLACE OFF. THERE'S NO POINT EVEN GETTING A RENTAL ESTIMATE. UNLESS YOU CAN GUARANTEE ALMOST A FULL HOUSE, AND CHARGE AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR TICKETS, FOR A COMMUNITY CONCERT, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO SEE MUCH PROFIT AS AN END RESULT. WE'VE DONE THE ACCOUNTING. I KNOW SOME COUNCILLORS WHO HAVE LITTLE IDEA WHAT THEIR COST HIKES, AND RENTAL PROTOCOLS HAVE DONE, TO SEND THE OPERA HOUSE INTO ITS CURRENT SLIDE. I'M NOT CONFIDENT MANY OF THEM HAVE ANY SERIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF HOW BAD IT IS.....BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THEM TO GET INVOLVED. I'M TELLING THEM IT IS THEIR BUSINESS, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THEIR FAILINGS, COMING INTO THIS NEXT ELECTION. I'LL MAKE SURE OF IT....JUST NOT IN THIS BLOG.
     ONE LAST COMMENT. THE OPERA HOUSE NEEDS TO BE A DEN OF ACTIVITY. IT NEEDS TO BE USED BY OUR CITIZENS....THE ONES WHO ARE PAYING THE GIGANTIC TAX BILL TO KEEP IT OPERATIONAL. THERE NEEDS TO BE LIFE WITHIN.....A NEW ENERGY TO UNFURL IN THE NEAT OLD BUILDING, TO BE USED TO SUPPORT AND BOLSTER COMMUNITY EVENTS; TO RAISE LOCAL PRIDE IN WHAT WE POSSESS IN HOMETOWN CAPABILITIES. WHAT THE HELL GOOD IS IT, TO HAVE A BUILDING OF THAT CHARACTER AND HISTORY, SITTING IDLY BELOW ITS NEW METAL ROOF? GENERALLY SPEAKING, WITH ONLY A FEW EXCEPTIONS, IT IS A NON-HAPPENING VENUE. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CAN CHANGE THIS. FOLKS WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LOCAL INGENUITY TO CREATE SOLUTIONS INSPIRED BY GRAVENHURST.....RESPONSIVE TO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE FROM OUR INVESTMENT....WHICH IS A LARGE ONE. IT SHOULDN'T BE JUST AN ELECTION ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE THE SPARK OF INSIGHT, OF PRESENT COUNCILLORS, TO MAKE PROFOUND CHANGES. FIRST, COMES THE REALIZATION, JUST HOW MANY FAULTS EXIST AT PRESENT. YOU CAN'T FIX THE OPERA HOUSE PROBLEMS, BY JUST APPLYING A NEW ROOF. UNLESS OUR ADMINISTRATORS ACKNOWLEDGE JUST HOW MANY CITIZENS THEY'VE LOST AS SUPPORTERS, AND WHY, THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GIVE THIS IMPORTANT VENUE ANYTHING THAT RESEMBLES A NEW LEASE....AND HAVE IT TRANSLATE INTO BUMS ON SEATS IN THE FUTURE. THEY'VE FOUND THIS OUT IN THE RECENT PAST, BUT THE INFORMATION IS LOST, IF THEY DON'T LAY IT OUT ON THE COUNCIL TABLE, AND BY PROFIT AND LOSS ALONE, AGREE UNANIMOUSLY, THEY DON'T KNOW AS MUCH AS THEY THINK THEY DO.....ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.
     ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WOULD LOVE THE TOWN, AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, TO SERIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGE, THAT THEY HAVE AN INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC SITE, IN CALYDOR, THE WORLD WAR II GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. THE BOOK, "THE GILDED CAGE," IS WORTH MORE THAN BOOK STATUS. WHETHER THE TOWN'S ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS IT POLITICALLY CORRECT OR NOT, I DON'T WANT THEM MAKING THIS DETERMINATION FOR ME....AND THE REST OF OUR FAMILY; AND YOU FOLKS AS WELL. THIS IS NOW COMING UP TO 2014, A LONG WAY FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR; SO KEEPING THIS ONE OF OUR HISTORICAL SECRETS, IS BOTH PERPLEXING AND DISTURBING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A PROPER HISTORIC SITE MARKER, AS APPROVED FEDERALLY AND PROVINCIALLY, TO BE SITUATED SOMEWHERE ON LORNE STREET, AND THE PARKETTE WHERE THERE IS THE SAME BEACHRONT, MUCH AS IT APPEARED IN THE 1940'S. THIS ISN'T A MINOR OVERSIGHT. THERE ARE GERMAN TOURISTS WHO HAVE VISITED GRAVENHURST IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WHO HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE CALYDOR PROPERTY TO TOUR THROUGH. THEY'RE NOT REVOLTED BY IT. IT'S THEIR HISTORY AS WELL. SO WE ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE BOOK BY CECIL PORTER, AND SEND PEOPLE TO THE CALYDOR AREA FOR UNESCORTED TOURS. WE LIVE IN THE CALYDOR SUBDIVISION AND IT BLOWS MY MIND TO THINK ABOUT THE TWO FUNERAL PROCESSIONS THAT MARCHED, WITH SOLDIERS IN FULL DRESS, UP LORNE STREET TOWARD THE MICKLE CEMETERY, WHERE THE TWO DECEASED MEN WERE BURIED BENEATH MAGNIFICENTLY CARVED WOODEN MARKERS. IT HAPPENED IN MY BACK YARD. THIS IS INCREDIBLE STUFF. AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS EXIST OF THE FUNERAL MARCH. THIS IS DOCUMENTED IN THIS FINE BOOK. FROM ALL REPORTS, GRAVENHURST PLAYED A PERFECT HOST, AND MANY OF THE PRISONERS FELT HUMANELY TREATED. SOME RETURNED TO LIVE IN THE AREA AND CANADA, IN PART, DUE TO THEIR DAYS SPENT IMPRISONED IN THIS COUNTRY. TALK ABOUT CONTRADICITIONS IN TERMS. IN MY MIND, IT'S POLITICALLY INCORRECT, TO LEAVE THIS HERITAGE LARGELY UNRECOGNIZED, UNLESS YOU BUY THE BOOK. I'M HOPING A CANDIDATE WILL FEEL THE SAME, AND MAKE IT AN ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT DURING THE UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION. WHEN WE LOOK ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR ATTRACTIONS, TO ASSIST THE TOURIST ECONOMY, WE FORGET THAT WE DO POSSESS ONE OF THE MOST ALLURING AND HISTORICALLY INTERESTING PROPERTIES IN ONTARIO. IT WOULDN'T NECESSITATE A MUSEUM TO HIGHLIGHT THIS HERITAGE FACT, BUT IT'S NOT ASKING TOO MUCH FOR A PROPER HISTORICAL MARKER TO BE ERECTED. OUR FAMILY PROMOTES THIS GRAVENHURST HERITAGE REALITY, WHENEVER WE CAN.....OR ARE ASKED ABOUT. WE DO SO PROUDLY. CONSIDER HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR GRAVENHURST, TO BE AFFORDED THIS TASK, OF LOOKING AFTER SOME SIGNIFICANT GERMAN OFFICERS.....AND IN OUR WAY HELPING THE ALLIES KEEP THESE SOLDIERS OUT OF THE FIGHTING IN EUROPE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST PROFILE HISTORIC SITE IN MUSKOKA, YET IT HAS BEEN, FOR MOST PART, RELEGATED TO THE BOOK SHELVES AS SIMPLY A MATTER OF REGIONAL HISTORY. WELL, NOT IN MY RE-TELLING OF MUSKOKA HISTORY.
     ON ONE MORE PERSONAL NOTE, I'D REALLY ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY, TO FULFILL MY PROMISE, TO DEVELOP A MORE SOCIAL-CULTURAL LINK BETWEEN THE LITERARY WORLD, (AND HIS BIRTHPLACE IN ENGLAND), AS INVOLVES BRITISH POET / PHILOSOPHER, WILLIAM HENRY SMITH, AND THE TOWN THAT HAS USED THE NAME OF THE BOOK HE WROTE, SINCE AUGUST OF 1862. I HAVE GIVEN UP EXPECTING THAT THE TOWN ADMINISTRATION, OR ANY OF THE BUSINESS GROUPS, WILL EVER GET TURNED ON BY THE FACT WE WERE NAMED AFTER THE WORK OF A POET. STRANGE HOW I CAN FIND IT THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE, AND FEEL IT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE EXPLOITATION......AS A GOOD AND PROFITABLE ASSOCIATION. INSTEAD, IT JUST SEEMS EASIER TO STICK WITH THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, BECAUSE ITS COMFORTABLE THAT WAY. I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME ABOUT BRACEBRIDGE, AND THE FACT THEY SHOW NO INTEREST IN CLAIMING THE LITERARY PROVENANCE, OF WHICH THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BENEFIT FROM.....AS MANY COMMUNITIES WITH WASHINGTON IRVING CONNECTIONS HAVE....INCLUDING PLACES IN THE AREA OF THE HISTORIC HUDSON RIVER VALLEY, WHERE "SLEEPY HOLLOW" WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN SITUATED; THE FICTIONAL VILLAGE MADE FAMOUS IN HIS SHORT SKETCH, "THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW". RESPECTIVE ADMINISTRATIONS WILL LOOK EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT WITHIN THEIR OWN RESOURCES AND ENTITLEMENTS, TO FIND SOURCES OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS. CONSIDER IN GRAVENHURST'S CASE, THAT THE BOOK OUR TOWN WAS NAMED AFTER, IS STILL POPULAR TODAY, AND USED BY MANY UNIVERSITIES IN REPRINT EDITIONS. IN FACT, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, JUST LOOK IT UP ON "GOOGLE BOOKS," AND THERE IT IS....."GRAVENHURST; OR THOUGHTS ON GOOD AND EVIL." SO, LIKE MANY OTHER UNDER-UTILIZED HERITAGE REALITIES, WE JUST PROMOTE IT ON OUR OWN, WHENEVER WE CAN....OR THE SUBJECT COMES UP. IT'S FRUSTRATING TO HAVE TO WORK THIS WAY, BUT THAT'S LIFE.
     GRAVENHURST HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL THAT HAS REMAINED THIS WAY FOR FAR TOO LONG. JUST "POTENTIAL." THERE ARE MANY LOCALS WHO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WAY THE TOWN IS BEING RUN. THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE TODAY, THAT WE HEAR OFTEN, AND AGGRESSIVELY SO, ARE PROBLEMS WITH TOWN PLANNING....AND THE DIFFICULTY GETTING BUILDING PERMITS. I CAN'T SPEAK MUCH ABOUT THIS MATTER, AS I'VE NEVER GONE THAT ROUTE. I GUESS THIS IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WILL INTEREST CANDIDATE HOPEFULS IN THE FUTURE.
     I CAN EASILY PUT MY FAITH IN THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN, TO FIND HOMEGROWN SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS AND INEFFICIENCIES AFFECTING THEM.....IF THEY WERE TRULY GIVEN A CHANCE. WE KNOW HOW TO OPERATE THE OPERA HOUSE. BUT WE'RE NOT GIVEN OCCASION TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. INSTEAD THE "MUDDLING-ALONG" THING CARRIES-ON DESPITE! IF THAT IS, THERE WAS A WILL TO CHANGE FROM THE BULL-HEADED...."WE'RE GOING TO FIT THIS ROUND PEG INTO THE SQUARE HOLE, IF IT KILLS US," ROUTINE, OF WHICH WAS OLD AND TATTERED A LONG TIME AGO. THE ONLY WAY CHANGE IS EVER GOING TO COME IN THIS TOWN, IS IF NEW BLOOD IS ELECTED TO COUNCIL......AND BELONGS TO CITIZENS WHO RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO TAP LOCAL RESOURCES TO FIND SOLUTIONS, AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS; POSSESSING A WILLINGNESS TO REKINDLE A PRIDE THAT HAS BEEN ALL BUT SNUFFED, BY SUCCESSIVE COUNCILS WHO WEREN'T BIG ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.....UNLESS IT WAS A CONTROLLED, QUICKY MEETING, TO SATISFY THE PUBLIC ABOUT TRANSPARENCY ISSUES.
     THIS IS A GREAT COMMUNITY TO LIVE AND WORK. BUT IT HAS PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE FIXED BY THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY. OUTSIDE OPINION IS ONE THING. WHEN IT EFFECTS THE WAY WE LIVE AND WORK, AND BEGINS ERODING THE CHARACTER WE HAVE ESTABLISHED, FROM THE DAYS OF THOSE PIONEER CABINS, WE NEED TO REMIND ADMINISTRATION THAT IN SOME AREAS, WE WON'T COMPROMISE.....NO MATTER HOW MUCH AUTHORITY THEY THINK THEY HAVE TO THE CONTRARY. I'M PRETTY SURE THEY'RE FIGURING THIS OUT BY NOW. SO THEY'VE GOT LESS THAN A YEAR, TO START SHOWING SOME SENSIBILITIES IN THIS REGARD.....OR NOT. MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR COUNCILLORS TO START SPEAKING OUT, ABOUT THEIR TAKE ON ISSUES, BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE MOTHER SHIP. WE'D REALLY LIKE TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE POSITIONS, THAT MAY FROM TIME TO TIME, SERIOUSLY DISTANCE FROM WHAT WE KNOW ONLY AS TOWN POLICY. SURELY THERE ARE CONTRARY OPINIONS ABOUT HOW WELL THE PAST THREE YEARS HAVE GONE....NOT JUST FROM THE RANK AND FILE CONSTITUENTS.
     READERS, THIS IS MY LAST CRITICAL "BLOG" OVERVIEW OF GRAVENHURST COUNCIL, AND TOWN ADMINISTRATION, AT LEAST UNTIL AFTER THE COMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION IN THE FALL OF 2014. IF I DECIDE TO RUN FOR COUNCIL MYSELF, YOU CAN BET I'LL BE HIGHLY CRITICAL, BUT IN PERSON...NOT USING THIS BLOG TO FURTHER MY CAMPAIGN....OR THE CAMPAIGNS OF OTHERS I MAY COME TO SUPPORT. MINE WOULD BE A MAINSTREET ELECTION CAMPAIGN JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS. AND I'LL BE DOING IT ON THE CHEAP. I WON'T SPEND ONE NICKLE ON A CAMPAIGN, EXCEPT WHAT I MAY HAVE TO DEPOSIT TO REGISTER AS A CANDIDATE. NO GIANT SIGNS, AND BIG ADS IN THE LOCAL PRESS. I'LL SETTLE FOR GIVING INTERVIEWS AND SHAKING HANDS. IT WOULD BE AS GRASS ROOTS AS YOU CAN GET WITHOUT TURNING GREEN.
     IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR COUNCIL, I WOULD BE GLAD TO ASSIST AND ADVISE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.....AND THE HISTORY LESSONS ARE FREE. AS I'VE STATED MANY TIMES IN THIS BLOG, I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND CANDIDATES WHO SHARE SOME OF MY INTERESTS IN CHANGE, HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. I WILL GLADLY RE-CONSIDER RUNNING, IF BETTER CANDIDATES SURFACE. FRANKLY I DON'T BELIEVE I WOULD MAKE A GOOD COUNCILLOR, BUT DAMN-IT IF I'LL SIT BACK AND WATCH A CORONATION INSTEAD. SO IF YOU'RE FENCE-SITTING, ABOUT WHETHER YOU WOULD MAKE A DECENT ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE, OR NOT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK FOR A LITTLE ADVISE. IT'S FREE.

Gravenhurst; Criticism Isn't Solely For Hurtful Purposes; Some Good Can Be Achieved

Tree Damage and Power Outages Throughout Muskoka Region

 

The large accumulation of snow combined with mild temperature proved too much weight for many trees in the region of Muskoka bringing down braches and power lines throughout the area.    Power disruptions continue throughout the rural areas where hydro crews are clearing lines and repairing the broken power mains to areas of the region.  Fred Schulz Photos

IT'S HARD TO PLEASE EVERYONE - RIGHT? EVERYONE IS A CRITIC - RIGHT? EVERYONE WANTS A WINNER - YOU BET!

BEING A TOWN REPRESENTATIVE INVOLVES THE APPRECIATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!!!

     EVEN IF WE HADN'T RECEIVED ONE….JUST ONE SNOWFLAKE SO FAR THIS WINTER, THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY RECEIVED A COMPLAINT, ABOUT THE FACT, THERE HAD BEEN NO SNOWPLOW DOWN THEIR STREET. OR SANDER. IF WE HAD THE PERFECT OPERA HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM, TO FIT ALL  AGES AND INTERESTS, THERE WOULD STILL BE A DISGRUNTLED PATRON, WHO FELT IT INCUMBENT, TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE COMFORT OF THE SEATS, THE STAIRS, ELEVATOR, OR INDOOR CLIMATE….TOO HOT, TOO COLD. MAYBE THE TEXTURE OF THE TOILET PAPER CAUSES A RASH. LET'S FACE IT, WE ALL LIKE TO COMPLAIN NOW AND AGAIN, AS IF THE STEAM KETTLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR TOO LONG ON A HOT BURNER. IT'S A RELEASE OF SORTS. WE TEMPORARILY FEEL GOOD, BECAUSE WE JUST DISHED OUT A VERBAL SCOLDING; OR JUST TAKEN OUR SMOKING FINGERS OFF THE KEYBOARD, AFTER SENDING A NASTY EMAIL OR MESSAGE TO SOMEONE WE KNOW…..OR HAVE NEVER MET. HOW DARE THEY MESS WITH US! DO THEY KNOW WHO WE ARE? WE'RE IMPORTANT! OUR CONCERNS MATTER!  CONSIDERING THE NASTY CALL OR SCOLDING, MAY HAVE BEEN FOR THE BASIC INDISCRETION, OF A HARRIED GROCERY CLERK, PUTTING THE EGGS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG, WITH THE KITTY LITTER GOING-IN ON TOP. DAMN THEM! DON'T THEY KNOW ANY BETTER? WHY DOES A STORE HIRE SUCH IDIOTS? VERY FEW OF US STOP TO PONDER, JUST WHAT KIND OF DAY THESE CLERKS HAVE HAD TO THAT POINT. MAYBE SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY IS ILL, OR THEY'VE JUST BEEN DUMPED BY A GAL PAL. TRUE, MAYBE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT PROPER GROCERY PACKING. BUT WE SHOULD REALLY GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. WOULD YOU REALLY LIKE TO SEE THEM LOSE THEIR JOB OVER A COMPROMISED CARTON OF EGGS?

     OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, I HAVE BEEN OPENLY CRITICAL OF THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST'S HANDLING OF MANY LOCAL ISSUES. I'VE TOLD THEM SO. AT TIMES, I HAVE BEEN UNRELENTING, TRYING TO CONVINCE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE "OUT THERE" IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN…..TO VISIT WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS, BEYOND WHAT THEY DID DURING THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION FOR KNOWING YOUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS, IF YOU WANT TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL COUNCILLOR…..A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OTHER COUNCILLORS TO FOLLOW. BY THIS I DON'T MEAN SHOWING UP FOR GRIP AND GRIN PHOTOGRAPHS, AND BELIEVING THIS TO BE OUTREACH. YOU SEE, THERE IS ONE WAY TO REDUCE CRITICISM. IT INVOLVES FACING THE CRITICS. SHOWING THAT, SHORT OF BEING HIT BY VEGETABLES, YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO FIELD QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC. NOT JUST IN PRIVATE. IN PUBLIC. WHERE FOBBING-OFF ON A QUESTION WILL BE SEEN BY A KEEN AUDIENCE, AS A WEAKNESS. NO ONE ON THIS PRESENT COUNCIL WANTS TO SHOW THIS, EVEN THOUGH MY HUNCH IS, THERE'S LOT OF FEAR WITHIN, THAT THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO POUNCE ON THEM. I'VE PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO INFORM THEM, PRETTY GENTLY I MIGHT ADD, THAT WORD ON THE STREET IS NOT FAVORABLE TO THIS ADMINISTRATION. BACK A FEW YEARS, I WAS RIDING THEM OFTEN, TO HOST A PUBLIC MEETING, AND ALLOW THE CONSTITUENTS TO ASK THE PRESSING QUESTIONS ON THEIR MINDS. NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE QUESTIONS. LET IT ALL HANG OUT. SO WHAT WAS TO LOSE, FOR COUNCILLORS, IF THEY'D DECIDED TO TAKE THIS ROUTE, TO ALLAY THE CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS?

     IN MY OPINION, THIS COUNCIL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SEVERAL MEMBERS, IS NOT BIG ON FACING HARD QUESTIONS IN A PUBLIC FORUM; ABOUT FOR EXAMPLE, THE GENERAL OPERATION OF COUNCIL. THEY INSIST ON ALMOST ALL INTERACTION WITH CONSTITUENTS, TO BE CONTROLLED AND ON THEIR TERMS ONLY. TRUTH IS, I'D RATHER SEE HOW THESE PEOPLE PERFORM WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A SAFETY NET, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ONE….AND WE HAVE TO GET ABOUT OUR BUSINESS EACH DAY. IF COUNCIL HAD THOUGHT MY CRITICISM WAS VALID, AND THEY DECIDED TO OFFER AN OPEN FORUM, IN A LARGE VENUE…., BY THE SIMPLE ACT OF ORGANIZING SUCH AN EVENT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A ROUSING CHARGE INTO THE WARM EMBRACE OF DEMOCRACY. IT WOULD HAVE SHOWN A FEARLESS APPROACH……"WE'RE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!" IT WOULD HAVE SHOWN CONSTITUENTS THAT THE PEOPLE THEY ELECTED, WERE WILLING TO TAKE IT ON THE CHIN, IF THEY WERE PROVEN WRONG. IT WOULD HAVE EASED HARD FEELINGS, AND ABATED MISTRUST, AND DEMONSTRATED A GENUINE INTEREST IN GETTING TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THE "WORD ON THE STREET." I WASN'T ASKING ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. NOTHING EXCEPTIONAL. BUT WHAT IT DEMANDED, WAS THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD, AND REMAIN FOR THE ENTIRE SHOW. THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BENEFITS? HUGE! COUNCIL WOULD BE ABLE TO THROW IT OUT THERE, THAT THEY HAD MET WITH THE PUBLIC, IN AN OPEN FORUM, WHERE QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR WEREN'T SANITIZED, OR DISALLOWED BECAUSE OF CONTENT. NOTHING SILENCES A CRITIC LIKE, "I WAS THERE, WHERE WERE YOU?"

     SINCE THIS PRESENT TERM OF OFFICE BEGAN, THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW SIGNIFICANT ISSUES COUNCIL HAS HAD TO FACE. THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE RECREATION CENTRE SPENDING, FOR ONE THING, WAS A HELL OF A PLACE TO START. WE FOUND OUR MUNICIPALITY GETTING BASHED ABOUT QUITE AGGRESSIVELY FOR THAT FIRST EIGHT MONTHS, AND EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUE DISAPPEARED FROM OUR SCRUTINY, WE NEVER READ WHAT I WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED A MEANINGFUL FOLLOW-UP OR CLOSURE, FROM THE MEDIA OUTLET THAT GOT THE BALL ROLLING IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAD SUGGESTED, THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, FOR THE TOWN TO FOLLOW THIS MATTER UP, AND IF WE WERE TRULY IN THE CLEAR, AN APOLOGY TO OUR COMMUNITY WAS CERTAINLY WARRANTED. APOLOGIES ALL ROUND WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT. NATIONAL EXPOSURE FOR THIS DEBACLE WASN'T THE KIND OF TOURISM PROMOTION WE NEEDED. I DON'T FEEL GRAVENHURST CAME OUT OF THIS GOOD AT ALL, AND IT COST A LOT OF COIN TO DEFEND OURSELVES. APPARENTLY, I'M ONE OF ONLY A FEW, WHO REMEMBERS THIS STUFF…..AND THE DOUBLE BANK, BOLD HEADLINES.

     THEN THERE WERE THE FIRES AND ECONOMIC CHAGRIN OF THE MAIN STREET BUSINESSES, ROAD CONSTRUCTION, A CRAPPY ROOF ON OUR NEW TOWN HALL, RECREATION CENTRE EXPENSES THROUGH THE ROOF, AND WHAT DO WITH THE THE TERRENCE HAIGHT BENEVOLENCE, OF A MILLION DOLLARS, AND WELL, THIS ONE WORKED OUT WELL IN THE END. THERE WERE LOTS OF REASONS AND OCCASIONS, THAT SHOULD HAVE HERALDED COUNCIL'S WILLINGNESS TO MEET THE PUBLIC…..AND LET IT ALL HANG OUT. WE'RE A SMALL ONTARIO TOWN. WE CAN DROP OUR GUARD A LITTLE. WE'RE NEIGHBORS FOR GOSH SAKES. WE MEET EACH OTHER IN THE GROCERY STORES. IN LINE GETTING OUR SLICES OF PIZZA. GETTING GAS. SOMETIMES YOU GET THE IMPRESSION, WE'RE BEING RUN ON THE "CITY-FORMAT," WHERE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET ALL CONSTITUENTS. THIS IS HARDLY THE CASE. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING, DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL BE AN EPISODE OF ULTIMATE FIGHTING. I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT WOULDN'T GET TURBULENT AND UNCOMFORTABLE FOR SOME, BUT AS I'VE OFFERED BEFORE, AS REASON TO HOLD THESE MEETINGS…, IS THAT IT GIVES ALL THE CRITICS THEIR MOMENT OF GLORY. "ULTIMATE VENTING!" AT THE SAME TIME, IT SHOWS THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS STRONG AND COMMITTED, AND HAS VALID REASONS FOR DECISIONS THEY HAVE MADE……AND CAN DEFEND THEM VIGOROUSLY.

     DURING MY TERM AS EDITOR, OF THE HERALD-GAZETTE, I SPENT MUCH OF MY TIME ON THE PHONE, OR IN THE FRONT OFFICE, GETTING YELLED AT BY A HOST OF UNHAPPY CAMPERS. AS THE MANAGER POINTED OUT TO ME, THIS IS WHY I WAS GETTING PAID THE BIG BUCKS. WELL, NO I WASN'T, BUT I ACCEPTED IT AS PART OF MY JOB ANYWAY. IF THEY WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WAY WE HANDLED A STORY, OR THAT WE HAD ERRORS IN OUR COVERAGE, OR EVEN IN A PHOTOGRAPH WE USED, I STOOD THERE AND FELT THEIR HOT BREATH ON MY BROW. I CAN TELL YOU HONESTLY, OVER NINETY PERCENT OF THOSE COMPLAINTS WERE PROVEN FALSE, WITHOUT ANY FOUNDATION, AND IT WAS WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PLEASURE, THAT I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THEIR OWN FAULTY IMPRESSIONS; SUCH THAT I'D GET AN APOLOGY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN. THE REASON OUR AVERAGES WERE HIGH, IS THAT WE DIDN'T WANT COMPLAINTS, AND LAW SUITS, IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO WE DIDN'T LET ERROR-FILLED COPY GET INTO THE PAPER. WE HATED OURSELVES WHEN IT DID HAPPEN. IN MY TEN YEARS WITH THE PUBLICATION, WE NEVER ISSUED A FRONT PAGE APOLOGY, FOR ANYTHING THE NEWS DEPARTMENT WROTE. WE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT PUBLIC PERCEPTION, BECAUSE OUR JOBS DEPENDED ON IT. IF THESE READERS HAD BEEN ABLE TO PROVE THAT WE SCREWED UP, AND IT CAUSED HARM TO THE SUBJECT, AS A DIRECT RESULT, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED….AND SUED. SO IT'S NOT LIKE I HAD ANY DOUBT, HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO BE BANG-ON WITH OUR REPORTING AND EDITORIALS, AND ABUNDANTLY PATIENT WITH OUR OBJECTORS. THERE WAS ONE INCIDENT, WHEN A YOUNG MAN, WHO WAS OBJECTING TO THE WAY WE HAD REPORTED ON HIS BROTHER'S DEATH, IN A CAR ACCIDENT, WAS READY TO CLEAN MY CLOCK. IN THIS CASE, I WAS DEFENDING OUR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, WHO WAS THE MIRROR OF DISCRETION. THE GENTLEMAN HAD A VALID POINT ABOUT OUR COVERAGE, AND OF THE THREE STAFF PEOPLE IN THE FOYER, AT THAT MOMENT, THERE WAS NO MINIMIZING, ON ANY OF OUR PARTS, THE TERRIBLE PAIN HE WAS EXPERIENCING. BUT I WATCHED HIS HANDS, BECAUSE AS A LONG TIME HOCKEYIST, I EXPECTED A FIST TO COME MY WAY AT ANY MOMENT. LET ME POINT OUT AS WELL, THAT TWO OF THE THREE STAFFERS WITH ME, FELT THE KID HAD EVERY RIGHT TO PUNCH ME IN THE JAW. THEY HADN'T APPROVED OF US USING THE PHOTO EITHER. WHILE THEY WEREN'T WILLING TO ALLOW THE FOYER TO BE TURNED INTO A BOXING RING, THEY WEREN'T PARTICULARLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE NEWSPAPER AT THAT MOMENT. BUT IT WAS THEIR OPINION, AND IT'S WHAT I HAD TO LIVE WITH. THE CHAP EVENTUALLY COOLED DOWN ON HIS OWN, AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FRIENDS, HE WAS LED OUT OF THE OFFICE MUCH QUIETER, THAN HE HAD ARRIVED SCREAMING AT ME.

     THERE ARE THOSE COUNCILLORS, WHO PROBABLY FEEL, THAT I COULDN'T WALK A MILE IN THEIR SHOES. IF IT INVOLVES TAKING CRITICISM, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES EITHER. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN PLENTY OF ORGANIZATIONS, AND PRESIDENT OF A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHO CRITIQUED EVEN THE WAY I MADE COFFEE FOR THE MEETINGS. I HAVE HELPED SAVE TWO MUSEUMS IN THIS REGION, AND LAUNCH A HALL OF FAME (WITH OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION) AND THAT INVOLVED TAKING ON LOCAL COUNCILS, BOTH IN BRACEBRIDGE AND MUSKOKA LAKES. YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE NAMES I WAS CALLED. SEEING AS THERE WAS NO PLACE TO RUN, AND THE JOB STILL HAD TO GET DONE, I FINISHED UP THE WORK OF THE DAY, TOOK MY LUMPS, AND FELT A LITTLE VICTORIOUS AT THE END. I STILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND MOSTLY, BECAUSE I RAN THE GAUNTLET MYSELF….AND LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT. SO WHEN IT APPEARS, EVEN TO READERS, THAT I'M BEING UNUSUALLY VICIOUS, OR TOSSING OUT SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE UNFOUNDED, IT'S ABOUT AS RUN OF THE MILL,  AS YOU CAN GET HONESTLY, WITHOUT BEING DIMINISHED DOWN TO DUST IN THE WIND…..THAT MAY ONLY CAUSE MINOR EYE IRRITATION. BUT THE REALITY IS, COUNCIL STOPPED SEEING MY SUGGESTIONS AS EVEN MODERATELY INTERESTING, A LONG TIME AGO; SO MOST OF THESE BLOGS ONLY GO TO THE CONSTITUENT-READERS…..WHO SEEM TO CONCUR ABOUT COUNCIL BEING A LITTLE SHY OF OPEN PUBLIC FORUMS. IF THE COUNCIL, BELIEVED ALL ALONG, THAT THEY WERE FOLLOWING PERFECT PROTOCOL, IN THEIR GOVERNANCE ACTIVITIES, THEN WHY IN THE WORLD WOULDN'T THEY WANT TO BE UP FRONT ABOUT IT…..WITH THE WHOLE TOWN AS AN AUDIENCE? METHINKS THEY'D RATHER NOT, JUST IN CASE!  JUST IN CASE WHAT? WELL, IN CASE THERE'S A QUESTION THEY CAN'T ANSWER, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE EMBARRASSED? OR FEEL THREATENED BY A MOD OF DISSIDENTS. NOW READERS…..WHEN HAVE YOU SEEN A MOB OF DISSIDENTS IN GRAVENHURST? I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING, EVEN IN THE MOST HEATED OF FORUMS. WE'RE A PRETTY CIVIL CONSTITUENCY, TRUTH BE KNOWN. AND POLITE. THE PERCEPTION REMAINS, THAT COUNCIL HAS NO WILL OF EXPOSING ITS MEMBERS TO THIS KIND OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY, WHERE THERE MIGHT BE HURT FEELINGS. SO YES, THIS IS MY CRITICISM OF GRAVENHURST COUNCIL.

     GRAVENHURST HAS BEEN AT A CROSSROADS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I THINK IT WILL BE THERE WELL INTO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY COMPLAINING TO THE PRESS ABOUT THE BUSINESS SHORTFALLS, AND INCONSISTENT HOURS OF OPERATION, AND WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING SO WELL…….IT SHOULD GIVE US ALL REASON TO SMILE ABOUT FUTURE PROSPECTS. YET THERE IS THAT STRANGE HOLDING PATTERN, AND DISTANCING BETWEEN THE INVESTORS IN THIS TOWN, AND THE OPERATIONS AT TOWN HALL. THAT IS THE "WORD" ON THE STREET. THIS COUNCIL IS DISTANT. COOL. DISCONNECTED WITH RESIDENTS. I'M NOT INVENTING THIS…..I'M MERELY THE MESSENGER. THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHETHER COUNCILLORS WANT TO FINISH OF THIS YEAR THE SAME AS THEY BEGAN, OR THEY WANT TO GO OUT WITH A FLOURISH? IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE THAT…..ALTHOUGH MOST OF US WOULD PROBABLY FEEL IT WAS ONLY A RE-ELECTION PLOY. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE THE FLOURISH TO THE LAST MINUTE.

     THERE IS A GENERAL FEELING AMONG THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT CRITICISM IS NASTY BUSINESS. I'VE FOUND THIS OUT IN PERSON, DURING MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THEY DON'T MIND BEING CRITICAL, BUT THEY DON'T WANT ANY ONE ELSE TO BE. IN ALL THIS TIME, I HAVE FOUND THAT OUR RESISTANCE TO CRITICISM, IS HURTING US DEARLY, BECAUSE WE DISMISS IT AS HATE MONGERING AND RIDICULOUS ACCUSATIONS. I DON'T USE TWITTER AS A MEDIA VEHICLE. BUT OUR FAMILY, AS PART OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, READ EVERYTHING WE CAN, ABOUT OUR TOWN….GOOD AND BAD. WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF LOCALLY INSPIRED PROPAGANDA GETS OUT THERE, BUT IN BETWEEN, THERE ARE COMMENTS BEING MADE ABOUT OUR TOWN, THAT WE REALLY SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY……BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL HATEFUL FOR THE SAKE OF BEING HATEFUL. MANY OF THESE COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM OUR VISITORS….WHO WE COUNT ON FOR A HUGE PART OF OUR INCOME. AS WE FULLY APPRECIATE, JUST HOW RELIANT WE ARE ON TOURISM DOLLARS, YOU'D THINK WE WOULD WANT TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. SOME ARE RUDE AND OBVIOUSLY UNFOUNDED…..AND CAN BE PROVEN SO. OTHERS, THAT CRITIQUE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OR PUBLIC SERVICES, OFTEN HAVE MERIT. THE THOUGHT THAT ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS WOULD WRITE ABOUT THE POOR TREATMENT THEY RECEIVED IN OUR SHOP, WOULD BE DEEPLY DISTRESSING. WHILE YOU CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM DISLIKING YOUR BUSINESS, BASED ON THEIR EXPECTATIONS, YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HATE YOU SO MUCH, THAT THEY WARN OTHER PEOPLE FROM VISITING. SO WHETHER WE LIKE CRITICISM OR NOT, WE HAVE TO TAKE IT ALL SERIOUSLY. OR ELSE! AND BY THE WAY, I READ A TWITTER ENTRY IN THE SUMMER, THAT REFERRED TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT IN THE MOST UNFLATTERING TERMS, AND WITH THE ACCOMPANYING PHOTOGRAPH, WE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THE WRITER HAD BEEN. IN A WAY, TWITTER IS GOING TO SHAPE US UP HERE, WHETHER WE WANT IT OR NOT. THE ESSENCE OF THE MESSAGE WAS "DON'T EAT IN THIS RESTAURANT." IT COULD JUST AS EASILY HAVE BEEN, "DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS ANTIQUE SHOP!" THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.

     ONE EVENING, SUZANNE AND I WERE WALKING UP TO A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, FOR OUR DAILY SUPPLIES. WHEN WE ENCOUNTERED AN ANGRY GENTLEMAN OUT FRONT, YELLING AT THE TOP OF HIS VOICE, ABOUT HOW CRAPPY IT WAS TO LIVE IN GRAVENHURST. HE USED MORE AGGRESSIVE WORDING WHICH I WON'T SHARE. OVER AND OVER, THIS MAN LET IT RIP, ABOUT HOW THIS WAS THE BIGGEST A__HOLE ON THE PLANET. I WAS MAD. I WON'T LET ANYONE GET AWAY WITH BASHING MY HOMETOWN LIKE THAT…..WITH RECKLESS ABANDON. SUZANNE GRABBED MY ARM, WHILE INFORMING ME, IT WAS JUST THIS CHAP'S WAY OF GETTING A BURDEN OFF HIS CHEST……JUST A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVELY THAN I DID IN THESE BLOGS. SO I STOPPED TO LISTEN TO HIS RANTS, AND AS HE EXPLAINED TO ANOTHER SHOPPER, HE HAD BEEN HAVING A HORRIBLE DAY TO THAT POINT…..AND HE WAS BLAMING ALL HIS MISFORTUNE ON GRAVENHURST……AS IF IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. SO AS I'M ALLOWED MY FORUM TO CRITIQUE THE TOWN, SO THEN WAS THIS YOUNG MAN GIVEN HIS SOAPBOX, ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK THE STORE MANAGER WAS IMPRESSED. BY THE WAY, I HAVE SPENT TIME IN SPEAKER'S CORNER OF LONDON'S HYDE PARK, SO I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO CLIMB ONTO A SOAP BOX, FOR A LITTLE VENTING OF OPINION.

     THIS SHOULD BE A SHARING PLACE. A TOWN THAT WELCOMES COUNTERPOINT. WE SHOULD ALL FEEL THAT LOCAL GOVERNANCE IS AN EXTENSION OF OUR BEST LAID PLANS. WE WANT TO FEEL A PART OF THE PROCESS, AND TO THINK THAT OUR INPUT IS HELPFUL. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT FOR AWHILE, IT'S WHAT WOULD MAKE THE WHOLE COUNTRY A BETTER-RUN DEMOCRACY, IF CONSTITUENTS ACTUALLY FELT AS INVESTORS (AS THEY SHOULD) IN ITS PROSPERITY. WE DON'T. WE FEEL VICTIMS OF OUR FORMER TRUST. TIME AND AGAIN, WITH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, WE FEEL LET DOWN. AND THEN WE GET THE ACCOUNTING FIGURES. WE SHUDDER. THEN LOOK AT OUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET, AND GET FRUSTRATED THAT THEY CAN'T RUN GOVERNMENT, THE WAY WE HAVE TO MANAGE OUR FINANCES. SO IS IT ANY WONDER WE'RE DISGRUNTLED?

     I DON'T DISLIKE OUR COUNCILLORS AS CITIZENS. I DON'T KNOW MOST OF THEM EVEN FROM CASUAL CONTACT. THEY DON'T COME INTO OUR STORE AND I DON'T GO INTO TOWN HALL. BUT WHEN A CITIZEN BECOMES AN ELECTED MEMBER OF GOVERNMENT, THE RELATIONSHIP CHANGES. IT'S THE WAY IT WORKS. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN DYSFUNCTION, AT ANY EXPENSE OF CIVILITY. GOD DIDN'T PUT US ON EARTH TO AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER. SO CRITICISM ASIDE, THIS IS OUR MUNICIPALITY. WE ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS. I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT ONE DAY, WE CAN TRUST EACH OTHER ENOUGH, TO HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO AIR CONCERNS, EVERY SIX MONTHS; AND HAVE EVERYONE SHAKE HANDS AT THE CONCLUSION. THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES. WHAT'S THE INVESTMENT? LET'S START WITH TRUSTING EACH OTHER! WE COULD MAKE IT A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION….OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT!

The Antique and Collectable Trade With A Muskoka Pioneer Flavour

Sunset Along The Housey’s Rapids Road – Muskoka

 

A late afternoon sunset provides a beautiful ray of light across a field along the Housey’s Rapids Road in Muskoka on Friday afternoon.  Those who are visiting our region for recreational purposes are enjoying all the winter sports that the region has to offer over the holidays.  Fred Schulz Photo

THE TRULY LOCAL ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TRADE - MUSKOKA STYLE - OPERATED BY PIONEER STOCK

OUR MUSKOKA LIFESTYLE PROFILE - "HOMESTEAD RUSTIC" - NOT COTTAGE CHIC

NOTE: I SUPPORT GRAVENHURST COUNCIL FOR THE FOLLOWING RECENT DECISIONS: KEEPING THE FLOURIDE IN THE DRINKING WATER AND EXTENDING THE PARKING LIMITS ON THE MAIN STREET TO TWO HOURS.

     I'M NOT GOING TO DELVE INTO THE REASONS THERE IS A TARP ON THE ROOF OF THE NEWLY RENOVATED CARNEGIE BUILDING, IN THE OPERA HOUSE SQUARE, OR PUBLISH A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE LARGE ICE SCULPTURES HANGING OFF THE CORNER OF THE ROOF. ONE EXPECTS THAT WHERE THERE IS A TARP, ON ANY BUILDING, SOMETHING ISN'T QUITE RIGHT BELOW. A LOT OF MONEY WENT INTO THIS PROJECT, SO IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT EITHER TARPS, OR THE HEAT LOSS THAT CREATES HUGE ICICLES. NUFF SAID! TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF.
     YOU MAY WISH TO ABANDON THIS BLOG, IF YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH INTEREST IN ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES. IF YOU ONLY READ THIS BLOG BECAUSE OF MY POLITICAL ACTIVISM, THEN I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO DISAPPOINT YOU. I'VE EXPLAINED, IN PREVIOUS BLOGS, THAT I'M GOING TO DO MY PART TO MAKE THIS UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION, AS FAIR AND OPEN AS POSSIBLE; MEANING I KEEP MY OPINIONS OFF THIS SCREEN, AND INSTEAD, ADDRESS MY CONCERNS TO CANDIDATES FACE TO FACE. I LIKE THE DIRECT APPROACH WITH SOME OF THESE CHARACTERS, WHO THINK THEY CAN REPRESENT US. I'VE SENT A FEW SCURRYING AWAY IN MY DAY. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE PERCEIVED THAT I AM TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION BY BACKING FAVORITES. I WON'T DO THAT. I DO, HOWEVER, SUPPORT THE INITIATIVES PUT FORWARD BY THE COMMITTEE FOR DISTRICT GOVERNMENT OVERHAUL, KNOWN AS "ONE MUSKOKA," AND IF I DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE, I WOULD BE BACKING THEIR INTERESTS, TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ELIMINATE THE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. I WON'T RUN IF I CAN FIND CANDIDATES WHO SHARE SOME OF MY INTERESTS, IN MAKING CHANGES IN THE WAY OUR MUNICIPALITY OPERATES. LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT THESE FOLKS TODAY, BELIEVE THEY'VE GOT THE PERFECT SYSTEM; SO WHY TAMPER WITH A GOOD THING? IT'S COMFORTABLE. THEREFORE IT WORKSW. I CAN THINK OF A LOT OF REASONS OFF THE TOP, BUT IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS TO FULLY DOCUMENT. SO WITH THIS MUCH ON MY MIND, ABOUT POLITICAL RE-STRUCTURING, I DON'T WANT TO "CLOG THE BLOG," WITH MY ONE-SIDED TAKE ON WHAT'S WRONG HERE. I'D VERY MUCH LIKE A CAVALRY OF COUNCIL-HOPEFULS TO SPRING FORWARD, EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR, AND BRING FORWARD A NEW FOUR YEAR DYNAMIC FOR A TOWN GOING NOWHERE IN PARTICULAR. I'M SORRY TO WRITE THIS, BUT IT'S HOW I FEEL. WE NEED YOUNG BLOOD AROUND THAT COUNCIL TABLE.....AS MUCH AS WE NEED EXPERIENCE, AND BUSINESS ACUMEN. THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BE EXCITED, THAT THIS YEAR WILL FOSTER SOME REAL HEARTFELT AMBITION, TO HELP LEAD US TO SOME EXCITING NEW BEGINNINGS.....IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF MUNICIPAL GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.
     IF THERE IS ONE OVER-RIDING NEGATIVE BURDEN, I FEEL, MORE SO THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS TOWN, IT REGARDS THE DIMINISHING OF THE OPERA HOUSE, AS A CANADIAN ENTERTAINMENT VENUE. NO, REALLY, JUST AS A VENUE AT ALL! IT IS A SAD SHADOW OF ITS FORMER PROMINENCE, IN THIS TOWN, AND TOWN COUNCIL HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS PRESENT DOWNTRODDEN SITUATION. IT MIGHT HAVE A NEW ROOF, BUT THAT'S ABOUT ALL. I CAN ONLY SUGGEST THE WORD "DEBACLE" COVERS THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS. THERE ARE A LOT OF WITNESSES TO THIS DEBACLE, BY THE WAY, SO IT'S NOT JUST A CASE OF THIS DISGRUNTLED BLOGGER SPOUTING OFF, TO GAIN A READERSHIP OF LIKE-MINDED DISSENTERS. I DON'T EXPECT THE PRESENT TOWN COUNCIL WILL EVER FIGURE IT OUT.....THE PART ABOUT THEM NOT BEING PARTICULARLY GOOD IN THE ENTERTAINMENT GAME; NO MATTER HOW MANY DISASTERS THEY FLIRT WITH, THEY JUST DON'T GET IT! IT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE GOOD AT! THE ATTENDANCE AUDIT IS EVIDENCE ENOUGH.....THAT AS A BUSINESS, IT ISN'T PROFITABLE. OH, HANG ON A SECOND.....IT'S A GOVERNMENT THING. WE'LL JUST THROW MONEY AT IT, BECAUSE THAT MAKES MOST SENSE. MANY OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING OUT THE SUCCESS OF THE SUMMER'S THEATRE PROJECT, AND THE FINANCIAL PROFILE OF JUST HOW PROFITABLE THE EVENT WAS....(A PAID ATTENDANCE OVER EACH SHOW, AGAINST WHAT THE EXPENSES WERE, TO ACCOMMODATE THE PLAYS). WILL TOWN COUNCIL PUBLISH THESE FIGURES, TO SHOW RATEPAYERS HOW THEIR TAX MONEY IS BEING SPENT? AREN'T WE ENTITLED TO KNOW, HOW THIS BRAVE NEW PROJECT DID IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTING? I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS WERE GIVEN OUT FOR SHOWS, AND IF COUNCILLORS ACCEPTED THEM. I'M JUST A CURIOUS FELLOW. I'M THINKING THAT COUNCIL HOPEFULS ARE GOING TO BE ASKING A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS, SO IT WOULD BE WISE OF PRESENT COUNCILLORS, TO SECURE SOME ANSWERS.....BECAUSE WHETHER THEY BELIEVE IT OR NOT.....THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROFIT AND LOSS, WHETHER IT IS IN THEIR DEPARTMENT OR NOT. NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE OPERA HOUSE, IS NOT ONLY UNACCEPTABLE, BUT SHOULD ACTUALLY HERALD THAT MOMENT OF REFLECTION, ON WHY ONE BECAME A COUNCILLOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S JUST MY OPINION, BUT SOMEONE'S GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO. I'M SENDING CANDIDATES TO TALK WITH YOU, ABOUT THE OPERA HOUSE, AS A FIRST STEP IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS FOR OFFICE. JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION IT.
     I WILL ALSO BE HAMMERING-AWAY ON THE IDEA, ONCE AGAIN, AIMED AT COUNCIL HOPEFULS, TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL TO CREATE AN OPERA HOUSE OPERATING COMMITTEE, (BOARD OF DIRECTORS) LIKE THEY HAVE AT OTHER FULLY FUNCTIONING ENTERTAINMENT VENUES; IN ORDER TO PUT THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN IN A POSITION TO INFLUENCE HOW THE OPERA HOUSE BUSINESS, IS CONDUCTED IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS A CRITICALLY NEEDED IMPROVEMENT, AND WOULD HAVE, IF ADOPTED EARLIER IN THE PRESENT TERM, REMOVED MANY OF THE NEGATIVE ISSUES (MORE THAN A FEW) AND ROAD-BLOCKS, THAT HAVE PROVEN IMPASSABLE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.....ABOUT WHAT OUR OPERA HOUSE SHOULD BE....AND CAN BE, WITH THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADMIT THEY'RE OUT OF THEIR LEAGUE ON THIS ONE.....AND INSTEAD, MUDDLE AND FUMBLE ALONG AS IF EVERYTHING IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD. THEY'RE WRONG. AND THEY'VE BEEN WRONG ALL ALONG. IT HASN'T BEEN WORKING WELL FOR YEARS. JUST BECAUSE THE MANTRA OF THE DAY, IS THAT "EVERYTHING IS FINE," DOESN'T MEAN IT IS "FINE." THIS IS A STATEMENT, OFTEN USED, TO PACIFY THOSE WHO WISH TO BE PACIFIED. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A TRUTHFUL STATEMENT. IT'S JUST A STATEMENT. PURPOSELY EVASIVE. A MEANINGLESS COLLECTION OF WORDS. ESPECIALLY SO, IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE ASTUTELY AWARE OF THE HISTORY OF THE OPERA HOUSE, BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY A GOING CONCERN. IT COULD BE AGAIN, IF THE TOWN WOULD SHAKE ITSELF UP, AND SMELL THE COFFEE. GIVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO A GROUP OF APPOINTED CITIZENS, WHO HAVE OUR INTERESTS IN MIND, WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OPERA HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT.
     THE TOWN ISN'T INTERESTED IN MY OPINIONS AND, DON'T GET ME WRONG....I LIKE YOU FOLKS, BUT THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR IDEAS EITHER. ONLY AT ELECTION TIME. EVEN THEN, THERE'S A LOT MORE "PRETENDING TO BE INTERESTED"....THAN ACTUAL WELCOMING ENTHUSIASM FOR INPUT. I WOULD TRUST A CITIZEN PANEL, TO LIAISON BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE FACILITY MANAGER. AS LONG AS THE COMMITTEE HAD THE FREEDOM TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PLANS TO MAKE THE VENUE, NOT ONLY MORE COMMUNITY-RESPONSIVE, BUT A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER ON THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE ONCE AGAIN. MY QUESTION IN CONCLUSION IS THIS: HOW LOW DOES THE VENUE HAVE TO SINK, BEFORE AN IDEA LIKE THIS TAPS INTO THE PUBLIC WILL, AND DEMANDS FOR IMPROVEMENT? WILL IT BE THIS COMING YEAR? IS A NEW EXCITEMENT BREWING ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THIS TOWN, BEYOND FACADE ENHANCEMENTS? WOULDN'T THAT BE SWELL? DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH. AS HISTORY REMINDS, THIS COUNCIL DOES WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, AND BALLS TO US. I EXPECT IN THE NEXT WHILE, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MAGNIFICENTLY ORCHESTRATED BIT OF NONSENSE, TO RE-MANAGE THE OPERA HOUSE.....AND LIKE ALL THE OTHER TIMES, IT WILL BE AS FAR AWAY FROM US AS IT PRESENTLY.....LEAVING THE ONLY OPTION FOR REFORMATION, A MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND NEW BLOOD.

ONLY THREE BLOGS LEFT OF THE OLD ME - CHANGE IS IN THE WIND OF CYBERSPACE

     IF I WAS ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT AMASSING THOUSANDS OF READERS TO THIS BLOG, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE WRITING ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR REGIONAL POLITICS. HONESTLY, IT'S A READERSHIP DEATH KNELL, TO DRONE ON ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY COULD BE.....IF THEY ONLY LISTENED TO ME. SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT KNOCKING COUNCIL IS A READERSHIP GIMMICK. IT'S THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE, BUT THERE'S NO POINT OF HAVING THIS BLOG SPACE, IF I CAN'T INSPIRE SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE OF COUNTERPOINT. I LOVE COUNTERPOINT AND DEBATE. WHAT I HAVE INSPIRED, MOST OF ALL, IS THAT LOCAL COUNCILLORS WON'T READ THIS STUFF. WHETHER I'M RIGHT OR WRONG, THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW. IF I HAVE GOOD IDEAS, OR CRAPPY PROPOSALS TO OFFER, THEY SEE (FEEL) ME AS A PAIN IN THE ASS, AND NOT MUCH MORE. WHICH WOULD MAKE IT SO INTERESTING TO BE SITTING AT A COUNCIL TABLE, STARING AT THEM OVER THE STACKS OF TOWN BUSINESS, FOR THE NEW 2014 COUNCIL TERM. IF THEY THINK I'M A PAIN NOW, WHAT IF WE WERE FACE TO FACE, REALIZING THAT THE NEAT AND TIDY ARRANGEMENTS OF THE PAST, WILL BE NO LONGER. I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF BEING DISRUPTIVE, AND TAKING MY RIGHTS TO THE FURTHEST EXTENT; I TEND TO BE A STICKLER, ON TOP OF THE PAIN THING. I DON'T THINK SOME OF THE PRESENT COUNCIL, WOULD LIKE TO DEAL WITH A STICKLER, WHO DOESN'T FALL INTO PLACE ALL THAT WELL. EVEN MY MOTHER USED TO TELL ME THAT "I DIDN'T KNOW MY PLACE," IN SUCH THINGS THAT HAVE PROTOCOLS. I COME FROM THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT, THAT PROTOCOLS ARE ADAPTABLE, AND RULES ARE, WELL, MADE TO BE BROKEN. SO ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD BE TAKING MY DISRUPTIVE SELF INTO TOWN HALL....TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT. I JUST WON'T WRITE ABOUT IT, WHICH SHOULD PLEASE THE MAJORITY OF READERS, WHO ARE TIRED OF MY CRITIQUES OF THE OLD HOME TOWN. I TRY TO BE BALANCED, AND FAIR WHEN I CAN BE, BUT LATELY, IT JUST SEEMS THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM TO BE PASSIVE. BUT I WON'T CHANGE MY MIND. THE POLITICAL STUFF ENDS WITH MY FIRST BLOG ENTRY OF 2014. I'M NOT SURE HOW WELL I'LL DO WITH THE WITHDRAWL, BUT I'LL JUST TRANSFER THIS ENERGY, IN DIALOGUE, ONTO CANDIDATE HOPEFULS INSTEAD.

WRITING ABOUT THE ANTIQUE TRADE - MUSKOKA STYLE, WITH HISTORICAL INTERVENTIONS, COMING SOON
  
     MY FIRST PUBLISHED COLUMN, DEALING WITH ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FLEDGLING BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER, BACK IN 1978. IT WAS A SHORT-LIVED COLUMN, BECAUSE I SOON BEGAN AN EDITORIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, WHICH WAS THE COMPETITION IN THOSE DAYS. THROUGH THE 1980'S, I HAD NUMEROUS COLUMNS ON ANTIQUES AND AUCTIONS, IN THE MUSKOKA ADVANCE AND THE MUSKOKA SUN. I HAVE HAD LONG TERM ANTIQUE COLUMNS APPEARING IN THE WAYBACK TIMES, AND CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE, AS WELL AS
THE GREAT NORTH ARROW. I STILL WRITE FOR CURIOUS AND THE NORTH ARROW, AND THE AUDIENCE IS A BIG ONE IN ONTARIO. CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE, IS ALSO PUBLISHED ONLINE, AND THE GREAT NORTH ARROW, IS PUBLISHED FROM DUNCHURCH ONTARIO, AND REACHES AN AUDIENCE AS FAR NORTH AS NORTH BAY, AND DOWN SOUTH INTO MUSKOKA. IT'S POPULAR IN ALGONQUIN PARK AS WELL. I LOVE BOTH THESE PUBLICATIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO PUBLISHING, AND THEIR KINDNESSES TO WRITERS LIKE ME. FOR ONE THING, THEY DON'T CRITIQUE THE LENGTH OF MY SUBMISSIONS, AND THEY'VE NEVER ONCE ASKED ME TO ATTEND EDITORIAL MEETINGS. I USED TO HATE THOSE AT MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, AND CHANCES ARE, I WOULD HAVE PUT MY FINGER IN THE MANAGER'S COFFEE, JUST TO BE A TOOL. I'M NOT JUST ORNERY AS A BLOGGER....I'M THE SAME IN PERSON. SO LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN I FIND FOLKS WHO ACCEPT ME AS-IS, WHO CAN VOUCH THAT I'M ALWAYS TRUE TO MY WORD, THEN I'M HOOKED-UP WITH THEM UNTIL THEY GROW WEARY OF MY COMPANY. SO I WILL UNDERSTAND, IF ONE DAY, BOTH THESE FINE PUBLICATIONS WANT RID OF ME. JUST SO YOU KNOW, THESE COLUMNS OF WHICH I REFER, ARE ABOUT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, SO THERE'S NOT MUCH TO GET OFFENDED ABOUT. I DON'T GET POLITICAL ABOUT HARVEST TABLES AND FLAT-TO-THE-WALL CUPBOARDS.....TRILLIUM PATTERN CUPS, AND SAUCERS, OR FENTON'S CRANBERRY GLASS VASES. I GUESS THAT EXPLAINS WHY I'VE BEEN WRITING FOR THESE FOLKS FOR SO LONG. NO CONTROVERSY FROM ME.
     SO BEGINNING ON NEW YEARS DAY, I'M GOING TO BE WRITING MORE ABOUT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES AS A HUNTER-GATHERER, MIXED IN WITH SOME RARE HISTORICAL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE COME UPON....THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING. OUR BUSINESS, HERE IN THE OLD MUSKOKA THEATRE BUILDING, IN UPTOWN GRAVEHURST, WILL BECOME EVERYTHING SUZANNE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT, IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO HER RETIREMENT, LAST SUMMER, AFTER THIRTY-ONE YEARS IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION, BETWEEN OUR TWO TOWNS. AS FORMER MUSEUM MANAGERS, FROM BRACEBRIDGE'S WOODCHESTER VILLA, TO THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME, UP TO AND INCLUDING ALL THE MUSKOKA HISTORY WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, OVER THE PAST THIRTY ODD YEARS....WE CONSIDER OURSELVES HISTORICAL ZEALOTS. IT'S TAKEN US A LITTLE TIME TO GEAR IT ALL UP, TO REFLECT OUR MUSKOKA ROOTS, DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1860'S, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE READY THIS YEAR. SO IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT MUSKOKA HISTORY, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SOFAS IN HERE, AND SOME TIME TO CHAT. NO CHARGE.
     AS FOR INVENTORY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO SPECIALIZE IN COOKBOOKS AND OLD BOOKS GENERALLY, AND LOCAL PIECES WITH PROVENANCE. WE LIKE THAT A LOT. SO WE PLAN A FEW SURPRISES IN THE NEW YEAR, AND WE'LL SHARE THEM WITH YOU, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IN THE COMING MONTHS. SUZANNE AND I AGREED SOME TIME AGO, THAT ANY STOREFRONT WE OPENED IN THE FUTURE, WOULD MIRROR OUR RESPECT FOR THE REGION.....AND OFFER OUR GUESTS A MUSKOKA EXPERIENCE.....MADE IN MUSKOKA. WE WANT YOU TO SENSE THAT THIS SHOP ISN'T CITY INSPIRED, OR JUST FOR COTTAGE DECORATING. IT'S FULL OF HISTORY, BUT NOT AS CONFINING AS A MUSEUM. WE'VE INCORPORATED MUSEUM EXPERIENCES AND PROTOCOLS, BUT HAVE REMOVED THE BARRIERS; YOU CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH OUR ARTIFACTS. BUY THEM IF YOU'RE PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED.
     IT MAY BE THE CASE, THAT YOU DISCOVER A LITTLE MARINA-STYLE HERITAGE IN OUR SHOP AT TIMES. OR FEEL AS IF THE CLERK BEHIND THE COUNTER, IS READY TO TAKE YOUR FOOD ORDER. SUZANNE BRINGS WITH HER THAT ESSENCE OF OLD TIME BUSINESS....FROM HER FAMILY'S DAYS OWNING THE WINDERMERE MARINA, AND THE SKIPPER, THE SNACK BAR ABOVE. ON TOP OF THIS, IS THE FACT HER FAMILY BEGAN HOMESTEADING IN MUSKOKA IN THE 1860'S, AND WERE KNOWN, WITH SOME TREPIDATION, AS THE THREE MILE LAKE WOLVES. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN TOURIST RELATED BUSINESSES IN MUSKOKA, FROM MY FIRST DAYS OF EMPLOYMENT, DELIVERING FRESH PRODUCE ALL OVER THE MUSKOKA LAKES AND BEYOND; THEN IT WAS THE SAME DELIVERIES BUT WITH LUMBER AND ACCESSORIES INSTEAD. AS AN EDITOR WITH MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING THE MUSKOKA SUN, AND THEN WITH THE GRAVENHURST BANNER, BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER, THE MUSKOKAN, AND LATER IN GRAVENHURST, A COLUMNIST FOR MUSKOKA TODAY....WELL SIR, I THINK I CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION HERE, IN THIS TINY BUT DYNAMIC MOM AND POP - SON AND SON ENTERPRISE.....WHERE WE TAKE OUR HISTORY WITH UNRELENTING ABUNDANCE AND FREQUENTLY; AND WE MOST AFFECTIONATELY LOVE TALKING ABOUT IT. AND IT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SHARE ON THIS BLOG SITE. THIS WILL INCLUDE SOME MORE CURRENT ACTIVITIES, ALONG WITH SOME MINOR RETROSPECTIVES.....AS I HAVE BEEN IN THE ANTIQUE TRADE, IN ONE FOR OR ANOTHER, SINCE THE MID 1970'S. IT ALL STARTED WITH A SMALL FINGER (OIL) LAMP, I PURCHASED FOR TWENTY DOLLARS FROM THE LANDLADY OF OUR BOARDING HOUSE IN TORONTO. I SOLD THE ORIGINAL BUT I ACQUIRED A KEEPSAKE SECOND. SO WHEN SUZANNE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE CLUTTER WE ANTIQUE DEALERS CHERISH, I JUST POINT OUT THAT LITTLE LAMP AND SAY, "SEE, THAT'S WHERE IT ALL BEGAN."
     I DON'T WRITE LIKE THE AUTHORS OF OTHER ANTIQUE COLUMNS, YOU WILL FIND IN COLLECTOR PUBLICATIONS. I'M MORE LIKE A PAUL RIMSTEAD IN THIS REGARD, SO IF YOU KNOW OF HIS WORK, THEN IMAGINE IF HE HAD BEEN AN ANTIQUE DEALER.....AND THEN WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES. BELIEVE ME, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD HUMOUR AND AMUSING ANECDOTES IN OUR PROFESSION. DO ANTIQUE DEALERS MAKE MISTAKES? DO THEY SELL MASTERPIECES FOR PENNIES? DO THEY BUY FRAUDS, THINKING THEY WERE ORIGINALS? YOU BET. WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT GENERALLY, BUT WE DO SCREW UP FROM TIME TO TIME, AND OUR CUSTOMERS EXPLOIT US FOR EVERY NICKLE. THERE ARE A LOT OF FUN STORIES CONNECTED TO THIS CENTURY'S OLD PROFESSION. I'VE BEEN SAVING UP SOME GEMS FOR THIS YEAR-LONG SERIES. EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN ANTIQUES, OR COLLECTABLES, THERE ARE SOME ENTERTAINING INSIDE STORIES NONE THE LESS.....SOME THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE....OTHERS SEEMINGLY TOO FAR FETCHED TO BE ANYTHING MORE THAN WORKS OF FICTION. YOU NEVER KNOW. MAYBE THEY ARE. GIVE ME A CHANCE TO IMPRESS YOU WITH SOME OF THESE HAUNTING TALES.....THAT WILL AT LEAST MAKE YOU WONDER, WHAT KIND OF STRANGE PEOPLE WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN A PROFESSION HAVING SO MANY PECULIARITIES. THUS, YOU HAVE TO BE A LITTLE LEFT OF CENTER TO DIVE RIGHT IN! THAT FITS US TO A "T." HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN MY NEW "TED CURRIE" BLOG....WHICH WILL JUST BE THE CONVERSION OF THIS PRESENT SITE.

GRAVENHURST SHOULD THANK ITS LUCKY STARS FOR BEING MISSED BY ICE STORM; WE NEED TO SHAPE UP ON SNOW REMOVAL

The Last Colourful Glows of Christmas

 

A milder evening creates an colourful effect as the iceless flow of the LED Christmas Lights along my front eve.  The lights will remain up until New Year’s Day to bring in the New Year.

Fred Schulz Photo

Three Cats on a Tool Box, Chutney, Zappa and Beasley.

A MATTER OF SNOW - HOW BEAUTIFUL - HOW BURDENSOME - HOW DANGEROUS

A PRETTY PICTURE UNTIL YOU HAVE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IT


     NOTE: ON MY SECOND WALK THIS AFTERNOON, THE SAME DISTANCE AS IN THE MORNING, THE SIDEWALK PLOW HAD BEEN THROUGH SOME OF THE CLOGGED ARTERIES,  I HAD NOTICED EARLIER IN THE MORNING. THE PLOW HAD DONE A GOOD JOB IN SOME AREAS, NOT SO GOOD IN OTHERS. THERE WERE STILL SIDEWALKS BLOCKED IN, AND I SAW TWO DISABLED INDIVIDUALS USING THEIR WALKERS ON THE ROAD INSTEAD. MOTORIZED SCOOTERS HAD TO USE THE ROAD, AND THERE'S NOT MUCH ROOM TO NAVIGATE THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS IT IS, THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR TWO CARS TO PASS ON SOME ROADWAYS. ADD TO THIS, THOSE WHO INSIST ON PARKING, ON BOTH SIDES. VISUALLY, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE CREATING. SUFFICE TO SAY, THE BODY SHOPS ARE GOING TO BE GETTING LOTS OF REPAIR WORK. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE ROAD TO ALLOW THIS SAFELY, I'M SORRY TO SAY. I HAD TO WALK ON THE ROAD FOR SOME OF THIS ROUTE, DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO TRAFFIC, BECAUSE THE SNOWBANKS HAVE NOT BEEN PUSHED BACK AS FAR AS THEY COULD BE. LATER IN THE DAY, ROAD AND SIDEWALK CONDITIONS HAD BEEN IMPROVED. BUT IT'S TAKEN QUITE A WHILE TO GET THIS WAY. THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE TRAIN STATION WAS SANDY LIKE A TROPICAL BEACH, BUT A GREASY MESS OF SNOW. WITH THE TAXI COMPANY USE OF THE ROAD, AND WITH BUS TRAFFIC, IT DOES REQUIRE A LITTLE EXTRA ATTENTION.....WOULDN'T YOU AGREE.  GREAT BUSINESS AT THE STATION NOW.....AND IT'S WHERE WE GET OUR COFFEE AND TREATS. NOW IF WE COULD ONLY GET THERE WITHOUT SLIPPING AND SLIDING ALL THE WAY.

     A HAIR'S BREADTH. THAT'S ABOUT THE DISTANCE WE HAD, TO SPARE, ESCAPING THE RECENT ICE STORM. I'M SO SORRY FOR THOSE WHO TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE BAD WEATHER. BUT WE'RE THANKFUL THE FREEZING RAIN ONLY SPRINKLED UPON US. IN A PLACE OF MANY MILLIONS OF HONKING BIG TREES, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS PERIL. IT'S FRIGHTENING TO THINK HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO AN ALL OUT DISASTER.
     WITH THE HUGE BALLS OF SNOW TRAPPED IN THE BRANCHES OF OUR TREES, THROUGHOUT THIS REGION, IF WE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FREEZING RAIN THAT HIT THE TORONTO AREA, AND THE LAKE ONTARIO CORRIDOR, ALL THE WAY TO THE MARITIMES, WE WOULD HAVE HAD A VERY BLEAK CHRISTMAS, AND A LOT MORE CARNAGE THAN WHAT OCCURRED TO THE SOUTH. IT IS QUITE EXCEPTIONAL, TO HAVE THE CLUMPING OF SNOW, FROM PREVIOUS STORMS, STILL HANGING PRECARIOUSLY IN THE TREES AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS. IT LOOKS PRETTY, ESPECIALLY FOR CHRISTMAS, BUT COULD BE QUADRUPLED IN WEIGHT QUICKLY WITH FREEZING RAIN. THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH WIND LATELY, TO DISLODGE THE SNOW FROM THE BOUGHS. THE ADDED WEIGHT TO THE SNOW IN THE TREES, WHICH IS STILL IN EVIDENCE, WOULD HAVE HAD CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES TO THE LOCAL POWER GRID. WE CERTAINLY SYMPATHIZE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WITHOUT HYDRO; AND OF COURSE WE DO KNOW HOW LUCKY WE ARE, TO HAVE MISSED A MAJORITY OF THE FREEZING RAIN THAT FELL DURING THAT WEATHER EVENT. MOST OF US HAVE EVEN OFFERED SILENT PRAYERS THAT WE WERE SPARED.....AND OF COURSE, OUR WISHES FOR THE SPEEDY RECOVERY TO THE SOUTH.
    TORONTO HAD A STRONG AND IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THE DISASTER, AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF ANGRY CONSTITUENTS, STILL WITHOUT POWER, IF THOSE WHO ARE COMPLAINING, HAD TO COMPANION HYDRO CREWS THROUGH THE LONG DAYS, AND DIFFICULT WORK, THEY MIGHT COME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS FIXING ONE THING, TO THEN SWITCH ON THE POWER. FIRST YOU HAVE TO GET THE TREE OR LIMBS OFF THE LINES. THEN REPAIR THE DAMAGED MATERIALS, IN DIFFICULT WEATHER, IN OVERALL DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD AND READ ABOUT THE ICE STORM, I THINK HYDRO CREWS AND FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB, GETTING THE POWER ON FOR AS MANY AFFECTED CUSTOMERS AS THEY HAVE, INSIDE A WEEK; AND MAKING THE CITY SAFER TO NAVIGATE. I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF MAYOR FORD, BUT HE'S BEEN IN THE FRONT LINES SINCE THE EMERGENCY BEGAN; I HAVE GREAT ADMIRATION FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO ISN'T FEARFUL OF FACING SOME NASTY COMMENTS, AND CRITICISM, DOING SO.....BEING THERE IN PERSON, TO MEET WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. HE HASN'T BEEN HIDING AWAY, OR DODGING RESPONSIBILITY. MAYBE THIS IS THE SIMPLISTIC VIEWPOINT, BECAUSE IT'S WHAT THE MEDIA HAS CAPTURED ON VIDEO. BUT IT SHOWS THAT HE'S IN THE SAME BALL GAME AS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HYDRO. I DO FEEL HE'S GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, AND IT'S WHAT WE WANT FROM A MAYOR ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A CRISIS. HE'S BEEN AT GROUND LEVEL....NOT JUST HIGH UP, BEHIND A DESK, IN A CITY HALL OFFICE.
     PERSONALLY, IT'S MY OWN PRIORITY, IN LOCAL CIVICS, ABOVE ALL ELSE, WHEN LOOKING AT A MAYOR AND COUNCILS' COMPETENCE.....HOW WELL WILL THEY PERFORM IN A CRISIS. HOW WILL THEY DEAL WITH THE FEAR AND SORROW OF CONSTITUENTS, IN THE CASE OF A MAJOR EMERGENCY, SUCH AS A CATASTROPHIC TRAIN DERAILMENT, AS OCCURRED IN QUEBEC EARLIER THIS YEAR. I WANT TO KNOW THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, ARE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION, AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO FACE THE CONSTITUENTS FROM THE FRONT LINES......NOT FROM THE SAFE COMFORTS OF TOWN HALL. EVERY MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS BUILT-IN RESPONSIBILITY.....AND AS OUR LEADERS, KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE EMERGENCY PLAN FOR OUR REGION COMES INTO PLAY. HONESTLY, I WORRY ABOUT MY OWN REACTION, AND IF MY HEAD WOULD SPIN OFF MY BODY, IF, IN SUCH A CIRCUMSTANCE OF GREAT PERIL, I HEARD OR READ A STATEMENT FROM EVEN ONE COUNCILLOR, THAT "IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY." I HEARD THIS ONCE, AFTER A SERIOUS SUMMER STORM, FROM A COUNCILLOR I USED TO ADMIRE....TO THAT POINT. I ASKED HIM WHY HE WASN'T OUT, TO OVERSEE THE EARLY GOING OF THE CLEAN-UP IN HIS WARD; EVEN JUST TO SHOW CONSTITUENTS HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR WELFARE. "I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THESE THINGS; WE HAVE STAFF TO LOOK AFTER THIS." I TURNED AND WALKED AWAY, AND I'M PRETTY SURE HE GOT MY MESSAGE. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ME LECTURING HIM ABOUT THE PROTOCOLS OF ELECTED OFFICE, AND THE NEEDS OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION? IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT, THEN SOMETHING IS JUST WRONG WITH THE WHOLE PICTURE. OUR COUNCILS ARE VOTED-IN TO BE OUR LEADERSHIP, THROUGH ALL KINDS OF SITUATIONS; NOT JUST VOTING ON APPROVING MINOR VARIANCES.
     THE SUMMER STORM THAT HIT GRAVENHURST THIS PAST SUMMER, REVEALED THAT WE ARE NOT AS ADVANCED ON EMERGENCY PLANNING, AS WE THOUGHT WE WERE....AND THE MUNICIPALITY WAS CAUGHT POORLY PREPARED. IT WAS A BIG STORM, AND THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE, BUT FOLKS, IT WAS NOT NEARLY AS BIG AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN.....AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE EXPECTING OF THE WEATHER IN THIS NEW NORMAL OF GLOBAL WARMING. WE REMOVED TREES AND DEBRIS OFF OUR ROAD, TO KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING, AND WE DID WHAT WE COULD TO HELP NEIGHBHOURS. WHAT BOTHERED ME, WAS THE FACT THAT IT TOOK SO LONG TO CORRECT SOME OF THE DANGEROUS TREE SITUATIONS, INCLUDING AT GULL LAKE PARK, WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATED, WITH THE WARM WEATHER, MANY VISITORS WOULD CONGREGATE IN THE DAYS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY BECAUSE OF OUR LIABILITY; CONSIDERING THE PARK IS HEAVILY USED IN THE SUMMER MONTHS; AND IT WAS A VERY HOT AND HUMID PART OF THE SEASON, EVEN AFTER THE STORM. SO OF COURSE THE BEACH WAS GOING TO BE UTILIZED. FOR WEEKS AFTERWARDS, I WAS STILL WRITING ABOUT TREE LIMBS SCATTERED THROUGH THE PARK, EVEN WHEN THERE WERE LARGE AUDIENCES FOR MUSIC ON THE BARGE CONCERTS, HAVING TO STEP OVER STREWN BOUGHS. IN CASE COUNCILLORS AREN'T AWARE OF THIS, BUT THEY SHOULD BE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, WHO ATTEND MUSIC ON THE BARGE CONCERTS; AND THERE IS NO ONE AT TOWN HALL WHO ISN'T AWARE JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE COME OUT FOR THESE SUNDAY EVENING EVENTS. WE DIDN'T SHOW OUR BEST AT THIS TIME. EVEN IF THE TOWN HAD PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS, TO COME OUT AND LEND A HAND, TO CLEAN UP THE PARK, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INFINITELY BETTER THAN LETTING THE SITE RESUME REGULAR USE, WITH SO MUCH TREE DAMAGE AND DOWNED LIMBS. WHILE IT WILL BE ARGUED THAT I'M ACTING LIKE THE UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS IN TORONTO, WAITING FOR THEIR HYDRO, THE CITIZENRY OF GRAVENHURST WAS REMARKABLY PATIENT WITH THE CLEAN UP, AND IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR GOOD NEIGHBORLINESS, IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN A LOT LONGER FOR THE TOWN TO HAVE RETURNED TO PRE-STORM CAPABILITIES. BUT WE DO HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TOWN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS....AND DAMAGING STORMS SHOULD BE ANTICIPATED.
     I HOPE COUNCILLORS APPRECIATE JUST HOW CLOSE THE FREEZING RAIN CARNAGE CAME, TO THE REGION OF SOUTH MUSKOKA. I'D LIKE TO THINK THEY HAVE CONTEMPLATED WHAT THIS WOULD HAVE MEANT TO THEIR OWN HOLIDAY PLANS. THEIR LEADERSHIP WOULD HAVE BEEN MANDATORY, SO GOING TO THE TROPICS FOR A VACATION WOULD HAVE BEEN UNCEREMONIOUSLY DISRUPTED. AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OF A SMALL TOWN, YOU CERTAINLY WOULDN'T ABANDON CONSTITUENTS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION? I'D LIKE TO MAKE THIS A STATEMENT, BUT I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO OFFER IT AS A QUESTION INSTEAD. HONESTLY, I'M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. I'VE HAD FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE TODAY, WALKING A LONG DISTANCE IN THE URBAN AREA OF OUR TOWN, A WEEK AFTER THE LAST MAJOR SNOWFALL. SOMETHING'S WRONG OUT THERE. IT SHOULDN'T BE AS BAD AS IT IS, ON SIDEWALKS THAT IN SOME CASES, HAVEN'T BEEN CLEARED FOR MANY DAYS. SOME SIDEWALKS ARE SIMPLY IMPASSABLE. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE SNOWMOBILE TRAIL GROOMER, THAT GAVE ME AN ACCEPTABLE PATHWAY UPTOWN. THIS IS MUSKOKA. WE HAVE A HISTORY OF BAD WINTERS. CANADIAN WINTERS. WE SHOULD BE WELL PREPARED AND EXPERIENCED TO HANDLE HEAVY SNOWFALL. IF WE'RE READY AS HOMEOWNERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND WE CLEAR OUR WALKS AND LANEWAYS, THEN THE TOWN WITH ITS HEAVY EQUIPMENT, AND BUDGET THAT WE BUMP UP ANNUALLY, SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE, OVER A WEEK, THE BASICS OF SNOW REMOVAL. BY THE TRAIN STATION TODAY, THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE AWFUL. THERE WAS A HUMP IN THE ROAD, THAT I BELIEVE, CAUSED A BUS TO GET STUCK, EARLIER IN THE WEEK,.... STILL VISIBLE AS AN ICE MOUND AT LEAST FOUR DAYS LATER. SO WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC TRAIN STATION, FULL OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY NOW, AND REGULAR BUS TRAFFIC, AND WELL, A POORLY MAINTAINED ROAD OUT FRONT. THIS ISN'T RIGHT. AND NEITHER ARE THE POORLY MAINTAINED SIDEWALKS. IT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS TOWN, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CITIZENS WHO DON'T OWN VEHICLES, AND DEPEND ON BEING ABLE TO WALK, IN ORDER TO GET THEIR GROCERIES. ELDERLY FOLKS. THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. DOES COUNCIL KNOW JUST HOW MANY CITIZENS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRE SIDEWALK ACCESS TO GET TO THE SERVICES THEY REQUIRE WEEKLY? WELL, I'M NOT SURE-FOOTED EITHER, AND MY TRIP THIS MORNING WAS DANGEROUS....NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING ICE, BUT THE FACT SIDEWALKS HADN'T BEEN CLEARED, AND OTHERS WERE BLOCKED AT INTERSECTIONS, REQUIRING GOAT-LIKE AGILITY TO GET OVER THE BANKS. ONE NEEDS TO CARRY A SNOW SHOVEL TO CLEAR THE WAY AHEAD.
      SNOW REMOVAL IS A BIG DEAL TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS TOWN. WE NEED IT MORE THAN PLAYS AT THE OPERA HOUSE. WE NEED IT MORE THAN EXTRAVAGANCES AT THE RECREATION CENTRE AND TOWN HALL. WE NEED COUNCILLORS TO TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE....AND THAT CAN BE ENGAGED BY TRAVERSING FOUR BLOCKS THROUGH THE URBAN AREA OF OUR TOWN. THERE WILL BE LOTS OF EXCUSES, AND CALLS FOR PATIENCE, BUT I THINK THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN HAVE BEEN PRETTY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT A LOT OF MUNICIPAL ISSUES AND DELAYS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.....SO I WOULDN'T BE TOO QUICK TO CALL THEM REACTIONARY; JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT THE BASICS, OF WHICH THEY PAY TAXES TO RECEIVE. AND HERE'S THE TRUTH. MOST OF THESE CITIZENS DON'T ATTEND SHOWS AT THE OPERA HOUSE, OR MAKE USE OF THE NEW POOL......THEY JUST WANT THEIR SIDEWALKS CLEANED PROPERLY AFTER SNOW EVENTS. SO IF THEY HAD ONE REQUEST, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE.....DON'T BE STINGY WITH THE SNOW REMOVAL BUDGET! HIRE MORE STAFF, AND GET MORE EQUIPMENT. WE LIVE IN A ZONE THAT GETS A LOT OF SNOW IF YOU AVERAGE IT OVER A DECADE. WE MAY HAVE ISOLATED EVENTS, OF THE MAJOR CLASSIFICATION, BUT FOR OUR WELL BEING, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS TOWN IS READY FOR ALL KINDS AND LENGTHS OF WEATHER EMERGENCIES.....SNOW AND ICE INCLUDED. NOW IF YOU THINK I'M HARSH, CONSIDER THIS......THAT IF THE RESIDENTS HERE WERE ASKED TO AWARD A GRADE, AT THIS PRECISE MOMENT, BASED ON COUNCIL'S MOST RECENT TRACK-RECORD, FOR HANDLING SNOW REMOVAL, FOR ONE THING, WHAT WOULD THOSE GRADES BE? A PASSING GRADE? OR FAILING GRADE? OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?
     I'M SURE THERE ARE COUNCILLORS WHO FEEL THAT I'M UNFAIR IN MY CRITICISMS; BECAUSE THEY SELF-ASSESS, THAT THEY ARE DOING THEIR BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY THEY WERE SWORN TO REPRESENT. IF LIFE WAS ONLY LIKE THAT. BUT LOW AND BEHOLD, WE ARE ALWAYS BEING JUDGED AND GRADED FOR OUR EFFORTS. I CAN'T ESCAPE CRITICAL OVERVIEW, AND NEITHER CAN THEY. FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE BETTER AT WHAT THEY DO, THEN CRITICISM ISN'T FEARED; RATHER, IT IS LEARNED FROM. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CRITICISM ABOUT SNOW REMOVAL IS JUSTIFIED? WHAT PERCENTAGE IS FRIVOLOUS AND COMPLAINING FOR THE SAKE OF IT? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS POINTED OUT SHORTFALLS IN REMOVAL PROTOCOLS, THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE OCCURRED? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE IGNORED BY TOWN HALL, BECAUSE THEY'RE DEEMED UNFOUNDED.....WHEN IN REALITY, THEY ARE LEGITIMATE CLAIMS? TRUTHFULLY, WE ALL KNOW THAT EVEN IF EVERY SQUARE INCH OF FALLEN SNOW AND ICE WAS SAFELY REMOVED FROM TRAVELLED SURFACES IN OUR TOWN, THERE WOULD STILL BE CITIZENS UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THE CLEAN-UP WAS EXECUTED. MOST OF US, AS REASONABLE AND PATIENT CONSTITUENTS, UNDERSTAND THE LIMITATIONS OF PLEASING EVERY ONE ALL OF THE TIME. WE ARE, FOR THE MOST PART, PREPARED FOR INTRUSION UPON OUR RESPECTIVE PARADISES, BY MOTHER NATURE. AND WE UNDERSTAND THE LIMITATIONS FACED BY THE MUNICIPALITY, TO MAKE ALL OUR WISHES COME TRUE. BUT WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, WE WANT OUR HOMETOWN GOVERNANCE, TO TAKE US SERIOUSLY, WHEN WE DO HAVE SUGGESTIONS, AND ADVISORIES TO PASS ON.....AND JUST BECAUSE WE OFFER CRITICISM AT POINTS, DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE AMONGST THE IMPATIENT, AND INSENSIBLE FOR REACTING TO A TROUBLING SITUATION.
     WITH THE ALREADY NARROW ROADS IN TOWN, AND COMPROMISED SIDEWALKS, IT FORCES PEOPLE TO WALK ON THE ROADWAYS. I HAD A NUMBER OF CLOSE CALLS THIS MORNING, BECAUSE OF THIS, AND FORTUNATELY, I WAS NIMBLE ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, BEFORE I WAS SWEPT BENEATH. AN ELDERLY PERSON FALLING, WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN-OVER. THIS IS DIRECTLY THE RESULT OF THE SIDEWALKS NOT BEING CLEARED. SO WHEN THERE IS THE RESPONSE FROM TOWN HALL, THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS MATTER, I'M SUGGESTING THEY NEED TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED, BECAUSE OF THESE BASIC SNOW REMOVAL DELAYS. IF THIS WAS THE CASE IMMEDIATELY AFTER A MAJOR STORM, THEN I WOULD BE REACTIONARY TO OFFER THIS CRITICISM. AFTER A WEEK, SINCE THE LAST STORM, THIS IS A REMARK FROM A PATIENT CITIZEN, WHO UNDERSTANDS THE STRESSES ON EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL. SO AT THE TOP......FIX WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR SNOW REMOVAL PROTOCOL, BEFORE THE NEXT MAJOR STORM MOVES OVER OUR REGION. AND THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS THE ICE STORM MISSED US......BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE REALLY SHOWN OUR INABILITY TO DEAL WITH WHAT NATURE CAN DISH OUT. CONSIDER THIS A LESSON LEARNED!
      MY NEXT WALK ON TOWN SIDEWALKS? AFTER THE THAW.

What Gravenhurst Needs To Improve its Future Prospects

A beautiful Winter Drive along the Doe Lake Road – Muskoka

 

A beautiful Christmas Day drive along the Doe Lake Road in Muskoka provided some wonderful winter scenes throughout the fields along the road.   Despite the damage caused by the freezing rain in past days, it created a beautiful reflection on the trees and branches along the country road.

Fred Schulz Photo

WHAT GRAVENHURST NEEDS TO IMPROVE ITS FUTURE PROSPECTS -

CAN YOU HELP YOUR HOMETOWN IN 2014?

     AS I WROTE ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAVE UNTIL NEW YEAR'S EVE TO GET MY POLITICAL ACTIVISM OUT OF THE WAY….AT LEAST AS FAR AS THIS BLOG IS CONCERNED. AS WE ARE NOW WELL INTO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION SEASON, (ELECTION IN THE FALL OF 2014) ESPECIALLY POIGNANT WITH THIS WEEK'S PUBLICATION, OF THE NOTICE TO POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, IN THE BANNER, I HAVE GIVEN NEW YEARS EVE AS A LIMIT, SO THAT I WON'T USE THIS BLOG-SITE, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, AS A POLITICAL BATTERING RAM. SHOULD I DECIDE TO RUN FOR COUNCIL MYSELF, AS A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, IT WOULD BE UNFAIR AND UNETHICAL, IN MY OPINION, TO BE USING THIS AS A CAMPAIGN TOOL. ADD TO THIS THE FACT, I WON'T ENTER THE RACE, IF I BELIEVE THERE ARE BETTER CANDIDATES RUNNING; WHO I WILL SUPPORT AND ASSIST WHERE POSSIBLE. IT WON'T BE IN THIS BLOG. ONCE AGAIN, IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR. I DIDN'T BECOME A BLOGGER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TO CARRY ON POLITICAL ACTIVISM. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, I LAUNCHED A BLOG WITH PRACTICAL INTENT; TO HELP SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WETLAND, AND KEEP OUR SUPPORTERS AND ADVERSARIES INFORMED. I TOOK SOME MEASURED POLITICAL SHOTS, BECAUSE THE TOWN COUNCIL LEFT US WITH VERY FEW OPTIONS OTHERWISE, WHEN THEY DECIDED TO SELL OFF THE BOG FOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS. WE JUMPED ON IT EARLY IN THE PROCESS, OF DECLARING THE PROPERTY SURPLUS, AND WITH THE PUBLICITY PROVIDED BY MUSKOKA TODAY, WHICH WAS PIVOTAL IN GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO CONSTITUENTS, THE BLOG WAS THE TRIGGER POINT FOR A LOT OF OTHER INFORMATION SHARING ON A DAILY BASIS. IT ALL WORKED WELL TOGETHER, AND THE INITIATIVE WAS HALTED. THE BOG WAS SPARED AND THE BLOG WAS CONCLUDED. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. BUT IT COULD HAVE GONE THE OTHER WAY, AND IT SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME, TO THINK JUST HOW MUCH LIFE-CHANGING POWER, A MUNICIPAL COUNCIL HAS AT THEIR BECK AND CALL. WE PURCHASED THIS HOUSE, AT BIRCH HOLLOW, BASED ON THE FACT THE OPEN SPACE WAS GUARANTEED, WITH THE CALYDOR PLAN OF SUBDIVISION, WAY BACK IN TIME. WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE THE EARLY PLANNERS OF THAT SUBDIVISION, AND SOME OF THE FIRST RESIDENTS, TO HELP WITH THE FIGHT.

     ON HUNDREDS OF OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF TOWN COUNCIL IN GENERAL TERMS. THIS IS HOW I SEE COUNCIL. WHILE THERE ARE COUNCILLORS WHO MAY FEEL I'VE PAINTED THEM WITH THE SAME BROAD BRUSH STROKE AS THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, DESPITE THEIR OWN DISAGREEMENTS WITH TOWN POLICY, THE FACT THEY HAVE KEPT THEIR OBJECTIONS CLOSE TO THE COUNCIL TABLE, HAS DENIED MANY CONSTITUENTS FROM SEEING ANYTHING BUT UNANIMOUS APPROVAL….TIME AND AGAIN, ON IMPORTANT ISSUES. THE PRESS CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN RUNNING STORIES, FROM COUNCIL COVERAGE, THAT WOULD LEAD ANY ONE OF US, TO BELIEVE THERE IS ANYTHING HAPPENING WITH COUNCIL OTHER THAN BUSINESS AS USUAL. WHICH TO ME, DOESN'T MATCH THE WORD ON THE STREET, OR WHAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT, CONCERNING THE ALLEGED DISUNITY AT TOWN HALL. SO AS FAR AS AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCILLOR, BEING HEARD OBJECTING TO A TOWN INITIATIVE, THEN FOLKS, WOULDN'T THAT BE GREAT? MAYBE OUR COUNCILLORS AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON AT TORONTO CITY HALL….BUT THEY SHOULD. IN GRAVENHURST, THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING. A LOT OF US HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT JUST WHO IS MANAGING THE AFFAIRS AT TOWN HALL….AND A MAJORITY OF US POLITICAL KEENERS HAVE OUR SUSPICIONS. IF I WAS ASKED CANDIDLY, ABOUT MY OPINION OF COUNCIL, I WOULD SAY "COLD AS ICE." "INDIFFERENT." "OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE CITIZENRY," AND LET'S NOT FORGET MY BEST OVERVIEW…"A SMALL TOWN WITH A CITY'S POINT OF VIEW."

      COUNCILLORS HAVE ALL HAD THE CHANCE TO COME FORWARD AND TELL THEIR STORIES. A YEAR AGO, I OFFERED TO INTERVIEW ALL OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY, TO GIVE THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY. I INDICATED TO ANOTHER COUNCILLOR, THAT MY ONLY RULE, WAS THAT I WAS PREPARING THE QUESTIONS, AND WHILE I WOULD SHARE THEM IN ADVANCE…..I WOULDN'T BE CENSORING THEM, OR EVEN REVISING THEM. THEY WOULD HAVE A CHOICE WHETHER TO ANSWER THEM ALL, OR JUST THE ONES THEY FELT COMFORTABLE WITH. I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO THINK THAT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE EDITORIAL SHOTS, WITHOUT OFFERING A REBUTTAL. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OPEN TO CONVERSATION, AND COUNTER-POINT, AND I HAVE ENOUGH MEDIA EXPERIENCE TO HANDLE FAIR INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL COUNCILLORS. I'VE INTERVIEWED PREMIERS AND SO MANY FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILLORS IN THE PAST, THAT I KNOW HOW TO TREAT AN INTERVIEW WITH AN UNBIASED NEWS PROTOCOL. I THINK I COULD HAVE HAD ONE INTERVIEW BUT THAT WOULDN'T HAVE SERVED MUCH PURPOSE, OR HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING MORE THAN ALIENATING A COUNCILLOR FOR THE REST OF THE TERM. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE THE OFFER NONE THE LESS….SO THAT IF THEY WANTED TO TAKE A SHOT AT ME, I WAS WILLING TO RUN THEIR STATEMENT WITHOUT EDITORIAL COME-BACK. SO IF ONE OF THEM THOUGHT I DESERVED A FLEECING, THEN SO BE IT! THAT'S DEMOCRACY. WHY SHOULD I BE ABLE TO CRITICIZE IF I CAN'T TAKE THE SAME MYSELF.

     I HAVE EVEN OFFERED AN APOLOGY TO THE MAYOR, PREVIOUSLY, FOR BEING PARTICULARLY HARSH ON COUNCIL AS A WHOLE…..AS IT IS WHAT I BELIEVED WAS NECESSARY FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY CONSTITUENT READERS. IT WASN'T TO SUGGEST I HATE THESE PEOPLE…..BECAUSE I DON'T. I MAY DISLIKE THEM AS COUNCILLORS, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT AS CITIZENS THEY DESERVE OUR SUPPORT, FOR STEPPING-UP, AND TAKING IT ON THE CHIN. IF YOU DECIDE TO GET INTO POLITICS, THE REQUIREMENT IS A THICK SKIN. YOU PROBABLY WON'T READ THAT IN THE MUNICIPAL HANDBOOK, BUT IT'S TRUE. I THINK EVERY COUNCILLOR AROUND THAT TABLE WILL ADMIT THIS…..AND FOLKS, THIS IS WITH A MILD AMOUNT OF PRESS COVERAGE. I'M PRETTY SURE, THAT IF THE DAYS OF THE OLD PRESS WAS STILL A FACTOR (AS IT ONCE EXISTED), WE WOULD HAVE HAD A LOT MORE DOUBLE BANKED HEADLINES, AND INVESTIGATIVE STORIES, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE PLEASED THE RANK AND FILE AT TOWN HALL. THIS COUNCIL IS GETTING OFF LIGHTLY, AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THIS. I'M NOT THE EDITOR OF A NEWSPAPER. I'M NOT GOING TO SEND REPORTERS TO DO A MAJOR INVESTIGATIVE PIECE. I'M JUST A BLOGGER WITH A LIMITED READERSHIP, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN THE PAST; AND WHAT COUNCILS DIDN'T GET AWAY WITH, MAKING MAJOR CHANGES AT TOWN HALL WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESENT THE ACCURATE PICTURE TO THE PUBLIC….VIA THE FRONT PAGE OF THE LOCAL NEWS. I FEAR THEY HAVE BEEN LULLED INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, THAT WILL BE ERODED AWAY, IF WE FIND COUNCIL-HOPEFULS WHO WISH TO REVEAL AND EXPLOIT, SOME OF COUNCIL'S SHORTFALLS….AND ERRORS IN JUDGEMENT. THEY DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT A BLOGGER LIKE ME. THEY DO NEED TO BE AWARE, THAT THERE MAY BE CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO CHALLENGE THIS COUNCIL'S RELIANCE ON STATUS QUO, AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. COUNCIL'S TIGHTLY KNIT, PROTECTED ENVIRONS ARE MORE POROUS THAN THEY MAY BELIEVE…..AND BECOME MUCH MORE REVEALING AS CAMPAIGNS COMMENCE. THIS IS WHEN OTHERWISE SILENT CITIZENS SPEAK UP, AND START MAKING DEMANDS. HOW ARE COUNCILLORS, WHEN CONFRONTED, GOING TO REACT TO CRITICISM ABOUT SPECIFICS, AND THE ACTIONS AND REACTIONS THEY'VE HANDLED AS …."THE COUNCIL?" ONCE CANDIDATES BEGIN DECLARING, AND PREPARING THEIR PLANS OF ACTION, TO WIN THESE AVAILABLE SEATS. HOW WILL COUNCILLORS HANDLE THIS NEW VULNERABILITY? NOT BEING ABLE TO DODGE OR FOB-OFF RESPONSIBILITY. I SUSPECT IT COULD BECOME UNCOMFORTABLE. UNLESS OF COURSE, THEY DECIDE NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, AND FINISH OFF THE YEAR HOLDING THEIR CARDS CLOSE.

     I AM NOT "THE DECIDER." AS I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THEIR TERM, MY INTEREST HAS BEEN A SIMPLE ONE……THAT THEY, THE FOLKS WE ELECTED, HANDLE THE MUNICIPALITY'S AFFAIRS RESPONSIBLY, AND TRANSPARENTLY, AND THAT THEY RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF THE CONSTITUENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRACY OF GOVERNMENT. I HAVE NOT FELT THIS WAS THE CASE. MY OPINION HASN'T CHANGED. AND I DON'T SUPPOSE THEY GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MY OPINION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I WEAR MY OBJECTIONS OPENLY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE, IF ANY OF THE COUNCILLORS WISHED TO OBJECT OR CLARIFY. I'M NOT ABOVE ANY ONE, AND AS FAR AS FAIR PLAY, I TAKE MY ROLE IN DEMOCRACY VERY SERIOUSLY. I DO PARTICIPATE. I DO HAVE AN OPINION. AND I RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS. THERE MAY BE CONSTITUENTS WHO DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS MUNICIPALITY. THERE ARE OTHERS, WHO ARE DAMN ANGRY. OTHERS HAVE A FIFTY-FIFTY BELIEF, AND FIGURE THAT IF THE COUNCIL DOESN'T ACTUALLY BANKRUPT US, THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. THERE ARE STILL OTHERS, WHO TAKE THE WORD ON THE STREET, AT FACE VALUE, AND BECAUSE THE TOWN OFFERS NO EXPLANATIONS, THE EMBELLISHMENTS CLIMB AND INCREASE IN SIZE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. BUT COUNCILLORS DO HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND BEFORE THIS ELECTION IS OVER, THEY WILL HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE HOT SEAT. IT'S JUST PART OF THE TERRITORY OF BEING A PUBLIC OFFICIAL. SHOULD SOME OF THESE SAME PEOPLE WISH TO SEEK RE-ELECTION, THEN THEY WILL PREPARE THEMSELVES ACCORDINGLY.

     BUT HERE'S ONE TO WATCH FOR. I AM GOING TO BRING THIS UP EARLY, BUT THIS IS WHAT IS SUSPECT WILL HAPPEN. ONCE AGAIN, ONE OF THE TOWN GROUPS, WITH A CONFLICT IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOWN, WILL DECIDE TO HOST AN ALL CANDIDATES MEETING…..LIKELY AT THE OPERA HOUSE. I EXPECT, AS USUAL, THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO VOID THE EVENT OF CRITICAL, OFF-THE-FLOOR QUESTIONS, BECAUSE THEY CAN BE EMBARRASSING. AND OF COURSE, IT WOULD GIVE THE CONSTITUENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION, IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF CONSTITUENTS, PRESENT COUNCILLORS WHO HAVE MOST TO ANSWER FOR…..ESPECIALLY TRYING TO WIN BACK THEIR JOBS. SENDING IN YOUR QUESTIONS, TO BE VETTED BY A PANEL FROM THIS GROUP, IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE DURING THE LAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND IT WILL BE THE SAME THIS ELECTION. IT SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO NIGHTS. ONE NIGHT SHOULD BE FOR MAYORAL CANDIDATES ONLY. THE OTHER, FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL COUNCILLORS. QUESTIONS SHOULD BE FROM THE FLOOR. NOT SANITIZED BY A GROUP THAT HAS NO RIGHT TO DO THIS. IF I DO DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE, I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN SUCH A CONTROLLED EVENT….AND I WOULD URGE OTHER LOVERS OF DEMOCRACY TO PULL OUT AS WELL. ANY WAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IN THE COMING MONTHS.

       I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO AT LEAST ONE OTHER COUNCIL, THAT THE "ONE MUSKOKA" PLAN FOR REDEVELOPING THE CHARACTER OF REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. THE DUPLICATION OF SERVICE IS COSTING US TAPPED-OUT RATEPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY. THERE ARE A LOT OF RATEPAYERS, DESIRING CHANGE….AND I THINK ALL CANDIDATES SHOULD TALK WITH THEIR COMMITTEE, TO FIND OUT WHAT THIS EFFICIENCY MISSION REPRESENTS. IF I RUN, I WILL BE DOING SO, TO REPRESENT THIS PLAN FOR MUNICIPAL OVERHAUL……..ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T SOUGHT THEIR OUTRIGHT SUPPORT. THIS MAY COME DOWN THE ROAD. EVERY COUNCIL CANDIDATE SHOULD KNOW WHAT "ONE MUSKOKA" IS ALL ABOUT…..BECAUSE THERE IS CHANGE COMING REGARDLESS. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST KNOW THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THEIR ARGUMENT.

      THE CITIZENS OF GRAVENHURST HAVE A LOT OF CONTEMPLATION AHEAD. THEY ARE GOING TO BE HIT WITH ALL KINDS OF PROMISES IN THE COMING YEAR, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE PRESENT COUNCILLORS AMONGST THE REST, TRYING TO CONVINCE US THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB THIS TERM. I HOPE THEY COME TO MY HOUSE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR AWHILE. POINT IS, WE ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. A CHANCE TO CORRECT WHAT WE PERCEIVE TO BE WRONG WITH OUR MUNICIPALITY. WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CONFRONT COUNCIL HOPEFULS ABOUT THE BAD PUBLICITY WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING, SUCH AS POSTINGS VIA TWITTER…..AND SOME OF THE HARD FEELINGS OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE, AT PRESENT, FEELING ABOUT A MILLION MILES AWAY FROM THE COUNCIL THEY HELPED ELECT.

     THERE WILL BE THOSE CITIZENS WHO OPT NOT TO GET INVOLVED. THERE WILL BE CITIZENS WHO CAN'T BE BOTHERED VOTING. THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEIR VOTE WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE OUTCOME. AND IF I WAS ASKED, IF I HAD ONE CRITICISM, ABOVE ALL ELSE, ABOUT THE TOWN IN WHICH I DWELL, IT WOULD BE THIS……THAT SIMPLY STATED, THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY CITIZENS WHO CAPITULATE TO THE POWER OF TOWN HALL, AND REFUSE TO CHALLENGE AUTHORITY ON ISSUES THEY BELIEVE WERE HANDLED BADLY.  IF WE HAD DONE THE SAME, AND REFUSED TO PUSH BACK AT COUNCIL, FOR THEIR DECISION TO DESTROY THE BOG, SUZANNE AND I WOULD BE STARING OUT THE WINDOW AT A ROW OF HOUSES, INSTEAD……OF THE BEAUTIFUL SNOWY WOODLANDS, AND THE LOWLAND THAT FILTERS RUN-OFF WATER FROM A LARGE CHUNK OF THIS TOWN, BEFORE IT FLOWS INTO THE ALREADY WATER-QUALITY CHALLENGED MUSKOKA BAY. I HEAR, FAR TOO OFTEN, HOW CITIZENS HAVE ACCEPTED DIRECTIVES FROM COUNCIL, WITHOUT ANY CHALLENGE WHATSOEVER. THUS, DEMOCRATIC PRIVILEGE IGNORED BY THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST. I'M NOT SUGGESTING YOU CAN WIN EVERY CHALLENGE….BUT I'D MUCH SOONER CONFRONT AUTHORITY, WHERE I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE, THAN TO FEEL I HAD FUNDAMENTALLY, AND IGNORANTLY ABANDONED MY OWN CIVIL RIGHTS.

     THERE ARE CHALLENGES UPCOMING SOON, WHEN RATEPAYERS WILL HAVE TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES, OR LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. THE BIA EXPANSION PROTOCOL, THAT COULD SEE IT ALMOST TRIPLE IN SIZE, IS ONE OF THE FIRST CONCERNS ON MY LIST OF MANY. IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK. GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION, IS A GOOD PLACE TO START. MANY CITIZENS IN MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, ARE WELL AWARE HOW ADVERSE, A ROGUE COUNCIL, OR MAVERICK COUNCILLORS, CAN BE, TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE WE ENJOY IN OUR COMMUNITIES……BY THE POLICY AND DECISIONS THEY HAVE A HAND IN CREATING. IF WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH THESE INITIATIVES…..THEN DAMN-IT, WE NEED TO PLAY OUR PART. AND THAT DOESN'T JUST MEAN, LIVING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF A BAD IDEA.

     CONSIDER RUNNING FOR COUNCIL. NEED SOME TIPS? YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT AN OPEN LINE WITH ME. HISTORY LESSONS ARE FREE FOR NEW CANDIDATES.