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Record Snow Fall for Gravenhurst over the Past Two Days
It was more than a Winter Wonderland in Gravenhurst this morning when folks attempted to dig themselves out from a major accumulation of snow throughout the night. The sun came out for most of the day providing the ideal conditions for a Christmas Card scene everywhere you looked. It’s truly a blessing to live in such a beautiful region. Fred Schulz Photos
To Connect With Today's Bracebridge Blog, Part of the Christmas Series Click Here
WHAT WE MISS IN GRAVENHURST - BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION
OUR VISITORS HAVE LOTS TO SAY ABOUT OUR TOWN - IF WE CARED TO LISTEN
NOW, TELL ME I'M OVER CONFIDENT! THIS IS GOING TO BE A WHITE CHRISTMAS. VERY WHITE AND FLUFFY. I'M HOPING WE DON'T GET A GALE TO BLOW IT ALL AWAY. THE TREES LOOK MAGNIFICENT AGAINST THE BLUE SKY. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH SOOTHSAYING OR SPIRIT OF CLAIRVOYANCE, TO JUSTIFY THIS CLAIM. MAYBE EVEN A ROOF-SHOVELLING KIND OF CHRISTMAS SEASON, LIKE THE ONES WE USED TO KNOW. SO IF THIS HOLDS TRUE, THAT WE GET SO MUCH MORE "FESTIVE" WITH SNOW, THAN WITH PALM TREES GROWING OUTSIDE, WE SHOULD HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY INDEED. ONCE THE SHOVELLING IS DONE OF COURSE. I PUT IN MY TWO HOURS LAST NIGHT, AND AN HOUR THIS MORNING, BUT GOSH, DOES BIRCH HOLLOW AND THE BOG EVER LOOK NICE UNDER THIS MANTLE WHITE. I ACTUALLY ENJOYED WORKING OUTSIDE LAST EVENING, AND IT WAS A ROCKWELLIAN PICTURE, TO WATCH ALL THE BUNDLED-UP RESIDENTS, WALKING THEIR DOGS, AND OTHERS, WITH HANDS FOLDED OVER THE HANDLES OF SHOVELS, CHINS RESTING ON TOP....LOOKING LIKE A SUCCESSION OF KEN DRYDENS, TENDING THE OPENINGS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DRIVEWAYS....AGAINST PESKY FORWARDS TRYING TO SCORE A GOAL. DRYDEN WAS FAMOUS FOR STANDING IN HIS GOAL CREASE, WITH THIS HOCKEY STICK POSE. YOU GET MY DRIFT. IT WAS A BRILLIANTLY SENTIMENTAL PANORAMA OF MAN AND NATURE, AT THE PEAK OF LIAISON WITH EACH OTHER. THE ACCUMULATED SNOW ON THEIR HATS MADE FOR GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALBUM.
A NOTE TO MY READERS:
ON JANUARY IST, 2014, I WILL BE MORPHING THIS BLOG / COLUMN, A TAD, INTO SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL, AND CURRENT-EVENT BASED; AND A LOT LESS HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL AS A MAINSTAY. FIRST OF ALL, I WILL BE RENAMING THE BLOG "TED CURRIE," INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT "HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE." I WILL BE REMOVING THE "GRAVENHURST" HEADING, AND ADJUSTING THE DAILY CONTENT AWAY FROM THE LOCAL POLITICAL SCENE. NOT EASY TO DO, BUT NECESSARY. I'M DOING THIS FOR A NUMBER OF PERSONAL REASONS. THE FIRST ONE, IS THAT I MAY DECIDE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, TO ENTER THE ELECTION RACE, FOR ONE OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL SEATS AVAILABLE.... OF OF WHICH THERE ARE SEVERAL TO FILL. AS I NOTED PREVIOUSLY, I WON'T USE THIS BLOG TO FURTHER MY ELECTION CAMPAIGN. I WON'T USE IT TO CRITICIZE OTHERS, OR TO ADVANCE THE CAMPAIGNS OF CANDIDATE-HOPEFULS, I MAY COME TO ADVISE IN THE COMING MONTHS; AND EVENTUALLY SUPPORT. THIS WOULDN'T BE FAIR, IN MY OPINION, AND I HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF OTHERS FOR DOING THE SAME THING. ALTHOUGH I HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS, AND EVEN MORE TO WRITE, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS ELECTION A BATTLE OF POLITICAL BLOGGERS IN THE TRENCHES; OR HAVE IT MISCONSTRUED, IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, THAT MY EDITORIAL CONTENT, IS NOTHING MORE THAN EGOMANIACAL PROMOTION, TO IMPROVE MY CHANCES OF GETTING ELECTED.....JUST BECAUSE I WRITE A DAILY BLOG. AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, IF I DO RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICE, I WILL NOT SPEND ONE DIME TO FINANCE AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. IF ANYTHING, I WILL EXPEND A LOT MORE PERSONAL EFFORT, SHAKING HANDS AND TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH INTERESTED CONSTITUENTS. I BELIEVE IN MAINSTREETING, AS A MEANS OF GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S WHAT I ADVISE, FOR ALL OF THE CANDIDATES I HAVE ENDORSED IN THE PAST. "WIN MAINSTREET, WIN THE ELECTION." I WANT A FAIR ELECTION. I'D LOVE IT TO BE BASED SOLELY ON IDEAS AND POLICIES PUT FORTH, RATHER THAN HOW MUCH MONEY CAN BE THROWN DOWN TO BUY HUGE ELECTIONS SIGNS, DEFACING THE GOOD LOOKS OF A CHARMING COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE AN ALL-CANDIDATES FORUM, WHERE THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO ASK QUESTIONS, THAT AREN'T SUBJECTED TO CENSORSHIP FIRST. MOST OF ALL, I'D RATHER THAT BETTER QUALIFIED CANDIDATES STEP-UP, IN MY PLACE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I'M THE BEST FOR THE JOB. I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN ELECTION OUT OF IT, INSTEAD OF A CORONATION OF THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD. I CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT I PERCEIVE AS PROBLEMS WITH OUR TOWN, WITHOUT SEEKING TO BE PART OF THE WORKING SOLUTION. I'VE NEVER BEEN AN ARMCHAIR CRITIC. I GET INVOLVED, AND DEEPLY; TO AS THEY SAY, "PUT UP OR SHUT UP." IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IF YOU THINK YOU'RE SMARTER THAN EVERY ONE ELSE. I THINK I'M MORE EXPERIENCED THAN SOME, AND IT MEANS I'LL HAVE TO PROVE MY CONVICTION. SO I'M GOING TO TAKE A HIATUS FROM POLITICAL JABBING AND JOUSTING. THIS SHOULD MAKE TODAY'S COUNCILLORS PRETTY HAPPY. JUST DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE. WE'RE NOW IN AN ELECTION YEAR, AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. WILL I STILL BE ENTERTAINING AND PROVOCATIVE IN THE NEW YEAR? INSIGHTFUL? ANTAGONISTIC? I WON'T BE PREDICTABLE. THAT'S FOR SURE. I'M TAKING MY INSPIRATION FROM PAUL RIMSTEAD. "I'VE GOTTA BE ME!" WORTS AND ALL!
A LITTLE SHOT FOR OLD TIME'S SAKE
THE ART OF LISTENING. OUR LONG TIME CITIZENS AND VISITORS SHARE A LOT IN COMMON, ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T KNOW IT. THEY HAVE SOME CRITICALLY IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS AND INSIGHTS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, THAT A FEW OF US ARGUE, RELENTLESSLY, WE HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH AND IGNORED; POSSIBLY, BY JUST OVERLOOKING THE OBVIOUS.
IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY. WHEN I HEAR OR READ, THAT OUR MUNICIPALITY HAS ONCE AGAIN, REQUIRED THE ASSISTANCE OF CONSULTANTS FROM AFAR, TO TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR BUSINESS SECTOR, OR OUR ATTRACTIONS, TO EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY TOURISM, I JUST CLENCH MY JAW, AS IS TYPICAL, AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STORY. YOU SEE, I'M BIG ON USING LOCAL TALENT AND WISDOM TO DEAL WITH MUSKOKA ISSUES.....WHENEVER POSSIBLE. WE JUST NEED TO APPRECIATE, AT THE GOVERNENCE LEVEL, THAT A LOT OF IMPORTANT ADVICE IS BEING LOST, OUT OF SHEER NEGLECT. MODERN DAY COUNCILLORS SHOULD BE OPEN TO THIS ADVICE, BUT THEY'RE INFINITELY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT RUNNING THE SHOW "THEIR WAY," AND THIS INCLUDES THE AVOIDANCE OF HOME GROWN SOLUTIONS TO HOME GROWN ISSUES.
WHEN I SIMILARLY FIND OUT ABOUT A COMMITTEE SETTING ITS "LOOSE AS A GOOSE" AGENDA, TO CREATE SOME SORT OF CULTURAL MAPPING, AS IF IT IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF DOCUMENTS, I JUST PUT THE PAPER DOWN, AND ASK ONE OF OUR BOYS, IF ANY OF THE KEY PLAYERS IN THIS MAPPING, INCLUDING ANY TOWN COUNCILLORS, HAVE SPENT TIME IN OUR MAIN STREET STOREFRONT; (SAY, FOR INSTANCE, TWO MINUTES IN THE LOBBY) ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR ROLE WITHIN THE LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT SCENE, WHICH IS PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL. I'M NOT BRAGGING. TWO FEET INSIDE OUR DOOR, YOU'D KNOW JUST HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING, ON THE LOCAL MUSIC FRONT....OF WHICH, IN MANY CASES, WE'RE INTIMATELY INVOLVED. WE'VE BECOME A SMALL TOWN MECCA OF SORTS, FOR TRAVELLING MUSICIANS. WE LOVE IT. WE JUST DON'T MAKE HEADLINES, BECAUSE THE PRESS DOESN'T KNOW WE'RE HERE EITHER.
WHETHER THEY HAVE ANY INTEREST OR NOT, TO ASK OUR OPINION ABOUT GRAVENHURST'S ENTERTAINMENT PROFILE, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, ISN'T A BIG ISSUE WITH US, BECAUSE LIFE GOES ON AFTERALL. THE INFORMATION IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, BUT WE CAN'T FORCE THEM TO PAY ATTENTION. WHEN I SUGGEST THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER TO US, WELL, IT DOES MAKE US FEEL SOMEWHAT MORE DISCONNECTED FROM THOSE WHO ADMINISTER OUT THERE. IF THEY BYPASS US, WHAT ELSE ARE THEY MISSING THAT SHOULD COUNT? IT'S PART OF THE BIGGER PROBLEM, THAT SO MANY WHO DO HAVE SIGNIFICANT INSIGHTS, ARE ROUTINELY AVOIDED, AND IT'S WHAT CAUSES CITIZENS GENERALLY TO SAY THINGS LIKE, "THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY OPINION," AND "OH, WHAT'S THE POINT." OUR TOWN MAY ASK FOR INPUT, BUT EVEN THOSE WHO DO COME FORWARD, SENSE THE AGENDA IS ALREADY IN PLACE ANYWAY. YOU ONLY NEED TO CONSIDER THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS AT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE. DOES COUNCIL WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE OPERATION? NO WAY. DON'T BOTHER MAKING ANY SUGGESTIONS OR YOU'LL BE CONSIDERED A HERETIC.
BUT MY POINT IS, THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AWAY, AND BEYOND, SEARCHING EVERYWHERE ELSE, FOR WHAT LOCALS POSSESS AS THE GENUINE PROOF, THE REAL STORY, AND THE "NO HOLDS BARRED" TRUTHS. THERE IS A PREFERENCE IN THIS TOWN, TO LOOK TO THE GENIUS OF THE URBAN SOUTH, IN THIS PROVINCE, FOR ANSWERS; EXCEPT WHERE THE ANSWERS CONVENIENTLY EXIST, PRETTY MUCH OUT IN THE OPEN. AND FOR A BARGAIN PRICE OF CONSULTATION. THE CONUNDRUM HERE, AND IT'S A BIG ONE, IS THAT MOST CITIZENS, WHO HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THESE THINGS, JUST CAN'T BE BOTHERED MAKING FORMAL SUBMISSIONS, OR ATTENDING PUBLIC MEETINGS. IT'S AN APATHY INSPIRED BY AN EVER INCREASING DISTANCING OF GOVERNANCE FROM THE CONSTITUENCY. THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE GOING TO A LOT OF BOTHER, ONLY TO BE MINIMIZED FOR THEIR EFFORTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED. FAR TOO MANY TIMES. I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF CITIZENS IN THIS TOWN, WHO ARE AWFULLY SMART ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT ARE CONFIDENT THE TOWN, OR ITS COMMITTEES, DON'T CARE TO KNOW. IT'S A SHAME. OF COURSE WE WANT TO SHARE WISDOM. WISDOM IS GARNERED FROM EXPERIENCE. HOMETOWN EXPERIENCE IS PRICELESS. IT'S A RESOURCE TO SHARE. A HISTORY TO LEARN FROM. I WANT TO KNOW. A LOT OF US DO. WE'RE SORRY THEY FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM THOSE WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS, AND BELIEVE THEY ARE DISMISSED AS BEING OUT OF SYNC WITH MODERN TIMES. MODERN REALITIES. SO THE UNREMARKABLE CHOICE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IS TO SEEK ADVICE ON HOW WE SHOULD LIVE AND WORK IN THIS TOWN, BY THE EXPRESS OPINIONS OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH GRAVENHURST, EXCEPT TO CASH THE CONSULTING CHEQUE.....WE'RE BANK ROLLING. AND THERE IS NO WILL OR INTEREST TO CHANGE THE LONG-DISTANCE FEELING WITH TOWN HALL; COUNCILLORS ARE TOO LATE IN THEIR TERM OF OFFICE TO BOTHER IMPROVING THEIR OUTREACH....WHICH IS PRETTY FEEBLE, AND THE CITIZENRY, WELL, HAVE GIVEN UP TRYING TO CONVINCE THE TOWN TO LOOK AT HOME GROWN SOLUTIONS FIRST. THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE OPERA HOUSE. THEY KNOW WHY IT'S GETTING POOR ATTENDANCE FOR SHOWS. BUT IF YOU DON'T ASK THEM, THE CONSTITUENTS OF GRAVENHURST....THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. RIGHT? NO, INSTEAD, IT BECOMES AN ELECTION ISSUE FOR 2014. I PLAN TO MAKE IT ONE.
WE LISTEN TO OUR CUSTOMERS. THERE ARE SOME GREAT INSIGHTS, IF YOU PAY ATTENTION, AND MANY INCREDIBLE CRITIQUES, THAT COME FREE OF CHARGE. JUST FOR THE PRICE OF A FEW MOMENTS, TO LISTEN TO A VISITOR'S OVERVIEW OF THE MAIN STREET FOR EXAMPLE. WE GET UNSOLICITED CRITIQUES ABOUT ASSOCIATE BUSINESSES, HISTORIC SITES, INCLUDING MUSEUMS, RESTAURANTS THAT PROVIDED GOOD OR BAD SERVICE, AND COMMENTS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS GOING ON IN THIS MUNICIPALITY.....RIGHT DOWN TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ROADS. OUR LOCAL CUSTOMERS ARE FAR MORE CRITICAL OF THE TOWN, GENERALLY, AND DON'T MIND SHARING THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT ITS SHORTFALLS. SO MANY OF OUR TOURIST FRIENDS AND DAY TRAVELLERS, ARE WILLING TO OFFER OVERVIEWS OF OUR TOWN'S HOSPITALITY, AS COMPARED TO OTHER LOCATIONS THEY VISIT, OR HAVE VISITED MOST RECENTLY. WE ARE CONSTANTLY PRIVY TO USEFUL AND ENLIGHTENING SUGGESTIONS, ABOUT WHAT WOULD MAKE OUR TOWN EVEN MORE ACCOMMODATING TO THE TOURISM SECTOR. WHY WOULDN'T WE PAY ATTENTION? IN MOST CASES, THEY'RE NOT WRONG. EVEN THE LOCAL CRITIQUES WE HEAR ABOUT, HAVE SUBSTANCE TO THEM, IN WHICH WE CAN RELATE. WHAT THE TOWN AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY MIGHT OPT TO PAY FOR, IN CONSULTANT FEES, IS AS CLOSE AS THE STORE COUNTER, AND THE PERSON PREPARING TO MAKE A PURCHASE.....OR JUST WISHING TO ENGAGE IN SMALL TALK. WE COULD LEARN A LOT FROM THOSE WITH CONSIDERABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OBVIOUS SHORTFALLS WE HAVE IN TOWN. THIS YEAR WE GOT COMMENTS ABOUT THE ROUGH CONDITION OF GULL LAKE PARK, LONG AFTER THE SUMMER STORM TOOK DOWN MANY OF ITS TREES. THE CLEAN UP WAS EXCESSIVELY LONG, AND THAT WAS NOTICEABLE. ONE HAS TO WONDER IF THE TOWN CARES ABOUT COMMENTS LIKE THIS.....THAT DON'T AGREE WITH ITS MULTI-COUNCILLOR STATE OF THE UNION, THAT "WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL," WHEN CLEARLY IT'S NOT. IS THE PUBLIC ALARMIST? ARE THEY JUST MAKING MEAN SPIRITED COMMENTS FOR THE HELL OF IT? COULD THERE BE ANY MERIT TO THESE CRITICISMS? WELL, WHEN WE HAVE TO NOD THAT WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND AGREE, WE'RE PRETTY SURE A CONSENSUS IS ON THE WAY TO PROVING THEM AS RIGHT! IT TAKES A LOT TO MOVE TOWN HALL FROM ITS PROTOCOL, EVEN IF COMMON SENSE PROVES THEY'RE WRONG, AND THE PUBLIC IS RIGHT. I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD THIS FROM THE TIME THE NEW COUNCIL TOOK OFFICE. I THINK THE PUBLIC GENERALLY, HAS BEEN FAR TOO FORGIVING AND THAT HAS SENT THE WRONG MESSAGE TO TOWN HALL. IN THIS REGARD, THEY GIVE THEMSELVES TOP GRADES, BUT THIS IS DELUSIONAL SPECULATION.
WE RECEIVE, AS PRETTY ORDINARY RETAILERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS ABOUT THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF GRAVENHURST. IT MAKES US BLUSH, AND IT SURE MAKES US PROUD. THEY APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE, AND ESPECIALLY WHAT WE DON'T HAVE, PARTICULARLY IN THE FORM OF URBAN BLIGHT. WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL FORESTS, AND MAGNIFICENT LAKES AND SPARKLING RIVERS; WE HAVE AMPLE PARKS, AND A DIVERSE AND UNIQUE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, REFLECTING THE VALUES WE HAVE AS MUSKOKANS, IN ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN VACATION AREAS IN THE WORLD. BELIEVE ME, OUR TOWN GETS A LOT OF AMAZING COMMENTS, THAT WE WISH WE'D BEGUN RECORDING SOONER. CONSIDERING THE FACT TOURISM IS STILL THE WAY-OUT-FRONT INDUSTRY, SERVING OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT, IT'S A DARN GOOD THING TO RECEIVE SUCH ENCOURAGING COMMENTS, ABOUT OUR HOSPITALITY AND ACCOMMODATION TO TRAVELLERS.....AND THE SAME GOES FOR MANY COTTAGERS, ALTHOUGH THEY, AS LOCAL TAXPAYERS, WILL OCCASIONALLY OFFER SOME STINGING CRITIQUES; OF PAYING TOO MUCH, FOR TOO FEW SERVICES. IT'S ALL RELEVANT. WHILE COUNCILLORS MAY BE TIRED OF HEARING THE CRITICISM, INPUT ISN'T ONLY OF VALUE WHEN ITS GLOWING WITH POSITIVES. WE NEED TO KNOW IT ALL. THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE BETTER INFORMED, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE NOT LIVING IN A STATE OF PERPETUAL DELUSION; BELIEVING THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A "BURNING IN EFFIGY EVENT," ON THE TOWN HALL GROUNDS, THAT EVERYTHING IS PEACHY. KNOWING ALL SIDES IS PRETTY IMPORTANT. MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS? ONE SCRATCHES THE BACK OF THE OTHER.
I STOOD OUTSIDE LAST EVENING, FOR A FEW MINUTES AFTER MOVING A MOUNTAIN OF SNOW FROM OUR DRIVEWAY, AND LOOKING OUT OVER THE SNOWY WOODS, THAT ROBERT FROST MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN A POEM ABOUT; I COULDN'T HELP BUT WAXING NOSTALGIC, ABOUT THE MANY EXCEPTIONAL QUALITIES AND ADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. THE WORK WAS HARD AND HEAVY, AND MY EARS WERE FROZEN, AS WERE MY TOES. BUT THERE WAS SUCH A CHARMING WARMTH, LOOKING DOWN THE STREET, SEEING THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TWINKLING AWAY, ON THE PROPERTIES, OF NEIGHBORS LIKE US, WHO REALLY DO CHERISH THE TOWN IN WHICH THEY RESIDE. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY LIKE ABOUT GRAVENHURST, AND ARE OPTIMISTS ABOUT ITS FUTURE.....JUST LIKE US. THEY DON'T HATE SHOVELLING SNOW, JUST LIKE THEY DON'T DISLIKE MOWING THEIR LAWNS IN THE SUMMER, OR SETTING OUT THEIR FLOWERS IN PLANTERS AND FERTILE GARDENS EACH SPRING. THEY GATHER UP THE LEAVES IN THE FALL, AND PAUSE EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, TO ADMIRE THE DEER THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE WOODLAND, TO NIBBLE THE PLANTS ON OUR PROPERTIES. WE ALL HAVE OPINIONS. THEY MAY NOT BE WHAT TOWN HALL WANTS TO HEAR, BUT I'M WILLING TO BET, THAT IF THEY DID DECIDED TO LISTEN AND LEARN, THEY'D FIND MORE REASON THAN EVER, TO CONSULT LOCALLY THEREAFTER. THE RESIDENTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD KNOW HOW PRECARIOUS IT IS, TO TRUST TOWN HALL TO ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING. IT WAS A FORMER COUNCIL THAT DECIDED THIS AMAZING FOREST AND IMPORTANT LOWLAND WAS EXPENDABLE......TO BE RAZED OF ITS TREES, FILLED IN, AND SOLD OFF FOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS. THE WORSE PART, WAS THAT MOST OF THE COUNCILLORS HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE BOG WAS ALL ABOUT, BUT WERE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE IT ANYWAY. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS FROM THAT COUNCIL EXPERIENCE.
THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY, KNOW FULL WELL, HOW TO MAKE THE TOWN BETTER AND MORE ACCOMMODATING, AND OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY. THE NEXT TIME THEY'LL BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE, WILL BE THIS COMING OCTOBER, DURING THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN. I HOPE IT WILL BE A VIGOROUS DISPLAY OF DEMOCRATIC PRIVILEGE.
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