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.