Evalyn Parry brought the audience in the amphitheatre to their feet on the closing night of Summerfolk 40. Honouring the past by letting it speak to both the present and future, she says, "I believe that part of the definition of a “living tradition” is about challenge and change: to staying awake to how the old songs and stories change in relationship to our culture as it evolves, to challenging ourselves as artists (and audiences) to never be complacent in our thinking, but to keep asking the big questions. Thanks Summerfolk for letting me ask those big questions on your main stage."
Here is a link to her website with the text of her incredible spoken word piece To Live in the Age of Melting: Northwest Passage, and her letter to Stephen Harper.
Dear Prime Minister Harper,
I am all for solving long-lost mysteries and discovering things at the bottom of the ocean.
Since having had the chance to travel in the Arctic myself, for the past few years I have been following with interest – and skepticism – your quest to find the Franklin ships. I saw it as a strategic human-interest story, a sleight-of-hand to distract the public from your larger interests in the region: namely, mapping the ocean floor for resources and military purposes...
-by Anne Finlay-Stewart
Just because I took some time off this summer, I don't want to leave you thinking that your city council has not been hard at work. Here are my notes from a special meeting August 26, the only one you cannot watch on YouTube.
City Manager Wayne Ritchie was presenting three reports. He began by saying that the city was in the "service and communication business", and all his recommendations were in support of doing that business better and more cost effectively.
The Council supported his recommendation for bringing by-law enforcement responsibilities back into city hall from Police Services. The move is intended to give staff and council a better picture of which by-laws are working as they were intended or not, as well as a cost saving. At the moment, this would only involve one staff person. While the mayor expressed concern that this might make by-law enforcement "a political football" (one of the reasons it was moved out of city hall when it was), other councillors felt that staying out of those disputes was part of the responsibility of a councillor.
-by Anne Finlay-Stewart
United Way of Bruce Grey is appreciative and thankful for the donors, big and small, who responded after the August 10th fires in Owen Sound. "The outpouring of community support surpassed anything we could have imagined," said chair Dave Myette following a meeting of the board Wednesday evening.
Myette said it is now time to seek experienced, skilled help for the next stage – administering the donated funds. "We are not insurance adjusters. We are looking for someone with this expertise." Whether this individual is able to volunteer their time or is paid out of the administrative budget, United Way wants independent verification of the losses and expenses to assure that everyone involved in the fire and the aftermath is compensated. "This is our responsiblity to the victims, and to the donors," said Myette. "Nothing is being squandered and noone will profit; neither the victims nor the agency, and the independent administrator will ensure that."
An update on the status of the fund..
by Kelly Babcock
Thursday, August 27th, 8:30 'til 10:30 at The Avalon Jazz Lounge, 229 9th St. E., Bobby Dean Blackburn is back, by popular demand! Straight in from County Bruce, the Huron Shore's best known blues man hits the Avalon for an early show. Rumor has it that the great Earl Georgas will be joining Bobby Dean on drums. This is one show you don't want to miss! Admission: Pay what you can
Friday, August 28th, 4PM 'til 6PM at the Bleeding Carrot at 945 Main St. presents the Friday Afternoon Coffee House & Open Mic hosted by Kelly Babcock of Hot Black Coffee. Come on out and take part in the fun, bring your guitar, your banjo, your fiddle, or play our piano. Make some music or present some poetry or just relax with a cup of the Carrot's coffee or a smoothie, and listen ...
By Kelly Babcock, Hub Staff
I busted my back. I broke my truck. I wore out a good pair of gloves, busted a couple of screw gun bits and tore my jeans.
I got up at 3:45AM on Saturday August 15th to start moving stage trailers from storage to the park so that we wouldn't bother anyone, wouldn't inconvenience the commuters on our already construction congested streets this year.
I worked eight and ten hour days to bring things safely across town and then assemble them. I watched as dozens more volunteers did the same things I did, worked the same odd hours I worked, made fast the things that were loose, made do with the things that could have been better, and made right the things that needed repair.
And as things came together and as things got done and as the time grew closer, little by little, the glibly painted timber frames and plywood floors took on the aura of completeness and even the appearance of strength and the look of festival.
And then Summerfolk opened and ...
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