Senior Centre Singers awesome - again!
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Although I haven't been singing with the Senior Centre Singers this fall, I was able to attend the concert on Friday night. Enjoyed brief chats with several singers and was warmed by their reception. Would have bent more ears but you can imagine the tight time, Rachel putting the gang through last-minute practice, photo ops, etc. etc.
From my seat in the back row of the Lions Auditorium I could hear the harmonies and hum along with many numbers familiar from previous shows.
It was a surprise to hear that our accompanist is retiring. I made my way to speak with Shelley Vermeersch after the performance. Being a farm lass, she just hasn't time for all things. She will continue to play for St. Paul's United Church. That will keep her talent well tuned. Such a gift as hers should enrich the community as long as possible.
There are other folk in the choir who have filled in when Shelley was away. The show will go on.
I'm going to boast a bit, now. Our grandson, Connor Andrews plays football with the West Ferris Trojans in North Bay. The Trojans have won every game in the season, taking the local championship 28-14 on November 2, and the semifinals against the Sault Ste. Marie Superior Heights Steelhawks 22-21 on November 16.
You can get an account online from the North Bay Nugget, or ask Bev Hickey in Port Burwell, Connor's other grandfather.
Justin Trudeau has been the butt of jokes, and other commentary since answering a question from a dinner guest last week. Trudeau's intelligence has been rated well below normal by many because he mentioned the government of China when asked what nation in the world he most admires. How could he admire a dictatorship with a record stained with blood?
If you have read what he said you know he did not praise the whole Chinese establishment. He singled out the ability of a dictator to make decisions and take action without the time and money-wasting procedures that plague democracies.
If Trudeau is a tad short in thinking on his feet, it is shown in his lack of foreseeing what his political opponents would do with his musings. Thomas Mulcair, master of indignant rhetoric, has put words in Trudeau's mouth and how many people bother to compare what Mulcair says to what Trudeau said?
Locally, we have an example of the inefficiency of democracy. How many years and how many dollars have been wasted on whether to build a museum at Vienna? In the beginning it was to be focused on the life and work of Thomas Alva Edison. A house associated with the inventor was dedicated to the purpose, but it lacked an efficient system to control the air. Irreplaceable materials were being lost to mold. The building is not physically suited to be brought up to standard.
Land has been obtained for a proper building but there is still no sod turned.
Bayham and Vienna have a rich list of people who have contributed to the area, to the nation, and to the world. Ray Maddox has pressed for a modular building that could be built in stages, each stage dedicated to one of these men and women.
If Ray were given the dictatorial power to bring his dream into reality things would happen. From many conversations I've had with him I have no apprehension that Ray would run the municipality into debt. He would get bricks and mortar, or maybe some space-age materials for the money, not a useless stack of reports.
This week I resolve to have my snow tires put on the van. Don't like to take that action before cold weather is upon us because warm pavement degrades the precious rubber. All-weather radials sound great but they don't bring a ton of metal to a standstill in the distance real snow tires do.
Don't bet your life on the difference.