Out and About in Nature's Sculpture Garden

Thanks  Stewart

Santa's a Canadian

On Everyone's Minds

It doesn't seem right or easy to carry on with our Christmassy feelings when so many are grieving for the awful loss of life in such a violent setting.  Facebook posts, talk on the street are all about the tragedy in Connecticut.  Soon people will be saying 'life goes on' but let's hope it's a different life that goes on - one where maybe finally, possession of these deadly weapons is treated with much more scrutiny.  A committed effort for that to happen would be a Christmas gift worth having. 

No Time for Emotions, Let's Talk About Gun Control

is the headline in the Huffington Post.

'But what exactly is so "unthinkable" about Friday's school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, when it almost seems to happen on a regular basis?'

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/daniel-alexandre-portoraro/school-shooting-gun-control_b_2303348.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

Sending Our Sincere and Heartfelt Sympathy

Our thoughts and prayers to all those families

 touched by today's horrific violence in 

Newtown, Connecticut.

Sign Open House a Mob Scene or an Example of Grassroots Democracy – you be the judge

Perceptions by Gerry Warner

“Beauty (and ‘clutter’) is in the eye of the beholder.” I don’t know who enunciated this truism first, probably Shakespeare or maybe the Bible. They are, after all, the two most quoted sources in the world. But I have a confession to make and I’m not ashamed to say it.

I like signs. I like neon too, but more on that later.

Now that you know where I’m coming from, I might as well jump into the latest controversy to engulf Cranbrook and Cranbrook City Hall. And that is the City’s proposed new sign bylaw, which has stirred up a hornets’ nest of angst and dissent  at a time when the City has much greater problems on its overburdened table.

Let’s deal with the beauty or aesthetic issue first. Cranbrook Street, or “The Strip” as it’s more fondly known, isn’t beautiful nor should it be because it is, after all, a “strip,” a busy business or commercial street that brings millions of dollars and thousands of visitors and tourists to the city every year.

If there’s something wrong with this, I’d like it explained to me because I think the business The Strip brings to the city benefits every local citizen to a greater or lesser degree. Beauty? Sure, some snooty travel writers have maligned our beleaguered Strip over the years but that’s mostly in the past before the lovely flower planters were placed up and down the street, before the local heroes banners were hung from the lamp standards and before the right-angled turn was converted into a flowing curve connecting The Strip and Van Horne Street. In other words, our beloved Strip has been greatly improved and is no longer ugly.

Take that you snooty travel writers!

Clutter? Take a look to the right at a picture of downtown Kathmandu. Now that’s “clutter!” When it comes to clutter we're just amateurs compared to them and I’d also point out that many tourists find the chaotic sign situation in Kathmandu exotic or a great example of local culture.

Neon? The proposed sign bylaw discourages the use of neon. Piffle! In some quarters, neon is considered “art,” not clutter, and old neon signs in many cities have even been given heritage designation . So come on Cranbrook. Get with the program.

Another unfair criticism lobbed at the signs on The Strip is that they are a distraction and a safety hazard blocking the view of the mountains. Again, I say piffle! You can still see the glorious Rockies from almost anywhere on The Strip and if you’re looking at the peaks instead of the road that’s an even greater distraction. You can’t have it both ways. And besides, I think most people driving The Strip are looking for bargains, not mountains.

Then there’s the claim that a “mob mentality” was operating at the sign open house meeting Dec. 5. This one leaves me flummoxed. I was at the meeting, and while I certainly heard some emotional speeches and comments in my wildest dreams I never felt I was at a mob scene. Nor did I feel intimidated . However, I heard from more than one person there that they did feel intimidated and were afraid to speak. That’s unfortunate because the very essence of democracy is that people must feel they have an innate right to speak and express their opinion. If we do another sign open house after the revised bylaw is drawn up – and I’m strongly encouraging the City to do just that – I’m sure every measure will be taken to encourage an open and welcoming atmosphere where no one is afraid to express their opinion.

Finally, I would like to express my own opinion that everyone is free to accept or reject. And it’s simply this. I thought the sign open house meeting was a great exercise in grass roots democracy that did our city proud. Unlike the divisive East Hill debate when the Council of the day passed a unanimous motion to make a boundary extension application to Victoria before consulting with the people, this time the horse and the wagon are being put in the right order.

In other words, consultation is happening first then a bylaw may or may not be passed, or passed with needed changes. It’s essential we do it right this time because the livelihood of every Cranbrook Street merchant will be impacted by this bylaw.

And if we do it right, there should be no need for another referendum.

Gerry Warner is a retired journalist and Cranbrook City councilor. His opinions are his own.

Chamber Raises $27000 for Christmas Hampers

Under the leadership of Jason Wheeldon, it was announced yesterday at the Chamber luncheon that $27000.00 was raised for turkeys , hams and all the fixings for Christmas hampers.  Many Congratulations to all those involved in this great community giving gesture.  The Food Bank and the Salvation Army will look after some of the distributions.

Norma Blissett (left) was just one of the guest phone operators for the turkey drive.   

What's Happening...

Thursday, December 13

It's a Wonderful Life - The Live Radio Show
Presented by the Cranbrook Community Theatre
Dec, 13, 14, and 15th
Studio Stage Door, 8pm
Tickets are $13 CCT members, $15 non-members

Saturday, December 15

Fort Steele Heritage Town 
Presents Father Christmas at Lambi House
Get your picture taken with Santa Clause and enjoy cider and cookies
Also sleigh rides
11am - 2pm

One Starry Night
Travel Back in Time to Ancient Bethlehem
Free Activities for all ages.
Knox Church
2100-3rd St. S

Sunday, December 16

Kids Christmas Shopping P.A.R.T.Y.
Held from 1 - 5pm
Kids of all ages invited to shop for gifts
from $1-$15

Monday, December 17

Travelogue on the Grand Canyon
Presented by Friends of the Cranbrook Public Library and Gerry Warner
7pm at the College of the Rockies Lecture Theatre
Admission by Donation

Wednesday December 19th
Gordon Terrace School Concert 1:00pm

Thursday, December 20

The Royal Stewart Highland Dancers host
their annual Christmas Charity Recital
7pm at the Heritage Inn  Ballroom
All monies going to the Salvation Army.

The Making of a Good Citizen

Gen Y In Canada: Taxes, Tolerance And Voting Top List Of What Makes A Good Citizen

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/12/06/gen-y-in-canada-citizenship_n_2247577.html?utm_hp_ref=generation-y&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

The vast majority of millennials consider themselves to be good citizens, but there is not nearly as much consensus on what that means — a disagreement often influenced by age, education and country of origin.

Abacus Data polled 1,004 Canadians of the Millennial Generation —aged 18 to 30 — on a variety of issues between Oct. 23 and 25. Overwhelmingly, respondents to the poll, carried out for The Huffington Post Canada, believed they were good citizens.

This may not necessarily be representative of the entire generation, however. People who consider themselves to be bad citizens are not likely to volunteer information to a pollster. And this kind of self-evaluation may not be accurate. For example, when surveyed, a majority of people tend to believe they are better drivers than the average person.

Nevertheless, not everyone in the poll believed themselves to be model Canadians. While 39 per cent said they were “very good” citizens, another 57 per cent said they were merely “good” citizens. Women were more modest than men: 35 per cent said they were very good citizens, compared with 43 per cent of men. And the more educated someone was, the more likely they were to consider themselves very good citizens.

Read the top list and the entire article at the link above.

Music for the Soul

Landfill Harmonic film teaser from Landfill Harmonic on Vimeo.

Blast from the Past - December 9th to 15th 100 Years Ago

100 Years Ago

The week Dec 9^th to Dec 15th

Readers please note that we would not use some of this wording today - however these headlines and articles are taken directly   From The Cranbrook Herald December 12th, 1912.

 Pictures of the 101 Ranch will be shown at the Auditorium Friday night.

— The popular comic opera “The Cingalee” is to be performed by the Cranbrook Opera Society next week.

— The Cranbrook Farmers’ Institute held a meeting at the Government building last Wednesday.  A motion was unanimously carried protesting against the action of some local merchants, who, in spite of the well-known fact that hundreds of acres of potatoes were grown in this district this past season have ordered their winter supply from outside the district.

— A large supply of Japanese oranges for the holiday trade arrived this week for the local merchants.

— It is expected that the new Indian School, at the St. Eugene Mission, will be taken over from the contractor during the coming week. There will be a formal opening later on.

— The Ladies Aid of the Methodist Church conducted a very enjoyable and profitable Bean Feast.  There were eight booths, all beautifully decorated and filled with timely Christmas Gifts.  The bean supper was a rare feast to which quite a large number did justice.  The takings were substantial which will be used to wipe out the debt on the new organ.

— The Kootenay Central Railway has a rail laying gang busily at work between Fort Steele and Wasa.

— Two carloads of horses were landed here this week by J. Turpin from the State of Washington.

— Dr. Hugh Watt has permanently taken up residence at Elko, where he is building a home and a small hospital. He has been gazetted medical health officer for the Elko district.

— Miss Amy Woodland has been engaged as principal of the Fort Steele public school. She will be assisted in her work by Miss Eleanor Curley, a recent arrival from Liverpool, England.

— Mr. and Mrs. A. H. DeWolf will shortly take up residence in the Geo. Powell house for the winter months, but expect to build a home for themselves in the city in the coming spring.

— J. S. Campbell. C.P.R. locomotive engineer, left yesterday for the Old Country, Where he will spend his Christmas holidays, returning here in the spring.

— James Finlay while out on Vancouver Island last week purchased the tourist hotel at Shawnigan Lake and has put a good man in charge to run the place.

— The Cranbrook Conservative Association is putting forward the name of J. D. McBride for appointment to the senate, and West Kootenay Conservatives are boosting for the appointment of R. F. Green, M.P.

— With the object of cutting timber from limits adjoining the international boundary line on the Canadian side. A. E. Watts is building a small mill a short distance north of Port Hill, Idaho. This will be the third sawmill under operation by the Wattsburg Lumber Company.

— The fine brick and concrete garage on Norbury Avenue opposite the curling rink, built by Contractor Geo. R. Leask, is now practically completed and presents a very handsome appearance. Cranbrook can now boast of the best garage between Winnipeg and the coast. A. J. Mott is the local manager.

— Cranbrook to Toronto and return $72.15; Cranbrook to Montreal and return $77.15. Take the Canadian Pacific Railway Annual Eastern Excursions.

— SACRIFICE SALE – 132 foot frontage on Norbury and 122 feet on Edward.  Positively the best available close-in corner in the City. Price $2,000.00 Half cash.