View from My Perch - Gerry Poling

I received this e-mail from my friend Lucy Oversby in Mississauga, whose friend was recently ticketed under a new section of the Highway Traffic Act. It is as follows:

“This is my friend Anita’s real story, said Lucy and here is Anita’s version of what happened.

“I just had an experience which I hope you will not have to go through yourselves.

“I was driving on the 427 South at Burnamthorpe Rd.in broad daylight at 2 p.m., when I came upon two police cruisers who had pulled over a third vehicle.

“I slowed down to be cautious, and was surprised when the second cruiser pulled out and pulled me over.

“Approaching on the passenger side, the officer asked if I knew why I had been pulled over. I honestly expressed that I had no idea.

“He informed me that Ontario law now states that when approaching any emergency vehicle on the roadside with lights flashing, you must enter the left lane. He then proceeded to ticket me, taking three demerits and issuing a fine of , wait for it, $490! PLUS THREE DEMERIT POINT.) Yes, I’m choking as I type that.)

“I realize I did not change lanes, but I do believe I was cautious. My message is, be careful.

“He said they are cracking down hard on this, because of injured officers. I did not realize this was the law. (Neither did any of my recently-licensed children). Or evidently not the 47 drivers pulled over.”

So I wonder how many of our Thunder Bay Seniors newspaper readers are aware of this change?

First I say I am greatly disappointed in our newspaper and TV reporters for not making a real front page story on this so that everyone is fully aware. Secondly, why did Bob Runciman, our esteemed minister, not advertise it in every newspaper in the country and on radio and TV.

The government is spending millions, telling us what a great job they are doing, but they damn well can’t spend a few bucks to publicize such an important change? I am sure every newspaper and TV would have been greatly interested in making a story out of it and might even forgo the cost of advertising.

Regardless, such an important change needs to be emphasized not just once but several times a year until it is as well known as are the government ads on what a great job they are doing. Well let me add BULL, this is one big booboo Bob.

Having read time and again how officers have been struck by cars (which is why this new legislation came into being) this also brings to mind the question of why police officers have to approach a car from the driver’s side?

Why not from the passenger’s side? Better still, why not use the loud hailer each cruiser has, and ask the driver to step out of the car from the passenger’s side and meet them in front of the cruiser? Then they could take them back to the cruiser to write out the ticket?

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I had occasion to visit the sixth floor at the top of our condo building and looking out over the north end of the city the most prominent height of land is Hillcrest High School, which can give one living on the top floor of that building a commanding view of the city and waterfront. Why is it some condos aren’t being built there? What a view it would give of the entire city. If built the same number of storeys, or one or two higher (six floors) you could see the most panoramic view of all points of the compass of the city. Instead some dummy developer from Manitoba is going to tear up our waterfront to build condos and a hotel. Well good luck. I hope a local developer will jump on the PATS a.k.a. and build condos on that site. I think it would make a great little seniors’ condo community. As for the waterfront project, I think the developers will have one hell of a tough task sucking in enough tenants to fulfill their dream.

One real estate person told me they will be one of the most costly white elephants, in this city’s history. Time will tell the tale.

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I have found that Stephen Harper’s government certainly doesn’t play by the rules.

I believe this government was responsible for the establishment of the “NO CALL” system

This was supposedly to stop crank calls, surveys etc.. Well apparently there is a thousand dollar fine for breaching this NO CALL, so I would like to see the government fined for calling my number on a Saturday morning as I was shaving and asking me to submit to a one question survey.

They wanted to know if I supported the PCs (if so press 1) the LIBs (if so press 2) the NDP if so press 3 or the PQ for which I was instructed to press 4. If I was undecided I was to press 5.

I don’t know if the call was recorded because the number was an anonymous one that I could not redial. I gave them my comment (which is unprintable).

How is it the government of Canada (which at this point is PC) can get away with bypassing the NO CALL system? I would like to see everyone demand a fine be levied against the government of Canada (PC Party or which ever one ordered the survey), and fined the maximum.

l say at this point in time, I support none of the parties and if an independent were to run, then I would give him or her my vote. In my estimation all parties are as useful as teats on a boar. So let’s get some younger person to step forward and offer to run as an independent.

This being the final issue of Seniors for 2009, I wish to take this opportunity to thank all our readers for their comments (both good and bad) and wish them and their families the most pleasant and Merriest Christmas ever. And, of course, I add in a wish for a Happy and Prosperous New Year as well.

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Congratulations to the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation on reaching their goal of $4.5 million for a new treatment facility centre.

But special thanks go to those who contributed to that total. I still think this city should continue to adopt the slogan, “The City with a Giant Heart.”

With that I’ll say adieu and see you next month.

I hate whenever someone thinks I am a complete idiot….and I wonder if you do too? Now a partial idiot I may well be, but an entire idiot NOT SO.

June 2009 

City Council is seeking to pacify the cyclists of our city by creating a bicycle lane on Court Street. This would eliminate further, the few free parking spaces left in this city and, could create more problems than it would solve.

I especially refer to the portion of Court St. N. in front of Maudsley Court. Not too long ago, the city engineers prohibited parking in front of McVicar Estates from Maudsley Court to Elgin St., as a safety move for school buses turning off Elgin. (Why couldn’t the buses load and unload in the lane behind the school thereby freeing up Elgin St.?) Residents agreed because of the safety factor to school children.

In doing so, residents of Maudsley had to find other parking spaces, from their building south to McVicar Street.

Now they propose to eliminate that parking and put in a cycling lane by painting a line along the east side. So now where will the people visiting Maudsley or McVicar Estates park? Better still, where will the residents of Maudsley’s apartment block park?

I would like to know also, if this route would tie in to the already existing cycling paths in the city, such as the one which traverses the Confederation College property?

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For 16 of my 73 years I rode bicycles in this city and never once came close to being hit by a vehicle. Of course those were the days, when we stopped for stop signs and had to have a light on our bike at night.

Today, most cyclists act like they own the road, as they whiz through red lights and stop signs without even a glance to the right or left. At night, wearing dark clothing, very few of them even had a reflector, let alone a light.

In later years I rode a scooter and motorcycles on almost every street in this community and never had a problem with traffic. The only spill I took was on a trail through the bush. Is this really necessary or is it just another council booboo?

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I couldn’t agree more with the letter writer, who suggested council look at using smaller bus vehicle. Keep the big buses on the main routes where rider patronage warrants, but for goodness sake take them off those routes that see these giants travelling with only a handful of passengers. Prime example was the Jumbo Gardens bus that went up John St. empty on at least two occasions.

I mentioned this some time ago, after I visited White Rock B.C. and saw mini-buses in use there.

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As one who critiqued the construction of the skateboard plaza in Marina Park, I have to admit it is certainly being well used by young skateboarders, but I still think it was the wrong spot for it. There is some objection now to the noise of the skateboards from nearby residents and in the evenings after traffic dissipates, it is quite noticeable. So why did the designers not take into consideration a noise barrier?

Also Councillor Aldo Roberto told of how on Battle of Britain Sunday, these young people curtailed their skateboarding while the ceremony was going on. Afterward, he said, a representative of the Legion walked over and thanked the kids for stopping while the ceremony was on.

I was impressed by these young skateboard enthusiasts when they took it upon themselves to shovel it off so they could use it this past winter.

Now… if we can just keep the Grafitti artists from ruining it for them.

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I think the decision of this city to ban smoking within 10 metres of any playground or beach is another step in the right direction. But having said that, I suggest the perfect and less costly solution in time and money in debating these issues, would be to ban the manufacture of tobacco products entirely. However I doubt I will live long enough to see that wish come to fruition.

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I watched with interest the other day, as a public works truck pulled up to the intersection of Court St. and Harrington St.

Over a period of close to a half hour, two men got out, set up two “Yield to Oncoming Traffic” signs, and placed orange cones around their vehicle and the corner they were “working” on.

Then less than an hours later they removed the barrier cones, except for two, placed the signs back in their truck and drove off.

Curiosity killed the cat, so I ventured over to see what they had done.

They had placed two cones around a hole in the street, where water is obviously under mining the basin and perhaps the street. Some six to 10 days later the hole was still there. I guess they were waiting for someone to break an ankle or some car an axle before they remedied the situation.

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Summer is (hopefully) on its way as we write this column and we would remind motorists that school will soon be out, so do be careful in driving and watch for the youngsters on the roads.

HAPPY SUMMER VACATION TO ALL.

MAY, 2009

I am a bit perturbed over the revealing of salaries of some of our top officials, such as Chief of Police Bob Herman and LU President Fred Gilbert. I look upon that as an invasion of privacy because if their salaries have to be exposed to the public, then why shouldn’t the salary of every person in Thunder Bay be revealed.

More important is the question of whether or not they are worth the salary paid and are they doing their jobs properly. I don’t see this as a news story. After all if you want to find out how much they are being paid, this is public knowledge one can acquire from the government stats department.

To make it a simple salary story taking up valuable news space, that could be better used to report other events of more interest, is to my way of thinking, scraping the bottom of the barrel. God knows our paper is getting thinner in news and thicker in ads, so why not report something more worthwhile?

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My sister Eileen died this past month and so ‘tis a bit hard to get my mind back on track. Eileen was quite active in bridge, euchre, painting plus a few other activities at 55+ and I know a lot often asked how she was doing.

Well she’s doing fine now, in the Good Lord’s hands, so thought I’d mention it in column, to let all those who knew her know that she has passed away. She fell reaching for something from her walker and broke her hip.

They wanted to put a plate in to repair the damage instead of a hip replacement, but when she was on the stretcher at Thunder Bay Regional, she said “no operation.” So I guess she showed them.

Anyway, at 90 years of age, she left a good legacy of art, and passed on her creative talents to daughters Linda, who operates Northern Lights Gallery on Bay St., next to the Hoito, and Marianne, who is a goldsmith out in Victoria and makes jewellery as well; Pat, who is a teacher with the Catholic school board, Tom, who runs his own company down south, Gerry, who works out in Kelowna and Sandy, who is a rig driver and works in Alaska. I was surprised when Marianne said she will be moving back to Thunder Bay in June.

She was quite proud of all of them and deservedly so.

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I am amazed that with a $1,000 fine facing individuals for littering, many people continue to toss garbage out the windows of their vehicles.

I was behind a silver colored Frontier truck at Junot Street the other day and watched as a guy tossed a cigarette out the window.

I wonder why people, insist on rolling down their window, and tossing things out, when they can simply reach forward a couple of inches and put their refuse into a garbage bag, or butt cigs in their ash tray. Guess that would take some thinking, so guess what these people lack?

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I have to compliment the group of students seen walking about town prior to Earth Day, picking up garbage. Now there is a real worthwhile project and too bad a few of our older generation don’t follow suit. A big salute to these young people for trying to set an example for older folk.

Of course having said that, I think council should do more in this field, like perhaps putting refuse containers in busy locations where people can deposit their refuse. Perhaps the money which council was going to spend sending council members to Finland, could be used to buy a few containers.

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I think our border guards at Pigeon River, might take a few pages out of the book for hospitality. I go across quite often and find the American border patrol much more pleasant in welcoming visitors than our sour-pussed Canadian guards, with a few exceptions.

It seems to me U.S. guards always have a smile and a pleasant comment like “have a pleasant day but leave us some money,” or some similar jocular comment. Much more preferable than a bunch of stock questions.

But this also applies to people serving our visitors. They should be courteous and pleasant too, in giving service to visitors and residents alike. I think local stores should emphasize pleasantry to customers, instead of gruff statements from a clerk (when you can find one).

I spent about 15 minutes in one store recently where three clerks, stood chatting about their previous night’s episode. I wandered about until finally I walked out muttering “guess nobody works here.”

Don’t know if they heard me or not, but I think I said it loud enough.

“Service” is a word that seems to have disappeared from the Thunder Bay scene. So Mary Long-Irwin and the Chamber had best urge businesses to perk up in this regard.

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So much for the March in like a lion out like a lamb theory.

The beginning of March saw a storm and then there was an unusually heavy fall of snow and ice storm that knocked out power in a wide area.

Let’s hope “April showers bring May flowers,” as the other saying goes.

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Now that spring is here (although, one tends to wonder) a word of caution to those who like ice fishing. DON’T! The ice is dangerously thin now and I have seen people out on the lake in the Black Bay region and that is courting disaster. So please stay off the ice.

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As April draws to a close let me remind you April showers bring

May flowers and I leave you with this grow(ner):

A lady opened her refrigerator and saw a rabbit sitting on one of the shelves.

“What are you doing in there?’she asked.

The rabbit replied:”This is a Westinghouse, isn’t it?”,

To which the lady replied”Yes.”

“Well,” the rabbit said,

“I was just westing.”

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A HAPPY EASTER.

I attended Cambrian Presbytry meeting at Trinity United last month and was surprised to learn Confederation College has scrapped its student chaplaincy program, whereby different ministers of different faiths were available to help troubled students. My question is WHY?

Is this another one of those stupid ruling prohibiting any signs of religion in educational facilities? It also brought to mind an E-mail I got some time ago and I am publishing it here because I am sick and tired of minorities imposing on our Canadian lifestyles.

And since the government has decided in its wisdom to prohibit any prayer in the schools, on which they deem their authority, so be it.

I say, ‘so be it,’ because I would like to be a law abiding Canadian citizen.

I say, ‘so be it,’ because I would like to think smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions.

I would like to think those people have the Canadian Public’s best interests at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I’D LIKE?

Since Confederation College students cannot seek help from ministers, who manned the chaplaincy program, then I think teachers should be required to work overtime at no extra cost to help troubled students. I also think they should be required to work seven days a week 365 days a year to fill the needs of any troubled students.

Since we can’t pray to God in elementary schools and high school and in the Legislature, I don’t believe the Government and its employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas…. celebrations which honor the God our government is trying to take away from many facets of Canadian life.

And, since Christmas manger scenes, crosses, and even Christmas trees cannot be on display, then I would like the following:

1. I’d like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, and Thanksgiving & Easter. After all, it’s just another day.

2. I’d like our Government to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it’s just another day.

3. I’d like ALL government officials, not to have to worry about getting home for the ‘Christmas Break.’ After all it’s just another day.

4. I think a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services worked Christmas, Good Friday & Easter. It shouldn’t cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be ‘politically correct.’

In fact I think our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God…oops! sorry if I offended anyone) because, after all, our government says it should be just another day.

What do you all think????

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For those who like good eating spots, I strongly recommend a trip out Highway 61 to a small restaurant known as “A J’s Trading Post” which is just across the highway from the Highway 130 intersection. We always make it a point to stop in there for lunch or supper whenever we are going down to the border.

I can honestly say we haven’t had a bad meal there yet. The service is great and the owner seems to be a one man operation for the winter months.

Topping all this off, is the fact the breads and pastries are home made and his soup is always great, home made from scratch. If he gets any better the Hoito and Scandia House may soon have real competition

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I received a phone call and mail from Ray Smith of Friends of Marina Park, updating me on a meeting I couldn’t attend at the end of February. I am told the OMB hearing is a three week gig set for April of this year. Well, I will plan to be present at some or all of the hearing, but I have to be perfectly honest with FMP and council and say I am getting sick and tired of this bickering back and forth.

I marvel at the stupidity of council in selecting a project that will bury, what took hundreds of man hour and countless thousands if not millions of dollars to create.

I refer of course to the Marina itself. According to the plans I viewed, the developers will bury what has been created so far at a cost of millions, fill the present Marina and move the marina facilities farther away from the CN station area. How much contamination will there be from the “fill” brought in to bury the existing marina and how much will the new Marina cost?

In light of the financial crisis of the world and Canada and the U.S., will the governments both federal and provincial, come through with their share of the financing? If not, how much more are we, the citizens of this city, going to be burdened with in added taxes?

I question also, if it is legal for the city to sell our parkland. I thought these were “sacra sancta” in the eyes of government, especially since the green campaign began over five years ago.

I remind council of past mistakes made:

a) the construction of a million dollar overpass walkway behind the Prince Arthur, which is seldom used except for a quick “relief job”.

b) Construction of the Harbor Expressway, where they boo booed in not creating a long touted overpass to eliminate the traffic block at the train tracks.

c) The creation of the biggest blockade in the history of Fort William and Port Arthur, namely Victoriaville Mall, a white elephant is now used as subsidiary offices for various city departments, while the restructuring of city hall is under way. How long will it last? I’ll give it perhaps 15-20 years before they realize they still don’t have enough space.

d) Giving up the CPR VIA Rail service without a fight which greatly curtailed travel to and from this city by train. But don’t worry, Marina Park revisions by the developers will greatly enhance the city’s tourism, say the developers. (In a pig’s eye).

Yes Ray and FMP members, I am afraid you are fighting a lost cause, ‘cause you elected this council and the OMB undoubtedly will give its support to this project. So I am going to become a visitor to Thunder Bay and say “I am from Missouri. Show me!”

By the way you can send any donations you wish to FOMP, P.O. Box29023, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B6P9, will need it in this exercise in futility which is going to cost big bucks.

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The fact city council is even contemplating sending a delegation (of the entire council I believe) to visit a sister city overseas, at taxpayer expense is bordering on the imbecilic, when one considers we are in the throes of a recession.

That is recession…not procession; and Mayor Lynn Peterson and council should be considering giving back the raises they gave themselves last year to help during this time of recession…not picking the pockets of the public for more. If council persists in this foolish trip, then let them pay the cost out of that raise they gave themselves.

I think it is high time to change this system of government to elections at large and for a three, not a four year term. -GERRY

In past we have heard and reported on a number of “perfect hands” (29) in cribbage, but last week at Current River Recreation Centre a new record was set. This is the reverse of the Perfect hand so I guess we could call it the Worst Game of Crib in my 60 some years of playing the game.

For obvious reasons I will spare the pair the embarrassment, I will just say that come the end of the game,, they had a total of 34 points, which is dang close to a triple skunk. It beats the story of the lady who plays in the same club tournaments, who had a 24 hand, but didn’t get to count it because the opponents went out.

Current River is one of the most “family friendly” cribbage clubs I have ever had the pleasure of playing in. There is a lot of kibitzing and kidding done, and they have a very successful club with an average of between 30 and 40 players out every Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. So why not drop in? All you need is a membership in the Current River Rec. Centre.

This just in! Herb Hogarth received a perfect hand of 29 playing with Linda Cameron as his opponent. They were playing at North McIntyre Community Centre. Congratulations Herb!

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I often tune in, to hear the debates on the American (and Canadian financial crisis). I have every sympathy for those who are losing their homes, but I am against the government bailing people out. Why don’t the banks, who have made trillions of dollars over the years on their operations give these people a break.

I remember the dirty ‘30s when Wilmot and Siddall had to extend credit to our family to make ends meet. Mom always paid something on the bill and Ron Wilmot was good enough to carry our family and many others through those lean years. And guess what, every cent was paid back when things got better. It seems to me I recall the saying that even if you paid one dollar, then no one could take action against an individual. I wonder if that law still exists.

It’s hard to fathom that we are in a recession because one man, George Bush, decided to flex his muscles and got us involved in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan that has cost the American people trillions of dollars and Canada a few billion in war costs. If Bush had kept his nose out of Afghanistan and Iraq, would the money spent on these battles not have wiped the deficit that now exists? How many lives were lost in addition to the cost of the war?

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On the local scene, I am surprised council is pushing ahead for the Marina Park revamp plan. Will the government still come through with the millions it promised? Will the project get the financing needed from the banks? Perhaps, but I’m from Missouri as the saying goes, so I’ll just wait and see.

Mind you if all the grandiose statements of promised employment are more than just words, then I may have to eat my words, but I really wonder if all these jobs will come about. Certainly we need employment, what with all the mill and business closures. But will we be able to meet the debt?

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Just having returned from a 10 day visit to Las Vegas Nevada to see what was being done with our time share at Summer Bay Resorts Desert Club, I expected to see a depressed Las Vegas, with empty casinos etc. Well guess what, if I were to judge the U.S. Recession by Las Vegas, then I would say it is a bunch of baloney.

On the strip, construction is going ahead with old casinos having been imploded and brand new construction replacing most of the old casinos. I found the old resort demolished and our new “desert club” only a block away across Koval St. in an older apartment complex that is being refurbished to become our new Summer Bay Resort in the Desert Club. Mind you they are doing a fantastic job of converting the units and building new swimming pools etc.

I am going to hang onto my unit, until the economic situation improves, but I think I am going to get rid of my unit there and stick to my Banff time share.

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I was sorry to hear of the death of Elizabeth Simms (Sim). Liz was one of the first gals I ever dated and I often wondering what became of her, and was interested to find she had married a guy named Simms and wound up in Sudbury. I also worked with Liz’s dad Alex, (a.k.a.”Scotty”), back in 1954-56 at the old News Chronicle. I offer my condolences to her family.

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My condolences also to Dan Baxter, on the death of his wife. Mary Jane was Bernie and Georgette Baxter’s daughter-in-law.

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My deceased wife’s cousin George Harris, an ex-Navy man sent this gem to me and I found it amusing and interesting so am passing it on.

It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near the cannon on old war ships. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem. The best storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on sixteen.

Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem — how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others.

The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called, for reasons unknown, a Monkey. But if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make them of brass - hence, Brass Monkeys.

Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey.

Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. And all this time, you thought that was just a vulgar expression, didn’t you? You must send this fabulous bit of historical knowledge to at least a few friends.

See you next month, Gerry

I have one big question for Michael Gravelle and Bill Mauro that must be asked in open Parliament and I will be watching to see if it is going to happen.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE INTESTINAL FORTITUDE TO CALL DOWN THE GASOLINE MANUFACTURERS AND DEMAND NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO GET THE SAME BREAK AS TORONTO

I see that the price of gas in Toronto was recently at 64 cents a litre. I fully realize that is where the big market is, but those same big market motorists use our highway up here and crack it all to hell with heavy loads while we continue to pay the piper. Well come on fellows, let’s have southerners pay part of that tune as well.

I am fed up with watching gas prices here drop in decimal points, while Southern Ontario gas prices drop 10 to 15 cents a litre. My question to both is how long is it going to take to set up that price investigating committee that Mike promised he would pursue last election. We agreed last election to LET MIKEY DO IT! So get to it and do it Mike. You will never be in a better position.

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I am somewhat saddened, yet joyous about Dr.Peter Bentz`s decision to take retirement after umpteen years of service to this city as a GP. Peter and I are long time friends, who began our friendship back in our school days at St. Andrew`s and then Port Arthur Collegiate. He and I, Don Merchant, Jack McKenna and Peter’s cousins André Nichol and George Bird, spend many hours playing after school and at parties held for various occasions such as birthdays at Peter’s mom and dad’s place on the corner of Ambrose and High Street across from the sunken gardens at Hillcrest Park.

We parted ways after my first year of Port Arthur Collegiate, where I found my brain was more suited to Port Arthur Technical School.

I was no rocket scientist, but I developed an interest in literature and composition (as well as motor mechanics and electrical).

Subsequently, I was booted from school for a fight with Clare Lacing (whom I later found was a local boxing champ) and, since I was out of school, I decided to join the Air Force and spent the next two years in military service.

I found my niche in writing before I left school. On leaving school in 1951 at Grade 10 level, I applied for a cub reporter’s position on the News Chronicle, Jack Hughes, then managing editor, said there were no openings but he would “keep me in mind: (the old brush off line). Only with Jack, it was true and I always marvelled that in 1954 after returning home Jack phoned Lorne Poulin`s garage on Cumberland where I was a grease monkey, to ask if I still wanted to be a reporter to which I agreed even though I took a $10 per week pay cut, to get a life that I have now enjoyed for over 55 years.

Peter and I didn’t cross paths again until 1975, when I came back to the CJ/TN to take over the wire editor’s spot. I bumped into Peter one day I think it was at Safeway’s, and on finding out he was now a physician I asked him to be my family’s doctor. He agreed and said to contact his secretary. Well that relationship lasted to the present and I must say Pete brought me through several medical problems and I always respected his opinion (although I didn’t always follow his instructions to the letter I am sorry to say.)

However after I retired, I kept asking Peter when he was going to pull the plug and join me. His reply was always `yes and what will I do with all of my patients.“ That is the kind of doctor Peter Bentz was and I am sorry to see him leave, but glad to see him get a chance to enjoy what I have now enjoyed for 13 years. So God Bless Peter and I hope you and Lois enjoy your retirement for many years to come. Perhaps we’ll one day meet in Portugal. Gonna miss you buddy, but thanks for referring me to a new doctor who’s willing to take me on as a patient.

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To Mac’s Convenience Store owners: Take notice I and numerous others will no longer patronize Mac’s Convenience Stores until such time as they rescind their decision to fire the employee who stopped a knife wielding thief from robbing their store. We finally have someone who has the intestinal fortitude to stand up to a thief and disarm him, I might add, and his reward (?)…… “You’re fired son!”

In my estimation the owners of the store should be fired and thus it will be a long frosty Friday before I purchase even a chocolate bar from Mac’s. I used to purchase my gas and other needs from this convenience store chain in several locations. Now they can do without my patronage unless they rehire this lad.

He could very well have been warned and not fired for this mistake. To the young man who showed he had some guts, my congratulations and I would suggest you seek legal advice as to wrongful dismissal from your employment.

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I have a gripe about the city’s airport services. Tim Horton’s, who took over a Robin’s Donut operation on the upper level, should take a hard fast look at its service. I had a late pickup for my gal coming in from Toronto. I arrived on the one occasion shortly after 10 p.m. I was going to have a coffee and wait for an hour for her arrival. But the “cage” was closed and although the girls were still behind the counter, they wouldn’t allow me to buy a coffee.

As for why they were closed “the last flight out had been announced,” I was told that is when they close. What about those late arrivals, like at 11:30 p.m.

Since the airlines stopped providing meals where are these people supposed to grab a bite and what about those picking them up? Can’t they be considered customers? I used to be able to have a coffee, pizza, muffin or a donut when Robin’s operated the concession. So what’s with Tim Horton’s?

As for visitors arriving in the city for the first time…..that is some greeting.

The staff also need a few lessons in courteous service and smiling for customers.

Welcome visitors! But find your own dang coffee somewhere else other than our airport.

 

**********************

I was saddened to hear of the death of Agnes Parker, who was a cousin to my wife and married to Bob Parker, who for years ran the carpet bowling at the 55+ Centre. Bob’s adopted sister Pat also passed away in early January. Aggie, as she was affectionately known to her family and close friends, had just undergone a successful quadruple bypass operation, but succumbed to kidney failure and other complications afterward.

…Till next month, Gerry

  

Jan. 09 Issue 

First off let me say to all our readers I hope 2009 will hold a wealth of good fortune for you and may every day be full of promise for you. I sincerely hope you all had a happy Christmas and will enjoy a prosperous New Year.

Speaking of which, I got an E-mail from the Ontario Lottery Corporation just before Christmas bearing the following piece of information:

” Did you know that last year alone OLG generated over 2 billion dollars for the province of Ontario?”

Well that was a bit of good news, or so they thought. But I didn’t look at it that way. First off let me qualify something for you.

Yes, I am a gambler and I do at times have to control myself, but lately have been going over my $30 limit, so I’ve suspended myself for a while. But here is what I sent back to the OLC in reply to their newsletter:

“Yes I did know that because all the charities in and around Thunder Bay are sucking wind to get money for their projects.

I knew because I heard a lot of homes were lost and families broken up because of their losses to the Casinos.

I knew because I looked into a lot of tearful eyes coming out of your casinos because they had lost what little money they had.

I knew it because you took some $40 million or more dollars out of our community at the same time handing back a measly five per cent to our city in lieu of taxes.

I knew it because every time some machines started paying off too much, newer machines were brought in to give better odds (in favour of the casinos I might add).

I knew too because the provincial government got enough money to bolster their own pockets with a 25% increase in pay while woodlands and paper mill workers went without and are now scrambling to save their asses financially.

I knew because a lot more families were on welfare this year and looking for help at Christmas time, to keep their children at least hopeful of a future.

I hope you and Dalton McGuinty and his pirates are proud of your accomplishments because I think you are a bunch of kindergarten donkeys, which are out to rape our citizens financially.

I hope Santa brought you a large lump of coal (OOOPS No! that isn’t kosher with our green policy) for Christmas and have a lousy New Year.

I don’t know how long our wimpy council is going to keep accepting the pittance we get in lieu of taxes, but I think it is high time they stood up and said we don’t want your stinking pittance, we want taxes paid.

I would be interested to know how much we’ve lost in tax money over the last 10 years. As for the agreement originally signed by council, I say it is no longer valid since our pact was with the Thunder Bay Charity Casino, which is no longer in name. It is now the OLC Casino. So come on council get off your donkey’s butt and start renegotiating this thing.

**** ***** ***** ****

It is darn near a year ago that Jeannette and I took our Western Caribbean cruise and visited the Cayman Islands. But I was going through my photos of the trip and came across one that I took at a beach of a young gal, who was sitting painting the scene.

.

Being a bit of an artist myself, I asked if I might see her work and subsequently got to talking with her. She asked where I was from and I told her Thunder Bay. Her eyes lit up and she smiled and said “I know where that is, because I used to go to Nipigon to visit my grandmother.”

Talk about a coincidence and the world being small. But unfortunately I have misplace this gal’s name, so I am going to run the picture with this column and perhaps her grandmother will get to see this young lady. So here it is.

My apologies for misplacing the lass’ name, but I guess I can fall back on my favourite and more frequent excuse of “having a senior moment.”

Suffice to say, her art is much better than mine.

**** ***** *****

How stupid can government officials be? I made an observation in a previous column back a few months ago, the Mapleward Road intersection on the Shabaqua Highway and, also on Oliver Road, needed improvement with better lighting and a set of traffic lights or at least a flashing red light at the Shabaqua Highway intersection.

I believe I asked at that time, how many would have to die before the ministry smartened up and put in lights.

Now a young 18 year old girl has lost her life, ironically in collision with an unmarked police car.

I have no idea who was at fault, but the fact remains, this is a dangerous intersection. When approaching from the north on Mapleward , one has to look into the setting sun in order to see traffic coming down from the overpass and that is why a stop light should be installed there. Traffic going north toward Kakabeka Falls, also has to look into the sun.

So I again ask how many more must die before action is taken.

I have the ideal solution to both U.S. and Canadian economic problems and it is all summed up in two words. BUY CANADIAN . I purchased a new HP printer last week and when I went to register I entered my postal code and be darned if the registration couldn’t be processed. It kept telling me the put a proper postal code. Well in my search to find out where in hell there was a phone number I could call to complain I found the words “PRODUCT OF CHINA”.

Is it any wonder we are in an economic crunch, when all our manufacturing sector is being jobbed out to other countries. I am not anti-China or any nationality, but I am firstly a CANADIAN and I would like to buy all Canadian products, but you can’t seem to find any any more. Even my service on the internet has been jobbed out to India of all places. Are all the brains in India? So Mr. Harper think about that one and bring back Canadian Products and put Canadians back to work. The same holds true for the U.S. let’s hope Obama is true American in his thinking and Canadian too.

See you next month …Gerry

December Issue 

 I must say the public works department responded quite quickly to a call from Louise Myllyaho, property manager for Steen property management, who looks after the McVicar Estate condo property. She pointed out two large potholes were existing on Elgin Street and the sidewalk at the entrance to the condo property parking area needed repair badly.

I was pleased to see some members of city council regain some of their senses. First it was Councillor McKinnon who advocated council should slow down on its approval of the sale of land deal in Innova Park, to some Mississauga, Ont. Company that wants to build another plaza in the industrial park.

October Issue

Two years ago, when I jumped over the 70 bar of life, I received a nice letter from the bank informing me, since I was now at that crotchety old age, I was no longer covered for any line of credit insurance. See up to the magic moment of 70, I had insurance coverage supplied on any line of credit I used or any loans I took with the bank. But, when I hit that 70+ mark the insurance was dropped. Now in my estimation, that amounts to discrimination. So I decided to write to the Ombudsman and here is the reply I got:

“I am writing in response to your email sent to our Office on July 29, 2008.

For your information, our Office has the authority to review administrative complaints about the Ontario government’s agencies, boards, ministries and organizations. This does not include banks, insurance companies or other financial bodies, which are private businesses.

You may wish to contact the Royal Bank of Canada Ombudsman at 1-800-769-2542 or the Canadian Banking Ombudsman at 1-888-451-4519 in regards to your complaint. If you also have a complaint about an insurance company, you may wish to contact the Insurance Ombudsman at 1-800-668-0128.

Thank you for contacting the Ontario Ombudsman.

Sincerely,

Leanne Pieroni

So now I must send a similar request to a) The Royal Bank (done that and was told it was due to regulations set by the insurance company); b) the Canadian Banking Ombudsman and c) the Insurance Ombudsman.

All I want is an explanation of why I can’t get coverage as usual after reaching the “golden age point.” I realize a lot of us have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana skin, but what about all those years we contributed premiums to the insurance companies for coverage and never had a claim for anything? I never missed a payment on any loans I had even when the bank bumped interest rates to the 21% range in the ‘70s.

Of course I realize that banks have only managed a few billion dollars a year profits and insurance companies have likewise made profits although not as exorbitant as the banks. The insurance people have also been hit by a lot of claims for storm damages etc.

Now I did have some claims on my auto coverage, but in most instances, I ended up paying back what the insurance people paid on my behalf through five years of increased premiums. Now where is the justice in that? Why do we get zapped like the one time I had a $1,500 claim for damage to another party’s car and ended up paying more than that in increased premiums for five years?

Mind you I wouldn’t mind if, at age 70, you stopped paying taxes to the province, feds and municipality. Then I wouldn’t have any complaint, but instead they continue to increase taxes. I will keep you posted as to how my query makes out.

***** ***** *****

Middle Falls

Why is it the U.S. of A. can create small parklands that provide a pleasant break on your drive through the states and we are closing our parklands? They know how to attract tourists.

A comparison of our so called “rest stops” to the U.S. rest stops on a recent trip to Hinckley Mn. showed me our rest stops are a disgrace and I personally wouldn’t let a dog use some of our rest stops. So thumbs down to the province for neglecting our motoring public.

It is about time we started smartening up and began constructing some rest stops with comfort stations like the U.S. that will make visitors want to stop a while and enjoy themselves.

Instead we create passing lanes that rush tourists through our part of the country, (with legs crossed hoping they can make the next service station or restaurant).

***** ****** ******

Last but not least I question why we don’t have businessmen that can make a go of things these days.

I can’t recall any business in town like Laskin Furniture, ever being given a handout to get started. Those were the days of sound businessmen and I am sure they did intensive studies to make sure they could make it.

I can see giving a hand to a business to get a start (which the province did on the restart of Thunder Bay Fine Papers).

But why was $12 or $13 million not sufficient? They did get the mill up and running, but not for long.

Now they tell us they need another $15 to get it running again? Are we the public, going to support this industry indefinitely? The expression “flogging a dead horse,” comes to mind immediately for me. Are we going to throw good money after bad?

Why was this shutdown not anticipated at the outset? We are told the sales figures are not high enough yet. Why?

I should point out, I have relatives who work at the mill and will likely want to kick my butt for this.

I hope the money will be found, but not out of the taxpayers’ pocket. Get the investors and customers —- then open operations again.

I also question why a market for these fine paper products can’t be found locally? Why not get suppliers right here in Thunder Bay and have computer paper, etc. made locally and sold locally? Just a thought.

See you next month, …Gerry

Viewed from my Perch Column for September 2008-05-11 

Be it ever so humble there’s no place like home and here we are after a five day road trip to Barrie Ont. Good newS for motorists is that there is now four lanes from Sault St. Marie past St. Joseph’s Island turnoff and then picks up again at Nairn Centre to Sudbury. Then you have two lanes to just north of Parry Sound and then from Parry Sound you have four lanes all the way to Toronto.

They are beginning four lanes from Thunder Bay to Nipigon but unlike the Soo bypass, it doesn’t appear to be a divided highway. So, let’s hope someone does some rethinking and makes it divided. The Soo stretch is beautiful to say the least. The new route for 69 S. to Toronto from Parry Sound is likewise a dream. Dare we can hope one day we will see such a highway coast to coast?

What I do marvel at though, is the uselessness of blasting out rock cuts to make a passing lane here and there on Highway 17 from Soo to Thunder Bay. Why not widen it to accommodate four lanes later?

I am also curious as to why in blazes long line-ups of cars are necessary at these construction sites? Why not limit the line-ups to 50 each or even 75. But to have a backup of 150 to 200 waiting for 15 minutes is ridiculous. Let 50 go one way and then stop and let the 50 go from the other direction.

I counted no less than 140 cars go through at one point and then there was a lull and I thought “well here we go”….only to see more traffic come along from the same direction and another five or seven minutes of waiting time.

**** ***** *****

For almost half of 14 years I spent in the Manitoulin-Espanola area, I worked with Chamber of Commerce and as chairman of the Espanola-Manitoulin Regional Tourist Council; we often travelled to Parry Sound to meet with other tourism groups to discuss ways and means of enticing more tourists to our area and keeping them there.

Well on my recent trip to Barrie via Hwy. 69 I discovered how not to treat your customers and how to destroy tourist interest. At a little restaurant my gal friend and I decided we needed a break and pulled into a nice looking little establishment with the enticing moniker of “The Haven”. First thing I noticed was a sign beside the door that advised one “washrooms are for our customers only.”

My lady friend went in to use the washroom and I remained in the car.

Jen came out a few minutes later, with an arm full of chips, water and chocolate bars.

I decided since we were stopped, I might as well use the facilities as well. In I went and was on my way back to the van, when lo and behold out came a lady, obviously the owner yelling “Sir! Sir! My waitress tells me you didn’t buy anything so you should not have used the washroom.” I was flabbergasted to say the least that she would be keeping that close a count on her washroom. I then informed her I had not but my partner in travel had a proceeded to show her the purchases Jen had made.

She was taken aback and without even an apology, started back to her establishment muttering something to herself, as I informed her we would never stop at her haven in future and would let the public know how hospitable “The Haven “was. So I suggest you look for another establishment when next in the Point Au Baril community.

Incidentally we spent over $400 in meals on our trip and The Haven might have had a portion of that on our return trip. Had this woman not been so ignorant of manners or treatment of visitors to her place of business?

Three good eateries we encountered were Gloria’s Motel and Restaurant just east of the Manitouwadge turnoff, The Red Top Inn and Motel at Iron Bridge and The Mandarin at Barrie. They were fantastic eating spots and pleasant staff at all three.

***** ***** *****

Barrie has developed its waterfront quite nicely and it holds various art shows and exhibits on different weeks. This one had to be one of the busiest spots I have seen.Ithas a nice Marina, park area, beach and various attractions. Oh, Yes! It has condominiums as well, one already established and two more under construction, BUT NOT on the waterfront or their parkland or Marina.

They built across the street. Our city council members instead of taking trips to Europe and Asian countries should make the trip with Barrie and Collingwood and see how the money is being spent in those communities.

If the Barrie development of the waterfront area were adopted into Thunder Bay’s waterfront, I doubt they would have any objections from citizens. Above all they have their beach in full use almost every weekend, as we too should.

***** ***** ******

I know for some time law enforcement officers have allowed up to 12 miles per hour leeway on speed limits. But today it has gone down the drain with the new super highways and bigger engines in cars.

I tried to keep my speed to 110 kilometres per hour in the 100 kmph stretches on Hwy 400 and 401 but I felt like the tortoise as the hares raced by me. In all the driving I did, which (over 3000 kliks), I was passed by vehicles that made me look like I was standing still. I saw only six police cruisers in the entire route there and back and saw only two drivers pulled over by cruisers.

I know there had to be many more caught, but I recall driving that same route in the ” ol’ days” and seeing people pulled off the road for speeding about every 20 miles ….ooops I mean 32 km.

Oh, by the way I tried travelling the limit on the way down and found it saved me a few bucks on gas. But what the heck’s a few bucks when you can barrel past everyone in your souped up jalopy. I think governing truckers on the highways is good, but perhaps it is time we put governors on private cars as well.

***** ***** *****

The gal friend and I were watching NCIS on cable 51 the other night. To make a long story short, they showed scenes in a mortuary where there was an autopsy being carried out. The scene was certainly disgusting to say the least and sickening to some people. As one who used to do police photography it didn’t bother me, but it did make me think of how, as childrenm we used to say “blood and gore all over the floor, and me without my spoon.”

Why is it necessary to go beyond showing a body lying in a pool of blood to have an actor hold a heart taken from the cadaver and insert a knife into the heart to show how the person was stabbed.

I think there is far too much “blood and gore” being shown on television and Jen agreed. I asked if she had written to the CRTC about this and she said no. Well, if no one writes to the CRTC how in hell are they to know anyone objects.

I wrote regarding the cable company showing The Trailer Park Boys on Channel 34 at night. Did it do any good? Yup! They moved it from the 11 p.m. slot to the 4:30 p.m. slot so the kiddies can now watch it. What kind of nitwits do we have sitting on these committees? DO WE ACTUALLY PAY THEM TO SERVE? So let`s get the violence and blood and gore not only off the floor but the boob tube as well.

Better still get rid of the CRTC members, and replace them with someone who knows what they are doing.

See you next month,

Gerry

I read with deep interest the front page story “Tired of starting over” (Sunday, April 6) concerning Marcel Stubbe’s attempt to avoid deportation back to his homeland. Why did this story deserve front page coverage? Is this an attempt to garner sympathy for this lawless lout?

Yes I use that term because according to the story, he has entered Canada illegally at least three times and has disregarded the conditions under which he was allowed to enter ie: not to work. He worked illegally at least twice in his three rather dubious entries into our country. Why was he allowed to enter the country a second time?

I am sick and tired of pampering these illegals and minorities. If he truly wanted to become a Canadian, he should have followed the rules both before and after he was allowed in. By now he would have been a Canadian citizen.

If we speak out against these people, we are dubbed “heartless SOBS” . Or, as in the case of one broadcaster, Bruce Allen, in B.C., have our government chastise us for speaking out. Allen is being threatened by an MP Mr. Chan, with being reported to the Canadian Radio and Television board, for airing his views on our immigrants of today, because it was considered by some to be “racist?.

Racist be damned. Are we now having our right to freedom of speech shackled? Bad enough, we have stood idly by while these minorities use our own Human Rights Code to clobber us.

We are now forced to keep prayer out of the schools and parliament. We are not even supposed to have a crèche scene in our towns and cities, or use the word Christmas. Nor can we have any religious symbols displayed in public. Yes not only in Canada, but the U.S. of A. as well, where a town display of the Ten Commandments was ordered taken down because someone deemed it was “promoting religion”.

What is the difference between today’s immigrants and those of yesteryear? Here’s what another columnist felt and I fully agree:

“Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to Canada, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in Halifax and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times.

“They made learning English a primary rule in their new Canadian households and some even changed their names, to blend in with their new home.

“Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labour laws to protect them. All they had were the skills, craftsmanship and desire they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.

“Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. Canadians fought along side men, whose parents had come straight from Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Sweden, and many other places.

“None of these first generation Canadians ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Canadians fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the Freedom as one people.

“When we liberated France, no one in those villages was looking for the Ukrainian-Canadian or the German-Canadian or the Irish-Canadian. The people of France saw only Canadians. We carried one flag that represented our country.

“Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country’s flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here.

“These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be a Canadian. They stirred the melting pot into one red and white bowl.

“Here we are in 2008 with a new kind of immigrant, who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, (the main one being the bill of Human Rights which we created for Canadians).”

I’m sorry, that’s not what being a Canadian is about. Canadians have been very open-hearted and open- minded regarding immigrants, whether they were fleeing poverty, dictatorship, persecution, or whatever else, makes me think of the aforementioned immigrants. who truly did ADOPT our country, and our flag and our morals and our customs; and left their wars, hatred and divisions behind.

I believe the immigrants who landed in Canada in the early 1900s deserve better than that for the toil, hard work and sacrifice they made for those legally searching for a better life in Our Canada today.

I think our earlier immigrants would be appalled that they are being used as an example, by those waving foreign country flags, fighting foreign battles on our soil, making Canadians change, to suit their religions and cultures, and wanting to change our countries fabric by claiming discrimination or racism, when we do not give in to their demands.

It’s about time we get real and stand up for our forefathers rights. We are CANADIANS Lest we forget it! NO MORE political correctness! NO MORE being unable to say the word “CHRISTMAS” in our stores and our schools! NO MORE BANISHMENT of prayer in schools and parliament! NO MORE bastardization of our RCMP uniforms to compensate for turbans! These people well knew what the regulations were and should not have joined the RCMP if they could not adapt to our uniform.

As for the government’s recent declaration of Feb. 18 as “FAMILY DAY”, making it a statutory holiday: EVERY DAY SHOULD BE FAMILY DAY. Holiday be damned!!!

I WANT MY ‘CANADA’ of birth BACK !!!

*** *** *** ***

Who do the executives of the gas companies think they are fooling with the yoyo of gasoline prices? First they tried massive jumps (usually on an upcoming holiday weekend. Now they are trying to pull the wool over our eyes by jacking the price sky high, then lowering it a decimal point a day ?

I find it an insult to my intelligence. I am told gas prices are below a dollar a litre in Southern Ontario while our prices ballooned to $1.27 and at this writing have been reduced to $1.18.

Where is that “investigative committee” promised by Mike Gravelle? As minister of Northern Affairs now, surely you can pull a few strings Mike? I will gladly serve on such a committee for expenses only.

Until that committee starts in earnest, I will continue to drive to Grand Portage each week to gas up at 93.9 cents a litre as compared to the $1.26.9 cents that was posted on our stations in Thunder Bay last week.