Boy, did that happen fast. Seems it just started. Time sure does fly when you're having fun. So, here is a partial list of what to look forward to as we close out another great Crystal Beach Summer:
1.) Saturday, September 5 - End of Summer Parade - 1:00 p.m.
Floats, fire engines, and a police escort winds its way through the Beach, offering a farewell to Summer 2015.
2.) Back to School. The problem is that the school is being torn down, so children will have to attend school in portable classrooms near Bertie Senior Elementary. Great work, DSBN School Board. Always thinking of what is best for the children LOL.
On another front, there should soon be a decision by Judge Sweeney about the costs awarded to The Four for the malicious lawsuit brought against them by a bunch of sore losers who did not like that they could control town council. Of course, the lawsuit achieved its purpose and now the Chamber of Commerce controls Fort Erie's Town Council.
The Kinsmen Pool got off to a late start thanks to great work by the volunteers who now must sit back and let Stephen Passero take all the credit which he will use until he gets himself elected mayor like he got himself elected to Ward 2 with the help of his Chamber Maids who bucked precedent to call a by-election costing the taxpayers over $30,000. We will look back at this some time in the future as one of the final nails in the coffin for Fort Erie. Frankenstephen will continue to use and discard people as he rises to higher office. Rumour has it that he is even trading up on his current wife.
So sad that the Singing Siren is closing on August 30. Hard to run a business when the building and chattel are up for sale and you can't afford the high price to buy. Hope Heather finds another place but that is doubtful. The former pines would be a great spot on Erie Road, but it has been gutted by the owner, a company that convicted felon Gary Fraser is involved in; the same one that ruined two houses on Queen's Circle and eventually tore them down.
So, as fall approaches, we will still have fond memories of Crystal Beach and the Summer of 2015.
NOTE TO THE PERSON(S) SENDING ME INFORMATION VIA MAIL:
I got it and I also have the same questions as posed in a couple of the sheets sent. How can the CEO of a large corporation not know when the CFO has embezzled a quarter of a million dollars? Missing money seems to be common when this person is involved. Should have vetted that CFO better. Another with an interesting resumé. Such blatant actions are common in this town and nobody says a word because they're too scared of being blackballed or sued. It's time for good people to open up and get rid of the bad apples.
Has anyone noticed that the cheerleaders for the demise of the four have pretty much dropped from sight since the four won the court battle? Suddenly they have nothing to say. Too bad those who lead the charge can't do the same (said with the highest degree of sarcasm).
ReplyDeleteThey're still whining that the four "got off with a technicality." No, that is how the law was written; it was to protect elected officials from this sort of harassment. I still believe the original judge should have thrown the case out. However, in going through with the case, the previous judge demanded the list of so-called supporters of Tim Whitfield's claim and an interesting list of backers was now on record. The affidavits of Doug Martin, Stephen Passero and the late Rick Shular provide damning details and evidence that there was a plot to unseat The Four going back to shortly after they were elected. It is there, on record, how Doug Martin made Tim Whitfield his "strawman" in order to unseat The Four. Judge Sweeney ruled that the claim should have been filed a year before it actually was in order to be timely. Law is 6 weeks after knowledge of the conflict; Tim waited months and claimed he knew nothing about the conflict even though he was a frequent golf partner for the husband of the fired town solicitor at the crux of the conflict lawsuit.
DeleteI hope Karma bites the whole bunch of them in the ass.
Timing is everything. I think we have been patient enough, the land titles dealing with the road allowances criss-crossing Bay Beach should be settled before the Master Plan for the south side is determined.
ReplyDeletea beachgoer you are right on target !
DeleteWith the "new" master plan comes emphasis to develop the north side of the "Bay Beach Properties" which, I believe, acknowledges that the ruling on the south side beachfront will NOT go in favour of the Friends of Doug Martin.
That being the case, what we'll see is another instance of being told it's "raining" while in fact certain entities are pissing in our collective ears.
We can count on another round of high gloss, well packaged bullshit as a majority of this current, half assed council simply half truths its way through this latest round of workshops, presentations and discussions.
Trust me when I say that the REAL master plan has already been agreed upon and the only input from these latest gatherings will be buzzwords and "concepts" that are implemented to feed the egos of self appointed community cheerleaders.
And because they think they were part of the process they'll believe it really is "raining".
View................EXACTLY RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteSo, I went to the two days' worth of the study. At the end, our "moderator" asked us what we thought of the study and I blurted out, "It's bullshit!" (Shocked silence around the table.) I know that others agreed but they kept quiet because they were afraid to start another "war" over the Bay Beach Properties.
DeleteI began The Crystal Beach Strand back in 2002 when there was talk of selling off the north sections of the property to help fund a section of the Friendship Trail. There was a petition and a new representative was elected in the ward because he promised that the Bay Beach Properties would remain public on his watch. And so, the property was left alone until Doug Martin was elected in 2006. Shortly thereafter, the Bay Beach Properties became the subject of another scheme, this one far more serious, and we were off and running again.
And here we are, back to Square One. Selling off the north properties. Thirteen years of bullshit and now another study? We know what the people want, but others, who have more clout, have other plans for our last piece of public beachfront land and needed parking lots.
Just follow the money and the backers of the lawsuit against The Four and you will know.
There still has to be a ruling regarding the Absolute Title court case.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that someone at the town knows the ruling will not go in the town's favour. I also think a well planned parkland with sufficient washrooms and change room amenities is required. Hopefully the area will be cleaned up and made more attractive.
Really, that's all that most of us want for the Bay Beach Properties: adequate and well-maintained washrooms; wheelchair access (like those roll-out ramps seen at other beaches;) reasonable parking; easy access to food; refreshments and a good, safe, clean beach. It can't be that expensive to incorporate features like bigger washrooms and a wheelchair/stroller feature - at least for starters. A boardwalk and shady area would be great as well, but that can be planned and afforded through community efforts. A small admission fee for non-residents could help defray the cost of any upgrades. Why does it have to be so complicated?
DeleteJust looking at the Niagara Beach Report via the Bullet news site, Bay Beach posted as unsafe? As well as all the PoCo beaches except Nickel. Waverly is OK with all that gunk in the water? It looks in some ways like the test people better give their test tube a shake. Wouldnt be the firt time the Bay has been posted, (or likely the last considering the plumbing ie; the poo poo going out into the lake due to poor engineering) but that posting isnt likely to keep too many toes out of the water tomorrow. Maybe its new name should be Mexico beach. Nice to visit but dont drink the water. E Coli, the new neighbor at the waterfront.
ReplyDeleteI think that the guards should inform beachgoers coming through with children about the postings. I spoke to a guard at the gate about the beach being posted and he didn't even seem to know there was a sign on the fence that warned people of e-coli.
ReplyDeleteAsk one of those dim bulbs anything and see the response you get. They probly wouldnt even agree on what day of the week it is. These are the types that know very well what has been posted but play dumb. You think they want the added strife of telling beachgoers the water is of questionable quality then deal with the long set of questions? Open your bags, let us look at your junk, then get the hell out of my face is the main thrust of their presence at the "gate". What the hell are they even still there for? Isnt the condo power trip over? Maybe not.
DeleteThese are low wage seasonal employees who I would assume are doing what they were hired to do. Criticizing and demeaning them is both misdirected and ineffective. Anyone who is serious about changing things ought to be directing their vitriol towards their employer.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Che. It is not an easy job, standing in the sun all day, keeping tabs on thousands of people. I don't like the searches of beach bags, but I also understand that it is done for the security of all beachgoers.
DeleteWatched last week as one the security guards had to take on a motorist who decided to verbally abuse not only him but a young family of 5 that was trying to cross the street.
DeleteKeeping his cool, the guard politely reminded the driver that pedestrians have the right of way.
That's when the "fun" started.
I don't care what they're paid.
Nobody deserves to be treated like THAT !
I disagree Madam Editor............yes to Che's idea of criticizing the source but no to any sort of search whatsoever. This is the only beach that I am aware of that subjects you to what is probably an illegal search on public property. Maybe I am wrong but it is morally unjust for sure. In this day of personal cell phones and cameras, all anyone has to do in a matter of seconds is to call the police if someones behaviour is that far from the considered norm. Besides what are most people doing that is so wrong anyway?? the odd beer is about it.
DeleteCan you imagine if they started to do this at Waverly Beach?
DeleteWell, we have two versions of the situation and that is really what this blog is for. I have seen some real bad behaviour by beachgoers and drivers in the area, so I can see view's point. I said that I didn't like the searches, but they may be necessary for the safety and well-being of the other beachgoers.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a society today where people with box cutters brought down the World Trade Center; where a person with a gun can massacre innocent children in a school; where theatre-goers are slaughtered; etc. Thousands of people on a public beach can be a real incentive to a psychopath with a weapon. Just sayin'
Going way back to the post by an observer, its hard to tell what is worse. If the "guard" didnt even know the beach was posted as unsafe, or the guy is inclined to lie to people that have an honest question. Would you want people like this as a paid security group at any public venue? Well you got it now, Fort Erie style.
ReplyDeletePow Wow on the beach with Mayor Red, anyone know what's up??
ReplyDeletePerhaps Red is there to describe how sorry he is to have supported the effort to turn what could have been a fine beachfront park into what looks like a military encampment with the chain link fencing uniformed guards and a dusty parking lot where landscaping and shade structures should be. But we doubt it. Can always hope though.
Delete