By Harold G. LeBoeuf
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| Tarscape in Willistead is going to be an ugly, expensive mess. |
The first annual Tar
in the Park will be held on Saturday, June 7th, and Sunday June
8th. It will be preceded by a Beer Festival extravaganza on Friday,
June 6th, which is certain to bring loud noise, loud music,
boisterous and at times inebriated revelers well into the morning of June 7th.
As in the past, it will greatly disturb the normally serene residential
neighbourhood and prevent local taxpaying residents having peaceful and quiet
enjoyment of their homes and property in a manner that could be classified as a
legal nuisance.
This
first annual event is being brought to you at tremendous expense to the
taxpaying public by Mayor Eddie Francis, Councillors Drew Dilkens, Jo-Anne Gignac, Ron Jones, Bill Marra, Hillary
Payne, Ed Sleiman and Fulvio Valentinis, Director of Parks and Recreation John
Miceli, Chairman of the Board of Willistead Manor, Stephen Marshall and the
Board Members, and the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918). These promoters of the
event have spared nothing in order to make this a tremendous success including
the hefty price-tag, trees, grass and the serenity of what was once the
beautiful, historical estate of Chandler Walker. We should all show our
gratitude and appreciation of those still seeking office when it comes time to
vote in the upcoming municipal election.
I hasten to point out that there do
exist persons who defied the edict of Mayor Eddie by not casting their vote as
suggested they should, and who are worthy of our support. They are Councillors
Alan Halberstadt, Irek Kusmierczyk and Al Maghnieh. All three deserve kudos.
Top Ten Reasons You Should Not Support “Tar In The Park”
10. You have already contributed enough
money for this event through your tax dollars.
09. You
shouldn’t have to pay an admission charge to enter a public park.
08. The
tar roadways will be hot and burn your feet.
07. You
don’t want to show support for the promoters.
06. Only
a very small percentage of the revenue goes to restore the Manor and can never
make up for the expense of the project and continuing maintenance.
05. You
will not sit idly by and allow them to think this will go away.
04. Historic
properties mean something to you and they shouldn’t be defiled.
03. You
don’t support promoters who force their Will on the public.
02. Elected
officials have a sworn duty to listen to the citizens.
01. Show
Mayor Eddie that this is a democracy and not a dictatorship.
Together we can make the first
annual event of Tar in the Park the
worst attended event since 1978.
Together we can make it understood
that Tar in the Park is no longer
wanted in this neighbourhood and it is time for the Rotarians to act on their
prior threat of changing the venue for this event once and for all.
Together we can make it understood
that Beer Festivals in a quiet residential neighbourhood and a public park do
not belong and must cease to exist.
Together we can demand an end to
those persons who are determined to turn these historic grounds into a
money-making amusement park for the benefit of the pet projects of the
promoters at the taxpayers’ expense.
Harold G. LeBoeuf.
