Community Halls

I am on a roll! Two blogs in one night! For those wondering how the efforts to save our community halls is going - a presentation has been officially forwarded for the new municipal council to review. A couple of the new council members that have been elected are compassionate of our cause and hopefully, supporters, and one who was definitely against keeping our Halls open, was not re-elected. So we are cautiously optimistic. Irondale, Lochlin and Gelert all have active community Halls worth saving and as a collective group we are going to do what we can to accomplish this. Many people have stopped me on the street, in the grocery store, and I have even had a couple of phone calls. People care and want updates and if anyone wishes a copy of the proposal that went to council, please feel free to contact me by phone or by email - carr2211@gmail.com and I would be happy to send a pdf of the report.

FoRT update

What a wonderful day! Even though it is now November, the grey, brisk, but comfortable weather made for a perfect outing in the bush! Friends of the Rail Trail hosted a lovely walk through the forest just outside of Haliburton. It was not a long walk, but this time of year you can see so far through the bush it is absolutely magical. At one point, one of our members noticed a fungus high in a birch tree (sorry cannot remember the name - starts with sh....), that she collects to make a form of tea. When she attempted to grab a stick to knock it down, one of the 4 dogs that came on the walk, Possum, thought that was his cue to wrestle that stick to the ground! Margaret was unsuccessful in her collection as Possum was not sharing the stick! The dogs ran full speed as if they were children let loose in the coolest playground ever and never wore out, even during our fabulous pot luck lunch afterward. The pot luck was held in a lovingly restored pioneer cabin and there was tonnes of food! The best part is the company - a great cross-section of people, relaxed and enjoying a Sunday afternoon.

When the walk and food were completed, we had an "ad hoc" meeting, asking attendees what they would like to see Friends of the Rail Trail do for 2011 and there were some great ideas. Along with the incredibly popular Sunday rambles along the trail throughout April and May, suggestions included a hike to a beautiful Falls (that I did not know existed!), located between Tory Hill and Gooderham; a hike on the old Hwy. 60 trail in Highlands East; a hike from Wilberforce on the old IB&O railway; another "Dark Skies" event (last year's had 70 attendees!); and the most exciting - an "end to end" event, held over 2 days where people are encouraged to complete the whole County trail from Haliburton to Kinmount. Apparently, other rail trails have held this event, quite successfully, and the concept intrigues me! Lots of great ideas - lots of enthusiasm, now we just need volunteers to help! Any takers?