Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Are Children Safe at Local Catholic Elementary Schools?

Several months ago, a member of standing in the community, was charged with sex crimes involving a minor. The accused was a long-serving elementary school teacher in Port Hope, Cobourg and Grafton. The St Michael’s Catholic Church bulletin announced that the accused was the Grand Knight of the local Knights of Columbus. The accused was also part of a group that expressed their distaste of a homosexual serving in the church, an incident that brought in the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Several months have passed since the charges were laid, and not a word has been published in the local newspapers. Northumberland Today had no difficulty publishing a story involving a Catholic school teacher last June 5, 2008.

Dan Burnie, an Occasional Teacher, was charged today by Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Services with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference. The charges against Mr. Burnie relate to recent allegations by students at a Catholic school in Peterborough.

In the blogosphere and social networks, some local residents have expressed outrage that there has been zero information provided to the community about the case. There is an information ban on any details whatsoever concerning the victim, and that is as it should be. Acting on behalf of the community, the state has laid charges against an individual. That is all the community needs to know at this point in time.

It is all that is needed to serve the needs of justice, because the message to the community will serve to enlighten the community and that enlightenment could well bring forth other victims, who were too traumatized to be the first to step forward with their story. The perps of such crimes are more often than not to have done their deeds over a long time and left a trail of victims.

The social media has brought forth allegations that there have been other instances, and that these had been brought to the attention of school authorities. This, of course, begs the question of local school authorities, (1) what did they know, (2) when did they know and (3) what did they do about it?

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Jack Vollering Charged With Sex Crimes Against Minor

JACK VOLLERING, appeared before court Monday morning last for a pretrial hearing on two charges; sexual interference of a minor under the age of 14 and sexual assault. The judge at the pretrial hearing took Mr Vollering's lawyer into chambers for discussion; later, Mr Vollering was advised to consult with his lawyer and then return for a court appearance January 16. Mr Vollering is free on his own recognizance with a promise to appear.

Jack Vollering, 65, has been a Catholic elementary school teacher for many years, teaching in Grafton, Port Hope and Cobourg. His last teaching assignment was grade six at St Michael’s School, located next to St. Michael’s Church in Cobourg. News of the charges spread today (Dec 19) to radio stations in Cobourg and Peterborough and also into the social media where the discussion revolved around how the school responded to concerned parents when they brought his behavior to their attention.

This is the same church with 12 parishioners who had received an Ontario Human Rights Commission complaint in 2009 from St Anne’s Spa owner, Jim Corcoran.

The complaint charged that Jack Vollering and the 11 other parishioners threatened “to go public with their complaints if the Bishop did not remove the 2 gay servers from the altar. . . . In their letters the group has tried to establish that I am married to my same sex partner, that I am an active homosexual leading an openly homosexual lifestyle and they implied that I may be in a relationship with Father Hood. . . . this group of 12 parishioners have used their distaste towards homosexuality to limit my right to serve my church and deepen my faith by serving on the altar, and to pursue a vocation within the Catholic Church. They have also caused me embarrassment in my church community by circulating petitions to fellow parishioners containing accusations pertaining to my lifestyle.”

A year later the complaint was resolved in mediation.

A year later, one of the 12 parishioners is facing accusations pertaining to his lifestyle; sexual interference of a minor and sexual assault. Pumping irony?

Jack Vollering is a member in good standing with the local Knights of Columbus. The July 3, 2011 bulletin of St Michael’s Church announced that he was the Grand Knight. Other church bulletins indicate that Jack Vollering was a winner of the Respect Life Lottery Calendar and that he was the contact for tickets to the Clergy Appreciation Dinner at St Therese Parish in Courtice.

OPP officer, Angela Ward, is the contact point for any further victims in the community or anyone who has information to share. She can be reached at 905-372-5421, ext. 10805.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

JACK VOLLERING is ...

a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, as announced in the July 3, 2011 bulletin of St Michaels Catholic Church in Cobourg, excerpt below:

Jack Vollering was also one of 12 parishioners named by Jim Corcoran, in his Ontario Human Rights complaint about 'employment' discrimination because of his alleged homosexual activity. Read Mr Corcoran's spin on the Group of 12 activity in this blog entry:

There is an unsettling irony in Jim Corcoran's remarks here, "One thing you can say about Catholics -- they like to talk."

And a lot of talking is about to splash all over the Church of Perpetual Virginity.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

P O E T R Y Z' O W N in Port Hope

Click on image to enlarge
Jenny Sampirisi croaked at Dreamer’s Café in Port Hope last September 26. Jenny was launching her first book of poetry, CROAK, published by Coach House Books. Formerly held at Farzinis, this poetry outreach program of poet James Pickersgill, made its debut appearance at Dreamer’s Café, just as Jenny’s first collection of poetry made its debut appearance at this wonderful venue.

Jenny took a few moments out of her hectic book-mongering schedule to take the oath of allegiance to Poetry.



On the same bill, Bob MacKenzie, of the Kingston area poetry cartel, brought his special grounded poetry. Explore his website, and you will see that Bob’s earthy eloquence is prolific. He also took a few moments to take the oath of allegiance to Poetry.

Ted Amsden Acceptance Speech

It was stanza room only in the Cobourg Council Chambers, October 3, when units of verse of the universe, the better poems and gardens set, the poetariet, and other elements of poetry circles and triangles, gathered to bear witness to the decree that Ted Amsden will be Cobourg's third Poet Laureate.

The Cobourg Poetry Workshop has posted a splendid interview of Ted here. Also the same page has a link to Ted's acceptance speech in ascii -- it is worth the read.

It is also worth a listen. After all, it did receive a stanza ovation.

BARD TO THE BONE

Click on image to enlarge

In Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada has at last produced a political leader worthy of assassination.

– Irving Layton, 1912-2006
– The Whole Bloody Bird, 1969
From Northumberland Today

In Ted Amsden, Cobourg has, at last, produced a poetical leader with a poem-grown Canadian voice worthy of inspiration. Canada long ago evolved and shucked its colonial constraints; likewise, Ted Amsden has now shucked the classic stuffiness of the better poems and garden set.


I can hear units of verse throughout the Universe applauding the appointment.


Bard to the bone, Ted Amsden is a word warrior wunderbard who will beat back the sub-verse activities of the Blandinistas (aka mediocrity mafia) of Blandland. The 101st Textual Assault Group of the Creative Intelligence Agency, armed with the latest surface-to-sentence similes awaits his poetically correct inspirations.


On behalf of the poetariet of the Imagine Nation of the Peoples Republic of Poetry, I congratulate Ted Amsden for his official appointment and we look forward to his ++expansionist activities on behalf of our poem and native land, the United Imagine Nations.


May he continue to practice unsafe text without a net.


Wally Keeler

Peoples Republic of Poetry

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Cobourg Ecology Garden Par-TEA Sept 24, 2011

Committee members of the Cobourg Ecology Garden and members of the public participate in the tree planting tribute to Minnie Pennell, the founder of the Cobourg Ecology Garden, as it celebrates its 15th anniversary.

Russell Lake Letter of Appreciation

Russell Lake has been a committee member of the Cobourg Ecology Garden since its inception 15 years ago. The event was part of the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Garden by Minnie Pennell. The event was September 24, 2011.

Johanne Loken Speaks @ Cobourg Ecology Garden

On September 24, 2011, former Cobourg Councillor, Parks and Recreation, Johanne Loken, spoke at the Cobourg Ecology Garden's 15th anniversary Par-TEA event. A tree-planting tribute to Minnie Pennell, the founder of the Cobourg Ecology Garden, was the feature event of the day.

Joan Chalovich speaks @ Cobourg Ecology Garden

On September 24, 2011, former Cobourg Mayor, Joan Chalovich spoke at the Cobourg Ecology Garden's 15th anniversary Par-TEA event. A tree-planting tribute to Minnie Pennell, the founder of the Cobourg Ecology Garden, was the feature event of the day.

Eric Winter reads Poem For a Gardener (M.P.) @ Cobourg Ecology Garden


Poem for a gardener (M.P.)

I doubt if you noticed the crow that was there on that day
the one with a faraway look in his eye
thin, with a hump back, pecking away
poking at mud,
making a couple of flaps with a cry
pretending indifference as any crow should.

You did not know then you’d soon be taken with Rue,
Fever Few, Lungswort and Leprachaun’s Gold,
Too taken up with the plain buttercup
with Fleebane and Woodruff, Bloodroot and flax,
and all of your flora.
In brief, you were a bit lax
when it came to observing that black bit of fauna
still keeping an eye out, nosing around
and pecking away in the corner.

Now apples are ripe and ready for plucking
sunflower all blackened.
Rudbekia gone and gone Coreopsis,
Stacis Byzantia, gone is the Primula
and only Chrysanthemum stays. How summer flies!
Now here’s a surprise
It was me, me wearing my Halloween disguise,
I was that crow with the hump and the shifty,
faraway, look in his eyes.
And I saw it all.

He came like a storm telling stories of stables.
The big one, immortal, who labored twelve fold
and by ruse he had stolen the apples of gold
fresh from the garden of Hesperides
and (Good Heavens!) it has to be told
You got taken in,
He seduced you down by the harbour’s west wall.
I wasn’t meaning to watch, I tell you,
I wasn’t meaning to watch,
I wasn’t meaning to watch for the fall,
but I saw it all.

It’s too much on my conscience for me to stay mute
I know what went on with that bearer of fruit,
stinking of cow muck.

Say what you will - the mythology pardon
I’ll tell them to look by the lake.
The consequence there!
They can see for themselves -
the little one there called Ecology Garden
I know what you did.
I know what it was went on there
I’ll let the town know.
Watch out now.
You’d better beware.
For I’m going to tell.
I’m going to tell on you
Minnie Pennell.

Monday, September 19, 2011

The Treedom of Minnie Pennell

Minnie Pennell has been referred to as Cobourg’s First Environmentalist, the Queen of Green. The legacy of her presence in Cobourg can pretty well be seen everywhere.

Take a trip down the main streets of several Ontario towns.None are as rich and lush with the naturalness of green things as is Cobourg’s King Street.

Cobourg poet and columnist, Grahame Woods was recently moved to eloquently extol the beautiful breathing boulevard of trees along King Street that has been providing canopy services for generations of Cobourgers. The gentle curve of King Street cleverly positions the Town Hall clock tower in the middle of everyone’s focus, pedestrians and drivers alike.

The same canopy that inspires poets, also inspires shoppers, financial industry workers, manual labourers, caterpillars of children heading to Victoria Park, drive-through tourists, delivery truck drivers, countless bicyclists,, and the rare drunk fallen face up, lost in a swirl of stars and green, oh so much green, all over the place.

How can this be attributed to one individual, the late Minnie Pennell, the founder of the Cobourg Ecology Garden?

Minnie didn’t plant those trees. She simply lived her green life amongst them and came to love of the natural disorder of things expansively. As a result, Minnie blessed many organizations with her wilful energy.

She was a member in good standing with the Willow Beach Field Naturalist Society, which mandates itself as nature advocacy. Former Chair, Russell Lake, recalls Minnie as a “strong-willed woman” who easily convinced the Willow Beach crowd to provide funding for the Cobourg Ecology Garden that existed only in her mind at that time.

She was the chair of the Cobourg Environmental Advisory Committee in 1995 when the seed of the Cobourg Ecology Garden began to germinate. This was the magic of Minnie – spreading a good idea around, turning sceptics and agnostics into believers of the green embrace of the earth. She was an organizer, a go-getter, the mother of nurture and nature.

Where the Cobourg Ecology Garden now sits, was scrubland at best. The nearest neighbours were fuel storage tanks, coal piles, and a harbour devoted to serving industry. As this faded into history with the development of Legion Village, Minnie saw the opportunity to develop an ecology garden at the foot of Hibernia Street.

Cobourg Councillor, Miriam Mutton, worked with Minnie at the idea stage of the Ecology Garden. She was a landscape designer. The garden is a reminder of our connection to the earth and the location makes it easily accessible. We need an opportunity to reconnect during the day,” said Miriam.

Former Town Councillor Bob Spooner was responsible for Parks and Recreation when Minnie first approached him about the development of the Cobourg Ecology Garden. “I remember her as a very determined woman. She had a well-informed answer to every question I had,” added Mr Spooner.

In February 1996, the Ecology garden got its go.

Minnie’s ability to draw in the community to realize the vision of the Ecology Garden was notable. Northumberland Community Coalition Garden Chair, Ben Burd, was involved in discussion of common aims with Minnie that spring.

Preparing for the Ecology Garden’s first Earth Day ceremony, April 22, 1996. Minnie Pennell told the community that the Garden will provide a “unique opportunity to participate in, as well as enjoy a community garden unlike any other in town.” The turn out for this sunrise ceremony was inspiring.

Minnie Pennell was an organizer, speaking one on one, to colleagues, to municipal power, to anyone that would be helpful to the project. In a missive she wrote, “An ecology garden has a great potential to become an invaluable inspiration and teaching tool for all gardeners, novice or experienced, and will bring together in a safe, pleasant outdoor work environment many different age groups.”

That Earth Day was the beginning of 15 more that has brought a dedicated community of volunteers to continue the legacy. At the first dedication of the Ecology Garden, as the first sliver of sun rose above the horizon, the warm words reached out to the gathering; “May the gentleness of spring rains soften the tensions within us, and the power of ocean waves steady and strengthen us. May the wisdom of earth open us to mystery … the music of its forest streams delight us and the simplicity of its wildflowers captivate our hearts. In silence let us experience the sun.”

Minnie Pennell did more than raise a Garden. She also raised a green consciousness throughout the town, a consciousness that spread slowly but steady. Listen to Cobourg politicians and you will hear traces of that consciousness, for example when Mayor Gil Brocanier makes a passing reference to Cobourg’s beautiful ‘urban forest.’ That is Minnie’s influence.

Councillor Miriam Mutton commented that Minnie, “was a focused and energetic community-minded citizen who was passionate about the environment, and, knew how to get things done. She was fearless when it was necessary to bring a matter to the attention of the local politicians.”

In the Cobourg Ecology Garden Minnie lead by example and encouraged people of all ages and abilities to get involved. She made it easy for others to volunteer because she expressed her appreciation.

I knew Minnie mostly through involvement with the Ecology Garden and in this regard Minnie's legacy to Cobourg is her leadership by example in enabling opportunities for others to participate, and, to enjoy the simple pleasures of a garden and the important lessons to be learned there about our environment.”

Since that beginning the Cobourg Ecology Garden has grown and developed and become an intrinsic part of Cobourg life. It is not just a place where green things grow, but where a green consciousness grows.

Over the years the Ecology Garden has instructed local students who have gone on to university education in related fields of ecological research. The garden has provided an opportunity for growing vegetables in a totally organic manner, without chemical interventions. The food that has been grown has been provided to various United Way agencies, shelters, transition homes.

All this from a single seed: Minnie’s life enhancing spirit. Although she was in the centre of things, her inherent generosity was limitless. In a letter to the editor, 1998, she extolled every individual and organization that had benefited the Garden.

The Cobourg Ecology Garden was not the last stop on her green ambition. Cobourg Poet Laureate Emeritus, Eric Winter, did little more than point to a plot of land on Elgin Street and suggest an arboretum, when Minnie took the baton and made it a reality.

Mr Winter recalls that time, “Minnie was the major fund-getter for the arboretum - she went to the bingo regularly and hated the smell of cigarettes which she had to endure as a result. She was great to work with. We got people to donate trees ($200 in the ground) and we aimed to get as large a variety of examples as we could.”

The arboretum is diversity on display year around. It is a community of trees sharing sun and soil as the seasons rotate in accordance with the natural harmony of living things. This is the manifestation of Cobourg’s greatest treedom fighter.

The lush King Street canopy is an inheritance, as is everything that emerges from the soil with the sole intent of facing up to the sun. Minnie saw to it that generations of Cobourgers would not squander their inheritance, but rather, enrich it with continuing care.

The Cobourg Ecology Garden will be celebrating the legacy of Minnie Pennell on September 24, from 10am-2pm. A Black Cherry tree will be planted in tribute at 11am. Poetry will be read. Music will be provided. Most of all, living things will be encouraged to continue their unrelenting evolution.

==================

The poem below was written by Eric Winter and first published in p o e t r y'z o w n, issue 8, officially released on Thursday, February 26, 2009


Poem for a gardener (M.P.)

I doubt if you noticed the crow that was there on that day

the one with a faraway look in his eye

thin, with a hump back, pecking away

poking at mud,

making a couple of flaps with a cry

pretending indifference as any crow should.

You did not know then you’d soon be taken with Rue,

Fever Few, Lungswort and Leprachaun’s Gold,

Too taken up with the plain buttercup

with Fleebane and Woodruff, Bloodroot and flax,

and all of your flora.

In brief, you were a bit lax

when it came to observing that black bit of fauna

still keeping an eye out, nosing around

and pecking away in the corner.

Now apples are ripe and ready for plucking

sunflower all blackened.

Rudbekia gone and gone Coreopsis,

Stacis Byzantia, gone is the Primula

and only Chrysanthemum stays. How summer flies!

Now here’s a surprise

It was me, me wearing my Halloween disguise,

I was that crow with the hump and the shifty,

faraway, look in his eyes.

And I saw it all.

He came like a storm telling stories of stables.

The big one, immortal, who labored twelve fold

and by ruse he had stolen the apples of gold

fresh from the garden of Hesperides

and (Good Heavens!) it has to be told

You got taken in,

He seduced you down by the harbour’s west wall.

I wasn’t meaning to watch, I tell you,

I wasn’t meaning to watch,

I wasn’t meaning to watch for the fall,

but I saw it all.

It’s too much on my conscience for me to stay mute

I know what went on with that bearer of fruit,

stinking of cow muck.

Say what you will - the mythology pardon

I’ll tell them to look by the lake.

The consequence there!

They can see for themselves -

the little one there called Ecology Garden

I know what you did.

I know what it was went on there

I’ll let the town know.

Watch out now.

You’d better beware.

For I’m going to tell.

I’m going to tell on you

Minnie Pennell.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Monday, September 12, 2011

Abandonment of King Street, Cobourg.

Click on image to enlarge
This has not been in business for years. A prime location, with a patio area overlooking Victoria Park would seem like a winner for an ambitious entrepreneur.

Cobourg's busiest business intersection has been overlooked by three stories of abandonment.
Saucy Essentials is winding down and leaving sooner than you think.
The only use for this space has been for ephemeral elections.


Has not been opened for business for months and continuing ...




Another temp for purely political purposes
No longer serving.
Moving out next month

Monday, September 5, 2011

Lenah Fisher at Rock Festival Aug 12. 1970

Click on image to enlarge

Cobourg Police Services search info for VIA bomb threat

Cobourg Police Services spent a leisurely Labour Day searching the net via BING for "Cobourg police bomb". Later they went on to GOOGLE search the terms, "Cobourg police bomb comments and photos". They ended up focussing most of their attention on the posting entitled, "for the BURD BLAND BLATHERGABS.

Click on image to enlarge

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

One Week After Ribfest Departed Victoria Park

August 29, 2011

Parks Management was on the case to repair and maintain the grounds the moment everything Ribfest was removed. Kudos for that. The grounds had taken quite a pounding for the previous 8 weeks or so and proved its overall resilience. The entire grounds were aerated and seeded. It was supplemented by a good soaking of rain. The yellow patches have almost got all their green back. Other rough areas are showing green life returning. Other barren areas still show the grunge, grass by a tree is still shiny and slick with oil.

Compared to last year, there were virtually no scars from the tires of heavy vehicles. It rained last year and this year, but the heavies were handled quite gingerly.

Click on image to enlarge








Thursday, August 25, 2011

The TREEDOM of VICTORIA PARK takes another hit

Click on image to enlarge
The tree was already compromised by rot, and the fury of the storm that swept Cobourg August 24 took advantage of the weakness. Several high canopy trees have been taken down this year.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

OPEN LETTER TO COBOURG TOWN COUNCIL




Last year Cobourg Town Council received several recommendations that addressed the annual contamination of Victoria Park with industrial amounts of cooking oil and bacon grease from the monster cooking rigs that serve Northumberland Ribfest.


One of the simplest of those recommendations was the request for a platform, or tarpaulin or any other prophylactic device to prevent this annual contamination. Prevention! – what a concept!



There was a recently floated suggestion to allow for permit-only bbqs confined to the Lion’s Pavilion. There is a reason for that. It has a non-absorbent floor. Prevention. But Ribfest gets a free ride to crap anywhere it wants on the lawns. Why was no effort made to prevent this gross spillage of cooking oil and bacon grease? It’s not that Council and the Ribfest organizers didn’t know about it; they did. That was last year.



Look at the attached photos of the fifth annual contamination. The Ribfest organizers did what to prevent this happening again? Nothing that I can see. Every resident of Cobourg should go down to bear witness to the injury to Victoria Park. Observe how long it takes to recover. Visit it every other day or once a week, but check it out. Members of the Parks Advisory Committee should certainly make a walk past twice a week for their own observances.



Question; are those cooking oils and bacon grease biodegradable in a matter of minutes, like rain, like tears, like the natural disorder of natural things? It’s not fertilizer nor coffee, tea, soft drinks, juice drinks, slushies, ice cream carelessly dropped by a nonchalant child. No, no, no, this is big time real contamination done by adults.



These adults chose not to address the annual grease dump in this Great Green Heritage District this year for reasons known only to them. They don’t answer to me, but they should have a civic responsibility to answer to the larger community for this continuing contamination of the lawns. Cooking oil and bacon grease cause harm.



Look at the pictures. Note the oil-slicked grass around the base of a tree that sat behind the cooking rigs. Sloppy sloppy work. Completely preventable. All it would take is the requirement of a tarpaulin or some sort of competent containment.



Repeat after me, “Cooking oil and bacon grease cause harm.



Look at the pictures. See in some the green grass lovingly trampled by partiers. This is some tough resilient grass. Paramount quality. Fit for daily frolics by countless children. Yellowed grass gets its green mojo back in a couple days. Easy to live with that. But not with dead grass but live root that gets its green back much much slower. Not days, but weeks. There are more and more places were the grass is sparse, where the soil is soaked barren with ugly guck.



Repeat after me, “Cooking oil and bacon grease cause harm.



Look at the pictures. Dozens of plastic bun bag clips litter the ground, along with two splinters of a broken plastic glass, four depressions caused by a support device left unfilled (golfers with class restore divots.) The park loves bare feet, especially children. There should be no area where children should fear to frolic. “No, no, Johnny, don’t play over there, the ground’s greasy and grimy -- you’ll ruin your clothes.” Every day exuberant caterpillars of children weave their way from daycare to the park.



Repeat after me, “Cooking oil and bacon grease cause harm.



Look at the picture of the crude boil around the manhole cover. No one in Cobourg is permitted to pour their cooking oil and bacon grease on public lawns let alone near entrances to the storm sewer system. How could such hazardous waste be permitted near that?



Victoria Park is no second level or neighbourhood park. It is top of the top, a crown jewel, a star, The One and it deserves the respect of an environmentally protected area. An easily preventable injury has been done to the lawns for the fifth year in a row. While some patches grow back in days, too many others take weeks. A woman’s black eye will get its colour back before some of those contaminated patches green up. It can no longer be cavalierly dismissed with a grass-grows-back attitude.



Repeat after me, “Cooking oil and bacon grease cause harm.



Before entering Victoria Park next year. will it be too much to ask that those mobile monster grease pits be diapered?



Click on image to enlarge