The U.S. Thanksgiving, we know, is a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, but for this editor it is a time to look back over the year and thank so many of you – our authors, artists, photographers, and certainly our readers. The nicest task for this editor is clicking on my email and seeing “Thousand Islands Life Magazine: Comment requiring approval.” It amazes me how many readers appreciate our efforts and tell us so by asking questions, providing additional information for an article and/or leaving an opinion.
As we post November 2011’s edition, I hope you will take the time to continue the habit of commenting on our stories.
This month we begin with two very different pieces. Richard (Doc) Withington gives us Can you solve the Mystery???, a story without an ending… He asks you, our readers, to find a solution. We also have a story submitted by Rachael Cole: The Eastland Disaster, which is not really about the River, but is no less interesting as it is written by the late Frank Cole from Murray Isle.
Island life is represented with Patty Mondore’s The Gazebo Story; and Lynn McElfresh’s two articles: Borrowing Books… and Post Office on Grenell. Tom King presents an in-depth history of Cliff Craft boat works in Gananoque with “No son, It is a Cliffe Craft”… and Kim Lunman writes Garden Island grew from merely a dot telling the history of the small island near Kingston. All authors hope you will share your experiences with us on our comments page.
Brian Johnson presents two articles, Part III of The End of the Ferry Crisis… and a most difficult piece for him to write as he pays tribute to a shipping colleague: R. B. ‘Ratch’ Wallace: ‘Captain Hollywood’ who died while on board his ship the Canadian Empress in October.
I present an artist profile in Sketching Memories: Robert Hedden Artist; and Robert Matthews from Fishers Landing, presents the first of the three-part series on TI Collectables, Part I - Squiggle Glass
Planning for Clayton
I want to especially thank Mike Folsom for writing Does Size Matter? describing the proposed hotel for the site of the old Frink property in Clayton. As soon as plans were revealed in October there were a number of requests asking TI Life to cover this story. The majority were from those not approving of the scope of the project. The controversy has a silver lining, as it has made many stop and take notice of ways to both support the local economy and at the same time to protect our very special communities. Be sure to read this one and to leave your comments.
Last month
Doing Something about Border Issues, caused the greatest stir, with many complementary comments. However the efforts of our local politicians who formed the International Border Caucus, were soon dampened, if not drowned out by the news on October 27th that Congress had approved a trade agreement with Columbia and buried in the text was a clause repealing an exemption of a 5.50 visitor fee to be applied to all Canadians who arrive in the United States by air or sea. Canadian Senator Bob Runciman told us, “This fee, depending on how it is implemented, could be extremely damaging. I’m particularly worried about the impact on the boat cruise business if they are not granted an exemption.”
As soon as the new trade agreement was signed the New York State Senators who represent districts along the 450-mile US-Canadian border joined together to urge Congress to repeal the fee saying “it will hurt small businesses who rely on Canadian tourists, cost New Yorkers their jobs, and further damage relations between the two nations.” (See Senator Patti Ritchie’s website to view the letter sent on their behalf to Governor Cuomo and Senator Schumer).
Senator Runciman told TI Life he was pleased with their stance saying, “ I’m grateful for the support of the International Border Caucus on this issue. It’s exactly the sort of cross-border co-operation we hoped for when Senators Patty Ritchie, Joseph Griffo and I decided to put together a bi-national group of legislators who serve border communities.”
Going Viral…
Two of last month’s stories Reality TV’s Great Escape by Kim Lunman and Protecting “One Dive at a Time by Dennis McCarthy went viral as they appeared on NEWZ JUNKY website. We had over 1,000 hits within the hour.
TI Life Events, History and Communities
As we head in the winter season, we look forward to posting events and encourage those who stay in the North Country to let us know what is happening in their communities. Be sure to check our Events page often in the coming weeks.
Many of you are avid history buffs. Check our History pages and if you have material to submit, by all means let us know. We are looking for historical photographs, postcards, ephemera and articles.
We have 22 community pages on TI Life. They were originally written by our founding editor, Paul Malo. This month we updated Point Vivian’s profile written by Richard W. Randall, President, Point Vivian Park Association, Inc. If you have up-to-date photographs and information about the history or current island life in your area, then send it to us. We need help!
Readers Exchange
This comment brought a smile:
Just a quick note to say how much I am enjoying the fall photos by Susan Gosson Crane from a recent issue. They remind me of what I have said several times, "The spiders own this place; we just visit."
Beth Brasser (Rochester, NY and T.I. Park)
Do you agree that now we are back in the city, we do miss those creatures that love the river as much as we do,
Enjoy the turkey and trimmings and stay safe if you are traveling.
Susan W. Smith, susansmith@thousandislandslife.com
Editor.