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Detail of the Baptistry Window, a masterpiece of abstract stained glass designed by John Piper and executed by Patrick Reyntiens.
Coventry's Cathedral is a unique synthesis of old a new, born of wartime suffering and forged in the spirit of postwar optimism, famous for it's history and for being the most radically modern of Anglican cathedrals. Two cathedral's stand side by side, the ruins of the medieval building, destroyed by incendiary bombs in 1940 and the bold new building designed by Basil Spence and opened in 1962.
It is a common misconception that Coventry lost it's first cathedral in the wartime blitz, but the bombs actually destroyed it's second; the original medieval cathedral was the monastic St Mary's, a large cruciform building believed to have been similar in appearance to Lichfield Cathedral (whose diocese it shared). Tragically it became the only English cathedral to be destroyed during the Reformation, after which it was quickly quarried away, leaving only scant fragments, but enough evidence survives to indicate it's rich decoration (some pieces were displayed nearby in the Priory Visitors Centre, sadly since closed). Foundations of it's apse were found during the building of the new cathedral in the 1950s, thus technically three cathedrals share the same site.
The mainly 15th century St Michael's parish church became the seat of the new diocese of Coventry in 1918, and being one of the largest parish churches in the country it was upgraded to cathedral status without structural changes (unlike most 'parish church' cathedrals created in the early 20th century). It lasted in this role a mere 22 years before being burned to the ground in the 1940 Coventry Blitz, leaving only the outer walls and the magnificent tapering tower and spire (the extensive arcades and clerestoreys collapsed completely in the fire, precipitated by the roof reinforcement girders, installed in the Victorian restoration, that buckled in the intense heat).
The determination to rebuild the cathedral in some form was born on the day of the bombing, however it wasn't until the mid 1950s that a competition was held and Sir Basil Spence's design was chosen. Spence had been so moved by experiencing the ruined church he resolved to retain it entirely to serve as a forecourt to the new church. He envisaged the two being linked by a glass screen wall so that the old church would be visible from within the new.
Built between 1957-62 at a right-angle to the ruins, the new cathedral attracted controversy for it's modern form, and yet some modernists argued that it didn't go far enough, after all there are echoes of the Gothic style in the great stone-mullioned windows of the nave and the net vaulting (actually a free-standing canopy) within. What is exceptional is the way art has been used as such an integral part of the building, a watershed moment, revolutionising the concept of religious art in Britain.
Spence employed some of the biggest names in contemporary art to contribute their vision to his; the exterior is adorned with Jacob Epstein's triumphant bronze figures of Archangel Michael (patron of the cathedral) vanquishing the Devil. At the entrance is the remarkable glass wall, engraved by John Hutton with strikingly stylised figures of saints and angels, and allowing the interior of the new to communicate with the ruin. Inside, the great tapestry of Christ in majesty surrounded by the evangelistic creatures, draws the eye beyond the high altar; it was designed by Graham Sutherland and was the largest tapestry ever made.
However one of the greatest features of Coventry is it's wealth of modern stained glass, something Spence resolved to include having witnessed the bleakness of Chartres Cathedral in wartime, all it's stained glass having been removed. The first window encountered on entering is the enormous 'chess-board' baptistry window filled with stunning abstract glass by John Piper & Patrick Reyntiens, a symphony of glowing colour. The staggered nave walls are illuminated by ten narrow floor to ceiling windows filled with semi-abstract symbolic designs arranged in pairs of dominant colours (green, red, multi-coloured, purple/blue and gold) representing the souls journey to maturity, and revealed gradually as one approaches the altar. This amazing project was the work of three designers lead by master glass artist Lawrence Lee of the Royal College of Art along with Keith New and Geoffrey Clarke (each artist designed three of the windows individually and all collaborated on the last).
The cathedral still dazzles the visitor with the boldness of it's vision, but alas, half a century on, it was not a vision to be repeated and few of the churches and cathedrals built since can claim to have embraced the synthesis of art and architecture in the way Basil Spence did at Coventry.
The cathedral is generally open to visitors most days. For more see below:-
Detail of the Baptistry Window, a masterpiece of abstract stained glass designed by John Piper and executed by Patrick Reyntiens.
Coventry's Cathedral is a unique synthesis of old a new, born of wartime suffering and forged in the spirit of postwar optimism, famous for it's history and for being the most radically modern of Anglican cathedrals. Two cathedral's stand side by side, the ruins of the medieval building, destroyed by incendiary bombs in 1940 and the bold new building designed by Basil Spence and opened in 1962.
It is a common misconception that Coventry lost it's first cathedral in the wartime blitz, but the bombs actually destroyed it's second; the original medieval cathedral was the monastic St Mary's, a large cruciform building believed to have been similar in appearance to Lichfield Cathedral (whose diocese it shared). Tragically it became the only English cathedral to be destroyed during the Reformation, after which it was quickly quarried away, leaving only scant fragments, but enough evidence survives to indicate it's rich decoration (some pieces were displayed nearby in the Priory Visitors Centre, sadly since closed). Foundations of it's apse were found during the building of the new cathedral in the 1950s, thus technically three cathedrals share the same site.
The mainly 15th century St Michael's parish church became the seat of the new diocese of Coventry in 1918, and being one of the largest parish churches in the country it was upgraded to cathedral status without structural changes (unlike most 'parish church' cathedrals created in the early 20th century). It lasted in this role a mere 22 years before being burned to the ground in the 1940 Coventry Blitz, leaving only the outer walls and the magnificent tapering tower and spire (the extensive arcades and clerestoreys collapsed completely in the fire, precipitated by the roof reinforcement girders, installed in the Victorian restoration, that buckled in the intense heat).
The determination to rebuild the cathedral in some form was born on the day of the bombing, however it wasn't until the mid 1950s that a competition was held and Sir Basil Spence's design was chosen. Spence had been so moved by experiencing the ruined church he resolved to retain it entirely to serve as a forecourt to the new church. He envisaged the two being linked by a glass screen wall so that the old church would be visible from within the new.
Built between 1957-62 at a right-angle to the ruins, the new cathedral attracted controversy for it's modern form, and yet some modernists argued that it didn't go far enough, after all there are echoes of the Gothic style in the great stone-mullioned windows of the nave and the net vaulting (actually a free-standing canopy) within. What is exceptional is the way art has been used as such an integral part of the building, a watershed moment, revolutionising the concept of religious art in Britain.
Spence employed some of the biggest names in contemporary art to contribute their vision to his; the exterior is adorned with Jacob Epstein's triumphant bronze figures of Archangel Michael (patron of the cathedral) vanquishing the Devil. At the entrance is the remarkable glass wall, engraved by John Hutton with strikingly stylised figures of saints and angels, and allowing the interior of the new to communicate with the ruin. Inside, the great tapestry of Christ in majesty surrounded by the evangelistic creatures, draws the eye beyond the high altar; it was designed by Graham Sutherland and was the largest tapestry ever made.
However one of the greatest features of Coventry is it's wealth of modern stained glass, something Spence resolved to include having witnessed the bleakness of Chartres Cathedral in wartime, all it's stained glass having been removed. The first window encountered on entering is the enormous 'chess-board' baptistry window filled with stunning abstract glass by John Piper & Patrick Reyntiens, a symphony of glowing colour. The staggered nave walls are illuminated by ten narrow floor to ceiling windows filled with semi-abstract symbolic designs arranged in pairs of dominant colours (green, red, multi-coloured, purple/blue and gold) representing the souls journey to maturity, and revealed gradually as one approaches the altar. This amazing project was the work of three designers lead by master glass artist Lawrence Lee of the Royal College of Art along with Keith New and Geoffrey Clarke (each artist designed three of the windows individually and all collaborated on the last).
The cathedral still dazzles the visitor with the boldness of it's vision, but alas, half a century on, it was not a vision to be repeated and few of the churches and cathedrals built since can claim to have embraced the synthesis of art and architecture in the way Basil Spence did at Coventry.
The cathedral is generally open to visitors most days. For more see below:-
About to expertly executed by veteran island surfer Dave Gray.
A few shots from a lovely sunny spring day at Compton Bay on the Isle of Wight. There were some fun little waves to be had leftover from the classic swell of the day before.
You can see more, including a lovely shot of me surfing a decent right, in the latest blog on www.soul-surfing.co.uk
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©2012 Jason Swain, All Rights Reserved
This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
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Links to my website, facebook and twitter can be found on my flickr profile
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Huile sur toile, 192 x 201 cm, 1956, Lane Kemper Art museum (université saint Louis), Washington.
Exécutée en 1956, Samedi soir de Willem de Kooning est une toile pleine d’activité picturale frénétique. Conformément aux associations du titre avec une soirée en ville, les coups de pinceau et les plans de couleurs du tableau articulent une cacophonie à la fois sensuelle et dissonante. Thomas Hess, le critique le plus perspicace de de Kooning, a repris cette ambiance urbaine, qualifiant cette peinture et des peintures similaires de 1956 de "paysages urbains abstraits". Il a perçu les rues crasseuses et chaotiques de New York dans ces peintures. D’autres titres de De Kooning de l’époque font explicitement référence au monde urbain des romans policiers bon marché et du film noir : Nouvelles de Gotha (Gotham News), Incident au coin d'une rue (Street Corner Incident), Journal de la police (Police Gazette).
Cette lueur du monde populaire du kitsch urbain est importante pour Samedi soir, car elle remet en question le sérieux habituel des discussions des années 1950 sur l'expressionnisme abstrait, le mouvement auquel de Kooning est habituellement associé. Tandis que cette oeuvre revendique son statut de peinture mettant l'accent sur les pigments mutilés et étirés, c'est aussi une toile qui semble nier les notions élevées de la peinture, ou du moins les attentes d'authenticité liées au médium dans les années 1950. À cette époque, les critiques considéraient la peinture abstraite en grande partie comme un véhicule d’expression immédiate de l’artiste existentiel, en dehors des influences sociétales et culturelles de masse.
L'importance de Samedi soir réside dans la manière dont de Kooning a retourné cette vision contre elle-même, dans la manière dont il a utilisé la syntaxe de l'expressionnisme abstrait pour en démontrer les limites. En minimisant le caractère artisanal de ses marques, il suggère qu'une telle peinture gestuelle, considérée comme emblématique de l'expérience directe et subjective, est au mieux un mode d'expression fragmentaire, toujours médiatisée, toujours ancrée dans un champ social plus vaste. L'artiste transmet cet encastrement, une idée antithétique à la haute tradition moderniste, en trouvant un moyen de se rapprocher visuellement des plaisirs avilis et différés de la ville. Dans un sens, de Kooning "s’en prend" au langage du grand modernisme. En tant que tel, ce tableau est un hybride des années 1950, coincé entre la rhétorique existentielle sans humour de la notion d' "action painting" d'Harold Rosenberg et les propos désinvoltes et acculturés de Robert Rauschenberg et d'Andy Warhol, qui ont tous deux incorporé dans leur travail des images trouvées dans les médias dans leur travail.
Malgré la réputation de de Kooning en tant que peintre expressionniste qui fait des marques, la soustraction est un geste tout aussi important dans son répertoire. Par exemple, il faisait souvent glisser un grattoir ou un autre bord sur ses surfaces peintes, privant ainsi ses coups de pinceau de leur immédiateté et de leur friction. Le quadrant supérieur droit de Samedi soir dramatise une telle négation de la main de l’artiste. De Kooning a gratté le passage rouge proéminent jusqu'à ce qu'il paraisse plat et semi-transparent. L’artiste a également mélangé la zone située à droite de ce passage rouge, avec ses taches vertes, bleues et blanches, sous une brume unificatrice. En tant que telles, ces zones semblent médiatisées, presque comme s'il s'agissait de reproductions photographiques de coups de pinceau. De tels passages grattés et aplatis se produisent tout au long de l'oeuvre.
Un petit passage constitue cependant l’exception qui confirme la règle : un ovale de pigment noir et blanc fortement empâté, situé juste au-dessus et à droite du centre du tableau. Si un memento mori est un objet dans un tableau qui suscite des pensées de mort (un crâne dans une nature morte, par exemple), alors ce passage particulier sert de memento mori à l'envers. En rappelant aux spectateurs la vitalité, la tactilité et la viscosité de l’expressionnisme abstrait, cette boule de peinture souligne la médiation et la planéité du reste du tableau.
Tout au long de sa carrière, de Kooning a également eu recours à des stratégies de collage pour se moquer de l’authenticité singulière de la peinture, Samedi soir apparaissant comme un ensemble de parties distinctes. Ce processus de collage pictural n’est pas étranger à ses gestes de retrait. Il isole par exemple l'ovale empâté, le détachant de son environnement en grattant la peinture. Ceci est comparable à la suppression de données provenant d'une source, les deux actions créant l’apparence d’une surface fracturée. De plus, la pratique d’atelier de de Kooning était basée sur une esthétique du collage. À tout moment, l'artiste disposait d'un certain nombre de petits dessins et de croquis à l'huile qui traînaient dans son espace de travail. Il attachait souvent temporairement l’un de ces exemples à un tableau plus grand, utilisait ce nouvel élément pour repenser et modifier la composition globale de la toile, puis supprimait le dessin. Bien entendu, un tel processus créait des effets picturaux disjonctifs. La ligne bleue qui commence à définir une forme organique dans le coin inférieur gauche de l’image pourrait bien être l’un de ces passages. De plus, de Kooning masquait et recouvrait des éléments de ses peintures, créant ainsi des bords durs et des transitions gênantes. La bande rose flottant juste sous la mer bleue de pigment au bas du tableau, ainsi que la façon dont les coups de pinceau s'arrêtent le long de lignes droites, dramatisent les processus complexes par lesquels l'artiste a manipulé sa surface peinte. Pour de Kooning, la peinture était comme le collage, disjonctive et additive.
Malgré le retrait littéral et figuratif associé à l’esthétique de la soustraction et du collage de de Kooning, l’énergie et la frénésie de la peinture véhiculent toujours une sexualité charnelle. Dans les années qui ont précédé ses abstractions urbaines au milieu des années 1950, l'artiste peignait principalement des images de femmes, la plus célèbre étant Femme de 1950-1952. Il a travaillé sur cette toile particulière pendant plus de deux ans, peignant, grattant et repeignant à plusieurs reprises. Le résultat final montre son âge et offre aux téléspectateurs quelque chose entre un ancien dieu de la fertilité et une pin-up effrontée, avec un rendu de coups de pinceau frénétiques visibles dans Samedi soir. Cette dernière œuvre, malgré l'absence de femme identifiable, est également une peinture sensuelle avec sa frénésie orgiaque, ses courbes organiques et ses teintes roses charnues. Ainsi, bien que de Kooning ait violemment fracturé et dispersé l’une de ses femmes canoniques à sa surface, ses parties radicalement abstraites conservent néanmoins un sentiment charnel.
La planéité et les éléments de collage du tableau dialoguent clairement avec le cubisme, mouvement que de Kooning admirait. En outre, bon nombre des œuvres cubistes les plus importantes sont en fait des portraits de femmes, par exemple Ma Jolie de 1912 (Picasso). Certains critiques ont interprété ce tableau comme une représentation aplatie et angulaire de l’amant de Picasso, vidée de toute charnalité tridimensionnelle et sinueuse, mais est plus un diagramme qu'un portrait. À l'image de la pratique cubiste, Samedi soir est également organisé autour d'une grille lâche, deux lignes verticales noires ancrant ses parties supérieure et inférieure et fournissant ainsi une feuille aux nombreux coups de pinceau horizontaux. Pourtant, avec la sexualité charnue et frénétique de l'oeuvre, de Kooning a pu récupérer un sentiment paradoxal de luxure cubiste, celui d'une grille lâche et schématique du cubisme et d'un érotisme avili.
En fin de compte, Samedi soir dramatise une visualité urbaine sexiste avec un site plat et disjonctif de désir dispersé et différé. La peinture peut se rapprocher d'un aperçu momentané d'une partie du corps fétichisée, qu'elle soit repérée dans un bus urbain bondé ou dans la rue, réelle ou dans une publicité. Pour l’artiste, la ville est un lieu de désirs artificiels et collés, ses bleus froids et les roses charnus collés ensemble dans un champ plat et chaotique suggérant cette expérience. Même la grille cubiste de de Kooning semble pressée. En réorientant la toile pour faire bouger ses gouttes picturales de droite à gauche (défiant ainsi la gravité), l'artiste a suggéré la mobilité du spectateur ou du tableau lui-même. Malgré sa présence sur le mur, le tableau menace toujours de glisser hors de vue.
En 1960, de Kooning déclarait : "le contenu est un aperçu", reconnaissant ainsi les qualités éphémères de l’imagerie dans ses peintures. Samedi soirt est obsédé par de tels aperçus, mais dramatise finalement une vision urbaine frustrée et frénétique. Tout en dialoguant avec l’action painting de Jackson Pollock, la toile traverse également le monde de la vie quotidienne, comparable à l’utilisation par Rauschenberg d’images trouvées dans ses peintures combinées des années 1950 ou aux sérigraphies photographiques floues de Warhol du début des années 1960. Si ces deux derniers artistes ont utilisé la photographie comme une sorte de coup de pinceau, le travail de de Kooning permet à ces derniers de prendre des qualités de photographie, légèrement en retrait de la réalité et de son immédiateté. Avec Samedi soir, l’artiste parle à la fois le langage de l’expressionnisme abstrait et le nie. En tant que telle, la peinture regarde à la fois vers l’intérieur et vers l’extérieur, vers les notions modernistes d’authenticité et d’autonomie et les idées postmodernes de fragmentation et de médiation (cf. John J.Curley, professeur agrégé d'histoire de l'Art moderne et contemporain à l'Université de Wake Forest en Caroline du Nord et invité de l'Université de Washington à Saint-Louis, 2007).
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BOOK TITLE : Crafting And Executing Strategy : Text and Readings
AUTHOR : A. J. Strickland, A.J. Strickland III, Arthur A. Jr. Thompson, Arthur Thompson, John E. Gamble
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1612 Mark Brewster who gave 4s 10d to the poor and £40 to the church for a great bell . He was a freeman of the Ironmongers Company and made money being one of the first traders to Russia, as deputy agent of the Russian Company under John Merrick overseeing the factory in Moscow, trading free of duty perhaps involving piracy. After unrest in Moscow, suspension of the company's charter and the burning of the english house where he lived in the Varvarka, he
retired here in 1612. The Tsar however asked for his return and he was tried and executed in Moscow
The Che Guevara Mausoleum (Mausoleo Che Guevara) is a memorial in Santa Clara, Cuba. It houses the remains of executed Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara and twenty-nine of his fellow combatants killed in 1967 during Guevara's attempt to spur an armed uprising in Bolivia. The full area which contains a bronze 22-foot statue of Che is referred to as the Ernesto Guevara Sculptural Complex.
Guevara was buried with full military honors on 17 October 1997 after his exhumed remains were discovered in Bolivia and returned to Cuba. At the site, there is a museum dedicated to Guevara's life and an eternal flame lit by Fidel Castro in Che's memory. (Source: Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara_Mausoleum)
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2010 Kentville Grand Street Parade
Pizza slices n Dogs on Parade Day in the Needs Parking Lot
Kentville Canaan Ave and Main Street Outdoor dining.
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Pizza at Memorial Park ;
A delightful outdoor dining experience and a refreshing taste of old Italy has arrived in Kentville in the form of an authentic handcrafted Neapolitan masterfully formed old Napoli style Pizza that is prepared using only daily harvested local farm grown ingredients delicately layered on a hand-caressed bed of slow rising Sicilian sweet dough before being baked to perfection in the blistering 1000-degree volcanic heat produced by an in house dome style stone and mortar apple-wood burning biblical baking oven before being transferred by hand carved olive tree hewn paddle board to an elegant Roma statuary marble serving platform secured on a trio of perfectly aligned mid 19th-century Victorian wrought iron support arms that all seem to reach out boldly from the exterior of the host pizzeria to invite passer by pedestrian traffic into a gastronomical world of unresistant over indulgence to experience our ultra-modern multi-function mobile kitchen culinary EV catering unit now parked in a discreet location amongst the natural beauty and sublime serenity of Kentville's meticulously manicured Memorial Park where our humble crew of internationally trained highly skilled professional pizza-making maestros eagerly await the honor and privilege of providing valued Valley visitors with an unforgettable pizza dining experience that is deliberately designed with an added attention to detail that is sure to satisfy any individual taste and the culinary cravings of even the most demanding pizza connoisseur .
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ABF 2023 :
Shocking news from ABF,
* There's been a stunning development at ABF. *
Apparently in a new younger generation there are those who harbor resentment towards our nations history, for English colonialism, and even for the Monarchy ? Other minority groups have voiced discontent over the diversity and inclusion issue ? And so it seems that the current ABF Board of Directors has listened to the concerns and complaints of a few small minority groups while apparently ignoring and excluding the overwhelming majority of Valley residents ? And it appears that this current Board of Directors chose to resolve discontent by simply moving to implement and execute the nuclear option and final solution ? And therefore after a highly successful lengthy run of 87 consecutive years in a row, the highly anticipated, very popular, family oriented, inclusive and diverse, multi village Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess Pageant along with the prestigious Royal Coronation crowning ceremonies held in Wolfville have all been terminated forever by this current board of Directors ?
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-----------------------It's The End of an Era-----------------------------
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep."
Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival 2023 - ABF Board of Directors have announced they are making drastic new changes in format and making more devastating cut-backs to the annual People's Festival ? Recent concerns over ceremony, symbolism, monarchy and past colonialism, along with the ongoing inclusion and diversity issue relative to the Queen Annapolisa contest, as well as the current Trudeau Liberal political environment in Canada, may have all influenced a new generation of ABF Officials to radically update the historic Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess pageants in order to bring the Valley up to modern standards that they believe more relevant to current times ? And so it seems that Directors must have held an extremely private 'think tank' and without consideration, consultation, or bothering to invite or gain approval from long time participating Valley communities, Officials must have decided that rather than trouble themselves any further with the issue, why not just take the easy way out and simply get rid of this history ? And so it seems that a decision must have been made, in a very private way, to enforce the life ending final solution ? And so, as of 2023 the iconic 87 year old Apple Blossom Princess contest and pageant is to be shut down and terminated forever ? This act has been carried out without public input, inclusion, involvement, attendance or approval, and now one of the longest running, popular, highly anticipated, inclusive and diverse family events to ever benefit the Valley is over ?
This cold act of finality will end the 88 year reign of her royal Heinous Queen Annapolisa and it will terminate all further participation of the 7 to 10 Apple Blossom Princess contestants and child attendants representing 7 to 10 local Valley communities ? It also ends appearances by the beautiful hand crafted award winning Princess floats that are the focal highlight of Grand Street Parade and will signal the end of the ultra glamorous Queen and Ladies-in-waiting Crowning ceremonies gala that is held and televised each year from Acadia University in Wolfville ? This will end the popular community Princess Tea events, the Royal Party visitations to local Schools, hospitals and old folks homes that were so welcome and appreciated by Students, Seniors, shut-ins and the disabled ? And this means the end of Royal Party appearances at the Kentville Children's Parade, the Memorial Park Friday night open air Rock concert and fireworks, and Royal party attendances at many other events held annually throughout the Valley and Province ?
It appears now that current ABF Officials led by President Logan Morse along with Kentville town rep Lindsey Young not only interrupted the Pageant in 2022 when they temporarily postponed it, but have now in 2023 moved to terminate the prestigious event forever explaining that their decision was made to improve, include, modernize and evolve the fampus pageant ? This final act of termination ends almost 90 years of royal pageantry and also leaves a huge gap in the Festival itself ? It also negatively affects the nearby Valley communities who participate and always enter contestants in the Pageant ? The end of this important multiple community event and the taking away of the better half and Star of the Apple Blossom Festival brings forth the question of what replacement is planned, and what are local towns and villages that always play a major role in both the Queen and Princess competition suppose to do now ? And what about Valley youth and childhood dreams of one day becoming a child attendant or an Apple Blossom Princess or even a Queen ?
You have to marvel at the level of disrespect shown by these new generation Officials who have appointed themselves as the ones that will end the Pageant and then think that Valley residents are stupid enough to believe that by cancelling and taking away a long running 90 year old event they have in some perverted way of thinking moved the Valley forward or improved and modernized anything ? It seems far more likely that they have taken a giant leap backwards and robbed the Valley people of a much beloved, multi community, inclusive and live local family production that has always been the most anticipated highlight of the year for the past almost 90 consecutive years ?
Why current ABF Management, who claim to be stewards in charge and responsible for the promotion and presentation of this event, appear unable to perform their duties or to perform the job they're paid to do and do what their predecessors have always done so well each and every year for the past 87 years, often in far more trying circumstances and in far less prosperous times, is difficult to comprehend ? And you have to wonder, Whatever happened to the # 1 rule in business that says that if you can't do your job because of your inexperience, immaturity, inability, personal bias, laziness, or just plain stupidity, then,, YOU'RE ALL FIRED ! (and a Class action recovery suit may be forthcoming ?)
An Identity Crisis ;
Can an identity crisis be looming in the town of Kentville ?
A proud and neighborly salt of the earth working class community with generous hard working friendly citizens and a rich historic Railroad, agriculture, food and farming background is losing many of its longtime local traditions, themes and trademarks while elected Town officials, many of them new arrivals just stand still, watch and even enable ? After having always been identified as the main Provincial railroad center ever since the old Dominion Rail days dating back to 1869, the town has since lost all passenger and freight train rail service in and out including a modern passenger Dayliner service that traveled back and forth to Halifax every day ? And after the railway had been shut down it seemed they couldn't clear out the brand new train station, dig up tracks and demolish the old roundhouse fast enough ? And so now, in what seems to be cruel mockery, the only visible signs left in Kentville from past glory years of what once was the largest, most important, most active railroad center west of Halifax is a hand painted picture of a train mural that has been etched onto the weather beaten side of a downtown business building ?
Unfortunately the end of the railway industry wasn't to be the last major transportation loss yo be forced upon the people of Kentville as they were to become even more isolated from the outside World when for no apparent rational or necessary reason the aviation community at the Waterville municipal Airport CCW3 complex were told to get out when they had done nothing wrong and had no where else to go ? An invaluable contributor to the local area was suddenly lost when a fully operational well established municipal airport, a well known popular Canadian sky diving facility, an internationally known long time pilot training and licensing academy, many private aircraft owned by local owners, and numerous other fully established aviation businesses were all lost to the community after being ordered off the property ? An eviction order courtesy of Kings Council also left our young Camp Aldershot Air Cadets without their base of operations, and now the next generation of youngsters will have to grow up without their popular aviation training and education facility ?
And so it had seemed that a duly elected group of officials who don't even live in the area had ended the long life of a historic local Aviation facility that took multiple decades to build and establish, and they had transformed a thriving Aeropark into a useless barren open field of weeds where unsupervised Michelin bike riding children can now be seen dodging dandelions that are poking their heads thru the deteriorating asphalt runway that once served as the landing platform for private and commercial aircraft to fly in and out on a daily basis ? And to add salt to this wound, what appeared to be a calculated senseless forced eviction and the subsequent devastating lost revenue to the local economy was to be hailed by Kings Council, ( and also by the prestigious Ivany Report Committee ) as being a bold and brilliant business decision to greatly improve and benefit the local area ?
After months of facing homelessness and an uncertain future, a few of the evicted tenants found sites elsewhere and relocated at their own expense to start all over again, while others just quit, and others were finally redirected to a new location in Greenwood (which just happened by chance to be Kings Council County Warden's home riding) ? And so, in the end a devastating loss for Kentville and the entire local area became a windfall for Kingston Greenwood, and, Kentville was left to carry on without either a Railway or an Airport ?
When the original Kentville KCA town School closed, Kentville lost its high school and students were left without a home town school ? They were now bused daily to the nearby town of Canning ? This left only the Grade 1 to 8 age groups to identify with Kentville as their home school, a situation that still exists today ? There is no longer a movie theater in Kentville as the downtown movie theater has been closed forever, and the popular Edge sports bar, eatery and pool hall had also closed down and was never replaced ? Harvey's Hamburgers drive thru closed down and it wasn't replaced ? The longtime bowling alley in New Minas was bought out by developers, torn down, and replaced with a business office complex ? We lost the local salvage, reclamation and disposal site in South Alton when the Provincial Government ordered it to be shut down, but the same folks who shut it down never offered to replace it to leave the community without this much needed facility ? One day a portion of roof blew off the town funeral home and it never re-opened leaving only one such establishment in town ? And, just as the citizens of Kentville were shocked to learn that both Apple Blossom Princess and the Queen Annapolisa pageants were terminated after 87 consecutive years, there was at the same time an all age Drag Queen show preparing to entertain at the Kings Arms Pub in a total flip flop scenario from the one that most Kentville citizens identify with at this time of year when popular Irish Rovers or Scottish pipers played at the pub ? Numerous local restaurants and small businesses have come and gone - mostly gone - and, after Maders has served the community for 50 years, high taxation and license fees, ridiculous Government rules and regulations have left Maders barely able to hang on ? The main town supermarket Jasons IGA had a fire forcing him to close down for over a year and so there was no supermarket to provide groceries for local citizens ? The ever popular multi venue Wandlyn Inn burned down and all of its venues were lost to the community ? The Inn was never replaced after the fire and now there's just a fast food MacDonald's on the old property as a replacement for the many lost hotel rooms, the indoor swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna, the nightclub, dual convention centers and dual restaurants that Wandlyn Inn had offered ?
The traditional July 1st Canada Day town sponsored event of fun, food, speeches and local entertainment held each year at the wading Pool was curtailed by the Town due to budget considerations, and if you want to enjoy July 1st entertainment or fireworks you must travel to New Minas, Hantsport or Berwick ? Access to water supply is always one of the most identifiable utility entitlements to be provided by any town ? Billions are currently being spent by the Canadian taxpayer to provide all First Nations people with free safe water ? Yet Kentville water commission charges the customer 10,000 dollars just to turn their town owned water on at the roadside and nothing else ? And after this initial surcharge has been forced upon the customer he still has to pay for all yard trenching, pipe laying and household plumbing work to be done ? KWC's valued new customer is then rewarded with a water bill courtesy of the town each and every month thereafter ?
They have even managed to take away Kentville's most famous of all and instantly identifiable town landmark in the hotel name Cornwallis Inn ? Cornwallis Inn is a well known trademark hotel name that has become synonymous World wide with the name of Kentville and ae name that represents a multitude of fond memories for residents ? It was hard to understand why the Town would ever allow such an important name to be changed, and it was also hard to understand why a previous Town of Kentville planning dept would ever allow numerous subsidized low rental apartment units to be built onto the side of this Town centerpiece and that also serve to block the access lane to the rear parking lot ? The Cornwallis Inn will always be one of the Valleys greatest treasured landmarks and is due for protected Canadian heritage site status ?
They have also changed well known and immediately identifiable names of some Kentville Streets and also the local traffic bridge that traverses the Cornwallis River ? And so now many citizens and delivery drivers do not know what they're talking about when they use these new names and it can be especially hard on Seniors who can become confused by unnecessary name changes made to familiar places ? In some cases this has created a safety hazard ?
In 2017 ABF Directors attempted to take Kentville's Grand Street Parade away from Kentville and move it to a different town ? Outraged citizens were forced to claw and battle just to get their own local parade returned back to them after they have hosted it for the last 87 years ? And, in yet another huge step backwards in that same year, ABF decided to cease and desist all Wednesday, Thursday and weekend games, food, music, displays, amusements, local student displays and performances, etc. etc. that were always held at Memorial Park during Apple Blossom festival week ? No explanation was given and no replacement or apology was ever offered by the Town for such a major loss of long running public outdoor entertainment to be absorbed by the citizens of Kentville ? And Kentville has now lost its most identifiable of all citizens that being their beloved Apple Blossom Princess Kentville, when a newcomer generation of ABF Officials showed uncommon immaturity, disrespect, disregard and insensitivity when presuming themselves to be the ones that are entitled to end the long running iconic Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition after 88 years ? This means that all public Royal party appearances including all Princess Teas, the appearance at Kentville Children's Parade, Friday night concert, Wolfville Coronation ceremonies, fireworks, Parade, all Royal visitations to schools, shut-ins, Seniors, and all hospital attendances normally made by Queen Annapolisa and the Royal Party will no longer take place ?
In 2022 the Kentville Grand Street Parade was understandably limited following the 2 previous Covi year cancellations, but unfortunately this year's 2023 effort wasn't much better ? The enormous contribution and wonderful diversity of nearby Valley communities from Windsor to Digby was no longer included in this Parade ? Apple Blossom royalty and all Princess floats were also no longer included ? Many residents expressed disappointment when their beloved Apple Blossom Princess Kentville and child attendant were no longer included in their own Town Parade ? And it seemed Kentville has lost its most identifiable citizen and a wonderful Town Ambassador who carries out many important official Town duties while advertising and promoting Kentville simply by representing the town with beauty, charm, grace, dignity and talent all year long whenever and wherever she went ?
The long running three consecutive weekdays of wonderful mid week Apple Blossom entertainment down at the Park have been cancelled and Apple Blossom week entertainment is cut down to a bare bone single Friday night affair offering minimal local entertainment, some kindergarten bouncy castles, and food wagons that sell twenty dollar hamburgers, (gone are the days of the dollar dog and drink) ? And it feels strangely empty down there now that the highlight of the evening Royal Party visitation and rock music supplied by Eddy's Basement is no longer included ? And there was even a noted decrease in the quality of the fireworks, ( which btw will no longer be started by Queen Annapolisa at her official Royal Party visitation to the Park following Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville) ? And, the newcomer ABF Officials have found yet another way to take more away from ABF patrons when charging inflation stressed locals a high entrance fee just to attend a downtown open air ABF street dance ?
And so, the citizens of Kentville have become frustrated with the many cutbacks, cancellations and closures that are never replaced once gone ? Both of the Provincial Railway and the municipal Airport are now permanently closed and even Acadia Van lines inter provincial no longer stops ? The Wandlyn Inn complex and all of its popular hotel and restaurant services were never replaced ? Devastating cut backs were made to the historic Apple Blossom Festival that saw a week long fun filled period of public entertainment at Memorial Park reduced to a minimal Friday night affair and a parade that lasted less than an hour ? Concerns remain about the absence of an in-Town High School for Teens, the loss of a key funeral home, the loss of the Pool Hall, the absence of a movie theater, the loss of Harveys drive thru, the loss of one of 2 Tim Hortons and their non local hiring policy, the loss of the dt pizza parlor, the loss of the local fruit and vegetable market, the absence of a 7/11 convenience store, the closure of the bakery, and also the loss of the local disposal site when no replacement was offered by the Province that shut it down ? And there was the shocking elimination of historic Valley culture when they terminated the Valley Apple Blossom Princess event and when they put an end to the long running prestigious Acadia U Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville ? The sacrilegious changing of the name of Kentville's internationally known name Cornwallis Inn symbolically married to the Town name Kentville and cherished by local residents was extremely disappointing ? And many citizens worry about the serious shortage of tourist facilities after the Wandlyn hotel complex burned down and the Town had lost so many hospitality, business, tourist, restaurant, hotel, night club, convention and recreational venues ?
And now, in a more recent issue, we are seeing more and more of our small businesses that are located all over the Valley that not only provide local employment but also serve as popular meet and greet gathering spots for friends and neighbors, are now changing hands after being bought out or turned over to strangers that are not from Halifax or from N.S. nor even Canada but have arrived from another Continent ? These take-overs appear to include replacing management and assuming control over the business and hiring policy in some long time Valley fast food, gas, and coffee businesses ? And now it seems that whenever shopping at the Milne Court Petro-Can, or New Minas Ultramar, KVille Ultramar, KFC, or Mary Browns, the DQ, or the Burger King, or Subway, or any of the 3 Timmies , or Walmart, Needs, or when receiving a parcel from amazon, or paying the bill at a cash register st many other stores it feels like you're suddenly in a foreign country ? And some of the newly hired employees are new to Canada and not familiar with local currency and so it is advisable to count your change when paying by cash ? There are also some worries that the temporary foreign workers program is unfair and possibly racist, and others worry about the advent of nepotism if local establishments are run by new management and when many of our local residents can't find local jobs any more ? Another major local employer, Eassons Trucking, also seems to be affected by the current influx of foreign workers with some reports of untrained, unlicensed, unqualified, (and Government subsidized) unsafe drivers behind the wheel, and rumors that some units with multiple workers on board have a hole drilled in the floor of the sleeper cabin to accommodate a long piece of ABS plumbing pipe that is used to transfer raw shidzen sewage on a one way trip from the truck cabin interior directly down to the open highway below and avoid pit stops at the Big Stop ?
And, some concerns were shown over the recent Kentville municipal election, when many candidates seemed unawares of the Town's long time real traditions, customs, character and past history ? Some candidates idealistically saw Kentville as a kind of happy go lucky, blissful, Hallmark or Who-ville movie set type village inhabited by busy jolly munchkins frolicking up and down picturesque colorful cobblestone streets bordered by quaint shops, internationally known boutiques and fancy eateries ?
Kentville has elected a new Mayor who is also a new local business owner, who must tackle the current town crisis ? He appears to have befriended and may possibly be being influenced by the ex County Warden Brothers who resides in the Kingston/Greenwood area and who doesn't give a squat about Kentville and had previously sold out Kentville when leading the charge to use heartless expropriation without compensation to shut down the local municipal Airport, popular skydiving academy, international flight training academy and many other successful aviation businesses at Waterville ? And what about the new Mayors' recent New Year's message of congratulating himself on enlarging the size of his downtown retail store and expressing personal happiness over the new (taxpayer funded) installation of a brand new double wide sidewalk in front of his store, but failing to mention serious town issues like town youth unemployment, racial profile hiring at Hortons, the fentanyl and opioid crisis, vandalism, street people and homelessness, the end of our Princess Kentville and the loss of millions in town revenue after they terminated Queen Annapolisa and ruined Grand street Parade, as well as, the no place to stay or eat for tourists visiting Kentville problem, the long running need for an indoor town recreation facility (no one wants to get their daily exercise by hiking down crude outdoor trails, attacked by mosquitos, and witnessing users shoot up in the privacy of the forest) ? And there's also the housing crisis, the sudden high increases in rental rates crisis, the alarming rate of downtown business foreclosures and bankruptcies, and a need to honor Kentville's glorious past railroading history with a museum and outdoor train and locomotive display of some sort ? Adding to this, disrespect had been shown when, ( due to a drop of rain ) they cancelled this year's Military march-on and (the best in area) Remembrance Day ceremonies always held outdoors at the Memorial Cenotaph on Park Street ? There was also Kentvilles snubbing of the Trudeau Liberals express wish for diversity and inclusion in Canada when a shortened Grande Street Parade was no longer as inclusive or as diverse as per normal ? And where Senior citizens were seen to be perched precariously aboard a stop and go, unsheltered, jerking motion, no sided open vehicle without restraining devices, water or protection from the sun ? There was also the confusion caused from the nonsensical changing of many long time well known established town names including the most famous of them all the Cornwallis Inn ? There's also the pressing need to build a high school, and there are some complaints about the failure to provide public outdoor entertainment events that exceed the grade school level ? There was also some controversy over the hanging up of the biggest pride flag that money can buy hung above the main entrance of the Cornwallis Inn, and of course, also the serious drainage problem discovered when the recent town flooding crisis took place? There was also concerns shown after the Provincial Government forced our local reclamation and disposal site to permanently close down and didn't offer to replace it but just left the area without one ? And, there remains a demand for an inquiry into the exploitive five figure fee charged by Kentville water commission to a new customer just to turn the water on at the road ? And there are concerns over many recent takeovers of local small businesses when our locals around here can't find work ? And some new concerns have been expressed over the formation of an exclusive kind of Ontarioville newcomer type town slowly establishing itself as an independent town within a town ? Some local drivers are concerned over this years Spring pothole epidemic that made some streets unfit to drive on (at a time when a brand new double lane sidewalk installed in front of Phinneys was smooth as a baby's bum), and the refusal by Town to help drivers with expensive auto repairs caused by unguarded potholes ? And there was also concerns over the inadequate street lighting in many areas and the residential streets and sidewalks still needing attention ? And there was some complaints relating to the inconvenience felt by local residents when ultra slow motion repairs on Canaan Ave moved at three legged turtle racing speed and had caused this vital access route to remain closed to traffic, incl emergency vehicles, for many many Months, (unlike the speedy workmanship and high priority given to a new downtown sidewalk installation in the front of Phinneys) ?
And so, can it be time to stop come from away newcomer mentality, and make it mandatory for all candidates bidding on these important Town governing positions to be born, raised and reside in the town of Kentville in an effort to preserve, protect, retain and respect the unique character, history, diversity, identity and many longtime community traditions that make Kentville ?
OUCH ? ( can someone please remove the daggers from our back ), Et tu, Warden Brothers and u tu Leo ? March 10th 2014, a date that will live on in Infamy - Warden Brothers, (Greenwood riding) and Kings County Council use calculated forced eviction to shut down the Waterville Airport aviation complex and relocate some components to the Kingston/Greenwood area ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/28588465413/in/album-7...
Newcomer ABF directors trying to erase history ? The page showing all past Queens and Apple Blossom Princesses has been removed from the official Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival site ? The popular history page honoring all past Queen Annapolisa winners 1933-2018 with photos and bios has been taken down and apparently replaced with huge portraits of the newcomer directors ?
Meet the newcomer directors,
How dare They ! Kentville IS the Cornwallis Inn and the Cornwallis Inn IS Kentville ! If you were to google the 2 words Cornwallis Inn you will get over 600,000 entries with almost all of them married to the word Kentville.. (what a great promotional tool) . The world famous Cornwallis Inn is the source of many fond memories for local and Valley residents.. "It was the centre of everything’: The past and present of Kentville’s iconic Cornwallis Inn"
www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/lifestyles/it-was-the-centre...
Apple Blossom Festival news updates :
Logan Morse and a newcomer ABF Board of Directors have broken the hearts of Valley families especially the Children when they move to terminate the historic and long running Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess Pageant after 88 years ? ABF Directors show no remorse, while boasting that their bold action was needed to improve, evolve and bring the pageant up to their modern standards ? www.pressreader.com/canada/annapolis-valley-register/2023...
May 26, 2023 - We Are the Ones. An unusual display of disrespect and arrogance shown by newcomers when the long running historic Valley Peoples Pageant is cancelled without notice, consideration, consultation or approval ? A modern generation of ABF Directors with bold new ideas have apparently proclaimed themselves to be the one generation in 88 years that can interrupt and permanently end 88 years of wonderful multi Valley village Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess enjoyment ?
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/apple-blossom-festival...
Annapolis Valley families in shock and children cry when learning their beloved Queen Annapolisa Pageant has been cancelled without notice, consultation, consideration or compassion ? Newcomer Directors say they are taking action to improve, evolve and modernize the historic Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival ? www.saltwire.com/atlantic-
Air Show Atlantic Inc.- Valley residents have lost a long time major yearly family entertainment event when the ABF Greenwood Airshow is terminated and will be no more. Fast forward to Aug 24, 2024, and, to corporate greed ? Air Show Atlantic Inc. now charges big bucks to see taxpayer owned aircraft at a taxpayer owned airport in a vastly inferior airshow ? Air Show Atlantic Inc. doesn't have the courtesy to offer a discount Seniors ticket category for Valley Senior citizens ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/52345513615
How dare They ? Kentville IS the Cornwallis Inn and the Cornwallis Inn IS Kentville - If you were to google the 2 words Cornwallis Inn you will get over 600,000 entries with almost all of them married to the word Kentville.. (what a great promotional tool) . The world famous Cornwallis Inn is the source of many fond memories for all local and Valley residents.. "It was the centre of everything’: The past and present of Kentville’s iconic Cornwallis Inn"
www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/lifestyles/it-was-the-centre...
Kentville identity crisis. Help, Is there a Superhero anywhere out there that can save Kentville from the newcomer agenda ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/in/album-7...
The highly controversial 2017 Grand Street Parade - Has Kentville once again been the target of exploitation ? After Warden Brothers, (Greenwood ) and Liberal MP L Glavine (Kingston) had all but hijacked Waterville Airport before relocating it to their own home riding in Kingston/Greenwood area, it seems that the town of Kentville must face yet another attack from the Kingston area when Alxys Chamberlain, Apple Blossom Princess Kingston, and ABF Directors attempt to take yet another major source of revenue and another major attraction away from the town of Kentville ?
Et tu, Madama Chamberlain ? The unconscionable attempted hijacking and subsequent recovery of Kentvilles's most beloved yearly event ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/18506181065
2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade - A disregard for safety of Seniors is shown as unrestrained Senior citizens are precariously perched atop an unsheltered, open sided, stop and go, large unstable jerking motion moving platform ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53900780519/in/album-7...
Exploiting a past Queen Annapolisa in a photo op ? Politicians at the official opening ceremony of the 2023 Apple Blossom Festival pretend there's still a Queen Annapolisa Pageant while knowing full well that Queen Annapolisa and the Apple Blossom Princesses have been terminated forever and are no longer a part of the Festival ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53755100811/in/album-7...
2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade, what happened to inclusion and diversity ?
Newcomer Parade officials defy and snub the Trudeau Liberal Government's demand for diversity and inclusion in Canada ? Many nearby local Valley towns and villages are not included in this year's parade ? This exclusion also means a denial of the diversity usually provided by these towns and communities ? Where is Canning, Digby, Annapolis Royal, Hantsport Greenwood, Windsor ? Where's our Queen Annapolisa ? Where's the Apple Blossom Princesses and where's all of the individual Town floats including Princess Kentville ? To view complete 2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade press here, www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie
Facebook, Friends of Kentville - The site Administrator, a new arrival from PEI, says she wants to see Kentville as the queerest town in all of Nova Scotia ? www.facebook.com/groups/2588266877982288
Will a drag Queen replace an apple blossom Queen in Kentville ? www.nsbuzz.ca/life/kentville-all-ages-drag-show-draws-pro...
Nov 16 2023 - Apple Blossom Princesses call for a return of Queen Annapolisa,
www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/communities/former-apple...
The Town of Kentville has cut back and cancelled many hours and even entire days of long time traditional public outdoor entertainment ay Memorial Park that was always a standard part of Apple Blossom Festival week ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/52094784785
A medley of guest Tribute bands seen at Memorial Park Kentville that were always free of charge in the past when performing at the Festival : Petty Larceny, Fleetwod Mix, Keep the Faith, Stones Tribute, Green River Revival, Viscious, Eddy's Basement, Matt Minglewood,
www.dailymotion.com/video/x5hqti9
Corporate greed shown by newcomer organizing committee ? Instead of providing a free guest Tribute band for the patrons as per normal at the anual free Memorial Park Friday night concert, it will now cost 50.00 pp to see a 'Queen tribute band' performance. that's 50.00 per ticket in 2025 ? acadiau.universitytickets.com/
Town of Kentville appears to rip off its own citizens right at Apple Blossom Festival time ? Cold-hearted Capitalism shown by Town and newcomer otganizing committee ? Citizens to be burdened by a twenty dollar per person out of pocket expense just to attend an outdoor street dance held on taxpayer owned street property during Apple Blossom Festival week ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54546051832/in/photost...
They've Ruined It ? Millions of dollars in revenue wiped out ? Our great Festival is no longer even recognizable ? How could anyone take a world class event and turn it into something stupid ? President Erica Gillis has to be the worst ever ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/in/album-7...
Directors Erica Gillis, www.appleblossom.com/about/
Mayor Andrew Zebian www.facebook.com/andrewzebian
2025 Kentville Grand Street Parade - Is this a joke ? A low entree, bare minimum 45-minute Kentville Grand Street Parade this year ? Zero in large marching street bands and majorettes other than the regular RCMP (mini version) marching unit, no Sottish pipers or pipe bands, zero in Apple Blossom Royalty and no famous royal floats, Most of the regular nearby surrounding Valley village participants not there, no horse and wagons, no armaments, soldiers, marching bands or displays from Aldershot or Greenwood, etc etc, ? And yet Guest parade announcer proclaims in quote @ 29:17, " this parade is the largest in Canada, - it's the longest with the largest route and the most entries. " Wha-a-a-t ? Where did that come from and what's she talking about ?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQuaIdrQi00
A different Apple Blossom Princess occupies a makeshift Royal throne on board the historic Kentville Apple Blossom Princess parade float in Grande Street Parade on Apple Blossom festival Saturday. The newcomer Mayor of Kentville now rides the float in its annual trip down Main Street ?
' Somebody get that King a crown and sceptre '
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54557663677/in/dateposted
They've ruined it part 2 - Millions in town revenue lost as Parade attendance shrinks to an all time low ? May 31st, 2025 Kentville Grand Street Parade has gone from 100,000 down to 10,000 - They've ruined the Festival, and the Parade too ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54568017261/in/photost....
ABF Directors may disapprove and terminate the Queen Annapolisa pageant and Apple Blossom Princess competition but nevertheless Valley residents will always continue to admire, support, respect and remain fond of British Monarchy. Most Valley citizens were delighted to hear that his Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla are coming for a royal visit to Canada on May 26 and 27, 2025. This year's incomplete and now 'Royalty-less' ABF starts on the 28th, www.cbc.ca/news/politics/king-charles-canada-visit-1.7524946
the genocide of our Valley history and culture ? The long proud history of all 87 past Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess winners has been removed from the official Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival website ? The special site page that is dedicated to previous Queen Annapolisa winners 1933 thru 2019 has been taken down and apparently replaced by jumbo size portraits of the newcomer ABF President and officials who have taken over the iconic Festival ? www.appleblossom.com/history/past-queens
Meet the directors,
May 29th, 2026, Kentville Memorial Park, the ABF Friday night concert, ( Can the good ole days of dollar dogs and bargain Big 8's be over) ? High level security protocol for an evening of food wagons and kids bouncy castles ? ( must have taken up most of their budget at the sacrifice of bringing in some quality outside live entertainment) ? Town calls in outside police to assist local Kentville force, cordons off the entire ground zero event perimeter with road blocks, street barricades and manned guard check posts to establish maximum level traffic control that, unfortunately, forces patrons including seniors, the handicapped, toddlers, and Mothers carrying babies to park and walk a fair distance to get to the park gates ? Also, in the past years the concert always brought in special outside guest rock bands, and featured interesting games, demonstrations and displays, and there was a visit from the Queen Annapolisa Royal party following the prestigious coronation ceremony in Wolfville, However, unfortunately now the concert appears now to have deteriorated into some kind of a Children's outdoor romper room type of family show that features food trucks, inflatable air bouncy castles and a local band as the featured guest star main stage performer ? There's not much to do or see for those that exceed the elementary grade school level other than to maybe purchase some food from a food truck charging upscale restaurant prices and then dine on a paper plate using plastic utensils while standing up in a crowd of unruly kids and being lustfully observed by some nearby hungry saliva drooling pet dogs leashed to owners ? However, thanks to the heightened security and crowd control there was a report of a parking violator being successfully apprehended and a runaway pet was also captured and returned to its owner ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54558198569/in/photost...
Oct 4th, 2025 - Kentville Harvest Festival held annually in Centre Square :
A disappointing effort this year that didn't include many of the long time traditional favourites like the family horse-drawn hay wagon ride or the pumpkin people scarecrow making class, contest and the live group demo ? Didn't see much of a showing from the Valley harvest, Valley livestock or the local Valley farmer ? Many of the usual Harvest Festival standards that had always been featured in past festivals were no longer here but are instead replaced by business kiosks selling commercial merchandise unrelated to the harvest ? Some bouncy castles were brought in along with some high-priced food trucks ?
Upgrade 2025 ? A photo taken from in front of Phinney's dept store downtown Kentville after major renovations to double its size gave Phinneys the second largest downtown store front display window area next only to the NSLC liquor Store : A massive Town expenditure was budgeted this year for a major upgrade to the Mayor's downtown business backyard as Webster Street gets a complete 100 % total beautification makeover with new installations of street paving, paint and signage etc, new double sidewalks both sides, driveway entrances, and new curb and gutter both sides ? All other streets surrounding the Webster Street downtown area business block also upgraded including Aberdeen Street (twice), Cornwallis Street and Main Street ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54835340734/in/photost...
The Koncerned Kentvillian must ask, " why is it every time that you gas up at Milne Court Petro-Can, New Minas Ultramar, KVille Ultramar and now the Big Stop, or go to the KFC for chicken, or Mary Browns, or the Burger King, or Subway, or all of the 3 Timmies for coffee, or Walmart, oe Needs, or receive a parcel from amazon, or attend the cash register post to pay a bill at many other stores, it feels like you're suddenly in a foreign country ? " What has happened to all of the friendly locals that used to hold these positions and were one of the main reasons that we frequented these establishments ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/
Kody Bloise . Liberal Party
Kentville's own Trash Canyon - toughest S.O.B. wrastler to ever come outta the KVille !
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53939211581
Trash Canyon - If u go away,
www.dailymotion.com/video/x8zb9u0
Kentville - Mader's celebrates 50 years of service
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55187690268/in/dateposted
George Orwell's dark prediction has just come true.
London England, Apr 22,2026 - The British Parliament has just enacted legislation to install a form of Orwellian Totalitarian rule into the current democratic English society that allows for the installment of Government social control in the form of the placement of mandatory lifetime probationary orders on select unwary citizens without asking their permission and who will then be officially monitored from birth to death to insure compliance is met on the legal probation order that is attatched to them ? Rob Cunningham and his Cancer Society are crusading in Canada for residents of his democratic home country to be forced into this same form of Totalitarian social control ? www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/uk-agrees-ban-on-cigarette-s...
Dec 13th, 2025 - this is a bit rich ? A doctor advertising smoking for the liquor store ? Dr. Robert Strang Chief Medical Officer of Health and top doctor for Nova Scotia is now appearing in TV ads that endorse the (safe) smoking of pot while representing the Provincially owned liquor stores ? It's also a bit rich that Rob Cunningham and his Cancer Society do not appear to have a problem with this smoking ad ?
www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4190201767960744
Closing down museums, tearing down 88 yr old historic statues, the vandalizing of precious artifacts and the changing of historic street and heritage site names are all slowly erasing a peoples' proud history ? March 04, 2026 - Halifax Nova Scotia - P. C. Provincial Government downplays the importance of preserving the Provinces history and culture, and dismisses those who strive to preserve, protect, honor and expand it ? Artists, cultural and heritage workers, arts organizers, and their allies rally in Halifax over the latest Tim Houston PC worst in history 130 M cuts to the essential funding needed for arts, culture, tourism, and heritage sector programs ?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQjKntnV55c
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55129846907/in/dateposted
A cultural genocide is going on in Kentville ?
Why always Kentville ? Now it's the library ? First came the loss of the Railway and Day-liner service back in 1989, then Kings council expropriated the local Airport and evicted the many other established aviation schools and businesses, they had tried to take Grand street parade away from Kentville in 2017, and then we lost the famous Cornwallis Inn logo and the 88 yrs old statue in Halifax was torn down, they then terminated Apple Blossom Princess Kentville and ended the 87 consecutive years of the Queen Annapolisa pageant. Kentville lost a massive amount of diversity that had always been provided by the multiple villages that participated in the Festival, as well elimination of the Princess teas, the Coronation, and all of the popular mid-week public outdoor entertainment always normally held at Memorial Park during ABF week ? And now they appear to be after the popular long time Kentville Library ?
After the Town has terminated so many traditional sources of public enjoyment while never offering a similar replacement, and as Kentville gradually approaches cultural ghost town status, it is noticed that the downtown business core (in which the Mayor has a major private business interest ) has been totally renovated and restored to pristine condition by way of a complete 100 % makeover beautification program complete with new installations of street paving, street paint, new double sidewalks on both sides, new driveway entrances, new curb and gutter both sides, signage and flower pots ? And the other three surrounding streets making up this downtown business block have also been totally upgraded including Aberdeen Street (twice), Cornwallis Street and Main Street ?
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/annapolis-valley-libra...
www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/video/2026/06/02/funding-cuts-lea...
May 18th, 2026 - CBC speak with forked tongue ? CBC lures unsuspecting RCMP members into a trap set by First Nations ? Ambushed by the CBC and First Nations, a music video ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55278767366/in/dateposted
the ongoing deterioration of Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival in Kentville ? Bring back Eddies Basement to Memorial Park ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55295377420/in/photost...
honey they shrunk the stage ! Safety side fences have had to be installed,
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55307116357/in/dateposted
An ongoing downsizing of the world-famous Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55304178661/in/photost...
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ABF 2017 :
A quick review of the notorious hostile takeover bid and an attempt to extract the 2017 Kentville Grand Street Parade away from its natural home in the town of Kentville ?
February, 2017 - With only 3 months to go and parade planning and preparations well underway as per usual for the upcoming 2017 edition of Kentville Grand Street Parade, officials were suddenly caught totally off-guard and were absolutely blindsided by shocking news coming from out of nowhere that current ABF Management who are in charge of the festival had made a final decision in private to take Grand Street Parade away from its long time home in Kentville ? Apparently, they had already moved to taken it away from Kentville and then transfer it to New Minas during secret meetings held without inviting, consulting, requesting permission or giving proper notice to Kentville ? And so it seemed that a group of inconsiderate Officials with radical new ideas had ignored town of Kentville interests and 87 years of tradition, and had (incredibly) just taken the annual Grand Street Parade ( and even future Parades ) from Kentville without consultation, notice or permission ? Drastic location changes and even elimination of other longtime events and attractions always held in Kentville such as the Friday night outdoor show and fireworks, the Memorial Park Wednesday and Thursday displays with Valley student participation and numerous attractions, the bringing in of popular outside bands, and even the famous historic Kentville Children's Parade were all targeted by this grouping of ABF directors for cut-back or termination ? Radical changes in the Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition including gender, contestant rules, location of crowning ceremony, and changes in overall competition format were also discussed ? ABF Officials defended secretive, inconsiderate and authoritarian type actions by claiming that as stewards of the festival they are entitled and obliged to uphold the integrity of the festival ? (integrity ? ) They later changed stories saying they were left with no other choice due to Kentville's inability to prove they can successfully host such a large Parade event, ( Kentville has hosted this parade for the last 85 years ), and also because the people in charge of Grand Street Parade were unprofessional, indifferent and uncooperative ?
And so it came to be that a newly elected Mayor and a new Council in its infancy were suddenly confronted with perhaps the most serious challenge ever to be faced by the town of Kentville since the tragic loss of their two major transportation sources, that being the loss of the railway in 1989, followed by the shocking loss of aviation in 2014 when the Town CAO and the Warden and Council conspired to close out Waterville municipal Airport and evict all businesses and tenants ? This new and very serious challenge came in the form of a surprise and pernicious attack and attempt to hijack Kentville's most beloved local commercial attraction ? The unexpected surprise action came from an unfamiliar and unfriendly source that appeared to be inconsiderate, disrespectful, and even a tad opportunistic when considering that Kentville just finished installing a brand new rookie Mayor and Council ? When the newly elected Mayor of Kentville was suddenly swarmed by news of so many extreme actions already taken against her town's best interests, a shocked and disbelieving Mayor Snow said when speaking with local media that she was overwhelmed, heartbroken and called the actions unprecedented, disrespectful and unacceptable ? Everyone seemed to agree that an attack on Kentville's most popular and well known outdoor event without courtesy of an invitation, negotiation, inclusion, consultation or approval is unacceptable ? Needless to say, the biggest losers of all were the good citizens of Kentville who have contributed so much over the last 90 years going back to the thirties and forties in times when the CNR train brought many Parade patrons to stay at the Cornwallis Inn ? Over the years the Town has invested enormous amounts of its time, energy and town resources into the creation of a world-famous event that draws tens of thousands of visitors.
All Valley towns take great pride and look forward to their individual town festivals and especially their yearly parade. The citizens of Kentville are no different. Towns like Kingston, Hantsport, Wolfville, Windsor, Berwick, Canning, Greenwood etc. will never have to worry about someone hijacking their yearly community parade or otherwise taking it away ? However, sadly, the citizens of Kentville now face the troubling prospect of a possible loss of their annual town parade without notice at any time and of losing many years of time, energy, town resources, manpower and all of the other general services and contributions made during the past 88 years that it has taken to create this world class event ?
The current 2017 ABF board of Directors is led by Angela Pelton and Alxys Chamberlain (Queen Annapolisa 2015), with Barb Madic, Heidi Scotney-Kinsman, John Patterson, Katie Gordon, Krista Morine, Linda Keddy, Logan Morse, Sarah Griffiths, and Steffany Cox-Lingard ?
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On the recent 2023 edition of the Grand Street Parade :
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On the recent 2023 edition of the Grand Street Parade :
"it looked as if some spectators along the route just joined in and began to walk along to make themselves a part of the parade ? "
May 27th, 2023 - Dismay, disillusion and disappointment prevail in Kentville over shocking changes and missing regular entrees in this years 2023 Grand Street Parade ? Where is our famous Queen Annapolisa and where are Apple Blossom Princesses and child attendants riding in their beautiful hand crafted decorated floats ? Where's the town criers ? And what about majorette groups, Scottish pipers and large multi marching bands that always attend ? And where is Hantsport and Windsor and their large delegations ? And where are Digby, Aylesford, Annapolis Royal, Canning, Middleton, Wolfville, and more ? Why are so many of the Valley towns and villages that normally participate not included in the parade this year ? It was also disappointing for many when for the first time ever, Kentville Apple Blossom Princess (aka Miss Kentville) was no longer included ? Many local residents young and old identify with the Apple Blossom Princess at this time of year ? The royal float had to be used this year to transport a group of everyday town residents sitting together in a social scene that was meant to identity Kentville with the issues of diversity and inclusion ? The New Minas float also did not include their Apple Blossom Princess this year, however it had been transformed into an advertising commercial for the famous New Minas UFO incident which all New Minions can identify with. Berwick's float didn't include a Princess Berwick this year but was altered to proudly identify with the town's upcoming Centennial celebrations. And the Kingston float was also missing an Apple Blossom Princess this year but instead promoted their long running Kingston Steer Barbecue that all Kingstonians can identify with. It was good to see an RCMP contingent again although they sent far less officers this year than usual ? And it was noted that only one other large marching band appeared in the parade when usually 4 or more of these big bands, many with pipers, usually attend after traveling from places like Cape Breton, Bridgewater, Dartmouth etc ? And where were the pets and farm animals ? There wasn't any horse teams, wooden wagons, riders or livestock this year and even the usual greyhound dogs didn't come ? Also noticed that some spectators must have just joined in and began walking along to become part of the parade, and others must have come over from the Children's parade with their strollers to join in ? There was a variety of advertisers, most from out of town but some local ? There were various Political parties represented, with the largest delegation coming from the Kody Blois Liberals ? All in all, this Year's parade seemed a minimum weak effort that really missed the inclusion and diversity of royal pageantry and the 7 to 10 spectacular Princess floats ? It was also missing the many large marching bands and majorette groups that usually enter ? It also lacked the usual agriculture horticulture and livestock component, the popular Scottish pipers bands that always attend, and also the large out of town contingents that normally participate ? This was not the famous grand street parade that patrons are used to seeing and did not represent the high standards and degree of professionalism set by all previous Grand Street Parades ? It soon became obvious that what was advertised as a newer, bolder, more inclusive and diverse parade was instead the opposite because it was instead now missing inclusion, diversity and the contributions of the many Valley communities and Princess contestants that always come to Kentville to participate in the Queen Annapolisa competition and take the Royal ride down Main street Kentville in their beautiful hand crafted royal floats ?
And so, to quickly sum up, can this strange, amateurish, shortened and Royal-less, apparently new mentality re-set version of the world-famous Kentville Grand Street Parade missing her Royal heinous Queen Annapolisa and the 7 to 10 Apple Blossom Princesses with their 7 to 10 beautifully handcrafted Town Princess floats and also missing the unique character and diversity provided by the many now uninvited Valley communities, and that appears as a new generation re-set version of the original 90 year old Grand Street Parade now signal the end of the once glorious Grand Street Parade era ?
Kentville is an incorporated town in Nova Scotia. It is the most populous town in the Annapolis Valley. As of 2021, the town's population was 6,630.
The Memorial to the victims of Communism (Czech: Pomník obětem komunismu) is a series of statues in Prague commemorating the victims of the Communist era between 1948-1989. It is located at the base of Petřín hill, Újezd street in the Malá Strana or the Lesser Town area.
It was unveiled on the 22 May 2002, twelve years after the fall of Communism, and is the work of Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek and architects Jan Kerel and Zdeněk Holzel. It was supported by the local council and Confederation of Political Prisoners (KPV).
It shows seven bronze figures descending a flight of stairs. The statues appear more "decayed" the further away they are from you - losing limbs and their bodies breaking open. It is supposed to symbolise how political prisoners were affected by Communism.
There is also a bronze strip that runs along the centre of the memorial, showing estimated numbers of those impacted by Communism:
205,486 arrested
170,938 forced into exile
4,500 died in prison
327 shot trying to escape
248 executed
The bronze plaque nearby reads:
"The memorial to the victims of communism is dedicated to all victims not only those who were jailed or executed but also those whose lives were ruined by totalitarian despotism"
Nicely executed front, whole model has a pretty good feel (apart from the paint) but then for such a cheap price what more can you ask? A better Maisto effort in 1/18.
South chancel window c1980 unusually executed using fused layers of glass to create the designs. Possibly the work of Birmingham stained glass artist Claude Price who often used this medium.
The church of All Saints in Thorpe Acre (a north western suburb of Loughborough) was built in 1845 to replace a ruined medieval building at nearby DIshley. This small church was designed by WIlliam Railton and consisted of a single space nave and chancel in one crowned by a bellcote at the west end. The situation changed dramatically in 1968 when the building was greatly enlarged by extensions at the west end and on the south side were a large transept was created, transforming the building into the T-shaped worship space we see today, with the focal point at the crossing point rather than the old chancel. Outside the bellcote remains but the new additions dominate the view from the west and south, leaving the former chancel as the only part of the building still substantially in its Victorian form.
The interior is a light and pleasant space thanks to the white-washed walls and the light flooding in from the modern sections. The former chancel is relatively unaltered and retains some fine glass by Kempe along with a good Arts & Crafts window and a more recent piece alongside it.
This church is something a bit different, a fusion of old and new, and I rather liked it. I imagine it is normally only open for services but the people we met here were friendly and welcoming.
www.lboro-history-heritage.org.uk/all-saints-church-thorp...
Martin Janecky began his career with glass at the age of 13 and later explored sculpting methods in the Czech Republic. By the time he was 20, he was employed by leading artists and designers around the world to assist and to execute specific works.
In June 2014 he visited National Glass Centre to work with students studying on our Glass and Ceramics programme, these images show his amazing glass blowing technique.
120104-N-CD297-004 NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Jan. 4, 2012) A cadet attached to Heritage High School's Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit prepares for uniform inspection here Jan. 4. NJROTC is a citizenship development program that instills service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment in students in United States secondary educational institutions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre N. McIntyre/Released)
My publishing company 13th & Joan is executing all of the dates for my 2018 US Book Tour. I'm excited! #rockandsoul (via Twitter twitter.com/Thomas_McClary/status/930404977985642496)
Copie romaine en marbre, exécutée vers 130-140 après Jésus-Christ, de la statue en bronze créée par Léocharès entre 330 et 320 avant Jésus-Christ. L’attribution de l’original à Léocharès repose sur un passage de l’Histoire naturelle de Pline l’Ancien évoquant un « Apollon au diadème » (XXXIV, 79) et sur la mention par Pausanias d’une statue d’Apollon située devant le temple d’Apollon Alexikakos à Athènes (I, 3, 4). Elle est donc assez fragile, d’autant que les sandales d’Apollon renverraient plutôt au IIIe, voire au IIe s. av. JC : mais il s’agit là peut-être d’une simple retouche du copiste romain.
On ne sait pas exactement quand ni où cette statue a été découverte. Une première copie en aurait été faite en 1498 (Venise, Ca’ d’Oro). Elle est ensuite dessinée dans les jardins du cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, futur pape Jules II, dans un recueil de croquis antérieur à 1509.
3. Winckelmann évoque la statue dès 1755 et en propose une description enthousiaste dans son Histoire de l’Art chez les Anciens (1776).
The Germans executed over 100 people in this street in the days from 15th to 30th September 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising....
Tchorek plaques: stillunusual.tumblr.com/post/160904663281/tchorek-plaque
Operation “Texas Aggie Ring Smoked Jalapeños” was executed successfully this afternoon.
Aggie Ring browned a pound of Italian sausage and mixed it with a brick of cream cheese and a half cup of shredded Italian cheese.
The Aggie Ring most carefully cut his jalapeños horizontally and using his special jalapeño tool, removed the seeds and the ribs from inside the jalapeños.
Then, with great care, Aggie Ring placed an ample portion of the stuffing in each jalapeño “boat.”
Once all of the magical jalapeños were stuffed, Aggie Ring put some cherry wood into his electrical smoker and let it “go to town.” It only took about 40 minutes for them to finish. One wants the jalapeño to still have some texture to it when you bite into it. No one wants an overcooked, soggy jalapeño in their mouth.
“Just look at that beautiful patina the cherrywood smoke imparted on that filling.” I told Aggie Ring. “You’re awesome.”
“No.” said Aggie Ring. “You’re the one who is awesome.
Aggie Ring had me throw some into a tray and drive the incredibly long two miles down the road to the brewery for some fresh beer. When you’re eating cherrywood smoked jalapeños, beer from a bottle or can just doesn’t cut it. It must be fresh and brewed within the last five days.
We enjoyed some of those deliciously smoked jalapeños with a new beer that just came out of the finishing tank Friday. They were surprisingly hot (tastebud wise). I mean, really hot. My lips were burning! My lips were hot. I had hot lips. You can never tell about jalapeños. Sometimes they are mild and other times they are fire hot. Even if you remove the seeds and the ribs where most of the heat comes from. Damnit, I’m an engineer. Not a writer. I don’t have the writing skills to describe how good those smoked jalapeños were. I’m not sure if Mark Twain would have been able to describe them in writing.
We… (That would be Aggie Ring and I) enjoyed them with a fresh “Texas” style beer which I’ll describe in another post. We didn’t have microbrew when I was living in Texas. We only had Shiner Bock or beer that sucked.
I offered some jalapeños to my three friends who work at the brewery. They looked at them and slowly backed away shaking their heads. Jalapeños and spicy food in general is like Kryptonite to people in New Jersey.
The jalapeños were fairly good sized, so Aggie Ring and I only consumed about 5 pieces. We took the rest home and froze most of them. We did refrigerate about 8 pieces to enjoy in the toaster oven with some bourbon the next day or three.
Aggie Ring was laughing at me a couple of hours later. I had completely forgotten something that they teach you in Texas 101 in seventh grade. “Thou shall not touch an eye after working with and/or eating jalapeños. Even if thou has washed one’s hands with hot soapy water several times.”
I’m sure I made a pathetic site as I was standing there in the kitchen, holding a bourbon with tears streaming down my face. Aggie Ring laughed and laughed at me. Aggie Ring don’t give a sh%t. He’s like a honey badger. He said, “Well, let that be a lesson to you. I don’t think you’ll make that mistake again. Will you?”
The road goes on forever and the party never ends.
U.S. Marines assigned to the 273rd Marine Wing Support Squadron, Air Operations Company, Fuels Platoon at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., execute a forward air refueling point operation with the South Carolina National Guard at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C. on May 14. Elements of the South Carolina Air and Army National Guard and the U.S. Marines conduct joint operations which are crucial to the ongoing success of operational readiness and deployments around the world. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Ashleigh S. Pavelek/Released)
The cornerstone of Merrimack Hall's community outreach is our Dance Your Dreams! program for disabled and special needs children. Every week, children with a range of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and autism come take a specially designed dance class tailored to their needs.
Each child is paired with a teen volunteer who helps them execute the movements they otherwise would not be able to perform in a mainstream dance class.
These photos are from their very first recital, on June 14, 2009 in Huntsville, AL.
This series is the result of a failure to execute the original idea. I was rushed, what with the BBQ waiting on the dry rubbed pork, and the beers still in the 'fridge.
I layered up a few things in the Gimp, fiddled a WHOLE LOT with textures, applied four different BW tints to seven different layers, added a border to match the old traditional "show black" cut-out negative carriers, and... well... here's what came out... in spite of my intentions... I'm thinking this is the start of a whole 'nother body of images for me...
The intended setup was this - two off camera Vivitar 283 strobes, one with a peanut (which triggers nicely in full daylight) mounted on a light stand, the other mounted on a bracket near the camera plugged into the 40D. I wanted to blur the background so I set the 100 f/2 wide open. I let the AV figure out the shutter speed after applying a -2ev exposure reduction.
What I failed to remember was that the shutter only syncs at 1/200th or less. All the images were shuttered around 1/1000th sec. YIKES! I blew it!! Still, this image appears to have sync'd close enough that I got a bit of rim light on my subject. Pure luck, I say.
"The successful Revolution of 1896 was masonically inspired, masonically led, and masonically executed and I venture to say that the first Philippine Republic of which I was its humble President, was an achievement we owe largely to Masonry and the Masons." Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy
Donated by: Mencius Lodge No. 93 F. & A.M.K
1st Wednesday at 7:00 PM
Charter Date Tue, 06/24/1924 - 12:00
Scottish Rite Temple
District NCR-A
Location
Manila
Mencius Lodge No. 93
The Name
This lodge was founded by Chinese brethren and was aptly named in honor of Mencius, an eminent Confucianist of the fourth century BC. Mencius lived from 372 to 289 BC. He studied under Tzu-ssu, a grandson of Confucius, and was always loyal to Confucius.
Mencius believed in the essential goodness of human nature. To him man's inborn nature not only is perfect, it is also a microcosm that represents or contains the essence of all things. Thus, he said "he who completely knows his own nature, knows Heaven." In one of his poems, he wrote:
As Square and Compass perfect
squares and circles line
Model of human kinship's best,
the Saint doth shine.
The Lodge
The constitution of Mencius Lodge No. 93 on June 28, 1924 in the Masonic Temple, Escolta Manila, marked an event unparalleled in the history of the Masonic institution. It was the first time in any of the Grand Jurisdictions of the world that a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons had issued a charter to a lodge the membership of which was composed exclusively of nationals of what was formerly known as the Celestial Empire. True, there were then a large number of Chinese Masons in the Philippines, and many Chinese had become members in other countries as well. Mencius Lodge, however, was sui generis in that, from its Master down to its newest initiate, each and every member was of the blood of Cathay.
Mencius Lodge had its origin in the desire on the part of some active Chinese Masons in the Philippines for a closer relationship in their Masonic work. Thirty-three of them petitioned the Grand Lodge for a dispensation to form a lodge and on January 15, 1924 the requested dispensation was issued. Eight days later, on January 23, the lodge was granted a charter by the Grand Lodge. On June 28 Mencius Lodge was officially constituted. At the time of constitution, the lodge had close to fifty members. It worked both in English and Spanish, the two languages then permitted in this jurisdiction.
The constitution of the lodge, and the installation of its officers that immediately followed, were both open to the public, and conducted in Spanish. More than 400 people were present. Senior Grand Warden Francisco A. Delgado, acting as Grand Master, presided during the constitution ceremonies, while MW Rafael Palma installed the officers. Those installed were: Worshipful Master, Luis Lim Bilian; Senior Warden, Yu Chun Teck; Junior Warden, 0. Hway Peck; Treasurer, Gonzalo C. Go Quioay; and Secretary, Marciano Ong.
MW Frederic H. Stevens, RW Teodoro M. Kalaw, RW Francisco A. Delgado and WB Lim Bilian delivered speeches after the ceremony. The Master of the lodge stressed that the founders of the lodge were in no way actuated by a desire to make its membership exclusively Chinese, and assured everyone that applicants of whatever nationality or creed would he eligible as members, if found worthy.
The members of Mencius Lodge pursued their labors for the Craft in this jurisdiction and outside of it. The late MW Michael Goldenberg, who was an Honorary Member of the lodge, stated on several occasions that Mencius Lodge was the catalyst in the formation of lodges in China and ultimately the Grand Lodge of China. Many members, before World War II, visited sister lodges in China. The cordial ties between Mencius Lodge and the lodges that were chartered by the Grand Lodge of the Philippines in China was happily marked on October 5, 1933 when Grand Master Stanton Youngberg visited Mencius Lodge. A beautiful plaque of red lacquer, measuring 103 by 37 inches, with a message of true Masonic import from President Lim Sen, which was inscribed thereon in Chinese ideographs in gold, was presented on behalf of Amity Lodge of China to the Grand Lodge by K.L. Kwong, Consul General of the Republic of China. The inscription read: "To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands. The Spirit of Mutual Helpfulness. Eleventh month of the Twenty-first year of the Republic of China. From Lim Sen."
Thirty years after he had issued the dispensation that gave life to the lodge, MW Frederick H. Stevens, was happy to state that Mencius Lodge had furthered the cause of Masonry beyond his dreams. He mentioned in particular WB Tieng Sieng, who by his Masonic work, was well-known throughout the Eastern part of the United States of America. Stevens recounted how Tieng Sieng, with Bro. Joe Woon Lum of Shanghai and a group of Chinese Masons in New York formed a Third Degree team that conferred the Master Mason Degree in different lodges in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, etc., using the Philippine ritual. He said that it must have been a splendid sight to see these brethren, faultlessly dressed in evening clothes, march into a lodge and before large crowds numbering into the thousands confer the degree in faultless English.
Before the occupation of Manila by the Japanese that drove the lodges into darkness, the members of Mencius Lodge had the foresight to hide in a warehouse their Masonic paraphernalia, furniture and fixtures. These came in handy at the resumption of Masonic labors after the liberation of the country.
Mencius Lodge resumed its Masonic labors in the temporary headquarters of the Grand Lodge in Gunao St., in Quiapo, Manila. From there it transferred its meeting place to the Plaridel Masonic Temple at 520 San Marcelino St., which was rebuilt after it was demolished in the battle for Manila in February 1945.
On March 17, 1954 the Grand Lodge issued a dispensation for the formation of Na Nun Gok Handa Lodge in Korea. During a visit of Grand Master Mauro Baradi to Mencius lodge, he presented the dispensation to Bro. (Captain) Clarence Edgar Merwin, Sr., the Worshipful Master designate of the lodge. The occasion was unique and memorable, a dispensation issued by a Filipino Grand Master was presented in a lodge composed mostly of Chinese Nationals to an American, who would guide and govern a new lodge in Korea, a foreign but friendly soil.
In 1982, under the dynamic leadership of WM William C. Ong, the lodge updated the financial and individual records of the members thus strengthening the financial position of the lodge. The lodge was able to collect the past dues of inactive brethren. The lodge also attained a 100% collection of the Temple Fund Assessment for the construction of the Grand Lodge building. Many members became Charter Members of the builders Club out of a desire to help Complete the New temple building. The members are still proud that their lodge was selected as the Most Outstanding Lodge of the District in 1982.
Mencius Lodge is at present maintaining a scholarship project at the Philippine Chiang Kai Shek College and the Philippines Cultural High School for deserving and indigent students. Likewise, its members never forget to perform charitable deeds, but deem it necessary to trumpet their philanthropy.
Location: Scottish Rite Temple, Manila
The photo is executed in technique «LightGraphic » or «The painting of light», that assumes illumination of model by small light sources in darkness on long endurance.
Thus, all lightcloth (composition) - is one Photo Exposition, is embodied on a matrix of the camera in one click of a shutter.
The sketches very often executed in such a way further are drawn in the graphic editor as it would be on a canvas a brush. Plug-ins and filters are not used.
Short story, yet only in Russian:
www.horyma.ru/gallery_horyma/displayimage.php?album=14&am...
These are replicas, very nicely executed. Can't get this particular marking array any more after 2020, but began this experiment with the old style "J form" hooks about then. Those are better for security and authenticity, but most folks don't use 'em enough to notice. They ARE harder to adjust.
What's amusing is, there are those who argue, in the face of testimony by Ehlers, Murphy, Dwyer, and thousands of others and millions of photos, that these were NOT the dominant sling for full-sized rifles in G.I. infantry combat units until almost the very end of World War II. Even then, most extant photos in Europe with the cotton straps involve Hodges' First Army, very late, and a few boat crews and amphibious Navy personnel with second strata rifles.
One ridiculous bozo, to prove that summary wrong, trotted out some video depicting Hodges' First Army combined arms in Cologne very, very late in that conflict.
Oh, well.
Copyrighted, all rights reserved. No reproduction of any kind, anywhere, without express, hard copy, written permission. The law WILL be enforced with a vengeance, especially against those usurping rights or provenance.
One of a pair of plaster reliefs, executed as models to be copied in stone on the great high altar reredos of Liverpool Cathedral by the sculptors Walter Gilbert & Louis Weingartner.Gilbert was a member of the Bromsgrove Guild, thus it is fitting that two of the team's beautiful full scale maquettes should find their home in Hanbury church, near Bromsgrove. Gilbert's family had lived here and his memorial is nearby.
St Mary's at Hanbury is something of a landmark, sitting in an elevated hilltop position commanding fine views over the Worcestershire countryside to the south. The church itself is a real patchwork of different periods in three distinct phases, with a medieval nave (with 17th century alterations), a Georgian Gothick west tower and a Victorian chancel and chapels.
The interior furnishings date mostly from the Victorian restoration as does the stained glass at the east end. The real treasure of the church however is the collection of monuments to the Vernon family of nearby Hanbury Hall, mainly concentrated in the Vernon chapel at the south east corner. The best piece is the huge Baroque tomb of Sir Thomas Vernon, shown reclining between two seated female figures with pediment and swags above.
In the north aisle are fine pieces of sculpture from a more recent period, two beautiful early 20th century relief sculptures in plaster depicting the Nativity and Resurrection that were the original sculptor's maquettes for parts of the huge Gilbert & Weingartner reredos in Liverpool Cathedral.
St Mary's is normally open and welcoming to visitors.
A man in his 20s received an early morning wakeup call today (Monday 24 February), as officers from our County Lines Team executed a warrant at an address in Bolton.
He was arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of a Class A substance and cuckooing.
Officers carried out a search of the address and seized a mobile phone believed to be used as a drugs line.
Cuckooing is the term used when criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person is taken in order to use it to deal, store or take drugs, and other criminal activity. The practice is associated with county lines drug trafficking.
Often criminals and organised crime gangs (OCGs) target people who are lonely, isolated, or have addiction issues. It's common for OCGs to use a property for a short amount of time, moving address frequently to reduce the chance of being caught.
There are several signs to look out for that may indicate someone is a victim of cuckooing:
frequent visitors at unsociable hours
changes in your neighbour’s daily routine
unusual smells coming from a property
suspicious or unfamiliar vehicles outside an address
your neighbour may look dishevelled or seem anxious
This illegal exploitative practice will be discussed in Parliament this week as one of two new offences from the government’s flagship Crime and Policing Bill, making cuckooing illegal under the introduction of a new law.
Our County Lines Team investigate suspected drugs lines operating across Greater Manchester using overt and covert methods, including surveillance and other investigative work. If you suspect there is a drugs line operating in your area or that someone is being cuckooed, our officers take this seriously and will act on intelligence.
Since September 2022, our County Lines Team have made approximately 366 arrests with 304 charges, seized around 108kg of class A and class B drugs, and closed around 397 Type 1 county drugs lines.
Police Constable Andrew Shaw, from GMP’s County Lines Team, said: “We've closed down a suspected drugs line in Bolton this morning, which we believe may have been exploiting vulnerable people and taking over their own home.
“Our dedicated county lines team has closed down 160 drugs lines in the last year and continues to pursue suspects and protect victims.
“Drugs blight communities; from addiction to the exploitation of vulnerable people, illicit substances cause damage across Greater Manchester.
“We are unrelenting in our pursuit of organised criminals, and we will continue to act swiftly on intelligence we receive and proactively pursue offenders.
“If you have any concerns about drug supply or county lines operating in your area or feel like you have witnessed something suspicious, please do get in touch with us. You can report information to the police on 101, via gmp.police.uk, or by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”
In November 2013 the first survey after more than 30 years was executed by the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen.
Myanmar is probably among the countries in Southeast Asia with the most intact marine environment, but our findings in 2013 indicate that fish stocks have been reduced and fish communities changed structure since the surveys in 1980. This has serious consequences for the availability of fish for food, jobs and income for coastal population in Myanmar.
Based on the findings the Department of Fisheries in Myanmar asked FAO and CDCF to conduct a follow-up study to confirm the results and also to identify any seasonality in the ecosystem. This survey will be conducted from April 28 to June 2 this year. We will repeat the survey made in 2013 and try to verify results. In addition, we will map the biodiversity and the marine environment. Among the participants there is Merete Kvalsund that will provide a glimpse of work and life on board. The work is part of the EAF-Nansen Project.
Photo credits to Peter Psomadakis
This morning, officers executed four arrest warrants at addresses on Derbyshire Avenue in Stretford, resulting in five arrests.
At the first address, a 16‑year‑old boy was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, as well as an unrelated robbery offence.
At the second address, a 39‑year‑old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.
At the third address, two men, aged 28 and 61and a 59‑year‑old woman were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.
No drugs were located at the fourth address; however, a mobile phone was seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
These warrants were executed following a proactive investigation led by Trafford North’s Neighbourhood Team into drug supply linked to Derbyshire Avenue.
The team remains committed to tackling drug dealing and associated criminality across the Trafford area.
Intelligence from the local community played a vital role. Based on this information, officers believed the four addresses were connected to the supply of controlled substances.
Collaboration was key to the success of this operation. The Neighbourhood Team worked alongside the Tactical Dog Unit, the Drone Unit, our Challenger Team, and the Regional Organised Crime Unit, ensuring a coordinated and robust approach.
upon entry, officers recovered cannabis at three properties, secured multiple arrests, and seized a quantity of white powder - believed to be cocaine - which has been sent for forensic testing.
All five suspects remain in custody for further questioning.
Inspector Jamie Jeffries, from the Trafford North Neighbourhood Team said: “Executing four warrants at the same time on the same street is a significant undertaking and reflects the seriousness of the intelligence we received.
“This level of coordinated action demands careful planning and considerable resources, and it shows our determination to disrupt drug networks operating in Trafford.
“Thanks to crucial information from the public, our Trafford North Neighbourhood Team was able to act decisively against addresses suspected of working together in drug supply.
“Conducting multiple warrants in one operation sends a clear message: if you choose to deal drugs, we will gather the evidence and take robust, swift action.
“We remain firmly committed to keeping Trafford safe, and I encourage anyone with concerns to keep coming forward — community intelligence directly drives operations like today’s.
Anyone with information about criminal activity is urged to contact police on 101, Live Chat or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
You can access many of our services online at www.gmp.police.uk
Detail of the Baptistry Window, a masterpiece of abstract stained glass designed by John Piper and executed by Patrick Reyntiens.
Coventry's Cathedral is a unique synthesis of old a new, born of wartime suffering and forged in the spirit of postwar optimism, famous for it's history and for being the most radically modern of Anglican cathedrals. Two cathedral's stand side by side, the ruins of the medieval building, destroyed by incendiary bombs in 1940 and the bold new building designed by Basil Spence and opened in 1962.
It is a common misconception that Coventry lost it's first cathedral in the wartime blitz, but the bombs actually destroyed it's second; the original medieval cathedral was the monastic St Mary's, a large cruciform building believed to have been similar in appearance to Lichfield Cathedral (whose diocese it shared). Tragically it became the only English cathedral to be destroyed during the Reformation, after which it was quickly quarried away, leaving only scant fragments, but enough evidence survives to indicate it's rich decoration (some pieces were displayed nearby in the Priory Visitors Centre, sadly since closed). Foundations of it's apse were found during the building of the new cathedral in the 1950s, thus technically three cathedrals share the same site.
The mainly 15th century St Michael's parish church became the seat of the new diocese of Coventry in 1918, and being one of the largest parish churches in the country it was upgraded to cathedral status without structural changes (unlike most 'parish church' cathedrals created in the early 20th century). It lasted in this role a mere 22 years before being burned to the ground in the 1940 Coventry Blitz, leaving only the outer walls and the magnificent tapering tower and spire (the extensive arcades and clerestoreys collapsed completely in the fire, precipitated by the roof reinforcement girders, installed in the Victorian restoration, that buckled in the intense heat).
The determination to rebuild the cathedral in some form was born on the day of the bombing, however it wasn't until the mid 1950s that a competition was held and Sir Basil Spence's design was chosen. Spence had been so moved by experiencing the ruined church he resolved to retain it entirely to serve as a forecourt to the new church. He envisaged the two being linked by a glass screen wall so that the old church would be visible from within the new.
Built between 1957-62 at a right-angle to the ruins, the new cathedral attracted controversy for it's modern form, and yet some modernists argued that it didn't go far enough, after all there are echoes of the Gothic style in the great stone-mullioned windows of the nave and the net vaulting (actually a free-standing canopy) within. What is exceptional is the way art has been used as such an integral part of the building, a watershed moment, revolutionising the concept of religious art in Britain.
Spence employed some of the biggest names in contemporary art to contribute their vision to his; the exterior is adorned with Jacob Epstein's triumphant bronze figures of Archangel Michael (patron of the cathedral) vanquishing the Devil. At the entrance is the remarkable glass wall, engraved by John Hutton with strikingly stylised figures of saints and angels, and allowing the interior of the new to communicate with the ruin. Inside, the great tapestry of Christ in majesty surrounded by the evangelistic creatures, draws the eye beyond the high altar; it was designed by Graham Sutherland and was the largest tapestry ever made.
However one of the greatest features of Coventry is it's wealth of modern stained glass, something Spence resolved to include having witnessed the bleakness of Chartres Cathedral in wartime, all it's stained glass having been removed. The first window encountered on entering is the enormous 'chess-board' baptistry window filled with stunning abstract glass by John Piper & Patrick Reyntiens, a symphony of glowing colour. The staggered nave walls are illuminated by ten narrow floor to ceiling windows filled with semi-abstract symbolic designs arranged in pairs of dominant colours (green, red, multi-coloured, purple/blue and gold) representing the souls journey to maturity, and revealed gradually as one approaches the altar. This amazing project was the work of three designers lead by master glass artist Lawrence Lee of the Royal College of Art along with Keith New and Geoffrey Clarke (each artist designed three of the windows individually and all collaborated on the last).
The cathedral still dazzles the visitor with the boldness of it's vision, but alas, half a century on, it was not a vision to be repeated and few of the churches and cathedrals built since can claim to have embraced the synthesis of art and architecture in the way Basil Spence did at Coventry.
The cathedral is generally open to visitors most days. For more see below:-
Detail of the Baptistry Window, a masterpiece of abstract stained glass designed by John Piper and executed by Patrick Reyntiens.
Coventry's Cathedral is a unique synthesis of old a new, born of wartime suffering and forged in the spirit of postwar optimism, famous for it's history and for being the most radically modern of Anglican cathedrals. Two cathedral's stand side by side, the ruins of the medieval building, destroyed by incendiary bombs in 1940 and the bold new building designed by Basil Spence and opened in 1962.
It is a common misconception that Coventry lost it's first cathedral in the wartime blitz, but the bombs actually destroyed it's second; the original medieval cathedral was the monastic St Mary's, a large cruciform building believed to have been similar in appearance to Lichfield Cathedral (whose diocese it shared). Tragically it became the only English cathedral to be destroyed during the Reformation, after which it was quickly quarried away, leaving only scant fragments, but enough evidence survives to indicate it's rich decoration (some pieces were displayed nearby in the Priory Visitors Centre, sadly since closed). Foundations of it's apse were found during the building of the new cathedral in the 1950s, thus technically three cathedrals share the same site.
The mainly 15th century St Michael's parish church became the seat of the new diocese of Coventry in 1918, and being one of the largest parish churches in the country it was upgraded to cathedral status without structural changes (unlike most 'parish church' cathedrals created in the early 20th century). It lasted in this role a mere 22 years before being burned to the ground in the 1940 Coventry Blitz, leaving only the outer walls and the magnificent tapering tower and spire (the extensive arcades and clerestoreys collapsed completely in the fire, precipitated by the roof reinforcement girders, installed in the Victorian restoration, that buckled in the intense heat).
The determination to rebuild the cathedral in some form was born on the day of the bombing, however it wasn't until the mid 1950s that a competition was held and Sir Basil Spence's design was chosen. Spence had been so moved by experiencing the ruined church he resolved to retain it entirely to serve as a forecourt to the new church. He envisaged the two being linked by a glass screen wall so that the old church would be visible from within the new.
Built between 1957-62 at a right-angle to the ruins, the new cathedral attracted controversy for it's modern form, and yet some modernists argued that it didn't go far enough, after all there are echoes of the Gothic style in the great stone-mullioned windows of the nave and the net vaulting (actually a free-standing canopy) within. What is exceptional is the way art has been used as such an integral part of the building, a watershed moment, revolutionising the concept of religious art in Britain.
Spence employed some of the biggest names in contemporary art to contribute their vision to his; the exterior is adorned with Jacob Epstein's triumphant bronze figures of Archangel Michael (patron of the cathedral) vanquishing the Devil. At the entrance is the remarkable glass wall, engraved by John Hutton with strikingly stylised figures of saints and angels, and allowing the interior of the new to communicate with the ruin. Inside, the great tapestry of Christ in majesty surrounded by the evangelistic creatures, draws the eye beyond the high altar; it was designed by Graham Sutherland and was the largest tapestry ever made.
However one of the greatest features of Coventry is it's wealth of modern stained glass, something Spence resolved to include having witnessed the bleakness of Chartres Cathedral in wartime, all it's stained glass having been removed. The first window encountered on entering is the enormous 'chess-board' baptistry window filled with stunning abstract glass by John Piper & Patrick Reyntiens, a symphony of glowing colour. The staggered nave walls are illuminated by ten narrow floor to ceiling windows filled with semi-abstract symbolic designs arranged in pairs of dominant colours (green, red, multi-coloured, purple/blue and gold) representing the souls journey to maturity, and revealed gradually as one approaches the altar. This amazing project was the work of three designers lead by master glass artist Lawrence Lee of the Royal College of Art along with Keith New and Geoffrey Clarke (each artist designed three of the windows individually and all collaborated on the last).
The cathedral still dazzles the visitor with the boldness of it's vision, but alas, half a century on, it was not a vision to be repeated and few of the churches and cathedrals built since can claim to have embraced the synthesis of art and architecture in the way Basil Spence did at Coventry.
The cathedral is generally open to visitors most days. For more see below:-
The photo is executed in technique «LightGraphic » or «The painting of light», that assumes illumination of model by small light sources in darkness on long endurance.
Thus, all lightcloth (composition) - is one Photo Exposition, is embodied on a matrix of the camera in one click of a shutter.
The sketches very often executed in such a way further are drawn in the graphic editor as it would be on a canvas a brush. Plug-ins and filters are not used.
The Lockheed Martin HC-130J Hercules The Combat King II is the U.S. Air Force's only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform and is flown by the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and Air Combat Command (ACC). This C-130J variation specializes in tactical profiles and avoiding detection and recovery operations in austere environments. The HC-130J replaces HC-130P/Ns as the only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform in the Air Force inventory. It is an extended-range version of the C-130J Hercules transport. Its mission is to rapidly deploy to execute combatant commander directed recovery operations to austere airfields and denied territory for expeditionary, all weather personnel recovery operations to include airdrop, airland, helicopter air-to-air refueling, and forward area ground refueling missions. When tasked, the aircraft also conducts humanitarian assistance operations, disaster response, security cooperation/aviation advisory, emergency aeromedical evacuation, and noncombatant evacuation operations.
Features
Modifications to the HC-130J have improved navigation, threat detection and countermeasures systems. The aircraft fleet has a fully-integrated inertial navigation and global positioning systems, and night vision goggle, or NVG, compatible interior and exterior lighting. It also has forward-looking infrared, radar and missile warning receivers, chaff and flare dispensers, satellite and data-burst communications, and the ability to receive fuel inflight via a Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI).
The HC-130J can fly in the day; however, crews normally fly night at low to medium altitude levels in contested or sensitive environments, both over land or overwater. Crews use NVGs for tactical flight profiles to avoid detection to accomplish covert infiltration/exfiltration and transload operations. To enhance the probability of mission success and survivability near populated areas, crews employ tactics that include incorporating no external lighting or communications, and avoiding radar and weapons detection.
Drop zone objectives are done via personnel drops and equipment drops. Rescue bundles include illumination flares, marker smokes and rescue kits. Helicopter air-to-air refueling can be conducted at night, with blacked out communication with up to two simultaneous helicopters. Additionally, forward area refueling point operations can be executed to support a variety of joint and coalition partners.
Background
The HC-130J is a result of the HC/MC-130 recapitalization program and replaces Air Combat Command's aging HC-130P/N fleet as the dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform in the Air Force inventory. The 71st and 79th Rescue Squadrons in Air Combat Command, the 550th Special Operations Squadron in Air Education and Training Command, the 920th Rescue Group in Air Force Reserve Command and the 106th Rescue Wing, 129th RQW and 176th Wing in the Air National Guard will operate the aircraft.
First flight was 29 July 2010, and the aircraft will serve the many roles and missions of the HC-130P/Ns. It is a modified KC-130J aircraft designed to conduct personnel recovery missions, provide a command and control platform, in-flight-refuel helicopters and carry supplemental fuel for extending range or air refueling.
In April 2006, the personnel recovery mission was transferred back to Air Combat Command at Langley AFB, Va. From 2003 to 2006, the mission was under the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Previously, HC-130s were assigned to ACC from 1992 to 2003. They were first assigned to the Air Rescue Service as part of Military Airlift Command.
General Characteristics
Primary function: Fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform
Contractor: Lockheed Aircraft Corp.
Power Plant: Four Rolls Royce AE2100D3 turboprop engines
Thrust: 4,591 Propeller Shaft Horsepower, each engine
Wingspan: 132 feet, 7 inches (40.4 meters)
Length: 97 feet, 9 inches (29.57 meters)
Height: 38 feet, 9 inches (11.58 meters)
Operating Weight: 89,000 pounds (40,369 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 164,000 pounds (74,389 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 61,360 pounds (9,024 gallons)
Payload: 35,000 pounds (15,875 kilograms)
Speed: 316 knots indicated air speed at sea level
Range: beyond 4,000 miles (3,478 nautical miles)
Ceiling: 33,000 feet (10,000 meters)
Armament: countermeasures/flares, chaff
Basic Crew: Three officers (pilot, co-pilot, combat system officer) and two enlisted loadmasters
Unit Cost: $66 million (fiscal 2010 replacement cost)
Initial operating capability: 2013
Arbour Hill is an inner city area of Dublin, on the Northside of the River Liffey, in the Dublin 7 postal district. Arbour Hill, the road of the same name, runs west from Blackhall Place in Stoneybatter, and separates Collins Barracks, now part of the National Museum of Ireland, to the south from Arbour Hill Prison to the north, whose graveyard includes the burial plot of the signatories of the Easter Proclamation that began the 1916 Rising.
The military cemetery at Arbour Hill is the last resting place of 14 of the executed leaders of the insurrection of 1916. Among those buried there are Patrick Pearse, James Connolly and Major John Mc Bride. The leaders were executed in Kilmainham and then their bodies were transported to Arbour Hill, where they were buried.
The graves are located under a low mound on a terrace of Wicklow granite in what was once the old prison yard. The gravesite is surrounded by a limestone wall on which their names are inscribed in Irish and English. On the prison wall opposite the gravesite is a plaque with the names of other people who gave their lives in 1916.
The adjoining Church of the Sacred Heart, which is the prison chapel for Arbour Hill prison, is maintained by the Department of Defence. At the rear of the church lies the old cemetery, where lie the remains of British military personnel who died in the Dublin area in the 19th and early 20th century.
A doorway beside the 1916 memorial gives access to the Irish United Nations Veterans Association house and memorial garden.