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Evening mist over the ice near our house.
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TOPICS
The Vienna Opera Ball
Viennese Opera Ball
Just as already the operetta and the waltz had been imported from Paris to Vienna, comes also the model for the Vienna Opera Ball from the Seine metropolis. By a corresponding approval of Duke Philip of Orleans, on 2 January 1716 a "public ball" can be held for the first time, to which everyone has access who can pay the admission fee of five livres. First, the balls take place at the Comédie française, but already in 1717 was given the Académie de Musique, the Paris Opera House, the special right of the organization. Nevertheless, in the Comédie furthermore take place balls, with the audience far more popular than the 'opera balls'.
In 1861 the construction of an opera house begins at the Ringstrasse, on the explicit desire of Emperor Franz Joseph not solely intended for performances of operas and ballets, but also for the staging of the Opera Ball. With this, have been created both the spatial and the official conditions for a genuine Viennese Opera Ball according to Parisian model. It should, however, take another eight years before a dance event in the opera could be held for the first time after the completion of the house in 1869.
Initially, due to the increasing violence at the Paris balls but only Court Opera soirees take place. This includes elegant evening soirees with musical entertainment, but without dancing. On 11 December 1877 opened the court musical director Wilhelm Gericke the first Court Opera Soirée with the "Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn. After several concert pieces the baton is handed over to the Strauss family. First, Johann Strauss son conducts the Vienna Philharmonic with a waltz, followed by his brother Edward with a specially for this day composed "Opera Soirée Polka". After that, the dance-crazed Viennese are no longer stoppable: all chairs were put to the side, and the evening, which was thought without dance pleasure, ends like a ball. This is the hour of birth of the opera ball, even though for the time being still far away from being called so.
Already the second event on 15 January 1878 is announced officially as "Second Hofopernsoirée (Ball)". The third, for 12 February 1878 scheduled Soirée, is canceled for reasons of piety, since Pope Pius IX. a few days earlier had died. After the uncomplicated election of Leo XIII. to new head of the Church the ball is on 23 February rescheduled.
After these three opera soirees from March of the same year take place redoutes in the Court Opera, continuing the tradition of masked balls and linked with strict dress code: "in the hall, with the exception of the lodges, the ladies the stay is only permitted in an elegant mask, short costumes are not allowed. The gentlemen of civil appear in evening dress with white cravat, cylinder or Claquehut (opera hat - chapeau claque). "During the next twenty years during the carnival time each year should be organized two, in some seasons even three redoutes. However, at these festivals the Viennese society is not as boundless as once united in the common ball pleasure, because in the meantime the guests are spread across three different levels, not only differing in space but also in the appearance of guests from each other. Are the boxes the aristocratic guests in elaborate ball gowns reserved, so gather in the stalls the bourgeois guests, for which there is no mask constraint. In addition, there are the galleries that are accessible to every viewer without special admission ticket.
1899 the popular balls for the time being come to an abrupt end, as is discovered that the opera for such festivals does not comply with the safety regulations. Since an appropriate conversion proves to be too costly, the redoutes are discontinued for an unforeseen period of time. A certain compensation for those festivals offers in the following years the in the new town hall held "Ball der Stadt Wien".
Only in 1921, the tradition of the redoutes in the Court Opera has been resumed, but without being able to follow on the success of previous years. After several breaks followed in 1924, 1928 and 1929 again opera redoutes, neither musically nor stylistically corresponding with the level of the defunct imperial monarchy-time and they are not characterized by the former wit, charm and temperament. The twenties are not only politically, but also culturally a very different time in which with the progressive emancipation of women the meaning of a redoute became obsolete.
And so 1935 is launched the first as such referred to Opera Ball. In a time of political uncertainty, it complied in addition to social also with diplomatic and official representative purposes. Therefore, it takes no wonder that the guest list has many personalities from politics. The last opera ball before the outbreak of the Second World War should be organized in 1939, when Austria was already 'connected' by Adolf Hitler to the German Reich. Therefore respectively stiff and artificial resulted according to that this night on which no happiness will raise, previously the rule.
Image
Reopening of the Vienna State Opera, 1955
© wissenmedia
Shortly before the end of World War II, the Vienna Opera House on 12 March 1945 almost completely was destroyed by a bomb. It should take ten years until the house was rebuilt and with Ludwig van Beethoven's opera "Fidelio" at the 5th November 1955 ceremoniously could be opened. In the following carnival season with this also the first opera ball of the post-war period can be celebrated, but which has changed its face much: "Actually, the Opera Ball is not a Viennese event anymore, but already a pan-European one. A ball night for which the world envies us".
This new image has remained to this day, with the only difference that the Opera Ball is now no longer considered only as a pan-European, but as an international event. A highlight of the evening is the annual opening of the ball by about 180 debutantes who on the arm of the to them for this evening assigned Cavaliers in a Polonaise move in. After the Vienna Philharmonic for many years had taken over the musical interpretation of the evening, there is since 1982 a Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra grounded specifically for this purpose. In addition, since 1984, there is also a Viennese Opera Ball Ladies Ensemble, made up of 15 musicians and beyond the ball unfolding a very busy concert schedule.
Today on the Opera Ball there is not exclusively danced just waltz anymore. Up to ten orchestras or soloists play at the same time in different places of the house, and as a concession to modern times there is since some years even a nightclub. And yet, the waltz enjoys as the king of dances to this day unbroken popularity, without which for many no Viennese Opera Ball is thinkable. Another innovation is also the since 1981 in the Schwind Foyer installed Viennese Opera Ball Casino, which is a special attraction especially for the younger guests. Collectors will also appreciate the annually by the casino issued special Opera Ball chips.
How to become a debutante?
Proposals are now mostly send in by the dance schools of the country. The first condition is the perfect mastery of the links waltz, which is checked at a Vortanztermin (dance audition date - don't worry, the Lipizzans are doing the same!). Has the potential debutante overcome this hurdle with flying colors, it is about to find a suitable partner for the big night. The criteria for this choice are less situated in personal relationships than in pure dance qualities. After finally the couples have found each other, for five days under the expert guidance of several ballet master not only the links waltz, but also the choreography of the marching in is practiced until everything is perfectly rehearsed. The question of clothes is strictly regulated for the couples: the ladies in white dresses with a little crown on the head and the gentlemen in evening dress. To underline the internationality of the ball, every year also Debütantinnen and Debütanten from around the world are invited.
Guests
Artists from the world of the theater and the music, film and television can be found on the Vienna Opera Ball as well as well-known athletes and fashion designers. Diplomats and politicians from home and abroad appreciate the special atmosphere, and every now and then you meet also members of the European nobility. The Opera Ball today is no longer just a lavish celebration in which together a whole evening and a full night is celebrated, but increasingly also a social forum that connects professional and political contacts in a pleasant way with a social event.
Scandals
In recent decades, the Vienna Opera Ball, however, has not only found unanimous support, but has been increasingly criticized. In the 80s made fights between angry citizens that characterized the event as a "festival of the political and monetary bigwigs" and the police the headlines. Unforgettable is also the demonstration against the reprocessing plant Wackersdorf when in 1987 the Bavarian Prime Minister Franz-Josef Strauss participated in the Opera Ball. In addition, now almost every year during the opera ball take place demonstrations against these seemingly senseless waste of funds in the face of hardship and misery, hunger and wars, social and health problems in the world.
Nevertheless, the Opera Ball has lost none of its fascination and all over the world - from Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur and Korea to Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul and Dubai, Ankara, Istanbul, Kiev, Prague and Budapest to Rome, New York, Los Angeles and Washington - it found imitation, without being able to ever really come close to the Viennese model. Even if the question of the contemporaneity of the Vienna Opera Ball ever and again was controversially discussed, at the latest in 2005 has been shown that even this traditional event cannot stop short before general social changes: for the first time a smoking ban for the Opera Ball was pronounced.
www.wissen.de/thema/der-wiener-opernball?chunk=wiener-ope...
www.abcdsoderberg.com/ - There are a few aspen air conditioning Re-Pair services offering solutions for your air conditioners.
Opened 20 Jan 1915 in former Presbyterian Ladies College (previously Dryburgh School) in Winchester Street, St Peters, transferred 1917 to Woodville, opening there as Mareeba Babies Hospital 1 Aug 1917. Originally sick babies had been cared for in tents in grounds of Quambi Hospital, Pennington Terrace, from 1913. [Photo from State Library of SA: PRG 280/1/10/152 (1915)]
“For a year the Babies' Hospital Association has been doing quiet but useful work. Now a generous offer has been made of £300, on condition that suitable premises are secured: A house has been found, running expenses for the present secured — all that is wanted is furniture. A rough estimate shows that about £250 would cover alterations and furniture. The problem is to secure this in time to get the hospital in working order in January. The need for at is specially great in summer, when digestive troubles levy heavy toll on infant life and specially careful nursing is necessary.” [Observer 26 Dec 1914]
“The Babies' Hospital Association has for some time been carrying on a noble work in the endeavor to reduce infant mortality in South Australia. Many babies have been taken from homes where it was impossible to give them proper attention with regard to feeding and placed by the association, in private hospitals. This method proved inadequate, and the committee felt that a babies' hospital was wanted. On Wednesday afternoon Lady Galway (president of the association) was able formally to open, at the corner of Third-avenue and Winchester-street, St. Peters, a hospital entirely for the treatment of babies. The building, which was formerly the Presbyterian Ladies' College, is a two-storied structure, and has been divided into a number of wards.” [Advertiser 21 Jan 1915]
“the opening of the new Babies' Hospital at Winchester street, St. Peters. The wards, with their tiny cots, looked sweet and fresh. Bowls of beautiful roses from the hills decorated the mantel pieces. On the verandah nurses stood guard over a table where gifts were deposited, and most welcome supplies of tiny clothing and fittings for the cots came to hand. Lady Galway arrived early in order to go over the building.” [Register 21 Jan 1915]
“The Government took over the St. Peters Babies' Home from April 1, and will concentrate the work at Mareeba. If it should be necessary to have an institution at St. Peters, a small place will be secured, but the idea is to focus activities at Woodville.” [Register 17 May 1917]
DRYBURGH SCHOOL
Opened Aug 1876 in home of Eliza Harcus, Palm Place, Hackney, after death of her husband William. School was known as Mrs Harcus’ School until 1885. When she retired, her daughter Mrs Eliza Oliver Kelsey continued as principal. Donald M R Coghill was appointed headmaster in 1905 when Mrs Kelsey retired. The school moved in 1909 to new premises in Winchester Street, St Peters and soon after opened as Presbyterian Ladies College 25 May 1909. The Winchester property was leased as Babies Hospital in 1915.
“Mrs. W. Harcus, Palm-place, Hackney, intends opening a High-Class School for Young Ladies.. A limited number of Boarders will be received. The first quarter to begin October 9, 1876.” [Express & Telegraph 30 Aug 1876 advert]
“Dryburgh House, Palm-place, Hackney. — Mrs. Harcus's School. The new Quarter will begin on Monday, July 12.” [Register 10 Jul 1880 advert]
“Dryburgh House, Palm-place, Hackney. The Next Term will begin Monday, October 12. Boarders to return Saturday, 10th. The Principals (Mrs Harcus and Mrs. Kelsey) beg to state that the extension of vacation from ten days to s fortnight has been made in order to give time for the changes necessitated by the fact that Mrs. Martin's School has been- amalgamated with Dryburgh House School.” [Register 23 Sep 1885 advert]
“Dryburgh House School. Principal — Mrs. Kelsey.” [Register 25 Jan 1893 advert]
“Mrs. Kelsey, the principal [reported]. . . I should like to say a few words about the changes that have been made during the year in the boarding-house. At Easter, I took two houses immediately at the back of Dryburgh House, and threw the two houses, as well as all the adjoining grounds, into one. By doing this I gained twelve additional rooms. . . and a very much larger piece of ground. We have now a beautiful playground, full of fine old trees. so that physical exercise can be freely indulged in by the boarders with good shade in the hot weather. The number of boarders has increased during the year,-20 having been the average.” [Chronicle 22 Dec 1900]
“Mrs. Kelsey has been compelled through failing health to retire from the management of Dryburgh House School, which she has carried on with great success for twenty years, during which time many university and other scholastic distinctions have been won by her pupils. Mr. Murray Coghill, M.A., of Melbourne, is to carry on the school, with his wife as co-principal, the staff of teachers remaining exactly as it is now.” [Advertiser 19 Oct 1906]
“The Dryburgh House Old Scholars’ Association held its last meeting for the year 1906 at the school, Palm Place, Hackney. There was a large number of old scholars present, as the occasion was special, to say goodby to Mrs. Kelsey who leaves for Western Australia to stay with her son, Mr. Roland Kelsey.” [Observer 1 Dec 1906]
“Dryburgh House School, St Peters. Adelaide. Principals D. Murray Coghill, M.A., Gertrude M. Coghill (Successors to Mrs. Kelsey). This School will be conducted on thoroughly modern lines by an experienced staff, with improved methods. Boarders have a refined home.” [Advertiser 7 Jan 1907 advert]
“Dryburgh House. A Collegiate School for Girls. . . Boarders received. Also, separate Preparatory School for Boys. Principals — D. Murray Coghill, M.A., Mrs. D. Murray Coghill.” [Advertiser 4 Jan 1909 advert]
“Dryburgh House, A Collegiate School For Girls. The School will shortly be Removed, to New and more Commodious Premises, now nearly completed, in Winchester Street, St. Peters, to be Opened Tuesday, May 25. Excellent Accommodation for Boarders.” [Register 29 Apr 1909 advert]
“Presbyterian Assembly. . . consideration was given in committee to the question of a Presbyterian ladies' college. It was unanimously resolved, on the motion of the Rev. A. J. Wade; seconded by the Rev. A. C. Sutherland ‘That the Assembly take into consideration a scheme for the higher education of girls, and that Dryburgh House School, St. Peters, with Mr. D. Murray Coghill, M.A., as principal, be recognised and declared to be the Presbyterian Ladies' College of South Australia.” [Advertiser 5 May 1909]
“To Let, Dryburgh House, Palm place, Hackney, occupied at present by Mr. Coghill, M.A. as a ladies' collegiate school and previously by Mrs. Kelsey for many years.” [Advertiser 8 May 1909 advert]
“Dryburgh House School, which is now recognised as the Presbyterian Ladies' College, has been removed from the Hackney block to splendidly situated quarters in Winchester street, East Adelaide. The opening ceremony of the new premises was performed by His Excellency the Governor (Sir Day Bosanquet) on Tuesday afternoon. . . The school had been carried on for 40 years, and since 1876 had been known as Dryburgh House. Now it had been officially recognised as the Presbyterian Ladies' College. . . The college building was formerly a private residence, which has been extended, renovated, and adapted for school purposes. It is a two-storied building of brick and stone, splendidly situated, and commanding a charming view, and comprises 19 rooms. The rooms are all large, airy, bright, and well furnished. Accommodation can be provided for about 16 boarders.” [Register 26 May 1909]
“Dryburgh House. Presbyterian Ladies College, Winchester Streer, East Adelaide. First Term. 1912, commences February 6. Principal, Mrs. Murray Coghill, assisted by a strong staff of trained and certificated teachers.” [Register 2 Dec 1911 advert]
“Dryburgh House, East Adelaide. For Sale. . . at the corner of Winchester Street and Third Avenue. . . contains about 19 Rooms (several of which are exceptionally large and lofty). Verandah, Balcony, Tower, outbuildings, Tennis Court, Garden, &c. . . This Property which was formerly the Presbyterian Ladies’ College is eminently adapted for Boarding House, School, Nursing Home, or Private Hospital.” [Register 6 Apr 1914 advert]
ELIZA HARCUS
“HARCUS.— [Died] On the 12th March, at Dryburgh House, St. Peters, Eliza, relict of the late William Harcus, in her 80th year.” [Advertiser 13 Mar 1902]
“The death of Mrs. William Harcus occurred at Palm-place, Hackney. . . born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland, England, in 1822, and came to South Australia in 1860. She was the widow of Mr. William Harcus, at one time editor of ‘The Advertiser’. Mrs. Harcus has had a long connection with philanthropic movements in this State and for many years was on the committee of the Convalescent Hospital and Female Refuge.” [Advertiser 13 Mar 1902]
“Mrs. William Harcus. . . leaves three sons and three daughters, Mrs. Kelsey, Mrs. Leonard Holmes, of Holland's Villa road, Kensington, England, and Mrs. Dagget, of Newcastle-on-Tyne.” [Register 13 Mar 1902]
ELIZA OLIVER KELSEY
“KELSEY, — [Died] On Friday, the 2nd April, Eliza Oliver, widow of the late Benjamin Kelsey, in her 76th year.” [Register 3 Apr 1926]
“Mrs. E. O. Kelsey. . . was the eldest daughter of the late Mr. W. Harcus, who after having relinquished service in the Congregational ministry many years ago was attached to the editorial staff of The Register, and thereafter became editor of The Advertiser. On his death his widow opened the girls school at Palm Place, Hackney, which subsequently, under her management, with the assistance of her daughters, became the well-known Dryburgh House School. . . After some years Mrs. Harcus retired, and Mrs. Kelsey took over the sole control. . . Mrs. Kelsey retired from the school in the first decade of the present century, and went to live with a son in Western Australia. Shortly after the outbreak of the war she returned to South Australia. . . Mrs. Kelsey's husband predeceased her, and of her family of four children three survive— a daughter (Mrs. A. E. H. Evans) and two sons (Messrs. B. H. and R. H. Kelsey).” [Register 3 Apr 1926]
“Mrs Kelsey was prominently connected with educational activities, particularly the University Shakespearean Society. She also evinced a keen interest in scientific matters, and wrote several papers for the Australian Society for the Advancement of Science. Art and literature also claimed much of her attention.” [News 3 Apr 1926]
DONALD MURRAY ROBERTSON COGHILL
“COGHILL.— [Died] On the 29th November, at his residence, Beaufort street, Woodville, Donald Murray Robertson Coghill, M.A., Headmaster High School, 32nd. Batt., A.I.F.” [Register 30 Nov 1922]
“Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. R. Coghill, M.A. . . prior to the war was head teacher at the Woodville district high school. At that time lie was lieutenant-colonel of the 75th Infantry. At the war he led the 32nd Battalion, and on his return he resumed his duties at die Woodville high school.” [Advertiser 30 Nov 1922]
“Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Murray Robertson Coghill, M. A. . . was educated at the Sydney High School, and later entered the Melbourne University, where he graduated in arts, and subsequently took his M.A. degrees in classics. He was associated with several of the secondary educational establishments in Melbourne, and for some time was the headmaster of the Box Hill Grammar School. He came to Adelaide to take charge, with Mrs. Coghill, as co-principal, of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, East Adelaide. In 1912 he entered the service of the Education Department of this State as assistant master at the Adelaide High School, and subsequently was assistant in charge of the Unley High School. On April 4, 1915, he was appointed head teacher of the Woodville High School, and January 1, 1919, he was made headmaster of that school. . . He leaves a wife, a daughter (Miss Marie Coghill), and an infant son (Robert).” [The Express 30 Nov 1922]
QUAMBI NURSING HOME
“Nurses Bartels and Wamsley announce that they have opened a rest and nursing home on Pennington-terrace, North Adelaide. Quambi, which is the name of the home, is beautifully situated. It is within one minute's walk of the tram. Spacious grounds surround the home, which is cool and commodious. Nurses Bartels and Wamsley intend to make a speciality of nerve cases.” [Advertiser 14 Sep 1907]
“In April. 1912, a committee was formed to investigate the need for the establishment in or near Adelaide of a hospital providing accommodation for sick babies. . . there is at present no adequate provision for the treatment in hospital of sick children under two years of age urgent surgical cases and some medical cases can receive attention, but there is no systematic attempt to deal with those cases of gastro-enteritis and similar diseases. . . the committee have decided to co-operate for a year with Mrs. Bartels in her private nursing home, ‘Quambi’, Pennington-terrace. North Adelaide, by sending in a limited number of sick and needy infants this summer,” [Advertiser 23 Sep 1913]
“The recently-formed babies' Hospital Association of Adelaide. . . has made arrangements to accommodate babies suffering from gastroenteritis, a disease which carries off so many young children during the hot months. . . the association had been successful in securing a number of beds at ‘Quambi’, North Adelaide.” [Daily Herald 18 Oct 1913]
“the growth of the Babies' Hospital. At first five babies were given accommodation at Quambi, but it was found impossible during the summer months to confine the number to five. Since October, 1913, 83 applications for admission had been received, and, in spite of considerable extension of accommodation, 29 had to be refused.” [Register 30 Sep 1914]
“Some years ago at the Quambi Rest and Nursing Home on Pennington Terrace the Babies' Hospital Association made arrangements for a tent to be set apart in the grounds for the care of sick babies, whose mothers could not afford the regular fees at a private hospital. The tent soon became over crowded, and premises were secured at St. Peters, where for about two and a half years the Babies' Hospital lived, moved, and had its being. The excellent care and atention [sic] which were bestowed upon the ailing infants again had its reward in a 'full house,' and still larger premises had to be obtained.” [The Mail 25 Aug 1917]
This photo is part of a photo documentation condition status record of the Pasture Wash site, to include the ranger station, barn, water trough, cistern and water catchment system. This site is located within the Signal Hill Fire Tower District in Grand Canyon National Park. Each of these historic structures is included in the List of Classified Structures. All photos were taken on June 16, 2011 as part of an Interdisciplinary Team site visit. Visit intent included a visual condition assessment of the historic structures, photo documentation of the structures and discussion on necessary and proper conservation measures for structure rehabilitation.
A mint condition Steward’s medal from the Royal Commercial Travellers Schools (RCTS) at Elliot Hall near Pinner, Middlesex. This medal would have been issued between 1918 and 1965 before its name changed to The Royal Pinner Schools. The schools closed down in 1967 due to financial difficulties and since then the buildings have gone through many uses before it was purchased by the Harrow Council as a new venue for their Arts Centre. The medal shows the Staff of Mercury which forms the central part of the school’s crest and from which past pupils are known as Old Mercurians.
The RCTS was a boarding school for the sons and daughters of “Commercial Travellers, Sales & Technical Representatives and Manufacturer’s Agents”. Admissions to the schools were prioritised according to the means of their parents for example; orphans of deceased parents or of parents who no longer had the capacity to make a living were given priority. From 1949, fee-paying pupils were admitted provided there were vacancies and subject to the parent’s income with fee levels being set accordingly.
The schools were founded in 1845 by John Robert Cuffley, a commercial traveller, for children of orphaned and “necessitous” fellow commercial travellers. The schools could accommodate around 365 pupils aged from 5 to 18 years and provided education to both O-level and A-level standards. Funding of the RCTS was mainly through voluntary contributions as they received no State grants.
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References:
www.childrenshomes.org.uk/PinnerTravellers/?LMCL=SO7d5D (A good history of the RCTS schools and that at Pinner).
www.royalcommercialtravellersschools.org.uk/ (RCTS website).
www.royalcommercialtravellersschools.org.uk/memorabilia/p... (Interesting article from Picture Post (1956) about everyday life in the RCTS).
drblayney.com/Asclepius.html (Staff of Mercury article).
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Enamels: 1 (blue).
Finish: Bright gilt.
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Pin ( 2 ½“ long).
Size: 3 ¼“ x 1 ½“ including the ribbon (about 82mm x 37mm).
Process: Die-stamped.
Maker: Spencer, London.
Thank you for reading.
Stuart.
Here's a 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit, in good condition, from the "Malibunny" years.
As noted on this photostream, VW started producing the bunny version of the original Golf in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The plant's manager (and eventual Volkswagen of America chief), former Chevrolet executive Jim McLernon, made changes to the car that made it feel and drive like a miniature Malibu, with softer suspension and cheaper interiors. When former Volkswagen of America president Carl Hahn became the CEO of the whole company, he went to Pennsylvania and took an '82 Rabbit for a test drive. "I drove the American Rabbit," Hahn said, "and it felt like a Chevrolet. If you want a Chevrolet, you should go to General Motors."
At the start of the 1983 model year, Volkswagen announced that the '83 Rabbit had retuned suspension, stiffer spring rates, and revised shock valving.
So what did McLernon think of this? Oh, it didn't matter. See, Hahn fired him. He also brought in South African VW executive Noel Phillips to run the American division. That decision might have been partly instrumental in VW's sales decline in America in the 1980s - the anti-apartheid demonstrations and all that - but it was very instrumental in saving the car.
I only test-drove a used '82 Rabbit for sale, and it felt like a Chevrolet. Only trouble was, I was looking for a different car to replace my old Chevrolet!
Front-side labeling on small, vintage bag of Terra-Lite; Zonolite Company's vermiculite soil conditioner product. One inch cube shown for scale.
Vintage supplies of Zonolite / Grace Terra-Lite vermiculite are considered contaminated with hazardous asbestos fibers and other potentially toxic asbestiform amphibole minerals. One easy way to reduce risk of airborne exposure would be to simply refrain from using older vermiculite product stock .
The US-EPA recommends to reduce the risk with occasional use of vermiculite products during gardening activities, that consumers:
- use vermiculite outdoors or in a well-ventilated area;
- avoid creating dust by keeping vermiculite damp during use;
- avoid bringing dust into the home on clothing.
Class 52 1066 Western Prefect stands at Swindon Works awaiting cutting up, despite having lost some of it,s windows it still looks in fairly good condition, Viscount stands along side.01/03/1975.
image Kevin Connolly - All rights reserved so please do no use this without my explicit permission
Air conditioner leak due to unit 207 using air conditioner non-stop. Leak caused terrible mold problem. HOA paid for repair.
When asked contractors for mold removal, they all asked for HOA name. President last year agreed to pay for common-pipe repair.
We did not use our air conditioner last year because it was not repaired. We repaired it in August 2015.
Air conditioning Southport are committed to providing superior service, and our goal is to always exceed our customers’ expectations.
It had long been our ambition to convert the basement of the Rotunda back to its condition in 1910. Ickworth Lives, a project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and your donations, is doing just that. Opened on 2nd March 2012, we invite you to discover the real lives of those who lived and worked in this party house in the 1930s.
The exterior of the Earl-Bishop’s Rotunda was virtually finished when he died in 1803, but the interior was still an empty shell, and the curving corridors and wings only a few feet above ground. It was left to the Earl-Bishop’s son, the future 1st Marquess of Bristol, to make what use he could of his father’s extraordinary plan. Having no need for massive galleries, in 1821 he instructed his architect, John Field, to redesign the East Wing as family living-quarters.
Field fitted out the ground floor of the Rotunda as state rooms in an austere Regency style. The West Wing was added purely for symmetry and so was left empty. The Trust is pleased to announce the go-ahead of a package for a project to develop the West Wing to provide new facilities for visitor reception, information, education, shop, restaurant, functions, conferences and events.
As the family lived mostly in the East Wing, the rooms that visitors see in the Rotunda spent much of the year under dust sheets, coming into their own mainly for parties and other special occasions. But as a result, their superb furnishings and decoration have survived in excellent condition and little changed since the heyday of the house in the Edwardian era.
The house, with much of its collections of family portraits, Huguenot silver, Regency furniture and china, and part of the ancient deer-park, passed to the National Trust in 1956.
The East Wing has been transformed into a four star hotel by the hotel company Luxury Family Hotels who lease the East Wing. Until 1997 the East Wing was home to the late 7th Marquis of Bristol who had leased the property from the National Trust.
The hotel has 35 luxury rooms - 11 in the Dower House a separate property situated on the north-west of the estate (opened in autumn 2002) - the hotel complex has three restaurants, a 50ft indoor pool, horse riding facilities and a tennis court.
Ickworth’s 18th-century parkland and gardens include some of the most stunning countryside to be found in East Anglia.
The Park
The extensive 1,800 acres of wooded parkland, created in part by 'Capability' Brown, is a living landscape rich in plant, animal, and bird life. Some parts cultivated and grazed yet much can be explored and enjoyed. Some waymarked field margins may also be walked. Access has been made possible through funding by the Forestry Commission’s Countryside Access scheme.
The Gardens
The gardens surrounding the house were created in the first half of the 19th century by the First Marquess of Bristol. Those in the formal Italian style to the south of the house feature the Gold and Silver Gardens, a Victorian Stumpery and the Temple Rose Garden. A raised terrace walk separates the south garden from the park.
Beyond the church are the remnants of an 18th-century garden created by the First Earl. His summerhouse (circa.1703) and ornamental canal still survive. The kitchen garden, protected by high brick walls, is now a vineyard producing Ickworth wines (available in the National Trust shop).
Contractors come together for breakfast in the Halekala Garden. SMACNA's Annual Convention is its premier event that blends exceptional education with world-class networking and social events. This year’s convention held at Grad Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii, October 23-27, 2021. The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) is an international trade association representing 1,834 member firms in 97 chapters throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. A leader in promoting quality and excellence in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry, SMACNA has offices in Chantilly, VA. For more information go to smacna.org. Photography by Steve Exum & Finley Quillen of exumphoto.com
Deva is the Hindu term for deity; devatas (Devanagari: देवता, Khmer: tevoda (ទេវតា), Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese, Malay and Indonesian: dewata; Philippine languages: diwata), are a kind of smaller more focused devas. The term "devata" also means devas (deva in plural form or the gods). They are male and female devata. There are many kinds of devatas: vanadevatas (forest spirits, perhaps descendants of early nature-spirit cults), gramadevata (village gods), devata of river crossings, caves, mountains, and so on. In Hinduism, the devatas that guard the nine cardinal points are called Devata Lokapala (Guardians of the Directions) or in ancient Java called Dewata Nawa Sanga (Nine guardian gods). Every human activity has its devata, its spiritual counterpart or aspect.
Hindu devatas in the Konkan region are often divided into five categories: 1. Grama devatas - or village deities, for example, Hanuman, Kalika, Amba, Bhairava. 2. Sthana devatas - or local deities, for example, those in certain places of pilgrimage like Rama in Nasik, Vithoba in Pandharpur or Krishna at Dwarka. 3. Kula devatas - or family deities, like Khanderai. 4. Ishta devatas - or Chosen deities, 5. Wastu devatas or Gruha devatas - or a class of deities that preside over the house.
Some of well-known Hindu-Buddhist heavenly beings belong to the group of devatas, such as apsara or vidhyadari; heavenly maiden that sent by Indra from svarga to seduces the meditating ascetics, and her male counterparts; gandharvas; the heavenly musicians. Devatas often occurred in Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata, and also some Buddhist holy scriptures. The island of Bali is nicknamed as Pulau Dewata (Indonesian: "islands of devata or island of gods"), because of its vivid Hindu culture and traditions. In Bali, there are many offerings dedicated to hyang, the guardian spirits associated with devata._
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Banteay Kdei (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយក្តី; Prasat Banteay Kdei), meaning "A Citadel of Chambers", also known as "Citadel of Monks' cells", is a Buddhist temple in Angkor, Cambodia. It is located southeast of Ta Prohm and east of Angkor Thom. Built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries AD during the reign of Jayavarman VII (who was posthumously given the title "Maha paramasangata pada"), it is in the Bayon architectural style, similar in plan to Ta Prohm and Preah Khan, but less complex and smaller. Its structures are contained within two successive enclosure walls, and consist of two concentric galleries from which emerge towers, preceded to the east by a cloister.
This Buddhist monastic complex is currently dilapidated due to faulty construction and poor quality of sandstone used in its buildings, and is now undergoing renovation. Banteay Kdei had been occupied by monks at various intervals over the centuries until the 1960s.
GEOGRAPHY
The Banteay Kdei, one of the many Angkor temples, is located in the Angkor Archaeological Park of 400 square kilometres area. The ancient city of Angkor during the Khmer Empire extended from Tonle Sap to the Kulen hills covering a vast area of 1,000 square kilometres. The temple is approached from the east gopura of Ta Prohm along a 600 metres path. This path leads to the west gate entrance gopura of Banteay Kdei. It is 3 kilometres east of Angkor Thom.
HISTORY
The Khmer Empire lasted from 802 to 1431, initially under Hindu religious beliefs up to the end of the 12th century and later under Buddhist religious practices. It was a time when temples of grandeur came to be built and reached a crescendo during the reign of Suryavarman II until 1191, and later in the 12th–13th centuries, under Jayavarman VII. Many Buddhist temples were built, including the Banteay Kdei, from middle of the 12th century to early 13th century. Though Jayavarman VII was credited with building many temples, he was also accused of squandering money on extravagant temple building projects at the expense of society and other duties. He built Buddhist temples in which Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was the main deity. This temple built, conforming to the style of the Ta Prohm and Preah Khan temples in the vicinity during the same period by Jayavarman VII, but of a smaller size, was built as a Buddhist monastic complex on the site of a 10th-century temple built by Rajendravarman. Some small inscriptions attest to the building of this temple by Jayavarman VII and the royal architect, Kavindrarimathana.
Jayavarman VII had come to power at the age of 55 after defeating Chams who had invaded Angkor and subjected it to devastation. His "prodigious activity" resulted in the restoration of Cambodia from its ruins. He was chiefly the architect of the rebuilt capital at Angkor Thom and was called a "Great Builder". He was responsible for building many temples, which apart from Banteay Kdei, included the central temple of the Bayon, Prah Khan, Ta Prohm and many others, and also many rest houses for pilgrims. The reasons for building this temple at its present site is not known. However, it is established that the temple is a contemporary of the Angkor Wat as many similarities have been identified between the two, and also with Phimai temple in Thailand. It is reported to be the first temple built by Jayavarman VII in 1181 AD, opposite to the Srah Srang reservoir.
In the 13th century, most of the temples built by Jayavarman were vandalised. However, some of the Mahayana Buddhist frontons and lintels are still seen in good condition. It is also the view of some archaeologists that the temple was built by Jayavarman II in honour of his religious teacher.
The temple, which for several centuries after the Khmer reign ended, remained neglected and covered with vegetation. It was exposed after clearing the surrounding overgrowth of vegetation in 1920–1922. This work was carried out under the guidance of Henri Marchal (then Conservator of Angkor) and Ch. Battuer, by adopting a conservation principle which was known as "the principle of anastylosis, which was being employed very effectively by the Dutch authorities in Indonesia". It was partially occupied by Buddhist monks till the 1960s.
For ten years till March 2002, Sophia University Mission or the Sophia Mission of Japan carried out several Archaeological research at the Banteay Kdei temple. During these investigations, a cache of fragments of 274 Buddhist statues made in sandstone, along with a few metal art pieces, were unearthed, in 2001. Plans to build a storage room to house the statues was also planned.
LAYOUT
The sacred temple complex is cloistered and packed in a space of 65×50 m with three enclosures within a large compound wall of size 700×300 m, made of laterite stones. The entry is from the east facing gopura, which is in a cruciform embellished with Lokesvara images. The temple is a treasure house of sculptures in the architectural styles of the Bayon and also of the Angkor Wat. The complex is on a single level.
EXTERNAL ENCLOSURE
The external enclosure with four concentric walls, has four gopuras similar to the Ta Brahm temple, and all are in some degree of preserved status. At the four corners, the gopuras have a fascia of Lokesvara (Buddhist deity, Avalokitesvara) mounted over Garuda images (it is also mentioned that the smiling faces are of King Jayavarman II, similar to those seen in the Beyan temple). The east facing gopura, in particular, has well-preserved garuda images on its corners. Two hundred meters from the west entrance of this enclosure leads to a moat, which is decorated with statues of lions and naga-balustrades mounted on garudas. The moat itself has in its precincts the third enclosure which measures 320×300 m, also enclosed with laterite walls. The Buddha image at the entrance to the moat, near the second interior gate, is well preserved, considering the fact that most of the other statues have been destroyed or stolen.
THIRD ENCLOSURE
The third enclosure has a gopura which has a cruciform plan. It has pillars which are crossed by vaults. There are three passages in this enclosure, two on either side are independent, with laterite walls. The niches here have small figurines, and large apsara devatas in single poses or in pairs of dancing poses. Large Buddha images, in an internal courtyard of this enclosure, have been defaced by vandals. A paved access from here leads to the main shrine, which comprises two galleried enclosures. At the entrance to these enclosures, from the eastern end, is the "Hall of Dancers", which has four open courtyards and the pillars have fine carvings of apsaras.
SECOND ENCLOSURE
The second enclosure, which is part of the main temple, measures 58×50 m. It has a gopura on its eastern side and also subsidiary gopura on the west. Entrance doors are at the northern and southern ends. The gopura is built like a gallery with one exterior wall and double row of pillars which open into a courtyard and which has mostly shored up walls with small openings at the bottom to allow air circulation. The niches here are decorated with images of apsaras, and a Buddha statue in the central hall has been defaced by vandals. Bayon style architectural features built-in are the "balustered false windows with lowered blinds and devatas with headdresses in the form of small flaming discs set in a triangle." The vaults built in sandstone and laterite have collapsed at several locations of the gallery. The inner enclosures contain library building to its north and south and also a central sanctuary.
INNER ENCLOSURE
The inner enclosure of the main temple is built on a 36×30 m layout plan. This enclosure has four corner towers abutted by small gopuras. Galleries running along an axis link these towers to the main sanctuary. The towers at the north-east and south-east are linked with the second gallery where a Buddha statue in a sitting posture is seen, in the backdrop of an open sky line. The sanctum which is 2.75 m square enclosure has some traces of statues of deities. This entire enclosure, however, is not built in Bayon style and hence conjectured to be of an earlier period. Remnants of wooden ceiling are also seen here. The entrance to the sanctum is flanked by dvarapalas surrounded by apsaras.
SRAH SRANG
Srah Srang or "The royal bathing pool" or "pool of ablutions" to the east of Banteay Kdei, which was dug to dimensions of 700x300 m during the reign of Rajendraverman in the 10th century, was beautified by Jayavarman VII with well laid out steps of laterite stones with external margin of sandstone, on the banks of the pond facing the Sun. It is set amidst large trees and has turquoise blue waters all the year round. The approaching steps to the water edge are flanked by two stone statues of lions with ornamented Nāga-balustrades. The pond was reserved for use by the king and his wives. A stone base seen at an island in the centre of the pond once housed a wooden temple where the king did meditation. At the lily filled lake, watching sunset reflections in the lake is quite an experience. The water from the lake is now used for rice cultivation by farmers of the area.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Some specific architectural features which evolved with the Bayon style are clearly discerned in this temple. The roof is supported on free-standing pillars in the eastern and western pavilions in the third enclosure, built in a cruciform plan with the inner row of pillars supporting the roof. The pillars are also tied to the wall by a tie beam using a "mortise–and–tenon join" patterned on wooden structures. Other features noted are of the four central pillars in the western pavilion which have been strengthened with temporary supports of laterite stone block pillars. Carvings of Buddha are seen on all these pillars but mostly defaced. The temporary support system provided to the roof built on free standing pillars is indicative of problems of design seen in the temples built during this period.
RESTAURATION
Laser scans and imaging of the Banteay Kdei and Angkor Wat Western Causeway were performed within a project launched in March 2004 by the University of California and Sophia University of Tokyo, in partnership with the nonprofit CyArk. The obtained information has facilitated restoration and reconstruction of these structures, which is funded by the Sophia University, and much publicly accessible data from the project is hosted on the CyArk Website. The APSARA Authority has achieved significant improvements in conservation and preservation of monuments in Angkor. Some of the towers and corridors are under restoration and as a result some locations have been cordoned off. Strengthening measures are seen in some parts of the interior temple area where structures in danger are tied together with cables.
WIKIPEDIA
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Most all evaporative air conditioners are simple on/off devices; turn them on when you get hot; turn them off when you get cold. Since I'm not going to be home for three days, this device is necessary to modulate the a/c, so my cats will stay comfortable.
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www.anytimehvac.com/air-conditioning-repair-service-marie...
A word of thanks to the contractor involved who was mowing first cut silage near Rathcormac County Cork
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They Ruined It ? Millions of dollars in Town revenue has just been wiped out ? Our great Festival is no longer recognizable ? How can anybody take a world class event and turn it into something stupid ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/in/album-7...
Directors Erica Gillis, www.appleblossom.com/about/
ABF - Can the good ole days of dollar dogs and bargain Big 8 soda pop be over ? G7 level security brought in for a night of bouncy castles and high priced food trucks ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54558198569/in/photost...
Continued ABF downsizing in 2026 - Honey they shrunk the stage ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55307116357/in/dateposted
As a cultural genocide continues in Kentville, the Mayor's downtown business back yard is brought up to never before seen pristine condition ?
Mayor Andrew Zebian www.facebook.com/andrewzebian
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An invasion of international foreign workers has taken all the local minimum wage jobs ?
Kody Bloise Liberal Party, 101A-24 Harbourside drive Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2C1 Telephone: 902-542-4010
Valley history ? The genocide of history and culture ? Newcomer Officials have removed the important history page that is dedicated to honoring all 87 past Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess past winners in the official Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival website ? This special honorary page was taken down and replaced with jumbo size smiling portraits of the newcomer ABF President and officials who have taken over and pretty well destroyed the international known Festival ?
Meet the new directors,
King Annapolisa ? A new royal rider will now occupy a makeshift royal throne in the form of a park bench crudely mounted aboard the famous Apple Blossom Princess Kentville parade float ? It seems that the new Mayor of Kentville has replaced our 88 year old Apple Blossom Princess Kentville ? ' Somebody get that King a crown and sceptre '
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54557663677/in/dateposted
Center 60, Sept 17, 2026 - residents of New Minas worried over small apartment building boom and a Come from away SOS alert has gone out ? Center 60, a new small town is soon to open on the busy New Minas commercial strip ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55534318946/in/photost...
September 23, 2026 - Come from away brings drugs and crime with them to Kentville ? Canning, Middleton etc also hurting ? KVille Mayor says addiction, vandalism becoming problems in his town ? We anticipate an overall increase of approximately 35 per cent in calls over last year,” says Kentville Deputy Police Chief Ken Reade.
www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/kentville-ns-...
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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 are the current ABF Management, who claim to be the stewards in charge of and the ones responsible for promotion and presentation of the festival unable to perform their duties or do the job that they're paid to do and why can't they do as 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 ? This 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 inexperience, immaturity, inability, personal bias, laziness, or just plain stupidity, then,, YOU'RE ALL FIRED ! (and a Class action recovery suit may be forthcoming ?)
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An Identity Crisis ;
Can an identity crisis be looming in the town of Kentville ?
As a cultural genocide continues in Kentville, the Mayor's downtown business back yard is brought up to a never before seen pristine condition ?
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 might 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 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 a cruel mockery, the only visible signs left in Kentville from past glory years of what had been the largest, most important and active railroad center west of Halifax is now just an aged weather beaten hand painted mural etched on the fading paint of one of the downtown business buildings ?
Sadly, the end of the railway wasn't to be the only loss of a major transportation link to be absorbed by the people of Kentville ? The Town was suddenly left even more isolated from the outside World when Kings County Council ordered the long time Airport to get out for no sane or rational reason when they had done nothing wrong and had no where else to go ? And so a fully operational well known and well established municipal airport, as well as a popular Canadian sky diving facility, and an internationally known long time pilot training licensing academy, and many private aircraft owned by local owners, and numerous other well established aviation businesses were gone and only to be replaced with an empty dirt field full of weeds ? The Council's cruel eviction has also left our young Camp Aldershot Air Cadets without a base of operations, and so the next generation of Kentville youth will now have to grow up without their long standing aviation training and education facility thanks to Warden Brothers and her cohorts ?
And so it had seemed that a Warden who lives in another town Kingston and a duly elected group of officials who don't even live in the area were all congratulating themselves on a brilliant business move after they were able to quickly end the long life of a historic local Aviation facility that had taken decades to build and establish ? And so all that remains of this once thriving aviation Aeropark is a barren field where unsupervised Michelin kids ride bikes and dodge the dandelions that poke 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, this senseless eviction and massive loss to the local economy revenue was to be hailed by the prestigious Ivany Report Committee as being a bold and brilliant business decision that will greatly improve and benefit the local area ?
After months of facing homelessness and an uncertain future, some 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 the Kingston Greenwood area, and, Kentville was left to carry on without either a Railway or an Airport ?
When the original Kentville KCA town School closed down, Kentville lost its high school and all high school students were left without a home town school ? They were now to be bused to the nearby town of Canning ? This left only the Grade 1 to 8 age groups now able to identify with Kentville as a 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 ? The very popular Edge sports bar, eatery and pool hall has also closed down and never replaced ? Kentville's Harvey's Hamburgers drive thru closed down and it also wasn't replaced ? The longtime bowling alley in New Minas was sold to developers, then torn down, and replaced with a business office complex ? We lost our 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 with anything and they left our community without this crucial service ? One day a portion of roof blew off the town funeral home and it has never re-opened since leaving the town with only one such establishment ? And, just as the citizens of Kentville were being shocked to learn that both the historic Apple Blossom Princess and the Queen Annapolisa pageants were to be terminated after 87 consecutive years, there was at the same time an all age Drag Queen show in preparation to appear at the Kings Arms Pub in a total flip flop scenario from the popular Irish Rovers or Scottish pipers that most Kentville citizens identify with at this time of year when they play at the pub ? Numerous local restaurants and many small businesses have come and gone - mostly gone ? After ridiculous Government rules and regulations, Maders is now barely able to hang on after 50 years of serving downtown shoppers ? Kentville main town supermarket Jasons IGA had a fire forcing him to close down for over a year leaving 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 lost hotel rooms, the indoor swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna, the nightclub, dual convention centers and dual restaurants offered for years by the Wandlyn Inn ?
The traditional town sponsored July 1st Canada Day ceremonies featuring fun, food, speeches and local entertainment that was always held each year at the wading Pool was curtailed by the Town due to budget considerations, and so if you wanted to enjoy July 1st entertainment or fireworks you must go elsewhere to New Minas, Hantsport or Berwick ? Access to water supply is always one of the most identifiable utility service entitlements provided by a town ? Billions are currently being spent by the Canadian taxpayer to provide First Nations people with free safe water ? Yet Kentville water commission charges the customer 10,000 dollars just to turn town owned water on at the roadside and then leave ? After this 10 G surcharge is forced on the new customer he will still have to pay for yard trenching, pipe laying and household plumbing work ? And then the KWC's valued new customer will be rewarded with a regular water bill delivered to his residence ???
They have even managed to take away Kentville's most famous of all and instantly identifiable town landmark in the hotel name of Cornwallis Inn ? Cornwallis Inn is a well known trademark hotel name that has become synonymous World wide with the name of Kentville and name that represents a multitude of fond memories for many residents ? It was hard to understand why the Town would allow such an important heritage site name to ever 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 such a famous Town centerpiece and that also blocked the access lane to get to the rear parking lot ? The Cornwallis Inn will always be one of the Valleys greatest treasured landmarks and deserving of protected Canadian heritage site status ?
They have also changed the well known and immediately identifiable names of Kentville Streets and also the name of the local traffic bridge traversing 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 this can be especially hard on Seniors who can become confused by unnecessary name changes made to long time used accustomed names ? It can create a safety hazard ?
In 2017 ABF Directors attempted to extract Kentville's Grand Street Parade away from its home in Kentville and give it to a different town ? The outraged citizens were then forced to claw and battle just to get their own local parade returned back to them after hosting it for the last 87 years ? And, in yet another huge loss and giant step backwards that same year, ABF decided to cease and desist with all Wednesday, Thursday and weekend games, food, music, displays, amusements, local student displays and performances, etc. etc. always held at Memorial Park during the Apple Blossom festival week ? No explanation was given, no replacement or any apology was ever offered by the Town for such a major loss to Kentville public outdoor entertainment ? Kentville has now lost their most identifiable of all citizens that being their beloved Apple Blossom Princess Kentville, when a newcomer generation of Town and ABF Officials had showed uncommon disrespect and disregard for tradition when presuming themselves to be the generation entitled to end the iconic Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition after 88 years ? This meant that all public Royal party appearances normally made by Queen Annapolisa and the Royal Party including the Princess Teas, the appearance at Kentville Children's Parade, Friday night concert, Wolfville Coronation ceremonies, starting the fireworks, leading the Parade, all Royal visitations to schools, shut-ins, Seniors, and all of their hospital attendances will no longer be taking place ?
In 2022 the Kentville Grand Street Parade was understandably very limited after the 2 previous cancellations due to Covi but unfortunately this year's 2023 effort wasn't much better ? The contribution and wonderful diversity of many nearby Valley communities from Windsor to Digby was excluded this year and was no longer included in this Parade ? Apple Blossom royalty and all Princess floats were also no longer included ? Many residents expressed extreme disappointment when their beloved Apple Blossom Princess Kentville and her child attendant were no longer included in their own home Town Parade ? It seemed that Kentville had lost its most identifiable citizen and a wonderful Town Ambassador who always carried out important official Town duties by representing the town with beauty, charm, grace, dignity and talent whenever and wherever she visited ?
The long running Friday night rock concert held at Memorial park has been downgraded into a cheap affair only offering some of the regular local entertainment, a few kindergarten bouncy castles and food wagons selling twenty dollar hamburgers, (gone are the days of the dollar dawg ) ? And there is a strange vacancy felt down there now ever since the highlight of the evening Royal Party visitation and great music supplied by Eddy's Basement are no longer included ? And there was even a noted decrease in the quality of the fireworks which btw are no longer started by Queen Annapolisa during Royal Party visitation to the Park following Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville ? Inflation stressed locals were also charged out of pocket to attend the downtown Saturday evening outdoor ABF street dance ?
And so, citizens of Kentville are frustrated with so many cutbacks, cancellations and closures never to be replaced once they are taken away ? 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 to Apple Blossom Festival week and cancellations made to the all week long public entertainment held at Memorial Park reduced to a boring one night Friday night event followed Saturday by a Royal-less Grand Street parade that lasted less than an hour ? The loss of a home High School for Teenage students, the loss of a key funeral home, the loss of the Pool Hall, the ongoing absence of a movie theater, the loss of Harveys drive thru, the loss of one of 2 Tim Hortons and their foreign 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 there was no replacement ever offered by the same Province that had shut it down ? And there was the shocking elimination of the Apple Blossom Princess event and an end to the prestigious Acadia U Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville ? The sacrilegious change of name to the internationally known name Cornwallis Inn symbolically married to the Town name Kentville and cherished by local residents ? And the serious shortage of tourist facilities after the Wandlyn hotel complex burned down and the Town lost many hospitality, business, tourist, restaurant, hotel, night club, convention and recreational venues have all taken a toll ?
But now, in more recent issues, we are seeing more and more small businesses from all over the Valley that not only provide local employment but serve as popular meet and greet gathering spots for friends and neighbors, now completely changing hands when taken over by outsiders that have not come from Halifax or from N.S. nor even Canada but from another Continent ? This includes replacing management as well as workers and apparently controlling the hiring policy in many long time Valley fast food, gas, and coffee businesses ? And 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 many other stores it feels like you're suddenly in a foreign country ? Many newcomer hired employees are new to Canada so don't bother asking for directions, and they are not familiar with the local currency and so it is advisable to count your change if paying by cash ? There are also some worries about the temporary foreign workers program being unfair and even racist, and there is worry about nepotism in the hiring of foreign employees when many of our local residents can't find a local job any more ? "zey puttin ze shitzen in ze pipzen ! ",
A major local employer, Eassons Trucking, has been affected by the current influx of foreign workers with some reports of untrained, unlicensed, unqualified, unsafe (and Liberal Government subsidized) drivers behind the wheel, and there are even rumors of certain units with multiple drivers that have had a hole drilled in the floor of the sleeper cabin to accommodate a long piece of ABS plumbing pipe used to transfer raw shidzen sewage on a one way trip from the truck cabin interior directly down to the open highway below thus avoiding pit stops at the Big Stop ?
Major concerns were also shown over the recently held Kentville municipal election, when it appeared that many of the candidates didn't know much about Kentville and seemed to ignore the Town's important long time traditions, customs, character and past history ? Some candidates had even naively described Kentville as a kind of idealistic, carefree, blissful, happy Who-ville storybook fairy tale village where jolly munchkins frolic up and down the colorful cobblestone streets bordered by quaint shops, boutiques and fancy eateries ?
Kentville did elect a new Mayor who is also a new local business owner, who must now tackle the current town crisis ? However, it appears that he has befriended and could even be being advised by the ex County Warden Brothers who resides in the Kingston/Greenwood area and doesn't give a squat about Kentville and previously sold out Kentville when leading the charge to expropriate the municipal Airport, popular skydiving academy, international flight training academy and many other successful aviation businesses at Waterville ?
The new Mayors' New Year's message seemed to focus on congratulating himself on the enlargement of the size of his downtown retail store that is located on the recently totally renovated Webster Street, and he expressed personal happiness over the new (taxpayer funded) installation of a brand new double wide sidewalk in front of his store ? However he seemed to leave out a few nagging town issues like current Town youth unemployment, the racial profile hiring that is going on at Hortons, a fentanyl and opioid crisis, current downtown vandalism and suspicious fires, arrival of street people and homelessness, the ending of the Princess Kentville competition, lost revenue due to cancellation of the Apple Blossom and Queen Annapolisa pageant, and the deterioration of the now Royal-less Grand street Parade ? He didn't seem concerned about the loss of all the entertainment at Memorial Park during Apple Blossom week ? There was no mention of the long running need for a indoor town recreation facility (no one wants to get their daily exercise by hiking down crude outdoor trails while attacked by mosquitos and witnessing homeless users shoot up in the privacy of the forest) ? He also failed to mention the current housing crisis and the sudden increases in cost of renting ? Nothing was heard about the alarming increase in downtown business foreclosures and bankruptcieshere and also no mention of the problem of no place to stay or eat for tourists who visit Kentville ? There was nothing said about a need to honor Kentville's glorious past railroading heritage and history with a museum and outdoor train and locomotive display of some sort ? And many were alarmed at the recent mistreatment of Senior citizens in the Grand Street Parade when seen perched precariously aboard an unstable, stop and go, unsheltered, jerking motion, no sided open vehicle without restraining devices, water or protection from the sun in a float designed to hold only the Apple Blossom Princess Kentville and her child attendant ? Nothing said about the pressing need to build a Town high school for Kentville teens ? There was also some controversy over the hanging up of the biggest pride flag money can buy above the main entrance of honorary heritage site Cornwallis Inn ? And of course, many residents are concerned over the serious Town drainage problem discovered after recent town flooding ? There was also shock when the Provincial Government forced the local reclamation and disposal site to permanently close down but never offer to replace it and just left shocked citizens without this vital service ? And, there remains a demand for an inquiry into the exploitation of many vulnerable customers when, unlike the Indians, they are charged a five figure fee by Kentville water commission just to turn their water on at the road and offered no further help ? And there are new concerns over the formation of an exclusive kind of Ontarioville newcomer type club that is gradually establishing itself to be its own independent town within a town ? There were also concerns put forth by many local drivers over this years Spring pothole epidemic making some streets unfit to drive on (at a time when a brand new double lane sidewalk in front of Phinneys was smooth as a baby's bum), and a Town refusal to help drivers with their expensive auto repairs caused by unmarked dangerous potholes ? And there were many complaints about the inconvenience felt by local area residents when ultra slow motion repairs on Canaan Ave moved at three legged turtle race speed causing a 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 street beautification program in front of Phinneys) ?
Adding to this, many citizens of Kentville and all veterans were extremely disappointed and did not appreciate the disrespect shown when ( due to a drop of rain ) Town and newly elected organizers cancelled this year's Military march-on and (the best in area) honorary Remembrance Day ceremonies that are always held outdoors at the Memorial Cenotaph on Park Street and moved it indoors ?
And so, can it be time to stop come from away newcomer mentality, and to make it mandatory that all candidates bidding on these important Town governing positions must 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 the Kings County Council use a calculated forced eviction to shut down the Waterville Airport aviation complex and then relocate some components to the Kingston/Greenwood area ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/28588465413/in/album-7...
"Their 'new' history ?" The genocide of a rich Valley history and culture ? Newcomer Officials have removed the history page dedicated to all 87 past Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess past winners from its official Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival website ? The special site page dedicated to honor all previous Queen Annapolisa winners 1933 thru 2019 has been taken down and apparently replaced by jumbo size smiling portraits of the newcomer ABF President and officials who have taken over and pretty well ruined the iconic internationally known Festival ?
Meet the newcomer directors,
How dare They ? Kentville IS the Cornwallis Inn and the Cornwallis Inn IS Kentville . If you are to google the 2 words Cornwallis Inn you will get over 600,000 entries and almost all of them are 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...
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
Apple Blossom Festival news updates :
Logan Morse and newcomer ABF Board of Directors break hearts of Valley families especially the Children when they move to terminate the historic long running Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess Pageant after 88 years ? Directors in charge 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 amount of disrespect and disregard shown as the historic 88 year old Valley Peoples Pageant is cancelled without notice, consideration, consultation or approval ? New ABF officials have apparently proclaimed themselves as the only generation in 88 years that will interrupt and permanently end 88 years of wonderful world class multi Valley village Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess pageantry ? www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/apple-blossom-festival...
Annapolis Valley families in shock and children cry when learning that their beloved Queen Annapolisa Pageant has been cancelled without notice, consultation, consideration or compassion ? Newcomer Directors say they are taking bold 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 annual ABF Greenwood Airshow is terminated and will be no more. Fast forward to Aug 24, 2024, and, to corporate greed ? Corporation Air Show Atlantic Inc. now charges big bucks to see taxpayer owned aircraft on taxpayer owned property in a vastly inferior airshow with far less aircraft ? and they don't have the courtesy to offer a discount Seniors ticket category ?
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 so 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, save Kentville from a newcomer agenda ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/in/album-7...
The 2017 Grand Street Parade - Has Kentville once again been the target of exploitation ? After Warden Brothers, (Greenwood ) and Liberal MP, L Glavine (Kingston) 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 the 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 - An unusual disregard for the 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...
A bit rich ? Exploiting A Queen !
Exploiting Queen Annapolisa 2019 in a photo op ? Looks are deceiving as Politicians at the official opening of the 2023 Apple Blossom Festival pretend that there's still a Pageant when knowing full well they have terminated the Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition and the 88 year old pageant is no longer a part of the Festival ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53755100811/in/album-7...
The 2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade - A bit rich ?
Whatever happened to the Liberal demand for diversity and inclusion in Canada ? Newcomer Parade organizers defy and ignore Trudeau Liberal Government 's wish for Canada ? Many nearby local Valley towns and villages that always attend are not to be included in this year's parade ? This exclusion has also meant the denial of diversity always provided by these local 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 the Princess Kentville royal float ? 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 at 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 frugality and a mean spirit of miserliness is shown by the new Apple Blossom Festival Directors ? Instead of providing a guest Tribute band at the free Memorial Park Friday night concert, it's now 50.00 pp to see the 'Queen' Tribute band performance. that's 50.00 per ticket in 2025 ? acadiau.universitytickets.com/
Forty dollars to take your lady to an outdoor street dance ? Town of Kentville organizers rip off citizens during our celebratory Apple Blossom Festival week ? Cold-calculated Capitalism shown by the Town and newcomer organizing committee as they gouge citizens with a twenty dollar per person out of pocket expense just to attend an outdoor street dance held outdoors on taxpayer owned street property during Apple Blossom Festival week festivities ? Too cheap to even hire a live band ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54546051832/in/photost...
They've Ruined It ? Millions of dollars in revenue has been 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 some kind of a cruel joke ? Very few entrees and shortened 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 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
They've ruined it part 2 - Millions in town revenue lost as Parade attendance shrinks to 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....
British colonialism - New generation ABF Directors may disapprove and terminate the Queen Annapolisa pageant and Apple Blossom Princess competition but nevertheless Valley residents will continue to admire, support, respect and remain fond of the British Monarchy. 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
May 29th, 2026, Kentville Memorial Park, the ABF Friday night concert, ( Can the good ole days of dollar dogs and bargain Big 8 soda pops be over) ? High level security protocol ordered 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 reinforce local Kentville officers, cordons off the entire ground zero event perimeter with road blocks, street barricades and manned guard check posts for high level traffic control that unfortunately forces patrons including seniors, the disabled, toddlers, and Mothers carrying babies to park and walk a fairly long distance to get to the park gates ? Also, in the past years the concert always brought in special outside guest rock bands, featured interesting games, demonstrations and displays, and there was always a visit from the Queen Annapolisa Royal party following the prestigious coronation ceremony in Wolfville, However, unfortunately now the concert appears to have deteriorated into some kind of a Children's outdoor romper room type family show featuring 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 exceeding elementary grade school level other than to maybe purchase some food from a food truck charging upscale restaurant prices to then dine on a paper plate using plastic utensils while standing in a crowd of unruly kids and being lustfully observed by 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 - The Kentville Harvest Festival is held annually in Centre Square :
A cheap and weak effort shown this year in a harvest festival that didn't include many favorite long time traditions 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 on Webster Street downtown Kentville after major renovations to double its size gave Phinneys the second largest downtown store front display window area next only to the liquor Store ? There's been a massive Town expenditure budgeted this year for major upgrades to the Mayor's downtown business backyard as Webster Street gets a complete 100 % beautification makeover to bring it up to pristine shape 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 surrounding streets in this business block area were also upgraded including Aberdeen Street (twice), Cornwallis Street and Main Street ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54835340734/in/photost...
A Koncerned Kentvillian must ask, " why is it that every time 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, or Needs, or receive a parcel from amazon, or attend a cash register post to pay a bill at many of the 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 the main reason that we frequented these local establishments ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/
Kody Bloise Liberal Party, 101A-24 Harbourside drive Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2C1 Telephone: 902-542-4010 Fax: 902-542-4184
Kentville's own Trash Canyon - toughest S.O.B. wrastler to ever come outta the KVille !
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53939211581
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 current democratic English society that allows for the installment of Government social control in the form of mandatory lifetime probationary orders to be placed on certain selected unwary citizens without asking their permission who are then to be state monitored from birth to death to insure compliance will be met on the legal lifetime probation order that is attached to them ? Rob Cunningham and his Cancer Society are boldly crusading for residents of his democratic home country of Canada to lose their current freedom and also be forced into this Orwellian social control ? www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/uk-agrees-ban-on-cigarette-s...
Dec 13th, 2025 - this could be a bit rich ? The top doctor for Nova Scotia is advertising smoking for the liquor store ? Dr. Robert Strang Chief Medical Officer of Health now appearing in TV ads that endorse the (safe) smoking of pot while he represents Provincially owned liquor stores ? It's also a bit rich that Rob Cunningham and his Canadian Cancer Society don't appear to have any problem at all with these smoking ads ?
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...
An ongoing downsizing of the world-famous Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55304178661/in/photost...
Kentville - Mader's celebrates 50 years of service,
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55187690268/in/dateposted
.Jul 22, 2026 - In their ongoing quest for notoriety, the powers-that-be have ordered that cigarette packages be re engineered and re-designed not to make room for the addition of more product but instead to increase the showcase area size of the package cover ? Added space is needed to accommodate a fresh new series of 13 upgraded ultra sickening pictures and warnings that are to be added to the existing 73 others that now over-crowd current package covers ? Messages will also be added to the extended hidden upper flap inside cigarette packages says Karine LeBlanc.
Do these people really think they are actually helping find a cure for cancer by continually satisfying their own personal egos and exercising their own personal vendettas against one of the thousands of possible causes of cancer that they don't happen to like ?
www.cbc.f ca/news/health/canada-graphic-image-warnings-ciga...
July, 2026 - Attention Canadian Cancer Society,, still no pictures ? Data and studies now show that cannabis use prevalence in Canada has risen (approaching nearly 29%) while cigarette smoking rates have steadily declined over the years, and that more Canadians are now smoking marijuana than conventional cigarettes ? www.hli.ubc.ca/2020/05/new-canadian-study-on-the-impact-o...
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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 the shocking changes and the 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 sacred royal float was used this year to transport a group of everyday town residents that sat together in a social scene meant to identity Kentville with diversity and inclusion ? The New Minas float also did not include their usual Apple Blossom Princess this year, however it was transformed into a mobile 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 had been altered to proudly identify with their town's upcoming Centennial celebrations. And the Kingston float was also missing its Apple Blossom Princess this year but was instead promoting their long running Kingston Steer Barbecue that all Kingstonians can identify with. It was good to see an RCMP contingent again although they only sent a far smaller mini version this year ? And we noticed only one other large marching band in the parade when there is usually 4 or more of these street march bands, many with pipers, that always attend after traveling from places like Cape Breton, Bridgewater, Dartmouth etc ? And where were the pets and farm animals ? There wasn't horse teams, no wooden wagons, riders or livestock this year and even the usual greyhound dogs didn't show ? Also noticed that some spectators must have taken it upon themselves to just walk along to themselves become a part of the parade ? Others must have come over from the Children's parade with 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 as they were emphasizing inclusion and diversity ?
All in all, this Year's parade seemed to be a minimum weak effort that really missed the inclusion and diversity of Apple Blossom royal pageantry and the 7 to 10 spectacular Princess floats ? It also missed all the large marching bands, majorette groups and popular Scottish pipers that always attend ? It also lacked the usual agriculture horticulture and livestock component, and also the many 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 became obvious that what they had advertised as a newer, bolder, more inclusive and more diverse parade was instead just the opposite because sadly it was instead missing the diversity and inclusion provided by the many excluded local Valley communities and all of their Apple Blossom Princess contestants that always come to Kentville to participate in the Queen Annapolisa competition before taking a Royal ride down Main street Kentville on their beautiful hand crafted Town floats ?
And so, quickly summing up, can such a strange, incomplete, amateurish, cheap imitation version of our world-famous Kentville Grand Street Parade that is 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 to be a new generation cheap re-set version of the original historic Grand Street Parade now signal the end of the once glorious Grand Street Parade era ?
2023 Grand Street Parade - To view the (newcomer version) of what once was the world famous Kentville Grand Street Parade, press here www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie
A Koncerned Kentvillian must finally speak up, www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/44424045874
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