Voilà une dizaine de jours que je rédigeais un article inhérent à une requête simple: la mise à disposition de conteneurs et bacs poubelle.

Le message est visiblement très bien passé puisque depuis hier, c’est chose faite à proximité de mon immeuble d’habitation.

Et pour l’occasion, ils n’y sont pas allés de main morte, pas moins de 4 gros conteneurs poubelle qui arrivent d’un coup d’un seul, à point nommé. Les riverains ne sont pas habitués à cela, car évidemment ils n’en ont jamais eu à disposition! Ils n’auront que l’embarras du choix, quel conteneur pourront-ils bien choisir pour déposer leurs déchets n’est-ce-pas?

Mais en tout cas, je m’en réjouis pleinement et c’était là tout le sens de ma requête, c’est plus de propreté dans les rues de notre ville et plus de responsabilisation des habitants, les invitant à non plus déposer leurs sacs poubelle sur les trottoirs mais dans les conteneurs prévus à cet effet.

Beware of santas bearing bad news.

If you aren’t one of the 3% of shoppers who are actually done with the Christmas shopaganza, welcome to the club. My friend, you need a strategy. Timing is everything, and what you’re in the market for should determine where you go. Here are some things to consider when drawing up the Black Friday shopping game plan.

Sai Hoi Ho Painting Owned by Mary Mimouna, in Marrakesh, Morocco (not for sale)

I purchased the painting above in Stanley Park, in Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada, in the summer of 1980.  The artist was selling some of his oil paintings in the park.  He was probably in his 50’s at that point, and seemed like a nice gentleman.  I think I paid about $50 in the park at that time.

“Mr. Ho was born in Canton, China in 1926. He moved to Hong Kong in 1949. He became interested in painting in his early twenties when a few friends would journey to the countrysides in Hong Kong for painting excursions. He remained a self-taught amateur artist for twenty years while working as an editor for an art magazine. During these years he also travelled to southern Africa, South East Asia, Australia, and the Polynesian Islands.”

“In the late 1960’s, Mr. Ho decided to become a professional artist. He opened his own art gallery in Hong Kong that carried his paintings exclusively. He had also held exhibitions in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
In 1974, Mr. Ho immigrated to Canada with his wife and two sons and has lived in Vancouver ever since. He chose to stay in British Columbia because of its natural beauty. He makes frequent trips to various B.C. locations for personal enjoyment as well as to create new works of art.”

“In addition to painting, Mr.Ho is a classical music lover and a devoted tennis player.”

Mr. Ho’s latest known address (also found on the back of Carol’s painting) was:  Sai Hoi Ho, 1564 Coquitlam Ave, Port Coquitlam, B.C. Canada V3B 5N1. However, a friend in Vancouver was unable to locate him for me in the current phone book (2009).  If anyone out there has more current information, please do post it in the comments section below.

The above information about the artist was found by Carol Myers on the back of a painting her sister purchased in Stanley Park, in May of 1999.  Carol (currently in Chicago, Illinois) sent me a photo of the painting (currently in Arkansas):

Sai Hoi Ho Painting Owned by Carol Meyers: cagmyers@ameritech.net

Carol  explains, “My sister bought a Sai Hoi Ho painting of a Lily Pond in Stanley Park, in May of 1999. Since she is recently deceased, there is a very slight possibility the family will sell the painting (currently in Arkansas).  We are attempting to determine what she paid and its value at this time.”  Carol can be contacted at:  cagmyers@ameritech.net.

Mr. John Tymich, of Mission, British Colombia,  also has three paintings of Mr. Ho’s(shown below)  he is thinking of selling.  John can be contacted at:  shotgun.rider@hotmail.com.

Sai Hoi Ho Painting 1 Owned by John Tymich: shotgun.rider@hotmail.com

John says, “I bought these paintings in the early 80’s.  I can’t find any info about this mystery man.  These paintings are amazing.  All I know is that he did some work in the Gastown area of Vancouver, British Colombia, in the late 70’s and early 80’s.  I’d love to find out the value, and where he is on the web.”

Sai Hoi Ho Painting 3 Owned by John Tymich: shotgun.rider@hotmail.com

Sai Hoi Ho Painting 2 Owned by John Tymich: shotgun.rider@hotmail.com

A man named Geordie Gregg is interested in finding out more about the artist, and possibly in purchasing some of his work.

“Hello, years ago my parents purchased a Sai Hoi Ho painting also from Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C. I’m trying to find out more information about this artist. Do you know if there is a place or website where one can view more of his work?  I look forward to your thoughts. Thank you very much.  Cheers – Geordie Gregg 416-994-3434″

A woman named Marie T. in Québec, Canada is also interested in finding out more about this artist, and possibly in purchasing more of his paintings.  She has linked herself to:  Auberge du Sault-à-la-Puce, 8365 Ave. Royale, Chateau Richer, Qc GOA INO (418) 824-5659 (or toll-free number 1-866-424-5659).  Marie T. can be contacted at:  alapuce@total.net.

“I bought four paintings in Stanley Park probably in 1988.  I would be interested in buying some others.  I would like to see pictures, and your prices. –Marie-T.”

Someone named Sar is interested selling one of Mr. Ho’s paintings, and in purchasing others of his.  Sar can be contacted at: sarosea@gmail.com.

“I have a painting by Sai Hoi Ho. It’s in browns- a sampan on water with a touch of orange/red. It’s beautiful but I would like to sell it if anyone’s interested. it’s beautifully framed. I am having to downsize or I would never let it go. Also bought it in Stanley Park. would like to find a display of more of his paintings.  –Sar.”

A man named John C. is an art dealer with Oregon City Auction, in Oregon City (outside of Portland).  It is located at 1702 Washington Street, Oregon City, OR 97045.  The telephone number is (503) 657-4470.  This email contact is listed on the site:  jcody@oregoncityauction.com.  John says:

“Hello, I was also searching for Sai Ho artwork and it brought me to this site. They are really great pieces of work. I live outside of Portland, Oregon. I am interested in finding out more about his art also. Thank you–John.”

–If anyone else out there cares to send me more photos of Sai Hoi Ho’s paintings, and their contact details, I will be more than happy to add them into this post for others to find.  If anyone has any more current information on the artist, I would appreciate that information to be able to add it in here, as well.  I can be reached at:  wpm1955 at gmail dot com.  –Mary Mimouna

Serge Pugeault se vante constamment de la rapidité de la majorité municipale à entamer la réfection de la Halle du Boulingrin, alors que par le passé ce dossier paraissait au ralenti.

C’est clairement de la mauvaise foi car si Adeline Hazan et son équipe ont eu la possibilité de lancer aussi vite ce dossier, c’est grâce aux travaux d’études réalisés par l’équipe précédente. Il serait bon qu’ils ne l’omettent pas!

M. Pugeault met en cause la lenteur du déblocage de l’aide de l’Etat à la réfection qui était bloquée depuis 1996…C’est aussi objectivement l’une des causes du non avancement du dossier par le passé !

Surtout, c’est la preuve que gouvernements de gauche comme de droite n’avaient pas rempli cet engagement, alors même que Serge Pugeault se répand partout en affirmant que l’enveloppe accordée dans le cadre du plan de relance n’est que le rattrappage de cette promesse non tenue.

Enfin et c’est important de le souligner, c’est Jack Lang qui a classé ce bâtiment pour des raisons politiciennes en 1985, alors que sa qualité architecturale est très largement décriée.

M. Pugeault a la mémoire bien courte et une lecture partiale et partielle de ce dossier, il n’a même pas le souci de la cohérence dans les propos qu’il tient, trop occupé à politiser à outrance et à vouloir discréditer l’Etat et l’Exécutif…

Rev'd Trey Lyon

On Saturday evening at our weekly Eucharist, Christ the Redeemer welcomed Rev. Trey and Jennifer Lyon, and their son, Gabe from Town View Baptist Church in Kennesaw. Trey and Jenn were in Pleven, Bulgaria in September, participating in a mission trip to Bulgarian orphanages. Christ the Redeemer sponsored one of the orphanage visits. During the presentation, Jenn shared about the country of Bulgaria and the state-run orphanages that are operated there. The country is having a difficult time establishing themselves economically, given world conditions and the fall of communism in the 1980’s. Their orphanages are run by the various local governments and are in varying stages of disrepair and all seem to exhibit a lack of staff and funding.

The Lyons work with Paul and Judy Ridgway, who are Americans in full-time missionary service to Bulgaria. They have been there for many years and have good relationships with the authorities in each group home. Jenn also told of the visit to Pleven, and the congregation saw pictures of the precious children in that facility. The facility houses children ages 4 to 7, and they all enjoyed the party that was supplied by Christ the Redeemer’s donations.

They described a specific story from Pleven: Christ the Redeemer had chosen a luau theme for the party and decorations, so the goodie bags contained Hawaiian-style leis, flowery stickers, toys and a miniature beach ball for each child. Jenn had told the CTR ladies that there would be 60 children in Pleven, and they provided 61 goodie bags just in case an extra one was needed. As the mission team was preparing for the party, bible story and craft time, Judy mentioned that they’d just found out a 62nd child was at the facility. The child had just been brought there that day after being released from a local hospital. In the last room where they were setting, the team was opening the goodie bags and getting them ready for the children, as this group of children had some developmental disabilities. Judy mentioned that there were now 62 kids, and they would be one bag short. The team was prepared with additional overflow items, so they quickly put together a bag for the new child. Judy was disappointed that there were no extra beach balls realizing this child would not have one. As they unpacked the goodie bags, they found one of our bags had been packed with two miniature beach balls – so all of the children, including the new resident, would get one.

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised at that. After all, the God who knows when a sparrow falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29) would provide for that new child to have the same special toy as the other children. Trey also talked about how this trip brought together several local churches in support of the team’s mission, as a great example of the body of Christ doing small things for the kingdom. Christ the Redeemer is looking forward to supporting this mission next year when they return to Bulgaria.

For more information on this ministry, check out www.ridgwayministries.org and www.bulgarianchild.org.

Ce stade, qui il faut le dire, a été un véritable gouffre financier, avec un coût de 57 millions d’euros, est bien loin de répondre aux attentes que l’on pouvait en avoir.

En effet, ce stade ne peut accueillir d’autre événement sportif car il n’a pas été conçu pour. Ainsi, il a été précisé au dernier Conseil Municipal qu’il manquerait 1 mètre de pelouse pour pouvoir y accueillir des matches de rugby du Top 14! 1 mètre de pelouse, vous rendez-vous compte?!

Ensuite, ce stade vraiment mal situé et très mal ouvert sur la ville. Aucun commerce ne peut se développer autour comme cela peut se faire dans les autres villes disposant d’un équipement digne de ce nom.

Enfin, il est impossible d’y installer une scène pour des spectacles, les poids-lourds ne pouvant avoir accès à l’intérieur du stade!

Que dire de la pelouse dont la piètre qualité empêche, sauf à payer un prix prohibitif de réfection, la présence de publics et de l’insuffisance des loges pour les mécènes et entreprises, l’absence de couverture des coursives…

D’où l’intérêt de réaffirmer l’impérieuse nécessité de construire un Zénith à Reims.

Ce zénith est primordial pour l’attractivité de nos territoires, notamment envers la jeunesse et en terme d’image.

Coté professionnels, la demande est unanime, tous les producteurs locaux sont favorables à ce projet, mais surtout l’exemple le plus flagrant, est la demande de Messieurs les président et directeur de programmation des Flâneries Musicales de Reims qui souhaitent tous deux une vraie salle de spectacle de grande capacité.

Non vraiment, le stade Delaune, même s’il  présente une belle esthétique, est bien loin de correspondre aux attentes des rémois(es) et des champardennais.

Whether you are a resident, visitor, fan, Canton, Clarkson, Potsdam, Paul Smiths or SLU student driving through or arriving in LL by accident on Thanksgiving day you have options.  Check out the area restaurants and see what they have to offer.  Gas up at our two area filling stations, grab a cup of joe and listen to the locals predict the weather or comiserate about the reasons not to eat turkey.  Long Lake, centrally located, is always a memorable experience.  Its charm,location and the Lake itself wins the hearts and minds of most that venture here.  We’re prepping for the cold, and laughing with our friends and families.  Come join us.  Gobble gobble

Lundi s’est déroulé le débat d’orientations budgétaires de l’exercice 2010 sur fond de projet de réforme territoriale, de réforme de la Taxe Professionnelle et de transfert de responsabilités de l’Etat sur les collectivités locales.

Cette séance de Conseil municipal avait comme un air de déjà-vu ce lundi, chacun restait campé sur ses positions, comme il y a un an. Normal me direz-vous, majorité et opposition dos-à-dos dans un débat stérile, avec des critiques maintes fois entendues et des réponses redondantes contrant ces mêmes reproches, entre petits coups de griffes et phrases pseudo humoristiques. Des échanges verbaux rappelant les discours d’entraîneur de football dans les vestiaires, toujours la même litanie, le même verbiage, les mêmes remontrances, les victoires et les échecs passés… une sorte de bouillie verbale indigeste pour certains et appétant pour d’autres.

Morceaux choisis de ces passes d’armes à fleuret moucheté.

-Jean-Marc Roze (UMP) : « Comment pouvons-nous débattre, nous n’avons pas tous les éléments comptables pour apprécier votre gestion (…),  27 pages de chiffres pour éclairer le débat, mais il n’y a pas la lumière à tous les étages (…). Investir sans nous endetter relève de la science-fiction ».

-Adeline Hazan : « Comme d’habitude pour suivre Monsieur Roze, il faut se munir d’une calculatrice. Depuis plusieurs mois, vous affirmez que les dépenses de personnel vont augmenter de 13%, ce chiffre est purement fantaisiste et peu sérieux. La hausse n’est que de 0,5% ».

-Jean-Marie Beaupuy (MoDem) : « Vous jouez avec les variations de compétence entre la ville et la CAR, il est difficile de comparer d’une année sur l’autre (…)  Il manque un plan de relance(…)  Il faut aller plus vite, plus fort, plus loin (…) Madame la Maire, vous parlez des errements du passé et en même temps de la richesse culturelle et sportive de Reims, mais il faut mettre en exergue le grand écart entre les errements et ce dont vous vous rendez fiere (…) c’est sans doute un pêché de jeunesse ».

-Adeline Hazan : « Vous avez utilisé le terme de schizophrène, restons courtois (…)Vous parler de pêché de jeunesse Monsieur Beaupuy, tout le monde ne peut pas se le permettre (…) Je n’ai aucun état d’âme d’avoir soutenu certains projets sous la précédente municipalité, mais je dénonce certaines gestions financières antérieures (…) Le projet de tramway était dans mon programme en 2001, contrairement à la liste concurrente. En 2008, j’ai soutenu ce projet dès le début, ce n’est pas le cas de certains membres de l’opposition actuelle ».

-Stéphane Joly (Verts) : « Avec ce débat d’orientations budgétaires, en sortant de la salle, nous serons moins inquiets et rassurés ».

-Catherine Vautrin (UMP) reprochant le manque d’un véritable plan de relance et l’instauration d’une taxe sur les enseignes des commerçants…

-Serge Pugeault : « Concernant les enseignes Madame Vautrin, nous appliquons la loi que vous avez votée (…). Puisque l’on parle de plan de relance, l’Etat avait alloué 8 M € en 1996 pour la rénovation des Halles, cette même somme plusieurs années après est allouée à l’édifice au titre de plan de relance de l’Etat ! ».
Finalement, pourquoi créer un festival culturel « Reims Scènes d’Europe », quand une séance de Conseil municipal peut parfois se muer en vaudeville.

O.M-L

Source: http://www.lhebdoduvendredi.com/Conseil-Municipal-un-air-de-deja

Yes, I know.. Thanksgiving is not even here yet, but you have to plan ahead for the events and we are almost there!! Thanksgiving is next week!!

I wanted to share soome events that I found around town. It is a great time to get out with your family and enjoy all of the sights!

Love Lights A Tree
November 27, 5:30 pm in Cannon Park, Historic Downtown Canton

Founders Day: Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 30, 6:30 pm at the John’s Creek City Hall

Cookies With The Clauses
December 9, 12 p.m. at the Alpharetta Community Center

Holiday Wreath Making Class
November 18, 1:30 pm at the Doraville Library

Breakfast With Santa
December 12, 8:30 am at the Chamblee Civic Center

Light Up Dunwoody
November 22, 4 pm at the Shoppes of Dunwoody

Lighting of the Milton Christmas Tree
November 29, 5:30 pm at the intersection of Webb Road and Highway 9

Christmas Tree Lighting
December 3, 7 p.m at the The Little Shop of Stories

Check back for more in the future!

Grand port et centre économique du sud de la Chine, Canton, ou Guangzhou de son nom en chinois mandarin, ne doit pas sa réputation qu’à son potentiel commercial. La ville possède une riche histoire ainsi qu’une architecture particulière. Sans oublier son surnom né d’une légende liée à sa naissance, ainsi que sa célèbre cuisine.

• Kouang-tcheou ou Guangzhou 广州
• Superficie :  3719 Km²
• Population : 5 millions d’habitants
• Préfixe téléphonique: 020
• Code postal : 510 000

Le saviez-vous ?

• Canton dispose d’une architecture urbaine impressionnante dans la région:  le temple de la dynastie Ming qui est aujourd’hui l’institut du mouvement des paysans, la pagode du temple des six arbres banians, le musée de Canton et entre autres, le mémorial de Sun Yat-sen.
• La ville est l’estuaire de la Rivière des Perles ( 珠江Zhu Jiang). C’est le troisième fleuve de Chine avec une longueur de 2200 Kms sur une surface de 409,458 Km². La rivière se jette dans la Mer de Chine du sud et est également connue sous le nom de Yue Jiang ( 粵江) “fleuve de Canton”. Elle tient son nom d’une île nommée «île de la perle de mer» ( 海珠) qui existait au milieu du lit du fleuve.
• Reliée à Hong Kong et Pékin par des voies de chemin de fer, Canton possède une université, une école de médecine, un institut de technologie et une école d’agriculture.
• Canton est surtout connu en France pour son plat, appelé “Riz Cantonais”.

Présentation

La naissance de Canton repose sur une légende qui lui donna le surnom de “ville des Chèvres”. Cinq immortels montés sur des chèvres offrirent aux paysans de la région les premières pousses de riz fondant ainsi Canton. Un journal local se nomme, par ailleurs, Yangcheng Wanbao, c’est-à-dire le Journal du soir de la ville des Chèvres. Située dans la province du Guangdong sous le tropique du Cancer, Canton possède un climat chaud et humide.

Une ville à l’histoire riche

Créée en 214 avant Jésus Christ, lorsque l’armée de Qin Shi Huangdi y fit établir son commandement, la ville prit alors le nom de Panyu à cause des deux collines voisines. Ce n’est qu’entre 220 et 208 av. J.-C. lors de la période des Trois Royaumes, que le nom Canton apparut.

Elle devint alors un important port de commerce avec les mers du Sud. Le port habitait plus de 200 000 habitants dont des marchands perses, hindous et arabes. Vers 1514, les portugais arrivèrent et donnèrent réellement le patronyme de “Canton” à la cité.

Quelques années plus tard, les Ming (1368-1644) restreignèrent la politique commerciale du port afin de cesser la contrebande et les pillages des pirates. Entre 1747 et 1842, le port devint alors le seul lien entre l’Occident et la Chine.

La première guerre de l’Opium (1840-1842) débuta lorsque Lin Zexu saisit vingt mille caisses d’Opium et chassa les trafiquants britanniques de Canton. Cet acte entraîna l’intervention militaire de la Grande Bretagne et conduisit par le Traité de Nankin à l’ouverture du port de Canton aux importations d’Opium et à la cessation de Hong Kong au Royaume-Uni.

Cette ouverture avait des limites, les étrangers ne pouvaient accéder à la ville. En 1859, les occidentaux eurent l’autorisation après la seconde guerre de l’Opium de s’installer sur l’île de Shamain.

Le 11 avril 1911, Sun Yat Sen prépara un second soulèvement contre le palais du gouverneur mandchou. Six mois plus tard, la dynastie Qing fut renversée, Canton devint alors le centre du mouvement républicain et le quartier général du Guomingdang.

La modernisation apparut vers 1920, les fortifications furent détruites et les “bateaux de fleurs” mis en cale sèche. Les “bateaux en fleurs” étaient des jonques amarées les unes aux autres prés du quartier chaud de la ville.

Une économie portuaire importante

Canton possède l’un des ports les plus actifs du pays gérant un quart du commerce extérieur de la Chine. Le port est fortifié par l’avant port de Huangpu à une quinzaine de kilomètres de Canton. L’économie de la ville peut compter sur des raffineries de sucre, une industrie textile en hausse, des papeteries, des cimentieries, des manufactures d’engrais, des usines d’automobiles ainsi que le domaine scientifique avec la chimie et puis les machines-outils.

La ville reste fidèle à sa première ressource économique, le commerce. C’est pour cette raison que se tient, deux fois par an, une grande foire commerciale internationale dans la parc des expositions depuis 1957. De plus, la ville possède un marché agricole prospère avec les céréales et les fruits ainqi qu’un centre artisanal important.

Article revu et corrigé par Nicolas Jucha, paru sur IcilaChine

In the previous 3 pieces, I defined and analyzed the problem in the previous 3 pieces, and suggested improvements – most of which have already succeeded in solving similar problems in other cities. The only thing unique is that Cleveland has allowed itself to fall so low. My commenter lsbnbj blames a lack of leadership for the problems. This is true. By definition, strong, wise, caring leadership would not have allowed this decline to occur.

That said, it doesn’t take brilliant leadership to follow in the path of regeneration that other cities have already established. Mostly it takes persistence, concentration and cooperation. This is something that even bureaucrats could accomplish, if they were empowered to do so. What does take leadership is in persuading people, at the beginning, to support a new system that would be much more effective in achieving its goals. This is how I would do it:

Set Goals
In the 3 previous pieces in this series, I set out what I think are necessary goals to achieve in order to revitalize Cleveland and its surrounding region:
1. Think and cooperate regionally
2. Bring in businesses and jobs
3. Bring new people into the region’s urban cores

Leadership and persuasion: how to get things started.
I know many people who think the leadership in and around Cleveland are ineffective, uncooperative, self-interested idiots – often using that or similar language to describe them. Credibility is the foundation upon which effective persuasion is built. Cleveland and the other regional urban cores need to do competently and successfully those things that are within their power to do to help themselves. I suggested things that are simple, cheap and effective: tax credits for renovation, being easy to do business with, and community-police trust building and cooperation. To the extent that these things build up the tax base, they can provide revenue for more baby-steps. An unmistakable pattern of many small successes sustained over time will build credibility. Credibility is requisite to persuasion, which is the vehicle to achieving cooperation.

If Cleveland and the other cities in the region want help, they have to change minds by showing that they are serious about fixing their problems, and will wisely apply any and all resources to effectively uplift their own city, and the region as a whole. Once Cleveland and the other cities within the region show they are serious about growth and revitalization, then they can begin to make the case that ‘if we all work together, we can grow, better, stronger, faster than we would alone’.

Right now, Akron is most ready to lead. Akron may not be the largest city in the region – but for now, it should be the face of the region. Akron convinced me to move into the city – even though I could have afforded a house almost anywhere in the region – even in the most expensive suburbs. Akron should be the leader and role model for the rest of the region until some other city in the region can do better than Akron.

Like I said in my very first piece, ‘to  be effective, the idea of reform must become a vision compelling to all. Like President Obama says we need change we can believe in. Its not enough to have some vague notion of it – a concrete plan must be made and executed. Those with an interest in reform must help set the agenda, or those who favor the current state of affairs will corrupt the agenda, and make the reforms ineffective’.

It will also take a strong, caring leader who is willing to be abused in his official capacity by many people both petty and well-intentioned. Do you know such a leader who wants to revitalize Cleveland and its surrounding communities? Ask him if he will stand for election.

Cleveland could attract decent leadership again.    Former Cleveland mayors George Voinovich (Republican) and Michael White (Democrat) both were able to make substantial headway for 2 decades straight  The North-East Ohio region has no shortage of good business leaders either – the supply of leaders is here.  Now, the region has to make sure the demand is there and make sure that demand is clearly understood by those who would want to lead us to better days.

Working at a regional level should increase the amount of demand (more highly-educated voters in the suburbs who will vote in favor of leaders who will bring success). As a community, our region can do a lot to attract good leaders, by making the leadership jobs satisfying and effective. By satisfying I mean having appropriate power without any unnecessary administrative restrictions – that is no restriction except for meaningful oversight, clear objectives and clear responsibilities that do not compete with or overlap other people’s responsibility and vice-versa. In short, we have to convince potential leaders that there is a prospect of success if they come here. Think about it: no one wants to be fired from running Cleveland – you can get any lower than that. It would also help if we set up the leadership jobs to be competitively (but not extravagantly) paid.

Planning and Execution: how to finish it.
A simple referendum should be held once enough people are persuaded that there is a realistic chance of success. The ballot measure should read:

TITLE 1:   CREATE A NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE (NLGS) that merges the counties of North East Ohio and their cities and their suburbs and empowers it with the revenues and powers of the merged jurisdictions for the purpose of accomplishing Titles 2 and 3.

• The counties to be included are Cuyahoga, Summit, Lake, Mahoning, Trumbull, Stark, Wayne, Portage, Geauga, Medina and Lorain.
• The NLGS should include an elected legislative power, and an elected executive power.
• The legislative power should include 1 representative from each county (11 total) and 9 more at-large representatives, all elected by popular vote. The legislature would legislate on those matters that can not be handled administratively. The legislature would have powers of subpoena in matters within their jurisdiction and a staff of whatever experts and clerical workers they may need.
• The NLGS will measure their own progress using these measures of success: Measure #1-a: The net number of full-time jobs created within the area of the NLGS that pay at least $15/hour. Measure #1-b: the net number of full-time jobs created within the area of the NLGS that pay at least $25/hour. Measure #2: the % population growth each year within the area of the NLGS. Measure #3: cost per resident to run the NLGS (the budget should be balanced within any 4 year period, although not necessarily in individual years). Measure #4: the net square footage of newly renovated buildings in current use.  These results will be verified annually by an independent auditor.

TITLE 2:   CREATE A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY with broad administrative powers to bring in businesses and jobs, by being an easy place in which to do business, building on existing strengths and turning weaknesses into strengths, etc. This Authority will be required to improve all gains 2 years out of any 3 year period. This would report to the executive. The legislature will establish a committee to oversee this Authority generally.

TITLE 3:  CREATE A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY with broad administrative powers to bring people into this region, especially the cities, by making the cities nice places to live in both actuality and perception. This Authority will be required to improve all gains 2 years out of any 3 year period. This would report to the executive. The legislature will establish a committee to oversee this Authority generally.

TITLE 4:   ALL EXISTING LOCAL BODIES THAT PERFORM THESE SAME RESPONSIBILITIES AS THOSE CREATED IN TITLES 1-3 WILL BE ABOLISHED.

TITLE 5:   THE NLGS WILL BE ELECTED EVERY 4 YEARS, to coincide with the US presidential election. No one may serve more than 3 terms in the NLGS regardless of capacity or capability. No one may stand for election who has been convicted of any kind of corruption, or who has been found to be incompetent in his NLGS role, or who has served in a previous NLGS term that did not meet its numerical objectives. Pay for NLGS executive, legislature and Development Authorities members will be competitive with cities of similar size and challenges, but not extravagant. Pay will be 1/3 base pay, 1/3 current-performance bonus and 1/3 deferred-performance bonus over a 5 year period, where the deferred pay depends on the performance in the year preceding the bonus payment.

TITLE 6:  ESCAPE CLAUSE: in 16 years time, the voters should have the opportunity, to dissolve the new governing structure, by a 2/3 majority vote, and revert to the previous system of governance.

So, what say?  Lets start turning this region around.

As promised, here is the second installment of Barkerville CEO Judy Campbell’s travel blog from the People’s Republic of China.  More to follow….

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November 11 and 12 – Kaiping

Later in the afternoon we visited the Ruishi Diaolou, which was built in 1923.  The Kaiping Diaolou have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and this nine-story tower is considered to be one of the best examples.

The diaolou are fortified multi-story towers, generally made of reinforced concrete.  These towers are located mainly in Kaiping County.  Kaiping and its neighbouring counties of Enping, Taishan and Xinhui are collectively known as the “Four Counties” (and it was from these four counties that many of the Chinese labourers to North America, Australia, and Southeast Asia originated).

The first towers were built during the early Qing Dynasty.  Reaching a peak in the 1920s and 1930s, there were more than three thousand of these structures in existence.  Today, approximately 1,833 diaolou remain standing in Kaiping, and approximately 500 in Taishan.  Although the diaolou served mainly as protection against forays by bandits, a few of them also served as living quarters.

Kaiping has traditionally been a region of major emigration abroad, and a melting pot of ideas and trends brought back by overseas Chinese.  As a result, many diaolou incorporate architectural features from China and from the West.

In 2007, UNESCO named the Kaiping Diaolou and Villages as a World Heritage Site.  UNESCO wrote: “The Diaolou … display a complex and flamboyant fusion of Chinese and Western structural and decorative forms.  They reflect the significant role of émigré Kaiping people in the development of several countries in South Asia, Australasia, and North America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the close links between overseas Kaiping and their ancestral homes.  The property inscribed here consists of four groups of Diaolou, totaling some 1,800 tower houses in their village settings.”

Ruishi Diaolou, located behind Jinjiangli Village, Xianggang Township.

Ruishi Diaolou

Constructed in 1923, it has nine floors and is the highest diaolou at Kaiping.

It features a Byzantine style roof and a Roman dome.

Because the diaolou were mainly built with money from “overseas Chinese” (Chinese who emmigrated to places like Barkerville to make money) they are of special interest to us.  Did any of the Chinese in Barkerville send money home to build a diaolou?  We don’t know at this point,but perhaps future research will reveal a link.

On Thursday morning we visited another of the key sites on the UNESCO list – LiYuan Gardens. This was an extensive villa including two diaolou towers, again featuring a blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, all surrounded by traditional Chinese gardens.  A beautiful and tranquil setting.  The traditional covered walkway along the canal featured incredible plaster reliefs of plant, bird and animal life – some native, some exotic.

Next we visited Chikan, a town dating back to the early Qing Dynasty (about 350 years ago).  Here a street of buildings dating from the late 19th and early 20th century and built by overseas money has been preserved.  Chikan is also famous because Jackie Chan filmed a movie here.  This is also the site of the Quan family library.  Here Senator Dyck was presented with a copy of the geneology of the Quan family.

Then back to Kaiping for lunch.  Have I mentioned the food here?  So far every lunch and dinner has been banquet style.  Breakfasts are included in the room, and consist of extensive buffets of Chinese, European, and North American breakfast foods.

The banquets follow a common format.  We are greeted by our hosts (often the local government) and seated around a large round table with a ‘lazy Susan’ in the centre.  Hot wash clothes for washing hands are given on a small tray to our left.  There is usually a small plate and one or two small bowls with Chinese spoons, and a set of chop sticks on a bridge.  The meals consist of ten to twelve courses, usually starting with a soup.  Each course is served to us individually on a small plate.  It is much like eating Spanish tapas.

Here is an example of one of our lunches which was less formal, with no host or speeches because we were en route between Kaiping and Jaingmen:

1.   Soup made from two types of almonds in a quail broth

… one almond from northern China, one almond from the South.  Delicious.

2.   BBQ pork skins

… to make your skin glow.

3.   Bite-sized quail meat

… like Cornish game hen.

4.   Beef ribs in pepper sauce

… cut Maui style.

5.   Prawns with brocolli and linquinni

6.   Lemon pork ribs with pineapple

7.   Sea bass with scallop on rice vermicelli

8.   Bok choi and white fungus steamed in chicken broth

9.   Dumplings filled with onions and corn along with a spongecake

10. Watermelon and oranges

… the fruit course is always the last course.

All the food is delicious, although the fish tends to be very boney and hard to eat and the shells are left on the prawns, making it very hard to maneuver with chopsticks!  The only issue is volume – we are not going to loose any weight on this trip!  At some of the banquets large dishes were placed on the ‘lazy Susan’ and we just helped ourselves.  I preferred this because I could make sure I didn’t eat too much.

In Jiangmen we had our last meal with the Quan family.  Bill and I will be staying in Jiangmen for the next two days to make a presentation to Wuyi University, while Lily and the Quan family are returning to Guangzhou to attend the opening of the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum.

But more about that in my next, and final, installment.

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Stay tuned for the next exciting installment of Judy and Bill’s historic trek to China!

Les nombreux dossiers à l’ordre du jour sont consultables sur le site du Conseil Général. Je tiens tout particulièrement à mettre l’accent sur trois dossiers : le logement, l’accueil de la petite enfance et le haut débit.

Fonds Solidarité logement :
Les aides individuelles :
-  4 993 demandes examinées (chiffre en baisse de 17,91 % par rapport à 2007) et 4 448 ménages aidés ;
- 5 775 aides accordées (chiffre en baisse de 21 % par rapport à 2007 pour un montant total de 2 557 062 €).
Cette diminution s’explique notamment par la mise en place au 1er janvier 2008 du nouveau réglement intérieur du FSL.
53 % des ménages aidés ont un quotient social inférieur à 580 € et 83 % sont en-dessous de 860 €.

Construction de logements : les Yvelines, pilote en Ile de France :
A l’occasion de la présentation de deux CEDOR, le Président du Conseil Général a souligné le succès de ce dispositif très innovant en matière de logement, qui devrait permettre la construction de 6 000 logements/an. Les Yvelines sont pilote en Ile de France, 67 contrats ont été signés ce qui représentera 24 000 logements construits sur 5 ans. 34 % sont des logements sociaux dont 28 % en location et 6 % en accession sociale.

Alain Schmitz a précisé que ce dispositif sera poursuivi. Les communes devront respecter les obligations en terme de nombre et de répartition. Une révision concernant les modalités sera revue dans les prochains mois.

Plan d’accélération du développement de l’accueil de la petite enfance :
Le Département  a approuvé le protocole départemental pour la création de structures “micro-crèches” entre le Conseil Général, la CAFY et la Caisse de Mutualité Sociale Agricole Ile de France. Par ailleurs, le Département versera aux gestionnaires des structures “micro-crèches”, au titre de l’investissement, en complément de l’aide à l’investissement de la CAFY et, éventuellement de celle de la CMSA d’Ile de France, une subvention pour l’achat de matériel de puériculture, petits équipements de sécurité, jeux et jouets à hauteur de 50 % d’un montant plafonné à 2 000 € TTC par place, sur présentation des justificatifs.

Plan départemental de déploiement du haut débit :
Le Département s’est engagé à ce que toute la zone rurale soit pourvue à terme.

Rainman landscaping and the ghost of christmas past

Rainman landscaping and the ghost of christmas past

Rainman Landscaping, Inc (Mark Oprisiu the President)

The following is the first installment of Barkerville CEO Judy Campbell’s travel blog from Guangdong Province.  Share the adventures of Judy and Bill, as they take an exciting step forward for Barkerville’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China!  Tomorrow, part two….

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Barkerville Visits China

On November 10th a delegation from Barkerville Historic Town arrived in Guangshou, Guangdong Province, PRC.  The delegation – Judy Campbell (CEO), Bill Quackenbush (Curator) and Lily Chow (former Barkerville Heritage Trust Director) – hopes to build links for research and communication with museums and academic institutions, and to promote Barkerville as a tourism destination for Chinese travelers.

Barkerville contains one of the most important collections of early Chinese buildings, artifacts and archival material (including photographs) in North America.  The Chee Kung Tong building in Barkerville was recently designated

Barkerville's Chee Kung Tong

a National Historic Site of Canada.

November 11-13

We joined the party of Canadian federal Senator, the Honourable Lillian (Quan) Dyck.   Senator Dyck was returning to her ancestral village in China and she graciously allowed us to accompany her, her brother Winston, and son Nathan.

The visit was hosted by the Overseas Exchange Association of Guangdong Province.  Lily Chow is a Director of this association and worked very hard with her contacts in China to arrange both the Senator’s and Barkerville’s visit.  Our hosts were amazing!  They put us up in the best hotels and the local governments of Guangdong Province, Kaiping City and Jiangmen City, along with the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, hosted formal dinners for us to meet and talk with local representatives.  This allowed us to exchange gifts, and leave information about Barkerville. We had a special DVD on the dedication of the Chee Kung Tong building and Barkerville’s Autumn Moon Festival, as well as the Barkerville Site Guide and small vials of Barkerville gold as gifts.

The visit to Senator Dyck’s ancestral village was very moving.  Her father had left the village as a young man, however he was remembered in the village.  When we arrived, there was a red banner with gold Chinese lettering across the road in front of the village gate which read: “Welcome Home Senator Lillian Dyck Quan.”  When we got down from our bus, the Senator was greeted by village elders and lion dancers led her into the village.  We even visited the house where her father had lived, which was now abandoned but contained the original brick stove, tables, benches, etc. – all remarkably similar to the artifacts we have in Barkerville.

Later that afternoon we visited the Ruisli Diaolou, one of the better preserved Kaiping towers.  I will write about that in my next installment….

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Tune in tomorrow for another exciting report from Bakerville’s historic trek to China!

Le terrible blogueur qui terrorise depuis plus d’un an les adhérents de Côté Jardin en cachant lâchement son identité a enfin accepté de rencontrer notre reporter. Plus connu dans le village du Grand Pressigny sous le nom de concombre masqué, il ose enfin sortir de sa capote pour parler à notre envoyé spécial. Pour la première fois, il ose révéler sa vraie identité. Il nous explique aussi pourquoi, pendant de longs mois, il a choisi d’écrire sous anonymat et de porter une moustache. Un document unique et poignant, une production Côté Jardin. La Touraine du Sud, canton du Grand Pressigny qui abrite le festival des paysages nocturnes, sait enfin qui se cache derrière la membrane de latex. Le blogueur s’appelle Henri, il ne frise pas naturellement et non, ce n’est pas une perruque. Merci à tous ceux sans qui ce reportage n’aurait pas été possible. A toi, Jean-Paul, et toi, Ulla.