Kathy Ashby Artist Writer Poet

I'm in! I'm so proud. I'm inspired to create a poetry collection. https://www.facebook.com/canadianpoets/

IT WAS SO ROCK 'N ROLL at Varsity Stadium. Printed in Toronto Star Letters to the Editor Dec. 26, 2022 My husband told the story about the “binoculars” a few times, but I was always skeptical, until the morning he held up the cover photo of the Star’s Culture section. “This is where it happened,” he said. Now I had a picture to relate to. During the concert he was sitting on the top row of the Varsity Stadium on Sept. 13, 1969. He asked to borrow a pair of binoculars from the fellow sitting next to him on his left. “The view, seeing the musicians close up, was great,” my husband said. Without much thought, he passed the binoculars to a fellow on his right. Everyone was enjoying the music when suddenly the fellow on the left asked, “Where are my grandfather’s binoculars?” My husband looked around and pointed. They were half way around the stadium. They waited and to their surprise the binoculars came back, all the way around and into the hands of his now, friend. All was well. Tr...

snowmobile trespassing around private gate 2022 Letter to the Editor: Disturbing Unique Muskoka Magazine Article Oct. 7, 2022 To the attention of Don Smith, Unique Muskoka Magazine, MPP Graydon Smith, Premier Doug Ford, Green Party candidate Matt Richter We were disturbed and disappointed to read two articles in the Fall/Winter 2022 Unique Muskoka Magazine, namely: Highways in the Snow 'Snowmobiling' and Premier Doug Ford's Muskoka Moments hypocritical article pictured, while sitting on an ATV. My husband and I have had a Trans Ontario Provincial Snowmobile (TOPS) trail forced upon us with no consultation for over 25 years. We know the peace and quiet of Muskoka can be shattered by thousands of snowmobiles screeching by 24/7. It is fun for some but a nightmare for others.   Will the Ford government and his friend, MPP Graydon Smith, form policy initiatives to stop environmental concerns regarding Ontario snowmobiles? To begin with: eliminate 2-stroke snowmobile moto...

Bracebridge readers agree with 'legal rights of forests' | The Star Re-Posting because it's worth repeating - Published, Muskoka Regional News/Toronto Star Legal Rights of Trees August 29, 2021 Letter to the Editor, There has been a lot of interest in the news about Climate Change, how it relates to our Muskoka forests and how to protect them. Some environmental experts like Norm Yan and Peter Sale believe in the 'Legal Rights of Forests' and have said that, "People being responsible to look after the environment hasn't worked well." My husband and I protested the clear-cutting of old-growth forest for a snowmobile trail behind our home. They went ahead and cut it anyway, saying the economic benefit was more important. After our snowmobile trail protest, the Municipality of Bracebridge enacted a tree-cutting bylaw. But it did little good. They went ahead a year later and cut down the second largest yellow birch tree in Ontario, almost 13 feet in circum...

It's time for change:  Let’s talk climate, Muskoka: Are used EV batteries a problem? (muskokaregion.com) Good article on the life of batteries by Oliver Klimek Are used EV batteries a problem? muskokaregion.com Most of the information that people have about EV batteries is old or misleading. Here is what is happening with batteries today: Today’s EV batteries are reliable and they last a long time. For example, Volkswagen guarantees that their batteries maintain 75 per cent of their original efficiency for 8 years, or 160,000 kilometres, and Tesla is testing batteries that cycle over 1 million kilometres. Read more:

We will miss this lovely man: E dgar Lee Ware   passed away February 4, 2022. He is survived by his wife Susan Ware, his children Jessica Lee Ware, Syrus Marcus Ware, and Lashon Ware, his grandchildren Aeshna Ware Huff, Zack Ware Huff, Amelie Ware Redman, Jacob Kreuchi, Noah Kreuchi, and Learthur Frost as well as his siblings Nathanial, Willie, Deborah, Cynthia, Janet, and Christopher; he joins his late mother and father (Pauline and Tampa), his late brother and sister (Alvin and Betty Jo). Edgar was born in Memphis, Tennessee on September 10, 1946. He would recount fond memories of his first childhood homes on Hernando, Clayborn, Patton, Walker, & Maclamore, and his frequent visits to the library where the librarian would have stacks of Greek mythology books waiting for him. He loved his time at Booker T. Washington High School where he played football, basketball, ran track, and loved science class (Edgar was in chemistry club). He was approached by activists from Freedom Sum...

  NEWS: The Chancery Art Gallery, Bracebridge, ON sponsors an annual Regatta. TRIBUTE TO PETER LAWSON: true story One year, during the Regatta, on the boat, 'Why Not', we experienced a sudden and serious lull in the wind. I looked at Peter who seeing my concern, said "It's because we are passing behind an island." This, I learned, takes the wind out of the sails. I felt gloom, "Now what?" "Just wait," he said. As we drifted, I saw the confidence in his face. I felt at ease. A few minutes later he pointed, "Look, there...see the ripple on the waves?" I nodded my eyes wide. "We'll get the wind back," he said smiling. Sure enough, I felt a breeze and then the wind. The sails filled and we were on our way again. He grinned. I realized I had experienced real sailing with someone, who not only had lived it, he loved it. RIP Peter Lawson