Thank you, Buddy, for sharing your office with us. Oh, the colors...and to you, HCR, you soar as the bird flying through the glorious sky. Subscriber friends, "Hang in there". That's what I say to myself every day.
Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace (Live at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1972)
Stunning photo. Here in the Vermont woods, I look out at mountains and endless chipmunk frolics, goldfinch and the local flock of wild turkeys. The seascapes you add always bring the sharpness of the salt with them. I pass you back the rich joy of deep leaf litter. Thank you.
Update on the "google Leonard Leo = Corrupt Courts" chalk paint graffiti project.
Candide on Mount Desert Island or How I learned to stop worrying and love the Bar Harbor Town Council
Previously. As part of community activism outreach about our neighbor Leonard Leo, I began the chalk paint project. Defended by the Bar Harbor Police as protected by the First Amendment and compliant with the Maine State Criminal Code. Community response has been gratifying. Leonard Leo has not been happy and the police have not obliged him. Enter the very obliging Bar Harbor Town Manger Kevin Sutherland, who although the Bar Harbor Town Code is silent on graffiti and therefore he has no jurisdiction, initiated a campaign of intimidation, misinformation, and erasure. When bullying threats did not work to stop the project, he began a campaign of graffiti removal and spreading misinformation verging on dog whistling vigilantism. He was successful in some quarters in taking the spotlight off Leo's misdeeds and focusing instead on the project as vandalism and 'she must be held accountable for violating local laws.' Lies with legs. Lock her up.
For months I've been writing to the Town Council and speaking at Town Council Meetings asking: by what authority did the Town Manager prioritize and divert town resources to the selective removal of Leonard Leo themed chalk paint graffiti; and how much has it cost the town. Silence. Now I know why. By design. I did not stay until the end of the last meeting. But here is what happened.
"During individual councilor remarks at the end of the meeting, Friedmann suggested that it might be appropriate that someone respond."
“It’s important to not engage. She’s attacked our town manager,” he said, and added, “I just think we have to say something. At the same time, I want to express my support for Kevin from unfortunate attacks by The Quietside Journal as well. Silence sends the wrong message.”
Goldthwait agreed.
Councilor Jeff Dobbs said, “It was particularly nasty tonight against Kevin and it wasn’t fair, but she does deserve a response.”
So. Just as Town Manager Sutherland deflected focus from Leonard Leo onto the medium used in the graffiti project, the Town Council is deflecting focus from questions about the Town Manager onto the nasty people who ask them. And the only reason they might acknowledge that questions have been asked? Because it's dawned on them that keeping silent might make them look bad.
The durability of chalk paint raises interesting materials science, legal, and societal questions worthy of consideration. But in the context of my "google Leonard Leo = Corrupt Courts" public outreach project, I intended to bring attention to Leo's corrupting influence on government, and inadvertently it's brought attention to what seems to be Leo's corrupting influence on government right here in Bar Harbor.
The kicker. The Town Manager is Bar Harbor's public access officer, so he has jurisdiction over Freedom of Access requests. It's always the cover-up.
I'm figuring if there is anything to karma, then Leonard Leo will come back as the Bar Harbor Town Manager. And the Town Manager and the Town Council will come back as Pinky and The Brain.
Whenever I view your pictures of the Rockland Rockport area of Maine l remember my sailing adventures in that beautiful area many years ago. Thank you so very much for sharing another reminder with this photo.
Thank you and Buddy deeply for these photos. Peaceful. So needed.
Beautiful food for the soul this evening. Thank you
Everything you send makes us better for opening it. These photos are always beautiful. Thank you — and the mister, too.
L’Shanah Tovah Heather, and to all your readers who observe.
Thank you, Buddy, for sharing your office with us. Oh, the colors...and to you, HCR, you soar as the bird flying through the glorious sky. Subscriber friends, "Hang in there". That's what I say to myself every day.
Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace (Live at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1972)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBKwV6oNYvw&list=RDCBKwV6oNYvw&start_radio=1
A picture speaks a thousand words… but your letters’ words speak priceless truths. THANKS TO YOU BOTH!
Beautiful.
And now I lay my head on the pillow with this as my last image. Big week ahead. We need our rest to be ready.
Buddy never ceases to amaze with his beautiful photographs.
A perfect image for Erev Rosh Hashanah. Thank you.
Stunning photo. Here in the Vermont woods, I look out at mountains and endless chipmunk frolics, goldfinch and the local flock of wild turkeys. The seascapes you add always bring the sharpness of the salt with them. I pass you back the rich joy of deep leaf litter. Thank you.
Peaceful. A much appreciated break from all the world's craziness.
Rest well…You are appreciated.
Such a beautiful ‘capture’ of the end of summer…
Thank you for all you do.
Off Topic.
Update on the "google Leonard Leo = Corrupt Courts" chalk paint graffiti project.
Candide on Mount Desert Island or How I learned to stop worrying and love the Bar Harbor Town Council
Previously. As part of community activism outreach about our neighbor Leonard Leo, I began the chalk paint project. Defended by the Bar Harbor Police as protected by the First Amendment and compliant with the Maine State Criminal Code. Community response has been gratifying. Leonard Leo has not been happy and the police have not obliged him. Enter the very obliging Bar Harbor Town Manger Kevin Sutherland, who although the Bar Harbor Town Code is silent on graffiti and therefore he has no jurisdiction, initiated a campaign of intimidation, misinformation, and erasure. When bullying threats did not work to stop the project, he began a campaign of graffiti removal and spreading misinformation verging on dog whistling vigilantism. He was successful in some quarters in taking the spotlight off Leo's misdeeds and focusing instead on the project as vandalism and 'she must be held accountable for violating local laws.' Lies with legs. Lock her up.
For months I've been writing to the Town Council and speaking at Town Council Meetings asking: by what authority did the Town Manager prioritize and divert town resources to the selective removal of Leonard Leo themed chalk paint graffiti; and how much has it cost the town. Silence. Now I know why. By design. I did not stay until the end of the last meeting. But here is what happened.
"During individual councilor remarks at the end of the meeting, Friedmann suggested that it might be appropriate that someone respond."
“It’s important to not engage. She’s attacked our town manager,” he said, and added, “I just think we have to say something. At the same time, I want to express my support for Kevin from unfortunate attacks by The Quietside Journal as well. Silence sends the wrong message.”
Goldthwait agreed.
Councilor Jeff Dobbs said, “It was particularly nasty tonight against Kevin and it wasn’t fair, but she does deserve a response.”
So. Just as Town Manager Sutherland deflected focus from Leonard Leo onto the medium used in the graffiti project, the Town Council is deflecting focus from questions about the Town Manager onto the nasty people who ask them. And the only reason they might acknowledge that questions have been asked? Because it's dawned on them that keeping silent might make them look bad.
The durability of chalk paint raises interesting materials science, legal, and societal questions worthy of consideration. But in the context of my "google Leonard Leo = Corrupt Courts" public outreach project, I intended to bring attention to Leo's corrupting influence on government, and inadvertently it's brought attention to what seems to be Leo's corrupting influence on government right here in Bar Harbor.
The kicker. The Town Manager is Bar Harbor's public access officer, so he has jurisdiction over Freedom of Access requests. It's always the cover-up.
I'm figuring if there is anything to karma, then Leonard Leo will come back as the Bar Harbor Town Manager. And the Town Manager and the Town Council will come back as Pinky and The Brain.
Whenever I view your pictures of the Rockland Rockport area of Maine l remember my sailing adventures in that beautiful area many years ago. Thank you so very much for sharing another reminder with this photo.