Oops ... thanks for clearing that up, Steve! I've heard the rumours about a Cherry - Barrie connection ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper - everyone knows he did live here at one time - but I didn't realize we'd 'stolen' him from Kingston!   ;-)   The Flyers were grounded permanently a long time go, but we do have a Junior B team (the Colts) and a brand spankin new arena now too...

sIx, that's not an apt building behind Collier St United - it's the new court buildings (well, they're kinda old now). Remember the old St Mary's Church, right beside the jail? Well in the late 60's they ripped that down and put up a parking lot (where do you think Joni got her inspiration?   ;-) with the new court buildings beside it. Very convenient, a few steps away from the Barrie Bucket...

The sky is still passably clear here - except for those hot humid days when the smog rolls in from TO - but the city has grown so much, the 'light pollution' makes it hard to stargaze unless you're out of town a little. When you left Barrie in late 60's, I think the pop was about 32,000. It's now more like 130,000 - the fastest growing city in Canada, I've heard. (But don't take my word for it - u no what homegrown rumours can be like!)

And please thank your Dad for the work he did creating Centennial Park - I must have spent hundreds and HUNDREDS of summer days with my kids there over the years, at the beach and playground and on the biking trails around the bay. It's only got bigger, better and more beautiful over the years too. ANd Kempefelt Bay is as COLD as ever for swimming, cuz it's so deep ....

Here's that old steam engine at Centennial Park - bet it hasn't changed much! And see the building in the top right corner just behind it? Well, guess what ...that's yet another internationally renowned Weber's Restaurant (Downtowner location)!

I posted the link for the Orillia Weber's Downtowner though, so Little Hawk would see this exciting news:

Singers & Songwriters Wanted For Music Nights In Orillia Location, Contact R. G. 705-429-5817 For Details

Cool, eh? They used to have live Jazz Nights at the Weber's Downtowner in Barrie, but not for a couple years now. Hey LH, this sounds like it's (literally) right up your alley! Maybe we could collaborate on an Ode to Webers ... "Don't Miss That Bypass On A Plate" perhaps? With all due credit to bobad, of course.