Hear. Hear: Kudos to quick-thinking police officer
Sir: We were sitting on our balcony in Sarnia’s downtown area on a recent Friday evening, having a drink and enjoying the beautiful weather, when, of course, we were assaulted by the noise of cars with no mufflers racing along Front and Christina Streets.
Two particularly noisy small white cars roared by, heading south on Front. They were obviously racing, and both had the typical high-pitched rattling sound when accelerating and loud backfiring when decelerating.
Usually guys like these will race around in a circuit a few times and then head off to annoy some other area of the city.
But on this day, we noticed a Sarnia Police vehicle following. From our vantage point, we watched the officer brilliantly anticipate their circuit and nab one of them heading northbound on Christina.
I was so impressed by this far-too-uncommon response that I went down to street level and, once he had completed the charge, personally thanked the officer.
I am encouraged. The actions of this officer may begin to take back our city from these ignorant, inconsiderate hooligans whose only purpose is creating noise and havoc.
My sincere thanks, to the constable and to the Sarnia Police Service. The rest of our Friday evening turned out to be one of the quietest we can remember.
David Lundy
Sarnia
Please hold. All of our agents are currently busy
Sir: Earlier this month I was watching from my sunroom as some ugly weather moved in from the west. I witnessed a large funnel cloud form over Lake Huron, moving toward Bright’s Grove.
Concerned, I called 911. I was advised my call didn’t involve police or fire and the call was terminated. Well, I thought, if that twister had reached land and caused damage, I’d have to say a warning was issued but went unheard.
On May 29, I suspected a squirrel acting strangely in my backyard might have rabies, so I called the city.
I was told the city doesn’t handle that, and to call Natural Resources. The office in Aylmer said they were closed because of COVID-19, to leave a message, and they’d get back to me.
My question: If the City of Sarnia is so concerned about its residents, why is it always passing the buck?
Duane Skuce
Sarnia
Sarnia-Lambton concert bands strike all the right chords
Sir: I would like to thank Phil Egan for his informative May 21 column about concert bands.
Yes, this year is the 20th anniversary of the Lambton Concert Band, which was started by Norm Sutherland and music directors Chris Coyle and Dave Parkes.
Today, it is still going strong, thanks to the commitment of its musicians and excellent directors.
Thanks as well to the Lambton Kent District School Board for providing rehearsal space, and Sarnia Library Auditorium, where many concerts are held. Unfortunately, our June 14 and Canada Day performance are cancelled by the pandemic.
For more on the band, visit https://sites.google.com/view/lambtoncountyconcertbands/home.
Over the years, Alvinston, Arkona, Forest, Inwood, Thedford, Watford, Petrolia, and Sarnia have all had concert bands. They have honoured their communities and brought joy and fun with their concerts.
An historical exhibition is in the works featuring pictures, documents, band uniforms instruments, and other artifacts.
If you have stories, pictures, or anecdotes you’d like to share, please contact me at [email protected]
Don Vander Klok
Sarnia
Reflections on the pandemic, from a Christian perspective
Sir: This pandemic, from my looking glass as a Christian – a Catholic Christian — is in some ways fortuitous.
Author Sheryl Fullerton said it better than I could when she characterized humanity as being “in liminal space … betwixt and between.” The uncomfortable now.
What an opportunity for creativity, choice and transformation. Some have mobilized with war-like determination by re-tooling; manufacturing hand sanitizer instead of liquor; plastic shields in place of throwaway plastic vegetable clamshells.
Faced with the awareness of our elders’ precarious position, PSWs are working long hours for little pay. Even our military has stepped-up to help sanitize care-home environments and relieve exhausted workers.
I think people, regardless of religion (or unconscious of it) see the need, and take seriously Jesus’ words to (permit my paraphrasing), “Look after the sick, feed the homebound, be compassionate toward those tough-to-deal-with types. Do whatever you’re good at, to help.”
I believe we’re watching a sermon unfold in real time every day on our screens.
Ecumenical teacher Richard Rohr wondered if, “We come to God not by doing it right, but by doing it wrong?”
If so, then all of creation is breathing a collective sigh of relief. This pandemic has given us a “time-out” from doing it wrong. Say what? You ask. Could this be God’s way of turning our world upside down to get our attention? Maybe.
Robert Green
Forest