This is Our Town — Slow Down 2016

 

Last year we tried to begin a campaign for drivers to slow down in our town. Well, guess what– it’s the speedy driving season again.

So due to people identifying my sign as a game and hiding it all over the neighbourhood last summer it is now inside  the gates– but you sure as heck can see it when you go by.

Is yours out? Lynne Johnson’s is out!!

 

 

May I remind you what happened last year?  Let’s not have a repeat this year!

 

This is What Happens When You Race the Roads of Carleton Place

 

 

RELATED READING

This is Our Town – Slow Down!! Grassroots Challenge

What You Can Do to Slow People Down on Streets in Carleton Place

The Brotherhood and Community of Carleton Place

To the Vandal That Tore Down my SLOW DOWN Sign

Road Rage in Carleton Place

This is What Happens When You Race the Roads of Carleton Place

Last week another animal was hit by a speeding car on a residential street in Carleton Place. These defenseless animals are sweet and pure loving souls. To see this happen to an animal is devastating. Imagine if the family had lost him and they were still waiting for kiss on the face or a paw from their beloved pet. Worse, what if it had been a child? I lost my German Shepherd to a speeder on Lake Avenue East years ago, so I know the pain Brutus’s family is going through.

This is Lady MacDuff, (Duffy) named for her Scottish heritage, and her Mum Lynne Johnson thinks she only survived her traffic accident in Carleton Place because she is small and low to the ground. This needs to stop. If animals can show compassion why can’t humans? Bothered by the picture below? This, sad to say, is reality if people keep driving recklessly on our Carleton Place streets.

Brutus was lucky last week. I wish to thank everyone involved and especially Valley Veterinarian Clinic in Carleton Place for all they did to help this poor pet. My heroe Eric Lockhart brought the crowd funding event to my attention today.

To the person that hit this dog and drove away- for shame. People need to be more observant, careful, and slow down when they drive. Discussing who is financially responsible is one thing. Dogs do get loose from their owners, or break free from a leash. It happens–but not stopping and caring is wrong.

CROWD FUNDING PLEA FOR BRUTUS THE DOG–written by a concerned citizen

About a week ago-ish, I fell into a set of circumstances where I guess it was a matter of being in the right place, at the right time, with some of the right stuff in the trunk of my car. I was on my way out for a bit when I came across a pretty disturbing scene for me. I just rolled up to the intersection of Frank and John Streets where I saw a dog that had just been hit by a car. What really hit home for me was this dogs 2 little girls exiting the house at the same time getting ready for their morning commute to school saw their beloved Brutus in a world of pain, with their mom getting him off of the road. I don’t’ know the circumstances because I had just barely missed it, but long story short…a fantastic dog was hit by a car, and the driver couldn’t be bothered to stop to try to render help. I remember Brutus was still wagging his tail when I was attempting to bandage his lacerated leg and wrap him in a blanket since it was raining out, as if to say “I’m fine, I’ll just walk it off.”

I got out of my car and grabbed my first aid bag (yeah I’m that guy), and a heavy blanket and did what I could to render first aid to the pup, not long after that the pups other person showed up, we loaded him into their car and off they went to the vet.

Vets are expensive, we all know that. When a dog is hit by a car, suffers a broken pelvis, laceration to one of his legs, and a tooth through his top lip…that costs more than the normal visit for shots.

I have had extensive conversations with Brutus’ people so they know who I am and what I am. If what I am going to say next does not sit well with them, upon their request I will delete this. I’ve always thought about this, what if collective groups of people in a community get together to help someone? I guess crowdfunding is what to call this endeavour……

As of right now, there are 7405 members on the Carleton Place Buy and Sell group. Lets say 25% of you wonderful people were to chip in $2.00-$5.00, Brutus’ bill would probably be entirely paid off, or at least substantially paid off.

So, I have taken it upon myself to create an email address on behalf of Brutus. I am making the polite suggestion that we all pool our resources, and throw a few bucks into the pot to help Brutus pay down his bill. Again I reiterate, Brutus’ people know who I am through extensive conversation, and have all of my contact information. I am not trying to scrape funds together to go to Cuba.

It would mean a lot to all those involved, myself included for this fantastic community that I have been a part of now for 4 years to come together, sacrifice one coffee to help out a wonderful pup who needs to get healthy to get back to taking care of his family.

EMT’s can be sent to brutus_john2015@hotmail.com in any amount, but given that there are 7405 members on this page I would like to suggest that you don’t send more than $5.00.

Just to show you some math of how easy this can be; A $5.00 donation, at a guess that 25% of the people here will go for it, would equate to $9255.00 raised.

December 2021- it happened again

When I was six years old I got hit by a car. I saw my mother waving and didn’t catch the instant that a car turned the corner speeding and hit me. 

When I was 38 years old my beloved dog broke out of the yard and got hit on Lake Ave East.The dog didn’t know any better, and the car was going too fast to stop. 

When I was 48 years old our streets in Oakland Ca. were so filled with speeding drug dealers that they installed 5 speed bumps to slow them down. It never stopped them.

In 2016 a dog named Brutus got hit in Carleton Place by a speeding driver on Frank and John Streets . 

Yesterday a local family had to watch their dog being hit and deal with an aftermath no one should have to deal with during the holiday season or anytime. 

I began a ‘this is your town slow down’ sign group in 2016 but my sign was found all over town because some thought it was a joke to hide it. 

Speeding is not a joke and in reality it begins with all of us. Yes, a lot of accidents are considered the owner’s fault as it has been deemed in this case, but when something happens in our community– we all need to take responsibility. Who hasn’t been late for something or been lost in thought and driven too fast? We all have.

There are speed limits posted on every road for a reason and we all need to follow them. All of us. When you hand the keys over to someone, or get behind the wheel, take responsibility for your actions. Tell your loved ones- tell your children.  Never be afraid to stop traffic by acting like a responsible driver.  We can put as many signs and speed bumps everywhere but the real matter of fact is it begins with the driver.

None of this is going to help this family grieve over their dog. 

None of these words are going to change some people’s minds that they can go as fast as they want in town. 

The man upstairs is not going to pull certain people over for speeding and complain about  their actions afterwards, but we as a community can take charge. Everyone who has gotten a speeding ticket, raise your right foot and don’t put it down again until you slow down.

I am posting this without a comment section, as no comment in the world is going to help this poor grieving family. Only YOU can help– this is our town SLOW DOWN! And please help spread the word.

Thank you.

Much love goes out to the mother and son having to go through this awful event.

Linda

Put your signs up–they do matter. 53 Colours is local and fast and has the best prices. Get in with a group and they might give you a better deal. AND YOU ARE SUPPORTING LOCAL..

Hours of Operation:

Monday to Thursday from 9:00am until 4:00pm,

53 Townline East Carleton Place

Fridays from 9:00am until 3:00pm.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SLOW DOWN IN CARLETON PLACE

Road Rage in Carleton Place

My Slow Down sign is no longer in the ground and looks like this— even after it was fixed a few times. Every day I find it in a different location. Sandra Hurdis Finnigan even rescued it from Campbell Street. It is what it is- I just keep putting it in front of my fence. Eric Lockheart was my heroe and fixed it- but it was pulled out again.

We need to get these signs up as speed abuse and recklessness are re-occurring issues in Carleton Place and Lanark County since the beginning of time. Why not make a point and tell these drivers that we notice what they are doing and we don’t like it by putting up a sign. If we don’t do this- no one else will. We complain about our children having a  “laissez faire” attitude– yet we just sit back and let things happen, and then complain about it.

Get some signs up folks before the snow flies or this might happen..:)

Back to our scheduled programming and thank you..

Perth Courier January 1896.

The habit of furious and careless driving, particularly with empty lumber teams, is becoming quite too common in this neighborhood and in many instances is of such a nature as to endanger the lives of parties driving cutters; and it is satisfying to know that in two cases of this kind recently, the parties have come to grief.

Peter Keevers of Bathurst was brought before C. Rice, Esq., J.P. on complaint of Martin Maxwell for furious driving and for assault in running his team against Maxwell’s sleigh and upsetting him in the ditch at the foot of Stanley’s Hill, Armstrong’s Corners.  Keevers had to pay the $4 fine and costs.  Patrick Fleming of S. Sherbrooke was brought before the same magistrate on complaint of E. Morrison for driving against and smashing Morrison’s cutter and was ordered to pay $14 fine and costs or go to jail for two months.

Defendant refused to pay and went to jail but after three days’ exposure to jail fare he concluded to pay the fine and costs rather than spend the two months in jail working for his board.  We trust these cases will be a warning to teamsters who should bear in mind that the law compels them to give half way on the road when meeting or passing another team.

The Brotherhood and Community of Carleton Place

I think I have told this story before but you are going to keep hearing it from me until the day I die. It was a cold January day and the kids were flooding the rink outside when I noticed our German shepherd, Snoopy racing in from the greenhouse with a huge plume of black smoke trailing him. If there is an emergency I am not the one to send to an EMT unit as I panic easily. I screamed for someone to call 911 and we simply thought a hose spraying a steady stream of water into the basement window was enough to contain the fire.

Within five minutes the basement was engulfed with flames and I attempted to go into the greenhouse to save the birds and my ferret. Smoke quickly turns into a blackness that cannot be measured on a colour chart and within seconds I was trapped. A fireman came in to search for me and ended up saving my life as I could no longer find my way out.

My sons and I were sent over to a neighbour’s home, The Nephins, and we sat there, shivering and watching the firemen try to save our house. I wanted to cry but I couldn’t and the kids kept asking me if everything was going to be alright. In my irrational mind I thought things would return to normal once the fire trucks were gone and life would go back to the way it was.

The fight for our home was not over for another 18 hours. The firemen left at about 5 pm overwhelmed with the intensity of the smoke and one ended up in the hospital. They had done their best and thought the fire had been put to rest but Angelo and his father sat guard all night watching for hot spots. Sure enough at 1 am a wall in the living room went up in flames and had they not been there the house would have been a total loss. Two local firemen ended up in the hospital that day trying to save my home.

So, what does does it mean to be a “good neighbor”?

In an article titled “Being Neighborly Without Being Nosy,” Rose Alexander explained it this way: “Depending on your personal preferences, being neighborly might mean staying invisible except for a quick wave while getting the mail. Or you might think of someone being a good neighbor when he or she is available to help out with any unexpected need, whether it is to lend an egg or give your child a ride to soccer practice when your car won’t start.”

I am lucky to have great neighbours– and I also miss the ones who have moved or passed away. Muriel Simpson, who was Howard McNeely’s sister ruled our neighbourhood with the hand of Margaret Thatcher. No one dared cross the line with her, not even Gerald Hastie. So why I am writing this?

When my sign was vandalized yesterday, I didn’t have the brains or force to put it back in the ground. So along came Eric Lockheart today and he put it back in. He will forever be my hero. He is part of the brotherhood of kindness that exists in Carleton Place. Thank you!

 

SUNDAY UPDATE– It was ripped out again and thrown on Caldwell Street. Thanks to Sandra Hurdis Finigan for rescuing it.

This is Our Town – Slow Down!! Grassroots Challenge

Years ago I lost my last German Shepherd, Snoopy, to a speeding driver on Lake Ave East in Carleton Place. I placed an Obituary in the Carleton Place Canadian because I wanted the person who hit him to understand what my family was going through. Of course Snoopy should not have been roaming the streets, but he escaped through a hole in the fence in the backyard, and sadly met his maker.

My late sister was hit in Sherbrooke, Quebec years ago trying to cross the street, and even I was hit by a speeding driver at age 6 on Albert Street in Cowansville, Quebec. One might say I have a strong personal interest in this. Last night I posted an article with suggestions we as residents might consider. Instead of complaining about it, I suggest we channel that energy into creating public awareness about the issue. If you don’t think working as a community works– remember that neighbourhood organizing has a history as old as the neighbourhood concept itself.

Today Lynne Johnson told me she was putting up a sign saying, “This is Our Town–Slow Down! I thought it was quite brilliant so I got one made too. Slow Down Signs are great tools to remind drivers to control their impulse to speed. Sometimes people need a friendly reminder that pedestrians are walking or bicycling in the area. Help make your Carleton Place streets safer by taking up the sign challenge. Have your kids make a sign so they will understand the importance of what we are trying to convey and spread the word at school.

Public awareness works. Imagine drivers being flooded with the image of Slow Down signs. Maybe they would think for a second. It’s a start.

If you make a sign email me or PM me and I will come and take a picture. Let’s get crackin’ as they say!