Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project group formed, LFP, Mar. 23
Londoners are paying for Dale TV but public comments aren't permitted by Dale Henderson, CHRW, Mar. 22
8,000 Sudbury petitioners want provincial ombudsman re-instated in City of Sudbury as closed-meeting investigator, SS, Mar. 22 [Link is now working]
Cllrs. Henderson and Orser, like two nuts in a peanut shell, TMR, Mar. 21
 
"Steve Orser sounds a lot like the robber who hollers bloody murder because the bank has a burglar alarm." ~ Phil McLeod
"Meanwhile we must say thanks to Dale Henderson for his guest appearance Thursday on the CBC Radio One program Ontario Morning and his enthusiastic grab for the nutbar-of-the-day award." ~ Phil McLeod
"If Orser and Henderson were on a hockey team, they'd be waterboys to the waterboy." ~ Award-winning journalist Barry (Scoop) Wells
WHEN YOU SCREW UP, BLAME SOMEONE ELSE: Brazen ploy to get rid of the provincial ombudsman a case of misdirection and trying to shoot the messenger. The public won't buy it, LCW, Mar. 21
On 1290-CJBK-AM this morning with Steve Garrison, self-described hillbilly Steve Orser says he wants to fire the provincial ombudsman because he doesn't "like his style." Bwahahahahahaha!
Ward 4 Coun. Steve (Full-Time) Orser buys self-promoting fridge magnets on the public dime and then reportedly has the delivery-fee cheque made out to himself, LCW, Mar. 20
Steve Orser practices his CoCo-the-Clown routine before a live audience in northeast London. A jolly good time was had by all
 WARD 4 COUN. STEVE (DIN-DIN BOY) ORSER: Not the sharpest can of corn on London city council. Ontario's ombudsman is an advocate for citizens to help ensure open, local government, not an advocate for politicians to meet secretly while discussing City business. Orser can't seem to wrap his mind around this fact. UNBRIDLED BUFFOONERY: By the looks of things, he and Ward 9 Coun. Dale Henderson are fighting it out for the prestigious distinction of the "Worst Council Member in London's History" on the "Worst Council Majority in London's History." Quite the legacy to celebrate.
A TIP OF THE HAT: Three local independent websites providing valuable information to Londoners
 IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST: London's very fortunate to have three local, independent websites regularly breaking stories and providing solid information about London city hall:
Namely, AltLondon.org, Gina Barber's London Civic Watch and Phil McLeod"s Report.
All three are playing a key role in London's media coverage of issues of the day at London city hall.
THE FONTANA 8: Poster children for hiring an integrity commissioner, TMR, Mar. 20
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING: Former Fugitive Slave Chapel at 275 Thames Street in London
'Let us realize that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
Donations are needed to cover the cost of the relocation and to help preserve an important part of London history. Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation to this worthy cause can get more information at Ed Corrigan's Law Office at 519-439-4015.
Columnist James Reaney on the importance of local history, LFP, Mar. 20
Guess who wants to get rid of the provincial ombudsman as London's (free) closed-meeting investigator so we have to pay for one, M, Mar. 20
The latest graduate of the Dale Henderson School of Strategic Municipal Politics ~ Lesson #1: Always pull the pin before you toss the grenade in your pants, LFP, Mar. 20
Ward 4 Councillor says he's afraid to publicly meet constituents and other members of council because he thinks the provincial ombudsman might bust his chops, LFP, Mar. 20
Henderson's Dale TV a lightning rod for criticism amid calls for review of councillors' expenses, LFP, Mar. 20
Orser buys self-promoting fridge magnets on the public dime and then pays himself to deliver them, LCW, Mar. 20
Time to cancel Dale TV in 2014, am980, Mar. 19
Ward 9 Coun. Dale Henderson billed Londoners $7,098.25 for his Dale-TV nonsense, TMR, Mar. 19
"I've got good response back from it [Dale TV]." ~ Dale Henderson. He now says he'll have other council members on Dale TV.
Councillor expense accounts, Round 2 ~ not a pretty sight, LCW, Mar. 19
LONDON, ONTARIO'S, BUILT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (BLACK HISTORY)
BREAKING NEWS: Plans in works to move former fugitive slave chapel to lot on Grey Street beside historic Beth Emanuel Church
'Let us realize that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
Former fugitive slave chapel at 275 Thames Street in London during the 1920s
By Barry (Scoop) Wells (Originally published on Mar. 18 at 7 pm)
 Heritage activist Joe O'Neil says a plan is in the works to move the former fugitive slave chapel at 275 Thames Street in London ~ under threat of demolition by Aboutown Transportation Limited ~ to a vacant lot to the immediate east of Beth Emanuel Church (pictured left) at 430 Grey Street ~ a lot currently owned by the church.
O'Neil says he's had several conversations today (Mar. 18) with Jim Donnelly, president of Aboutown and that Donnelly seems agreeable to the plan ~ including donating a small parcel of land for a public cairn or historical marker at 275 Thames Street.
 O'Neil also says the tentative plan also has the support of Pastor Delta McNeish (pictured right) at Beth Emanuel Church, who envisions the old slave chapel, once restored at the new site, as a much-needed combination community centre and Black history centre.
Last Wednesday, March 13, AltLondon broke the story that Aboutown had applied for a demolition permit for three properties it owns on Thames Street ~ 275, 277 and 281 ~ all of which are listed on the City of London's Inventory of Heritage Resources ~ but not designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
The former fugitive slave chapel at 275 Thames Street, a "priority one" on the City's inventory, is the property heritage activists identify as having the most historical interest, given its role in the "underground railway" for fleeing American slaves from 1848 to 1869, before the African British Methodist Episcopal congregation built the larger Beth Emanuel Church at 430 Grey Street in 1870-1871.
O'Neil says fundraising will be key to the plan for such things as moving the old chapel, hiring an engineer, completing an archeological assessment for 275 Thames Street, grading the new site, constructing a concrete pad and renovating the old structure at the new site.
He conceded $150,000 sounds like a reasonable ballpark figure to get the project moving.
In this regard, London citizenship-and-immigration lawyer Ed Corrigan, has already offered his services for free to the growing group hoping to complete this community project.
London photo-historian Stephen (Homerun) Harding and the London Black History Coordinating Committee have played a key role in this unfolding project.
WHERE IT STANDS NOW: The City's London Advisory Committee on Heritage referred the matter of Aboutown's demolition permit application to its stewardship subcommittee for review on March 13th. Joe O'Neil is a member of the LACH's stewardship subcommittee. It will return to LACH for consideration on April 10 at 5:30 pm, then go before the Planning and Environment Committee on Apr. 23 at 4 pm and City Council on Apr. 30 at 4 pm.
 A lengthy article in the May 8, 1926, edition of the London Advertiser by Arthur Carty is a treasure trove of information on both local Black history and the former fugitive slave chapel at 275 Thames Street in London.
The article is No. 13 in a series of stories by Arthur Carty called "Landmarks of London," with the headline "Old fugitive slave chapel is steeped deep in history."
Chip Martin's most recent story in The London Free Press can be found HERE, Mar. 18
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