ÿWPCA {4kq4`Ø»ÖN¦[È ™ÖÊ2”Á„_ï2.äab¾‰jpÍ8Vö’„Ôú_¿öˆÉÔÞ”ÖýÇÝ.Šßã{vkßžæç3D $„ˆ?â¹*W‡…­"1 f$\s 0ÙJغù Y[­K×iÍwpt5‹†g…í#)÷”GfH$´¤þkâÏŽü¬è¢»® ’wE·É §¤ý9BÕY¦‰-ôT‰ÈÏÁ7¦ŽLWËY´ŠT½×=·$ËìûX@²u,˜2™ÒpºNÎÆŒ–Vl¹Š¹ÓSÙ‘&©ógAãÕiÿú¥¸ñ¾Ï5û¼Œ$MF1ÓKµöSá¨Ì¶Ín1^Ä€ªd:l[8­;ÚÖ©-ªF~:…ƒ³£ò¦hŠ^ A~JºjíÀTRa5¸:qY¤b©¼1„aÚa±Ÿy(;H nGøŠÏW ˜›‡ +d›`pNÁÒ—£ä,Íg ÍÆm5B#žoëöœTy•(YkîÿõØ­hòâäàr±íðœ× ¯ÆkÁŽNÔ²4ùaK÷ØÜR qÐÄa¥‚2Bkó›å¦ÚWÜMÜ<,ÿ‹ò34YÖYãÙÓ˜}“ÂØÒôeZK]`û} í¢¥6Ÿd{¦ì #Á¨UNi %· 06½óN^ w4( m*˜Brother MFC-6000,,TT,,0ðaê® Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(+G$¡¡ÔCEUSÔ3|xZ¼g: _3tFeatÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ+G!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òòòÔ€vÙÓvXXÔMake€A€Joyful€Noise€Unto€The€Lordóóó óÐ ° Ðò òòò[Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€Riley:€1961„2008]Ð Ì Ðby€Bill€Ô_ÔKrampeÔ_Ôóóó óÐ è8 ÐÌÔ€»bÀ»vvÙÓÔÔ_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€may€be€dead€and€gone€but€I€often€think€of€her€as€here,€alive€and€well.€€Call€meÐ ( x Ðcrazy.€€But€the€Bishop€of€Victoria,€British€Columbia,€in€the€1990's€as€well€as€St.Ð <Œ  ÐMary's€Astrophysics€Professor€Dr.€Rob€Ô_ÔThackerÔ_Ô,€in€2009,€echoed€each€other€whenÐ P   Ðboth€claimed,€rightfully€so,€that€"We€are€all€stardust.€€The€atoms€of€your€body€haveÐ d´  Ðbeen€through€the€centre€of€a€star:€That€profoundly€connects€you€to€what's€up€there"Ð xÈ  Ð(Professor€Ô_ÔThackerÔ_Ô).€€We€are€all€Ô_ÔstarchildrenÔ_Ô.€€Especially€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€Riley.€€Ð ŒÜ  ÐÌI€also€think€of€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€when€I€reviewed€the€life€and€death€of€another€beloved€ò òòòStreetÐ ´  ÐÔ_ÔFeaterÔ_Ôó óóó,€like€the€issue€that€celebrated€the€life€and€mourned€the€death€of€old€ò òòòStreetÐ È  ÐÔ_ÔFeaterÔ_Ôóóó ó€poet€and€warrior€vendor€ò òòòDominique.€€ó óóóÔ_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€is€certainly€summoned€in€myÐ Ü,  Ðthoughts€here€as€well,€being€an€artist,€whose€work€graced€the€cover€of€the€paper,€onÐ ð@ Ðone€or€perhaps€more€than€one€occasion.€€Also€as€a€writer,€I€recall€her€"Count€YourÐ T ÐBlessings"€article€among€others.€€And€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€was€also€one€of€foremost€warriorÐ h Ðvendors.Ð ,| ÐÌPast€scribe€at€the€paper,€Erin€Wilson€wrote€a€decade€ago€about€how€do€you€measureÐ T¤ Ðthe€value€of€a€life€like€Dominique?€€Perhaps€by€describing€her€in€the€context€ofÐ h¸ Ðcomments€by€Nelson€Mandela€in€his€1994€Inaugural€Address:€"We€are€all€meant€toÐ |Ì Ðshine€as€children€do.€€We€were€born€to€make€manifest€the€glory€of€God€that€is€withinÐ  à Ðus.€€It€is€not€just€in€some€of€us:€it€is€in€everyone."Ð ¤!ô ÐÌStardust€Ô_ÔstarchildÔ_Ô€Dominique?€€For€sure!€€And€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô?€€Most€certainly.€€NeitherÐ Ì# ÐDominique€nor€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€are€dead€and€gone,€they€both€are€shining€down€upon€us€fromÐ à$0  Ðthe€stars.Ð ô%D! ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌAnd€now€for€the€memories€.€.€.snapshots€of€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€.€.€.€.€€A€tall,€imperially€proudÐ €-Ð(" Ðblack€woman€walking€down€Gottingen€Street€on€her€way€to€the€Revival€TabernacleÐ ° ÐChurch€where€she€worshipped€in€testament€and€song.€€And€could€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€raise€theÐ Ä Ðroof!€€I€recall€moments€where€the€tears€flooded€out€of€my€eyes€with€spirituallyÐ Ø( Ðinspired€emotional€intensity,€the€beauty€of€her€voice€was€so€extraordinary.€€I€thoughtÐ ì< Ðshe€would€blow€the€roof€right€off€the€building€and€bust€out€all€the€windows.€€WhatÐ  P Ðstrength,€what€passion,€what€power.Ð  d ÐÌOr€hanging€with€this€writer,€that€is,€me,€Bill€at€the€Ô_ÔSASAÔ_Ô€meetings.€€Ô_ÔSASAÔ_Ô€standsÐ < Œ Ðfor€"Single€and€Single€Again"€(divorced,€now€single€again).€€We€didn't€go€togetherÐ P   Ðbut€we€sometimes€attended€at€the€same€time.€€I€was€married€for€16€years,€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_ÔÐ d´  Ðnever€married.€€Always€looking€for€a€husband,€this€was€one€of€the€things€that€peopleÐ xÈ  Ðknew€about€her.€€And€upon€her€passing,€we€all€are€convinced€the€right€guy€wasÐ ŒÜ  Ðawaiting€in€heaven.€€One€whose€lips€did€not€grace€a€bottle€of€booze,€nor€did€heÐ  ð  Ðimbibe€drugs€or€puff€away€on€smokes,€crack,€pot€or€whatever!€€Now,€according€toÐ ´  ÐÔ_ÔFerneÔ_Ô,€an€absolute€must!€€No€substance€abuses!Ð È ÐÌThese€Ô_ÔSASAÔ_Ô€meetings€were€kind€of€a€hoot.€€For€about€99%€of€the€meetings€thereÐ ð@ Ðwas€much€preaching,€and€homilies€galore,€lots€of€Ô_ÔtentimonyÔ_Ô,€all€kinds€of€piousÐ T Ðsermonizing.€€The€"singles„mingling"€part€of€the€evening€happened€in€the€final€3€to€5Ð h Ðminutes€when€we€vacuumed€down€the€few€"finger"€sandwiches€that€were€madeÐ ,| Ðavailable,€and€tried€to€squeeze€in€a€meet€and€greet€with€the€other€singles€in€the€fewÐ @ Ðseconds€remaining.€€Whew!€€Ô_ÔSomethinÔ_Ô'€else.€Ð T¤ ÐÌAt€the€ò òòòStreet€Feat€ó óóóoffice€we€worked€the€ad€beat€together.€€What€this€involved€wasÐ |Ì Ðselling€ads€to€sympathetic€people,€the€Faith€community,€businesses,€governmentÐ à Ðoffices,€trade€unions,€community€organizations€and€others€to€raise€some€muchÐ ¤ô Ðneeded,€desperately€needed€money€to€finance€printing€the€paper,€paying€the€rent,€theÐ ¸  Ðphone€bill,€etc.€€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€had€the€local€commerce€file,€that€is,€businesses€that€wereÐ Ì! Ðscattered€around€the€old€Bloomfield€School€site€which€morphed€into€a€communityÐ à"0 Ðcentre,€where€the€paper€was€located€for€a€number€of€years€before€moving€to€itsÐ ô#D Ðcurrent€home€here€in€Ô_ÔSpryfieldÔ_Ô.€€For€example,€I€recall€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€chasing€down€theÐ %X  Ðelusive€"Doctor€Clock"€for€an€ad.€€The€last€time€I€checked€a€decade€ago€when€weÐ &l! Ðworked€together,€she€nailed€the€Clock€down.€Ð 0'€"  ÐÌÌÌÌÌHowever,€we€experienced€all€sorts€of€battles.€€Her€Faith€informed€her,€looking€for€aÐ ¨-ø(& Ðspiritual€resolution,€especially€when€we€had€a€spat€over€political€and€economicÐ ° Ðmatters.€€I€kept€insisting€that€those€tall,€isolated,€towers€of€power€operating€withÐ Ä Ðcold,€stainless€steel€logic€and€efficiency€scoffed€at€the€idea€of€goodness€and€mercyÐ Ø( Ðand€kindness€and€love,€and€carried€on€a€profit€motive€at€all€costs€agenda.€€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô'sÐ ì< Ðreply?€€"Such€foolishness!€€Utter€nonsense€and€foolishness!€€Bill€you€are€so€comicalÐ  P Ðat€times!"€€And€at€the€same€time,€we€both€gulped€down€generous€quantities€of€junkyÐ  d Ðsnacks€and€beverages€galore.€€Holy€Ô_ÔjumpinÔ_Ô'€catfish!€€€€€"Bill„„such€foolishness!"Ð ( x ÐÌThen€at€the€Ô_ÔQuinpoolÔ_Ô€MacDonald's,€and€later€at€what€turned€out€to€be€her€finalÐ P   Ðposting€at€the€Dartmouth€Bridge€Terminal€MacDonald's,€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€was€employed€as€aÐ d´  ÐHostess.€€What€a€gracious€Hostess€she€was.€€On€several€weekend€afternoons,€LindaÐ xÈ  ÐCox€and€me€and€the€gang€would€meet€up€there€to€hob€nob€and€schmooze,€and€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_ÔÐ ŒÜ  Ðwould€call€out€and€greet€us€like€emperors€and€empresses.€€Holy€smokes!€€Ð  ð  ÐÌYou€never€felt€lonely€or€like€you€were€just€a€bump€on€a€log€when€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€was€around.€Ð È ÐShe€made€you€feel€good€and€she€provided€much€levity,€good€Ô_ÔjokinÔ_Ô'€around€and€warmÐ Ü, Ðvibrations,€to€say€the€least.€€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô's€good€energy€was€infectious,€or€contagious€andÐ ð@ Ðjust€plain€good,€clean€and€wholesome.€€Now€folks,€you€see,€€I'm€from€New€YorkÐ T ÐCity.€€We€do€inclusion€(mostly)€and€cultural€diversity€and€we€are€a€melting€pot€ofÐ h Ðpeoples€from€all€over€the€planet,€but€we're€a€little€light€on€good,€clean€andÐ ,| Ðwholesome.€€But€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€taught€me€a€thing€or€two€about€the€merits€of€this€idea.€€WhatÐ @ Ða€wonderful€human€being.€€Later,€during€her€funeral€I€also€found€out€€that€she€timedÐ T¤ Ðher€holidays€to€mesh€with€a€children's€program€so€she€could€volunteer€her€time€andÐ h¸ Ðwork€with€the€kids,€when€she€didn't€have€to€punch€the€clock.€€What€a€saint!Ð |Ì ÐÌI€feel€hesitant€about€bringing€this€next€issue€up,€but€I€think€I€would€be€derelict€in€myÐ ¤ô Ðduty€to€ignore€such€a€thing.€€This€is€a€newspaper€about€poverty€and€homelessness,Ð ¸  Ðand€related€matters.€€And€how€the€poor€and€vulnerable€are€treated€in€society.€€I€thinkÐ Ì! Ðsometimes€this€substandard€treatment€is€reflected€in€the€way€the€poor€are€regardedÐ à"0 Ðby€the€health€care€system.€€Triage€seems€to€be€rampant€when€the€at€risk€populationÐ ô#D Ðand€vulnerable€are€regarded€at€the€intake€desk.€€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€went€to€the€doctor€with€chestÐ %X  Ðpains.€€I€don't€know€what€happened€next,€but€I€guess€she€was€sent€home,€where€sheÐ &l! Ðdied€of€a€heart€attack.Ð 0'€"  ÐÌÌÌIt€reminds€me€of€Linda€Ô_ÔMorashÔ_Ô.€€"Go€home,€take€two€aspirins€with€a€glass€of€waterÐ €+Ð&$ Ðand€call€me€in€the€morning."€€Linda€was€dead€soon€thereafter.€€Or€Adam€Ô_ÔComeauÔ_Ô.€Ð ”,ä'% ÐWith€an€injured€cheek,€this€young,€strapping,€bull€strong€fellow€suddenly€was€deadÐ ¨-ø(& Ðof€a€heart€attack€at€the€hands€of€the€provincial€medical€authorities.€€And€what€aboutÐ ° Ðthe€mysteries€surrounding€the€death€of€Michael€Armstrong,€which€some€peopleÐ Ä Ðwhisper€may€have€been€murder€or€at€least€wrongful€death€at€the€hands€of€specificÐ Ø( Ðcivil€servant€officials,€and€others.€€Also€what€about€the€mysteries€regardingÐ ì< ÐÔ_ÔSpryfieldÔ_Ô's€Naomi€Kidston's€demise,€among€many€others€as€well.Ð  P ÐÌToo€many€have€fallen€by€the€wayside.€€But€I€do€not€want€to€end€on€such€a€note,Ð ( x Ðthough€it€is€important€to€make€the€above€criticism.€€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€could€have€had€it€all.€€SheÐ < Œ Ðcould€have€been€world€class,€all€the€way.€€One€thing€about€growing€up€in€New€YorkÐ P   ÐCity,€was€that€among€other€things,€I€was€exposed€to€much€music,€dance,€theatre.€Ð d´  ÐAnd€opera.€€Of€this€I€am€certain.€€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€could€have€had€it€all.€€The€FrenchÐ xÈ  Ðchampagne€and€caviar€dreams€good€life€had€she€wanted€these€luxuries.€€We€couldÐ ŒÜ  Ðhave€been€watching€her€on€ò òòòBravo€ó óóóor€a€ò òòòCBC€ó óóóspecial€television€event€broadcast€fromÐ  ð  Ðthe€opera€stages€of€the€largest€city€centres€of€Europe€and€North€America,€andÐ ´  Ðelsewhere,€but€that€wasn't€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô's€way.€€Her€ambitions€were€spiritual,€not€onesÐ È Ðmotivated€by€a€desire€for€glamour,€as€a€subject€of€a€centrepiece€in€the€artsÐ Ü, Ðmagazines,€or€fame€or€fortune.€€Her€agenda€was€all€about€making€a€joyful€noise€untoÐ ð@ Ðthe€Lord.€€And€for€us€lesser€minions,€as€well,€if€we€were€wise€enough€to€listen.Ð T ÐÌGod€Bless,€Ô_ÔFerneÔ_Ô€Riley!€€May€you€rest€in€peace.€€Thank€you€for€your€time€on€thisÐ ,| Ðsmall,€blue€planet,€and€your€wonderfully,€inspired€example€or€how€to€live€a€life€ofÐ @ Ðjoy,€love€and€faith.€Amen.Ð T¤ ÐÌ[1445€words]