Resident Sabotages Town with Vandalism

As if Knowlton doesn't have enough challenges already it seems that someone has taken it upon themselves to vandalize the new signage directing visitors to the new public market in Knowlton. The signs are brand new and were placed on Lakeside near the beach, in front of City Hall on the corner of Victoria and on Knowlton Road. The signs were put in place to help visitors and residents find the new and popular Saturday Lac Brome Farmers Market which is now officially part of the joy of living in the Eastern Townships; visiting the small tucked away markets and Eastern Townships farmers markets like the one in Sutton.

Just when most of us thought there was only one "Village Idiot" in town it seems there may be another nimrod seeking the limelight! Vandalising public property? Hmmm...tearing and painting signs directing traffic to a Marketplace at night could be called juvenile delinquency but that would be an insult to juveniles!

Most people in Brome Lake are glad to see such a beneficial attraction in town. Every Saturday visitors come early to buy fresh produce and meet friends in the outdoor, relaxed atmosphere of the local neighbourhood market, and the streets are full of vibrant and happy people who enjoy bringing their recycled shopping bags and communal sentiment together to rejoice in the fellowship of the market. The children love it and young and old alike share a peaceful few hours together in the new market on Bruce Street.

Before the market came Saturday morning were typically quiet with only the usual gar(b)age sales happening in what seemed like a never-ending stretch of junk sales and ram shackle tables set-up on Knowlton Road with a hodge-podge of hawkers trying to make a few cents by cleaning out their attics.

When the enthusiastic Henri Laban took the initiative with the backing of the Town of Lac Brome and created the Market in Knowlton it was seen as a positive step; with so many stores vacant due to the often high rents of absentee landlords it was good to see something positive take seed in Knowlton.

But now, for some reason, someone has decided to vandalize the lovely signs directing traffic to the market. Yep...believe it or not...some idiot tore down the red arrow signaling the way to get to the market. To stop confusion the town had to repair the sign quickly as it looked very sad indeed plus the sign without the arrow was no help at all but no sooner had the sign been repaired that the same moron decided to spray paint over the sign, completely ruining it and making it look like some failed juvenile attempt at making a statement!

This person then spread paint over the sign in front of our lovely City Hall! Goodness...this is the first thing many tourists see when they come into town! What were they even thinking? I think the person who did this was trying to make a statement but the statement that comes across most clearly is "I am a complete stupid ass!" I mean, What sort of dim-wit would first cut and then spray paint over not one but two important signs in Knowlton? That is a question perhaps only a professional with qualified abilities to diagnose mental deficiency could understand!

But wait...for someone to go through the trouble of vandalising property in Knowlton they must really be upset (we've already established they are stupid so let's pretend they have some reason to be upset) and therefore maybe consider that they have a motive to do such damage. What could be the reason that someone in Knowlton would crawl out of their house under cover of darkness like a coward and destroy the hard work of someone else? Who would have such an axe to grind?

I am no Hercule Poirot but it doesn't take more than two twists of my moustache to deduce two possibilities as to whom is behind this idiotic vandalism:

Hypothesis 1: A local business is upset because the market features out-of-town businesses who come into Lac Brome to visit the market once a week thus enjoying the sudden surge of visitors yet they have little rent or taxes to pay and thus take business away from the resident businesses in Knowlton.

Ok...if this is the case then a local business owner is making the town look like a backstreet in Saint-Henri! This won't help anyone as the market brings in visitors who certainly do the tour of Knowlton so in the end everyone benefits. Most business owners would realize this and so it seems unlikely but still...would a local business owner be so lacking in creativity to actually think that vandalism was a bright idea? Sounds unlikely doesn't it?

Hypothesis 2: A local resident who lives near the market is upset because suddenly their Saturday mornings are interrupted by the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.

If one of the residents on the street objects to the Market then they should take it up with the Town under the proper rules of engagement and not resort to cowardly actions like vandalism and graffiti; which are some of the lowest form of expression requiring no special skill or even intelligence.

If a resident doesn't like the market then approach those who organize it! Don't make the whole town look bad by vandalising the signs! That is so pathetic it makes me wonder who it could be on that street that objects to a lively family event once a week...are are they so closed minded that they think everything should fit into your little bubble of silent reality? Even that sounds beyond possibility.

But still...these are the only two scenarios that get my "spidey senses" tingling!

There are many people who rely on the market every week for their livelihood including the part time help who get up early every week-end to come to Knowlton. Maybe if whoever destroyed taxpayer property would look out beyond their belly-button they would see that Knowlton needs things like a market to encourage visitors and create a vibrant community and we should be glad to have people like Mr. Laban who helped create the event.

If anyone knows who is behind such acts of cowardice then perhaps you could try and talk real slow to the person responsible so they understand that painting and ruining property is not the way to make a point! Step up to the plate and be a man and use the proper channels to voice your objections; newspapers, town meetings, billboards, are some traditional way, heck you could even create a ranting internet blog and voice your displeasure! But destroying property is beyond comprehension.

Lac Brome is trying to build a solid economy and our tax dollars are needed in important areas around town for road construction and lake restoration; the merchants do what they can and special events like the market are bonuses for Knowlton that bring in people and money into our town.

We need positivity and not people bent on destruction for self-indulgent and egotistical reasons! I for one hope that the person responsible for this destruction of property is unmasked so I can offer them them free tickets to the Dr. Phil show for some much needed therapy!

All we can say to the person marring our town is: SHAME ON YOU!

**And if the person responsible feels they have a valid reason to not want the Market to take place then I challenge you to share your name and reveal your motives...sign your name here and leave a comment on this blog!

Remember the Knowlton Public Market is open every Saturday from 8am to 1pm starting running to October 6th. The Market is located just down the street from the vintage corner store, Flannegans, at 40 Maple Street. Ask anyone in town where the market is...we'll be glad to show you the way! While in Knowlton don't forget to visit the local businesses who work hard to make Knowlton what it is!

Read More About The Knowlton Summer Market