TAKE A SEAT AS ROTARY UNVEILS ‘ROCK THE BARGE’ DONOR STONE THURSDAY AT 1:30 P.M.

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Seagulls basking on The Barge in the late afternoon sun today were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Sitting and watching from shore as they danced and squawked was like being entertained by a troupe of fluttering ballerinas.

Swan Lake on Gull Lake.

Carefree and alone. Not an audience to behold.

Just a big, blue plastic bag swaying in the breeze in the field above aside a contrasting sandy volleyball court beneath towering pines.

That won’t be the case tomorrow afternoon when the Gravenhurst Rotary Club officially wraps up its summer 85th anniversary seating project. And a hundred or more descend.

Big blue, big yellow, big day for Rotary Rocks the Barge Thursday Sept. 26 as the donor stone is unveiled at 1:30 p.m.

Rotary Rocks the Barge has had its ribbon cutting and cake in July.

But Thursday afternoon following their noon weekly meeting in Gull Lake Rotary Park’s Rotary Gazebo is when the public will be formally thanked for their more than $400,000 in donations to revitalize the band stand’s hillside with amphitheatre seating for 500.

After a hit-filled summer that brought concert crowds closer to the Barge and the performers and drawing record seating on the embankment it’s time to unveil the names of major donors who contributed more than $1,000 and upwards of $10,000 and more.

Like Rotarian Norm Rippon, who spearheaded the project and is being recognized by members beforehand at their meeting.

The 1:30 p.m. unveiling is the communities chance to be recognized — which means pretty well everyone in town who has given to Rotary charitable fundraisers that the club has used to build the granite seating enjoyed so much this year.

Many of the names on the rock are Rotarians themselves who have given cash in addition to this “Service Above Self.” Along with the town’s support.

Join them for another milestone in the history of the park.

All are welcome.

Take your seat and enjoy it some more.

There’s plenty of room onshore now.

This is what your money has bought your culture community. A place to set your lawn chair down on and enjoy the greatest free concert venue in Ontario each Sunday night in the summer. A 75-year tradition.

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