The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting feedback on its designated dog off-leash and prohibited areas to help improve amenity for both pet owners and non-pet owners.

In 2020, the council became a dog on-leash shire, introducing 52 designated dog off-leash areas. At the same time, the council introduced prohibited areas to protect the shire’s sensitive native environment from the impact of dogs and cats.

This new consultation – a key action in the council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan (2021-2025) – seeks feedback on how these areas are working and welcomes suggestions for improvement of existing areas, as well as suggestions for new areas to be considered.

Director Planning and Environment Rebecca Stockfeld said the consultation provided the opportunity for feedback from all users of these areas, both pet owners and non-pet owners alike.

“Council strives to support a pet-friendly shire and we have a lot of passionate pet owners, with nearly 14,000 dogs and cats registered within our shire,” she said.

“There are a number of important considerations when it comes to dog on and off-leash areas, and prohibited areas: we need to balance the needs of dogs, dog owners and the wider community, we look at available space and we also consider the impact of pets on the natural environment.

“So with this review, we encourage people to tell us what they think of these areas, so that we can make informed decisions moving forward to best support our residents and our furry friends.”

Under current rules, dogs in public places must be on a leash, unless in designated off-leash areas in accordance with any specified restrictions for that area. Even in off-leash areas, dogs must also be under effective control at all times and should not be left unattended.

Feedback gathered will assist the council in preparing potential activities for inclusion in the next Domestic Animal Management Plan (2025 – 2029), including any adjustments to the dog off-leash and prohibited areas (also known as Council’s Dog and Cat Order 2019).

With input welcome up to August 11, those keen to know more and share their own thoughts should visit the council’s dedicated consultation page via its website.

Detectives from the Vehicle Crime Squad have last week charged a man and seized an electrical bypass, a stolen vehicle, a de-identified vehicle and stolen registration plates as part of an investigation into the rebirthing and export of stolen vehicles.

With assistance from the Illicit Firearms Squad and the Dog Squad, two warrants were executed at factory addresses in Campbellfield on Wednesday, 17 July.

A 39-year-old Meadow Heights man was charged with handle stolen goods and possess drug of dependence.

He was bailed to appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on 19 November.

Investigators seized an electrical bypass, a de-identified Land Cruiser believed to be stolen, a black Holden Commodore which was stolen from Brunswick West in May of this year, stolen registration plates and a small quantity of drugs of dependence.

Investigators will allege the stolen vehicles were being deidentified, rebirthed and transported to Queensland.

An electrical company in attendance at the warrant seized the electrical bypass, disconnected the power to the addresses and issued a defect notice to the occupier.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information on vehicle rebirthing is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 33 000 or make a confidential report using the Crime Stoppers website.

Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald, Vehicle Crime Squad: “The Vehicle Crime Squad will continue to target those contributing to organised motor vehicle crime in Victoria and shut down any illegal activity of this nature.

“Stolen and rebirthed vehicles are often used in the commission of other serious offences as there can be a misconception that offenders are able to move around more easily and without detection. This is not true.

“Victoria Police recognises the significant and long-lasting impact crimes such as vehicle thefts can have on victims and the broader community, and we will take swift action to disrupt and hold those responsible to account.

“We’d also invite anyone with information about this kind of illegal activity to please contact Crime Stoppers – it can be done anonymously, and we’ll continue to act on these reports.”

Hepburn shire residents have helped divert an impressive 275 tonnes of composable material from landfill in the first three months since the shire’s new food and garden organics household bins started being collected.

Hepburn Shire township properties have placed 275 tonnes of material (in the first 12 weeks) in the bins, and it has gone on to be converted in to quality compost for use locally, the council is reporting.

During the same period of time the amount of waste to landfill this year (as compared with the same 12 weeks in April, May and June 2023) has decreased by 100 tonnes – creating less greenhouse gases.

However it seems there is still room for improvement as currently contamination levels are 1.6% (items that should not be in the bins), the council has reported in recent days.

“While this is great, we would love to see it reduced as any contaminants are removed by hand and impact on the quality of compost made,” a post on the council’s social media site observed.

“The team are finding lots of bags and nappies.”

Residents keen to do the right thing and clarify exactly what should – and should not – be going into their green-lidded food and garden organics bins can go to www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/organics

Trentham now has a new EV charger powered by 100% local renewable energy.

The Mechanics Trentham is now hosting the Hepburn Shire’s fourth electric vehicle (EV) charging station thanks to a collaboration between Hepburn Energy, Chargefox and the Hepburn Shire Council.

The new charge point came online in recent days, co-funded through the state government’s Destination Charging Across Victoria (DCAV) program and installed by Jetcharge.

It’s the fourth and final one to be installed as part of the DCAV program in the Hepburn Shire.

The stations are helping the region’s tourism industry become more sustainable while strengthening shire-wide efforts to reach zero-net emissions by 2030 as part of the Hepburn Z-NET partnership.

All of them are part of the Chargefox network, Australia’s largest EV charging network.

Hepburn Energy’s General Manager, Taryn Lane, says she’s excited to see the roll-out contribute to local zero-net emissions efforts.

“We are delighted with the charger’s new location at the Mechanics Trentham and thank council for making this amazing site available for the community charger,” she says.

“Each EV station installed takes a crucial step towards decarbonising local transport and contributing to our Hepburn Z-NET zero-net emissions target for 2030. And with these new chargers, community members and tourists can feel confident making this shift.”

Hepburn Shire Council Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the council was pleased to be working with project partners Hepburn Energy and Chargefox on delivering an additional charging station in the shire.

“We thank the State Government for the funding they have provided to make this project possible, and our local community-owned renewable energy provider Hepburn Energy for stepping up as financial and delivery partners for the roll-out of these important community assets,” Cr Hood said.

“The charging stations delivered across our shire not only help to boost tourism to our region, they will assist us in reaching our shire’s zero-net emissions target and further build on Hepburn’s climate action and sustainability culture.”

Chargefox CEO John Sullivan says that having Hepburn Energy and Chargefox working together was a fantastic example of home-grown innovation and collaboration.

”Hepburn has long been a pioneer in community energy, showing what’s possible when like-minded Australians come together to achieve an ambitious goal,” he said.

“This resonates so closely with the Chargefox story which is why we’re so proud to make these chargers available to everyone through the Chargefox platform.”

Hepburn Shire Councillor Juliet Simpson has tendered her resignation, effective as of this Monday July 22.

Cr Simpson was elected to the Holcombe Ward in 2020, and was elected as Deputy Mayor in November 2023.

She served on the Audit and Risk Committee from November 2022, and also on the Mineral Springs Reserve Advisory Committee and the Heather Mutimer International Women’s Day Honour Roll Advisory Committee from 2020-2022.

Dr Karina Lamb, Acting CEO, said the council would like to thank Cr Simpson for her dedication and service to the community throughout her term, and wish her the very best for the future.

“While Cr Simpson’s resignation creates an extraordinary vacancy in the Holcombe Ward, a by-election will not be conducted so close to the end of the Council term. The seat will remain vacant until the outcome of the General Election to be held on 26 October 2024,” said Dr Lamb.

Community members in the Holcombe Ward are encouraged to contact Mayor Brian Hood or another councillor for support and advocacy regarding local issues: https://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Council/About-Council/Councillors

The council has notified the Minister for Local Government and the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) as per the Local Government Act 2020.

The Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre is about to become more accessible and inclusive thanks to a joint project between the state government and City of Ballarat.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson was joined at the centre last Tuesday by Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison MP to announce the $997,000 accessibility upgrade.

The project will see a number of improvements led by the addition of two Changing Places facilities, along with two other accessible and sensory friendly family change rooms at BALC.  

Doors will also be upgraded to automatic sliding doors for other accessible change rooms, group fitness studios and the health club, as well as an automatic swing door on the ramp to the café.  

Installation of automatic entry gates to replace existing turnstiles will complete the project, which is made possible with a $748,000 grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund and $249,000 from the City of Ballarat.

Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said this project was about providing easy access to the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre for the whole community.

“Ballarat is an inclusive city where diversity is not only accepted but welcomed and celebrated,” he said.

“Figures show about one in six people live with disability. There are around 19,000 people with disability in Ballarat and more than 6,000 people with severe or profound disability live in our municipality.  

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said the funding would enhance accessibility at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre.

“Changing Places facilities enable community members with high support needs to access facilities and remove barriers to their participation. This funding is all about inclusivity and puts out the welcome mat for everyone to enjoy access to the pools at the Aquatic Centre,” she said.

“Funding for two Changing Places facilities at the BALC will make it easier and convenient for people with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of hydrotherapy and swimming”.

Aquatic and Leisure Services manager Gerald Dixon said the announcement of successful funding for the project was a terrific result for the entire community.

“In early 2021, I asked the Ballarat City Council’s Disability Advisory Committee what their experiences at the aquatic centre were like,” he said.

“Their brutal honesty and ongoing feedback on design concepts directly led to this successful bid and a transformation in the way Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre approaches accessibility.”

Words & Image: Supplied

The City of Ballarat has unveiled an attention-grabbing artistic Acknowledgement of Country in the Ballarat Town Hall’s Visitor Information Centre.

Created by local First Nations artist Deanne Gilson, the newly unveiled mural is designed to showcase deep connection to the country’s native flora and fauna.

The Visitor Information Centre welcomes approximately 25,000 visitors annually, with even more people visiting the Town Hall for other business.

The mural encompasses the entrance into the Visitor Information Centre, immersing all who enter into a story of Wadawurrung people in a move symbolic of the first Welcome to Country done post settlement as an act of reclamation and Reconciliation of her culture.  

Above the doorway depicts crows as ancestors, along with King Billy and Queen Mary of Ballarat at the Black Hill lookout, watching over Ballarat.    

To the right the mural depicts Yarrowee Creek, showing how Wadawurrung people survived living off the land for many generations.    

Finally, above the exit the mural shows thirteen original black swans from Lake Wendouree, and the emu constellation moves through the night sky as well showing the seasons changing.    

First Nations artist Deanne Gilson said the 22 paintings showcase a personal connection to Ballarat and will welcome all.

“The mural has a deep family connection to me, showing my mother and extended family, as we gathered during the first Welcome to Country,” she said.   

“The Cultural Tree of Knowledge was created to describe the trees and the stories they hold both past and present, intangible and tangible.”   

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the Visitor Information Centre provides information, directions and storytelling of Ballarat to many visitors and locals every day. 

“The Ballarat Town Hall is a vital piece of Ballarat’s welcome experience, and this is an essential first step to supporting and acknowledging our First Nations people,” he said.  

The Ballarat Information Centre and the Acknowledgement of Country mural is open 7 days a week, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm and weekends from 10am to 4pm.

The centre also showcases a range of locally sourced products within the Made of: Ballarat shop and welcomes all visitors and locals to enjoy the space.   

Words & Image: Supplied   

Alice Anderson and her All Girl Garage are coming to town.

Imagine…1920’s Melbourne – the advent of the motorcar. Society reels from the aftermath of war and a second wave of Spanish flu wreaks havoc on the streets.

Theatres buzz with vaudeville hacks and men with an eye for enterprise seize every opportunity to weasel wealth. Meanwhile, one small woman defies convention and makes her mark.

Meet Alice Anderson. Mechanic. Trailblazer. Entrepreneur. Part history, part farce, part who-done-it, Garage Girls shines a light on one remarkable young woman’s short but eventful life.

Who was Alice Anderson? Why did she drive her baby Austin all the way to Alice Springs? Who were all those women, dressed in greasy dungarees…and don’t they look a little bit like men?

Inspired by actual events and realised for theatre with a healthy dose of magic realism and many colourful characters, played by five actors – Garage Girls is a rollicking ride celebrating a Victorian icon. Welcome to Miss Anderson’s All Girl Garage!

Garage Girls is presented by Three Birds Theatre and The Shift Theatre. It’s a Green Room Award-nominated, independent theatre company established in 2015 by Yvette Turner, Madelaine Nunn and Anna Rodway.

Three Birds has swiftly gained recognition as exciting innovators of sharp, comedy driven theatre, devoted to bringing female focused stories to the stage.

The Shift Theatre is focused on presenting dynamic works with strong roles for women, both from existing texts and in the development of new works. Since 2009, they have produced acclaimed works of longevity with a solid touring history proven regionally, nationally and internationally.

They’re bringing Garage Girls to the stage at Kyneton Town Hall this Friday July 26 from 7pm with more information, including ticketing details, available on the Macedon Ranges Shire website.

Words & Image: Supplied

Ten residents of the Hepburn Shire have taken Australia’s national citizenship pledge or oath in recent days.

In a social media announcement following the event held in the Daylesford Town Hall on Thursday July 11, the Hepburn Shire Council posted: “This is such an important day, and we’re very proud to warmly welcome them to our beautiful region.

“Thank you to Jason Kerr for the wonderful Welcome to Country.

“Our new citizens have come from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, India, the Philippines, and Ireland.”

Words & Images: Supplied

Clunes’ Dot Keller has retired as head curator at the town’s museum after serving in the role and on the committee for many years.

Celebrating Dot’s considerable contribution to the Clunes Museum, in recent days the committee presented the long-serving curator with a thank-you basket.

In a social media post the Hepburn Shire Council also paid homage to Dot’s achievement, posting: “People like Dot donate many hours a week to care for and exhibit our community’s cultural assets and keep them in great condition for generations to come”.   

Richard MacKay-Scollay is now set to serve in the vacated post with the local museum from next month.    

Daylesford’s rejuvenated Central Springs Reserve has reopened to the public as of last week.

In a social media post, the Hepburn Shire Council encouraged visitors and locals to “wander down and enjoy the new mineral spring pumps, view the stunning brass artwork by Timani Nicholls, or fire up the BBQ and enjoy lunch in the new shelter”.

The council also advised that some temporary fencing still remained in place to allow the new turf and creek bank plantings to continue to establish.

Words & Images: Supplied

Pruning, the better way  There’s a perennial gardening question that usually arises at about this time of  year, that is after the “should we really get stuck into the tree with a saw and lop it  right back?”.

And that is the “which format should we aim for – upright central trunk  with branches radiating upwards, a neat, compact choice for smaller gardens, or the  open centred, urn shape, pruned to allow plenty of light in for the fruit?”.  

This works fine in the case of citrus, peaches, nectarines and other semi-tropical  fruits, or where the fruit is sheltered by larger trees or buildings.  

Pruning for the centre leader system really starts in the nursery, where the leader is  not cut to encourage side shoots, but let go, and given proper nourishment it should  grow up to 3-4 metres high, then produce four to six side shoots about a metre  above the ground, in the same year. Four or five buds will develop to supply the side  branches, and they will form the first crown.  

This procedure, repeated every year, will make a multi-storey centre leader tree,  leaving about a metre between crowns, and each crown having one less branch than  the crown below.

This is a very economical and natural way to produce fruit. It also  cuts out sun-scorch damage and splitting by excess crop or wind.

The centre leader  always keeps the balance and acts as a safety valve.  This shape suits all deciduous fruit trees which bear the crop on fruit on old  wood, such as apples, pears, apricots, quinces, European plums, cherries etc.  

Although cherries are best left alone unless it’s desperate, cherries loathe even the sight  of secateurs or saws.  

Nearly all the young trees produced and sold here were developed to grow as  open, multi-branched trees especially for those deciduous trees that bear the fruit on  young wood such as peaches, nectarines and Japanese plums, because of the more  severe pruning needed to produce annual wood, which bears the fruit.  

They do well on this system, providing some secondary branches are allowed to  grow toward the centre of the tree to shield against sun scorch of the main limbs.  

One more small but very important point that can have a great impact on the  future success of the tree’s development is the necessity of its growing small spurs on  the trunk below the first crown.

These are intended to strengthen the main trunk by  preventing the sap from bypassing the main trunk. Usually these spurs bear the first  fruit. After a few years, when they are no longer necessary, they can be cut off.  

The main rule for pruning young trees is to see the main shape by cutting  the main and side leaders to about two thirds so all the buds will grow without  watershoots developing.  

Fruitful fences  

The espaliered orchard is God’s gift to space limited, would-be home orchardists.  If you can’t spread out, then grow upwards and plant them up the fence, see above.  

There is many an ugly garden fence that has been beautified by a trellis full of  flowering or colourful-leafed vines.

So what’s to stop you from training a few fruiting  apple, plum or other fruiting trees up along yours?  

If you have the good fortune of having the timber framework and posts on your  side you’re halfway there – use the rails to support the roll of sturdy galvanised timber  or wooden lattice to support your choice of trees and plant them about three metres  apart.

The rest is a cinch and I’ll give you the details in the next issue of The Local.  

Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden  gmail.com  

By Donna Kelly

I have two quite interesting stories this edition. Well, maybe more, but we’ll see where these end up. First one came to mind after reading Eve’s latest Bushwalks of the Central Highlands.

I hope you are enjoying the reads, I certainly am. I can imagine people tearing them out and making a little folder about where to head when the weather improves. Although that doesn’t seem to slow down Eve and her faithful companion Paddy H.

Anyway, I read this one and enjoyed that she liked the lovelocks on the bridge at Lake Daylesford. You read a lot about fake news these days but that was something we dreamed up when we started The Local.

I had been reading about bridges around Europe being weighed down by so many lovelocks they were going to have to start cutting them off. And I thought, what if Daylesford had a lovelock bridge?

So we asked a couple we know and they posed with the sun behind them as they sealed their love with a lock.

And we added a few more, one for us, one each for Rosie and Curly, maybe one for my mum and dad. And slowly, but surely, the locks grew in number and they became “a thing”.

I even thought about setting up a little lock stall on weekends but then I remembered I don’t like the general public so that put paid to that.

A few years later some knob cut the wires and slid many of the locks into the lake, but the council repaired the wires and back the locks came. All nice and new.

We put a few more back on as well. Seeing we started it and all. So that was fun to read – like when someone quotes something back to a journo they have read “somewhere” and it was written by that journo. Little thrills and all that – just to get you through.

The other interesting story, well funny in a way, also came from Eve. She sent through a story about plantings at Creswick Creek in Clunes. And it got me thinking. I was either working for The Courier at Ballarat or The Advocate at Daylesford and was called to the Clunes Bowling Club one morning to photograph an act of vandalism.

Over I went and arrived at the club to hear the sad tale. Someone, after the club had cleared quite a few saplings from the creek, had got their knickers in a twist and poured sump oil on the carefully tended green.

Club members had tried to help out by dumping white kitty litter on the oil in an attempt to soak it all up. Good idea, sort of.

Inside I talked to a very clearly upset president, an older gentleman who said he couldn’t believe it when he arrived at the club and saw the metre long letters spelling out the word CLUNES.

“Donna, who would do such a thing?” he asked. I looked around the room, wondering who would help me out. Everyone just looked down at the floor and I realised it was up to me, as a journalist and with my code of ethics, to tell the truth.

“Hmmm,” I said. “It doesn’t say Clunes.” The president looked at me blankly and asked “well then, what does it say?” Again, no help. “Hmmm. It does start with a C and ends with an S but it’s not Clunes.”

I don’t think we ran the photo. Just sayin’…

with Clive Hartley

Shiraz on the nose

‘Man the barricades!’ and prepare to defend Australian shiraz. In the recently published National Vintage Report for 2024 white grapes increased to 51% of the national crush and was higher than red grapes for the first time in a decade. 

A decline in shiraz production was the cause, it has decreased by a whopping 48,000 tonnes. Barossa and Clare valleys in South Australia were amongst the worst hit areas, but it is a wide- spread problem.

I’ve been talking to vignerons in other states and some shiraz vineyards were not picked this year as buyers couldn’t be found for the grapes. Chardonnay was the largest produced grape variety, overtaking shiraz which declined by 14%, making the 2024 the smallest crush since 2007 (Winetitles Media).

So, we need to come out and support our most famous red grape. Let’s face it, with the temperatures currently hovering around zero it is a great time to drink red wines.

To enjoy the best locally grown shiraz you should try Granite Hills. It is the epitome of cool climate shiraz. Alternatively, look at the wines Glenhope Vineyard are producing, such as their Granitic or Ferrosol Shiraz (both $38).

If you want to taste Crozes Hermitage, but not travel there, then go for the 2021 Sutton Grange Syrah ($65), it is savoury with struck match notes as well as green peppercorns and black cherries.

I also recently positively reviewed the ‘growers range’ of wines from Place of Changing Winds, which source fruit from Heathcote and Harcourt.

Take a trip to nearby Grampians and Pyrenees and you have a plethora of wines to choose from. Best’s Bin No 0 is a classic and their 2021 is outstanding, displaying cassis, blackberries, cinnamon and nutmeg aromas.

Refined and elegant on the palate makes it approachable to drink now. Staying in the Grampians, Mount Langi Ghiran Hollows Shiraz 2018 at $30 a bottle is good value and has savoury flavours and soft tannins.

Their Cliff Edge Shiraz 2020 ($35) is also a decent drop and has cedar, dried herbs and plenty of rotundone, the compound behind the smell of white pepper. In the Pyrenees region, Summerfield have a reputation for producing some good full-bodied traditional reds, and Taltarni do a meaty, vanilla-driven Old Vine Shiraz.

In Sunbury, if you haven’t tried Craiglee Shiraz then you are missing out. Also, local winemaker Jean-Paul Trijsburg sources fruit from Sunbury to make his 2021 Syrah ($30). The wine has lifted green peppercorns and spice on the nose.

Clive Hartley’s Australian Wine Guide (7th ed) is available for purchase from Paradise Books in Daylesford or via his website – www.australianwineguide.com.au

If you need cheering up don’t read this column – it contains the misery- infused thoughts of a middle-aged bloke who has just realised he has no control over his world. 

It also reflects that after four and a half years of remaining vigilant, staying away from people and being hyper-aware, I have contracted Covid.

Although apart from the things that you do differently if you have a cold or a flu’, like the testing and locking yourself away like Typhoid Mary, I have escaped the awfulness of the bug. I have had a mild sore throat, a couple of overnight body aches and a bit of sweating.

I have also passed it on to the wife who has come out of things largely unscathed as well and for this we know we are lucky.

Speaking of lucky and a jarring segue, we do live in the lucky country and within the lucky country, one of the luckiest districts in the Central Highlands.

But I have been watching with interest the news around tobacco stores getting firebombed down in the city – it is almost as if there is a new fire every time I flash up the TV.

There is obviously a little skulduggery going on although some of the vision is almost on the entertaining side with bandits lighting themselves up as well.

But by and large this must be heartbreaking for the business owners, with the illegal dealing in ‘darts’ being at the heart of the problem.

I don’t confess to knowing the ins and outs of the criminal ciggie commerce but it’s reported to be a third of the bunga trade that is illegal, which makes for a very profitable portfolio from cancer sticks.

If you Google a little deeper, you will find the police are running around busting the bandits and relieving them of their stash of smokes and the usual guns and cash that accompany such dealings.

There are also reports some of the cleverer criminals who have gone into cropping not too far from here. But why has this suddenly become a problem, a turf war and battle for control of that extremely lucrative black market?

It seems the government and previous governments are to blame. In an effort to tax the fag out of existence they have created a problem where there was none.

Yes, smokes aren’t good for you, but tobacco isn’t illegal. And I can brew my own beer, wine and spirits at home. And alcohol is proven to have large social consequences. People beat up on each other, drive cars that cause massive damage and ponder why it is they haven’t taken up professional dancing earlier.

But we are still allowed to brew, buy and generally write ourselves off every other night in an effort to think life’s not such a hard slog. And yet it is illegal to grow tobacco in Australia without the appropriate excise licence. It seems to be all about the tax.

The government is so hell bent on keeping its tax, even though the market is declining, that they are causing harm to the community they are supposed to protect.

I don’t for one minute believe they are trying to protect the youth from the perils of vaping, they are just trying to figure out a way to tax it. Don’t get me wrong, I think that smoking and vaping are equally bad, and at some point a weight on our health system.

But I like a wine and at what point will they tax the substance so heavily that it will drive it underground, gangland style?

Prohibition by taxation doesn’t work, it never has, humans will always find a way around the rules and those that rise to the top will make a tidy little profit on the way. Rollies rant over…

(Ed’s note: I blame Kyle for bringing home Covid. Had a massage with an unhappy ending.)