From the Desk of Murray Lincoln

Thursday, March 15, 2012

My World was Shaken

Terri-Lynne McClintic - Murderer

My World was Shaken

Each Wednesday I sit at the Peterborough Square showing my wood carvings, tatting and creative things that I make. A popular one now is the art work that I am designing for the Rubber Stamping that people use to make their cards.

On the display table I have my full set of Misty Hollow Wands (that look a lot like Harry Potter Wands – but are much better..) The Misty Hollow Wands draw people to the table like a Magnet.

At one point a young girl I’ll call “Lilly” stopped to look. Her Grandma was with her. They told me how Lilly had just finished watching all the Harry Potter movies with her mom. This was School Break and her mom had time with Lilly… a girl’s thing together.

Lilly has dark hair, a big smile with some teeth coming into places where the baby teeth used to be. She isn’t tall yet and has no need to dress like a teenager that is trying to be beautiful or be like someone that she isn’t.

Lilly is beautiful the way that she is.

When she told me her name, she beamed.

We talked about what she liked in Harry Potter. She came alive in those short few moments with me as she shared her life. I am a Grandpa and I love kids… and kids talk to me easily.

Then I asked Lilly how old she was.

She beamed from ear to ear and said, “I am eight.”

It was at that minute in time that my world was shaken deeply. I must have stumbled before I said anything because Lilly watched me… as did her Grandma.. I replied with, “Wow, that’s great!”

Lilly and Grandma left… and I packed up to go home. But I couldn’t stop thinking of Lilly.

That morning I had just read the account of the court proceedings as Michael Rafferty is standing trial for the murder of young Tori Stafford. His girlfriend’s testimony had been reported in the newspaper by Rosie DiManno.

I had read how Rafferty had brutally raped Tori in the back seat of his car as his girlfriend Terri-Lynne McClintic watched his bare behind sticking out the little car’s open door. I read how Terri-Lynne had promised the little girl it would be alright… and even started holding her hand as Rafferty raped her again, with the young girl screaming…

Then I read how Terri-Lynne claimed that she placed a bag over the young girl’s face and smashed her head with a hammer to kill her…

Yesterday morning I nearly died as I read the vivid account of the rape and murder of Tori.

When Lilly looked at me from her beauty and beamed saying, “I am eight…” _ I couldn’t speak.

Tori Stafford was eight as well… and likely was very much like Lilly.

I have tried to stop thinking of Tori and Lilly… but I can’t. They are both etched deep into my mind.

Tori is now safe away from this horrific scene – but she is gone. In my mind she is tucked into a heavenly place well away from the horrors that she last new in her own short life.

I am pretty sure that Rafferty’s and McClintic’s names will not be on that roster for that heavenly place – at least it appears to be so in my small mind.

I also know that when Mr. Rafferty arrives at Millhaven Prison for his assessment before entering his long stay, a whole lot of people there will know him well. Many watch TV like I do… Now there is an outside chance that he will be fast tracked to the range that the other very sick people now live forever. I wish him a long life of nothingness… and that will happen in his prison cell 23 ½ hours per day forever…
So you question my thought that he is guilty before being found guilty in the court he now sits in each day...?

No problem at all… he will be found guilty and he will pay dearly… that is my best guess. Just what he pays for and his part in this crime against an 8 year old and the rest of society… is up to one jury… and one judge… and then a prison filled with really bad people that all know….

Tori Stafford I am so sorry for what happened. I am appalled that our society and all that it offers produces the Rafferty and McClintic types of sick people.

God help us all.

Terri-Lynne McClintic - Tori Stafford

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1146464--tori-stafford-murder-trial-drug-addled-mcclintic-offered-to-take-fall-for-beau?bn=1

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/1145153--tori-stafford-murder-trial-key-crown-witness-terri-lynne-mcclintic-takes-the-stand-today

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1145839--tori-stafford-accused-killer-s-girlfriend-admits-bludgeoning-child-to-death

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Lorax and Me

As I sat last evening in the darkened theatre a whole lot of memories came flooding back. I was young again – very young. I had two little girls with me in this memory and both were excited about the movie we were watching. That was the memory. The girls were my daughters about 35 years ago… oh boy.

The movie theatre wasn’t a memory, it was a reality… and last evening was filled with kids of all ages… but mainly little kids of all ages.

Alida and I were sitting in one very full and packed out place with young families as we watched “The Lorax”… a knock out movie about trees and a kid that cares for one last tree nut to plant the one last tree.

The story is good for kids to hear… and it was Dr. Seuss telling it for us.

The music was great and the story line simple.

The number one thing that blew me away was the colour, the illustrations and animation. I was in overload by the time that it was over.

You should have seen the popcorn on the floor and the garbage. Think of your rumpus room with 300 kids in it for two hours… and think of the spills and the ooops… and then think no one stops to clean it up but simply walks in it after it is over.

Hey – last night I was young again… I giggle with the two 8 year old boys sitting beside me… and all the rest that laughed out loud in the theatre at certain times.

I highly recommend this one – you will love it. Take a kid with you if you can. If not become a kid for few hours. It will take years off your old body and mind.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Seeing things differently

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/

* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
Seeing things differently

My friend Jason called to tell me that he has been approved to possibly get a new kidney and a pancreas. It could happen by August of this summer 2012.

Can you imagine!

And Jason told me that if it goes well he will be off the dialysis machine when the new kidney begins to work.

And are you ready for this… Jason may also get new eyes as well. They have talked to him about the procedure and what he might be looking at as to recovery time.

Jason has stopped smoking a year ago and has gained the weight back. He was down to a skin and bones kind of person… but now is up to 205 pounds. He has long hair down to his shoulder blades and he tells me his taxi driver calls him “Jesus”. “Imagine a fat, blind, Jesus in a wheel chair”, Jason said.

Jason has not lost his humor.

The day that I took him into Toronto for his last few major eye checkups… which was a few years ago, was a hard one for both of us. We both were hoping for his vision to improve. And it was on that fateful day that the last bit of horrible news came. The specialist told Jason that we would go blind in the next few months. The rapid deterioration of his eyes was happening very quickly now. Because of the diabetic condition that he has there was nothing that they could do for him.

The news was terrible to say the least. I knew it would be. The earlier reports had been giving no hope at all. This was the final test.

Jason was quiet as we rolled him down the hallway.

When we rolled into the elevator and the doors closed, he asked me a question that I had no answer for…

“Pastor Murray, do you think there is a possible need for a Blind Guy that can’t walk, that sits in a wheel chair, rolls out on to the stage and is a comedian?” he asked.

Jason can’t see… yet. He spends a whole lot of time at the hospital and having his kidney function done by a machine.

Soon that may all change. I certainly think that it is something to look forward to… I certainly do.

As I write this I can see with two eyes. I can eat what I want within moderation.

I needed Jason in my life to realize what I have… and how my attitude is a huge part in the way that I live.

Today I see differently.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Monday, March 12, 2012

My Goal – “Learn something new today.” – Guilloché or Guiloché

The possibilities are endless. I wish that I was younger and could have known about this many, many years ago! Oh boy!

So why bother doing this in my retirement? Shouldn’t the young people be able to do this easier than you can? Maybe. But it is fun knowing something that 99% of the young and old friends of mine have no clue about!

I will be using this method in creating wings for some of my Angels and Fairies that I am now drawing. Doing this tedious drawing by hand takes time… but by letting the machine do the work… it is only a few clicks away.

My dad told me a long time ago, “Murray, don’t be afraid to learn something new.” I have lived by these words for the better part of my 68 years of life.

I have added one more great saying that I picked up in the last years as well. “Learn something new each day, it will keep you young!”

So Guilloché is my latest and greatest achievement this week… at least in the last two days and here it is for the public to see.

But then I have been working on another new thing as well. Here is my very first graphic illustration done completely in the key board. Up to now I have hand drawn my illustrations with a pencil and pen on my paper. This little fairy is 100% computer drawn – still with my hand but none of the traditional art equipment.

Wahooo!!!! It worked well.

Today I am about to do one more new thing. It will take a little bit of reading, along with a whole lot of hands on and a few headaches along the way. But I can’t wait.

What are you learning today?

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilloch%C3%A9

More of my Guilloché...

Sunday, March 11, 2012

“Facebook can be depressing – this week for sure – BUT…”

Saturday, March 10, 2012

My CAC and the My Involvement in Our CAC

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/

* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
My CAC and the My Involvement in Our CAC

Yesterday I quickly explained that I was on a “ride-a-long” with someone from the Parole Office. I did this as part of the CAC – the Citizen Advisory Committee to which I have served with in Peterborough, Ontario for 13 years now.

You can look at the Link given below in the Resources area of my Blog to read more about the CAC.

I am 1 of about 500 people across Canada that does this task. From what you can read on the CSC Web Site(the Link below) our groups across Canada number about 100

Yesterday with the Manager of the Parole Office, Nancy, we visited different business in the downtown core of the Peterborough. It was introduction day for Nancy and also some of the key businesses of our city. In the next few weeks our Parole Office will be closing where it has been for a number of years. During April it will take up its new facilities… moving a short distance to the east and a bit north.

The meetings yesterday went very well and we connected with some great leaders in our community. Very positive was the best way to say it.

As a Citizen why bother to get involved with this group. I mean it is a Federal Government Department, what do they care about what people think or not? I mean doesn’t the Government pretty well do what they want when they want?

The above reflections are pretty much what some people think.

I can testify to fact that the Federal Government’s “Correctional Service Canada” does care what people think.

They also care about community safety and they care about Offenders that are charged, tried, convicted and then become inmates at the Federal Institutions across Canada.

And maybe most important they care about the Victims of the Crime that was committed by the Offender. Along with that care is the community at large, the community that the Ex-Offender returns back to after he is released from prison.

My small role is to help in the community when the man or woman returns to the place they used to live. Or in the case of some as they settle into the new community where they may come to serve the residency clause that the Parole Board may require when he is released – living the Halfway House.

The CSC Web Site states this about me and the other 499 folk that help them… quote…
“Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs) contribute positively to the correctional process by interacting with staff of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), the public and offenders, and providing impartial advice and recommendations to CSC.
Citizen Advisory Committees and Volunteers are vital to the proper functioning of the Correctional Service of Canada.” End quote.

In this role I connect with our Parole Office Staff as they carry out their duties in our community. I get to know them personally and listen carefully to what they are dealing with.

I can testify to the fact that the Peterborough Parole Office and its staff have an excellent record of dealing with the men that come back from prison. I can say that because I have witnessed what they do personally for the past 13 years. And it is good.

Does that mean that there have been no problems with men that have come from Prison and back to our community? No not at all. There have been problems. Men have done things that have broken the conditions that they were to live under. The Parole Staff then very efficiently and quickly deals with the situation and the man has a ride back to prison.

One of the Parole Officer’s goals is to keep the community safe. They personally live in the community and raise their families here, why wouldn’t they want the same things that the community wants.

My small task is to watch all of that happen.

This new move always has the potential to be difficult for the community. Change is not easy. It also has the possibility of being hard on the Staff. They will be making a move of their lives from one area to another – almost like a whole new job for a few months… yet they still have to maintain the high level of service they offer to the ex-offender and the community.

The last thing they want or need is for the community to be upset with the transition taking place.

That was our reason for the meetings of yesterday.

My role is a quiet one… and yet at times I do make presentations and often speak about what is happening around me. I don’t give out names and details but I can tell you what is taking place in our community to keep it safe.

Yes, I am excited about what I do in this volunteer role. It may be just about the best thing that I have ever taken part in.

And YES – Peterborough has the greatest staff of Parole Office Personnel that there is in Canada… but I am a little partial I admit.

Finally – thank you to our Parole Office Staff members across our Nation. As a citizen I have witnessed firsthand what you do… and it is good! And I have also witnessed what the CSC Staff inside the Institution does as well. They are simply amazing as well! Thank you to all of you!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource:
http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/cac/index-eng.shtml

From the Desk of Murray Lincoln

Thursday, March 15, 2012

My World was Shaken

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Lorax and Me

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Seeing things differently

Monday, March 12, 2012

My Goal – “Learn something new today.” – Guilloché or Guiloché

Sunday, March 11, 2012

“Facebook can be depressing – this week for sure – BUT…”

Saturday, March 10, 2012

My CAC and the My Involvement in Our CAC

Friday, March 9, 2012

Ride-a-long with a Parole Officer

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