A Canadian and the Mona Lisa

'Mysterious, hidden literary references' found in the Mona Lisa
By ANI | ANI – Fri, 7 Jan 1:20 AM ESTWashington, Jan 7 (ANI): A professor from the Queen's University has stumbled upon literary references in Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

He believes that the work of art incorporates images inspired by the literary works of Roman poet Horace and Florentine poet Petrarch, a technique called 'invention'.

"The composition of the Mona Lisa is striking. Why does Leonardo have an attractive woman sitting on a balcony, while in the background there is an entirely different world that is vast and barren?" asks Ross Kilpatrick.

According to Kilpatrick, the painting alludes to Horace's Ode 1. 22 and two sonnets by Petrarch, all of which celebrate a devotion to a smiling young woman, with vows to love and follow the woman anywhere in the world, from damp mountains to arid deserts - the regions portrayed in the background of Mona Lisa.

He also reveals that da Vinci was aware of the poets and their works and the bridge seen in the background of the Mona Lisa has been identified as the same one from Petrarch's hometown of Arezzo.

"The Mona Lisa was made at a time when great literature was well known. It was quoted, referenced and celebrated," Kilpatrick added.

His findings have now been published in the Italian journal MEDICEA. (ANI)

Municipal Council Minutes Dec. 13 '10

Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesDecember 13, 2010Acaciaville, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe meeting was called to order with Warden Gregory in thechair at 6:00 pm.AttendanceCouncillors present: Linda Gregory, Warden Jimmy MacAlpine, Deputy Warden Randall Amero, Councillor Maritza Adams, Councillor David Tudor, CouncillorStaff present: Linda Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer Gordon Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Cora Lee Bremner, Executive SecretaryPrayerWarden Gregory asked everyone to pause to seek guidance forthe meeting.AgendaWarden Gregory added Marsh Road – Name to New Business.MOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved asamended.MOTION CARRIEDHearings & PresentationsRodney O’Neil & Jeff Nickerson, CookeAquacultureMOVED and seconded that Mr. Rodney O’Neil and Mr.Jeff Nickerson from Cooke Aquaculture come before thecommittee to make a presentation.MOTION CARRIED Mr. Ross Buckler, Vice-President of Cooke Aquaculturewas present as well. Cooke Aquaculture has the largestsalmon farming company in North America and currentlyhas over 2,000 employees. Their current operations have 9 marine farms, and more than 100 employees in NovaScotia. There are 222 spin-off jobs in Nova Scotia from thecurrent level of production. Digby County has 2 farms onein Westport, and one in Rattling Beach. They would like to
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesDecember 13, 2010Acaciaville, Nova Scotia2expand operations in Westport. They have applied for two additional sites. They are looking at 58 new direct full timejobs and 157 new full time indirect jobs. They have been meeting regularly with neighbors, community groups and fishery organizations. They received the local businessexcellence award from the Board of Trade. There was aquestion and answer period following the presentation.There were a number of questions following thepresentation. It was agreed that Council can organize thesequestions into a document to be forwarded to CookeAquaculture so that a written report can be given to Counciladdressing the questions. Warden Gregory thanked themfor the presentation. Break There was a 10 minute break before proceeding to the nextbusiness.MinutesNovember 8, 2010MOVED and seconded that the minutes of November 8, 2010 be approved as circulated.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising/OldBusiness#1 Street LightRequest – 38 Old Route # 217 Loop A request has been received to add a streetlight to 38 OldRoute #217 Loop which is the last pole on the road. It wasmentioned that the bylaw does not allow for the installationof streetlights for safety or security reasons. WardenGregory noted that the road ends after that pole which is aconcern. Council felt that the letter, the way it wascurrently written, does not support the bylaw. CouncillorGregory will obtain another letter and present it at the nextmeeting.#2 Crosswalks on Highway 303 – Letter to Minister fromHarold Theriault The CAO has asked Mr. Theriault’s office to let her knowas soon as they receive a response from the Minister.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesDecember 13, 2010Acaciaville, Nova Scotia3Other BusinessArising NILDeputy WardenMacAlpine No Business ArisingCouncillor Amero No Business ArisingCouncillor Adams No Business ArisingCouncillor Tudor No Business ArisingWarden Gregory No Business ArisingNew Business#1 2011 FCMPlanning Committee –FCM Farewell to NSBreakfast Council suggested that the Town of Digby and the Districtof Clare be contacted to see if they would be interested inpartnering as a Digby County initiative. It was suggested to participate at the $5,000 level and split the costs betweenthe three units. This item would be budgeted in the nextfiscal year.MOVED and seconded that the CAO investigate whetherDigby and Clare are interested in a partnership for theFCM Farewell to NS Breakfast initiative. MOTION CARRIED#2 Digby AreaTourism Association –Proposal to Department of TourismMOVED and seconded that Council fund the Fundy TrailExperience and Enhancements project in the amount of$10,000. It was mentioned that the signage alone would be worth the$10,000. It was also mentioned that the Province waslooking at Northern Point Lighthouse for a destination to beadvertised on the sign as opposed to Whale Watching. MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesDecember 13, 2010Acaciaville, Nova Scotia4MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to MinisterParis, Minister of Tourism, to request that if a destination isincluded on the sign that it reflect the dominated industries.This letter is to be carbon-copied to Digby Area Tourism Association.MOTION CARRIED#3 Digby Municipaland Town – TidalPower MaintenanceOpportunityMOVED and seconded that Council hire a person to workon the tidal power maintenance initiative.  Warden Gregory and Deputy Warden MacAlpine have metwith the Town of Digby who is also taking this request to their Council. It would be a great initiative to work ontogether. The term is for 1 year and it requires 20 hours per week. There is office space available in the Municipalbuilding. It was mentioned that this person could also work on renewable opportunities if time permits. This wouldhappen as soon as a job description was put together and anadvertisement placed. MOTION CARRIED#4 Bear River Board of Trade – Request for Donation or use of Property The CAO has spoken with Doug Wilson who has advised her that the Bear River Board of Trade would prefer toobtain permission from the Municipality to develop the landas opposed to having the land donated to them.MOVED and seconded that the land be leased to the BearRiver Board of Trade in the amount of $1 for a period of 20 years. The CAO will check to make sure 20 years is an appropriateamount of time.MOTION CARRIED It was noted that the property was acquired at a tax sale andthe Municipality has not had any use for it.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesDecember 13, 2010Acaciaville, Nova Scotia5#5 ADEDA – Requestfor Support - $3,300MOVED and seconded that Council support ADEDA’srequest in the amount of $3,300 for the installation of kiosks in the villages of Weymouth, Tiverton, and Westport. It was noted that there are funds available in the economicdevelopment budget.MOTION CARRIED#6 Weymouth Board of Trade – Request to cost share cameraA request has been received to cost share a new camera to tapeMunicipal Council Meetings.MOVED and seconded that the cost-share request for a newcamera from the Weymouth Board of Trade be referred to the budget process. MOTION CARRIED#7 Brook Swift &Sarah Whitenect –Youth Grants PolicyRequestMOVED and seconded that the request from Brook Swiftand Sarah Whitenect be granted according to the YouthGrants Policy.MOTION CARRIED#8 Marsh Road -NameWarden Gregory advised that the Marsh Road is also known asthe Lower Cross Road. 911 have it listed as Lower Cross Road. The CAO noted that the correct name would be listed inNASCAF. The signage all refers to it as the Marsh Road. Theresidents like the name Marsh Road. The CAO will follow upwith the Building Department to see which name is listed in theNASCAF system.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesDecember 13, 2010Acaciaville, Nova Scotia6Chief AdministrativeReportTender Award –Weymouth/Smith’sCover Expansion of Waste Water CollectionBear River WasteWater Treatment Plant– Expansion Options The CAO report dated December 13, 2010 was included inthe COTW Package.MOVED and seconded that the tender for the expansion ofthe Weymouth/Smith’s Cove waste water collection beawarded to the low bidder which was Howard LittleExcavating Limited for the unit price contract in theamount of $ 244,435.95 based on the recommendation of theengineers.MOTION CARRIEDThe CAO wanted Council to be aware that she has been incontact with Annapolis County regarding the agreement thatwas signed concerning the Waste Treatment Plant. The Countyof Annapolis is reading the agreement different. The CAOnoted that when the agreement was signed, they agreed to lend capacity. When the time would come that an expansion neededto be done the Municipality of Digby would expand to cover theportion that they are using. Annapolis County is currentlylooking at an expansion which will be $700,000. The CAO isquestioning how much of this expansion would be Digby’sresponsibility. The CAO has suggested that she meet with a representative from Annapolis County to see how they arefeeling before going any further with it.Request for Decisions/Direction NILDepartment ReportsTaxation The Taxation report for November 2010 was included in themeeting package. Building Inspection Report/Fire Inspection Report The Building Inspection report for November 2010 wasincluded in the meeting package. Airport/Dispatch The Airport/Dispatch report for November 2010 wasincluded in the meeting package. Dog Control Activity The Dog Control Activity and Financial report for
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Committee of the Whole MinutesDecember 13, 2010Acaciaville, Nova Scotia7and Financial ReportNovember 2010 was included in the meeting package. Coordinator ProgramDevelopment The Coordinator Program Development report forNovember 4 to December 9, 2010 was included in themeeting package.Other BusinessN/AUpdates fromPrevious meetingsN/ASpecial ProjectsUpdatesMunicipal Building It was noted that the building is looking very nice.Strategic PrioritiesUpdateNotice of MotionN/AComments from theGalleryAdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 7:39PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK

Municipal Council Agenda Jan. 10

Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaMeeting DateJanuary 10, 2011Meeting LocationCouncil ChambersCall to OrderWardenPause to Seek GuidanceWardenApproval of the Agenda Additions/DeletionsPresentationsGreg Roach, Associate Deputy Minister Deptof Fisheries and AquacultureAlso attending to answer Council’s questions are: Marshall Giles, Director of Aquaculture Dr. Toby Balch, Manger of Aquaculture Development (also responsible for theEnvironmental Management Program) Dr. Roland Cusack, Fish HealthVeterinarian Chuck McKenna, Manager ofAquaculture Policy and LicensingApproval of Minutes December 13, 2010Old Business /Business Arising from Minutes# 1.0 Street Light request – 38 Old Route # 217Loop (follow up letter)# 2.0FCM Farewell to NS Breakfast# 3.0Relocation of Land Registration Office –Letter of response from Minister Jennex# 4.0
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaDeputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsCouncillor TudorWarden GregoryNew Business#1Brier Island Chamber of Commerce Philip Halliday#2Admiral Digby Library& Historical Society Funding Request#3Islands ConsolidatedSchools Funding Request#4Trinity AnglicanChurch Funding Request#5 Digby Pines Tender#6Warden Gregory E-CardsCorrespondenceReceivedInformation Only# 1Municipality of the District of Barrington Education budget cuts# 2 Infrastructure Canadaand FCM New deadline for completion of infrastructure stimulus projects# 3 NS Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal Cost shared paving of subdivision streets 2011-2012#4South West Health Increase in fees for blood collection
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Municipality of the District of DigbyCommittee of the WholeAgendaChief AdministrativeReport January 10, 2011Request for Decisions/DirectionAppointment of Cathy Barr as a MunicipalBuilding InspectorMeeting Dates/RemindersDate & TimeMeetingLocationJanuary 14th1:00 pm to 3:00Open HouseMunicipal BuildingJanuary 17th@ 5:00 pmMeeting with TIRMunicipal BoardroomJanuary 17th@ 6:00 pmBy-law & PolicyMunicipal BoardroomJanuary 24th@ 6:00 pmCouncilCouncil ChambersJanuary 28th@ 7:00 pmJim’s Retirement PartyCouncil ChambersDepartment Reports for December 2010 Administration Taxation Building Department Building Permit Municipal Fire Inspector  Airport/Dispatch Dispatch Call Report Airport Statistical  Dog Control Activity Dog Control Financial  Coordinator Program DevelopmentUpdates from PreviousmeetingsSpecial ProjectsUpdatesStrategic PrioritiesUpdateNotice of MotionIn-Camera Contractual IssueAdjournment