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Remarks: Construction at Dartmouth High School is woefully behind schedule, so behind that construction crews have been working well past midnight, using heavy and loud drilling machinery in a residential neighbourhood. It turns out the contractor, Bird Construction, had no approval to work so late, and after neighbours complained, McMullin ordered an end to the late night work. The project, however, remains well behind schedule.

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Remarks: Nova Scotia is committed to huge reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and yet in the middle of the day, for over a week, the lights outside Government House were left on. McCreery was on vacation, so maybe he’s the one who hits the light switch; regardless, after we called to see what’s up, somebody figured out how to turn them off.

Remarks: A reader sent us this picture of the peeling Timberlea sign, but we’ve seen plenty of others in similar condition throughout HRM. MacKinlay says the signs use coated paper over a wood base that “we were assured would withstand the elements.” Alas, the city wise likewise assured an $8 million underpass and successful Common concerts but, hey, that’s the way thing roll. About 20 of the signs are replaced each year, and Timberlea’s already on order.

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Remarks: A reader sent us this picture of the peeling Timberlea sign, but we’ve seen plenty of others in similar condition throughout HRM. MacKinlay says the signs use coated paper over a wood base that “we were assured would withstand the elements.” Alas, the city wise likewise assured an $8 million underpass and successful Common concerts but, hey, that’s the way thing roll. About 20 of the signs are replaced each year, and Timberlea’s already on order.

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Remarks: Reader Lee Stafford alerts us to these “poorly designed and poorly installed vinyl posters on all of the street lampposts in our neighbourhood” along Devonshire Avenue. The signs promote the new LED traffic lights but, notes Stafford, the vinyl signs will end up in the landfill. The signs were put up by the infrastructure department, but don’t meet the city’s graphic standards and are “not an effective use of signage,” says city spokesperson Shaune MacKinlay. They’ll be taken down.

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Remarks: In an otherwise well maintained stretch of landscaping along Barrington Street, the area in front of the propane tank seems constantly neglected and littered. Samson blames the weird dynamics of interplaying air currents, which funnel all the garbage of the street to this locale, and insists that the area is cleaned daily by people working eight-hour shifts. Hmmm, well, we’ll take his word for it, but maybe a handy trashcan would help.

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Remarks: A reader says the stairway has been deteriorating for some time, to the point that broken nails and wood are sticking out from its steps, and it’s become extremely dangerous. Asked about the stairs, officials at first didn’t know if they were a city or school board problem, but upon investigation the city sheepishly claimed ownership, and said they’d remove the wood and concrete and replace them with grass. Which is probably a good idea since the stairs don’t lead to anywhere.

Remarks: PR and advertising pros insist that “branding” is of the utmost importance---companies go through extensive branding exercises to find the best name, and implement strategies at great cost to protect their brand, lest it lead to confustion. So what’s with Canada Games willy-nilly changing the name of Grand Parade to “Celebration Square” for the duration of the Games? And what’s wrong with the original? It’s grand! Everyone loves a parade! Canada Games hasn’t responded to queries.

Remarks: Corporate sponsorship of events at The Oval is understandable; events like last weekend’s Master Speed Skaters’ Championship aren't open to the public, so the public shouldn’t pay for them. But these ads have stayed up, even through the public skating Monday. City council, which sets the rules, has not approved corporate sponsorship of The Oval itself, and this opens up a whole can of worms about advertising on the Common. We say, emphatically: No ads for public skating! Levy hasn’t responded to a request for comment.

Remarks: Two weeks ago we found a Canada Action Plan sign in front of Ahern Manor had toppled in the wind, and now here’s another in front of Saint Mary’s University split in two and tossed unceremoniously to the ground. Does this indicate that the economic stimulus heralded by the Harper-vetted signs is in chaotic collapse? We say yes. If Harper can’t maintain his signs, how can he keep the country in check?

Remarks: It’s bad enough that GO Time, which was supposed to give us real time bus information, is just some sort of science fiction fantasy, like flying cars, and that the computer screen with scheduled arrival times has been kaput for several months. But now even the old fashioned paper bus routes and schedules have disappeared from the terminal, so, well, screw you, bus riders! As of press time, Patterson hasn’t responded to queries.

Remarks: Earlier this year, the prime minister’s office---on direct orders from Stephen Harper---meticulously tracked the placement of 8,500 Economic Action Plan signs around the country, complete with reports and photos. So, when this sign in front of Ahern Manor on Gottingen Street tumbled over in the wind, we thought we better alert Harper himself, so he can scurry over and right it. Problem is, we can’t phone Harper; his office only accepts email and faxes. Perhaps stimulus money should have go to a new phone line in the PMO.

Remarks: Over the weekend, a fence went up, blocking about a quarter of the lower parking lot, a favourite stop for entering the park or just watching the ships come in. The fenced off area is to be used as staging area for construction in the adjoining port, says Peveril---the southernmost pier is being extended 80 metres in order to handle the bigger post-Panamex ships that the port hopes to lure. The project should take about 18 months, after which the fenced off area will be turned back to parking.

Remarks: Last week, with university classes about to start, some marketing genius at Eastlink decided to paint hundreds of ads on city sidewalks all over town, without asking permission, applying for permits or ponying up some kick-back money, a la bus stop ads. Reashor had hoped the hurricane would wash the ads away, but since it didn’t he ordered Eastlink to pressure wash the ads, and work started Monday. For more on outside advertising, see here.

Remarks: This fence appeared on the wrong side of the bus stop as crews prepare for demolition of the former Queen Elizabeth High School. The bus stop belongs to Metro Transit, but the land under the school will be in Capital Health. In the meanwhile, though, the property is in the hands of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, which has hired a contractor... as of press time, phone calls and emails were zipping this way and that, but still no answer.