In recent months users of the Gumboot have been seeing, and responding to, an influx of articles and comments from 'people' apparently new to Quadra, who have taken a dark view indeed of just about everything they've experienced thus far on our island. These articles started to come in early this summer, and while we didn't agree with their content, we believed in upholding the tenets of freedom of speech. On several occasions we advised the author(s) to dispense with slander and reframe their articles if they wanted them uploaded. We then re-published the Gumboot Content Policy, and have now put out the word that material will only be uploaded if it is signed in full and the author includes a current email address.

Nonetheless, an article was uploaded this week that should not have seen the light of day. Many disgusted readers responded to 'Funky Phil's' latest offering, a so-called review of Sunday's outdoor concert at Café Aroma. The article slammed just about everyone in attendance, but saved the most mean-spirited vitriole for the generous island artists who performed – for free – all afternoon.

We made a mistake in uploading this article, and we send a heartfelt apology to our readers, to all the people who gathered last Sunday for a very special island event, and especially to the musicians. Shane Philip, Art Vipond and Smokey Dymny: thank you for offering your time and talent and your big-hearted music for this community. To Randy Volk and friends at Café Aroma, kudos for hosting a fabulous outdoor music-and-dance-fest. It was yet another terrific Quadra happening.

Speaking of apologies, we believe that Ash himself owes quite a handful to the artists, performers, businesses and residents of this island he has been slagging for sport since his arrival. In addition to the above-mentioned article, it has now become apparent that this and many other negatively-focussed submissions are from the same source of toxic creativity (under the names of 'Ash', ‘Ashley Lind’, 'Funky Phil', ‘Bob & Carol', 'Del-Boy', and 'Ryan'). We have no further responsibility to upload any of ‘their’ material – not only is it mean-spirited, it's fraudulent. So, Fake 'Funky Phil' with your legion of pseudonyms and the contrived conversations amongst them – the game's up. The pages of the Gumboot are not a soapbox for one man's inbred sense of caustic self-amusement, and your material has been removed from the site.

It's our intention that the Gumboot will continue to strengthen and grow as it has done this past 15 or so months since our launch. We are your community-based, family-friendly webzine of everything that makes this island rock! So bring on your voice to the Quadra cyber-mosaic – words and pictures and music and events that reflect the authentic heart of this amazing community.