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Hey Sleuth fans, get ready for a double dose of mighty winds this weekend. First, we'll have to stand tall against the tropical storm winds of Hanna as it blows through Sunday, then we'll have to stand back as Hurricane Harper sends us into six weeks of turbulence.

Although the federal campaign will only officially begin tomorrow when the prime minister visits Gov-Gen. Michaëlle Jean, the unofficial run to the Oct. 14 vote has been under way for at least two weeks.

In Metro Moncton, sources tell Sleuth that incumbent MP Smilin' Brian Murphy has been preparing steadily since mid-summer. Murph' was a huge winner in 2006 but those in the know say he is taking nothing for granted this time around.

For starters, all Liberals are edgy about the role their leader Stéphane Dion will play in the campaign. Early poll results aren't looking good, with Dion trailing even NDP leader Jack Layton among support. Backroom Liberals are also worried how the party's Green Shift will play with voters.

Dion thought he had cornered the governing Conservatives on the environment issue, but his solution has so far failed to resonate with voters.

Adding to Murphy's concern is the quality of his main competitor. Daniel Allain is well-known and liked by just about everyone who knows him. Heck, even Murphy says he's a swell guy.

He's well-connected with both the provincial and federal bureaucracies, is an engaging talker and has the Bernard Lord machine behind him.

Sleuth predicts a classic struggle that may come down to how local voters feel about the federal leaders more than either of the two local candidates.

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Sleuth loves good gossip from City Hall and this week he heard a great one. The City of Moncton has a progressive program that provides funds for art in public buildings. A certain percentage of the overall cost of a municipal building must go toward suitable art.

The newest city facility is the impressive stone fire station just about to open on Botsford Street near the Wheeler Boulevard intersection. So just what type of artistic statement does the city have in mind for it?

Sleuth has been sworn to secrecy but let's just say when the art is finally unveiled, taxpayers may chirp it's "for the birds".

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The new civic administration in Dieppe has been trying to get runaway spending under control since taking office in May. So the e-mail Sleuth received from a Dieppe resident this week had this old gumshoe scratching his head. Is there any truth to the rumour the city is installing water pipes from the wells they drilled in Lakeville to their new city hall building?

If so, it seems like a waste of good well water when the city already receives plenty of supply from the Turtle Creek reservoir.

What's up, Dieppe?

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From the 'One that got away' file . . . Metro Moncton has been blessed with a great lineup of music acts this year. The venerable Moncton Coliseum will play host to an array of superstars ranging from Elton John, to The Blue Man Group, Carrie Underwood and Alice Cooper in the next two months.

But we missed out on Neil Young and now word reaching Sleuth is that James Blunt, another popular crooner, will play both Halifax and Saint John this fall, but not Moncton. Blunt is booked to play the Metro Centre on Dec. 2 and Harbour Station in Saint John on Dec. 3.

Sticking with music for a second, Sleuth also spotted news that Econoline Crush has been added to the Coliseum roster for Oct. 19. That's the same night Alice Cooper plays. Are they a new opening act for Alice?

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For anyone out there who thinks Elton John has grown comfortable in his middle age, read on . . .

Sleuth hears a visibly tipsy Lily Allen, the party-hardy U.K. pop singer, got into a profanity-laced verbal spat with Sir Elton when the two hosted the GQ Men of the Year Awards in London this week. As Allen introduced a segment as a "very special point in the evening", Elton replied: "What, you are going to have another drink?," according to the Times of London. The verbal sparring didn't end there.

Great to see Elton is still full of spunk. Sleuth can't wait for his Sept. 28 show.

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On the local entertainment scene, word on the street is that a certain well-organized costume mistress will be making her local acting debut playing a rather ditzy cooking show host in Hairy Tease Productions' upcoming presentation of the Neil Simon farce, Rumours.

The show, which sounds like something Sleuth would be interested in, is scheduled for Nov. 4-8 at Theatre l'Escauoette. Advance ticket sales will go on sale Sept. 23 at the usual outlets.

Sleuth also hears School District 2 is pulling out all of the stops with its latest joint high school production, Beauty and the Beast.

The first two joint musicals -- Fame and Footloose -- were both set in high schools and the original idea was to follow that up with another high school musical, Grease. But three high school settings in a row were thought to be a bit much, and so they turned to the Disney classic.

Sleuth hears Musical Director Michael McArdle and drama teacers from around the district are already hard at work planning for the elaborate costumes needed.

Beauty and the Beast will be presented at the Capitol Theatre in early January.

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And finally . . . Sleuth hears Curwin News, located in the Lounsbury Complex on Mountain Road, will close on Sept. 20.

n Have you heard the latest gossip? Do you know some juicy rumours? Sleuth wants to know. Send your best info to sleuth@timestranscript.com, fax it to (506) 859-4904 or drop it off to Sleuth c/o Times & Transcript, 939 Main St., Moncton.