Month: May 2015

The plaudits are rolling in for “the best coach in the NHL” and fans are catching their breath at the enormous treasure he has won. It is an eight year contract worth $50 million U.S., the richest ever for an NHL coach, it is said. It was won in a down-to-the-last-minute series of bargaining which left the Buffalo Sabres locked out at the last second and the Detroit Red Wings, his employer until mid-morning, begging Babcock to stay. The twitter giddiness is palpable but older heads say there is no guarantee of anything. and if Babcock can deliver for the Leafs, he will have earned every dime.

1 St. Clair looking east to Yonge

The owners of the building known as 1 St Clair West have sought the offices of Josh Matlow (Ward 22) for an enormous piece of street art for the blank wall of the structure that faces west. The idea comes to light in Mr. Matlow’s current newsletter in which he speaks of recently being presented with this opportunity. To get things started he has issued a call for feedback and ideas for the project. He notes that future opportunities for community feedback regarding theme will be available to those interested in contributing further. Also in the Matlow newsletter are a number of items of interest including a new $350,000 playground at Deer Park Public School, a meeting May 28 on the future of the Lawton Parkette and a meeting on Rail Safety. This  latter is sponsored by Rail Safety First and will be held at the U of T, somewhat outside the neighborhood.  Matlow letter 

Toronto police chief Mark Saunders was sworn into today (Wednesday, May 20, 2015) with a promise to hold the service to an exacting standard on cost and community relations. He received a standing ovation from those present at police headquarters.

Police have released a few more details of the accidental Roxborough St. E and Wrentham Place in which an elderly man on a bicycle collided with a vehicle. The man’s age has been moved up to 75 from 70 and he apparently continues to have life-threatening injuries. Police say a woman, 43, was driving east on Roxborough and the man was northbound on Wrentham.

Police say there have been 11 break-ins at 140 Erskine Ave. since March. Two break-ins occurred on the long Victoria Day weekend.. This is more than bad luck. It has prompted a warning to tenants and police notice in the building.  The suspect is described as a white man, 45 to 50 years old, 6’1”, 185 pounds, with shoulder length black hair. Police say the culprit breaks into units during the day when victims aren’t home. Officers believe he pries the door open with a crowbar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW8MY9CD-tQ

Randy Quaid today

Actor Randy Quaid has been able to convince the Immigration and Refugee Board to let him out of jail after he was arrested earlier in the week in Montreal. Quaid has been lurking in Canada illegally for more than a year. He has also been growing a monster beard, the better to avoid detection perhaps. He is apparently still seeking refuge in Canada although today he made no mention of the so-called Star Whackers who represented, in his view, the greatest threat to his safety back in the U.S. A board member ordered that he be released on a $10,000 bond. Quaid, 64, was expected to be released later Tuesday. He was arrested May 14, and is being held at a detention centre in Laval, Que.

Here are three familiar faces from Fiona Boylen’s Leaside COBs taking in the East York Farmers’ Market today. Sara, Sumayyah and Ryan.were at the COBs concession where business was brisk. The market goes every Tuesday between May and October in the East York Civic Centre park on Coxwell Ave between Memorial Park Ave and Mortimer Ave.