The Mayor of Markham Frank Scarpitti is showing off what he says are commitments which will effectively pay for the $325 million GTA arena entirely with private money. At least that’s what the plan calls for. Skeptical ratepayers aren’t so sure. At a news conference Saturday Scarpitti said the undertakings come in the form of two so-called memorandums of understanding (MOU). One is between the City and GTA Sports and Entertainment, the long-time organizers and drivers of the arena concept. The other MOU is with “developers”. There is a meeting at Markham Council Monday night to approve these ideas. The residents of Markham have mounted a large and sustained opposition to the arena, not because they don’t like the idea of a facility, but because they are cynical about who will really pay in the end. There is that thing called the Skydome (now Rogers Centre). It had to be sold off at a fire sale price to private interests when Toronto and the province found they just could not make it pay. and of course, there is no NHL franchise. Mayor Scarpitti says don’t worry, that isn’t necessary. Many people just don’t buy this. And if the enormous money behind GTA Arena is able to overcome the resistance of the Leafs, Sabres and Red Wings to create the Markham Millionaires (or whatever) what do they say to the poor people of Hamilton and Niagara, who have waited decades for a team. What do they say except maybe “Drop Dead!”
Turn yourself in, cops tell BMW hit-run driver
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| Turn yourself in |
Police are telling the driver of a hit and run, dark blue BMW to turn himself in. “It’s only a matter of time (before) we’re going to come knocking on your door,” Sgt. Lawrence Zimmerman warned the driver. Police have video of the car that struck and seriously injured a 12-year-old boy in Willowdale Friday about 4 p.m. The boy was crossing Willowdale Ave. at Pemberton Ave with two friends when he was hit. The other children were not hurt. The boy is in Hospital for Sick Children with serious but not life threatening injuries. Police say they have video of the wanted car taken by the dash cam of a police cruiser which was heading to the hit and run scene. Witnesses told police the BMW had no license plates and police believe the vehicle has damage to the front end. Zimmerman said police have a dashcam video that may help in leading to an arrest. “One of our in car cameras in one of our scout cars that was responding to the call captured a vehicle matching that description going in the opposite direction,” he said. He’s going to be in hospital for a little bit, but should pull through OK,”
Bay close to putting Saks at Bloor and Yonge
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As widely guessed, Hudson’s Bay Company is looking closely at replacing its store at Bloor and Yonge Sts with a Saks. Bay officials are quoted as saying the final decision has not been made yet. But there is definitely a plan. “Not confirmed” were the words used by the Bay. It’s been seen as a fairly inevitable move since Hudson’s Bay announced its $2.9 billion (U.S.) takeover of Saks Inc. last summer. The deal was finalized three weeks ago.
Sobbing Mountie grief-stricken over marijuana
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Above is a photograph supplied to the CBC by Cpl. Ron Francis as he smokes a joint while on duty. He says he uses it medicinally because of the stress of his job. The New Brunswick Mountie has been told he cannot function as a member of the RCMP while he uses the weed, known both as a depressant and a mild hallucinogen. It seems quite reasonable because, apart from what the law says, Cpl Francis is clearly emotionally unable to discharge his duties. In this video he is in tears and probably depressed by pot. The video shows him as he prepared to hand over his uniform and — caution — the language is quite foul. Francis, who is a member of the Maliseet First Nation, held an eagle feather in one hand throughout his visit to headquarters. Before handing over his dress uniform, Francis removed his medal for 20 years of exemplary service to the RCMP with shaking hands. “It’s my medal,” a sobbing Francis said to reporters minutes later.Turn yourself in, cops warn BMW hit-run driver
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| Turn yourself in |
Police are telling the driver of a hit and run, dark blue BMW to turn himself in. “It’s only a matter of time (before) we’re going to come knocking on your door,” Sgt. Lawrence Zimmerman warned the driver. Police have video of the car that struck and seriously injured a 12-year-old boy in Willowdale Friday about 4 p.m. The boy was crossing Willowdale Ave. at Pemberton Ave with two friends when he was hit. The other children were not hurt. The boy is in Hospital for Sick Children with serious but not life threatening injuries. Police say they have video of the wanted car taken by the dash cam of a police cruiser which was heading to the hit and run scene. Witnesses told police the BMW had no license plates and police believe the vehicle has damage to the front end. Zimmerman said police say the dash cam video that may help in leading to an arrest. “One of our in car cameras in one of our scout cars that was responding to the call captured a vehicle matching that description going in the opposite direction,” he said. He’s going to be in hospital for a little bit, but should pull through OK,”
York policeman dies in hospital after leg surgery
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Mystery so far surrounds the death of a York Regional Police constable who has died in hospital after suffering a broken leg. PC Michael Pegg, 36, was injured November 12 during training as a tactical flight officer. He underwent surgery three days later and had been in hospital since. The cause of his death has not yet been determined. York rgiponal Police released a statement today but there is no information about the the course of PC Pegg’s condition in hospital nor the name of the hospital. 65 Vanderhoof Ave. sold for $1,505,000
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The Globe and Mail’s Sydnia Yu tells today of the two storey home at 65 Vanderhoof Ave. which sold for $1,505,000. That was $30,000 over the listing price. It was a sale made in a bidding war. Two other potential buyers had made offers. The successful buyer decided to scatter things by upping the ante with a five-figure bonus. The property had sold in 1992 for $250,000 before it was transformed into what is called a luxurious 2,183-square-foot residence with four bedrooms upstairs, including a master suite with hardwood floors, crown mouldings, his and hers walk-in closets and the largest of four bathrooms.Jets on island steamroller politics of left and right
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Deputy mayor Norm Kelly would do well to remember the general election of 2003 when David Miller defeated the popular John Tory by about 30,000 votes. That outcome holds a profound lesson for the deputy mayor, who it seems, clearly favours the extension of runways and the introduction of jets at the Island Airport. Many people believe that Mr. Miller won that election ten years ago on one issue and one issue only. People simply did not want a bridge to the island airport. They knew then — and we suspect they know now — what noise and expansion it would inevitably bring with it. The matter of the Toronto Islands as a parkland, and reasonable peace overhead in our central neighborhoods, is an issue that steamrollers the politics of left and right. Mr. Kelly talks about the airport as a civic “asset” he wishes to grow. This is the same argument that voters rejected in 2003. People still view the island airport as an asset to Porter Airlines and to no one else. The real civic asset is an island fit for the peoples recreation. City Council must demand that jets at the island airport be rejected.
Facebook debate rages over Manor Rd. hoarder
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A lively community discussion has erupted on Facebook about the way in which the local member, Josh Matlow (Ward 22) and others have tweeted news on the case of Dennis Cibulka, 313 Manor Rd. Many people feel that “confidentiality” has somehow been breached. This is a common and humanitarian response to the distress felt by those who are caught up in public events. In the end, however, the story of 313 Manor Rd occurred out in the open and impacted many people. It is properly public and the dissemination of information is necessary for the common good. Keep in mind that it was the homeowner who resisted the city’s efforts to resolve the health and safety hazard in a less open and prolonged fashion. The case went to court, where public scrutiny is essential, so that the health department might enter. It will be argued that it is not possible to have a half open society. There is a thing called privacy, but there is an onus on the individual to see that his privacy is protected. Going to court in the face of common sense about public health is not helpful in ensuring privacy. We do not know if Mr. Cibulka resents the news coverage in any case. He has been interviewed by the media. He clearly felt strongly about his position and had, it is said, good counsel. See and participate in the debate
Early morning fire hits home on Whitewood Road
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A fire at 27 Whitewood Road, one street west of Bayview Ave. between Davisville Ave and Millwood Rd. has caused an unknown amount of damage. No one was hurt. A neighbour said the owner, who was not home at the time, has been renovating the two-storey house. Firefighters were called to the two-alarm blaze after someone noticed the smoke at about 3 a.m. Fire crews forced their way into the house and encountered flames in the basement and on the first and second floors. City News said that a second-floor ceiling joist was compromised and the first floor was sagging. Because of unsafe conditions, all crews were ordered to exit the house and they battled the fire from the exterior, a fire official said. Photos Sue Byford, Tony Smyth
CO detectors to be required in all Ontario homes
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| John Gignac and lost relatives |
The Ontario Legislature has voted unanimously to require homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. The private member’s bill received rare universal approval on the wisdom of such a precaution. The crusade to enact the law was driven by a family tragedy. In 2008, OPP Constable Laurie Hawkins, her husband Richard and their daughter and son, Cassandra, 14, and Jordan, 12, died of carbon monoxide in their Woodstock home. The apparent cause was a faulty gas fireplace. At right is a composite picture of John Gignac, an uncle to Laurie, with the family that died. He has campaigned for the law to try to honour the family’s memory. The legislation is called the The Hawkins-Gignac Act Carbon monoxide (CO) is colourless, odourless and tasteless, making it very difficult to detect. CO is commonly understood to be a threat where car engines run inside a garage. It is probably less widely known that furnaces and other open flame equipment generate CO and require correct ventilation. The new law will allow the fire code to be changed so that all homes are required to have CO detectors, said Progressive Conservative MPP Ernie Hardeman, who pushed for the changes for five years. At present, only residences built after Aug. 6, 2001 are required to have CO detectors installed. Yukon was the first to make it mandatory, Hardeman said. Now that Ontario has passed this rule, it may spread to other provinces.
This “hybrid” vehicle runs on your common sense
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Toronto police have picked up on an eye-catching reminder to drivers that they should not drink and drive. Their “half police car, half taxi” is a Toronto version of useful device that is used widely in the U.S. It’s a new wrinkle on the annual Choose Your Ride program. The Toronto car has a lot of information about fines and the life-altering (and life-ending) consequences of drunk driving. The cost of taking a cab is set at a mere forty bucks. Good value. It will probably cost you less if you live in South Bayview, so nice and handy to downtown. By the way, the taxi half of the TPS Choose Your Ride hybrid is a Beck Taxi. The social media hashtag for this event is #Choose Your Ride.