The Russian army is said to be closing in on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv this weekend. Many fear that even the most determined and courageous resistance of the democratic land will not be enough to stop the invasion. And then what? Many fear little Latvia may be next. Can anyone possibly wonder why the Latvians should want to be in NATO? If the Russians do come, there are 540 Canadian NATO soldiers on the front. Below, a former president of Latvia has concluded that Putin has become unhinged.
The May 12 virtual meeting of the Leaside Garden Society will hear from Richard Dickinson, a Toronto plant academic, author and associate at the Royal Ontario Museum. Mr Dickinson has a distinguished career in the field of classifying Canadian plant life. He is co-author of Wildflowers of Edmonton and Central Alberta, Wildflowers of Calgary and Southern Alberta, Plants of Alberta, Weeds of North America and Plants of Southern Ontario. Plan to join the meeting
The City has closed a butcher shop in the East York Town Centre for health infractions relating to rodents and cleanliness. The infraction details relating to Overlea Halal Meat and Grocery are here.
Uber will start charging 50 cents more per ride to help their drivers pay for expensive gasoline, the firm has announced. It’s temporary but there’s no time limit set for just how long that might be. Uber said 100 percent of the surcharges will go directly to its drivers and delivery people
A Toronto “building supervisor” has been revealed as the winner of the $30 million Lotto Max jackpot on February 4. He is Patrick Hale, 56, and he has vowed to spend his fortune on refining his unidentified “invention” as well as on his wife and family. “In my mind, I’m the inventor, I didn’t have the money for it. And now I pursue the aspect of my invention and make it a reality. Besides working on the invention, Hale said he is looking forward to buying new homes and cars and spreading his fortune to family and friends. “If you don’t help people, what do you do in life? There’s nothing else in life. This victory won’t change me, it allows me to help more people. Now my heart can be bigger, “he said. CTV
Gasoline prices are reportedly sliding a bit. The CityNews 680 chart shows most GTA stations selling regular fuel at 175.9/litre with another drop predicted for Saturday down to 169.9. Not cheap, but better.
It’s an unfortunate start to March Break but Friday snow and the prospect of a sloppy weekend will give way to Spring temperatures in the new week. Weather Network
Clocks go forward an hour this weekend although as time goes by it seems harder to find anyone who knows why they were ever turned back.
Many Facebook posts Thursday suggest that price increases in gasoline are causing drivers to load up to the point of cleaning out some stations, at least for a short period. Here is a longish thread of no gas at the Esso and Shell stations on Bayview north of Eglinton.
Heads up. Esso at Bayview and Broadway out of gas. Shell at Roehampton still appears to be ok. I wanted Esso so got gas at Mt Pleasant and Merton.
The Shell at Roehampton & Bayview had NO gas on Saturday. I then went to the Esso at Broadway and they only had Supreme. Ended up at Petrocanada at Moore. I don’t know if there was a run before the prices went up or are people “hoarding”
Better to pay for gas than be in Ukraine…..suck it up
True Davidson and Leaside Mayor Beth Nealson are among the more famous local women (to say the least) as the world reflects on International Women’s Day this week. Jamie Bradburn writing in Torontoist recalls that Davidson, then Reeve of East York, sniped in 1966: “I think the real reason the Government decided to amalgamate our two municipalities is that the men didn’t want so many women around in politics and decided to get rid of one lady mayor.” At the upper right is the coaching gang of the Leaside Wildcats Under 18B (Taylor) team as they celebrate their players on women’s day. Hats off to you too, ladies. Below that is more nostalgia recalling the Inn on the Park and its elegant Vintage Room at the Leaside Chit Chat Facebook page. Further down is a post by the El Hogar Ministries in Honduras. It’s a long-time benefactor of generous parishioners at Leaside United Church. At bottom right is a reminder of the East York Jam Fest set for March 26 and 27 at the East York Civic Centre. Looks like fun. Lastly, at bottom left is a tribute by veteran cartoonist Bill Suddick to Beach Metro News, celebrating 50 years in business.
CTV News is saying Wednesday that Ontario will end the requirement to wear masks in most indoor public settings and schools on Monday, March 21. It says the province will end mandatory masking everywhere except hospitals, congregate care settings and the long-term care system by March 21. Medical Officer of Health Keiren Moore will speak at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
