A meeting of residents was fully engaged Monday evening at Manor Road United Church in a discussion of proposals for the two new parks to be created on Manor Road  The meeting was convened by Josh Matlow (Ward 22) and lasted about two hours.  It heard from and saw the work of landscape consultants Lori Philp and Shira Davis of the firm of Victor Ford and Associates Inc. The parks, located at 196 and 240 Manor, will be themed and equipped in “park west” as a passive green space for adults and at “park east” a place for children.

QUESTIONS BROAD AND NARROW

Those present asked many questions and offered suggestions broad in scope and narrow in detail. These included dogs (no off-leash runs) water (available from an installed main at 240 but not at 196) the style of benches and play structures  (in process)  flowers (perennials) trees and shrubs (yes) and fences (where needed for children). Someone suggested a bocci pitch at 196. A lively discussion was had on play structures at 240 Manor. Conventional playground equipment such as swings and see-saws have been set aside for communal climbing “jams”. One of these is a so-called Log Jam (see above) and another called a Log Tower and slide. Something named a water table in planned. It permits children to pump water onto a wooden table and play with it as it runs off.

PUBLIC-SPIRITED CHURCH

The budget for both parks is $700,000. In a closing note Mr. Matlow dealt with the need to name the parks in a way suitable to the public-spirited collaboration of the church in the plan to build the park at 240. The name Manor Road United Church Park seems inevitable. It has occupied this corner for nearly a century. Further meetings are planned.

It was a sold-out event again Friday night at Charlene Kalia’s benefit Laugh Out Loud in Leaside.. The event cleared all the tickets in record time in its eighth year. Some 200 guests enjoyed an evening of food comedy and music while supporting the Maddie project. The Maddie Project is a community effort in support of youth struggling with depression and other mental health related concerns.  Maddie’s Dad Chris Coultier thanked the guests for being there and Gwenyth Richardson. There was a live and silent auction as well as yuk yuck’s comedy followed by live music by The Indecision Band who had the  crowd up and dancing. Sponsors and contributors included Lexus On The Park, Neal Brothers Foods, Grill Time, De La Mer Fish Market, Chestnut Park Real Estate, Everlasting Moments Video and Photography, Amsterdam Brewery, RBC and Accurate Printing. Paul Constable was the MC (aka Canadian Tire Man).

CBC

HOCKEY HOODLUMS

A number of parents in Edmonton have been forbidden to attend their children’s games by the local hockey association after too many incidents of rink rage.  Parents, mostly men, threaten and confront referees and others when their emotional involvement causes them to behave like hoodlums. The Edmonton body sent a scolding email to the organization’s members about what it called “the stereotype of the worst hockey parent.”  It said the behaviour puts a black eye on the sport and parents in the spotlight. It also embarrasses young players that their parents are out of control.  President Mark Doram said several incidents have been reported in past weeks, including one particularly alarming event “when parents became so emotionally engaged in the game that the referees were afraid for their safety.” Doram said that parents of players from the novice division all the way up to midget have been disciplined. The most recent police incident was at a peewee division game. He said the sport continues to lose officials because they fear for their safety.

Video: PM Justin Trudeau meets with #Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey pic.twitter.com/2nmxc7Uy8H

— CityNews 680 (Inactive) (@680NEWS) February 27, 2017

The prime minster was in Brampton and Mississauga Monday morning. The tone of his welcome by civic employees was giddy pleasure. In Mississauga, balconies of people shouted like children. The PM replied like a teacher: “Aren’t any of you at work today?”

A reader has denied that the CRA paid an employee $538,000 to move from Richmond Hill to Belleville. This allegation was part of recent concerns about government waste presented by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Jason Andrus says the figure published includes the value of the home. The home was not paid for by the CRA but by a new buyer.  Mr. Andrus says the “actual sale of the house (was) approx. $522,960.” He says CTF knows better and says their “right-leaning partisanship is on full display here”

It was all really quite unbelievable — and still is.

Family members have revealed that actor Bill Paxton, 61, was undergoing heart surgery at the time of his death. While Paxton appeared to be active, healthy and busier than ever, prepping for new movie roles and starring in the new CBS cop drama “Training Day,” the affable 61-year-old actor was apparently dealing with some kind of heart problem that required surgery.

Design concepts will be unveiled Monday night for two new parks to be created on Manor Road in coming months. These are parcels of lands at the former Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club (156 Manor) and at Forman Ave and Manor (purchased from Manor Road United Church). Right now they are muddy tracts but design consultants have been busy since December using feedback from earlier meetings. The public meeting set for Monday, February 27, 2017 is under the auspices of Josh Matlow (Ward 22) at Manor Road United, 240 Manor. It will begin at 6.30 p.m.

A report from the Changing Workplaces Review is said to be coming due at Queen’s Park and the reportage is filled with foreboding about what it may mean for business. Some of the freebies to workers suggested are shown below. And while it is true the government can apply all or any of these changes, it cannot make businesses stay in business. A place like Dollarama is famous for its part-time pay regime by which it avoids much pension payment cost. Many small businesses might find it necessary to close if they are required to stream another $5 or $10,000 into sick pay, higher overtime or “human resources” to deal with union membership. CBC

• Making paid sick days mandatory.
• Boosting the minimum required paid vacation to three weeks per year from the current two weeks.
• Lowering the threshold at which overtime pay must kick in to 40 hours, down from the current 44 hours.
• Abolishing the lower minimum wage for students under 18 and people who serve alcohol.
• Requiring employers to pay their part-time workers the same as full-time workers doing similar jobs.

https://twitter.com/shirleybee123/status/835890189545443328

Um, this team means business. Shirley Breen, Meridian CU manager, tweets about the new branch at 690 Mt. Pleasant and the team that plays together, stays together and hurls a mean axe together. (Only after hours). This new outpost of the credit union that vows to be a bank someday will open March 27. Looking forward. Ambitious Meridian CU to spark business on Mt. Pleasant