A raccoon brightened the rush hour for commuters Tuesday when it made a quick tour of the platform and a train car before disappearing down onto the tracks. As far as news goes, it is a nice distraction from groundhogs.
Leaside Select Tourney to host thousands this weekend
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The 26th Leaside Select Hockey Tournament will roll into Leaside Gardens (and several other local arenas) for the great family event scheduled from Thursday to Sunday, February 4 to 7, 2016. This year Grant Worden, vice president of the Leaside Hockey Association’s Select Tournament, will be in charge. In recent years as many 1,800 youngsters from across Ontario and elsewhere have competed in 12 age groups. The kids, 6 to 18 years old, are on 100 teams and as many as 6,500 family members will trek their way through local ice palaces. Here is a PDF of the schedule. It is an amazing organizational job.
Jon Burnside asks police board to defer promotions
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Jon Burnside (Ward 22) has written to the Police Services Board asking that it direct the chief, Mark Saunders, to stand down on a move to begin the process of senior promotions. Letter PDF
Prom Drive looking for gently-used formal clothes
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That nice charitable effort known as the Prom Drive is underway again. This is an annual collection of gently-used formal and semi-formal clothes — dresses, suits, shoes and accessories — that can be worn by high school kids to attend their school formal when they don’t have the money to buy new stuff. It is run by Bosley Real Estate on Merton Street and the Danforth as well as McDowell’s Valu-Mart. The clothes are delivered to New Circles Community Services on Bartley Drive in East York. The drive runs until April 11, 2016. To arrange for delivery send mail to Alexa Rocca at alexr@bss.on.ca
Asian supermarket, Heritage Funeral home oppose Costco
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Two important businesses in Thorncliffe Park have appealed a City decision to permit the construction of a Costco store on the former Coca Cola property at 42/46 Overlea Blvd. to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) One is Iqbal Halal Foods, often thought of as the largest Asian food retailer and wholesaler in Toronto and perhaps in Canada. It is located at 2 Thorncliffe Drive to the west of the proposed Costco site. This area contains a clutch of businesses serving the Muslim community and others. This is the stub end of Thorncliffe Park Drive on the south end of the Thorncliffe crescent. The other successful business is Heritage Funeral Home, which sits prominently at 50 Overlea to the east off the Coca Cola lands. There is a third petitioner to the OMB who is described as a nearby resident but whose name has not been released. Costco deal close to collapse as neighbors appeal to OMB
Costco deal close to collapse as neighbours appeal to OMB
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Councillor Jon Burnside says in his current newsletter that three individuals have appealed Council’s November approval of the construction of a Costco store at the former Coca Cola properties at 42/46 Overlea Blvd. The complainants are said to be one nearby resident and two nearby business owners. Burnside says the matter might take as long as 18 months. He also says that the agreement to delay the construction of a gas bar at the store, which had been accepted by Costco, has now been reneged on by the firm. Burnside writes: “Costco representatives recently contacted me to advise that they will now likely appeal the deferral of the gas bar (and associated conditions) arguing that to avoid further delays and expenses it makes more sense to do so.” He says that discussions “are ongoing and I am actively working to avoid this course of action”
CGS Principal’s Club teaches the power of philanthropy
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Learning about philanthropy at Children’s Garden School
The Principal’s Club at Children’s Garden School (on Eglinton near Bayview) is busy preparing for its next fundraising event, the Family Pancake Breakfast on February 11. This is the third fundraiser of the year for the children. The club has already raised $1100 for their chosen charity, Children of Hope Uganda. The inspiration to create The Principal’s Club (open to Grades 1-3 students) came from Principal Marie Bates and her own desire to reach out to the global community. Marie wanted to share this desire with CGS students and reveal to them, through direct experience, the power they hold to make a difference in the world.
SCHOOL BUILT
The Principal’s Club partnered with CanWES (The Canadian World Education Society). Based in British Columbia, CanWES built and now maintains The Mount Everest English School in Nepal, in response to an incredible need in the country for free, quality education for both boys and girls in remote areas. Over the course of the year $2,000 was raised by The Principal’s Club – an amazing accomplishment for children so young.
HISTORY 2012
The Principal’s Club partnered with Children of Hope Uganda. This partnership was so successful that it continues to this day. The mission at COHU is to use education as a primary tool to promote the recovery and reintegration of war-affected children in Northern Uganda. The Club has raised $10,193 for COHU to date.
2012-2013
Funds have supported the building of a playground for the Barlonyo Early Childhood Development Centre (accommodating up to 300 children from age 2 to 7), stocked the classrooms with books and learning materials, as well as provide enough money to pay for four teachers salaries. Goals for 2016 include buying several goats for families in the school community. (The children read Beatrice’s Goat and learned what a difference one goat can make to the lives of people in African villages.) The club also has plans to purchase a merry-go-round and additional swings for the playground. COHU Director, Lorna Pitcher, makes regular visits to share photos and stories from the school in Barlonyo, making this first experience in philanthropy a very powerful one for CGS students. Learn More.
Woman “pulls over” cop, lectures him for speeding
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It happened in Florida, where else. Funny.
Skating party February 7, 2016 at Hodgson School Rink
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Josh Matlow (Ward 22) Carolyn Bennett MP (St. Paul’s) and Rob Oliphant MPP (Don Valley West) will hold a skating party Sunday, February 7, 2016 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hodgson Rink just behind Hodgson Senior Public School, 282 Davisville Ave. Skating only, no politics allowed (maybe).
OMB turns down an appeal on height of 151 Airdrie Rd.
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The Leaside Property Owners Association (LPOA) has sent a news release Monday morning on a well-watched local case. Here is what they say.
Thanks to hard work on the part of Leaside residents Larry Bacon and Vanessa Rose, and LPOA co-president Geoff Kettel, the appeal to the OMB re: 151 Airdrie has been refused. This appeal was to allow an after-the-fact height variance in addition to the one already granted by the Committee of Adjustment, for a house that was already built. The OMB turned it down saying: “A compelling case was not made by the planner (for the appellant) why the subject property should have the status of the tallest home in the neighbourhood. The Board was not persuaded that the building height is not discernible to a passerby, or why the Applicant merits another increment in height above that earlier granted by the COA.” Board decision PDF
BULLDOG: The home in question is seen here. It is a bulky roofline for sure but there might be other places on the street that rival it in height. Each home has its own zoning history. An issue for the OMB was that Committee of Adjustment had already permitted an exemption which the builder apparently flouted. Note the three-story eight-plex apartment next door on the corner of Millwood Rd. which more or less dwarfs even this large house.
Will Ford Motor Company build Dodges and Chryslers?
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Writer John Rosevear of The Motley Fool spins a provocative tale.
Breeds added to Westminster Kennel Club competition
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The Westminster Kennel Club opens at Madison Square Gardens Monday, February 15 and the club seems to be going all out to get tickets sold. At a big news conference late last week they showed off seven ancient breeds that were previously unqualified to compete but which will now strut their stuff with the other dogs. Westminster Facebook Page is informative.