53 Division officers blitzed Leaside doing traffic enforcement this week. Drivers may have noticed the motorcycle fellow at Millwood and McRae. There were several charges, cautions and driver education by officers. 53 is going to continue doing enforcement throughout the community, it is reported on the division’s Facebook page.
One Toronto school has only a 50% vaccination rate
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This story is revealing of the vaccination rates in Toronto public and Catholic schools which are generally good but seem to show a weakness in the method for getting the job done. Greenwood Secondary has a rate of 50% for diphtheria and 39% for measles, mumps and rubella. It serves a largely immigrant population. Ontario uses a paper book system for parents to record immunization. It is said to be easily misplaced. TDSB only knows who is vaccinated once kids reach school, much later than the mandatory enrolment in public vaccination programs at birth that occurs in Alberta. Metro
Jason Ramsay-Brown to speak at Leaside Library Sept. 9
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The eminent naturalist Jason Ramsay-Brown will speak at Leaside Library, 165 McRae Drive on Wednesday, Sept.9, 2015. His topic will be Toronto’s Ravines and Urban Forests, Their Natural Heritage and Local History. The talk is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m.. It is part of a Toronto Library tour, taking the author to Riverdale Library, 370 Broadview Ave. on September 23, Gerard/Ashdale Library, 1432 Gerard St. E., Sept 8, Jones Library, 118 Jones Ave., on Sept 30 and Beaches Library, 2161 Queen St. E. on Oct. 27. Mr. Ramsay-Brown will also guide a walk through Moore Park to the Evergreen Brick Works with Toronto Field Naturalists on Sept 27. He is the author of Toronto’s Ravines and Urban Forests.
Stickney Way petition submitted but with one objection
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The petition to change the name of Markham Ave in Leaside to Stickney Way has been submitted to the City but with one objection to the change. The short street runs from Laird Drive to Airdrie Road and has no addresses on it. The party who objected is not known. The name change would honour the late former Leaside High teacher Dave Stickney. Petitions of this sort are normally expected to be unanimous so the consensus is uncertainty as to the outcome because of the objection. Campaign to name Leaside street after Dave Stickney
Brady a winner as judge tosses suspensions against him
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The law remains unclear as a federal judge in Manhattan sets aside the punishment handed down by the NFL against Tom Brady of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Judge Richard Berman, threw out the four game suspension for whatever role Brady had in the deflation of footballs. “Because there was no notice of a four-game suspension in the circumstances presented here, Commissioner Goodell may be said to have `dispensed his own brand of industrial justice,”‘ Berman wrote, partially citing wording from a previous case. Roger Goodell quickly announced the NFL would appeal the decision, saying in a statement, “We will appeal today’s ruling in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. The commissioner’s responsibility to secure the competitive fairness of our game is a paramount principle, and the league and our 32 clubs will continue to pursue a path to that end.” Professional sport must closely guard the integrity of the game or criminal interests will eagerly work to fix professional contests. There are easily won billions at stake.
“Kate pregnant” report just plain “rubbish” says Gossip Cop
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There is a nasty exchange of insults going on among online royalty snoops over whether Kate Middleton is pregnant again. Gossip Cop insists that the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, and the Duchess of Cambridge are not expecting a new addition to their family. Gossip Cop says it confirmed this and that a report to the contrary by Star Magazine is “rubbish.”
Third baseman Josh Donaldson hot stuff at bat
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Bricks miss pedestrians by inches on New York street
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It was a harrowing evening walk for the couple seen cringing in fear on the video above. A parking attendant in the garage on the second level drove a car into the wall sending the bricks crashing down onto the sidewalk.
Meeting hears of streetscape masterplan for Mt. Pleasant
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A public meeting Wednesday night heard that the Mt. Pleasant Village BIA is intent on creating a “streetscape masterplan” for the business district from Davisville to Eglinton Aves. Three members of a private planning firm, PUBLIC WORK, spoke of their ideas so far and solicited the thoughts of merchants and residents at the auditorium in the Briton House building at 720 Mt. Pleasant. The planners, Adam Nicklin, Marc Ryan and Lauren Abrahams, took turns describing the natural attributes of the street and how they might be brought closer together and amplified to make the street even more attractive. As you will note below in the remarks of Ms. Abrahams, the width (or narrowness) of sidewalks and traffic lanes were recurring subjects. Mt. Pleasant is a four lane route (two north, two south) with additional flow permitted by rush hour no-parking rules. This is thanks to the 1948 planning vision to speed cars from downtown to the midtown neighborhoods of Lawrence Park and beyond.
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge of introducing more trees and wider sidewalks in the presence of such traffic stood out. Nonetheless, it appears that no application will be made by the BIA to narrow the street and Josh Matlow (Ward 22) says he has been assured that this is the case. Mr. Matlow was present at the meeting and spoke on financing of the project and other local matters. Ideas are being solicited and may be sent to info@publicwork.ca It is a large project which could be achieved through many expensive efforts. The venerable Belsize Theatre (subsequently Crest and Regent) would be a potent attraction if it were renovated for almost any purppse. On Bayview Ave, a series of public-spirited companies have made the old Bayview Playhouse a vital part of the street.
Roof, second floor of Glebemount Rd. home collapse
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The home at 301 Glebemount Rd. in East York was reduced to one-storey mess today when the second level crumbled, roof and all, to the ground. It was under construction and the Ministry of Labour has been called to investigate after a house under construction in East York collapsed. The incident on Thursday. Toronto Fire officials said everyone was able to escape unharmed, but the gas and hydro were shut off at the home as a precaution Quite a worry for the owner.



