Mr and Mrs Fletcher reminisce about Rolph Road

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John and Elizabeth Fletcher were among about 200 former students and staff meeting to share their memories of Rolph Road School tonight (Friday, October 24, 2014). The lively reception marking the school’s 75th year was held at the William Lea Room. It saw many familiar Rolph faces and others who just wanted to be there. Andy Elder, owner of Grilltime meat shop on Laird Drive, catered the event. John Fletcher was vice principal of the school in the early 1960s and as such taught his choice of subjects — math, science and physical education. It prompted The Bulldog to say he must have been quite a tough guy academically. “That’s what they said about me then,” the 90-year-old shot back with a grin. His wife, Elizabeth was a supply teacher and it seems the couple met at the school because she had to give up her job when they wed. Such were the rules of the Leaside Board of Education in those days. The Rolph anniversary carries on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the school with an open house. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 31 Rolph Road in Leaside. Many fine businesses made this reception possible. They are Lexus on the Park, McDowell’s valu mart, Realtor Charlene Kalia, Grilltime, Realtor Patrick Rocca, Exclusive Affairs Rentals and Amsterdam Breweries.   

It’s looking like a busy pre-Halloween weekend

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It’s one busy pre-Halloween weekend across South Bayview with two free pumpkin giveaways and the Leaside Public Library Halloween Fair all taking place tomorrow. There is also the Manor Road United Church Fall Fair. The traditional giveaway of pumpkins in separate events by Realtor Charlene Kalia and Patrick Rocca always draw big turnouts, The former (Kalia) will go at noon at the Pawsitively Pets space outside their office on Parkhurst Blvd. Mr. Rocca’s giveaway will be held at the valu mart store on Bayview Ave. See links to stories on these events at the left. Finally, this weekend, the 75th anniversary celebrations of Rolph Road School will be held with a re-union tonight at the William Lea Room. Tomorrow morning there will be an open house at the school. See the link on the left for details. 

Parker “okay” with bikes rolling past stop signs

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There was a moment at last Tuesday’s Ward 26 candidates debate which seemed to say a lot about how traffic laws are bent and ultimately changed. John Parker, the councillor, said that he had no problem with the common practice of cyclists ignoring the requirement that they stop at a stop sign. The practice is known, he noted, as an Idaho stop after the unique legislation that permits cyclists there to treat a stop sign like a yield sign and a stoplight like a stop sign. A question had been asked about how cars and bicycles could possibly be reconciled on City streets. In fact, the discussion was about how all the candidates were in favour of bike lanes. Mr. Parker just added the stop sign reference seemingly as an after thought. Can letting cyclists roll through stop signs and stop lights make things work better? Idaho introduced this legislation in 1982 and it remains the only place in North America where such practices are allowed. Even today, Boise, the capital of that wide-open place has barely 215,000 souls. Bayview and Millwood might look like a speedway to your average Idaho driver. The bicycle versus car dilemma was seen at a police community safety meeting on October 2, 2014 at North Toronto Collegiate Institute. The discussion broke down not only among members of the public but among the police on hand over just where and when it was safe to cycle. Bike riders said they frequently did not feel safe on the road and therefore had to ride on the sidewalk. This is illegal and it enraged pedestrian-minded members of the audience.  As anyone knows, it is a daily sight to see bicycles speeding up and down the wide sidewalks of Bayview Ave. Bicycle lanes may help riders to travel more safely. But the collectivity of cycling habits has created an expectation of drivers which challenges even the most careful. Their job is more suited to a pilot with 360 degree radar. Cars fortunately can come to a dead halt without falling from the sky while the driver deciphers as best he can where the cyclist is going. Ideas like rolling stops and safe haven for bikes on the sidewalks hang heavy over the prospects for urban peace however.  

“Without borders” doc has got Ebola in NYC

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A member of the the group known as Doctors Without Borders has tested positive for  Ebola in New York after returning from West Africa. It is said he attended a bowling party in Brooklyn last night (Wednesday,October 22, 2014).  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo were scheduled to deliver a news conference at 9 p.m. EDT. The doctor is Craig Spencer. He worked treating Ebola patients in Guinea. 

Shooter stopped from going to Libya, Syria

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Good story about the background of Abdul Zehaf-Bibeau including a feeling among many who knew him that he was mentally disturbed. An acquaintance said he apparently wanted to go to Libya to study. In recent hours Canadian security sources have told media that Zehaf-Bibeau wanted to go to Syria and fight with ISIS. He was denied a passport. Globe and Mail

Talk and listen to your children to allay fears

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It’s part of good parenting to talk to your children but the events in Ottawa this week will require this important duty be done with an effort to monitor how kids are feeling. Children are able to sort out the reality here and it may have a profound impact on their sense of just how safe they, how safe the family is  Sandra Mendlowitz is a clinical psychologist in the anxiety disorders program at the Hospital for Sick Children. She sugests parents talk to children with the intent of getting them to talk and of listening to what they say. Words of reasonable and realistic reassurance can be helpful even if they can’t make the terrible truth go away. She says: “Find out what they’re worried about. Find out what they know. Because sometimes parents assume kids know things that they actually don’t know.”

John Tory comfortably ahead in Monday poll

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Forum Research has finished a poll within hours which projects that John Tory has a solid lead in the campaign to become mayor. As Forum puts it, forty-three per cent of the voters who participated said they had voted for, intended to vote for or were leaning toward voting for Tory if the election had been held Monday (October 20, 2014). That compared to 29 per cent for Ford and 25 per cent for Chow. 

Terrorists will find no safe haven PM tells nation

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The prime minister has called today’s one-man terrorist attack on a Canadian soldier and the House of Commons a “grim reminder” of the intention of some to intimidate the country. Speaking briefly from an unannounced location,  Mr. Harper said: “We will not be intimidated.” He said such attacks will cause Canada to re-double its efforts against terrorism and promised: “They will find no safe haven.” 

Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers hailed as hero in shootout

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He is the imposing figure with the mace who is seen during ceremonial openings of the Commons. But guess what? He also carries a gun and today Kevin Vickers is being lauded as the man who saved many lives by shooting down the armed intruder on Parliament Hill. His full name is Kevin Michael Vickers and he is a veteran RCMP officer. Now he is the 9th Sergeant of Arms of the House of Commons. Mr. Vickers was born on September 29, 1956 and it is not clear whether he sustained a wound in the process of dealing with the intruder. He has since mailed word that he is “okay”. MPs of all parties are tweeting and mailing thanks to and about Mr. Vickers. In 2009 Vickers was honoured by the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada, for his “long outstanding service to” Canada, and for his “efforts to promote bias-free policing and diversity in the workplace”.