We watched, we screamed, we cried and we turned off the set. After all is said, it must be recorded that it was a very good game. Some commentators felt the officials had a slightly Uruguayan tinge to their calls but England had its changes and didn’t carry through. No complaints.
Illicit ciggie shuts Pearson, brings back flight
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If you needed more evidence that you had better follow the rules at the airport, this is it. A man who apparently ducked through a forbidden door in order to find a place to smoke last night set off a long, paralyzing shut-down at Pearson International and forced the return of a flight to Toronto after it was half way to Brazil. Ugh. The passenger had a good ticket and passport to travel but he was seen “breaching security” in the pre-boarding area. Off went the alarms. Outgoing flights were boarded while police searched for the man. They had no idea what he was up to. Everything at the airport stopped. Stunned passengers aboard the flight to Rio de Janiero learned they had spent six hours in the air for nothing when the captain announced he would shortly be landing at — Toronto. Ugh again. Lesson? Please follow the rules at the airport.
Lawn club incorporation prevents sale: ex-pres
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Wally Rayner, a former president of the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club Limited, says the 1923 articles of incorporation of the club require the property’s return either to the Glebe Manor Presbyterian Church or to the City for a nominal sum if the company ceases to exist as a lawn bowling club. Rayner was president of the club in 1999. His assertions, and those of his wife Georgina, threw Wednesday night’s public meeting about the proposed sale of the land into a turmoil. According to the Rayners, every president of the club since it began has received a copy of the articles of incorporation and letters patent which specify the club may not be sold for profit. The couple said there should be a copy of this undertaking in City archives dating from dealings the municipality had with Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling 15 years ago. But it also seems likely that the Rayners contentions may be verified, or denied, at the Ontario Ministry of Government Services. Glebe Manor Presbyterian Church no longer exists however its records are probably extant. Most critically, the Rayners said that the current president, Phil Foubert, should make public the articles of incorporation which are said to be in his possession. Mr. Foubert is spearheading the scheme to sell the property for as much as $3 million to be used for the site of town homes. The meeting, which was called by Josh Matlow (Ward 22) also heard calls for an ad hoc “shareholders” meeting among members of the club. Many present at the Hodgson School gathering said they were active members of the club and wanted to have their say in what was happening. Mr. Matlow said he had only just learned of the information provided by the Rayners and intended to ask the city solicitor to investigate immediately.
Burnside fundraiser set for Sunday, June 22
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There’s lots of activity among candidates even though we are still the best part of five months away from the municipal election. Jon Burnside, candidate for Councillor in Ward 26, will hold a big fundraiser on Sunday, June 22, 2014, at the Amsterdam Brewery on Esander Road. That one will begin at 7 p.m.
Meeting tonight to discuss Glebe Manor Lawn
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Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has convened a meeting tonight (Wednesday, June 18, 2014) to sort out the plan to sell off the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club for residential development. The matter has been around for a few months apparently but it was not on the radar of most of the community. Now it is, and the widespread feeling is that the small green parcel of land at 196 Manor Road should become a City Parkette. City staff has been asked to pursue the question with executives at the club, who are said to have chosen a developer. What is the property worth and can Toronto Parks pay for it? The meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. tonight at Hodgson Senior Public School at 282 Davisville Ave.
Wheels fall off as Spain loses 2-0 to Chile
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The reigning world champions were down 2 goals to nil versus Chile at half time, in this afternoon’s World Cup contest. And that is how it ended. Spain was unable to put the ball in the back of the net and will be packing their bags & leaving Brazil. A disappointing result for the Spaniards as they head home empty handed. Chile and the Netherlands sit atop of Group B heading into the next round.
Dutch downed the Socceroos
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In today’s World Cup action, we started with a game of equalizers. Each of the first goals by both teams answered by equalizers within minutes. Finally the Dutch pulled ahead, and the Australian Socceroos ran out of time. Australia 2, Netherlands 3. It was a fun one! …especially if you’re Dutch.
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Bankers post $50,000 reward for “Vaulter”
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Toronto cops and the Canadian Bankers Association have jumped the reward to $50,000 for the capture and conviction of the “Vaulter Bandit.” This is a slippery guy who is flitting around the country, so far undetected in his movements, robbing banks in bursts of as many as ten at once. He has struck in18 places in total including branches across Ontario and in Calgary over the past four years. The CBA announced Wednesday it has increased the reward from $20,000 to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the Vaulter. Toronto police believe the man started his heists in York Region in 2010 before moving on to Peel Region, Hamilton and Ottawa. The man is also wanted for robberies in Alberta after he, according to Sgt. Insp. Mike Earl, hit Calgary “like a tornado” by holding up four banks in 10 days back in 2011.
Home listings up 7.8% over last June says TREB
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The listings for re-sale homes in Toronto has shown a spurt year over year with new listings up 7.8% says the Toronto Real Estate Board. TREB is predicting a seller’s market for at least the rest of this year. The average GTA house price as of mid-June, 2014, was $582,100, up some 8.6 per cent from the average price of $535,865 at the same time last year. It is quite a city all right.
Rob Ford says he will to return to work June 30
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We knew that he had not gone away for good. Spectator/Canadian Press
David Sparrow campaign launch Tuesday night
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| David and Lisa Sparrow |
A launch party was held tonight (Tuesday, June 17, 2014) for David Sparrow, candidate for Councillor in Ward 26. Mr. Sparrow is president of the Toronto local of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). The William Lea room at the Leaside Arena saw an estimated 75 people out for the event on a night when the weather probably kept some supporters at home. Mr. Sparrow faces off in the Don Valley West ward against the two-time incumbent, John Parker and John Burnside, a well-known Leaside businessman. He owns Healthy Heart Meals. Mr. Sparrow spoke of the diversity of the ward, referring to a wide mix of neighborhoods ranging from Bennington Heights to Thorncliffe Park. He spoke passionately about such things as the water service in Thorncliffe Park where he said the 1970s infrastructure is inadequate to the present day. The candidate was accompanied at the event by his wife Lisa, the mother of their two grown daughters and a registered nurse. She spoke effectively of her husband’s sincerity and interest in people. The picture of their conventional Leaside life will be helpful to Mr. Sparrow with small-c conservative voters who make up the majority of the ward west of the tracks. Some core support this night seemed slightly left of centre. It seems fair to conclude that both Mr. Sparrow and Mr. Burnside are contenders. The results were close in 2010 between the first three candidates, with Burnside coming in second. The launch meeting saw an enjoyable few moments when baritone Constantine Meglis sang O Canada.
Downed hydro poles on Warden Ave trap cars
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An extraordinary picture of hydro poles snapped and collapsed on Warden Ave. between Steeles Ave. and Denison Street in Markham has been tweeted tonight by CP24’s Arda Zakarian. Police say the poles and cables have trapped as many as 40 vehicles in the aftermath of the storms that swept Southern Ontario Tuesday night. This collapse, caused apparently by high winds blowing horizontally, is the cause of the power outage that has customers in the dark in Markham. Witnesses say the moments after the hydro pole collapse was a frightening time for trapped drivers. Power was cut and everyone left their cars safely. Meanwhile, as other parts of Southwestern and Central Ontario began to mop up from tornado damage and high winds a cracking good thunderstorm rolled over South Bayview. We have to hope those lightning strikes accompanied instantly by piercing thunder claps landed somewhere safe, like the cemetery. At Pearson Airport, winds were said to be gusting to 85 kilometres and planes were being told to divert to other fields. Ontario has reported pockets of darkness. About 4,400 were affected mostly in the west end. An Ontario Powerstream spokesperson said power was out to as many as 13,000 customers and that restoration of service might take until 7 a.m. Earlier in the day, four men were struck by lightning on a golf course in Stouffville. They were apparently seriously hurt and are all in hospital.