An unofficial contest to name the West Don Lands park west of lower Bayview Ave. has chosen the name Corktown Common. The name was submitted to general voting by Toronto resident Tedd Konya. The contest was sponsored by Waterfront Toronto the weekly paper The Grid. The name references the Corktown neighbourhood within which the park will sit. Corktown is named to honour the Irish workers who settled there after the so-called Irish Potato Famine of the mid-19th century. The new name must be approved by Toronto and East York Community Council at its meeting on June 18. During the six week Name That Park contest almost 450 suggestions were submitted and nearly 1,500 people voted for their favourite name during the voting round. Corktown Common, submitted by Mr. Konya, received the most votes.
Brother says he believes mayor, condemns media
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The mayor’s brother, Doug Ford, has made a statement in which he said his brother calls the crack coaine charges “untrue” and that he believes his brother. Doug Ford then began an extensive attack on the Toronto Star and the media in general. The councillor’s performance has flabbergasted members of council. Friends of the mayor are saying the content and tone of Doug Ford’s remarks are unforunate and unhelpful. Jaye Robinson (Ward 25) who in the past has been a frequent ally of the mayor, said she could not remain silent any longer. She said it was time the city heard from the mayor himself, not “his big brother.” Some say the events of today portend a collapse of such remaining goodwill that exists for the mayor. CTV
PM categorically denies knowing of Duffy deal
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The good and bad of traffic in Leaside
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A study of traffic in Leaside is on the mind of North York Community Council. John Parker (Ward 26) thinks one is necessary. Speaking at Council he cited the impact of the LRT. Certainly high-rise residential development on Eglinton and nearby the LRT has potential to create more traffic. People who live in condominiums cannot be expected to deny themselves cars, LRT or no LRT. Laird Drive will be busy with business and shopping traffic for years to come. It has parking, however, provided by the landowners both large and small. Bayview Ave., on the other hand, will almost always be congested and those who live there may wish to say a prayer of thanks about that. Why? A decision was made a long time ago to save the unique treasure embodied in our wide, wide sidewalks. Whatever else may vex this venerable business district, it would be a much less attractive place without those sidewalks. They constrict the cars to two lanes but so be it. Residential Leaside will no doubt see more traffic on its mostly very quiet streets. The planners who laid out the town lived in a time when it was clear that houses needed driveways and garages. Frankly, residential off-street parking is everything. That modern realization will save Leaside from the street parking that has turned many older neighborhoods into one-way wonders. Council has concluded that any study, when money is found, should be bounded by Glenvale Boulevard to the north, Leslie Street and the CP tracks to the east and south and Bayview Avenue to the west
Cars “melt” under fallen wires near Alliston
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These pictures snatched from TV tonight (Tuesday, May 21) show the splintered hydro poles along County Road 10 near Alliston this afternoon where several drivers were trapped. The poles began to fall like ten pins when a freak wind and rainstorm blasted through the area blowing some vehicles, including an OPP cruiser, right off the road. One driver is shown on CP24 saying that he watched a live, high voltage power line laying across his rear view mirror begin to melt the metal. Other drivers said they watched in amazement as the poles began to fall, domino-like trapping their cars in a tangle of wood and wire. OPP warned motorists to stay in their vehicles until power was turned off and they were able to safely leave. The Honda Motor Co. cancelled today’s afternoon shift because of dangerous conditions.
Powerless to speed Laird Drive hydro upgrade
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We’re heading into month three of the hydro upgrade on Laird Drive and there’s lots of work being done, but it is a long street. We hear it may be about the end of summer by the time the new hydro conduit is laid and cabled all the way to Eglinton. Those on South Bayview will recall it took five months to finish a similar job on the Bulldog’s namesake drag in 2009. At that time it was said the work would permit the burying of high voltage lines under South Bayview. So far that part remains to be done. This picture of the Laird Drive work is taken right outside the CIBC branch in the Leaside Village. Pedestrians today were using the bank as a bypass sidewalk rather than cross the street. In the south door, across the reception area, say hi to the picture of Manager Despina Polymeris and out the north door. Stay calm and carry on, we say.
Council votes 40 to 4 to kill casino in Toronto
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Toronto City Council has voted 40 to 4 against having any new gaming ventures in the community. Much of the opposition centred on the perceived social ills of a casino. The decision was taken on a motion by Councillor Mike Layton to oppose the establishment of any new gambling site in Toronto. Mayor Ford’s motion to oppose a downtown casino but expand gambling at Woodbine failed by a vote of 13 to 31. A second motion by Mr. Layton to oppose expanding Woodbine passed 24 to 20. Speaking in a news conference at Queen’s Park, Premier Wynne said her plan to modernize the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation will proceed regardless of whether there is a casino in Toronto. Ms Wynne replied to questions about her dismissal of former chairman Paul; Godfrey by saying she had two critical differences with him. One was how horse racing was to be integrated into the OLG and the second was the principal of no special deal for Toronto, if it were to host a casino. On this day as well, Ms Wynne heard that Andrea Horwath, leader of the NDP, had committed her party to supporting the Liberal budget, thus averting an election.
Gypsy Moth spray in Moore Park this Friday
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Residents of Moore Park and Bennington Heights should expect the Gypsy Moth spraying this coming Friday (May 24, 2013). The spray will take place between 5 and 7:30 a.m. Previous post.
Lawrence Park theft of laptop, jewellery, cigars
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Toronto Police Service report: A resident of Weybourne Crescent reports between 1630 hours, May 17 2013 and 1400 hours, May 20, 2013, entry was gained by forcing a window. Removed were a laptop, a quantity of jewellery and cigars.
182 Rosedale Ht sold in eight days for $2,995,000
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The much-admired Moore Park home at 182 Rosedale Heights Drive (corner of Hudson Drive) has sold for the asking price of $2,995,000 after eight days on the market in early May. The 11-room stone and stucco home has six bathrooms and four bedrooms. This home sits high and proud with its front door on Hudson.
Senate status quo not acceptable says Harper
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Driving Peter Worthington’s old car on Bayview
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Peter Worthington’s son-in-law, David Frum, tells entertaining story of parking Peter’s beat up Subaru on South Bayview. David Frum Previous post.