Feed a dog for free: a dissertation by Alan Murray

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Alan Murray is a Rosedale area dog walker and friend of animals: I am one of those who feel that dogs should eat whatever they like. That’s what I do. So dog biscuits feed my dog.  Here’s how: Shops and stores around Yonge and Roxborough have dog treats in the store, as a friendly, neighbourly, kindness. Exploiting this, here’s how I feed Charlie for free. The first stop is the New Way Cleaners, where Nicole, the new owner, has soft, moist biscuits. She has dogs and knows her cookies. Much tail wagging at this stop, as Charlie gobbles down one and I slip a second into my pocket. Then up to the TD bank, the friendliest, happiest bank in the city. Aireen sits and smiles at reception, and she’s ready with a dog biscuit for Charlie. They’re hard biscuits, and Charlie sniffs it away. I, however, grab two biscuits “for later”. Then it’s into Rosedale’s General Store. Health Foods. It’s Rosedale’s best kept secret. Hidden in plain view. I stick a head in the door, and Jae goes to the back and hands me a beautiful looking cookie. Charlie is drooling. Now it’s time to head over to Avenue Road. Padding across to Sarah Band’s store, Bianco Plus. Right at the doorway Sarah has two beautiful bowls, one with water, and the other with the best looking dog biscuits in Toronto. Red. Yellow. Green. Charlie only eats one. I pocket three colours. Later in the day, I crumble all my dog biscuits, add a little water and make a slurry for Charlie’s dinner. So, that’s how you feed your dog for free. But, perhaps the nicest part, is: everyone is so delighted to provide the goodies. It makes them feel good just to be doing it.There may be a political philosophy here. Those who like to give, give. Those who like to receive, receive. Gracefully. Courtesy Yonge and Roxborough News 

The common sense of Waste to Energy

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Jim Harnum

Jim Harnum, the general manager of Toronto’s solid waste management services will be seeking city council’s permission this month to launch a comprehensive look into a long-term waste strategy. What that means is that Toronto — like so many cities around the world — is waking up to the common sense possibility of burning much of its garbage. Every option will be on the table. “Are we going to expand the landfill, are we going to buy another one, are we going to burn it, are we going to turn it into something else, can we wait until 2027 and see if there is some magic out there?” Harnum is quoted by the Toronto Star.  “I don’t think we can wait. Anything we do in this sector takes 12 to 15 years.”  One of the things Harnum is talking about is the growing acceptance of the sound science of generating energy from waste as the garbage is incinerated. It’s called Waste to Energy (WtoE). Public opinion polls show Toronto    residents are almost evenly divided on incineration. It’s easy to understand. Conventional wisdom has opposed burning garbage for decades. It’s almost a touchstone of the recycling gospel taught in schools. Former Mayor David Miller was deeply opposed to WtoE. He convinced city council to continue the practice of dumping garbage in landfill even after Toronto stopped shipping it to Michigan. It is now buried in a landfill  near London, Ontario. Previous post. 

James Lea home at 33 Heather Road is sold

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The historic Leaside home at 33 Heather Road has been sold. The 1902 home of the family of James Lea had been owned in recent years by hockey player Nick Kypreos. In the summer of 2012 it had been listed for $3.5 million. It was then taken off the market and re-listed as a private offering by Chestnut Park Realty. The selling price is being withheld. The list price this year was $3.295 million. 33 Heather sits on a lot 80 by 150 feet widening to 92. It was renovated in 2004 but continues to preserve the original home. There are about 5,000 square feet of living space

No Pope on first ballot, second vote Wednesday

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Black smoke rose into the evening sky over the Vatican as a Conclave of cardinals failed to select a new pope on its first vote Tuesday. A second vote will be held Wednesday morning. Earlier story: Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have entered their Conclave to decide through a run-off voting process who will be the next Pope. Amid public opinion surveys which show North Americans strongly favor a more liberalized Papacy, the Cardinals will continue to cast ballots until a two-thirds majority Pope is identified. There is speculation  that the decision will come Thursday. Canadian Cardinal Marc Oulette is apparently still a contender and Mark Mardell the BBC’s North American editor weighs Oulette’s chances (link below). The forces within the Church worldwide have led some to say that a Canadian Pope is a definite long shot however. The traditionally Euro-centric Vatican and the preponderance of Catholic populations in Africa and South America seem to suggest this is correct.  Mark Mardell 

Media permitted at Magnotta preliminary hearing

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The judge presiding over Luka Rocco Magnotta’s preliminary hearing has turned down a defense request to have everyone excluded from the courtroom. Judge Lori-Renne Wietzman made the decision apparently without elaborating on why  Magnotta’s lawyer felt the ban was necessary.  A ban on testimony is normal during preliminary hearings but the defense wanted to keep the media out even though it was not permitted to write about the testimony. 

Talking about her complaint until 2014

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Sarah Thompson has told a Toronto radio station that she thought Mayor Ford was on cocaine the night he allegedly molested her at a large party at the Acadian Court. This follows the mayor’s comment on his radio program on Newstalk 1010 that he feels Ms Thompson is “not playing with a full deck.”  These careless slanders invoke again Christie Blatchford’s observation that Mr. Ford and Ms Thompson are Mr. Train Wreck and Ms Train Wreck. None of it reflects well on either party. Nor does it seem right for the media to let them keeping cranking out insults which shed no light on the truth. It seems certain, given the many informed witnesses who have already come forward that there will never be a factual determination of the key question.  But it is more than clear that Ms Thompson’s agenda is to keep talking about the alleged offense from now until election day 2014. Frankly it seems doubtful that someone with her judgement could ever be elected mayor. Ms. Thompson’s rambling suppositions about the mayor’s condition — cocaine, diabetes, alcohol — are grotesque. It is equally apparent that by raking over the matter each morning in the media  she can  hurt the mayor’s chances at the next vote.  

Break-ins on Inglewood Dr., Chatsworth Dr.

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Toronto Police Service reports: A resident of Inglewood Drive reports that between 1715 hours on March 9, 2013 and 0042 hours on March 10, 2013, entry was gained into the premises by forcing a door. Removed was a quantity of camera equipment, laptop computers, jewellery and tableware.  Chatsworth Drive: A resident of Chatsworth Drive reports that on March 7, 2013 at approximately 1115 hours, unknown suspects gained entry into the premises by forcing a door. Removed was a quantity of cash, jewellery and household items.

Rain Monday afternoon with a high of ten

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Rain is expected tomorrow afternoon in Toronto. Monday morning  it will be cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers in the morning and early in the afternoon. Showers will transition to rain in the afternoon. Wind will be south at 20 km/h becoming light in the afternoon. High 10. Monday night there will be rain ending after midnight then partly cloudy. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h in the evening with a low of plus 1.

226 Hillsdale sells for $172,000 over asking

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The brick home at 226 Hillsdale Ave. E. about a block west of Mt. Pleasant Rd. has sold in seven days for $921,000, $172,000 over the asking price of 749,000. It had previously sold for $551,000 in 2004. It is said to have about 1,600 square feet and sit on a lot that is 25 by 125 feet in size. The home has a walkout from the kitchen to the deck and garden with an interlocking brick patio. The driveway leading to the parking pad is subject to a right-of-way but is wide and can accommodate a car fairly easily, the agents information said..