All classes at Grenoble Public School at 9 Grenoble Drive near Overlea Blvd. and Don Mills Rd were cancelled Wednesday because of a water main break in the area late Tuesday. Parents were asked to make alternate arrangements for the 700 or so pupils at the JK to Grade Five school. But the school board also arranged for emergency water to be trucked in to supply washrooms and it provided bottled water for kids whose parents were unable to make other arrangements.
Price-fixing alleged in Toronto home construction
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A construction-industry conspiracy to inflate the price of building foundations for houses has been operating for nearly 15 years in the Toronto area, Canada’s Competition Bureau maintains in a 120-page search-warrant application obtained by CBC News.
Warm weather helps roof repair on Heath Street
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Today’s warm weather has been a great help to these roofers on this Heath Street East home just west of Welland Ave. They are repairing a third floor damaged by the fall of a large twin oak on October 30, 2013. Three homes were struck in the fall of the large tree. This home was one of two damaged by the westerly trunk of the oak when the forked trunks split during a nasty overnight windstorm. If these workers are back up there Thursday they will have to bundle up a lot more. Frigid weather is moving in and today’s highs will give way to minus five degree temperatures tomorrow.
Yonge re-opens between Davenport and Belmont
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Yonge Street has re-opened this evening following a fire at 914 and 920 Yonge Street. The fire which was quickly extinguished, and a water main break in the area resulted in flooding and a power outage at the building, forcing the evacuation of businesses and approximately 105 residential units at the addresses.
Former mayors say “No” to Toronto casino
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Three former mayors — Crombie, Sewell and Eggleton — have written a letter to Mayor Rob Ford and city council recommending against a casino for Toronto. Their warning that Toronto should “beware the sales pitch” — is a voice of caution that repeats concerns heard before about casino gambling: Casinos try to keep customers inside the establishment causing small business outside on the street to starve, casinos attract crime and add to the cost of policing and other services, casinos prey on the vulnerable and increase everything from homelessness to alcoholism. But are these three former mayors wise men or merely voices from the past. David Crombie (1972-1978), John Sewell (1978-1980), and Senator Art Eggleton (1980-1991) were very different from each other in their day. Crombie is known for saving mid-town neighbourhoods from developers. He is a soft-conservative whose legacy is precious and deserved. It’s hard to know what the combative John Sewell accomplished apart from getting himself unelected by an unknown alderman named Eggleton after one brief term. “Art” as the new mayor was widely known, ran a savvy 11-year tour during some of the best times the city has experienced. But all of these men operated in a Toronto that is long gone, especially around gambling. The Ontario Government’s OLG presides over some of the most doubtful exploitation of the gambling poor. If the OLG hasn’t led to galloping homelessness, nothing will. The mayors are most on target, in our view, in their concern about how casinos like to imprison and otherwise sponge up all the business of any kind within a wide radius of their slot machines. But this is something that can be specifically targeted in any agreement and readily policed by merchants. It may not be a good reason to embrace a casino and The South Bayview Bulldog certainly has no need for more gambling. But like the sales pitch from the casino operators, the concerns expressed by the former mayors need to be carefully reviewed for accuracy.
RIM changes name of company to Blackberry
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You don’t have to buy a Blackberry 10 smartphone to understand that it made a lot of sense for Research in Motion to change its name to Blackerry. It happened this morning in New York City as the Waterloo company unveiled its new phones. Blackberry links
Eglinton-Mt. Pleasant neighbours end up in court
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This is a remarkable tale of neighbor antagonism that unfolded last Fall between two homeowners with a shared driveway. Many will immediately say that a shared driveway is the work of the devil. It certainly laid the groundwork for a lot of grief in this case. Toronto Star
Markham agrees to use public money by 1 vote
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The hockey dream goes on in the Town of Markham as Council votes 7-6 to spend public money on a 20,000 seat NHL style area with no team. The motion to proceed passed at 3 a.m. CBC
City will save facade and open space of Station K
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In recent days a plan to save the facade and public space in front of Postal Station K has become apparent. The new owner of the property, The Rockport Group has agreed to work with city planners and the community to create a re-development which retains the landmark 1936 architecture. A news release from Karen Stintz (Ward 16 Eglinton Lawrence) says Rockport will build a proposed development “which will provide for the retention and enhancement of the public open space, the retention and reuse of the front portion of the building, the demolition of the rear portion of the building and the construction of a residential building on the property.” Thus it seem the corner of Yonge St. and Montgomery Ave. will be the site of new condominiums. Whether Rockport will want to work in some retail elements is unknown at this point. The height of the structure is also yet to be decided. Some of this was reported yesterday on the UrbanToronto website which has some nice pictures of the bas relief so typical of the “Dominion” buildings of the 1930s in Canada.
Toronto Prep School Open House Sat, Feb 23
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Toronto Prep School, 250 Davisville Ave., is holding its open house on Saturday, February 23, 2013. As many will know, Toronto Prep School is a university preparatory day school featuring what is called “an extended before and after-school study program and rigorous academic environment designed to challenge and nurture each child.” The school likes to emphasize small classes and a healthy, active lifestyle. It is a traditional private, co-educational school for grades 7-12 students surrounded with a Goodlife Fitness club in the school. Students are provided with a complimentary Goodlife Fitness Membership and can also access a sports field, baseball diamond and tennis courts.
Grim scene as woman swept down Mount Royal
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Phone theft on the Yonge subway near Bloor
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Toronto Police Service Report: A 23 year old male reports that on January 28, 2013 at approximately 1340 hours, he was on a subway train in the area of Yonge Street and Bloor Street East when he was approached by two male suspects. One of the suspects grabbed the victim’s iPhone and the suspects then fled the scene. The victim attempted to get his iPhone back; however, one of the suspects punched the victim in the face and indicated he had a gun although no weapon was seen. The suspect then threatened to shoot the victim. The suspects then fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim did not sustain any injuries.