UK triggers article 50 to begin two-year exit from EU

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Prime Minister Theresa May formally began Britain’s divorce from the European Union on Wednesday, saying there was “no turning back” from a decision pitching her country into two years of “messy” negotiations. Nine months after Britons voted to leave, May notified EU Council President Donald Tusk in a letter that Britain was quitting the bloc it joined in 1973. “The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union,” May later told parliament in London. “This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back.”

Split on $3.35 billion 1-stop wonder makes odd bedfellows

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The Scarborough one-stop subway will proceed to construction along with the McCowan bus station following eight hours of debate at City Council Tuesday. The windy session seemed to cover ground previously well trod. In the end, arguments like “the City can’t wait” and “in thirty years no one will care” prevailed over what seems to many to be simple common sense. A better system by LRT for less money. How much of the support in Scarborough is based purely on politics? We can only guess. There are ten wards there and only Paul Ainslie was opposed to the subway. There is deep resentment against Toronto which seems to grow more bitter with each kilometre east. When Councillor Glen De Baeremaeker baited residents at a panel meeting Monday about downtown perceptions of “Scarberia” he might just as well have said “and Toronto is where the hated rich people live.” The split in votes saw an interesting collection opposed: Josh Matlow (Ward 22) and Jayne Robinson (Ward 25) quite different politically but hard-headed about money. Odd bedfellows Mike Layton and Giorgio Mammoliti sided together.

Result: Carried Majority Required – EX23.1 – Balance of Executive Committee Item EX23.1 as amended
Yes: 26 Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Michelle Holland, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Neethan Shan, David Shiner, Michael Thompson, John Tory 
No: 18 Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Shelley Carroll, Joe Cressy, Janet Davis, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Giorgio Mammoliti, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Joe Mihevc, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Kristyn Wong-Tam 
Absent: 1 Ron Moeser 

Homes under construction consumed by fire in Brampton

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Indiginous restaurant Kū-kŭm to open at 581 Mt. Pleasant

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An indigenous peoples restaurant known as Kū-kŭm will open shortly at 581 Mount Pleasant Rd. in the former Mogette Bistro. The Chef, Joseph Shawana, a native of Manitoulin Island, will preside. It is said Kū-kŭm will offer a roasted rack of elk, poached pike, braised venison, smoked whitefish pate, pine needle and citrus sorbet and purple beet root ice cream. Could be good.

Name the car wash alley? What else but Turtle Wax Lane

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Lane beside carwash
From Roehampton to Glazebrook
Turtle Wax Lane?

The Sherwood Park Residents’ Association is asking for submissions to name the laneway beside the Bayview Car Wash.  It runs from Roehampton to Glazebrook. The purpose is to make it easier and safer for emergency and official services to find it. As Ben Daube, president of the residents’ association says, it is a lot easier to find a street that has a name. We’re thinking maybe Turtle Wax Lane would commemorate the many decades of vehicle cleaning done here and entertain passersby. Very much in the spirit of Penny Lane.

Horror story as man has valuables and SIN card looted

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Professional landlords must shake their heads in wonderment at the  gullibility of people who let strangers move into their places with the fingers-crossed credentials acquired from Airbnb. Another Toronto horror story has come to light as told by photographer Matthew Lyn. He had his place looted by a man and woman with a child early in March. They took him for $21,000 in valuables and his SIN card too. It runs against the “trust everyone” mantra of so many people but this is not at all surprising in the circumstances. The Airbnb name is derived from the earliest origins of the company when a founder used an air bed to billet someone and then merged half of that term with the short form for bed and breakfast (bnb). Fine, but the warm and fuzzy notion of a renter-community built on trust after a couple of phone calls is chancy to say the least. Trust isn’t built on a phone call. Mr. Lyn’s case is very sad. CBC

Spring Fling Craft and Vendor Sale at St. Anselm’s April 2

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The St. Anselm’s Parish Spring Fling Craft and Vendor Sale is this Sunday, April 2, 2017. Toddle over to the church hall at 1 MacNaughton Rd. about 9.30 for the best selection. It lasts until 1 p.m.

Marijuana “not benign” says City MOH Dr. Eileen de Villa

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Toronto medical officer of health Eileen de Villa is vowing to adopt and advocate for “a strong public health approach to marijuana legalization and regulation.” Dr. de Villa says there is a role for legalization and regulation of marijuana but cautions against notions that is completely benign. Dope dispensary principals such as Mark and Jodie Emery are frequently seen in the news insisting that marijuana is “completely harmless.” On her first official day as Toronto MOH, Dr. de Villa did not venture into the recreational use of marijuana or how it might be sold. The Liberal government has chosen to announce the outline for the sale of marijuana on Thursday, April 20, 2017, known to many as 4/20 or pot smoking day. Some criticized the choice of symbolism for such an announcement. Dr. de Villa is the mother of three sons and was previously the MOH of the Region of Peel. She made the video below in 2016 for the Crescent School for boys on Bayview Ave. where she is a member of the board of governors.

 

Davisville School Parents see “second update” of new school

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Davisvile Public School Parents @DPSParents are showing what’s called a second update on the layout and space allocation of a new school. It is by the well-known institutional architectural firm of Snyder. The school will sit to the south of the present school on Davisville rather than on Millwood.

Video wheel live look at Council debating one-stop subway

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Toronto City Council is in full voice accompanied by head-scratching questions about just what it will cost to build the one-stop subway to the Scarborough Town Centre. And there are many other queries of the TTC Chief, Ciy Manager and Chief Planner. It’s live. On Wall Street, the Fearless Girl statue will stay where it is, looking at the big bull, for another year. Below that, CBC assays the unknowns awaiting the legalization of marijuana. And the British pound coin is now a 12-sided quid showing the English Rose, Scottish Thistle, Welsh Leek and the Northern Irish Shamrock.

Water main break blocks 4 lanes on Queen’s Park Crescent

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South Leaside Monday Group “Everything Kids” Sale

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The South Leaside Monday Group is organizing its annual Everything Kids Sale and is hoping local moms can contribute gently-used, children’s items to the cause. The money will go to support the Trace Manes Playground Rejuvenation (Georgia Walsh) cause and the South Leaside Monday Group. It notes two dates, one for drop off, one for the sale. Also see Leaside Chit Chat post from Kristin Leishman Ballard

  • Drop off may be made Monday, April 3, 20-17 at Trace Manes Park. There may be other dates for drop set later.
  • Sale date is Saturday, June 3, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Leaside United Church.