From My Bottom Step

Car “Charges” Picket Line [Video]

At York University in Toronto for the last week the Faculty, Teaching Assistants, and Graduate Assistants have been on strike. As part of their strike action they have taken to erecting “information blockades” on roadways around the University, holding vehicles for two minuets for a quick chat.

Friday, this video of … Continue Reading

Delay Now Will Cost More Later

London’s recycling program is poised to expand on Dec. 1. That’s when residents will at long last be allowed to divert more things from the landfill.

Drinking boxes (from soups, juices or wine) and milk and juice cartons will have their paper fibres recycled into things like paper towels, tissues, and cereal boxboard.

It’s taken a long time to get this far. Many would say that it’s taken too long and that it’s not enough. And I’m one of them. Continue Reading

A Call for Less Secrecy

The city’s Environment and Transportation Committee received the 8th report of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee this past week.

Item #6 of the report states: “AWAC reviewed and received a communication dated October 28, 2008 from L. White, Leader, B. MacKay, Canadian Representative, Born Free Foundation United with the Animal Protection Institute, and heard a verbal delegation from Ms White, with respect to an approach to the deer population in the Sifton Bog and surrounding areas.” Continue Reading

It’s Time for a Downtown Master Plan

Despite many reports and the expenditure of millions of dollars (public and private) towards revitalization of the core, the approach which has historically been taken in London is to deal with things on an “issues” basis, instead of having a larger vision. But now, “Council has identified a need for a new broadly based Downtown Master Plan … the time is right …”

So says R.W. Panzer, the city’s General Manager of Planning and Development. Continue Reading

Helmets Reduce Head Injuries

ETC committee heard a delegation from a group of 4th-year UWO nursing students this past week. They are seeking support for the adoption of legislation which would make wearing helmets mandatory for all cyclists, regardless of age.

In addition to personally witnessing the devastating head trauma which can result from cycling accidents (they’re currently working on a neurosurgery floor), they’ve also determined that the use of helmets decreases the incidence of severe head injuries and death “by up to 88%.” Continue Reading

For Sale/Lease

For Sale/Lease
Restaurant/Bar
3 Buildings
679-6949
That was the sign I saw this morning when walking to work, it was both a sign of relief and disappointment at the same time. Continue Reading

Silence When it Suits the LFP

This is the rejoinder that I just submitted in response to Paul Berton’s recent editorial (“Silence Unacceptable on Springbank Dam”; LFP; 2008/11/01): Continue Reading

Proposed New Noise By-law

One of the item’s on this week’s ETC agenda was a proposed new noise bylaw for the city. According to Orest Katolyk (Manager of By-Law Enforcement), the current by-law has been in place for 20 years. And all noise complaints currently have to be responded to by London Police. Continue Reading

Hidden Secrets

This installment of Hidden Secrets deals with something more of a summer nature but I thought that on a cold day here in London that it might be appropriate to mention it to help with summer thoughts.

If you are looking to go out and get ice cream, whether a cake, a sundae or just a simple scoop there are a number of choices in London. Most of the time when I talk to people about going to get ice cream I get the typical response of Marble Slab Creamery, Dairy Queen or McDonalds. Although one of those options is ok and the others not so much, sadly they are the typical responses I get. What many people fail to realize that there are many more options for ice cream treats in London, Ontario. Continue Reading