Junction Triangle Library Project expansion?

Post link to the Junction Triangle blog. From their blog


100 Day Survey

A group of local residents is working with the support of Councillor Ana Bailao to expand the Perth/Dupont branch of the Toronto Public Library. As an important community resource, we want to determine what Junction Triangle residents want in their local library.

The 100 Day Survey is ten questions that will form part of a Community Report to the Toronto Public Library detailing design features and services that will meet area needs.

The survey runs until February 29, 2012.

link to full post - lots of info

link to their survey

Another mode of road safety where children's are concerned

City council January 10th Traffic Calming - Quebec Ave. between Dundas St. W. and Annette St.

 

Speed limit on Quebec Ave. between Dundas St. W. and Annette St. to be reduced to 30  km/? 

from city STAFF REPORT...

The purpose of this report is to describe the results of an investigation into a request for speed humps on Quebec Avenue. A staff assessment concludes that the criteria for installing speed humps are met on Quebec Avenue, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street.

ISSUE BACKGROUND
In response to a petition submitted to the former Ward 13 Councillor, from residents on
Quebec Avenue, Transportation Services staff investigated the need for traffic calming on
Quebec Avenue, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street. The request for traffic
calming was due to residents concerns with vehicular speeds on this section of
Quebec Avenue. Subsequently, Transportation Services staff attended a public meeting
with the present Ward Councillor and area residents to discuss options, including
installing precast concrete islands. However, the consensus of the meeting was that the
residents still prefer the installation of speed humps.
COMMENTS
Quebec Avenue, between Annette Street and Dundas Street West, is classified as a twoway local road located in the residential community west of Keele Street and south of
Dundas Street West. Sidewalk exists on both sides of the street. The posted speed limit
on Quebec Avenue is 40 km/h. Stop controls are located on Quebec Avenue at Dundas
Street West and at Annette Street.
Parking within the subject area is prohibited on the west side of Quebec Avenue while
parking is allowed for a maximum of one hour between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the
east side of Quebec Avenue within the subject area. In addition, permit parking is
allowed overnight on the east side.


To address the petition for traffic calming, speed and volume studies were conducted
mid-block on Quebec Avenue between Dundas Street West and Annette Street, during
the week of September 18, 2010.
We applied this data to the City of Toronto Traffic Calming Policy. According to the
policy, the principle criteria for installing speed humps are vehicle speed and volume.
Other environmental factors are considered, such as road width, pedestrian facilities and
grade. The proposal was evaluated under these technical criteria, with the results
summarized in Appendix B. Applying the study data to the Traffic Claming Warrant
shows that Quebec Avenue, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street, satisfies the
criteria for speed humps.Quebec Avenue between Annette Street and Dundas Street West – Traffic Calming
We emphasise that installing speed humps results in slower operating speeds for all
vehicles, including emergency service vehicles, and can result in increased response
times in the event of an emergency.
The City of Toronto Traffic Calming Policy requires that the City Clerk formally survey
residents directly affected by installing speed humps on Quebec Avenue. Under the
policy, we must receive a minimum response rate of 51 per cent, of which at least 60 per
cent of respondents must respond in favour of installing speed humps.
Subject to approval by Community Council of the recommendations outlined above, the
City Clerk will survey residents on Quebec Avenue, between Dundas Street West and
Annette Street. If the survey shows support for installing speed humps, Transportation
Services will schedule installation according to relative need and competing priorities.
No alterations to parking regulations are required. The number of existing on-street
parking spaces is not affected by the installation, with no significant negative impact on
winter services, street cleaning or garbage collection; however, as indicated previously, it
will reduce emergency vehicle speeds on a street designated as a primary response route.
Consultation with emergency services (Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services) is
required to ensure that the design and layout of traffic calming proposals do not
negatively affect their operations. Although we generally advise emergency services of
our intentions, we do not always receive a formal response; however, in the past Toronto
Fire Services has provided the following general statement regarding speed hump
installation.
“…Toronto Fire Service is supportive of initiatives that improve the life safety of
our citizens. Our concern is that the physical calming measures being proposed
may negatively impact emergency response to the area.
The vertical restrictions imposed by speed humps have a much greater affect on
large fire vehicles than smaller passenger vehicles. Response time increases with
every obstacle a fire vehicle encounters en route from the fire station to the
incident. Although the increase at each hump may only be seconds, the
cumulative effect can be a significant amount of time that could result in
increased property damage, unnecessary injury or loss of life.
Speed humps are generally hard on large, heavy vehicles (fire vehicles) and
increase the potential to suffer mechanical damage. This in turn can lead to a
vehicle being placed out of service for considerable periods of time. Aside from
the costs associated with repairs, there is a decrease in the resources available to
respond to other emergency situations.”

The teepee on St Clair West.

Shortly east of Runnymede Rd on the south side if St Clair Ave. is this teepee.

It's a teepee shingled with roofing shingles.

Expressive is the least to say about it.

Glad to see the Greater Junction Area still has some eccentric persons and orgs.

High Park Family Fun place surely is the most creative signage in the Junction

From their hand made signs to their professional one the signs used by them to highlight events and services are wonderful.

Police arrest Mr Scalla of the Junction — again - bleeding heart liberal view updated 12:41am Friday 06/2012

Update 1: Mr Ralph Scala has been granted bail Thursdat jan 05 2012 on 78 charges, including threatening damage and mischief, he must obey a curfew of 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. and continue to stay away from the Quebec Ave.

thanks to blog reader Karen for posting the Toronto Star piece about this in the comments.

Update 2: the why so angry blog has a article on this click image below to read it

[caption id="attachment_9913" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Click image to go to site"][/caption]

 

Mr Ralph Scala now sometimes of Quebec Ave was arrested again Wednesday morning the 4th 0f January 2012. How sad for both the community and the man himself.

This arrest will provide the community with some distance  once again in feeling safe from this man actions but only for a time.   But does nothing to solve the problem, the cause of the both the accused anger and his fathers cannot be discovered and re-mediated in the process of the courts it seems, as after a 3 year court imposed exclusion from the area., the behavior still exists.

This blog does not know if the father and son have taken any anger management courses, such courses our often used by defense lawyers and the crown prosecution to remedy minor assault (if any assault can be considered minor - but Ontario courts do distinguish)  and cases such as the Scalas.

The program can be really - really successful, assisting all sorts of anti social behavior individuals engage in allowing them  to understand why they behave how they do, and the real direct their anger is pushing them which most often in very much to a greater understanding of themselves - which can cause a stoppage to the behavior. Consisting of 16 weeks of discovery and teaching often in a group of like-minded and charged individuals.

Reported in the Toronto Star - police said

“He wouldn’t come out of his house. He’s been holed up for a month and a half,” Hall said.

When police arrived, Scala was “putting on his pants, watching the security monitor,” he said. “He just doesn't care.”

Rather than ... just not caring, which my be the opinion of many,  does Mr Scala just not understand that his needs can be better served by better actions on his part, allowing him to see this ill mother when he wants and live where he wants. It is clear the both the father and son feel connected to their street and community, the Junction has that ability to bring that out in people.

The police seem to have a relationship with him, speaking to him on the phone, and having such knowledge as to keep him at bay from going back to the egregious acts he has been convicted of doing, without a thought out plan of action they seem to be taking (my guessing) things could have gotten worse than verbal statements again.

Addressing his situation with the Justice system, accepting its terms and living by them. Setting boundaries of how he will let the situations that annoy him, govern his actions would serve him well, and the community he is part of.

 

Canada work life balance #15 in OECD study

OECD has published a work life balance study.

1st the general overview image captures then the Canada specific information.



 





Now Canada







Link to their site with full report

West Toronto Diamond project reaches Black Creek Drive

Black Creek Drive at its foot has been reduced to one lane as work proceeds on the rail bridgework overhead.

This slows down the traffic turn left on to Old Weston Rd. quite a bit.

A this has to do with the West Toronto part of the airport link, hopefully we will to see them build a new bridge section.

Up til now the the Weston Rd. area up in the Mount Dennis area has all the exciting stuff on the public highway.

Development Watch entries from the Toronto Building Application Status site

3218 DUNDAS ST W
Proposal to construct three storey rear addition to existing apartment building to propose 5 new dwelling units in new, and interior alteration to ground floor to an existing 2 bedroom apartment, to create one 1 bedroom apartment and 1 bachelor unit.







572 ANNETTE ST











Description: proposed new three storey detached single family dwelling with attached garage as approved by committee of adjustment