world19News #120 |
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world19News This e-mail is going to people on the mailing list for world19. If you don't want to receive further notices, please reply to this e-mail with "remove" in the subject. Let us know if you prefer to receive this in "plain text" format. Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested. In this issue: 1. REON/STELCO OPEN HOUSE – JAN. 13 REON Development Corporation and Cresford Developments
Windermere By The Lake Open House The Swansea Community is cordially invited to attend an Open House for an update on the Windermere By The Lake Development (former Stelco Swansea Works) Meet representatives from Cresford Developments, REON's
Builder-Partner REON and Councillor David Miller will be presenting a cheque to the Swansea Town Hall's Expansion Fund at 7:30 pm For more information contact REON Development Corporation at 416-960-6111 or email drichardson@esg.net.
2. RANT RESPONSES
[And a few other brief comments received]:
3. SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING – JAN. 28 MONEY TALKS! WHAT ARE YOUR DOLLARS SAYING? In your RRSP, RRIF and investment account you may own companies, whether through mutual funds or individual equity holdings, whose policies or practices you do not agree with. Are you working to maintain non smoking areas while owning shares of tobacco companies? Are you concerned about the environment while owning companies who are egregious polluters? Socially responsible investors encourage corporations to compete not only on the basis of financial performance, but on the basis of their societal and environmental records as well. Learn how to create an investment portfolio that is consistent with both your financial needs and your personal values. Sucheta Rajagopal is an Investment Advisor and Vice President at Hampton Securities Ltd. specializing in socially responsible investing. She has an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School and is qualified as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Sucheta is also a graduate of the Canadian Securities Institute's Professional Financial Planning Program, a Certified Investment Manager (CIM) and a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI). She sits on the Boards of the East End Community Health Centre, the Social Investment Organization and Straight Goods. Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2003, 7:30 – 9:30pm For more information call: (416) 537-5001
4. SIDEWALKS AND WALKING I thought of this while reading an article in the January 5 New York Times entitled “Whose Sidewalk Is It, Anyway?” . It included a quote from Jane Jacobs, “Lowly, unpurposeful and random as they appear, sidewalk contacts are the small change from which a city’s wealth of public life may grow”. The article also contained the astonishing statistic that (according to a pedestrian advocacy organization in Atlanta), only 10% of American children walk to school, down from 69% in 1969. The story also discussed the many impediments to pedestrian traffic, including a new $4950 motorized “wheeled pogo stick” that has been appearing on U.S. sidewalks, traveling at 12.5 mph. “It would join vendors rollerbladers, strollers, non-motorized scooters, newspaper boxes, sidewalk cafes, fruit stands, bus shelters and benches -- all jockeying for space on sidewalks.” Time allotted by signals for pedestrians to cross streets is being reduced (to give priority to car traffic), and some sidewalks in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City have been privatized! Discussing the hazards she encounters walking home from work, one person is quoted saying “It’s a miracle anybody gets home”.
ASSORTED NOTES:
It was very impressive to hear the varied stories about and by these people who had all given a great deal of time, energy, thought and heart back to their communities. There were a total of 46,000 medals given out across the country, and no doubt there were equally moving stories of dedication and caring behind each one. We understand that the Village Gleaner will be doing a story on the recipients. Meanwhile, we have posted the full press release sent by Gerard Kennedy. See www.world19.com
c) SPAM: the “'Nigerian' money scam” story For those who regularly receive SPAM in their inboxes, this one may be a “favourite”. I usually receive several a month, but always wondered just where they come from, and how the senders actually made money. I had to assume people actually replied to these ludicrous appeals, otherwise the emails wouldn’t be so frequent. If you get them and wondered yourself, I came across some background about this scam on the Straight Goods website: http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature3.cfm?REF=5. (According to this article, Canadians have been taken for $30 million in the last 10 years). d) Bad Trend? Something I’ve spotted twice this winter: the use of a leaf-blower to clear snow from their sidewalks and driveways. I've seen this being done by two different neighbours -- both were young, healthy males. One was spreading noise and cheer at 6pm on Christmas day, and the other was tackling the season’s first snowfall – at 2:30am.
e) A pub moves up: The Yellow Griffin pub (once upon a time the Bloor West Village Bakery) will soon be opening a second story, with billiard tables, darts and fireplace.
f) Police choppers More updates from our “Stop the Choppers” correspondent, who suggests Chief Fantino’s Town Hall meetings would be appropriate places for people to raise questions about the need for police helicopters. See www.choppers.world19.com.
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