Plumbing incident causes fire, destroys mansion

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11:23 pm

AN INFERNO HAS left 9 Lauderdale Dr., near Bayview Avenue and York Mill Road, demolished, with a roof that has collapsed into the mansion and four walls filled with debris.

According to fire officials, a family of four reportedly rented the house recently, and at the time of the fire only the two children, the nanny and the plumber were inside. Everyone got out safely.

“We know there was a plumber working in the area where the fire started,” said Bob O’Hallarn, division commander of Toronto Fire Services. “And the plumber indicated that some material from soldering … fell inside the wall.”

He said, as a result, the fire will not be investigated by the Ontario fire marshal.

“…Although we haven’t examined it in great detail as of yet, and since we can’t get inside the building, because it’s declared unsafe, we suspect that’s how it started,” O’Hallarn said, adding the fire marshal only investigates if the cause is undetermined, if there is a gaseous explosion or if there is suspicion of arson.

It started in the basement of the home at around four p.m., and by the time the fire trucks arrived, O’Hallarn said, the fire was well underway.
“Our guys went in and planned their course of attack — until the floors started giving way under them or felt like they were going to because they were very soft — and fought it defensively then, from outside,” he said.

$5 million donation will fund new sports centre

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11:21 pm

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The Prosserman Jewish Community Centre is set to receive a $5 million addition thanks to a donation by the families of David Cynamon and Howard Sokoloski.

“I was thrilled,” said Bryan Keshen, executive director of Prosserman JCC, regarding the announcement. “For us, it means we’re that much closer to construction.”

The initiative is part of a joint venture by the families of Toronto Argonauts owners Cynamon and Sokolowski to fund a new state-of-the-art sports complex. Named the Cynamon/Sokolowski Sports Complex, the 71,000-square-foot facility will include indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor running track, a multi-sport gymnasium and a fitness centre. It will be part of the second phase of the Sherman Campus, located on 27.5 acres on Bathurst Street north of Sheppard Avenue, which opened its first phase in the fall.

“Sports have a way of bringing people from all backgrounds and experience together,” said David Cynamon. “My family and I are thrilled to be part of the growth of the [centre].” Howard Sokolowski agreed. “I can think of no better way to give back to a community than helping to give all Torontonians the opportunity to experience the love of sport,” he said.

Keshen said the centre would use sports and recreation to “strengthen and build community, within and outside of the Jewish community.

“This is the easy way to connect with people,” Keshen said. “A lot of what we do is about building strong social health networks because those social networks then support healthy communities.”

He added that the new facility and provided programs will address community desires. “These are the things that the community is just looking for, asking for, wanting and needing,” he said. Keshen said that the demolition of the old facility would happen “almost immediately.” A date for the centre’s completion has not been set.

Stop and stare at Parkdale's Made You Look

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9:10 am

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Made You Look is a jewelry store — well two really — filled with beautiful Canadian designs.

Located in the eclectic Parkdale neighbourhood, Made You Look has two stores, one directly across the street from the other. The north location is filled with precious metals, stones, and gems – the perfect spot to find an investment piece for any event. The south location specializes in unique costume pieces that ooze in personality.

One of the really exciting things about this store is that 20 of the designers actually produce their accessories in house with the Made You Look facilities. So, if you find a designer you really love and want to get a custom-made piece, you can speak directly with that designer.

I could spend hours looking through all the gorgeous pieces in this store, and it is my number one recommendation for clients looking for one-of-a-kind jewellery.

Made You Look is located at 1338 & 1273 Queen Street West, Toronto – 416.463.2136

Always on the lookout for Toronto’s best boutiques!

Wendy

As a personal style coach with THE REFINERY, Wendy Woods translates the world of fashion into a personal style that makes her clients shine, while introducing them to Toronto’s unique boutiques.

Plans for Hoggs Hollow park to be presented

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3:08 pm

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Designs plans to transform a portion of the overflow public parking lot adjacent to the Miller Tavern into parkland are slated to be unveiled to the community in the near future.

“It’s the northern gateway to the city, and we feel it’s important to retain as much green space as possible,” said Louise Sugar, vice-president of the York Mills Valley Association, of the park’s location.

A design first presented in October included components historically reflective of the Hogg’s Hollow area, including a sawmill relic.

Sugar said the park’s design would allow it to support area wildlife. “We want it to be as naturalized as possible, as an extension of this wildlife corridor that we have that’s very, very valuable to migrating animals and birds in the city,” she said.

When purchased in 1997 for $2.1 million, the city agreed to reconsider returning the lot to parkland once the purchase price had been recovered through parking permits. Approximately 1.7 acres of the lot are being considered for return, leaving roughly 180 parking spots. Coun. Cliff Jenkins said he expected construction to begin this year.

North Yorker linked to multi-million dollar scheme

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3:01 pm

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A former North York resident has been linked to a multi-million dollar fraud scheme. Tzvi Erez, a well-known businessman who up until last summer lived on Bannockburn Avenue, was arrested by members of the Toronto Police Fraud Squad, on June 18, 2009, and charged with multiple counts of uttering forged documents, fraud and failure to comply with probation.

According to police, between Aug. 22 and Dec. 8, 2008, Erez defrauded roughly $1.1 million from Glickma Investments Ltd.

Through his investigation, court appointed receiver Jerry Henechowicz concluded in a series of reports that Erez, who ran the E Graphix Ltd. print shop in Richmond Hill “operated a Ponzi scheme,” and “found little evidence that Erez Group’s actual printing business was anything other than a very small print business.”

Henechowicz further concluded Erez “would provide copies of fraudulent and or forged purchase orders, financial statements and cheques allegedly received as payment from customers.”

Reached by telephone, Mr. Henechowicz had no comment on the case.

Lou Brzezinski, a lawyer at Blaney McMurtry who was approached by the owner of Glickma Investments last February, said the matter is far from over. “It definitely will progress,” Brzezinski said. “I can tell you that there’s a whole new chapter two.” A call made to Howard Manis, Mr. Erez’s lawyer, was not returned.

After-school specialists

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1:30 pm

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Lori Greenspoon, a Toronto mother of two, first hired a tutor to help her son when he was in Grade 4.

“I sought out a private tutor to help him with homework completion and to give him an early model for how to do work well,” she recalls.
Her son wasn’t getting the one-on-one attention he needed to build self-confidence in the classroom, so Greenspoon enlisted the help of a qualified teacher on maternity leave.

Eight academic years later, her son is now in Grade 12 and in the process of applying to university. Greenspoon feels the once-a-week tutoring he received through elementary school and part of high school provided him with key strategies for problem solving and studying.

“The intention was never for his tutor to do his homework but rather analyze where he was getting stuck and provide tools needed to get through those tough spots,” Greenspoon says.

For many parents of both public and private school students, tutoring is used to supplement in-class learning.

“You can overdo it though,” Greenspoon warns. “We always kept my son’s tutoring sessions to once a week — the rest of the work he had to tackle on his own.”

This is a belief many educators share.

“One of the dangers of tutoring is that the sessions will become a crutch for learning,” says Sean Meggeson, principal teacher and tutor at Freemont Academy and Bayview Tutorial Institute. Meggeson adds that if such a scenario persists the tutoring will become ineffective because the child will fall behind the flow of his or her classroom.

“Most educators, if they’re good educators, know that just doing the work for the student won’t help anybody,” says Meggeson.
“A tutor’s primary goal should be to spark motivation and enrich the child’s learning process. The way they can do that properly is to come to the table with knowledge. Knowledge of the subject and the curriculum.”

According to Doug Moore, owner and principal of North Toronto Tutoring (part of North Toronto Academy), students are also best served if they come to their tutors prepared.

“Kids should try the work at home, keep track of the questions they have and present their needs to the tutor,” he recommends.
“It’s important for kids to think through their work themselves before seeking assistance, in order to build self-esteem and independence.”

Moore adds that a good tutor is able to provide some coaching to the student as well, offering practical tools for time management and organization skills as well as aiding with subject material.

“I often spent time talking with my son’s tutor, allowing me to pick up where she left off,” says Greenspoon.

A respectful relationship between the tutor and the student is also essential.

“It is often challenging for a parent to tutor his or her own children, especially adolescents, explains Steve Udvari, co-owner of the Study Spot, a Leaside-based academic coaching program for students in Grades 7 through university. “I’m a parent, too, and I notice that it’s much easier to get the same messages across to the students here than it is to get them across to my own children.”

Udvari adds that in order for a student to truly benefit from tutoring or coaching he or she must be willing to accept and benefit from the help.

“We’ve had to tell some parents that their child isn’t ready yet,” says Udvari. “We work with kids to help make them better students, but in order to succeed, they have to be held accountable.”

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the tutor-child relationship should come to an end. Educators agree that the best tutors will fundamentally improve the child’s approach to learning and then leave them to go out into the world.

“I look at it like this: after students work with us for a while, we become the voice in their heads,” says Udvari.
“We provide tools that allow them to be the best they can be, and offer tips for dealing with unfamiliar situations.”

Braised beef tongue and cheek at Torito

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11:49 am

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Torito Tapas Bar has long been a favourite restaurant for me to enjoy wonderful Spanish and South American influenced cuisine.

The owner, Veronica Laudes, is a charming and knowledgeable hostess. I considered the original chef, Carlos Hernandez (now on sabbatical), one of the best chefs in Toronto. His sous, Luis Valenzuela, has learned Carlos’ techniques well and has mastered his own.

To begin, we enjoyed the classical tapa of tortilla, a classical Spanish omelet, often served warm or at room temperature. This well rendered combination of thinly-sliced potatoes, onions and egg was slightly spicy and reminiscent of my recent trip to the Basque country of Spain.

A truly delicious, somewhat spicy, chestnut and chorizo soup followed. It incorporated the sweetness of finely diced carrots and a dash of olive oil — altogether a sensational complementary group of flavours and textures.

Pan fried sardines on a bed of beans, chopped radishes and fennel slaw was a follow up dish.

Next, white sea bass seviche touched with lime was served with sliced red onion, roasted corn kernels and chopped cilantro. A delightful dish.

Our next tapa was roasted quail with a pomegranate glaze, topped with pomegranate seeds and served with a well matched squash puree.

Then, one of my favourites, Chilean tripe stew — perfectly tender tripe with chickpeas topped with shaved parmesan cheese. This was a true stick to one’s ribs dish.

Our next tapa, another favourite of mine, braised beef tongue and cheek came with an intensely beef rich stock reduction and fingerling potatoes. The tongue was meltingly tender and such a good texture pairing with the beef cheeks.

Our final tapa was grilled flat iron steak, served medium rare, topped with a fried egg. It was also covered in chimichurri sauce and accompanied by the restaurant’s own homemade potato chips. Dessert was up next. A Spanish influenced almond cake with local pears compote and a very special taste complement of perfect crème fraiche. The coarsely textured almond cake was well matched to the sweet pear puree compote.

I highly recommend Torito Tapas Bar for it’s food, conviviality, casual ambiance and, oh yes I forgot, also their very good sangria.

276 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5T 2L9, (647) 436-5874

Dr. Josh Josephson is the owner of The Cookbook Store and Josephson Opticians. He is a chevalier of Les Chevalier du Tastevin and the Le Chaine des Rotisseurs, a member of L’ordre Mondiale and a member and former president of the International Wine and Food Society, Toronto chapter.

Toronto could learn from New York model

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3:50 pm

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LAST WINTER, AS the federal Finance Department was preparing to spend billions of dollars to stimulate the economy in the face of a global economic meltdown, the David Suzuki Foundation offered its ideas on how to spend the money.

We recommended increased and sustained funding for public transit, subsidies for renewable energy and cash for research and development to green Canada’s auto sector.We also suggested that the government should take a closer look at the economic benefits of protecting our terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems.

We argued that protecting nature results in cost savings for governments because natural areas provide many direct ecological benefits that sustain the health and well-being of our communities at little or no cost. These include services like clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat and flood control. All of these are costly to replace if they are degraded or lost due to mismanagement, assuming they can be replaced at all.

The financial benefits of protecting nature have long been understood. For example, in the early 1990s, New York City chose to protect its watershed through land purchase, pollution control and conservation easements, rather than build new infrastructure to filter its water. In doing so, the city has saved billions of dollars in engineering costs.

Providing clean water at an affordable cost is a challenge in many Canadian cities because few draw their drinking water from protected watersheds. Cities like Toronto and Montreal must rely on expensive treatment systems because the ecosystems from which the water is drawn are already degraded or are tainted by pollution from industrial and agricultural activities and urban runoff.

In comparison, Vancouver’s drinking water comes from protected watersheds in the North Shore Mountains. These mature forests filter, store and regulate Vancouver’s drinking water at no cost to the taxpayer.

A recent joint study by municipal, provincial and federal agencies in B.C. estimated that Vancouver and surrounding communities could save about $1.1 million annually in storm-water infrastructure costs if they significantly increase urban forest cover.

This sort of research is important because policy-makers often ignore the full economic costs of degrading land and the ecological services it provides when making development decisions. For example, in 1973, British Columbia designated good quality farmland in the province as “agricultural land reserve” (ALR) where nonagricultural land use would be strictly controlled.

But the ALR has consistently been degraded by development, under the watch of government.

Successive governments have allowed more than 6,000 hectares of land to be removed for development from the ALR in and around the Vancouver region. It’s time we started looking at the true value of our forests, fields, farmlands and other natural and managed ecosystems beyond just the resources that we take from them.

Post City Magazines’ environmental columnist, David Suzuki, is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things. Dr. Suzuki is also the author of more than 30 books on ecology.

The perfect host

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Alana Alvarez

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3:16 pm

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Back in the ’80s, when I was hosting shows on MuchMusic, Camilla Scott was hosting her successful daytime talk show on CTV.

I was in the audience for her dynamic performance in Mama Mia! I envied her working with hunkster Paul Gross in Due South. Through the years, I chuckled every time I heard her voice as Mama Bear in the Berenstein Bears animated series.

Both of us were hard working career women. Neither of us had interest in kids.

Of the two of us I was first to pop out a Mini-Me. I bumped into Scott at a voice audition in 2006. She’d moved back from N.Y.C. and recently had given birth to Jack. She was understandably tired but happy. Motherhood looked good on her.

I recently reconnected with Scott who continues to reinvent herself while raising Jack, now four and a half.

There’s a bond between us –—both working moms managing to have kids and a career.

While I found the transition to motherhood difficult, Scott and her actor husband Paul Eves embraced being new parents. “It was like Christmas every day” gushed Scott.

When asked how having Jack has changed her life, she says, “He’s the centre of our universe. All our decisions now are about what will provide the best life for him. It’s our responsibility to help him become an extraordinary human being.”

Despite being busy auditioning and performing, Scott never hired child care.

They share parenting duties with Paul doing all cooking, and a couple of their close friends swooping in to babysit when necessary.
Picking the right school for her son has been top of mind.

While she and Paul both attended public schools and received good educations, there was no question little Jack would be going private.

“Schools are different now. When we went to public school, the music program was amazing, there were drama and choir after-school programs. That doesn’t exist any more.”

Currently in preschool, the plan is for Jack to attend private school in Grade 1. Rather than hire an educational consultant to advise them on schools, Scott went to friends.

“My girlfriend’s 16-year-old son went through York’s IB program. He’s the most polite, groovy, well-educated and worldly kid. That’s what we want for Jack. If we can afford it, why not give him every opportunity.”

Scott and I have a chuckle about the Canadian star system and acknowledge that a busy career doesn’t always translate into a large salary.

Rather than worry about the next acting gig, Scott was presented with an opportunity from singer-songwriter Amy Sky to develop a part-time home-based business with Arbonne cosmetics.

“I became a consultant so I could be home with my son when I chose to,” says Camilla.

The actress has no qualms revealing how, after only five months, this part-time career has added thousands of dollars to her monthly income and that she will be presented with a Mercedes Benz for her high sales.

“I love being a mother,” she tells me. “I’m not so neurotic. The focus is off me. Life used to be exhausting as a full-time actress. Now it’s not. I have more important things to do. I have to pick up my son at school.”

Post City Magazines’ parenting columnist, Erica Ehm is the voice of yummy mummies with her playful website yummymummyclub.ca. After all, mommies need to play, too.

Your guide to returning unwanted Xmas gifts

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10:03 am

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I am one of those people who likes to buy, take home to contemplate, and then return. I think the thrill of the hunt often blinds me to the fact that what I’m buying is not always a necessary addition to the well being of my wardrobe. Or that it’s just plain gaudy and overpriced.

After coming to the inevitable realization that the item is not wanted, I must then find time in my busy "mother-of-two" schedule — already bursting at the seams with playdates, Cinderella stories, diaper changes, naps and hide-and-seek — to head back to the store where I found it. I must do this soon before the shopper’s remorse swallows my soul and ruins a perfectly good day.

Because of these little incidents, I know a lot about return policies. With Christmas becoming a distant memory, (although it’s hard to forget entirely with the tree still up and glowing in the family room) I feel that it is a good time to share a bit of what I know:

Anthropologie- Will take anything back anytime! (even if it is on sale!)
The Gap- 30 day return policy. Merchandise certificate by mail if you don’t have a receipt.
Old Navy- 90 day return policy
H&M- 30 day return policy with or without a receipt.
Joe Fresh and Loblaws- Only 14 days with a receipt. (although I have been able to exchange past this time frame at the customer service desk)
The Bay – 60 day return policy, store credit after 60 days.
Mastermind Toys – Will take returns as long as product is in original purchased condition. (the Lawrence/Yonge location)
The Disney Store – 30 day return policy

Always make sure to ask about the return policy of any new store you are shopping in. Even if you are completely sure of yourself at the cash, you may be invaded by the doubt monster when you get the item home.

I must say that a good, long policy does motivate me to buy more. I feel safest at places like Anthropologie where I can get that shopping high and then curb that buyer’s remorse monster before it starts making hot chocolate with those mini marshmallows in my kitchen.

Liisa Winkler is one of Canada’s biggest supermodels and mother of two beautiful children. Her blog appears bi-monthly at Postcity.com.

Something fresh & big about St. Clair West

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10:59 pm

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If you ask Inga Cadranel what her background is, she’ll ask you how long you’ve got to hear the answer.

Her features — silky blonde hair, olive skin, feline-esque brown eyes and dark freckles — are striking to say the least. So much so that when I meet the upcoming star of new detective series The Bridge (premiering this winter on CTV and CBS) at St.Clair West and Bathurst, I’m forced to conduct an investigation.

“I’m Icelandic on my mother’s side,” she explains, shedding light on the origin of her first name, “but my father,” she says with an intake of breath, “is Spanish, Egyptian, Russian and Romanian.”

Extensive as the list is, Inga’s recitation is coloured with obvious pride — a sentiment that influenced her to trade in her Kensington Market neighbourhood for this one about four years ago.

“This has always been a multicultural area,” she says, “People think of it as old Little Italy, but it’s so much more. When I first came here I felt it was really mixed and that’s my favourite thing about Toronto. That’s our signature I feel, the multiculturalism.”

A native Torontonian, Inga reminisces about visiting the area as a teenager as we sift through heaps of funky trinkets at our meeting place, Parpar Boutique. Inga cites the pink-hued gift shop with its vintage décor and unending treasure supply as one of her favourite stores on the strip.

“You can find anything here,” she says. “It’s one of those places where you come in and it’s laid out so beautifully that you just want to buy it all.”

It’s at Parpar that Inga first brings up her four-year old son Ryder, whose birth prompted her move to the area. She says that although the diversity of the area was a draw, the main attraction was its family-friendly atmosphere.

“This area is removed from the craziness of downtown, but still close enough so that my husband and I can go to auditions and feel like we’re still in the hub.”

Auditions for the stunning actress are coming in droves these days. With a hefty resume under her belt and The Bridge on its way she’s finding it difficult to relax. Those rare moments of alone-time however, she reserves for Mignon Cuts nail salon.

The moment we walk into the quaint shop she’s recognized by the staff. They form a receiving line as customers gaze on with grins. The manager insists she sit down for a touch-up, and she doesn’t resist.
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My son gets his hair cut here while I get my nails done,” she says, gesturing at a fire-truck shaped kid’s seat propped up directly across from a small HD screen television.

The TV is purposely poised to distract youngsters from what is often a dreaded occasion. “It’s genius,” she adds.

With freshly fancied nails Inga strides out of the shop and crosses the street to Barrio Fiesta on the north side of St. Clair. The Filipino fast-food joint is busy for lunch.

“Looking beautiful,” booms the owner, Simon, from across the counter as Inga goes in for a hug.

“My best friend as a kid was Filipino. I went to the Philippines with her family and fell in love with the food. When I moved to this area I was so excited to find this place. I got to know Simon, and he’s so sweet and follows my career. Plus he’s great with my son.”

It’s clear that this welcoming atmosphere is crucial to Inga as she pays for an order of chicken adobo and lemon sinigang soup. Running through a list of other food spots she frequents, the common ingredient seems to be the family-like feel.

“When we want pizza we also go to Da Maria’s,” she says referring to Da Gianni e Maria Trattoria down the street. “My husband and I go in with our son and they give him loonies and toonies on his birthday. A lot of love there.”

Finally our journey takes us east down St. Clair to Vaughan Road, where the huge Amazon Indoor Playground is visible to everyone within a two-block radius.

The vast indoor rumpus room is equipped with a puppet theatre, huge play structure, ball pit, and perhaps most importantly a coffee corner for pooped parents.

Inga seems most comfortable here, navigating her way through a sea of happy toddlers who seem drawn to her energetic presence. She explains that she and her husband bring Ryder here all the time, and muses that she’s met the majority of her neighbourhood pals in this location.

“It’s such an unpretentious area,” she says “It has a bit of everything and a bit of everybody. But above all I love it because it reminds me of my little boy, who we’ve raised here, and of the most fulfilling and amazing four years of my life that I have had since he was born.”

Night gear for the new year

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3:04 pm

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1st PLACE – PYJAMA PARTY

On Mike: Majestic, $195 On Erin: Bed Head, $145

Erin loves her loungers because they’re, “just like me — casual, comfortable and a little sexy.” While Mike can’t get enough of his silky sleepers because they “make me feel frisky!”

Where to get it:

Mike’s: Strada Menswear, Bayview Village Mall, 2901 Bayview Ave., 416-730-8474

Erin’s: Linea Intima, Bayview Village Mall, 2901 Bayview Ave., 416-221-9225

Check out video of Erin and Mike’s pyjama party here.

FANCY FOOTED

CHRISTMAS PLAID FOOTED PJS, $65
Go for cottage cozy in these full-bodied fashions from the one of the GTA’s top snooze specialist.
Where to get it: Snug As A Bug, 3022 Dundas St. W., 1-800-539-9517

BEDTIME BOOK SMARTS

CAT’S PYJAMAS CROSSWORD PJS, $110
Awaken your inner wordsmith with help from these perfectly perplexing puzzle-patterned pyjamas.
Where to get it: Tzatz, 2512 1/2 Yonge St., 416-481-0311

CANDIED COZIES

HATLEY POLKA DOT PJ SET, $44, SHIRT $35,PANTS

The dotted design on these dreamy duds will have you dozing in no time.
Where to get it: Hatley, 2648 Yonge St., 416-486-4141

SUNDAE MORNING

BRIGI SUNDAE LOUNGER PJS, $110
Gobble up this ice-cream covered sleep set that’s as comfy as it is confectionary.
Where to get it: Tryst, 465 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-484-6678

Check out video of Erin and Mike’s pyjama party here.