Photo/JONATHAN TAILLEFER
Sarah Donahoe, left, and Laura Donahoe soak up some rays and action at the rodeo competition at the Rhinestone Country Music Festival and Rodeo at Downswiew Park Sunday.
Photo/JONATHAN TAILLEFER
Tim Ryan tries holding on while riding in the bare back competition at the Rhinestone Country Music Festival and Rodeo at Downswiew Park Sunday.
Photo/NICK PERRY
A clown entertains during the Shrine Circus at Centrepoint Mall Sunday afternoon. The big top tent was set up in the parking lot of the mall for performances throughout the long weekend.
Photo/NICK PERRY
Phillip Lohn of the Glen Long Pool team slides down backwards during the Toronto Lifeguards' Slide-A-Thon event at Northwood Community Centre July 25. The event was held to raise funds and awareness for drowning prevention.
Photo/MIKE POCHWAT
Toronto Revellers mas camp members Kyann Graham, 7, and her sister Sage, 3, walk the route of the 2008 Scotiabank Caribana Junior Carnival Parade July 19 along Jane Street to Yorkgate Mall.
Photo/MIKE POCHWAT
Toronto Revellers mas camp member Demeko Minott walks the route of the 2008 Scotiabank Caribana Junior Carnival Parade July 19 along Jane Street to Yorkgate Mall.
Photo/MIKE POCHWAT
Carnival Nationz mas camp's Vaughn Sheers joins the approximately 1,500 children participating in the 2008 Scotiabank Caribana Junior Carnival Parade July 19 at Yorkgate Mall.
Photo/MIKE POCHWAT
Visions mas camp's Kishi King joins the approximately 1,500 children participating in the 2008 Scotiabank Caribana Junior Carnival Parade July 19 at Yorkgate Mall.
BRIEFS
Salvation Army needs donations of men's clothing
It's time for men to rummage back through time, and their closets, in hopes of helping others.The Salvation Army Thrift Stores is in desperate need of men's clothing and are appealing to the public for help.
The organization, the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services, says this is the lowest donation of men's clothing they've seen in a very long time.
"I cannot remember a time in well over a decade where we have ever seen such a dramatic reduction of donations of men's clothing," Arlene Boden, executive director for Central and Southwestern Ontario recycling operations, said in a press release.
To drop off donations, visit www.tstores.ca to find the closest store near you.
Back to school safety
Toronto's two school boards are banding together this summer to prepare their combined 330,000 students for back-to-school safety.Student safety remains a top priority for both the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), so the Student Transportation Services Departments for both boards are providing the Back to School Safely campaign for students and their parents.
As summer winds down and the beginning of the new school year looms, mall displays are being set up throughout the city to remind parents and children of basic safety rules both on and off school buses.
Children and their families are invited to see the Bus Safety Show presented by Buster the talking school bus and to hear Elmer the Safety Elephant share tips on crossing roads safely. The Toronto Police and Safety Patrollers will also be on hand, and visitors will receive loot bags with literature for parents and their children. Staff from both boards will be available to answer any questions about school bus transportation.
The displays are scheduled for:
- Saturday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Albion Mall, 1530 Albion Rd., Etobicoke
- Saturday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cedarbrae Mall, 3495 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough
- Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Yorkgate Mall, 1 Yorkgate Blvd., North York
- Thursday, Aug. 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at East York Town Centre, 45 Overlea Blvd., Don Mills
- Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Centrepoint Mall, 6464 Yonge St., North York
What does Don Mills mean to you?
What does Don Mills mean to you?
What comes to mind when you think about its past, its present its future?
Is there something that defined Don Mills as a community? A person or event that brought residents together or inspired neighbours to rally around?
We are looking for your memories and opinions.
Whether you are a present resident or someone who has moved away, a newcomer or an old-timer, someone whose family roots date back generations or a resident who recently chose to settle in Don Mills from another country, we want to hear from you.
Please keep your submission to no more than 200 words. Also, include relevant contact information as you may be contacted for an interview.
Submissions can be sent to nym@insidetoronto.com
Brothers facing gun charges
Two brothers are facing eight gun-related charges after police recovered two loaded handguns in the Sheppard Avenue and Jane Street area on July 19.The Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force and the Emergency Task Force executed a search warrant in an apartment building around 7 a.m.
An 18-year-old and a 14-year-old face eight charges each, including possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
TRANSIT: TTC low-car streetcar bids fall short
The job of replacing Toronto's aging streetcar fleet with new low-floor versions just got harder, after the two companies bidding for the job were unable to meet the Toronto Transit Commission's exacting specifications.Two companies - Bombardier Transportation and Tram Power Ltd. - submitted bids for the $1.25 billion project.
But both proposals fell short of the TTC's standards. TRAM Power failed early in the process, on commercial compliance. The Bombardier proposal - seen by many as the front-runner - did not produce a design that was able to negotiate the tight turns required by the TTC.
Now, the TTC will have to approach vendors individually to attempt to purchase the new streetcars.
In a news release, the TTC said that it would still be possible to stay on schedule, to both replace the existing fleet and purchase new streetcars for the TTC's TransitCity light rail expansion.
