Wellington Oracle

Photo byncbeets

I was walking through Parc Lafontaine one late spring evening when I first decided that, by some magnificent stroke of luck, I had moved to a kind of paradise. All about me people were sprawled on blankets eating picnic dinners and drinking tumblers-full of wine. Somewhere down the path a guy was beating drums. A man carried a child on his shoulders. The evening light caught the water spraying from the fountain in the heart of pond. Walkers paused on a footbridge to take in the scene. Small groups gathered under trees played and sang. A tightrope walker had tied a long rubbery rope between two trees; standing atop it, he gripped it with his toes, spread his arms and swayed. Deeper into the park games of Frisbee, bocce ball, volleyball and soccer were underway. This was the kind of park that I had come to think existed only in storybooks. Yet here it was, not a 10-minute walk from my new apartment, a giant backyard for thousands of people, heavily and variously and happily used. (more…)

It only took a moment but with the release of a report at city hall last week , Councilor Peter Hume almost undid nearly three years of community consultations around the future of development in Hintbonburg.

Out of the blue, Hintonburg residents found out that the Bayview Yards had apparently been earmarked as one of two preferred locations for a brand-new sports stadium to replace Landsdowne.

Understandably there was a mix of bewilderment, anger, and frustration over Hume’s actions, including criticism of his methods from Kitchissippi Ward councilor Christine Leadman. (more…)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“A View From the Bridge”
Elmdale House Tavern- 1084 Wellington Street West
February 22, 23rd & March 1,2, 8,9, 15, 16
(Sundays and Mondays 7:00 pm)

Review by Lesley Buxton

Arthur Miller’s “A View From The Bridge” set in Red Hook, Brooklyn in the 1950’s, is considered an American tragedy. However this story could easily take place in Hintonburg, or  even outside North America because no matter what our heritage we’ve all met these characters. Particularly Eddie Carbone,  a reputable middle-aged longshoreman who has worked hard all his life to provide for his wife, Beatrice, his children, and his orphaned niece, Catherine. (more…)

Julian fire clean-up crew

The Citizen has an updated story on today’s early-morning Julian Avenue “Westboro” fire; the fact that one man has serious injuries and 60 friends and neighbours have been left homeless by the blaze is a grave matter indeed, so we’ll correct the Citizen’s geography at a later date.

As the Oracle was taking photographs this afternoon we had the opportunity to speak with a gentleman by the name of Darrell for whom awakening to an early-morning call about an apartment fire is just part of typical workday routine.

You can hear his take on the business of fires at the link below.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For the past 4 years Hamilton Avenue resident Judi Varga-Toth has been offering an innovative service to parents of school-age children and to office workers in the Tunney’s Pasture area.

Called “Credible Edibles”, Judi’s business sees her prepare school and work lunches for an ever-growing clientele using two guiding principles. First, she makes her menu choices meat and peanut-free, making them safe for schoolchildren to incorporate into a variety of restricted diets.

Second, she delivers the lunches in robust dishwasher and micro-wave safe resusuable containers that she collects and washes, creating “litterless lunches” in line with the policies at a growing number of schools and workplaces.

It’s been a one-woman operation up to now but that is about to change with the acquisition of the old “‘Allo ‘Allo” sandwich shop at the corner of Hinton and Armstrong. With the new premises due to open in March, Judi and her husband have been attracting many lunch-time observers as they set about their colourful renovations.

Click here to see our photo set taken of the work in progress, and check below to hear Judi in her own words describe just how she expects the storefront premises to change her business.to

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download