Skip the supplements: Vitamin pills should be avoided, journal editors say

A Dec. 16, 2013 CBC article is entitled: “Vitamin pills ‘should be avoided,’ journal editors say.” The subhead reads: “Billions of dollars wasted on vitamin supplements, U.S. doctor says.” The opening paragraphs read: Most vitamins such as antioxidants don’t help to prevent cancer, heart disease and dementia, and some supplements could be harmful, say doctors […]

Message from Russ Ford, Executive Director at LAMP

Following is a Dec. 15, 2013 message from Russ Ford: Let’s start off with good news. It is official, Vincent Massey has been saved at least the school has and therefore the day care. Hats off to the parents of Vincent Massey. It would not have happened had they not organized. What seems to be […]

Jane’s Walk Annual available for purchase at www.blurb.ca

Update: The Jane’s Walk annual is now on sale at blurb.ca. [End of update] I’m pleased to share with you the following information regarding the Jane’s Walk Annual, which includes a text by Jaan Pill and a photo by Gay Chisholm regarding the Jane’s Walk in Long Branch (Toronto not New Jersey). Nadia Halim, Editorial […]

Information from Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada re: Richard Ough (Colleen O’Marra)

Colleen O’Marra writes with regard to Donna Magee’s comment at a previous post: Under Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada: Richard Ough was born in East Gwillimbury Twp., York County, Oct. 24,1841, uncle of John Ought, local builder and hotel keeper at Newmarket. Ough left Canada and moved to California in 1868 to work as […]

Long Branch photos on site entitled North York / Toronto Historic Photos and Maps

Colleen O’Marra writes (Dec. 8, 2013): Just surfing the net this evening and found an interesting set of old Long Branch photos on a site titled NORTH YORK/TORONTO HISTORIC PHOTOS AND MAPS. There are five pictures of: Long Branch Villa Lots(1887) drawings and floor plans of residences designed for George Farquhar, R.B. Ellis, J.J. Wilkes, […]

Canadians more attached to their country than people of any other advanced democracy on Earth: survey (Toronto Star, Dec. 7, 2013)

A Dec. 7, 2013 Toronto Start article is entitled: “Canada: It really is our home and native land.” The subhead reads: “Canadians are more attached to their country than the people of any other advanced democracy on Earth: survey.” Although the headline doesn’t reflect this theme, the article also refers to research suggesting that “the […]

Lots of great photos with “Pinball” Clemons at Dec. 7, 2013 Lake Shore Santa Claus Parade

You can click on any of the photos to enlarge them. Click again to enlarge it further. Use the ‘Back’ button on your browser to return to the page you are now reading. YouTube interview To access a YouTube video about Michael “Pinball” Clemons, click here. CBC Metro Morning interview You can access a great […]

Colonel Samuel Smith Park and address on Thirty Ninth Street in Long Branch featured in wiretap evidence

I was interested to learn that a recent police report related to Rob Ford’s activities mentions Colonel Samuel Smith (misspelled in the report as “Colonial Samuel’s”) Park. The report notes (p. 22 in the PDF file, which is p. 51 of the original document) that the mayor fabricated a story in which he claimed to have […]

Ormsby-Franceschini Estate now designated under the Ontario Heritage Act

Michael Harrison writes: Good Morning: I just received confirmation that the bylaw designating the Ormsby-Franceschini Estate (Mimico Estates) under the Ontario Heritage Act was passed by Toronto City Council on November 15, 2013. You can download a copy of the bylaw here: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/bylaws/2013/law1484.pdf Michael Comment This is welcome news, and a highly significant achievement. Background […]

Interviews a great way to learn about local history

Before I began doing such interviews in Long Branch (Toronto not New Jersey), I would never have imagined how much can be learned through extensive interviews, extending over several years, with local residents. The interviews, especially as I’ve been doing more of them and have a sense of the territory that I seek to cover, […]