Conrad Black out on bail pending appeal

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Conrad Black was recently released on $2 million bail from the Florida prison where he has served more than two years of a six-and-a-half-year sentence. The decision came after the U.S. Supreme Court found that a law used to aid in his conviction had been written too broadly and didn’t apply to his case, paving the way for an appeal.

The former media baron has requested to return Toronto. George Tombs, author of Robber Baron: Lord Black of Crossharbour, said Lord Black has always considered his Bridle Path place his home base. He has been ordered to stay in the U. S. until he can provide the judge responsible for setting the terms of his bail with more information.

Toronto lawyer Steven Skurka said he thinks Lord Black has a great shot at a successful appeal, making it unlikely that he will go back to jail.

“It’s been a case of many surprises, so we can expect that we haven’t seen the last one,” said Skurka.

But Lord Black’s situation remains serious, said Tombs.

“Even if he were acquitted in the fall of the fraud convictions, he will still spend the rest of his life defending himself in court and at huge personal cost,” he said, pointing to the multiple civil suits Black is facing.

Forest Hiller named heir to Lloyd Robertson

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While Lisa LaFlamme knew she would be taking over for Lloyd Robertson as lead anchor before CTV made the official announcement, the local said it still didn’t feel real until the secret was out.

“Walking into the newsroom that I’ve been walking into every day for 15 years, everybody knew and stood up and was cheering.… That’s when it really became real for me,” she said.

LaFlamme began her career in journalism in 1988 as a radio news reporter in Kitchener, but by 1997, she had joined CTV as a reporter and weekend anchor.

While Robertson has been chief anchor of CTV National News for 34 years, LaFlamme — who currently works as a national affairs correspondent and is also a former Canada AM host and parliamentary correspondent — will officially take the seat in 2011.

She said she is looking forward to the position. Though it will keep her busier, she said it will allow her to spend less time chasing stories around the world and more time at home.

“I have an 11-year-old Labrador retriever, who sort of mopes around the door when he sees a suitcase sitting there,” she said. “I love the idea of being able to spend more time in Toronto, in my own neighbourhood.”

Running to reach the finish line for a cure

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For local resident and cancer survivor Israel “Issie” Pelc, crossing the finish line recently at the Niagara Ultra Marathon actually marked the end of not one, but two marathons.

Pelc recently completed his 60th marathon as part of a joint effort to run 60 marathons by age 60, while attempting to raise $100,000 for cancer research at Princess Margaret Hospital. What began in 1998 as an effort to “lose weight and get fit,” running quickly turned into something much more for Pelc.

“The more I ran, the more I wanted to run,” he says.

In the early months of 2006, Pelc was diagnosed with lymphoma after seeing his doctor about a lump in his throat. The diagnosis, however, did not deter Pelc from his goal of running in the Boston Marathon.

“The doctors, they timed the start of my chemotherapy after the Boston Marathon to give me an opportunity to run,” he says. “Because I was intent on running it, and I also, quite frankly, didn’t know whether I’d have another chance.”

In May 2006, following the race in Boston, Pelc began 18 weeks of chemotherapy followed by a month of radiation therapy at Princess Margaret Hospital. The treatment, however, did not keep Pelc off the pavement.

“About three weeks after my last radiation session, I ran a marathon,” he says. “I started thinking what it would take for me to get to the same number of marathons as my age.”

His determination and drive to support the hospital stems from both his personal experience there, as well as his partner’s.

In the spring of 2003, Pelc’s wife Shelly was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She has since fought two reoccurrences.

To date, Pelc has raised more than $70,000 earmarked for ovarian cancer research at Princess Margaret.

So what does he hope people take from his fundraising efforts?

“I want to be seen as an example of the fact that cancer can be beaten,” he says. “I see myself as an example of the possibilities of what good research leads to.”

For more information on Issie and to donate to the cause, visit www.issiesquest.ca.

Celebrating cultured cuisine on Eglinton West

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Not only does Stella Kim sell vintage jeans, but vintage runs in her genes as well. Kim recently opened high-end consignment shop Haute Classics (with co-owner Jina Han) but says her love of vintage started young and started in the family. “My mother was a vintage collector. I’ve been inspired by vintage all my life,” says Kim (946 Yonge St., 416-922-7900).

At new Eglinton Way restaurant the Loving Hut, even the French fries are good for you. “Organic, vegan food is not only healthy, but helps the environment,” says co-owner Vinh Lu. The restaurant offers a completely vegan fare, with most meals on the asian fusion menu, such as sushi or a sandwich, costing an average of $8 (953 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-782-4449).

While EDO is celebrating 10 years at its current Eglinton location, the restaurant line dates back more than 20, to when Japanese cuisine was all but a rarity in Hogtown. “When we first started Japanese cuisine, it was almost unknown,” says owner Barry Chaim. Now, many enjoy the EDO specialities such as the tiger tuna (484 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-322-3033).

Kirby Azuma takes his coffee black. But he says it’s just a coincidence that he named his new St. Clair West coffee shop Noir Coffee and Tea. This is Azuma’s first time entering the coffee business after a life in the information technology industry. Noir Coffee offers Fair Trade drinks, gourmet espresso and a laid-back atmosphere (701 St. Clair Ave. W., 416-651-8302).

Named after the landmark front door at Che Bella Spa, Red Door is an after-hours foot massage business run out of the same location. “We realized there was this amazing space that just sat empty all night long,” says co-owner Lucy Demma (10 Castle Knock Rd., 416-485-1225).

Historic Bayview site to see $7.5 mil makeover

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In terms of deadlines, it could be worse: Canadian Film Centre (CFC) has until March 2011 to spend $7.5 million in stimulus funds secured from the city, the province and the federal government.

However, a neighbour’s recent appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has snagged plans to use the money toward repairing, upgrading and expanding the centre’s historic E. P. Taylor site near Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road.

Coun. Cliff Jenkins said that his office has received a notice indicating that the committee of adjustment’s decision to grant CFC the permission needed for its expansion has been appealed to the OMB.

At a meeting held at the film centre a few months ago, Coun. Jenkins said that residents expressed concerns relating to the amount of development that could potentially occur on the site.

“They appear to be a far distance apart,” Coun. Jenkins said of the film centre and the residents.

Barry Patterson, director of marketing and communications at CFC, said that his organization has been consulting with residents throughout the process and has already made concessions as a result.

One new building has been scrapped altogether and the gatehouse addition has been reduced from two stories to one storey. The only other new construction will be to create a one-storey actors’ conservatory on the footprint of the existing pool and cabana.

Patterson said he is confident that the project will move forward.

Slawko Klymkiw, executive director of CFC, said that the $7.5 million plans will address old infrastructure and create new program space while preserving the integrity of the historic site. The film centre continues to fundraise to cover the full cost of the project.

“It will remain this wonderful oasis in the middle of Toronto that I think will bring real joy and real value to both us and the community,” said Klymkiw.

Local resident linked to G20 arrests denied bail

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The unassuming man from the Forest Hill neighbourhood who made headlines when arrested in connection with the G20 summit was denied bail late last month. However, a publication ban on his case is causing speculation, and there is a divide between his supporters and opposers.

“It was quite shocking to find out, this is what he was keeping busy with,” said Ricky Silberman, an Elderwood Drive neighbour, regarding Sonne’s charges that include intimidation of justice and possession of an explosive.

However others, such as Mike Murray, his former boss, swear by his innocence. “We all admit Byron was not the smartest in doing what he did…. but that being said, he’s also not Timothy McVeigh,” said Murray, comparing him with the Oklahoma City bomber.

Sonne worked in security and Murray said that when security personnel look for flaws in protection systems, such as Sonne did during G20 preparations, their actions can be misconstrued. “We’re learning to break security for the purposes of helping people improve it,” he said.

However, regardless of intent, Sonne will remain detained. His lawyer, Breese Davies, said they are currently preparing for trial.

Exclusive local golf course getting tax break

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Coun. Adrian Heaps recently announced plans to challenge a decades-old arrangement that has seen the city defer a total of about $33 million in property taxes at nine private golf clubs.

Rosedale Golf Club, located in the Bayview area, is on the list.

The deal, which deferred anywhere from 10 to 33 per cent of their property taxes, was intended to protect green spaces from development.
If the land was ever sold and converted into something else, the deferred taxes would immediately become owing.

Heaps said he doesn’t think that the city should be subsidizing private golf courses when the public doesn’t gain any benefit from it. They don’t have access.

He would like to reopen the deal, but it was signed in perpetuity, so the golf courses would have to agree to enter into discussions.

“At this point, challenging this deal is going to be a major undertaking, and we’ll see if our legal department has the fortitude to go after it,” said Heaps.

He is looking for one, or a combination of three things to happen. The golf clubs could begin to pay back the taxes, they could open up some space to the public, or they could do some community outreach.

Coun. Cliff Jenkins said he would be concerned about potentially putting the land at risk for development.

“Keeping the green space, I think, is a great deal,” said Jenkins.

Heaps said he wasn’t interested in opening up the space to development. He’s trying to right what he sees as a historical wrong.

“We don’t give people property tax deferrals to not pave over gardens,” he said.

Issue over historic North Toronto home to go to OMB

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A recent decision by city council to place 79 Dawlish Ave. on the Toronto inventory of heritage properties will keep the house safe from demolition, for now.

The two-storey Lawrence Park home, which was originally approved upon condition by the committee of adjustment for demolition, was built by Toronto architect Forsey Page in 1928 and is admired by historians for its distinct sloped roof as well as Georgian and cottage elements. After the approval was given, a neighbour filed an appeal, and soon locals rallied around the property’s historic value. “These are houses people aren’t building any more,” said architectural historian Marta O’Brien, who also leads a walking tour in Lawrence Park.

Last month, Coun. Cliff Jenkins brought the issue to council, and a heritage decision was officially made. The designation means the city will work with the owners to come to a compromise on what can be done with the house, said Mary MacDonald, from the city’s heritage preservation department.

However, prior to the heritage designation, engineering group Tahami assessed 79 Dawlish Ave. and deemed it structurally unsound. MacDonald said there is still a possibility for demolition, but it would have to be council approved.

In the meantime, the OMB appeal meeting regarding 79 Dawlish Ave., which was set in motion before council’s heritage decision, will play out this month.

Local school appeals to city to save trees

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Junior Academy has appealed to the city to save about a dozen trees that will be lost if it’s forced to erect an eight-foot masonry wall along its north and western borders.

As required by a 2006 OMB decision, the fence is meant to give neighbours privacy and minimize noise.

Principal Dianne Johnson said that the private school was prepared to comply fully until it realized what the impact would be.

“If those trees come down, it’ll really be quite awful,” she said.

Junior Academy is proposing a wood fence of the same height as a compromise.

The pier footings for a wood fence are half the size of those needed for a masonry wall, which would allow the trees to be saved, said Johnson.

She feels it would also be at least equally effective in fulfilling the goals of privacy and noise reduction.

Junior Academy was required to have a masonry wall put in by the end of last year.

The school recently submitted new drawings to the city, outlining what would happen if it went with the masonry wall and what would happen if it went with the wood fence.

Marva Gragtmans, a Junior Academy parent, would like to see the wood fence proposal suceed. She said she believes that the natural barrier provided by the trees is far more effective than anything that can be built, such as a wall.

“Why we would do something unnecessary, like taking down trees to put up a brick wall when, in fact, it runs contrary to the purpose, which would be to block noise and sound, is illogical to me,” she said.

Coun. Cliff Jenkins said that lots of trees have already been lost with the school going in.

“I’d like to save the trees and I’d like to find a fence solution that works for everybody,” said Jenkins.

Urban forestry has provided comments to the planning department indicating that it’s not happy with the loss of trees that would result from a masonry wall but the city has yet to issue Junior Academy a formal response.

If neighbours don’t feel that a wood fence would sufficiently address their concerns, the matter could potentially go back to the OMB.

Nothing 'going as planned' at Fabbrica: McEwan

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Celebrity Chef Mark McEwan, recently selected to serve as a judge on Top Chef Canada, always has a couple of projects on the go. In his latest blog for PostCity.com, we asked him to dish the details on his new casual Italian restaurant, Fabbrica, set to open next month across from his grocery store at the Shops at Don Mills.

My new restaurant Fabbrica is scheduled to open at the end of August – a month away. Nothing is going as planned right now.

Just one example: the steel for my front window structure was supposed to arrive last week, but now it’s not coming till today or maybe Wednesday. I could go on. The list is long and frustrating. Things never go as planned. It’s construction hell and it makes me crazy. But I’ve been here before, many times. It’s always the same thing and it always works out in the end.

So I just keep trying to remind myself of that. And frankly that’s not hard, because the fact is that even if my teeth are clenched there is a lot that I’m excited about with this new project.

The Fabbrica design, which I commissioned from and worked on with Ralph Giannone (Giannone Petricone Associates), is coming together even better than I thought — and I loved it from the outset. It’s got exactly the right balance of industrial and modern, with Old World and comfortable, which is going to go a long way to giving the place a great atmosphere.

The semi-open kitchen is already anchored by a beautiful, hand-made, wood-burning pizza oven from Napoli that’s going to run at 700 degrees Fahrenheit and turn out our sensational pizzas in less than 90 seconds flat.

We’ve been trying those, and testing the other food too, and I think that it’s exactly the sort of the food the city needs. From the pizzas to the pastas and risottos, the house-made salumi, from the wood-oven roasted fish to the grilled and braised meats, everything on the menu is casual and rustic but rigorously authentic, and I know that customers are going to respond to that with a lot of enthusiasm.

For my part anyway, I’ve enjoyed the process of doing tastings with my chefs to finalize our dishes for the first Fabbrica menu more than any other aspect of the opening. After my latest meeting with the contractors this morning, holding my finger to the wind, I’d have to say that you’ll be enjoying the same food right after Labour Day at the absolute latest. I hope that you like it as much as I do.

Celebrity chef Mark McEwan is the force behind some of Toronto’s finest restaurants, including Bymark, North 44 and One Restaurant. His latest venture, McEwan, is a gourmet food market at the Shops at Don Mills.

The Source: GTA summer sales not to miss

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Believe it or not, fall fashions are already making their way into stores. That means deep discounts on tons of summer gear across Toronto, so get out there and shop. Here’s a roundup of sales you just can’t afford to miss.

Charlie Boutique with Caitlin Cronenberg

Stop into Charlie Boutique this Tuesday for an exclusive in-store book signing with Caitlin Cronenberg. Caitlin will be in store selling and signing copies of her debut book, POSER (a collection of nudes). Purchase POSER at this one day event and receive 25 per cent off ALL Charlie merchandise.

809 Queen Street W. Tues, July 27th from 4-7pm

Canopy Blue

The Yonge Street staple already has their fall stock in store, which means markdowns on all spring/summer merchandise. Save between 40-75 per cent this weekend.

2582 Yonge Street, Tel: 416-483-2583

Extoggery

Extoggery, Canada’s foremost upscale consignment clothing store, is having its annual summer sale. Save 20 per cent off the entire summer stock, except Lululemon and jewellery.

July 19-31 1640 Avenue Rd.

Bayview Village

The Haute Summer Sale is in full swing at Bayview Village so head over for some great deals at stores like Mirabelli, Dana Jordan, Capezio and Vivian Shyu.

Bayview Village July 21-25

This Weekend: Caribana Art Exhibit at the ROM, Lilith Fair, RBC Canadian Open, Beaches Jazz, Masala! Mehndi! Masti!

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It’s another packed weekend of music, art and sports in Toronto. Check out the best in African Canadian art, take in some sultry jazz or classical Indian music, or relax on the sidelines at the world’s best golfers tee off at the RBC Canadian Open. Here’s PostCity.com’s top five things to do this weekend.

From the Soul: Caribana Art Exhibit at the ROM

On display during and after the Scotiabank Caribana Festival, the exhibition features more than 160 works on canvas, several Caribana parade costumes, three dimensional bronze sculptures and award-winning ceramic pieces.

The one "must-see" at the exhibit is the intricate and inspiring sculptures by Wayne Headley.

Headley, grandson of renowned sculptor Alvin T. Marriott, manages to capture the human experience and raw emotion in all of his pieces — making it a great way to kickstart your Caribana celebrations.

ROM, Bronfman Gallery, Level 2 July 23 to August 13, 2010

Beaches Jazz Festival

If you missed it last weekend, don’t let this final opportunity to take in some sweet jazz pass you by. Check out live performances by Jason Wilson, God Made Me Funky, and Maya Chilton along the closed off stretch of Queen Street.

7 p.m. to 11 p.m., July 16-25, Queen St. E.

Lilith Fair

The women of Lilith Fair take the stage this Saturday at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. Check out your favourite Canadian and international artists including Chantal Kreviazuk, Mary J. Blige and Sarah McLachlan.

July 24, Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

RBC Canadian Open

It’ll be a Tiger-free event, but it’s still worth the trek out to Etobicoke to check out the RBC Canadian Open this weekend. Watch as Mike Weir, Stephen Ames and Fred Couples battle for the $5.1 million purse

July 19 to 15, St. George’s Golf and Country Club

Masala! Mehndi! Masti!

It’s the 10th anniversary for this festival, the largest multi-disciplinary South Asian arts festival outside of South Asia. Catch Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan, billed as the leaders of the next generation of classical Indian music, on stage Friday night.

July 23-25, CNE Grounds