Car insurance

Our expensive car insurance is back in the news.

As many Westonians know, car insurance here is rather dear. I pay about $210 a month for one car, and I’m 44, with no accidents and no tickets.

It seems a lot, and I’m not the only one to think so.

The Star says that Ontarians pay the highest premiums in the country, and we in Weston spend more than average. It’s because, the Star says, insurance rates are determined by postal code. Parm Gill, a PC member from Brampton, is looking to change that by introducing Bill 42, which will forbid “postal code discrimination”—a bill that, to my mind, rather loosely throws around ‘discrimination’.

The critics quoted in the Star were not kind. They point out that insurance is a zero-sum game: if we pay less, someone will pay more.

Market manager wanted

The Weston BIA is looking for a manager for this year’s farmers’ market.

I think it’s safe to say that late-risers may not be interested, but it sounds like an interesting job. To apply, contact Marion at the BIA.

Fire at Plank Road building

There was a fire this week at the Plank Road building, one of Weston’s hidden gems.

Photo courtesy of Suri Weinberg-Linsky
Photo courtesy of Suri Weinberg-Linsky
Photo courtesy of Suri Weinberg-Linsky
Photo courtesy of Suri Weinberg-Linsky
Photo courtesy of Suri Weinberg-Linsky
Photo courtesy of Suri Weinberg-Linsky

 

CTV News has video of the fire,  though they describe the building as an “abandoned house”. That’s not accurate.

Image from Wikipedia.

The building is one of the oldest in Canada—in fact, it predates Confederation by a quarter century, and it was named for the plank road  made there that ran through Weston—part of an ingenious, if misguided, way to build roads on the cheap.

The building has, however, been abandoned for at least 20 years.

Frances Nunziata says  “I was on site during the fire and spoke to the Deputy Chief of fire to request a full report on the incident, which we expect to receive shortly. The damage was primarily contained to the interior of the Heritage designated building. Following the report, I will arrange a meeting with the city’s Preservation Services as well as the Weston Historical Society to determine how best to move forward and address the damage.”

 

Weston Road Flows: tons of fun

UrbanArts launched “Weston Road Flows”, a Myseum showcase, last night. The Myseum program makes “museums without walls” across the city, and UrbanArts’ gallery is an audio exhibition that blends interviews, spoken word, and beats. It’s totally worth checking out over the next two weeks.

The launch last night included performances from musicians and spoken -word artists, and boy, was it fabulous. It was a warm, welcoming party of truly gifted performers. Each of them took the stage for only a few minutes, but any of them could have stilled the room all night.

Paulina O’Kieffe Anthony
Juvon Taylor
Michee Mee
Aaliyah Ashley

Wanted man surrenders

 

Dwayne Banfield, who was wanted for an assault of a police officer, turned himself in Tuesday.  Police had appealed to the public to find him.

According to The Star, he was “charged with one count of assault on a police officer causing bodily harm, one count of escaping lawful custody and one count of obstructing police.”

Wanted man: Dwayne Banfield

Toronto Police are asking for the public’s help in apprehending Dwayne Banfield, 31.

The police say that Banfield assaulted a police officer. He had been pulled over at Weston and Lawrence on Saturday for not having a valid plate sticker. He “exited the vehicle, approached the female officer and assaulted her by punching her several times about the head”.

The officer received “serious but non-life-threatening” injuries. Banfield was last seen running south on Weston Road. The police officer was treated in hospital.