DAILY UPDATES

Beaches-Leslieville Daily Updates: July–August 2019

Who had their jewellery stolen?

Police released today a photo of jewellery recovered in spring after an arrest in the Victoria Park Avenue and Danforth Avenue area. The owners may not realize the items were missing, investigators said. See more details and the photo in the main story.

East-end ramps to Don Valley closed

Work to prevent flooding on the south end of the Don Valley Parkway is shutting down the northbound lanes from Friday midnight to Monday 5 a.m., the city advises. On-ramps leading from the Gardiner Expressway, Don Roadway, Eastern Avenue, Queen Street East and Dundas Street East will be affected.

The partial closure is needed to replace a culvert pipe that crosses all lanes under the bottom of the Dundas Street East on-ramp. This is critical work that was not completed during the previous closure in May due to rain, according to the city press release.

During the closure, east-end motorists can get on the northbound parkway at Bloor Street East or points further north. Or better yet, take alternative routes north, like Victoria Park Avenue.

STAND-UP comedian Chris Locke

Beaches upbringing inspired comedian vying to be Top Comic

Chris Locke, 41, who has appeared on several Canadian comedy shows and has reached the semi-finals of Sirius XM’s Top Comic contest so far, lives in the High Park area these days.

But he attributes his absurdist style of humour to time spent on “weird, heavy” talks with his free-spirited father on the Beaches boardwalk.

Read more of Brian Baker’s interview with the stand-up comedian.

Last gap of Martin Goodman Trail filled in east end

City staff, councillors and members of community groups cut the ribbon to officially open the missing link of the Martin Goodman Trail along Unwin Avenue near Leslie Street today.

The trail offers 22 kilometres of cycling and walking along Toronto’s waterfront from the western to the eastern beaches. The new 740-metre portion of the trail runs parallel to the south side of Unwin Avenue, north of Tommy Thompson Park, stretching from Outer Harbour Marina Road (at Unwin) to Leslie Street.

“Opening this beautiful and important missing link on the Martin Goodman Trail means that users, including families and children, finally have a safe route that’s away from the busy roadway,” Toronto-Danforth councillor Paula Fletcher said. “East-end residents are now fully connected via the waterfront trail to downtown and all the way to the west end of the city and beyond.”

19-year-old charged after jazz fest stabbing

A man was arrested and charged with attempted murder yesterday, five days after what police have called an unprovoked attack on the first night of the Beaches jazz festival.  Read what we know so far.

Stabbing on first night of jazz fest

Police are looking for a man in his 20s after another man was allegedly stabbed and sent to hospital, police reported on Twitter last night. The stabbing appears to have occurred about 10 p.m., near the end of the evening’s festivities, which ran to 11 p.m. Read the story.

Jazz festival starts three-night run

Tonight begins the musical festivities that seem to draw all of Toronto into the Beach area each year. The Beaches International Jazz Festival takes over Queen St. East with performances from more than 40 bands, starting this evening. The street will be closed from Woodbine Avenue to Beech Avenue for Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight, with the music getting underway nightly at 7 p.m. See the festival website for more information.

JAZZED UP: Queen Street East will be full off performers and music lovers for three evenings.

Getting around during Beaches jazz fest

Police advised today that Queen Street East will be fully closed in both directions, from Woodbine Avenue to Beech Avenue, from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. during the jazz festival on July 25 to 27. But local residents will still be able to get around. TTC streetcars will divert around Queen Street East and modified bus service will be maintained on Woodbine Avenue and Main Street.

Residents living south of Queen Street East, from Balsam Avenue to Lee Avenue, will be able to access their homes via buses running north and south on Lee Avenue, and south on Wineva Avenue.

For residents living south of Queen Street East, from Waverley Road to Kippendavie Avenue, buses will travel south on Waverley Road and exit via Kew Beach Avenue at Woodbine Avenue.

Kenilworth Avenue, Kippendavie Avenue, Hambley Avenue, Hartford Avenue, and Herbert Avenue will be changed to two-way streets during road-closure times.

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Vigil marks anniversary of Danforth shooting

One year after a lone gunman went on a rampage, killing two, wounding 12 and terrifying hundreds of others on Danforth Avenue, the community gathered to remember the victims and support the survivors this evening. They met in the rain by the Alexander the Great Parkette where the shooting began to exchange feelings of pain and words of hope. See the story in words and pictures.

VIGIL marked the one year anniversary of shootings on Danforth Avenue.

Road closed for South Asian street festival

Police advise Gerrard Street East will be closed from Glenside to Coxwell Avenue all weekend, from Saturday 8 a.m. to Monday 2 a.m., to accommodate the Festival of South Asia, which should cause traffic delays in the area.

For more about the two-day festival in Little India, see the event listing.

More rides available in east end as Bike Share expands

Getting a bike for a local ride should be easier as Bike Share has increased its system in the east end. Mayor John Tory announced at Dentonia Park today that most of the 105 new Bike Share stations being added this year have already been installed. A look at the Bike Share map shows 42 stations currently established in the Beaches-Leslieville area. Read the full story.

Car forced off road, shot fired

An “interaction” between drivers began on Danforth Avenue, turned down Main Street and along Gerrard Street east, and ended up with a car forced off the road and a shot fired on Victoria Park Avenue early yesterday, police say. Police are looking for a 36-year-old man who is said to be considered “armed and dangerous.” More on this in the news story.

Fox woman opens Fringe Festival in Leslieville space

This year’s Toronto Fringe Festival starts tomorrow, with one of the more interesting productions taking place at the Streetcar Crowsnest Studio, 345 Carlaw Ave., from July 3 to 13. Fox Woman retells a Siberian myth through flamenco dance and music. See the Things To Do listing.