October 10, 2003

Group caves on highrise A community association's two-year battle against a highrise development at the corner of McLeod and O’Connor streets is over . . . Patten to pursue pet projects Buoyed by a landslide win in the Oct. 2 provincial election, Richard Patten says he's ready to start his fourth term as Ottawa Centre's representative at Queen's Park . . . The Renegades’ invisible wide receiver At a table in MacLaren's sports bar on a Saturday afternoon, you would expect Ottawa Renegades' star wide receiver D.J. Flick to get at least a couple of curious glances. But not today . . . Would-be trustees gear up for election Fed up with not having a say in how his community's children are educated, a Somalian man is running as Centretown's French public school board trustee. Church may sell parking lot for affordable housing Parishioners of the Church of St. John the Evangelist have voted to negotiate a deal that could bring 118 units of affordable housing to Somerset Street. Party unity keeps Collenette from running in Ottawa Centre Penny Collenette says her decision not to seek the Liberal nomination in Ottawa Centre stems in part from her wish for the federal party to move forward united. Proposed GLBTQ centre still years away A proposed centre for Ottawa's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning community won't be a reality for at least three years — and organizers say they aren't in a hurry to make it one. Schools’ media centre may be resurrected Picture it: a high school chemistry experiment without the test tubes and beakers — no Bunson burners, no dry ice. Disabled hail arrival of London black cabs After two years of planning and debate, accessible cabs are finally on Ottawa's streets. City considers bylaw for BUGS gardeners In the crisp autumn air, Susan Wellisch prepares her garden plot for next season by laying down straw and compost. Ottawa needs GLBTQ centre This July, more than 10,000 gays, lesbians and their supporters marched in the brashest pride parade in Ottawa's history. Letters West Nile and a nation of hypochondriacs Even the flu can be more dangerous to Canadians than the West Nile Virus, argues Carly Stagg. Low turnout in Liberal election spoils Martin’s coronation Calgary Southeast, 111 votes. Toronto-Danforth, 93 votes. Lanark-Carleton, 12 votes. Are these miniscule numbers results from a Grade 7 student council election? No, just examples of turnout in the de facto election of Canada's next prime minister Helping couples tie the knot with pride Same-sex marriages haven't been legal in Ontario for long, but some businesses are already tapping into a new market by providing the distinctive wedding-planning services they say gay couples are looking for . . . RESP deal urges parents to pay now, not later By the time Nora Ballantyne's kids are old enough to start university, the HRDC estimates their annual tuition bill could be almost $15,000 . . . Column: Overspending is not a substitute for good table manners "The guest does not ever pick up their napkin, or their utensils, until the host does. If something's spilled or dropped, leave it on the floor and quietly ask the waiter for another one." These, according to business etiquette consultant Gloria Starr, are the most important things to remember when you're having a lunch or dinner meeting with a client . . . Bridging the gap between city and artists Ottawa South's legal graffiti wall represents a successful compromise between the city and local artists, say various groups involved in the pilot project . . . Animation fest about more than laughs Those who stumble into Ottawa's animation festival expecting Bambi are more likely to end up watching a film with a title like Proper Urinal Etiquette, or The Son of Satan – which is the point, really . . . Local program helps disabled get to the H’Art of the matter Eight months ago, Elaine Bell never would have believed her art would hang on a studio wall, ready to be sold . . . Column: Red tape of legal graffiti keeps the hate writing on the wall A picture is worth a thousand words – unless there are too many words on the picture. That's what John Corner, a local graffiti artist, learned when his proposal for a mural was rejected last month . . . ‘Galloping Ghost’more than one-trick pony Not everyone has the skill, determination and drive to excel at seven sports. Gordon Perry, however, did. Glebe basketball star shoots for national team Kadie Riverin started playing basketball at the YMCA when she was in Grade 3. Now in Grade 12, the Ottawa teen has played for Team Ontario, is a prospective point guard for next year's junior national team and has Canadian and American universities scouting her. 67’s looking green during rough start to season The Ottawa 67's face a challenging season as they try to inject eight rookies into their youthful lineup. Mazigh’s year-long battle finally over Imagine a family member being accused of something terrible without evidence. Imagine him being deported to another country. Imagine not knowing where he is for days. Imagine him being jailed indefinitely without being charged with a crime . . .