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Volume 51 No. 5
BEACHMETRO.COM
May 3, 2022
SCARBORO SUBARU • 2590 EGLINTON AVE E. SCARBOROUGH ON M1K 2R5 • 416-265-4411
Beach dog walkers raise funds for Ukraine
PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON
Participants in the BeachDogs4Ukraine event gathered at the Alex Christie Bandshell in Kew Gardens on Sunday morning prior to setting off on a fundraising walk for the Canadian Red Cross’ Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. As of Sunday, the walk had raised more than $6,000.
Proposal adding height, depth to Kingston Road property approved By Alan Shackleton
A PROPOSAL to add height and depth to a storefront in Kingston Road Village has been approved by the city’s Committee of Adjustment (CoA) Toronto and East York Panel. The request for a minor variance to permit the building of two additional storeys on the storefront site at 955 Kingston Rd., and to also extend at the four-storey height to the rear of the lot, was approved at the CoA’s April 27 online hearing. The site of the proposal is on the south side of Kingston Road, between Scarborough Road and Silver Birch Avenue. The building is part of a connected row of two-storey build-
BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1972•2022
SAFETY
“There is a huge loss of light there and the loss of my garden,” said Nosko. She uses the large garage at the back of the lot to hold concerts, art and photo exhibitions, readings and other events including weddings. After the CoA’s ruling, Nosko posted a statement on Facebook on April 28 thanking those who had sent letters, come in to chat with her and signed petitions highlighting the importance of The Great Escape Book Store to the community. “The C of A approved the proposal as it is in line with the City plan for mixed use density building on these main streets. We will do our best to work with what comes next. Blessings all :),” she wrote in her Facebook post. Much of Kingston Road is identified by the City of Toronto as an area for intensification and higher buildings, and there is a building Continued on Page 4
Aerial spraying set for Glen Stewart Ravine to control LDD Moths LOCAL RESIDENTS and the City of Toronto are being called upon to do their part to help control the numbers of LDD Moths in the Beach area. Valerie Edwards, who lives near Glen Stewart Ravine, said the moths are taking on enormous toll on oak and other trees in the community. She said the situation is a “neighbourhood emergency” and the time to take action to stop the hatching of the moths is right now. “Our oak trees are critical to how we define ourselves as a neighbourhood,” said Edwards. She is urging local residents to check the trees on their properties for evidence of egg masses (which are usually an amber colour) and if they find them, to scrape them off and dispose of them in plastic bags in the trash. Simply knocking the egg masses off the trees onto the ground does not prevent them from hatching. The LDD Moth is a non-native species that can wreak havoc on tree foliage. There are four phases to the moth’s life cycle: egg, caterpillar, cocoon and moth. The egg phase is when residents can spot the clumps of eggs, hundreds or even thousands at a time, stuck to surfaces such as tree trunks but also on exterior walls of buildings and even on patio furniture. In spring, as the weather gets warmer, the eggs hatch and the caterpillars begin their journey up the tree trunks to feast on leaves. This defoliates the trees at a critical time and puts them in danger of not surviving. On average, one caterpillar can consume one square metre of foliage. Along with the egg clumps, residents can also be on the lookout for the caterpillars climbing up trees. They can be identified by distinctive red and blue dots that appear as they begin to moult. If spotted, residents are encouraged to pick
them off the trees and dispose of them. Residents can also consider having trees on their properties treated to prevent infestations. Another option is burlap banding which helps to stop the caterpillars from climbing up trees. Information on burlap banding can be found at www.toronto.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2020/02/8b53-european-gypsy-moth-resident-makeburlap-caterpillar-trap.pdf Also, to help control the LDD Moths, the city will be undertaking two rounds of aerial spraying in the Glen Stewart Ravine this spring. “As we’ve learned in the past, it’s so important for us to take preventative action against the LDD Moth infestation that has been ravaging Southern Ontario the last few years,” said Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford. The city’s Forestry Health department will be planning the spraying for between May 16 and June 15. Residents in affected areas will be notified by the city 48 hours in advance. The aerial sprays will be done by helicopter in times of calm winds and no precipitation. The spraying will be using Foray 48B Biological insecticide Aqueous Suspension with the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk). The city says “Btk poses minimal risk to human beings, and it has been used by the City of Toronto during other aerial sprays many times.” However, residents wishing to avoid exposure during spraying are advised to stay indoors “during and after” the immediate spray time. “To remove Btk off any outdoor surfaces, like patio furniture, you can wipe it off with a damp cloth and soap,” the city said. For more info on the city’s plans for spraying locally, go to www. toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/trees/forest-management/threats-to-trees-insects/ european-gypsy-moth/
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ings with mostly storefronts at street level and apartments above that was built in the 1920s. The proposal had raised many concerns in the community over the impact it would have on neighbouring businesses, in particular The Great Escape Book Store at 957 Kingston Rd., and how it would alter the streetscape of the existing row of buildings. A large number of letters of objection were filed with the CoA prior to its meeting. The Great Escape is a beloved institution in the area, and the location has been a book store for decades. It was known as Ed’s Books for many years before the name was changed to The Great Escape in the 1990s. Katya Nosko, owner of the store, said she will lose light and the appeal of the area at the back will be impacted by this proposal.
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