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Recent thefts of vehicles left running
The Toronto Police Service has recently investigated several incidents where vehicles were stolen while they were left running to warm up.  Since Wed, February 10, 2021, 51 Division has received four reports of vehicle thefts where people have left the engine running.

Drivers are reminded that when the temperature gets colder, criminals take this opportunity to seek out vehicles to steal. Here are some tips that can help prevent people from falling victim to these types of offences:
- remain with your vehicle whenever it is running
- lock the vehicle with a spare key while it idles and maintain a view of the vehicle, keeping in mind that locked vehicles can still be easily opened by criminals
- purchase a remote starter for the vehicle which locks the doors and prevents the vehicle from being driven away without a key in the ignition

Idling vehicles are bad for the environment and idling unnecessarily wastes fuel. The best way to warm your vehicle is to start your car, let it run for 30 to 60 seconds to get all the fluids moving, then drive off gently. Your engine will warm up faster, your exhaust system will get up to temperature faster, so the emission control systems can begin to function effectively. Another bonus is you will use less fuel.
Support our Shops – Shop Local
With the continuation of the lockdown and the additional restrictions, our local shops are working even harder to stay afloat and keep providing us with their products and services. Where possible, whether it’s permitted online curb-side pickup, take-out or delivery, please shop locally to support those who help make our community a better place for all of us to live.

MPP Robin Martin  COVID-19 Update Feb 19 2021

View the update at https://sahratoronto.com/2021/02/19/mpp-robin-martin-covid-19-update/

Hon. Marco Mendicino Community Update Feb 19 2021

View the update at https://sahratoronto.com/2021/02/19/hon-marco-mendicino-covid-19-update/
4050 Yonge Street – appealed to LPAT
 A Community Consultation meeting was held on Jan 12 2021 for 4050 Yonge Street. Following that SAHRA submitted a letter outlining a number of concerns to Councillor Colle and Planning.
 
But the applicant appealed their Official Plan, Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control Approval applications to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) on September 22, 2020 citing Council's failure to make a decision on the application within the time period prescribed under the Planning Act. A Case Management Conference has been scheduled for March 12, 2021.

On March 10, 2021, Planning will present a report prepared on Feb 5, 2021 to the North York Community Council recommending that the City Solicitor together with City Planning staff and other appropriate staff be directed to oppose the application in its current form at the LPAT. The report also recommends that despite the applicant's appeal of the Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control Approval applications to the LPAT, City Planning staff continue to work with the applicant to address the issues raised in this report.
 
Once approved at the NYCC, it will then go forward to City Council for final approval.
 
The City and 4 adjacent resident associations (York Mills Heights, York Mills Valley, St. Andrew’s and South Armour Heights) are now preparing for the Case Management Conference on October 12. 
 
The City’s Request for Direction Report dated Feb 5 2021 can be viewed at http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ny/bgrd/backgroundfile-164090.pdf
The zombie highway, Highway 413 is back from the dead. And this time it brought company.
 
The Ontario government has revived long-cancelled proposals to build two major highways: Highway 413 between Milton and Vaughan, and the Holland Marsh Highway – also known as the Bradford Bypass – that would run above Newmarket and straight through the Holland Marsh!
 
The Holland Marsh Highway was shelved in the early 2000s and was recently revived to go ahead – without updating the environmental assessment that was done nearly a quarter of a century ago. Meanwhile, 413 was cancelled in 2018 after an expert panel found that the damage to Ontario’s communities, Greenbelt, farmland and water quality would far outweigh its benefits.
 
But the Ontario government has decided to build them anyway, even changing the law to weaken provincial environmental assessments, and allow themselves to start pouring concrete before their assessment is complete.
 
Just another example of this government lowering environmental standards to please its developer friends.  It has to stop!
 
Ontarians deserve to know the true costs of the province’s developer-first agenda.  Federal assessments would be more thorough and set higher standards for environmental protection than the province has – plus no construction could start until the federal work is completed.
 
Tell the federal government we don’t need more expensive, polluting and destructive highways – especially not while we’re in a climate emergency.
 
                                    SEND A LETTER
 
See more information on the FUN website about the GTA West Highway and Bradford Bypass proposals and the growing opposition to them.
 
Extracted from Environmental Defence article
in the Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (FUN) eBlast
2021 Membership Drive 
We need your financial support!  Membership contributions are our only source of revenue to maintain our activities. We are very frugal but there are expenses for newsletters, our website, office expenses and insurance. We also need to replenish our funds to engage planners and lawyers when necessary to deal with Committee of Adjustment, TLAB and LPAT applications/appeals.
 
How to Contribute
SAHRA will never disclose your personal information to any third party.
 
To contribute via PayPal or credit/debit card
PayPal or Credit Card Contributions
To contribute by cheque, please download and complete
the 2021 Membership Form to accompany your cheque
Download 2021 MembershipForm
Taxi Scam Alert
The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of an ongoing taxi scam investigation. It is reported that:
- a fake taxi is parked in a parking lot
- one suspect poses as the taxi driver and another suspect poses as a customer
- one of the suspects asks for help paying for his taxi fare
- he tells the victim that the driver refuses to take cash due to COVID-19
- he asks for help by letting the suspect use their debit card to pay for the cab fare, in exchange for cash
- the victim then inputs the PIN for their debit card into the modified Point of Sale terminal
- the device records the card data and PIN
- after the transaction is successful, the victim is given another bank card resembling their own card and accepts cash from the one suspect before leaving
- the suspects are then in possession of the victim’s actual debit card and use the PIN to make a number of fraudulent purchases and/or withdrawals

Police believe there may be others operating similar scams as well as further victims.Anyone who has any information, or believes they have been a victim of a taxi scam, is urged to contact police.

The Toronto Police Service would like to remind the public to be vigilant when using any type of public transport that results in debit or credit card transactions. Some tips include:
- do not leave your debit or credit card unattended inside a Point of Sale terminal anywhere or at any time
- be aware of taxi numbers and company names when using their services
- be aware of the driver's identification that is displayed to the customer in clear view in the rear of the cab
- do not make payments for an unknown person, using your personal card, in exchange for cash
- inspect your card after each transaction and ensure it is your card
- cover your fingers when entering your PIN

More information can be found on this website.
Lytton Park Residents’ Organization February 2021 eNewsletter
 Read the LPRO e_Newsletter for articles of interest. You can view it at https://lyttonparkro.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LPRO-E-newsletter-Feb-15-2021.pdf
Bedford Park Bulletin
Read the Bedford Park Residents Organization (BPRO) eNewsletter for articles of interest – 3180 Yonge St, Traffic Concerns, 250 Lawrence, etc. You can view it at https://www.bprotoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/February-2021.pdf
Update on COVID-19 Measures for Construction Activities
As of February 10, 2021, all residential construction projects and related construction activities and services including residential renovations across Ontario are allowed to commence and continue. This also applies to residential construction in public health unit regions in a Shutdown Zone and in public health unit regions that are subject to the COVID-19 Response Framework.  Restrictions on non-residential activities are still in effect in public health unit regions in a Shutdown Zone. Once a public health unit has been moved to the COVID-19 Response Framework, there will be no restrictions on construction activities.
Bedford Park Residents Organization Histories
BPRO has now published Issue #13 1837, Yonge Street, Never Popular a a Toll Road.  You can view it at https://www.bprotoronto.ca/2021/02/13/1837-yonge-street-never-popular-as-a-toll-road/
How to make working from home work for you (compliments of Glendon Athletic Club)
In 2020 more people across the globe started to work from home than ever before. Although it has its perks, working from home can also lead to people feeling isolated, anxious and even bored. It is important to be able to manage your time efficiently, in order to maximise productivity whilst ensuring you are still looking after your mental and physical health. Here are some simple strategies to make working from home more effective:

1.       Routine
It is important to stick to a routine in order to stop the lines between work and personal life becoming blurred. Try to wake up at the same time each day and get dressed, eat breakfast and do any other activities you would normally do before going out to work. Take a lunch break and at the end of your working day, stop working. You may need to turn off your cell phone notifications and stop checking emails. Therefore, make sure colleagues are aware of your “office hours” and stick to these hours as strictly as possible. If at all possible, close the door to your home office so as not to be tempted to work after hours. Also stick to a regular evening routine and bedtime every day as this will help you feel in control and as though you are managing your work-life balance more effectively.

2.       Workspace
Find a dedicated workspace – this will depend on your living arrangements, but avoid working in areas where there are too many distractions. Make sure you are as comfortable as possible, with your desk, chair and equipment set up in a way that does not negatively impact your posture. It may be tempting to sit in bed or on the sofa, but setting up a more formal space with everything you need nearby, will be more conducive to a productive work day.

3.       Take a break
This is essential to help you stay focussed – take regular screen breaks and try to set aside a lunch break. A lot of research has been done into how often we should take breaks and for how long. Some people like to take a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break for 15 minutes along with a longer lunch break in the middle of the day. The Pomodoro method suggests working for 25 minutes and taking a 5-minute break, followed by a longer 30-minute break after four of these cycles. Another popular method is taking a break after 90 minutes of working – to coincide with our natural ultradian rhythm. Perhaps the most effective is the 52-17 method which combines these two – working for 52 minutes followed by a 17-minute break. Whichever option is best for you, ensuring you get up at least every 30 minutes for 1-2 minutes is helpful to recharge.
 
Try to remove yourself from your workspace during your breaks so you are not tempted to work. Doing some form of physical activity during a break is a great way to “switch off” while also improving blood circulation and energy levels. Exercise also has the added benefit of helping you to be able to refocus when you return to your screen/desk, making you more productive.

4.       Stay connected
Avoid feeling isolated by ensuring you schedule some virtual social interactions into your calendar and where possible if regulations allow, some face to face interactions too. Chat to your colleagues and check in on each other – this type of support is crucial to make up for the lack of human interaction, particularly in situations where employees are used to working together in an office environment. 
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