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Weekend Newsstand: September 24, 2011
Oh Saturday morning, with your eye-crusties, bedhead, and heart of shame. Why do you do this to yourself? Why? WHY! In today’s Newsstand: Poll leads to minority report, Danforth fire mastermind sentenced, students evicted from former bathhouse, and jokes; funny jokes.
If one of the largest political polls ever taken in Canada is close to correct, we may be on our way to getting a minority provincial government on Oct. 6. The Forum Research poll conducted for the Star surveyed 40,750 people and found that the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives are neck-and-neck. So even if our party of choice doesn’t win form the government, it bodes well for any of us who like to force our representatives to try to work together. And, with a predetermined election date four years down the road, they might even be forced to stick it out after they’re sick of each other. We approve!
A man seen as the mastermind behind a Christmas Day explosion and fire that killed his co-conspirator and burned down a chunk of the Danforth has been sentenced to 12 years in jail. John Magno, owner of the Woodbine Building Supply store, had just increased his insurance policy and wanted to “clear the lot” for a condominium development when the 2001 fire occurred. Fifty families spent Jebus’ birthday huddled in TTC buses after the explosion damaged their homes. The blast disfigured one of the men involved in the plot and killed another. Magno maintains his innocence, but he is the last of several people to be convicted, one of whom ended up testifying against his co-accused. The best part: the condominiums are going up as planned, their website touting the building as “a catalyst for the continued growth and remarkable history of this vibrant area on the Danforth.”
A bunch of foreign exchange students who had been living in a former bathhouse have been evicted by the building’s landlord, frustrated at the school’s directors for failing to get a rooming house permit. The Marina Centre taught English courses and provided lodging for students, but its owners failed to get the almighty permit and have been cited for numerous infractions by City inspectors. The building, with maze-like hallways, tiny rooms, and corrugated steel decor appears to be the former Yonge and Wellesley location of St. Marc Spa—a long-running gay bathhouse that closed down in November. Maybe Gustav Kovac and the other students should check out Steamworks—it’s just down the street and probably has many of the amenities they’re used to.
And finally, Maclean’s columnist Paul Wells informs us that Yoda has taken a headline-writing job for the Globe. Subject before predicate; the Simpson craves not such things.