Author: AGMS

I'm a game programmer, doing pretty much everything (from Wii, Kinect to iPad). On the side, just for fun, I write file systems (for the nifty BeOS/Haiku operating system) and experiment with metadata.

Local Break-ins

There have been a few break-ins in the neighbourhood this week, including an unrequested porch package opening on Carleton, leaving stuff strewn about when they couldn’t find anything easy to re-sell. There have also been a couple of similar incidents on Cowley and some pollinator garden vandalism and a van break-in. If you see something, please contact the neighbourhood watch or file a report with our local police, so they can at least know what’s happening.

Photo Opportunity

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2021 19:11:57 -0400
From: Daniel <dbuckles@sas2.net>

Are you a photographer, looking for a local subject? The Champlain Park Community Association Environment Committee invites you to create one or a series of photographs of our new pollinator garden at its seasonal peak (now and for the next few weeks). We would appreciate your talent to help us showcase the garden and the community initiative, in our community and more broadly in the city. Photos selected for the purpose will earn you bragging rights and be a gift to the neighborhood! Send your selections to Daniel Buckles (dbuckles@sas2.net) who will compile and convene a local show in September.

Daniel Buckles

[Pollinator Garden June 24, 2021 - Should be more spectacular by now (August)! Maybe somebody could get a photo of that...]

Ecology Ottawa Air Quality

Subject: Fwd: Improving Ottawa’s Air Quality
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2021 19:36:38 -0400
From: Heather Pearl <hptek20@teksavvy.com>

[…] Of particular interest is the Ecology Ottawa Breathe Easy campaign. I borrowed one of EO’s air quality monitoring units in late May-early June, long before the wildfires started making Ottawa’s air quality toxic. It was an eye-opener to see how high the PM 2.5 particulate counts were on a few occasions (PM 2.5: the tiny particles that contribute to development of and exacerbate heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma etc. etc…. and even cross the placenta to wreak havoc). During a period when we still were pretty much locked down, the Transitway busses, traffic on IPD, plus heat and humidity, cooked up poor air quality in the south end of our neighbourhood. Now that IPD is almost back to being its usual linear parking lot self, the levels of dangerous particulates are likely to be more consistently high, even when we aren’t being affected by wildfire smoke.

For those who are interested in volunteering for the Breathe Easy Campaign: To join the team of nearly 100 volunteers taking part in Ottawa’s largest community-led science project, click here.

Thanks, Heather
Continue reading “Ecology Ottawa Air Quality” →

Break Ins / Trespasses in the Neighbourhood

These events occurred during the week of 5 July 2021 and involved one or more industrious and sneaky souls quietly prying off the cross board on the outside of the fence, then pushing that section of the fence inward to gain access to the property. This section of fence was shielded from the view of the residence by a shed that is found on the property near the interior of the fence line.

Furthermore it appeared that after gaining access to the property the person(s) in question hid behind the shed waiting for an opportune time to do something further. Thankfully, nothing else happened as the property does have security lighting, cameras, and a nighthawk of an owner, but it highlights the lengths to which some criminals may go to to break into a property, or to surveil it for later activity.

A separate ‘break and enter’ event also recently occurred at another nearby property where a car was broken into to gain access to a garage door opener; a bicycle was subsequently stolen from the garage on the property.

It is important to file a police report when something of this nature occurs. Doing so will help Ottawa Police Services and the community identify crime trends or problem areas that may require some added attention.

In your travels, please remind your neighbours to be vigilant about their fence lines/back gates/etc (where applicable), particularly where the properties back onto wooded areas, parks, etc., and where they may have other structures/items shielding their view of the inside of their fences.

Report suspicious activities and individuals to the appropriate authorities. Together we can continue keep our community family friendly and safe.

[Wooden fence with bottom half off the nails]