The town houses on Ilan Ramon and Sir Walter Scott represent beauty in our community. But the owner of two vacant lots on the latter property continues to use that greenspace as a dumping ground. Despite endless requests from the city,  a dumpster and building materials  remain on the premises.

This very sad situation has left the city with no choice but to take court action. I also wish to add that keeping this material on site  could pose a danger for young children and pets that might explore the area.

The grass was finally cut.

Last week we had to issue warnings in order for him to merely cut the grass, something that is required in our by-laws  for vacant lots.  The sign from a real estate agent remains in place. Last winter the owner had not even paid his taxes.  He was at risk at losing the property at public auction, so he finally issued a cheque.

The neighbours are tired at looking at this eyesore.   Have there been any bites to purchase the property? Land to build new homes in Côte Saint-Luc remains at a premium.  We are all hoping someone makes an offer  for the land. We all can’t stand looking at it anymore.

I wish to thank our Urban Development Department for staying on this case.

La maison de ville située sur Ilan Ramon et Sir Walter Scott représente la beauté de notre communauté. Cependant, le propriétaire de deux terrains vacants sur cette dernière propriété continue d'utiliser cet espace vert comme dépotoir. Malgré les demandes répétées de la ville, une benne à ordures et des matériaux de construction restent sur les lieux.

Cette situation très regrettable n'a laissé d'autre choix à la ville que d'intenter une action en justice. J'aimerais également ajouter que le fait de laisser ces matériaux sur place pourrait constituer un danger pour les jeunes enfants et les animaux domestiques qui pourraient s'aventurer sur le site.

La semaine dernière, nous avons dû lui adresser des avertissements afin qu'il se contente de tondre le gazon, ce qui est exigé par notre règlement municipal pour les terrains vacants.  Le panneau de l'agence immobilière est toujours en place. L'hiver dernier, le propriétaire n'avait même pas payé ses impôts.  Il risquait de perdre sa propriété lors d'une vente aux enchères publiques, il a donc finalement émis le chèque.

Les voisins en ont assez de voir cette horreur.   Y a-t-il eu des personnes intéressées par l'achat de la propriété ? Les terrains pour construire de nouvelles maisons à Côte Saint-Luc restent très prisés.  Nous espérons tous que quelqu'un fera une offre pour ce terrain. Nous ne supportons plus de le voir.

Je tiens à remercier notre service d'urbanisme pour s'être occupé de cette affaire.

Ilan Ramon was the first Israeli astronaut on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) that was launched on January 16, 2003. The seven astronauts died on February 1, 2003, when Columbia broke apart during re-entry into the atmosphere over Texas on its way to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Soon after this tragedy, then Mayor Robert Libman proposed that a new street off of Sir Walter Scott Avenue in Côte Saint-Luc’s District 2 be named Ilan Ramon Crescent.

At the new spot.

As a veteran fighter pilot, Ramon was part of a risky but successful 1981 mission that destroyed an unfinished nuclear reactor in Iraq.Twenty years ago I attended a ceremony for the installation of a plaque at the corner of Ilan Ramon and Sir Walter Scott. It eventually had to be removed due to construction. Most recently, the plaque was reinstalled in a different position right in the middle of the crescent. Happily, it is only a few feet away from the home of an Israeli family,

Thanks to our Public Affairs and Communications Department for putting this back in place.

La plaque Ilan Ramon a retrouvé sa place à Côte Saint-Luc

Ilan Ramon était le premier astronaute israélien à bord de la navette spatiale Columbia (STS-107) lancée le 16 janvier 2003. Les sept astronautes sont morts le 1er février 2003, lorsque Columbia s'est désintégrée lors de sa rentrée dans l'atmosphère au-dessus du Texas, alors qu'elle se dirigeait vers le centre spatial Kennedy en Floride.

Peu de temps après cette tragédie, le maire de l'époque, Robert Libman, a proposé qu'une nouvelle rue de l'avenue Sir Walter Scott, dans le district 2 de Côte Saint-Luc, porte le nom de Croissant Ilan Ramon.

Pilote de chasse chevronné, Ramon a participé en 1981 à une mission risquée mais réussie qui a permis de détruire un réacteur nucléaire inachevé en Irak.Il y a vingt ans, j'ai assisté à une cérémonie d'installation d'une plaque à l'angle d'Ilan Ramon et de l'avenue Sir Walter Scott. Il y a vingt ans, j'ai assisté à une cérémonie pour l'installation d'une plaque à l'angle des rues Ilan Ramon et Sir Walter Scott. Plus récemment, la plaque a été réinstallée à un autre endroit, en plein milieu du croissant. Heureusement, elle n'est qu'à quelques mètres de la maison d'une famille israélienne,

The late Ilan Ramon.

Soon after Quebec Premier Pauline Marois called an election for April 7, the province’s de facto Minister of Jewish Affairs announced that he was retiring. Lawrence Bergman, the Member of the National Assembly for D’Arcy McGee, surprised many by stepping aside. His successor is David Birnbaum, the executive director of the Quebec English School Boards Association and a former executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Quebec Region.

Lawrence Bergman

It was only last fall that Bergman was formally nominated for the next election at a gala affair at the Adath Israel Congregation in Hampstead, where he served as president prior to becoming the local MNA in 1994.There was no indication that Bergman would leave politics. Then again, we expected a December election at the time which never came to be.

Over the last two weeks new Liberal Party leader Philippe Couillard has already seen a number of his elder statesmen resign before the election call. It started last summer when former Finance Minister Raymond Bachand retired in Outremont and continued last week with news that three other veterans would not run. Bergman supported Bachand in the party leadership race, not Couillard, leaving some to believe that may have played a role in his departure. He is 73 years old, so if the Liberals or PQ won a majority government he would have seen himself stay in office until the age of 77.

Bergman’s career highlight was being named Minister of Revenue during then Premier Jean Charest’s government in 2003. He did not retain his cabinet seat in 2007 and 2008 victories, but did grab the prestigious post of chairman of the government caucus. This gave him invaluable daily access to members of cabinet. When Bachand announced millions of dollars worth of funding for the Jewish General Hospital, he credited Bergman with aggressively pursuing him at every turn.

Early in his parliamentary career Bergman had the National Assembly recognize Yom Hashoah, something that became a regular occurrence. He constantly spoke out against acts of anti-Semitism and stood up for municipalities and organizations in his predominantly Jewish constituency. There was rarely a community event he missed, always the ultimate politician shaking hands and remembering everyone’s name.

In Côte Saint-Luc we will always be grateful for his successful efforts in saving our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) after our city demerged from Montreal. When I asked for his support for our CSL Cats Committee he not only attended our annual fundraising concert, but made a generous contribution to our cause.

Bergman was present at every community event we held. In recent years he has been accompanied his lady friend, Vivian. Early on his mandate, Bergman`s wife Monica died of cancer. He was alone for a long time until he connected with Vivian who was by his side for every political event. Now, as he told a press conference, he will have more time for her, his two sons and their spouses and his grandchildren.

David Birnbaum

I have know Birnbaum for over 30 years. We met when I was covering meetings of the former Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal for The Suburban. At the time he served as their information officer. We maintained contact during our various incarnations. He served as the executive director of Alliance Quebec and then went to work for a private public relations firm.  I was with the Canadian Jewish Congress in 1999, having spent 11 years there. The head office was moving to Ottawa and I wanted to stay here so I did some networking. Birnbaum was among the people I called. He connected me with the English Montreal School Board and set the wheels in motion for the job I have held since that time, as communications and marketing specialist. Ironically, a few months later, Canadian Jewish Congress let me know they needed a new executive director for Quebec. I, in turn, recommended Birnbaum. He got the job, but eventually took the  top post at the Quebec English Montreal School Boards Association where he was a strong voice for the anglophone community. At this precarious time in our history, he is the right man to represent at the provincial level.

See Glenn J. Nashen's blog for a very fitting tribute.

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Longtime Liberal candidate Lawrence Bergman to step aside: reports

A fire broke out at a home on Ilan Ramon Crescent in Côte Saint-Luc’s District 2  in the early evening of January 11.  No one was hurt and the fire department arrived in time to ensure that the fire was contained and then extinguished.  Neighbours applauded the efforts and professionalism of the Montreal firefighters who arrived within four minutes of the call to 911.

The cause was reportedly a heating pad left on in  the master bedroom, which shorted,  created a spark and caused the mattress to catch fire. Due to the intense heat of the fire, the sprinkler system was triggered  and released more than enough water to keep the fire at bay. That is the good  news. The water damage has devastated the property and fears are that the majority of the home will need to be gutted and redone.  Most of  the family’s possessions have been damaged by the fire or the water.  

What has most impressed me is how all of the neighbours have banded together to assist this family, which may be homeless for some time. The lady of the house, for instance, works during the day and has asked if anyone can find a place for her mother to stay at that time. A number of offers have already come forward.

As one neighbor explained, this should serve as a reminder of the importance of regularly checking smoke detectors and update any fire extinguishers  in the home.  Talk to your family about the danger of fire and what to do if one occurs.  

The Côte Saint-Luc City Hall  Council Chamber was filled to capacity on Monday November 1  for the annual Maisons Fleuries garden beautification contest  awards evening.  The city awards prizes to residents who create attractive green spaces with blossoming trees, flowers and shrubs. A panel of judges views the gardens and selects the winners and runners up based on various categories.

Councillors Allan J. Levine, Sam Goldbloom and former councillor Harold Greenspon co-chaired the contest and officiated at the ceremony. Director of Parks and Recreation David Taveroff was the master of ceremonies while the magnificent Edwin Brownell provided entertainment.

There were a number of award winners from District 2. Ilan Ramon Crescent neighbours Daniel J. Cohen and his wife Bonnie Roiter and Frank Palucci and his wife Sandra Cambone  came in first and second place respectively for single family and semi-detached homes in District 2. Bonnie and Frank are pictured below with me.  Le Rothchild on Mackle Road came in tops for highrise condos. The superb Seniors Garden, located off the parking lot of the Cavendish Mall, won an award and  president Sava Todorovic and his wife Martha received a well deserved special recognition award.

I wish to salute all of our property owners who took the time to present such beautiful gardens. We know how much work it can be to create and maintain a garden and this contest our the city’s way of recognizing those efforts.

Residents were able to enter for consideration the garden of their single-family home, duplex or townhouse. All apartment buildings, commercial establishments and public buildings were automatically entered in the contest and were judged separately.  Judges assessed front gardens according to the cleanliness of the property, the appearance of plants and flowers and general landscaping.

The chairpersons of the Maisons Fleuries contest are Councillor Sam Goldbloom, Councillor Allan J. Levine and Harold Greenspon.

Short-term pain, for long-term gain. That is how I described the work that was carried out on Kildare Road during the month of July and completed in early August. Congratulations to everyone involved, specifically the city’s engineering department and the companies hired to carry out the work.

Two winters ago we had several water main breaks on Kildare Road. While the problems were repaired, it was clear we needed a more comprehensive solution. I gained the city council’s support to have this job moved up in the schedule at a cost of $426,000. Now that the work is completed the pipes shouldn't need to be repaired or replaced for approximately 50 years.

There have been some bonuses added to this project. An additional $26,000 was secured to finally fix the stretch of pavement from Rembrandt to Cavendish. How many motorists justifiably complained about the bumpy road? Well, it is just perfect now.

We were also able to respond to the request from nearby residents to install a crosswalk and two stop signs at the corner of Kildare and Sir Walter Scott. I wish to thank Councillor Glenn J. Nashen, Mayor Anthony Housefather and Traffic Engineer Charles Senekal for their unconditional support on this matter. Charles, in fact, took part in two walkabouts with myself and residents of Ilan Ramon Crescent. Hats off to residents Lorne Lieberman and Boris Myschkowski who worked with me to keep this option open. This is a wonderful plus in the area of traffic safety in District 2.

I have been receiving a lot of warm comments from residents. Here is what Phil Matlin, a resident of Rembrandt Avenue and a new blogger (check out http://perfectmagic.wordpress.com/) had to say.

"A little note to tell you that I think the job done recently on Kildare should be used as an example to all cities, towns, boroughs, especially the City Of Montreal on how to plan and coordinate projects such as these. This major work was done with almost no inconvenience to the residents, at least on the Rembrandt side where I live. Personally, I suffered absolutely no inconvenience. You, the council, mayor, engineering department and whom ever else was involved, deserve our highest praise, thanks and kudos for a job well done."

For the second year in a row Charles Senekal, the city of Côte Saint-Luc’s traffic engineer par excellence, joined me and a number of residents of Ilan Ramon Crescent for a walkabout to examine different traffic safety and parking options.

Ilan Ramon is almost a community itself, situated off Kildare Road and Sir Walter Scott. There are a lot of young families here and I am happy to say we remain in very close contact. I appreciate their interest in city affairs and they are always well represented at my District meetings. Boris Myschkowski and Frank Palucci are two residents in particular who let their different ideas flow.

Charles was good enough to stick around well past the end of his work day to walk the street.  He informed residents that new measures have been taken to prevent parking on curbs.  Some new “No Parking” signs have been added to Ilan Ramon and Sir Walter Scott to create clearer paths for vehicles. As a result of our consultation, Charles will be able to tighten restrictions a bit more in certain cases. Because of construction taking place at the Westwood Apartment Building garage on Kildare Road, many cars from there are parking overnight o n Sir Walter Scott and Ilan  Ramon. This should subside next week when we allow vehicles to park in the snow dump. The Ministry of the Environment has given us permission to do so. Once the need for these additional cars to find spaces subsides, we will limit parking on Sir Walter Scott to one side of the street on alternate days as presently the route is very narrow for large trucks to get through.

Major construction on Kildare Road, from Rembrandt to Merrimac, will commence on July 5 to replace the pipes. This job will take several weeks. Once completed we will install two stop signs at the corner of Sir Walter Scott and Kildare Road as well as a crosswalk. That is great news for families who cross the street often. This news has been very well received.
There were several other ideas which came forward which I will ask our Traffic Committee to take a look at.

Late last fall I presided  over a brief ceremony to inaugurate a plaque  on Ilan Ramon Crescent about the man we named the street after. The late Ilan Ramon was an Israeli astronaut who tragically perished with his crew seven years ago. Now that the nice weather is upon us more people are taking walks and admiring this attractive plaque, which is on a stand. Today, as my family and I took a walk,  we noticed that someone had left a wreath there. What a nice initiative!

Traffic engineer Charles Senekal and I  received a very nice message from Boris  Myschokowski (pictured below) of Ilan Ramon Crescent, recognizing the measures we have taken to maintain  traffic safety there.

Dear Mike and Charles,

I would like, on behalf of Ilan Ramon residents, to thank you for your intervention to affix new traffic signs on our block. These signs together with "slow down" painted on both curves on our block will most certainly help with slowing down traffic and ensure more safety for the numerous young children living on our block. For some time now, myself with a majority of residents on Ilan Ramon, have asked Mike Cohen and the city of CSL to consider different measures to increase the safety of children on our block and reduce traffic speed. By taking such measures, you demonstrate that you pay close attention to the needs of your constituents and we thank you for doing so.

Once again thank you Mike and Charles.

By this same occasion I congratulate Mike Cohen for being recently acclaimed to a second mandate as our district representative. I wish Mike Cohen and Charles Senekal from the CSL Traffic Engineering Dept. much success in their endeavours.

Regards,

Boris

Note: On Sunday, November 15 at 11 a.m,. at the corner of Ilan Ramon and Sir Walter Scott Avenue, we will unveil a plaque honouring the memory of Colonel Ilan Ramon and the six other astronauts who perished aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003.