Two weeks ago, after BlogTO had reported that PickupPal had been deemed illegal by the Ontario Highway Transport Board I had expressed my concerns to my MPP about the situation. While the whole situation itself is disconcerting, what bothered me the most was that the news was being spread across the globe.

Based on the URL on the bottom of the page, it would appear that the political cartoon (that was run in the November 10th edition of the Toronto Star) has been sent to Tim Hortons' employees via an internal email. In this case, an employee appears to have decided to deliver the message to every customer that uses the drive-thru as well.

The process is straight-forward, and the cost is minimal: $80-120 for most trees, all inclusive. Considering you pay more, often much more, at the typical tree retailer, the partially subsidized not-for-profit offerings from LEAF sound pretty good. Plus they send out a certified arborist to ensure your tree will succeed, and they strongly encourage native species. So you won't just have any tree in your yard, but a tree that was meant to be in your yard.

Fresh off a move to the new Artscape Wychwood Barns, passionate and certified arborist Sarah Lamon took some time to answer a few questions about LEAF, tree plantings and her favourite tree in the city.

PickupPal seems to have gotten themselves in trouble by letting ride seekers pay drivers for rides, which irritated bus companies, and apparently violated the Public Vehicles Act.

The schedule isn't yet set but there will be pulled chicken or an apple and cheese tart for lunch, so that puts all attendees ahead in game right there. Oh, and Tom Williams from GiveMeaning.com will be giving the opening keynote.

Photo by Jason Tavares in the blogTO Flickr pool

It's not often the west end is pointed to as the area in need of development, but due to street car tracks on the east-west arteries, disjointed local streets, and railways, there is a shortage of safe routes for those counting on pedal-power.

The OMAOG movement is welcome news after the disappointment of last week's election results. Now that we've re-appointed a government whose policies represent a significant threat to environmental issues, our individual efforts are even more crucial in making our community a little - or a lot - greener.

It was back in 2004 when the city last assessed its "Environmental Plan", which was drawn up in the year 2000.

A scheduled 2008 plan is AWOL, and there's a lack of continuity in the green various initiatives scattered throughout the City divisions.

Showcasing great food, music and an eco-silent auction, the TGC hopes to raise money to support its programming and cultivate awareness about the importance of locally grown, organic food to sustainable communities.

From Nuit Blanche - when most of us walked in pursuit of art - to Halloween, October is the perfect month to walk Toronto.

The greenest Thanksgiving doesn't involve meat, but since a bird-shaped soy log isn't likely to please Tryptophan-seeking guests, an organic and free-range turkey is a great alternative. Whole Foods, The Healthy Butcher, The Big Carrot and Beretta Organics carry free-range birds raised without pesticides, antibiotics, or hormones.

Adding to my review of plans by the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, and Greens, a brief comparison is in order.

But for our purposes, now is the chance to review the environmental component of their platform, as done for the Liberals, NDP, and Greens.

I'm admittedly sympathetic to (small-c) conservative policy, but what the Conservatives have released as their environmental plan cannot possibly avoid being labeled "skimpy". Under the heading "Ensuring Health and Environmental Well-Being", there are only four sub-points dealing with environmental issues, so it won't take too long to break it down here: