A TRUE 4TH STREET CHRISTMAS
Art by Peter Angermann
A very fun time was had by all. The pics are in. Before we get there, an apology and a little clarification: In the days following the party, several neighbours asked how it went. When asked why they didn't attend they replied that it was too cold in the alley for them. "IN THE ALLEY" is a cocktail lounge on Wyandotte next to the KILDARE HOUSE. There was no winter pig roast in our alley. Sorry about that. We did truly miss you. Better clarification next time. Here are the pics:
Keeper of the Monmouth Cup
The Monmouth Cup. Eat your heart out 900 block.
Plentiful Spread. Thanks for Spearheading this Liz! 
Festive nuts.
Santa has a nip with his deers. 
Who wants the last one? 
Santa and his dears Incognito. 
Master of the Ceremony and Master Chef. 
Clark Kent Arrives.
Those Lips! 
Holiday Romance is in the Hood.
Hyme eeer. Daike me tuh yooo Leeeederrrrp...phh . Mry krixthmus!
Santa comes in here. 
Take me back to Casa Blanca. 
Hey Everybody! Hot knifing at Dwaynes Tonight! 
Don't I look good with him? 
Ahhr Maty!....Yer Wench looks Good t'me Tonight! 
Fifi's Ghost. 
The Christmas Rob. 
Where's the left hand? 
Havin My Baby!.... 
Don't I look good with him? 
The men. The Guinness. 
Take it all off. Don't stop for us. 
I really look good with him. 
Hey look! I can make animal shadows. 
I really look good with him. 
Christmas Strategy. 
Hey You! 
FRESH START ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
Time, once again, to kick off the New Year with a blazing fire, buckets of bevi and hardy grub. So...as the smoke settles down on New Years morning, get up from wherever you landed the night before; give the old ivories a scrape and crawl out onto the street. Head towards the noise and smoke. Unholster a fist full of dog fur and ratchet up for the day. As usual it will be a long one. 10:00 AM until well after darkness.
As usual the location won't be known until that morning. If you are lucky it will be on your front lawn...Cuz that's how it works.
As usual, invite all of your friends to stop by. ( by foot, car or helicopter)
**Sponsored by the 7, 8 and 9 hundred blocks of Monmouth Road. Be there even if it hurts!
Today's Star Article Hits a Nerve.
Man nabbed after 7 years as a fugitive
Torres fled to Guatemala in wake of '98 double stabbing, cops say
Doug Schmidt, Windsor Star
Published: Saturday, December 17, 2005
A former Windsor man wanted for attempted murder in the stabbing of two neighbours has been arrested after seven years in hiding.
Sergio Alejandro Torres, 43, was arrested in Ottawa Thursday, two weeks after he returned to Canada from Guatemala, police said Friday.
Torres was arrested outside his home by members of the province's ROPE (Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement) squad, who were acting on a tip from Windsor police. Two Windsor detectives flew to Ottawa Friday to pick up Torres.
Informed of the arrest, the victims "were absolutely delighted," said Windsor police Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton.
In what police describe as a neighbour dispute, possibly over noise, Torres is alleged to have stabbed and seriously injured a 33-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman at a duplex apartment at 1212 Monmouth Rd. the night of Nov. 18, 1998.
Torres, whose birthday was the following day, was seen speeding away from the scene in a white Pontiac Sunbird.
McNorton said investigators learned he fled to Guatemala where he'd been hiding ever since.
WINDSOR CONSTABLE
The fugitive's presence in Ottawa was uncovered by a Windsor patrol constable who has been seconded since August to work on the department's cold-case files.
A check of police and government databanks revealed that Torres returned to Canada two weeks ago and that he had applied in Ottawa for a driver's licence renewal, McNorton said. He said the licence application gave police Torres's current address.
McNorton said the detectives were expected to accompany Torres on a flight to Windsor late Friday or this morning and brought before a judge for arraignment.
Both victims still live in the area, but not together, McNorton said.
The male told police he still suffers physically from the attack seven years ago.
The female victim was stabbed in the chest and arm, while the male victim was stabbed in the lower back, with the knife nicking his spinal cord and resulting in damage to his leg nerves.
While the police keep a regular eye on serious cold-case files, such as unsolved homicides going back decades, McNorton said the department also periodically goes through its files of outstanding arrest warrants, which is how Torres's case resurfaced.
The timing was bad luck for Torres and good luck for the police, said McNorton. He wouldn't give the name of the officer who cracked the case, but said "he's doing a real good job of it."
Since dusting off the old files in August, the officer has reviewed about half of the approximately 1,000 arrest warrants that remain open, McNorton said. About 10 arrests have resulted.
The "typical guy" being sought is wanted for crimes such as break and enter, fraud and theft and is usually someone who moves frequently, making it difficult for the authorities to track, McNorton said.
dschmidt@thestar.canwest.com or 255-5586
© The Windsor Star 2005
There ya have it folks. Noise and thin walls can be dangerous to your health. Something to think about. P.S...You may want to save this article for your property tax appeal.
Things are Starting to Cook!
This comment from Liz...
"How about having a pork loin roast, potatoe salad and some baked beans. I'll take care of these dishes and will assign the rest of the goodies to people on the block that are interested in bringing a special dish. PLEASE E-MAIL ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BRINGING SOMETHING." Liz
Sounds excellent to me Liz...I will bring something. Haven't figured out what yet but I will. Everyone else reading this: If you want to bring something you might want to post it on the blog or e-mail Liz. This will minimize any chance of duplication. So...Ahh...Whooose bringin the shrimp cocktail?
P.S...Liz' e-mail address is: sebastions_retired@hotmail.com
Rob Doin the Christmas Rob. We got a lock down for Fifi's "In the Alley". Now we have to decide on the details. Last year's gig seemed OK with everyone bringing a food or goodie dish. Let's just do the same this year. All we need now are the volunteer co-ordinators. Sara and Laura are on for the 800 block. Who's it for the 7 and 900 blocks? Don't be shy. Volunteer. Nothing to this job really. You just have to get the word out to your block and keep in touch with the other co-ordinators. Thats it. You can commumicate back to this blog if you have any questions. Please let us know within the next few days. By the way...We need more e-mail subscribers to this blog. Ask your neighbours for their addresses and send them in. More is better. Have fun.
Here's a little product which will help secure your home on the cheap. These little battery operated gismets come in a four pack for about $11.00. They simply install on your windows or doors with two sided tape so you can have em up and running in minutes. As soon as an intruder opens a window or door they sound out a high pitch squeel similar to your smoke alarm. This is probably enough to send the idiot running. You can find variations of this product in various hardware and big box stores. You can also find them in local dollar stores for as little as $1.00 each. You can install them on your shed or garage too. Use these plus a motion senored floodlight in your back yard and you beef up your security many fold. If you have any other ideas or suggestions for added security please add them to the comment section.
Majority rules. The Christmas party will be at "In the Alley" Aka. Fifi's Finer Twighlight Lounge. Mark it on your calendars. Stick it on your fridge. Plan everything else around it. Weekly reminders until then. See you there.
You may not be wrong. In fact, your neighbours no doubt have the same nagging suspicion. Here's something to chew on: There are 52 row units (homes) on the 800 block of Monmouth. These homes take up an average floor space of 960 square feet. Properties are about 20' x 100'. No basements; nothing special. Property taxes for the block average $1800.00 per row unit. Times that by 52 and the entire block pays $93,600.00 every year. Now lets look at the 800 block of Argyle. There are eight homes there, averaging 3100 square feet. Each comes with a full basement, at least 60' of frontage and garages. Big garages. About half have inground pools. Average taxes are $3,500.00. Times that by eight units and you get $28,000.00 for the entire block. Isn't that cool? Monmouth Rd. pays about $2.00 per square foot and Argyle pays about $1.00 per square foot. It becomes very apparent that Monmouth is the more sought after and desirable street to live on. We already knew that right?
Do you think that you might have a case for an appeal? Food for thought.
Monmouth Road Christmas Party is in the Planning!
The who , what when and where is being decided within the next week as weekends are becoming fewer towards the countdown to Christmas. We need to get a fix on which weekend suits the most people. We always try to keep this thing in the hood. Usual choices are LD's trucker bar, Walkerville Pizza and In the Alley. The latter has always been fairly practical and we always had the run of the place. Other suggestions are welcome. First thing first...Which weekend? Friday or Saturday? Please e-mail your choce of dates to the following address:
John Hurls one.
Thom lets one rip.
Im telling you. Goat brie is too overpowering for almonds.
Jeff scopes out a slot for 900
John takes another down.
Gord snaps up another one
Randmaster crouches into the crane position to protects his QB.
Team 900 rationlizes an angle.
Gordito makes a run for it.
One of many long launches by Alister
Another touchdown sucks the wind from team 900
900 Quarterback lets one loose as 800 block comes in for the sack.
