WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT Weekly. Vol. 15 No. 2b We are Westmount February 9, 2021 50+ years for Patulli! Retirees Raymond & Sandro will be missed at Metro grocery store By Martin C. Barry Patulli remembers seeing Steinberg’s CEO Sam Steinberg, who was known for Two long-time employees at Metro his attentive oversight of operations, mak- Westmount, who have accumulated more ing the rounds at least once at the other than 90 years service between them, plan store. to do a bit of travelling and spend more Genier began working at the West- time with loved ones after officially starting mount store in 1979. He was with Stein- retirement later this month. berg’s for around 13 years before the outlet Raymond Genier, 62, and Sandro Pa- was taken over by the Metro chain in 1992. tulli, 67, have worked at the Victoria Ave. He managed several departments, includ- supermarket since the days when it was ing the delicatessen meats section. He also part of the now defunct Steinberg’s chain, saw the store undergo three major renova- which went out of business in the early tions. 1990s. Their last days on the job will be on Over the years, Patulli and Genier got February 20 and 21. to know many customers, and came to re- Patulli, the longer-serving of the two, gard them as friends with whom they first worked at another Steinberg’s store would sometimes chat. “The customers beginning in 1969, but joined the staff at here can be demanding, Seen here on January 28 in the Westmount Metro store are, from left, retiring employee Raymond the Victoria Ave. location in 1971. but they are very friendly continued on p. 14 Genier, store owner Fiorello Vellucci and retiring employee Sandro Patulli. Susan Lloyd (Leduc) Outside activities, library to benefit KAUFMAN GROUP.CA REAL ESTATE BROKER from loosening of COVID rules 514.379.1333 [email protected] By Laureen Sweeney to “hang out,” he said. 438.882.8088 The curbside service will also continue, Residents using outside rinks will now according to library director Julie-Anne be able to hold “group” activities not re- Cardella. stricted to family, as long as they are li- This will be a very limited opening due mited to four people, according to city di- to the safety concerns, but details were still rector general Benoit Hurtubise. The lift- unknown, “so we don’t have a plan yet,” ing of this restriction was announced by Hurtubise said. The opening of a student sothebysrealty.ca Independently owned and operated. the province February 2. reading room that had been targetted for Real estate agency. In a more major loosening, the West- February 8 was still awaiting the required mount Public Library will likely allow Plexiglas as of last week (see January 26, HONESTY INTEGRITY RESULTS members to access the collection, but not p. 5). Sotheby’s International Realty Québec LK | Real estate agency Leader in Luxury Real Estate josephmontanaro.com 514.660.3050 INTRODDUCIND NG 1 Av. Murray, Westmount $4,495,000 15 Lansdowne Ridge, Westmount $3,195,000 2 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – February 9, 2021 Westmount joins call for ‘respectful democracy’ Intimidation practices condemned SOLD against those elected By Laureen Sweeney After the lengthy resolution presented by Councillor Jeff Shamie, Mayor Christina With less than nine months remaining Smith spoke about how it was “normal” to until municipal elections in Quebec, West- disagree with elected officials but in a re- mount city council joined other munici- spectful democratic debate. palities in adopting a resolution February She deplored the risk in which democ- 1 that condemns acts of intimidation racy can get “whittled away” by social against elected officials and calls for a com- media, in particular, and feared that some- mitment to “respectful democracy.” times this verbal abuse might deter candi- This underlines Westmount’s support dates from running for election which “is for a campaign launched last month by the a privilege of a lifetime.” Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) As an example, she spoke of the impor- against aggressive statements and “the po- tance when citizens write to elected offi- larization of public opinion against elec- cials to do so the way one might speak to tion officials.” family members or colleagues. This was described as “a phenomenon Since the proliferation of emails and so- that has escalated since the beginning of cial media over the past several years, and the COVID-19 crisis last year” in which especially more recently since the emerg- threats and verbal abuse against elected ence of the pandemic, city officials have re- municipal officials “have no place in a ported increasing changes in tenor com- democracy and do not promote the public’s pared to how people would interact in com- trust and recognition of its democratic in- municating in person. Wentworth-Nord / Laurentides stitutions.” Spectacular, renovated country estate Bunny Berke with 1,476 feet of private lakefront with REAL ESTATE BROKER City honours Shaar guard for ‘heroic actions’ its own beach, boat dock & saltwater [email protected] By Laureen Sweeney ed further damage to the synagogue and/ pool, immense wrap around deck with or harm to the people inside and the com- lake views from every angle. A security guard who apprehended a sus- munity” in his response through a “a sense (Land is also available: $500,000 MLS 23896528) 514.347.1928 pect spray painting anti-Semitic slogans on of duty and love for the community he PROFUSION REALTY INC. - REAL ESTATE AGENCY the doors of the Shaar Hashomayim syna- protects,” Bostock said. gogue January 13 was recognized by city For this, “the city expresses sincere council February 1 for his “heroic action.” gratitude for his service to the broader When apprehended, the suspect was community in protecting against hate- also reported to have a canister of “unspec- inspired destruction.” ified fuel.” “We stand with the Shaar in speaking Alex Kuczma, who has worked at the out against this kind of hatred which has Many thanks Shaar since 1991, was described as noticing no place in the municipality, province or the defacing of the building in process and country,” stated Mayor Christina Smith. She to my collaborating broker, “quickly intervened to confront the per - noted he was a familiar face and smile to petrator and detained him until police ar- anyone who walks in the neighbourhood. rived,” according to the resolution pres- Council members had also spoken out Melanie Clarke ented by Councillor Anitra Bostock. on the incident at the January 18 council Kuczma’s “immediate actions prevent - meeting (see story January 26, p. 5). Before & After IMM wAGGINou omeNE es portes et fenêtres Lepa teur d ge Mi tribu llwo Dis rk LES INDUSTRIES S artitiin 1977 k Distributor of Lepage Millwor MartinInndustries.Ca FREE ESTIMMAAATTE Showroom 8178 Montview (corner Royalmount) 514 486-4635 WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – February 9, 2021 – 3 Trailblazing individual virtual meetings Westmount Monkland Village Cllr. Peart launches face-to-face ‘office hours on Zoom’ By Laureen Sweeney “It’s a great initiative,” said Mayor Chris- tina Smith. “I think you’ll have lots of Looking for a way to interact with resi- others of us wanting to do the same. You dents face to face during ongoing pan- go first.” demic restrictions, city councillor Conrad The plan for the virtual meetings “ger- Peart is trailblazing virtual office appoint- minated simply from a desire to open a ments for eight consecutive Thursdays, he new communication channel for residents,” announced at the council meeting Febru- Peart told the Independent last week. “The ary 1. idea is to offer a virtual ‘drop-in’ option 655 Murray Hill 5402 Monkland “I’m trying something a little bit differ- with the intent to recapture some of the Superb family home, steps to schools and Murray Completely renovated lower duplex and basement. ent because of COVID restrictions on op- face-to-face time lost during the pandemic.” Park. Elegant residence offering both modern living 2+ bedrooms, chef’s kitchen, fully equipped. portunities to meet in person,” he said. The closure of city hall to the public, and original architectural details. Move-in condition. All redone and super bright!! Parking. Only 113 steps Residents of his District 4 constituency the holding of council meetings online, Country living in the city. to metro Villa Maria. Quick occupancy possible. (Sherbrooke to Côte St. Antoine, border/ cancellation of social and recreational $2,299,000 $848,000 Claremont to Mount Stephen), as well as events and even a lack of casual on-street Your Search Ends Here! any others with questions relating to his interactions have introduced new chal- role as urban planning commissioner for lenges, he explained. “The impact of these permits and architecture, will be able to changes to our collective experience has Sylve Lafrenère sign up for individual appointments on been extensive, to say the least.” Zoom during the 4 to 5 pm timeframe. How to book appointments 514-895-7001 While his first meeting was scheduled [email protected] RE/MAX ACTION Westmount for last Thursday, February 4, residents 1225 Greene Ave, can book a virtual meeting for the next Westmount H3Z 2A4 seven weekly sessions on the city’s website 514-933-6781 under Council/Peart/book a virtual meet- fax 514-313-5362 ing. Residents will be placed in the Zoom waiting room and meetings are to be held individually. “As I have no idea how it will be used, it is deliberately unstructured at the outset – with no predetermined format,” Peart Licensed Real Estate Broker – Montreal & Miami explained. “I imagine a one-on-one chat with a resident, with a virtual waiting “Your Professional for room and everyone aware that the time MIAMI & MONTREAL window is loosely fixed.