Queen’s – $5 Million Donation

The Queen’s School of Drama and Music is now the Dan School of Drama and Music after a $5 million to help transform the school.

The donation by Aubrey and Marla Dan was announced yesterday.

Aubrey Dan is founder of Dancap Productions…a Tony award winning theater company.

The new Dan School of Drama and Music will begin to offer dance next year and offer new degrees…including a bachelor of music theatre in partnership with St. Lawrence College.

Housing Prices

Housing prices in Kingston have taken a hit over the first three months of this year.

The Royal LePage House Price survey released on Thursday says the average price of a home in Kingston dropped by 3.3% during the first quarter of 2016.

It says the average home price is just over $300,000.

The survey says…the price of a two-storey home went down by 8.2 per cent to an average of $334,066.

On the up side…the price for a bungalow in Kingston went up 3.3 per cent to an average of $298,442.

Domestic Violence

Two young men face charges in cases of domestic violence in Kingston.

Police have charged a 16 year old male with two counts of Assault, one count of Criminal Harassment and one count of Resisting Arrest.  He was arrested outside a residence off of Bath Road Wednesday night.  Police say a woman had been punched in the face repeatedly.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with Sexual Assault, Assault, Criminal Harassment and two counts of Break and Enter after a break in at a woman’s home at 5am on Wednesday.  She was in bed with another man when she woke up to find a man standing at the foot of their bed.

She told police she had been assaulted and sexually assaulted by the man during previous incidents.

Tomahawk – Charges

Two 31 year old Kingston men face charges after one was caught in a man’s truck trying to steal items and another pulled a tomahawk on an officer.  Police arrested one man Wednesday night outside a business on Division Street.  He’s been charged with possession of pot and stolen goods.  Police seized $500 worth of marijuana.

His buddy had taken off on a bicycle and when police caught up with him on Duff Street he took off on foot.  Police say he pulled a tomahawk on an officer.  He dropped it and surrendered when the officer pulled his gun. He faces a shopping list of charges including assault with a weapon and possession of crystal methamphetamine.

Bath – Lockdown

Bath Institution is under a lockdown.

Inmates were locked in their cells yesterday afternoon to enable staff to conduct an exceptional search.  A news release from the Correctional Service says the search was ordered to ensure the safety and security of the institution, its staff and inmates and normal operations will resume as soon as it is considered safe to do so.

Peace Banner

Students and teacher at Sydenham Public School will raise a banner for peace today.

They’re involved in a Hands United for Peace partnership with Chalmers United Church and PeaceQuest.

The banner will be raised at 2:30 this afternoon on the tower of the Church at the corner of Barrie and Clergy Streets.

Tragically Hip

New music is being released by Kingston’s, The Tragically Hip.

The Hip has announced their new record, Man Machine Poem, will be available on June 17th.

The first single called, “In A World Possessed By The Human Mind”, is available today and the video is has been posted on YouTube.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgXphurrsE0

 

Vegetarian Network – Circus

The Kingston Vegetarian Network has started a petition to try and stop the Shrine Circus from setting up the big top in Kingston this summer. The group opposes the use of animals in the show…including elephants.

Wellington Street

Construction of the new Scotiabank at Princess and Wellington Streets will mean some extra traffic disruptions in downtown Kingston until the end of September.

Today…crews will be working in the parking lane on Princess at Wellington.

Next week – construction will mean delays for traffic and pedestrians on both Princess Street and Wellington Street and Wellington Street will be closed to traffic next Wednesday and Thursday.