Apparently we haven't heard enough from the front-running mayoral candidates because they (and we) were subjected to another debate last night at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Moderated by former Toronto Star publisher John Honderich, the candidates were grilled on their policies regarding the environment, community and sustainability. The highlights of the debate included panelist John Stall saying, "I'm starting to hear a lot of the same things" and theToronto Star's discovery that Smitherman owns 12 purple ties. With regards to priority neighbourhood plans, Rossi, Smitherman, and Pantalone said they would continue to fund the program, while Ford said he wouldn't commit to funding promised by Mayor David Miller until he could look into the potential benefits. Regardless of what you think about any of these candidates, you've gotta give them kudos for enduring these incessant debates.

The Daily Bread Food Bank is struggling to reach its goal for its Fall Drive this year. Aiming to collect $500,000 and 500,000 pounds of food, the Daily Bread is less than half way there with less than a week left of its campaign. Still feeling residual recession pressure, the Daily Bread Food Bank received an extra 23,000 client visits last year, and a recent report showed that 46 per cent of visitors had lost their jobs during the economic downtown and 13 per cent are living on life savings. More information, including how to make a donation, is available on the Daily Bread website.

The trial for Chinatown grocer David Chen, who is facing charges of forcible confinement, kidnapping and assault for capturing and detaining a shoplifter, continued yesterday as Chen described previous theft cases at his store. He said that during two previous shoplifting incidences it had taken police five hours and three and a half hours to respond. "After his hands were tied up we were thinking of making a phone call [to police]," Chen said. But knowing how long it had taken police to respond previously, they first decided to move the white van, where the apprehended shoplifter was put by Chen and his brother, to their nearby wholesale outlet and out of traffic. Chen's trial resumes Tuesday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won their season opener against the Montreal Canadiens last night. Yes, you read that right. Toronto walked away with a 3-2 win to kick off the first game of their 2010-2011 NHL season. Part of Yonge Street was closed yesterday to celebrate the start of the season, with performances by Hedley, Down With Webster and Hey Rosetta! At Yonge-Dundas square. Hundreds were also on hand to witness a Q&A with former Leafs Jim McKenny and Darryl Sittler, as well as hockey dad Walter Gretzky.

An elderly driver managed to cause $120,000 worth of damage in a Scarborough parking lot on Kingston Rd. east of McCowan yesterday. The 83-year-old woman lost control of her vehicle and hit seven(!) parked vehicles and totaled three, including her own. Luckily, no one was hurt.

Photo by Ian Muttoo in the blogTO Flickr pool.