Philip Alves

The tally so far: nearly three-quarters of a million a dollars. That’s how much the city has paid, as of March 31, for audits of the 2006 campaign books of four Vaughan political heavyweights and related legal fees.

“Good morning,” Anne Vandrie says to someone who’s just walked into Pennywise Thrift Shop on a Monday morning. “Customers are coming in,” she says before turning her attention back to the visitor. “Good morning. Wonderful. Thank you very much.”

The proposed Yonge subway extension cleared a major hurdle this week. The project’s completed environmental assessment was filed with the province’s Environment Ministry Monday after being approved last month by Environment Minister John Gerretsen.

Vaughan’s city councillors are looking for outside legal advice on what to do with a damaging audit into the 2006 campaign books of one of their own. Councillor Bernie DiVona, who resigned his post as budget committee chair last month after the audit was released, may find himself in the same boat as Mayor Linda Jackson.

In the eyes of the students at St. Clare CES, Major Charles Jansen is a returning hero. Last Thursday, he visited the Woodbridge school to talk to the kids about his recent 15-month mission, which included a 10-month tour of duty in Afghanistan’s volatile Kandahar province. Jansen was greeted by cheers from the primary students assembled in the gym. Following the major’s lead, some saluted when the national anthem was played.

Police are on the lookout for two suspects after hardwood flooring was stolen during a holdup in Vaughan last week. At about 6 p.m. on April 30, two men, one armed with a handgun, entered ACXA Flooring at 7777 Keele St. and confronted the clerk, police say.

Jane Lowe turned the corner from one Walmart store aisle to another. She stopped short when she saw a new barbecue and lawnmower in front of her. Both were gifts for Lowe’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 414.

The Vaughan Coyotes has a nice ring to it. The Vaughan Predators ain’t bad, either. Whatever the team might be called, the idea of landing a National Hockey League franchise in the city above has fired Vaughanians dreams of the coolest game on ice.

Protecting Woodbridge’s past will secure the village’s future. That’s the idea behind the city’s move to create the Woodbridge Heritage Conservation District, Vaughan’s fourth after Thornhill, Maple and Kleinburg-Nashville.

Mayor Linda Jackson faces potential expulsion from office and her husband, Mario Campese, may be hit with thousands of dollars in fines. The pair has been served with dozens of charges stemming from a court-ordered audit of Jackson’s 2006 campaign books.

Councillor Bernie DiVona resigned his post as Vaughan’s budget chief prior to a Monday evening committee meeting. The move comes on the heels of a damaging audit report delving into his 2006 campaign finances, released last week. DiVona may have used thousands of dollars from his 2006 election funds to pay for repairs to the roof of his home, the audit uncovered.

Vaughan’s budget chief quit the post prior to an evening council meeting April 27. The announcement of Councillor Bernie DiVona’s resignation, made by deputy city clerk Sybil Fernandes, comes on the heels of a damaging audit report delving into his 2006 campaign finances, released last week.