Quiet hero cuts couple’s grass

It turns out there’s a personal twist to how the grass got cut on a Lauder Ave. traffic island, after an elderly couple were ordered by the city to do it. Our Monday column detailed how 91-year-old Remo Michelini and his 88-year-old wife, Lina, were threatened with a notice of violation from the city if they didn’t cut it within seven days.

It provoked outrage from Star readers, since the city had sporadically cut it for many years before a bureaucrat decided it met the definition of a boulevard and ordered the Michelinis to do it, since it’s in front of their home. Among the outraged was Mayor John Tory, who ordered city workers to cut it Monday morning. In an interview later on Monday, Tory confirmed the job had indeed been done.

But we got a note Tuesday from Don Peat, who deals with media for the mayor’s office, clarifying that a private citizen managed to beat the city workers to the punch.

Peat said that a guy named Geoff Whitlock got there bright and early, before the city workers arrived. By the time city workers showed up, Whitlock had completed the job, he said.

We tracked down Whitlock, who told us it was “right up my alley,” since he recently started a company, Custodia Seniors Support, to help seniors with home maintenance and other chores they can’t do for themselves.

“I was on my way as soon as I read your story,” he said. “I’ve learned that as people get older, they aren’t heard in the same way and can use the help.”

It’s worth noting that he didn’t seek us out to correct the record. He just did the job and went on his way. That’s the definition of a Good Samaritan.

And kudos to Don Peat of the mayor’s office, for setting the record straight.

What's broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Email to jlakey@thestar.ca or follow @TOStarFixer on Twitter