First round of Sens bidding is over

Good morning!

So, okay, maybe I kind of cursed the Sens winning ways by commenting on how great it was they were winning. Let’s not dwell on that too much, I’m sure there are plenty of other more rational things we can blame the 5-0 loss on. I won’t say anything more for fear of making it worse.

And, hey, this is neat. We’re hiring! We’re looking for someone to help out with ad sales. It’s part-time and flexible, and you’ll get to work with a fun and growing team. If you’ve got some sales experience, this could be the job for you. You can find the listing here.

Why don’t we get to the newsletter!

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

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Weather Report

Wednesday: 0 🌡️ -7 | ❄️ (chance of flurries)

Thursday: 0 🌡️ -7 | ☁️

Friday: +1 🌡️ -5 | ☁️

SENATORS

Bidding is officially open for the Sens

What happened: The first round of bidding for the Ottawa Senators is over, the Ottawa Sun reported. At least 15 different prospective ownership groups were part of the opening round of the process, which ended Monday. Now the team has to sort out which bids are serious enough to make it to the next round.

• All of the groups were given access to the team’s financials, as well as the memorandum of understanding with NCC for the construction of a new arena at LeBreton Flats.

The bidders: It’s not clear how many of the groups made formal bids for the team, sources told the Sun. Part of the conditions for buying the Senators is a promise to keep the team in Ottawa. The deputy commissioner of the NHL estimated the sale price could be higher than $800 million, rising even above $1 billion.

• According to the Sun, there are several serious bidders, including a group with Ryan Reynolds, and another that would include Farm Boy executive Jeff York. The Sun said as the league and the team pick through the bidders, they may encourage certain groups to become partners.

Exciting times: With the exception of this week’s blowout loss to Chicago, the excitement around the team right now will likely only help the team’s value. Success on the ice means more excitement in the city, which makes buying the team a more attractive prospect, CTV reported.

It’s also a big boost to local bars and restaurants that show the game. A playoff run of any kind could do wonders for a beleaguered industry.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🚔 16: The number of charges a woman is facing after being pulled over for speeding in South Dundas. [CityNews]

✈️ $109: The round-trip airfare for an Ottawa to Vegas trip, starting in October. [CTV]

OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN

🔌 A 30-hour power outage in Pontiac has officials in the town pushing for better service from Hydro-Québec. [CBC]

🍽️ Right at the corner of Churchill and Richmond, a new Zak’s Diner has opened in Westboro. [Kitchissippi Times]

🔥 No one was injured, but a family was displaced by a garage fire in Barrhaven. Fire crews were able to contain the fire to the garage. [CTV]

🦉 An injured barred owl was found in Kantata. Bylaw officers cared for the bird before taking it to the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre. [CTV]

☕️ After three years closed, Royals Restaurant has reopened in Richmond just in time for its 50th anniversary. [RichmondHub]

📸 Danny Kingsbury cleaned up at the Stittsville Goulbourn Horticultural Society’s annual photo awards. He won best in show and several other categories. [Stittsville Central]

🚨 Questions continue to swirl around the OPP’s handling about why they issued an emergency alert about two suspects in Lanark County, but eventually only arrested a third man not named in the alert. [CBC]

📚 Little free libraries have sprouted up all over Kitchissippi and make for a great way for community members to connect with one another. [Kitchissippi Times]

EXPLOSION

Allegedly botched theft likely the cause of Orléans explosion

What happened: The man accused of causing the explosion in Orléans that levelled several homes, injured 12 people and put four of them in hospital, may have done it by accident. According to the Ottawa Citizen, court documents lay out how Kody Crosby allegedly stole two water heaters from homes under construction, but left the natural gas lines wide open.

• The lines were open overnight on Feb. 12 for 15 hours before igniting the next morning just after 6 am.

The evidence: Police put together Crosby’s alleged movements through the use of video footage, the Citizen reported. The court documents say he was spotted on security footage entering two units and coming out with water heaters, then loaded into a vehicle. That vehicle was later spotted on surveillance footage at a nearby gas station where someone exited the vehicle before getting back in and driving away.

Previously jailed: Crosby had spent time in jail for previous charges related to a series of thefts, according to CBC. He also spent time at an addictions centre in the Greenbelt.

The workers: Four construction workers were taken to hospital after the blast. Two of them needed to be dug out of the rubble. They have all since been released from the hospital.

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

It’s hard to say what exactly about this house is so compelling, but it is. The angles, the skylight. There’s something about it though… The location doesn’t hurt either. On the edge of Rothwell Heights, it’s practically on the Ottawa River.

Take a look at the listing to see how much it costs.

THE AGENDA

🪓 The owners of the Tewin development in the far east end got a bylaw exemption to continue clear-cutting forest the owners said will be used for agriculture next to the site of the future development. [CBC]

🚊 It’s happened again. The overhead power system for the LRT came loose near Rideau Station and had to be repaired overnight. Some stations were only open on one platform, and extra bus service had to be deployed. [Twitter]

🏥 Official patient complaints about the healthcare system are being driven mainly by staffing problems, and a lack of access to care. [CBC]

🚨 A man and a woman have been charged in the 2021 death of a seven-week-old child. The names of the people charged, and the charges they are facing are not public because of a publication ban. [CTV]

⚖️ Assault and sexual assault charges against an Ottawa police constable were dropped by the prosecution. The officer has been suspended with pay since September 2020. [CBC]

🛬 Starting in May, WestJet will reduce its direct flights between Ottawa and Toronto. From May 1, there will be only one flight per day, departing at 5:30 pm. [CTV]

☃️ The city expects it will take several days to remove the accumulated snow banks on city streets after the latest snowstorm. They may not finish until next week. [CTV]

🚨 A 67-year-old woman died in a Sandy Hill apartment fire. Another person was rescued by fire crews. [CTV]

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Good news, egg roll lovers! Golden Palace’s half-price egg roll event will return this April. [CTV]

• If you’re looking to try sake, this classic is a great place to start.

• If you were improperly charged a $25 non-resident fee when signing up for swimming classes, fear not! The city is automatically refunding those transactions. [Twitter]

• There was quite the meteor over the city this week, as captured on this dash cam video. [Reddit]

• Ottawa artist Sara Graham’s huge concrete panel work is now a part of the Gordie Howe International Bridge in Windsor. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Be sure to clear the ice and snow off your vehicle, it can be very dangerous to others on the road, as this truck driver found out. [CTV]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Contact our partnership team for more info.

CAPITAL EATS

Proper, fresh take-out sushi

By Ralf Joneikies, food editor

I’m one of those people who enjoys it when folks write in with their restaurant recommendations. I learn something new and get to pass this knowledge on to the rest of the readership.

After a reader enjoyed a previous restaurant I’d suggested, I was encouraged by her to give a favourite of hers a try. It was a very welcome suggestion.

With perhaps the exception of Shinka (they did start out as a sit-down restaurant) you can’t expect to get the same level of quality or care in execution from take-away restaurants. Yet this restaurant goes to some lengths to give you a proper and fresh sushi experience.

SPORTS

🏀 For the first time in a long time, the Carleton Ravens men’s basketball team are no longer then No. 1 seed in the U Sports Final 8. The Ravens dropped to third spot, behind Victoria and uOttawa. The Carleton women are still ranked No. 1. [CBC]

⚾️ The Ottawa Titans signed former Cubs prospect, right-handed pitcher Trevor Clifton for the upcoming season. [Ottawa Citizen]

🥅 If the Sens’ playoff hopes are going to stay alive, they’re going to need to bounce back quickly from Monday’s 5-0 loss to Chicago. [Ottawa Sun]

GIVEAWAY

A foodie’s dream, and it’s free to enter

Our food editor has compiled a fantastic food giveaway of delicious items and local gift cards to some of Ottawa’s best restaurants.

• Best of all? You have two chances to win.

Entering is easy. All you have to do is refer a friend (or even better, friends!) to Ottawa Lookout or Capital Eats. Every person you refer increases your odds of winning.

• The contest closes on March 8. You must live in Ottawa to enter.

We’ve even made it easy to share! Just click these links to automatically share with your contacts.

Share to enter

Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Forward to a friend

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to everyone who got last week’s Ottawa Wordle. It turns out this week’s quiz was a tough one. We got lots of answers, but many incorrect ones. Congrats to Adam, Chantal, Pat, and Jamie who all knew the highest recorded snowfall was in the winter of 1886-87 when 463.8 cm fell on the city.

Do you know where this week’s Ottawa Guesser is? The first five people to respond get their names mentioned in the newsletter.

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