Photo: A look at how the second stage of LRT will traverse the west end. Politicians held a socially-distanced groundbreaking late last week on the cut-and-cover LRT tunnel for the Line 1 expansion west. Here’s some more info via the city: ...

(Via Province of Ontario) As part of its fall preparedness plan, Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19, the Ontario government is partnering with pharmacies to expand access to COVID-19 testing to track, trace and isolate cases. Starting Friday, September 25, 2020, the pharmacy locations below will be offering free testing by appointment only to individuals with no symptoms of COVID-19. ...

The sun is setting earlier, and the days are cool and crisp. With the September Equinox happening on September 22, 2020, summer has come to a close and it’s time to embrace fall again. For a preview of your fall 2020 camera roll, here are some great photos contributed by Howard Whiting/Lightchasers. ...

Photo: Pumpkin season in Manotick. By Ross Dunn via the OttawaStart Flickr group. For the purposes of the list, we’re loosely defining pumpkin patch as any farm or larger roadside pumpkin-selling establishment. Additions/corrections? Click here to contact us… Abbey Hill Farms (Richmond) Headquartered in Richmond with smaller satellite locations around the region. ...

Apples from Hall’s Apple Market. Photo by Katy Watts. Apple season in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec is on for 2019! Call ahead to confirm the current apple crop! All of these locations are within about an hour from downtown Ottawa, unless noted. ...

(Via City of Ottawa news release.) To help address housing affordability in Ottawa, the City’s Planning Committee today approved a zoning amendment to encourage new eight-to-12-unit low-rise apartments in established inner-urban neighbourhoods like Centretown, Sandy Hill, Vanier, Overbrook, Hintonburg and Westboro. ...

“The White Bridge”, photo of the Bank Street Bridge by Alain Villeneuve, via the OttawaStart Flickr Group. (Via Bike Ottawa) Today City Council voted in favour of improving the Bank Street Bridge for people who ride bikes, walk, and roll. Council voted in favour of reducing the number of car lanes from four to three, and widening and converting the sidewalks into two-way multi-use paths on either side of the bridge. ...

Parliament Hill seen from Nepean Point, late summer 2019. (Photo/Devyn Barrie) Monday, September 7, 2020 is Labour Day in Ottawa and that means it’s a long weekend for most people. Here’s a list of what’s open and closed. To add to this list please email feedback@ottawastart. ...

(Via Canadian Museum of Nature). An awe-inspiring huge planet Earth is “floating” high in the Atrium of the Canadian Museum of Nature. Appearing in Canada for the first time, the inflated globe called Gaia is one of the latest, captivating sculptures by British artist Luke Jerram. ...

Gatineau Park’s Meech Lake, Chelsea Que. Photo by _vee_ via the OttawaStart Flickr pool. (Via NCC) The National Capital Commission (NCC) invites the public to share their comments on the draft of the new Gatineau Park Master Plan. This online consultation will be available until September 20. ...