Car detailer won’t say what he did with client’s car

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Carlos Tomas took his Mazda RX-8 to “Mikey” in Scarborough to get it cleaned and detailed. When it came back, it had 449 more kilometres on it than when Tomas last saw it. A few days later, Tomas got a bill from Highway 407 showing the vehicle was driven on the highway during the time it was in Mikey’s possession. The Toronto Star liked the story and accompanied Tomas to the detailing garage. The above undercover video is revealing as Mikey brusquely takes the position that he doesn’t have to answer any questions.  

Yonge St. closed between Belsize and Manor

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No Allure

Yonge Street will be closed all weekend between Belsize Drive and Manor Road so that the large crane used to help build the Allure Condominium can be removed. The closure has business owners steaming. Miguel Cardinal of Aut Lit bed linens says his business will suffer. The crane has been on location for the best part of two years to finish the structure of the Allure. It appears Josh Matlow (Ward 22) tried to help. He told the Toronto Star he was able to negotiate a “pause” after merchants received notice from the developer and All Canada Crane Rental Corp. informing them of a planned closure last weekend. “I was able to work quickly on this and at least improve their communications. But in the future this should never happen again,” he said. It is however a frequent but seldom thought-of peril for retailers on City streets. There is an uncountable number of reasons why business may be effectively halted or slowed ranging from re-painting lines on street to a movie shoot. Many retailers suspect that some contractors and organizers prefer to give less notice as long as their permits and licenses are in order because more notice creates more resistance from store owners.  Toronto Star

Doctors too busy to write “postal notes” says CMA

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Canada Post’s vague plans for getting the mail delivered even after it stops delivering the mail continues to surprise. A comment over the last couple of days that CP may require a doctor’s note from residents who say they are unable to get to neighborhood boxes has sparked a backlash. The Canadian Medical Association has fired back that doctors are way too busy to write such notes. The CMA calls the idea “totally irresponsible”. For its part, Canada Post is pressing on with the idea of somehow getting you to deliver your own mail from wherever they leave it. Could be in a box or maybe they’ll give it to your friend. The agency is losing money of course but this only sharpens the question of why Canada Post just doesn’t get out of the business. There are people who say they can deliver the mail and make money. CBC  Toronto Star

Triple-cooked chips an English deep-fried treat

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The cooler weather and the CNE opening makes minds to turn to heartier food. The English favorite of chips (french fries to some) take on special quality when they are made by the triple-cooked method explained here by British celebrity chef  Heston Blumenthal. He recommends a couple of varieties of potatoes but we’ll venture that “yellow and waxy” taters make the finest chips.  

Townhouse okay for Bill and Vito site at McRae, Sutherland

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The townhouse project planned for the former property of Bill and Vito’s Shell service station at the northeast corner of McRae Dr. and Sutherland Dr. has been given approval by North York Community Council. The plan calls for rooftop patios on seven of the eight three-storey townhouses and an additional two-storey home on Sutherland. The development must be approved by City Council at its meeting on Monday, August. 25, 2014. The East York Mirror quotes John Parker (Ward 26) as saying the plan is a “satisfactory compromise.” Some have concerns ranging from the project’s size to fears it will change the character of the neighbourhood to possible loss of privacy from the townhouses overlooking neighbouring homes. East York Mirror  Also at this meeting of North York Community Council Mr. Parker moved a motion to prohibit right turns on a red light at the corner of  McRae Drive and Millwood Road.

136th CNE opens amidst sombre thoughts of 1914

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The 136th CNE has opened with speeches by several members of government. This year’s Ex will mark the 100th anniversary of World War 1 in 1914. It is a sombre event, even a century later. A tiny population of seven million citizens saw 68,000 soldiers and sailors die in the four year conflict. But the CNE this year will focus on the contribution of Canadians to the war effort and the new identity the country gained through the efforts of its men and women. The federal government was represented at the opening today by Peter Van Loan, government leader in the Commons and member for York Simcoe. He was followed by Han Dong, the newly-elected Liberal member of the Legislature for Trinity Spadina, the riding in which the exhibition grounds are located. finally, the opening ceremony heard from Mayor Rob Ford. he reflected on the enormous economic contribution the Ex makes to the City’s economy and social life. Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly made a moving speech about events on opening day 1914 noting how young men had “shivered in tents waiting eagerly to go to war.” 

Hwy 401 scene of eastbound truck mayhem

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Highway 401 is closed from Neilson Road to east of Port Union Road following a couple of accidents. The first crash created the conditions for the second. About 10 p.m., a large truck and a pickup truck collided in the express lanes. Police and MTO parties were cleaning up this accident when a transport truck slammed into the MTO cleanup trucks. Happily, no one was seriously hurt in all this.  CBC 

Cyclist says guard confiscated her bike on Bloor

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An issue that is murky in law about just where and when one can park and lock a bicycle threatens to inflame further the relations between cyclists and others. The management company at The Hudson Bay Company on Bloor West has instructed its security firm to remove bicycles locked to poles and other public property on the sidewalk outside the building. The cry has gone up from a woman whose bike disappeared off the street that it was confiscated and that she wasn’t given warning or notice that her bike was in custody. She thought it had been stolen. It is a thorny issue because  City Council has tinkered with legislation about the parking of bicycles. Now the determining legality is whether the bike seems abandoned or is a problem. All very vague. It is certainly upsetting that there is no warning or notice of where bikes have gone when they are taken. Still, drivers are expected to know that when their car is gone, the likelihood is that it has been towed. Let’s try to get along. CTV