This blog entry by British TV anchor Kate Burley deals with a raging issue of the day — tattoos. It’s even a hot topic here on sedate South Bayview. Many men seem to think they make a woman look like a member of a bike gang. But, they have their advocates. Interesting reading.
Month: January 2011
A&W features self-serve kiosks
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It’s been a long time since girls on roller skates balanced burgers and root beer as they served up A&W fare to patrons. Now perhaps the ultimate opposite to that. A&W is rolling out automatic kiosks where you can order your lunch without speaking to anyone. It’s one of the features of A&W’s thrust into the busy and affluent business districts of our big cities. They’ve opened them in Vancouver and Calgary. Last Friday they opened one on Yonge Street north of College in Toronto, a so-called urban concept place designed to catch downtown burger diners. In fact, these restaurants serve a variety of dishes and also offer conventional counter service. Groms holding inventory liquidiation
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Groms, the young peoples sports clothing and equipment store, is holding a dramatic looking liquidation sale at its shop at 1707. Everything is papered over with signage declaring 50% off everything in the store.
Like it or not, Hyundai is moving up
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You can say what you like about Hyundai, but there is just no doubt that the once funny little car company has changed its style. and it has changed minds. The South Korean firm has worked its way up to a new level of acceptance. Once known for making vehicles that didn’t meet everyone’s expectations, Hyundai now has a track record for setting the standard for reliability, quality, safety, convenience, technology and owner loyalty. It’s factual. You don’t have to like the Hyundai to acknowledge it. The 2011 Equis luxury model above is an example of the new wind blowing across the Pacific from Seoul. Among other things, Hyundai seems to understand location. It will be a brilliant coupe for Hyundai if it can locate on Laird Drive, where Gyro Mazda is now trying to place a Hyundai showroom opposite its existing dealership. All previous Hyundai posts.VW will build super efficient XL1
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It may look a bit like a sea mammal out of water but the Volkswagen XL1 concept car is going to make it to the production line. No one thought it would. And it will be the most efficient production car anywhere, the company says. Volkswagen’s Formula XL1 Concept is a plug-in hybrid, meaning that it’s capable of running on battery power alone for awhile, and then if you need the extra range, it’s got a tiny two cylinder diesel engine that can extend its range. Reportedly, it gets a staggering 260 miles per gallon. Volkswagen says that it will be producing about a hundred XL1s, to be made available first in Germany and later in the U.S.Meeting to discuss Laird Drive plan
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Notice of a meeting has been given for public comment on the project known as 85 and 115 Laird Drive. This is the commercial development that would see the area once home to the Canadian Northern Railway yard transformed into a complex of eight new buildings dedicated mainly to retail purposes, plus a plan for the “adaptive re-use” of the locomotive shop for retail purposes. DATE: Wednesday, February 16, 2011. TIME: 1.30 pm. PLACE: North York Civic Centre Council Chambers, 5100 Yonge Street. Earlier post.
Boys reported robbed on Bessborough
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From 53 Divison Police Incident Report: Two males, 12 years of age, report that on January 27, 2011 at approximately 1600 hours (4 pm) they were in the area of Bessborough Drive and Rolland Road, when they were approached from behind by two male suspects. One of the suspects indicated that he had a handgun, although no weapon was seen and patted the victim’s down. The suspects removed a cellular telephone and fled the scene heading westbound on Bessborough Drive. The victims did not sustain any injuries. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described persons in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect #1: Male, 15 to 16 years, muscular build, short black hair. Suspect #2: Male, 15 to 16 years, 5’1” to 5’4”, thin build.
Sharon’s Collection still seeking space
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Sharon’s Collection is still looking for a new home. The shop has until the end of February to find accommodation. Sharon’s Collection has been at 1643 Bayview for some two years.
Rye High radio gone — will anyone notice?
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CRTC yanks CKLN license. It’s a rather curious story of how the student station had, among other problems, “limited involvement from Ryerson’s student body” according to the attached Globe and Mail story. Otherwise, a grown up’s cynical view will find the shenanigans at CKLN to have a distinctly comical quality. The phrase “Will anyone notice” comes to mind. Here’s an excerpt from a student story written in 2009. When Ashley Stanhope walked into CKLN’s office for the last time, she wasn’t expecting a confrontation with police. After attempting to start her weekly one-hour show Wired for Sound, a woman barged into the studio, yelling erupted between other volunteers, two people barricaded themselves in a room and police were brought in to break up the debacle. “It seems bizarre when you think of it,” Stanhope said. “This would never happen at CHUM FM, it would never reach that point. It seems people are on this power trip when it comes to college radio.” For nearly two years, CKLN has been embroiled in fierce internal fighting with two groups of people claiming power over the station.
Approve re-zoning for Gyro plan ASAP!
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Speaking purely in the public interest, we could hardly imagine a modest commercial project that would be more useful to the residents of this area than a new Hyundai dealership at the corner of Laird Drive and Industrial Street. The post below carries the news. Let’s list the reasons why this project should receive rapid approval. First, it will remove a blight of vacant houses and other doubtful structures from Laird Drive. Second, it offers a tangible improvement to neighborhoods which have been notoriously under serviced. Third, it might inspire other auto firms to sponsor dealerships to locate in the area. There’s great demand for convenient sales and service. The people of Leaside, Moore Park, Bennington Heights, Eglinton East and Lawrence Park would surely respond well. The bankruptcy of GM in 2009 brought an end to an ambitious plan for an auto centre in the old railway yard on Laird. It also killed off Brennan Pontiac. Here’s a chance to get going again.
Gyro bid to bring new Hyundai dealership to Laird Drive
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Gyro Mazda, the long-time local dealership, is applying for approvals to open a Hyundai dealership across the street from its 40-year-old business on the west side of Laird Drive. The plan would transform the northeast corner at Laird and Industirial St. (left) into a new showroom and sales facility for Hyundai cars. Hyundai, the South Korean car maker, is attempting to break out into the mainstream of North American auto buyers. But the plan has to leap some municipal hurdles. The proposed site is part of the Del truck body property. Gyro told the South Bayview Bulldog today that with regulatory approval, including re-zoning, demolition and construction, it might be more than a year before a dealership could open.
Shot man hid in St Augustine’s parking lot
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Police were called to Bayview and Broadway yesterday by a citizen who found a wounded man. The man, who had been shot in the shoulder, was taking refuge in the parking lot of St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church. He apparently had been shot earlier Wednesday near Grenoble Drive and Vendome Place. He was found in a car about 7.30 by a passerby or nearby residents. His wounds are not life-threatening and police continue to investigate.