Month: February 2017

Will Genie Bouchard bring chaperone to Super Bowl “date”

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There is gambler’s regret at Genie Bouchard’s home it appears after the young tennis star promised to go on a date with a Twitter fan who trapped her into saying “Sure” when he called her on the prediction that Atlanta would win the Super Bowl. At the time she dashed off the tweet, the Falcons were leading. The fan, TW1 @punslayintwoods, dared her “if Patriots win we go on a date” Bouchard agreed. Now we wait to see what happens.

Gene Bouchard
Chaperone?
Known as TW1 on Twitter

East York ravine home sold in a day $286,000 over listing

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Steps from O’Connor Drive
$1,645,000
4 Trimontium Cres

Realtors are pondering the latest evidence of the home-buying mania that grips Toronto and area. It is the sale of 4 Trimontium Crescent on the Taylor Creek ravine in East York. The home sold for $1,645,000 — $286,000 over the listing price of $1,359,000. The story runs that the November sale had been preceded by some improvements the two-storey home, and a four-year period in which there was no turnover on the streets in the pleasant neighbourhood. Like many two-storey dwellings lining the short cul-de-sac, this one was built decades ago with an attached double garage, formal living and dining areas and rear eat-in kitchen and family room, both with access to a deck. It sold last in 2002 for $541,000. Quite an investment.

Toronto Hydro ideas to trim sky-high electricity bills

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Toronto Hydro has sent out the “Top Ten no-cost ways” to save power this cold winter. People stinging from hydro bills higher than any they have seen may wish to look. Some of the suggestions are of little value (when baking a turkey don’t pre-heat the oven) but it makes sense to know you have the peak hours and off hours correct. It’s here.

Police seek “right person” to help catch fast food bandit

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On Friday October 7, 2016, at around 4.20 p.m., a man entered Subway sandwich restaurant in the University Ave. and Wellington St. area, with a sharpened edge metal pipe that he pointed at the store employee. He grabbed the cash drawer before fleeing. Two days later, at around 8.32 p.m., a man entered the McDonald’s store near Yonge St. and College St., and confronted an employee with his right hand in his hooded pocket. After demanding money from the till and indicating he had a gun, the man obtained some cash before leaving the store. No weapon was seen. On October 11, between 10.18 p.m. and 11.30 pm., the suspect robbed a Pizza Pizza near Queen St. W. and Bathurst St. and a Starbucks in the vicinity of King St. and Yonge St. “We haven’t had any tips come on him,” said Hold Up S/Inspector Mike Earl. “You just need the right person to see it. I am hoping we can get that individual to do that so we can arrest this guy and get him off the street before he strikes again

Study asks change in lights at Laird and McRae/Wicksteed

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Um, stop or go?
Redway route
Wicksteed and McRae at Laird

The volunteer South Leaside Traffic Committee members led by Erica Cooke have a proposal before City traffic department which would simplify the movement of cars and pedestrians at the tricky corner where Laird Drive meets McRae Dr and Wicksteed Ave. The corner has been a confusion since the roadways were laid out in the early part of the last century. There is no easy solution

RIGHT NOW

Right now, traffic on McRae and Wicksteed get separate green lights for through traffic and left turns. For part of that cycle, eastbound McRae traffic gets a green for both straight on and turns together. Westbound Wicksteed vehicles deal with two sets of lights (above) which often leave drivers wondering whether to stop or go.

PROPOSAL

The SLTC is asking the City to install a three-phase protocol which would leave the Laird lights as they are but would stop eastbound vehicles completely while the westbound goes both straight on and left. The full stop would then apply to westbound traffic while eastbound had full green. Here is how the committee states it:

  • Phase One. 2 and 4 remain unchanged. When they are green, 1 and 3 are red.
  • Phase Two. 3 would get a dedicated green light. Through traffic and turns will be permitted and unencumbered. There will still be a turning lane and a through/right turn lane for 3. 1, 2 and 4 will be red at this time.
  • Phase Three. 1 will get a dedicated green light. Through traffic and left turns onto NB Laird from the only remaining lane will be permitted. 2, 3 and 4 will be red at this time.

REDWAY ROAD

The much sought-after extension to Redway Road is complicated by legal and conservation concerns. The tracks which carry CP traffic are now owned by Metrolinx. Why this should be a problem is unclear. But there is much opposition to an extension related to the nearby Crothers Woods nature area in the close-in Don Valley. Still, there seems to be room to build a two lane road which would end at Bayview Ave. with traffic lights. Given the enormous relief that this extension would bring to busy Southvale Drive, it seems reasonable that a more thorough and explicit explanation be made as to why it is not possible.

Toyota and Suzuki talking partnership in parts and R&D

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Akio Toyoda, head of Toyota Motors and Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki have a good laugh as they agree to partner

Toyota Motor Corp and Suzuki Motor Corp said on Monday they plan to trade expertise in parts supplies and R&D, in an agreement that will aid expansion in emerging markets and help them cope with rapid technological sophistication. Any deal could see Toyota benefit from a supply chain that has helped Suzuki dominate India’s massive auto market, while Suzuki could hope to access Toyota’s innovations in automated driving, artificial intelligence and low-emission vehicles. Reuters

Junior Wildcats take it on chin but little sisters win gold

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So close
3-2 final
Teal champions

Leaside Junior Wildcats must be hurting today after leading the Mississauga Chiefs for most of the game Sunday in Mississauga to lose 3-2 in overtime. The Chiefs scored both the tying goal and the winner (in overtime) all within the three final minutes of play. Chin up ladies. Scoring 

TEAL TOTS TRIUMPH

But hey, little sisters of the Wildcats Novice Teal House League team won the gold medal at the Brampton Cougars Friendship Festival Tournament.  Love it.

Uh-huh, 905 car lovers don’t like City of Toronto tolls

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A poll for the Sun newspaper suggests that the Ontario government strategy of killing road tolls to salve the anger of 905 voters has worked. A poll suggests  that 56 percent of suburban drivers approve of killing the toll scheme. Except that the poll by Campaign Research, done for the Toronto Sun, still shows that those voters really don’t care much for the government even though they are glad to see road tolls gone. In Inside Toronto, a figure said to be as large as 58 percent of drivers is said to be angry that the tolls were cancelled. Of course governments do polls too and it is fairly reasonable to think that Premier Wynne, the member for Don Valley West, knew this before being told by the Sun. Toronto Sun