Micheal Hayakawa of the Thornhill Liberal reports on the exploits of the Leaside Leafs to take a 15-4-0 position at the top of the Greater Toronto Baseball League Nice going guys.
Swim whiz Annaleise Carr tackles Lake Erie
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Annaleise Carr is on her way across Lake Erie this Friday, hoping to make the 75-kilometre swim from Presque Ile State Park in Erie, Pa. to Port Dover, Ontario. Annaleise is the Norfolk County swimming phenomenon who crossed Lake Ontario in the summer of 2012. Now she hopes to make a crossing that is half again as long. Video below shows Annaleise setting off on her Lake Ontario crossing two years ago. Photo: @hoskin/Twitter Annaleise Carr’s inspiring journey
Air Canada flight forced to circle at Tel Aviv
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Air Canada’s flight AC84 was told by Tel Aviv controllers to circle the airport a couple of times while the military made sure it was safe to land. This after Hamas terrorists took a cue from the world’s media and made a specific attempt to disrupt landings at the airport. Apparently they failed and the AC flight was permitted to land after a few minutes.
Robert Lowrey sends pianos to Jamaica schools
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Robert Lowrey Pianos in the Leaside Business Park at Eglinton Ave. E. and Brentcliffe Drive has partnered with a Jamaican moving company to send 21 pianos to needy children in Jamaica. Really nice. Toronto Sun
Maison de la Presse Internationale closes
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The last of Toronto’s international newspaper and magazine shops has closed. The landmark Maison de la Presse Internationale at 99 Yorkville Ave closed up this week, victim of the media world’s migration to the Internet. The shop specialized in foreign newspapers and magazines and was a particular favorite of foreign visitors to downtown. Maison was undone by the same forces imperiling so much of the print media. “Digital is the one reason we’re losing sales,” said Cathy Ola, the store’s manager. “ People are online — they subscribe to magazines online. My customers say, ‘I already downloaded it online.’ That’s the biggest competition.” Toronto StarSunnybrook’s healthy top ten list of things to do
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has just dropped off a handy list of ten things to do to have good health and a longer life. It isn’t quite as hilarious as Letterman’s top ten, but it’s an easy and quick read that the hospital says will pay you big dividends. Sunnybrook’s top ten
Open Streets on Sunday August 17 and 31, 2014
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Mark these days on your calendar and either throw away the car keys or head north. Hey look, nothing we could say would amount to flood control on the gushes of joy in the linked news release. Our memory is refreshed that City Council did in fact approve the shutting of Bloor Street between Spadina and Parliament, and also of Yonge Street between Bloor and Queen. That’s right. The obliquely-named 8-80 Cities didn’t stage a coup d’etat at City Hall. Never mind. Open Streets will solve everything from boredom to arthritis. Diverse communities will be linked (aren’t they now?) and “streets become paved parks where people of all ages, abilities, and social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds can come out and improve their health.” Can’t wait. Hear the good news!
Leslie extension needed to ease Leaside traffic
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A reader comments on an accident at Moore and Bayview Aves. Thursday morning. He saw it on his way to work and says a pedestrian was flat out on the road apparently having been hit by an SUV turning right onto Bayview off of westbound Moore. We all hope he’s okay and there is an inquiry in to PC Clint Stibbe. The reader says he regularly sees motorists turn south out of the middle lane “because they think they’re more important those those who wait in the turn lane…and (I) wouldn’t be surprised if one of these clowns ran the poor man over.” He comments on the recent death of Georgia Walsh and whether there is a plan in the works to get traffic off of the Leaside streets onto the as-yet unbuilt Leslie extension. He says “Tying ribbons on trees is a nice gesture, but something beneficial could (and) should be done about the core issues.”
OMB mediation set for 262 Bessborough Dr.
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The Toronto office of the Ontario Municipal Board has scheduled mediation for today on the disputed severance of land associated with 262 Bessborough Drive — the Elgie House properties. The process is set to begin at 10 a.m. according to the published agenda and its status is marked as open to the public. OMB
Glasgow games launch is “Pure dead brilliant”
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The Scotsman newspaper plucked choice slang from the streets of Glasgow to describe the opening of the XX Commonwealth Games tonight (Wednesday, July 23, 2014). Pure dead brilliant it pronounced the star studded spectacle in the City’s Celtic Park. The CBC reports that trap shooter Susan Nattrass, an eight-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, carried the Maple Leaf flag as our team paraded in. The team wore the Canadian tartan (inset). Our contingent numbers 265 athletes, the largest ever for Commonwealth Games outside the country. On the Internet, many agencies were replaying the incredible rugby skills of Canada’s Conor Trainor (see it below). Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle headlined the ceremony, which included a giant kilt, Scottish dancing, an inflatable Loch Ness Monster, and other delights. Images of Opening The CBC notes that Stewart included some Canadian content when he performed Rhythm of my Heart, much to the delight of the crowd. Canadian singer-songwriter Marc Jordan wrote the song for Stewart. Jordan was in Glasgow at the opening ceremony to watch Stewart perform his hit. Boyle sang Mull of Kintyre, and may or may not have forgotten the first two lines of the song. “The Canadian team is aiming to finish in the top three in the overall medal standings after falling to fourth at the 2010 Games in Delhi, India. The track and field team is particularly strong, with 2013 world championship medallists Brianne Theisen-Eaton (heptathlon), Damian Warner (decathlon) and Derek Drouin (also an Olympic bronze medallist in the high jump) on the squad. Boston Marathon wheelchair champion Josh Cassidy will compete in the para-sport 1,500 metres.”
Andy Byford shocked by red-light running bus
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TTC Chief General Manager Andy Byford says he is shocked by a YouTube video that shows a bus barging right through a red light as a pedestrian scrambles to get out of the way. The video was posted yesterday on The South Bayview Bulldog, embedded from the Internet video site. Toronto Sun
Police increase patrols and checks in Leaside
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Roger Cattel has taken this picture of police stopping a vehicle in Leaside for concerns related to speed. It is not clear just what is going on here. Mr. Cattel is the public-spirited resident of McRae Drive who has organized the funding and printing of the lawn signs which urge drivers to slow down. That initiative has been greatly welcomed across the city but it comes with some thankless aspects. The expectation of many signs for all who want them may not be met. The printing process is involved and costly.