Conditions were snarled in east Leaside Thursday morning as crews dealt with a gas leak at Laird Drive and Wicksteed Ave. By 9.30 it appeared that conditions were under control.
Home security firm fires Joel Matlin as CEO
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Joel Matlin, the larger than life face, voice and all around cheerleader of the home security firm AlarmForce has been fired as CEO of the company. The decision installs Anthony Pizzonia as interim president and CEO, according to the Star newspaper. It will come as a surprise to the public at large that it would even be possible to fire Mr. Matlin, so deeply established is his identity as the founder and boss at the home security firm. In fact, as the news stories indicate, he owns merely eight percent of the shares. Clearly the questions out-number by a long shot the simple facts of the announcement that Mr. Matlin is out and that Mr. Pizzonia is in as CEO. Why was ths done? Will Matlin continue to be the public face of AlarmForce? Will this avenue even work, if he isn’t the CEO? Bells will be ringing with those who own AlarmForce systems. Toronto Star
Call him George Alexander Louis if you please
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West Nile warning issued as positive results found
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Toronto Health is warning about the West Nile Virus threat posed by mosquitoes. As expected, there have been positive tests conducted on area mosquitoes. In past years, the Don Valley has been a fertile area positive tests. As a result, the authorities are issuing a reminder about West Nile. They call it a timely reminder to members of the public to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to remove standing water from property where mosquitoes can breed. Although the risk of becoming infected is low, protection against mosquito bites can further reduce this risk. Public Health reminds residents to wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks and a hat when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. They also recommend insect repellent approved by Health Canada and follow product instructions.
Moore Park chase sees man nabbed in cemetery
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| Tow truck driver sizes up how to lift chase car |
There was a short and successful police chase Wednesday morning when a driver who had made an illegal left turn at Moore Ave. and Welland Ave. took off after having been stopped. Police say the man nearly struck the officer who was recording his plate number. The car sped south on Welland, west on Heath Street E and then right on Kingsmere Rd bringing it back to Moore Ave. In a wild left turn at Moore the car ran head-on into a pickup truck. Fortunately, the driver of the truck suffered only minor injuries but the driver took off toward Mt. Pleasant Rd. A 21-year-old man was later apprehended in the cemetery, police said. A woman in the car was also arrested. As South Bayviewites will know, the corner at Welland and Moore has restricted turns in the 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. periods. In the mornings, police will frequently wait on Welland to catch drivers turning left onto Welland. The bylaw, which is very old, is designed to keep traffic out of Moore Park during rush hour.
Mass evictions leave 9 tenants in Bayview units
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According to Jade Jenkins, head of an association representing tenants of the Kelvingrove and Glen-Leven Apartments on Bayview Ave. there are only nine tenants left in the 97 apartments in the complex and three of those will be moving out soon. As reported in the Star by Marco-Chown Oved, the six holdouts are seniors who will be represented by Ms. Jenkins at meetings of the Landlord and Tenant Board in August. It has been a summer of moving at the apartments where close to 70 units were said to be occupied at the end of May. The buildings, located on Bayview Ave. from Sutherland Drive north to north of Airdrie Drive are indirectly owned by the NDP government of Manitoba through its Civil Service Superannuation Board and a satellite company, ADMINS Kelvingrove Investments Corp. The deputy minister of finance sits on the CSSB investments committee at CSSB headquarters in Winnipeg. Mr.Oved’s story indicates that there has been a lot of hardship on the tenants, both those who have left and those still hanging on. The owners wish to renovate the apartments and charge higher rents, it is said. Many will find it hard not to think of the push to evict the tenants as a kind of revenge for the epic resistence mounted beginning ijn 2010 which thwarted ADMINS Kelvingrove from demolishing the apartments and building high-density condominiums. The apartments were built in 1939 by Howard Talbot, later a mayor of Leaside.
Painting curbs red — and other urgent news
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There may or may not be a video of Mayor Ford smoking crack but there is absolutely a video of the City’s Chief Magistrate painting a downtown curb red — or maybe pinkish red. Tuesday Mr. Ford launched a program to make it easier for drivers to see where they are not supposed to park. In a fit of enthusiasm for this idea, the mayor was down on his knees near University Ave. and Queen Street West as pictured. Whoa Nellie. And speaking of red, the new Toronto streetcars were “previewed” again today for about the 5th time. The media went right along with the gag, reporting all the snappy features that have been rolled out on several occasions already. Hey, you can’t over-do a good thing, right? Transit is important, right? Finally, on this whip-around of Toronto, 102-year-old Olive Dodds continues to act as a volunteer at the Toronto East General Hospital after nearly three decades. Mrs. Dodds has been part of the hospital’s sewing and knitting club every week since 1984. Love you Mrs Dodds. Story.Prince has blond hair and “his mother’s looks”
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge held a brief and rather touching few moments with the media outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London Tuesday night. They spoke of the special time represented by the birth of their son and their eagerness to find time from the hubbub to care for him. William said that thankfully the child had his mothers looks. There is no name as yet but it’s clear that he is blond-haired.. Video at left.
Visa, MasterCard dodge control in plastic jungle
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The Federal Competitions Tribunal has thrown out a case brought forward by the Competition Bureau attempting to regulate the profusion of high-end credit cars flooding the market. The jungle of cards, some with low fees for retailers, others with charges of more than 2.5% on a purchase, add millions of dollars to the cost of doing business every year. The tribunal has essentially said that the card companies can carry on, requiring merchants to take all cards and preventing shopkeepers from refusing high-end cards or insisting on a surcharge to take it. CTV
George is bookmakers best bet for name of prince
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Safe delivery and much joy in all corners of the Commonwealth tonight. The 8lbs 6oz prince was born at 4.24pm Greenwich Time Monday after Kate went into hospital this morning in the early stages of labour. Now the curiosity turns to a name for this future king of England (and Canada) and the betting seems to on George. That would name the baby after several of his forbears, the most recent being great-great grandfather George VI, father of the current Queen. The announcement of a royal name is often a process of a few days. Charles Kidd, editor of Debrett’s Peerage and Baronetage, predicts William and Kate will select a conventional first name for their son. ‘I do think that Prince William is quite a traditionalist — that’s my feeling,’ Mr Kidd said. ‘The fact that he chose to use the royal dukedom (of Cambridge) and has followed royal precedent, I wouldn’t be surprised if they use a name that is already familiar in the royal family – something that has royal associations.’ He suggested that George – a favourite at the bookmakers – could be their name of choice.
Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to future king
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Telegraph L:ondon Live video and live blog. Instagram picture of the birth notice being posted. Comnwbr from Christine Hill, Kate’s pre-natal guru, here
Permits issued for five town homes on Millwood
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Further to the weekend post regarding Towns of Castleton homes at Millwood and Rumsey Rds., the units are still on track apparently. And now we know how many. Building permits were issued this month for five town homes on this property. The number for “Danielle”, the name which is the only remaining identification on the site, has a phone that does not answer.