In a last final goodbye for the summer, City Council has voted to increase hourly rates for street parking. The vote was lope-sided to do it (25-7) and Mayor Ford said that although he regretted it the increase seemed fair after five years with no increases. Toronto Sun
Ginkgo tree home a Moore Park showplace
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The splendid Moore Park renovation we have called the Ginkgo House is nearing completion. Today there were no fewer than ten men working at different tasks. The two mature Ginkgo trees (left) will now be surrounded by grass and shrubs as the homeowner opts to take the walkway up to his front door beside the new driveway. The carefully detailed work has been going on for a year. Among other things, the magnificent window lintels were reproduced in new synthetic materials because the old concrete ones were not able to withstand the renovation The Ginkgo trees incidentally are about 25 or 30 years ago. according to an arborologist on the scene. As many will know, the Ginkgo does well if it can survive Canada’s harsh winters. It is an ancient species native to China.
No more left turns at Lea Avenue
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There will be no more left turns from Lea Avenue onto Laird Drive. All this development comes with a price. The city has built a concrete median planter along Laird at this point because there is a main entrance to the new Leaside Village opposite Lea.. Northbound traffic will be able to right turn into LV and right turn going out (also to the north). For those wishing to turn left into Lea either to go home or visit OldeYorke Fish and Chips, forget it. And you can also forget turning out of Lea to the north. A case of no pain, no gain perhaps. Markham Ave (Gyro Mazda) is still a left turn intersection at Laird.
Loblaws robo-call message to boost tax free day
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| At Moore and Bayview |
Local Loblaws have posted signs announcing their Customer Appreciation Sale Saturday July 14, 2012, when the whole group of Loblaws related stores will offer an HST holiday, Many things do not attract HST but for all the rest, plus heavy items like barbecues, the deal applies. There’s a footnote that there are other rules. The Appreciation Day is being held at Loblaws and Valu-mart, as well as Zehrs and other stores. Loblaws has also unleashed some robo-calls in connection with this sale. The calls are going to those who carry the President’s Choice Mastercard. Hope they don’t do that too often. Are grocery stores exempt from the Do Not Call list? Maybe robo-calls aren’t considered a call. Anyway, keep in mind that tax free really means that Loblaws has reduced their prices and both you and Loblaws still have to pay the tax on the reduced price items, whatever that works out to.
Melted polymer money? Some claim so
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It seems improbable but a woman from Cambridge claims that new Canadian polymer bills melted when they were left in a metal container beside a baseboard heater in her home. Mona Billard insists that her son simply left the tin box more or less where he leaves his toys. Next day they came out as shown in her photos (inset). Put that together with an even more improbable story from a teller in a credit union in Kelowna that she has seen polymer bills that have been melted by the sun. The central bank says no way but read the story see what you think. And please don’t try melting money at home. National Post
Photo display marks Stones 50th year
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Back in 1962, Mick Jagger is said to have cracked that the Rolling Stones would have a life span of maybe two years. Now, 50 years later, the venerable and tough old rockers are still playing together. And they are still phenomenally popular. To celebrate, a free display of photos at the Somerset House in London will open tomorrow (Friday, July 14, 2012). The retrospective photo exhibit (and accompanying book) charts the R&B, blues and soul-inspired rock band’s five decades in music, from the group’s first official photo shoot to myriad performances at tiny venues to recent massive arena tours.
Single lane on Mt. Pleasant below Garfield Ave
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There is a one week slowdown of traffic on Mount Pleasant Road due to “utility work” It began yesterday and runs until Thursday, July 19, 2012 from Garfield Avenue to Carstowe Road. The northbound lane is closed from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; the southbound closed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for utility work from July 12 to 19.
New fire chief is J.W. (Jim) Sales
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J.W. (Jim) Sales has been appointed Toronto’s new Fire Chief in a City Council vote today. Mr. Sales has extensive fire department experience but comes to Toronto from the City of Barrie’s Department of Community Operations. Chief Sales has successfully led the fire departments in both Markham and Edmonton. He has 27 years experience and has served as the general manager of Community Operations for the City of Barrie since 2008. Chief Sales began his career as a firefighter and EMS responder.Lawn Summer Nights draw young bowlers
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It’s kind of a standing joke about lawn bowling and the older set. So everyone at the Leaside Lawn Bowling Club is pleased to see the turnout of younger bowlers for the fundraising nights for Cystic Fibrosis research. The story is here written by Laura Booth in InsideToronto.com with a nice picture of one youthful team by Nick Perry. InsideToronto.com
Police release “Is this a butt dial?” PSA
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One of a number of amusing public service messages released by the Toronto Police to encourage people to turn off their phones before they go into the pocket or purse. The idea is to avoid so-called “butt dials” which waste the time and resources of 911 operators. Toronto Police Service
List of Target stores to open in 2013
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Target Stores has released the list of stores that will open in Canada in 2013. There will be 125 Target locations in business by the middle of next year. As we have posted frequently, one of these will be at the now-closed Zeller’s store in the East York Town Centre. Another will be within an easy drive in Shoppers World Danforth at Danforth and Victoria Park Ave. Target openings in 2013
