We note that Reuters has reported that the annual sales growth at major South Korean department stores in June eased to the slowest pace in four months. It might have been the weather. Things however were much, much slower in North Korea where there are no stores. Period. As a result sales were worse than slow. Non-existent in fact.
Cell donor found for Cathy Anagnostopoulos
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Flashback picture from April, 2011, will recall for readers the really heart-rending case of Cathy Anagnostopoulos, a Leaside mom who needed a stem cell donor to help her battle Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Where to find help? There were thousands in the search and the four young ladies above got out on South Bayview to assist their friend’s mom one Sunday. Now comes word that a matching donor has been found and treatments have begun to try to restore Cathy to good health. She has been interviewed by InsideToronto.com with some interesting thoughts on the news of a match and her ongoing challenge. Here.
City Council kills Jarvis Street bike lanes
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City Council has voted to eliminate the bicycle lanes on Jarvis Street. The lanes were a source of resentment by drivers who lost the centre “turn” lane to accommodate the cyclists. The lane was also used to speed traffic during rush hour. Bike lanes downtown are available on Sherbourne Street. Toronto Sun also a blow by blow at council from the National Post
“53,000 employees are too many”
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Break-in at Canadian Fine Arts
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From Toronto Police Reports: The owner of Canadian Fine Arts, 577 Mount Pleasant Road, reports that between 2215 hours on July 10, 2011 and 0113 hours on July 11, 2011 entry was gained into the premises by forcing a door. Removed was a quantity of paintings. Here is the Toronto Sun story on the local heist of these valuable paintings.
19 Bessborough sold last year for $895,000
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Neighbors and many others will be interested to know that the knocked down home at 19 Bessborough (see post below) sold in 2010 for $895,000. It’s an indication again of the value of the lots around South Bayview.
Couche Tard says you’re penny pinching
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Couche Tard (the Night Owl) is that enterprising corner store chain based in Quebec which seems to operate just about everywhere. Most notably for those in South Bayview-land, you patronize Couche Tard when you dash into the On the Run store in the Esso Self Serve at Mount Pleasant and Millwood. Yesterday Couche Tard released it results and predicted gloomily that Canadians are becoming penny-pinchers when they shop.
British PM pledges to “punish the culprits”
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An unusual scene but factual as the UK government backs an Opposition motion to tell Rupert Murdoch he can”t have full ownership of a satellite channel. The phone hacking scandal at the Murdoch paper News of the World continues to reverberate in Britain .
They’re making the TTC super cool
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Our story of yesterday about the Nextbus.com GPS tracking of TTC vehicles will have been old news for some. And yet this newly adapted technology has caught many tech-savvy people both young and old by surprise. Even with 25-year-olds, it’s made the TTC cool. Nextbus doesn’t do a thing that’s really new but its functionality is so useful. Our friends quickly checked to see if there was a Nextbus app. There was — already on their iPhones. When activated it located the phone and automatically downloaded relevant stops and bus times. So, the lady above would be outside the Sunnybrook Plaza on Eglinton at Bayview. The picture on her phone tells her that the westbound Eglinton East bus is Due. It’s sitting there with doors open.
Joe Fresh will open in Maple Leaf Gardens
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Loblaws will open four more stand-alone Joe Fresh stores, one of which will be in the renovated Maple Leaf Gardens at 60 Carleton Street. The Gardens are at present being entirely re-made to house a Loblaws market, with two upper levels assigned to a skating/hockey rink and recreational space for Ryerson University. It will no doubt be a source of great excitement and pride to Joe Fresh creator Joe Mimran that his store will be located in this historic space. Two other Toronto area stores will open in the Golden Mile, Scarborough, and on the Queensway in Etobicoke. One new Joe Fresh will open in Montreal.
Alicia of the Second Cup going to college
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A busy personality on the street, Alicia of the Second Cup, is on her way to Montreal to go to school. August 7, 2011, will mark Ally’s last day on South Bayview, at least for a while. She will attend classes at LaSalle College in Fashion Marketing and will take a minor in Psychology. Good luck Ally. That will leave Matt in the mornings with a new helper. Ally has been the Second Cup Opener which means she arrives in the middle of the night.
Tree trimming at 377 Manor Road
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The Maple tree outside 377 Manor Road was getting a trim Tuesday by Weller Tree Service of Keswick. Mighty hot work for the three person crew. Young lady at lower left is a summer student from Brock University in physical education. She was up to the job. Owner of the little bungalow (lower right) is getting value for his taxes this year as the work was contracted by the City of Toronto.