South Bayview Bulldog Admin

80-year-old Teddington Park mansion fetches neat $17.5M

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174 Teddington Park

When they say this one is your dream home, it’s because you can only dream about owning it. And truthfully many people would probably pass on the chance to live in the 80-year-old stone mansion at 174 Teddington Park Avenue. But as you may have seen it’s been sold recently for $17.5 million to a European plutocrat who feels Toronto’s real estate market is stable. Absolutely, and we appreciate your help Sir in adding to that firmness. It’s worth noting, as the linked story reveals, that the sellers of the home severed a 100 by 190 lot from the property and thus earned themselves about $5 million clear on their complete dealing around 174 Teddington Park. So for the meantime, you may have to settle for something more like 60 Donegall which we told you a couple of days ago had sold last week in one day. The listed price was $1,398,000 and whispers have it that the actual sum paid was very close to that.

Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada

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Saturday, February 12, 2011, is Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, and bank employees will be wearing pins to mark the occasion and inviting customers to consider saving plans which help put away money for their kids hockey equipment. At the Scotiabank on Bayview, opposite Belsize, the place is decorated with handsome Hockey Day jerseys (right) shown by Katy. The day is marked by pretty much non-stop hockey on CBC-TV sponsored by the bank. Celebrations will focus on Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, the epicentre of the hockey spirit in Canada as THIS CBC VIDEO at our associated blog, The Planet Guys, shows.

Water main break on Brendan Road

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A broken main has caused severe flooding along Brendan Rd in Bennington Heights Friday. The repair effort, including many pieces of equipment, backed up traffic on Moore Ave (upper left). At one point, eastbound traffic was being re-directed into the westbound lanes. The flooding turned Brendan into a frigid pond, which except for the current of the City’s pumping system, would have been an instant skating rink.

No drinking jokes please, we’re Irish

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Here is what Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York, said at an Irish event last night. “I live in the neighborhood, right around the corner. Normally, when I walk by this building, there are a bunch of people that are totally inebriated hanging out the window. I know that’s a stereotype about the Irish, but nevertheless, we Jews around the corner think this.” As the subsequent news report said, many people in the crowd took it personally. The mayor had to apologize. We guess he hit a nerve.

Nature Unleashed at the Science Centre

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The Ontario Science Centre is launching a Spring exhibit that will shake the ground under your feet. Nature Unleashed explores natural disasters — the kind that happen every day — from earthquakes such as the one in Haiti, to the floods in Australia. The exhibit runs from February 11, 2010 (that’s tomorrow) to May 1, 2011. Visitors will get to build their own volcano, experience what it feels like to be inside a tornado, measure the magnitude of earthquakes by stomping, and trigger underwater earthquakes to create a tsunami.

Cold enough to make the gas freeze

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Talk about a tough job. These Link Line workers are installing natural gas at this renovation on Southvale Dr between Astor and Southlea. And the temperature is 18 below. If they’re still there Friday, It will be 21 below. Don’t take your gloves off guys.

Mayor Ford treated for kidney stones

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Mayor Ford is in hospital this afternoon awaiting treatment for kidney stones. The hospital is unidentified. His spokesperson said Ford is busy with City business in his hospital room and talking to staff and others on the phone. She said the matter was not serious.

Will CTV be “Canada’s fastest network”

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Canadians must be asking themselves today whether the CTV Network is really going to be run by BCE. The lumbering telecom goliath seems bent on a mission to permanently destroy its reputation. To be charitable, its malfeasances and mistakes, are careless to say the least. Now BCE has been caught using a faulty Internet monitoring device that has overcharged customers. Before that it was utterly irregular cold calling which netted a huge fine from the CRTC. Will such unwelcome techniques soon appear on TV? Will CTV’s new slogan be “Canada’s fastest network?” Will Lisa LaFlamme have to make harassing calls? Will local news be out sourced to Mumbai? A whole new media world awaits.

Lower prices for Emma Bridgewater goods

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The continued strength of the Canadian dollar against the British pound has led to a reduction in prices of certain goods made in the United Kingdom. British goods are frequently known for higher prices but they are desirable just the same. The dollar is at 1.607 to the pound and some stores, including Homefront, have reduced prices accordingly. All prices on the well known Emma Bridgewater dishes for example have been reduced by $2 to $5. It is an extensive line made in the traditional china making centre of England, Stoke- on-Trent.

Aldo Settimi on Omni TV

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Aldo Settimi was right at home in front of the microphone today at the Mad Italian. Settimi has a long and distinguished political career in Italy as a member of the Democratic Party, a major centre-left movement. He was President of the Province of Rome and a member of Parliament for two terms from 1994 to 2001. He has held numerous other public positions. Today reporters were seeking his view on the news that Prime Minister Berlusconi may face trial for his meetings with various young women, including a 17-year-old dancer. Berlusconi is leader of the People of Freedom political movement which he founded in 2009. It is generally centre-right.

Drilling down 300 feet on Bessborough

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The recent post on the Geothermal conversion taking place on Bessborough Drive has proven to be one of the most popular in recent days. A return visit found work in full swing. Three holes have been bored 300 feet into the earth. The contractor, Four Seasons Geothermal of Mississauga, says it might have gone down 600 feet if the property had permitted a larger drill. But, three holes at the shallower depth will provide lots of heat in the winter to keep the home warm. The contractor also spoke of cost, and the time required to return one’s investment. At $15 per square foot, it may take ten years. But if the property is heated with electricity at present, the time to return the cost will be more like five or six years. Anyone can do the arithmetic to find an estimated cost of this conversion by multiplying the square footage of his house by 15.

Hodgson Bid and Brew a huge success

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Reader and Hodgson School mom Diana Goldie writes to say that this year’s Bid and Brew event was a huge success. Hodgson parents met at the Granite Brewery on Eglinton East to raise funds for school enrichment. Above we see a spirited auctioneer (aka Grade Eight Home Room Teacher Mark McCain) at work.