Taking no chances, Canadian Tire has recalled 33 styles of Holiday Collection brand Christmas lights after a single report from a consumer who received a minor electric shock from the coloured lights. Better safe, as they say.
Lines, lines as Bayview basks in Christmas Eve sunshine
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Here are scenes from outside COBs and Cumbraes where traditional Christmas Eve lineups appeared Thursday morning. Seldom do shoppers stand in such lovely weather for their bread, cakes and turkeys. Other places seemed busy too. The nearly daily mid-morning lineup outside Bagel House was longer than usual today.
GRILLTIME SPOTTING
Over at Andy Elder’s meat store at 62 Laird Dr. things were busy and Linda DeBono with daughter Claire were spotted picking up the festive turkey. They are mom and sister to Sarah, of Sarah’s Food Drive. Merry Christmas all.
One victim of double-fatal inferno is Timothy Boissiere
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Timothy Boissiere, 23 and a friend were on their way to play hockey Tuesday night when their SUV became involved in that flaming rear-end chain reaction on the QEW at Oakville involving two trucks and a car. The SUV was pushed under a flatbed truck, police said. Mr Boissiere has been identified by CP24
Sleeping raccoon stalls cops from towing car blocking Yonge
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Toronto Police Operations (TPS Ops) tweets that a car is blocking a southbound lane at Yonge Street at Hollywood Ave north of Sheppard Ave. But there is a further problem. “Can’t move car as there is a racoon sleeping under the car” is the worried post. Is this for the safety of the tow truck driver or the raccoon?
Kangaroo Care proves a potent therapy for preemies
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Many South Bayview businesses closing early Thursday
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Business was brisk at Alex Farm Cheese on Bayview Wednesday
Stores seemed busy along Bayview Ave. Wednesday, the day before Christmas Eve. Many businesses have posted holiday hours which will see them close early Thursday. Restaurants like Vero Trattoria and LIT coffee and stores like Write Impressions will close at 3 p.m. Thursday. But there is still time to shop tomorrow. McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon is staging brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.on Boxing Day.
City of Toronto issues alert to residents on rabid raccoons
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The City of Toronto is reminding residents to keep a safe distance from raccoons after the discovery of ten cases of rabies in raccoons in Hamilton. These are the first cases of raccoon rabies since 2005 and they may signal a broader infection across the province. So far, Toronto has been free of reported cases but the raccoon population is very large and there could well be rabid raccoons as yet unknown. Residents are asked to avoid feeding or touching raccoons, ensure that pets have up-to-date vaccinations and keep pets on a leash. The City is also asking owners to make sure pets are attended when outside. This will seem like a difficult challenge for cat and dog owners. It also notes that the raccoon population in Ontario is experiencing elevated incidents of Distemper, a virus that can symptomatically mimic rabies. Distemper is not transmissible to humans. Toronto Animal Services will pick up sick or injured wildlife. If residents see animals that are in distress, they should contact 311.
Got a snow cleaning nuisance? There’s an app for that
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Published Wednesday, December 23, 2015 by Yonge and Roxborough News. Fact is, there may be snow this winter.
At least three separate businesses are launching apps this season that will let homeowners summon snowplow operators to clear their driveway. Similar to Uber, the apps will connect smartphone users with the nearest available operator and handle payments automatically, with the respective startup taking a cut off the top, the Globe and Mail’s Peter Nowak reports. SnowMowr will launch on Jan. 6 in six Ontario cities: Ottawa, London, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Sudbury and Hamilton. The three co-founders have worked in sales and telecommunications and have been working on the app for a year, with the past six months spent signing up operators. Clearing a driveway will cost $35 to $75, depending on its size, with SnowMowr taking an unspecified percentage of the transaction. SnowMowr will be competing against at least two other startups: Ottawa-based easyplow and Toronto-based Eden App. Link to the story
These fun guys prefer to dance in the snow rather than clear it
Fashion Icon or just stylish, PM’s wife catches public eye
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QEW expected to re-open by 3 p.m. after double fatal accident
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The CBC is quoting the OPP as saying that the QEW may open by 3 p.m. Wednesday (December 23 2015).
STAR LOVES ‘EM: Wiseys Pies ultimate media triumph
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Well, if the good folks at Wiseys Pies and Bakehouse can get over being told their savory pies and muffins are like the poutine of New Zealand (oh dear) it’s fine. Actually, the spread by Star writer Michele Henry is a great acknowledgement of just how far this business has come since it was discovered by The South Bayview Bulldog during a walk along Eglinton East near Laird Drive. That story appeared on May 7, 2014. We didn’t even know the names Gary and Karen Wise, much less Anthony Spinley and Jen Orenstein. But it was clear something good was coming. Part of that first story was a wonderful scratchy old recording of a paean to New Zealand pie culture accompanied with video of pie making. See it below. Michele Henry, Toronto Star