Shoppers and merchants on South Bayview were serenaded by sirens about 3.30 p.m. Monday as fire department units responded to a rubbish fire on Donegall Drive between between Fleming Crescent and Parkhurst Blvd. It is now out and all is well.
Sparkling night for Uptown-Yonge tree lighting
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The evening of Friday, November 28, 2014 sparkled as the Uptown-Yonge BIA lit its Christmas tree in St. Clements-Yonge Parkette. At lower right, Ward 25 Councillor Jaye Robinson is seen with Daly McCarten, BIA Co-ordinator
Union reports ‘chaos’ with new welfare software
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How others live: In case you had forgotten
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| File |
It’s what happens to you if you are a woman and you try to enter Saudi Arabia at the wheel of car. It is, after all, the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving. Until six hours ago, Loujain Hathloul had been tweeting from the border point with Saudi Arabia’s next door neighbor, but now there is silence. Loujain, who is Saudi, said she had been held there a day. Activists said she was arrested on Monday afternoon, but the interior ministry did not immediately comment on her case. “They don’t want her to come because she is a woman driver,” one activist told AFP, asking to remain anonymous. “The customs (department) have no right to prevent me from entering even if in their opinion I am ‘a violator’ because I am Saudi,” Hathloul had tweeted on Monday morning.
Wars of Don Valley West well buried Monday
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| Premier and mayor meet |
Old opponents from the Wars of Don Valley West met in a cordial public-interest meeting at Queen’s Park Monday morning (December 1, 2014). Kathleen Wynne and John Tory battled for the seat in the 2007 provincial election. Tory lost. Today they met privately and then came before the media to speak of their plans to work together in the interests of the City. There wasn’t a lot to learn but it was nice. The most tangible evidence of action may have been with Smart Track, the mayor’s plan to electrify and integrate the rail systems into the TTC. The premier seemed to suggest that planing with her government is underway. Let’s hope so. Mr Tory has appointed Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34) deputy mayor. The new mayor has also named some deputy mayors for areas of the city. although their roles are not quite clear. These appointments are subject to a council vote. They are Vince Crisanti (Ward 1) west, Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 43) east and Pam McConnell (Ward 28) south. Importantly, Josh Colle (Ward 15) is the chair of the TTC, charged with making Smart Track happen. Gary Crawford (Ward 36) will be budget chief. Lots of griping however
Philos raises $1,080 in Movember campaign
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| Photis Philos |
South Bayview merchant Photis Philos is among local men who successfully helped raise money for the Movember Foundation in aid of research into prostate cancer. The pledges were made for the growth of a mustache. “Photi” is the owner of Bell’s Jewellers and is a prostate cancer survivor. He writes on the Movember website that he rasied $1,080 and he will never stop fighting. A picture of this year’s mustache reveals a very good-looking and well-trimmed example of the time-honoured men’s facial dress. Photi is in process of liquidating his business at Bell’s Jewellers after 34 years on Bayview Ave. The Movember Foundation work to stop testicular cancer and mental health issues in men. It has funded over 800 programs in 21 countries that are saving and improving the lives of men affected by these health issues. Every year Canadian Mo Bros take action by changing their appearance by growing a moustache for the 30 days of Movember, to spark conversation and raise funds. Mo Sistas commit to supporting the men in their lives while helping to promote men’s health. Find out more Bell Jewellers to close in 2015 Thanks Photi. Here’s wishing a most interesting and happy future as you move beyond running a business here in South Bayview.
Reports Canadian woman captured by ISIS
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Drivers bottled up inside Thorncliffe by paving
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Thousands of motorists were bottled up inside Thorncliffe Park Drive Sunday (November 30, 2014) by repaving on Overlea Boulevard. Northbound and southbound Overlea traffic was forced to share the west lanes, one lane each way. Delays were significant during the busy afternoon activities. The contractor, who was identified by workmen as Tito Paving, decided to completely block off the north exit of Thorncliffe Park Drive at Overlea (top inset). Cars trying to get out were forced to enter the East York Town Centre, which had all exits to Overlea southbound blocked. They had to travel through the mall and try their luck at the south exit. As residents know, there are no secondary exits from the long crescent-shaped Thorncliffe Park Drive. Normally one can get out at the south or the north end. The intersection at the south end was chaotic as traffic streamed out of the town centre onto Thorncliffe. Anyone else trying to leave was backed up almost to the Thorncliffe Park Public Library. Most people could not understand why Thorncliffe Park was blocked at the north end. Be warned. Work continues.
Stampeders heavy favourites to beat Tiger Cats
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End forced marriage of girls PM urges meeting
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Stephen Harper has called for an absolute end to the practice of forced marriage for girls as it is carried out in many parts of Africa. Speaking in Dakar, Senegal at the Summit of La Francophonie, the prime minister also urged delegates to get behind Canada’s resolution to promote maternal immunization. He was also present to celebrate the appointment of former governor general Michelle Jean to the post of secretory-general of La Francophonie. CANOE
NOW finds City Council just unbelievably white
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Free on Bayview Ave. are ad-packed copies of NOW magazine, where this month the editors can hardly believe that City Council is so wretchedly white. Here we’ve just had an election which seemed open and now this. Did something go wrong? Is it your fault? We suspect that the ideal answer would be that it is indeed your fault whatever your colour. An equally perplexing question is why the skin ads in the fetid pages of NOW’s Adult Classified are so white. What’s going on? Could it be that nobody cares?
Cops sound alert over deadly heroin on sale
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Toronto Police are warning anyone who might use it that a quantity of street-level heroin being sold is deadly. In the past 24 hours, police officers have been called to a number of heroin overdoses, one of which was fatal. It appears that the common link is a deadly form of heroin that is being sold. If heroin-users encounter serious physical illness, they are advised to attend a hospital emergency room or a walk-in clinic immediately for treatment. For a referral to a substance-abuse treatment facility, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health can be reached at 1-800-463-2338.