The owner of the downtown Little Havana Coffee trailer, Monica Mustelier, has told the CBC that an unnamed US bank is holding $14,000 of her receipts processed through Square Canada because her coffee beans come from Cuba. Then, residents are applauding the opening of the new pedestrian link known as the Garrison Bridge. It stretches over rail lines in the west end linking Trinity Bellwoods Park and the parkland of Fort York. Below that, there has been disastrous flooding on the Isle of Man and elsewhere in northwestern England. Lastly, an enormous reaffirmation of that old rascal Mao Tse Tung at China’s 70th birthday party. President for Life Xi Jinping even dressed up in a 1950s Mao suit.

There’s much buzz Tuesday about the real estate wisdom of the Union Bank of Switzerland’s (UBS) worldwide real estate bubble news release. Take it for what it’s worth. Toronto and Vancouver are said to be among the most overvalued housing markets in the world. Munich and Toronto rank numbers one and two in the figuring of the UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index, which analyzed residential property prices in 24 major cities. UBS

Calgary saw 27 to 31 cm of snow over the weekend, an unwelcome early fall surprise that snarled roads and stunned vacationers. Here in Toronto, it is going to be hot (below) and how.

The Fred Gardiner Expressway’s westbound Sherbourne/Jarvis off-ramp will be closed until next spring starting this Friday night (October 4) at 11:59 p.m. The City of Toronto will begin major construction to replace the ramp as the next phase of work to rehabilitate the 1950s workhorse of a roadway between Jarvis and Cherry Streets. The westbound Gardiner Expressway will be reduced to two lanes from the Don Valley Parkway to just west of the Sherbourne/Jarvis off-ramp from 10 p.m. on Friday, October 4 to 5 a.m. on October 5 to facilitate workers safety setting up the work zone. More

High-rise fire Monday on Don Mills Rd./Toronto.com Twitter

Two City News videos recount a high-rise balcony fire on Don Mills Rd. Monday about noon. Social media speculation suggests cooking out there. One person went to the hospital but will survive. But the apartment is going to stink for months. In Oshawa, an elderly man is recovering after his car flew through the air and struck the second floor of a brick home.

l-r SLMG president Andrea Bee, Graham Linton, Interor Care, Fiona Boylan, COBs Bread and Andy Elder, Grilltime on Laird Drive

The South Leaside Monday Group met in a regular gathering September 30 at the Trace Manes Park field house to socialize and as usual, hear speakers of interest to members. This time three well-known business people addressed members on the two-way relationship between local businesses and the community. Fiona Boylan of COBs Bread, Leonard Linton of Leaside’s Interior Care and Andy Elder of Grilltime meat shop on Laird Dr. are all well-known for giving back to the Midtown community that supports them. As many will know, Fiona Boylan’s three COBs stores donate to school and community fundraising. Her Bayview Ave. shop shared receipts to help raise money for the Maurice Cody artificial playground.

Family business

Graham Linton is a Leaside resident who remembers his dad, Leonard Linton, establishing their home and rug cleaning business in 1979 on Wicksteed Ave. The family business is now run by he and his brothers, Randall and Fraser. Now Graham is a keen supporter of the New Circles clothing charity. Andy Elder of Grilltime is among Leaside’s best-known business persons and much of this results from his tireless and generous approach to giving back. His specialty retail meat and catering business at 62 Laird (at Kenrae) is in its eleventh year. Grilltime will host lunch at the Holland Bloorview Kids Hospital Leaside Block Party on Saturday, October 5 at Trace Manes Park.

SLMG founded in 1972

The South Leaside Monday Group is now 47 years old. It was founded in 1972 to fulfill the social and information needs of mothers with young children. President Andrea Bee says the organization has 110 members

Closing all stores remain online

Teen fashion chain Forever 21 will close all 44 of its Canadian stores and up to 178 locations in the United States while restructuring its global business under bankruptcy protection. The Los Angeles-based company announced Sunday that it had filed for protection under US and Canadian laws and confirmed Monday that it plans an “orderly wind-down” of the entire Canadian business. “Forever 21 has made the difficult decision to discontinue further financial and operational support for Forever 21 Canada as we reposition the brand and global business to adapt to the current retail environment,” it said in a statement. Current retail environment sounds like “buy it online.”

Offering a warm welcome to new MRI are (l-r) Dr. Tom Chau, vice president, research, Holland Bloorview, and director, Bloorview Research Institute; Dr. Tomáš Paus, distinguished senior scientist, Holland Bloorview; Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, child neurologist and senior clinician scientist, Holland Bloorview; Gabriel, Holland Bloorview client; Rob Oliphant, MP, Don Valley West; Julia Hanigsberg, president and CEO, Holland Bloorview.

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) happily received delivery of its specialized magnetic resonance imaging machine (MRI) Saturday. It will be housed in a soon-to-be-built world-class MRI suite at the hospital. The MRI suite will be the first in Canada to be immersive, customizable, child-friendly and fully accessible. It will include assessment and waiting areas designed to put children and families at ease with a customizable immersive environment. It will also feature child-selectable lighting, images, and projections to create a unique experience for each individual undergoing a scan. The MRI suite is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019.

Two men have been caught riding on the outside of a GO train on the Lake West line on Saturday. They were apprehended at Long Branch station and may be charged. This weak-minded practice is known as train surfing. The Metrolinx statement does not indicate if the men were on the roof like the 2018 thrill seeker seen below or attached somehow to the side or rear of the train. In 2017, a teen was caught lolling on the top of a speeding Yonge subway.

Came across this dangerous, stupid and not to mention illegal stunt. I don’t know what this person was thinking but nothing can justify this. @GOtransit Safety Officers are investigating and take this very seriously. Don’t be like this guy, don’t ever try this. #Toronto #transit pic.twitter.com/4OXQxFhXX2

— Nitish Bissonauth (@NBissonauth) September 10, 2018

The first week of October 2019 is forecast to be warmer than seasonal with lots of rain. Tuesday is predicted to see a surprising 28º Centigrade. Weather Network

Police are seen in a punishing crackdown of Hong Kong democracy demonstrators Sunday. This as the summer-long battle for western-style multi-party government has inspired plans for demonstrations in as many as 60 cities around the world for next Tuesday. That’s the 70th anniversary of the creation of the People’s Republic of China.

• In Hong Kong, protesters employ Nazi imagery as demonstrations erupt again
• Hong Kong protesters, police clash as cities worldwide prepare for rallies ahead of China’s National Day
• Newt Gingrich: Hong Kong freedom fighters need and deserve US support