Heather Bambrick sings at Northlea United

Moore Ave self-checkout challenge

32 Rumsey

Is it autumn yet?

Meridian’s Porky Pumpkin

Heather Bambrick will sing jazz tunes with an ensemble at North United Church on Sunday, November 18 at 4.30 p.m. Refreshments will be served at 4 p.m. Incorrect information was published earlier. The event is very much worth a visit. Upper right, over at Loblaws at 301 Moore Ave customers are calling it the self-checkout challenge. Mostly it goes smoothly. But sometimes the robot cashier seizes up like your old desk top. From there on, you’re in human hands just like before. Below that is the demolition at 32 Rumsey Road. Lauren Homes is getting in on the Leaside action. Lower left, is it autumn yet? This spectacular maple is on Airdrie Rd. Finally, Meridian Credit Union on Mt. Pleasant is into the BIA Halloween contest with an entry that looks a lot like Porky Pumpkin.

Laird Wicksteed Exchange

Building has a pointed shape with east end supported by pillars at first level

Colliers International is planning to build a nearly 77,000 square foot office and commercial complex at 154 Wicksteed Ave. at the northeast corner of Clark St where Wicksteed jogs south on its way to Beth Nealson Drive. The company has organized a preview of the planned development at Amsterdam Barrel House at 87 Laird Drive on Thursday, November 15, from 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. In a release Tuesday, Colliers described the six-storey Laird Wicksteed Exchange as a place of “modern and green amenities, outdoor spaces, a ground-level café, sustainable and efficient electrical grids, state-of-the-art soundproofing, and much more.” Looks good.

A man in Simcoe, south of Brantford, was so upset with the barking of his neighbour’s barking dogs that he planted himself on the lawn in the middle of the night and began howling like the canines. OPP were called about 8 a.m. Saturday. The man, 41, went to his neighbor’s home between 2 and 2:30 a.m. where he barked and howled. Cops spoke with all parties to mediate a resolution. Everyone was warned about contravening the Norfolk County noise bylaw.

Former BSS Head Judith Carlisle

In happier times (l-r) Head of School Deryn Lavell, Judith Carlisle and Board of Governors Chair Cindy Tripp ’82

The thorough account in the National Post of events leading to the dismissal of Judith Carlisle, the head of Bishop Srachan School, has produced a growing body of comments. Many express outrage about political correctness and “overly-sensitive parents.”  But there are thoughtful questions posed as well. At issue is the version of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice by the Box Clever Theatre of the UK presented to classes of BSS students as a satire on anti-Jewish sentiment. There are some news accounts suggesting that racial abuse language had been exaggerated in the revised play for heightened effect. One comment asked a fair question. “The original play is pretty anti-Semitic as it is. Why emphasize it?” Such changes were not made by Carlisle herself but should she have known and opted for a more cautious approach? In that spirit another comment reads: “Ok big mistake on her part, but these were not little children! She should have been told to apologize and got a warning. A total over reaction to fire her.” The decision to dismiss may have been carefully considered or done in a moment of anger. Only those present know what passed between the BSS board and Ms Carlisle before it was announced that they had parted ways.

The single-lane conditions at Eglinton Ave. and Brentcliffe Rd. have inspired a series of posts at Leaside Community. One driver urges the use of the “zipper merge” for drivers south and northbound on Brentcliffe as they turn east onto Eglinton. It is not unreasonable in the circumstances but sadly it isn’t what the Highway Traffic Act requires. Right turning drivers have the right of way over left turning drivers. Of course, the authors of the HTA did not conceive of the five-year, once-in-a-lifetime punishment sentence handed down on Toronto called the construction of the Crosstown LRT.

From City News, a TTC Wheel Trans Supervisor’s car is swallowed by a sinkhole that formed on Commissioners Street after a watermain break.

MOORE AVE. DEPRESSION STILL NOT FIXED

The sinking pavement on Moore Ave at the Belt Line crossing just east of Welland Ave remains unrepaired. Local drivers notice it seems to be getting deeper. The Bulldog raised this on October 5. We’re hoping it will be rebuilt before further slippage sends a driver sliding off the road and into Mud Creek.

The Blue Jays introduced Charlie Montoyo Monday. Have a look. Then, that steadfast opponent of sports gambling Gary Bettman has done a 180 by signing a deal with MGM Resorts to launch NHL wagering. He seems to have had little choice after the US Supreme Court legalized state gambling on individual events last May. Then, the Premier is all about being Open For Business. He’s having signs made to hang up on the highways. And finally, the Transportation Safety Board is warning that too many railway workers, and others, are cheating on necessary sleep to do their demanding jobs.

Stompin Tom Connors Jr

Vanuatu farm worker

One of the Gibson twins

Call this the music edition of Faces in the news. At left is the son of Stompin Tom Connors, enormously proud of course as his dad’s joyful salute to hockey is ushered into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at Scotiabank Arena. Connors Jr. was an infant when The Good Old Hockey Game was written. Now it is an anthem to our way of life. At centre, joyous music of another kind as a band of migrant workers sings in the fields of southern Australia after they have finished a day’s work. They are from the tiny democratic island land of Vanuatu formerly New Hebrides. If you feel the need to write angry comments about race, poverty and/or migrants, save it for the YouTube comments, okay? At right, is (either) Jennifer or Alexandra Gibson  They’re Calgary identical twins dancing with the Alberta Ballet Company and preparing for a holiday presentation of Sleeping Beauty. Here’s to you ladies.

A man of 80 is dead after a fire broke out at the Toronto Community Housing building at Finch Ave. and Yonge St. early Monday. Emergency crews were called to the scene around 2:30 a.m.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she is ready to hand over the leadership of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) later this year, according to multiple media reports. It seem to heerald the end of the road for Merkels 20 years leadership in German politics. She has been chancelor since 2005.