General Motors says it is asking the US government for permission to sell a fully autonomous car. That means a car with no steering wheel, brake or accelerator pedal. It wants to do this by 2019, the company says in an application to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The new vehicle is called the Cruise AV. It is a rebranded version of GM’s Chevrolet Bolt EV and among other efficiencies will open doors for those who  are unable to do that for themselves. The Cruise will be among the first cars to do away with manual controls for steering, brakes and throttle. The former driver’s seat will become the front left passenger seat.

Robert Lowrey 1945-2017

Eglinton and Brencliffe

Leaside native Robert Lowrey died on Christmas Day. Mr. Lowrey is survived by his wife Kim of 35 years, by his daughter Katie, sister Sylvia Christensen and other family. His business, Robert Lowrey Piano Experts, located at Eglinton Ave. E. and Brentcliffe Drive, is a community landmark. His obituary is published in the Toronto Star and reads in part: “Rob’s keen interest in all things allowed him to speak with anyone regarding any topic, whether it was sports, politics, literature, history, music or the arts. He had an extensive knowledge of all these subjects but at the same time he was humble and had a way with people, which put them at ease. He was extremely thoughtful, sensitive, articulate and witty and took joy teasing those with whom he was closest. He loved his dogs, whom he walked or cross-country skied with every morning and could not sleep at night until he knew the birdfeeders were filled for the morning birds.”

Save the Regent (Belsize)

Franke Drake in Leaside

Leaside United Church Trivia

St. Cuthbert’s Potluck Dinner

“Return” scam on Danforth

Creeds needs a barista

Left, Josh Matlow (Ward 22) will hold a meeting January 22 at Greenwood College School to discuss how to save the Regent Theatre now that its owners have put it up for sale. Reputed price is $9 million. The place was built in 1927 as the Belsize Theatre. That’s why there is a great carved stone “B” on its front wall. Any plan to honour its heritage should surely see it take back the orignal name. At upper right, late-Steampunk drama is all the rage and the Frankie Drake Mysteries sees Leaside as fertile ground. The CBC series has produced an episode in which “Frankie and Trudy visit Leaside airfield.” Welcome to Thorncliffe Park ladies. Below that, a reminder of the Leaside United Church Trivia night set for January 20. Lower left, don’t forget the St. Cuthbert’s Potluck Dinner, also January 20. Bottom centre, Susan Puff of the Danforth BIA tells of an old post-Christmas scam that has hit stores there. Someone is trying to “return” shoplifted items purchased for a sister, mom, aunt etc. It has been seen on Bayview Ave too. Finally, Creeds as yet unopened shop at 1595 Bayview is looking for a barista.

Tim Beseker leaves home

Sure he does

Security cam caught it all

Tim Besecker of Ashburn, Virginia is a star after security video at his home caught him navigating  (if that’s the word) down his icy driveway. He is now known as driveway guy. His wife was amused enough to post it to YouTube. Then, the Wall Street Journal says that a porn star was paid $130,000 to keep quiet about a sex encounter with Donald Trump. He is not accused of harassing her, just to be clear. All very sordid but the president’s lawyer says Trump denies it all. Below that, lots of people use Facebook but do they care about how Mark Zuckerberg is going to make it better? Maybe. And lastly, a $1000 kitchen gadget that allows you to pour wine without removing the cork.

Diamond Corp. wants to build 26 Storey tower on Yonge

Unknown opponents posting this

As reported by the Summerhill neighborhood blog Yonge and Roxborough News, unknown parties have launched a poster campaign to stop the construction of a 26-storey condominium on Yonge St south of the venerable North Toronto station (now LCBO). It is called a threat to the view of the “Summerhill Clock” which has adorned the street since the station was constructed in 1916. The opponents, whoever they are, have a fanciful turn of mind, having created posters in the likeness of the The Valley Hill Telegraph, a fictional newspaper featured in the movie-series Back To The Future.

Toronto Police will hold meetings across the City in the New Year to receive input on what is called “TPS organizational culture”  A mid-February session will take place in Flemingdon Park at a location to be confirmed. The date set is February 15, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Public invited to provide input on TPS organizational culture

King St. merchants came out of a meeting with Mayor Tory Friday apparently optimistic that they can get the “street rules” lifted from their businesses after 7 p.m. It all seems to obvious. Ban cars, kill business. Think of South Bayview without cars. Uh-huh. Then, Donald Trump says he has cancelled his official trip to London to open the new US embassy there. It seems certain he would be besieged by demonstrations. Below, be happy as a craftsman of the old school continues to carve carousel horses. This is lovely. And finally, let’s go to arctic Murmansk, where many Canadian sailors laboured and died in WWII to save Russia from the Nazis. These days residents are celebrating the return of the sun after 40 days of darkness.

Gresham Rd. between Belsize Dr. and Manor Rd.

Looks like it might be a good week before we see anything like the temperatures of the past couple of days. For now, we’re heading deep into the freezer with lows of minus 10C overnight and similar bone-chilling conditions. Friday afternoon also brought a thick dusting of snow. Did you notice?

Kubota salter

Sinkhole at Moore and Pottery

News from Michael Garron Hospital

Welcome East Tork

Manor Road United

Sienna the braided bow-wow

Ice pellets were rattling off the curious-looking Kubota thingamajig used by salters at Bayview Ave. and Belsize Drive Friday as temperatures plunged to a predicted daytime high of minus 9C. Kubotas are made in Osaka where it’s sunny and 7C today. To the right, mayhem at the corner of Moore Ave. and Pottery Rd. as shoppers trying to enter Loblaws and/or the TD Plaza at 325 Moore had to manoeuvre around equipment dealing with a sinkhole Friday morning. Drivers pounding off the extension were forced to slow down abruptly. South Leaside knows about the scary state of mind of such motorists eager to speed east on Southvale. Below that, Michael Garron Hospital has announced that EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare will oversee construction of its new patient care tower. Across the bottom, East York Open House is Sunday, January 14. At the centre is a reminder from Rev. Debra Schneider of Manor Road United Church about an opportunity for kids to sing in the Community Children’s Choir. And lastly, meet Sienna the braided bow-bow seen looking good outside Starbucks on Bayview.

The Leaside Junior Wildcats have come back from the holidays to win one and lose one. The Cats sit fifth in the 20-team Provincial Women’s Hockey League. By the curious whimsy of hockey they defeated number two-ranked Oakville Hornets 1-0 on January 6 but fell Thursday night to the 15th placed Brampton Canadettes 2-1. Saturday the Wildcats meet Stoney Creek in Hamilton and January 20 they host the Barrie Sharks at Leaside Arena. It will be the first match with Barrie since that team suffered the tragic loss of Captain Avery Andrew in a car accident New Year’s Day.

Bayview extension

Ritual flooding

Blocked at Bloor

Don Valley Parkway

The ritual flooding of lower Bayview Ave. occurred Thursday night as warm weather sent water over the banks of the Don River. Water also covered part of the DVP and the GO Richmond Hill line tracks. The water receded in time for service to begin Friday. The flooding began at around midnight accelerated by a backup of ice at the foot of the on River. Northbound DVP was closed from the Gardiner Expressway to Dundas Street; however those lanes reopened at around 5:30 a.m. The southbound lanes were closed at Bloor Street but that closure was lifted at around 6 a.m. Bayview was closed at Bloor through the night.

Back to normal Friday morning