Stores were busy along South Bayview main streets Thursday evening as New Year’s Eve loomed. Last minute provisions for a home celebrations saw lineups at food, beer and liquor stores.  This video shows the back up on Laird Drive at Esandar Drive as shoppers tried to get into Leaside Village. Lot’s of fun. Listen to a driver honk in frustration.

NOTED ON BAYVIEW

It was noted that the store at 1592 which housed Tori and Cates Cupcakes and has been vacant for more than a year was without the for lease sign. But it appears that the location remains for lease The monthly rent is stated as $3,500.

A proposal to convert the land of the Add Ink firm at 36 Overlea Blvd to commercial and retail use will be discussed at a public meeting to held by the City on Wednesday, January 16, 2016. It will be in the William Lea Room at Leaside Arena at 7 p.m. The application proposes to amend the zoning by-law to permit three retail and commercial buildings totalling 6,495 square metres at 36 Overlea Boulevard. One 5,584 square metre building is proposed at the rear of the site, and buildings of 467 square metres and 456 square metres are proposed along the Overlea Boulevard frontage.

This poll by Forum Research would ask City Council to eliminate half of their number. Not too likely  There are 44 Councillors now and it is a lot but maybe not too many. Fewer members of Council would save money and maybe make things more efficient. But others say it would it easier for lobbyists to manipulate Council. As to term limits, might as well talk to the wall. Career politicians will not vote for such a thing. Remember the stunning reversal of the current City Council’s view of ranked voting. It was a promise they would enact it. But then they decided nope. CP24

Conditions will be just mild enough Wednesday to ensure continuing sloppy driving. The video below was shot by @CityAlfredo. It is correctly identified by locals like Rudy Limeback @rudydotca as the Bayview extension north towards Bayview and Moore  Ave..

Beware clogged catch basins today! @CityAlfredo @CityNews pic.twitter.com/Nll4vB6qJU

— Pam Seatle (@CityPamS) December 29, 2015

CTV tells the story of free online ads that apparently offer an opporunity to list an address for rent, get money for it and vanish. The prospective tenant finds out he’s been taken when he tries to move in. In the case of Jeni Descartes it didn’t play out to the end because her husband saw the phony ad on Kijiji and asked his wife what was going on  She was stunned by the ad too. The Descartes, of Winnipeg, are encouraging other homeowners to check Kijiji and other rental sites to ensure their homes are not listed for rent.

CBC

Bill and Kelly Elgie are deeply distressed that someone, probably more than one person, would steal the two nutcracker guards from their front porch. Bill made them out of household lightweight tubing materials. But they are not without weight and quite bulky. He made them just five foot, flour inches tall, the same height as Kelly. Now they’re gone, swiped off the family’s porch in London, Ontario. And it seems to be a true case of larceny, not juvenile vandalism. The figures were painted in bright green and red uniforms. They were taken from the front door of the Elgie’s country home on Cobble Hill Road sometime between Sunday night and the early hours Monday. Full CBC Report