Atlantic.com has written a thought-provoking article recognizing the many ways in which Starbucks makes a contribution to the lives of its employees. It wants to be a company with a conscience, as stated in its own PR about this work. But critics say such things as helping UK baristas pay up-front apartment rental fees in London are small change against a fatter pay cheque. Worth reading.
Welcome to sun-drenched South Bayview on February 3
by •
By mid afternoon South Bayview was beautiful
Men in shirt sleeves, joggers in shorts, an open-jacketed stroll with Fido and an inviting opportunity to let the sun shine on your face. That was our favorite high street on a February 3 like no other it has seen. Thanks to a Texas low pressure system we received a funneling of warm air that made this the warmest post groundhog day in history. Forecasters predicted that previous record highs would be shattered when the temperature passed 9 C Wednesday morning. At 2 p.m., the mercury hit 15.5 C at Pearson International Airport. The previous record set at the airport was 9.3 C in 1991.
Video tour of Toronto Maple Leaf symbols through the years
by •
This is a useful reminder of the Leafs long history. That’s the new leaf on the video thumbnail reflective of the 1930s.
Close call seen by dashcam at Maj. Mackenzie and Bavyiew
by •
Driver of this silver SUV with rear-mounted wheel might be on the phone
Mark Corrigan was shocked to see this motorist whiz by in front of him through a red light at Major Mackenzie Drive and Bayview Ave. He spoke with the CBC about it and said he had to pull over and compose himself. As is clear from the dash cam video seen below, Corrigan has the green. A close up and adjustment of the picture by The South Bayview Bulldog seems to show the driver holding something (a phone?) in his/her right hand. From captures of the video it looks like the tail lights of this car identify a 2012 (or close) Toyota RAV
Hot dogs, bacon sandwiches will fuel kids at Select Tourney
by •
As some 1,800 kids roll into eight hockey rinks this weekend much of the fuel that will sustain the Leaside Select Hockey Tournament will come from wonderfully dressed hot dogs and glazed peameal bacon sandwiches (No cracks about the hot dogs on the ice please, everyone is a team player). These great walk-away delights are two favorites at Andy Elder’s Grilltime meat shop on Laird Drive. Andy is catering things at Leaside Gardens where he will dish up more than 1,200 meals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Andy will also be serving delectable smoked brisket and chili and roast beef sandwiches with peppers, horseradish aioli, caramelized onion and arugula. (When’s lunch?)
GAMES AT EIGHT ARENAS
This is the 26th invitational tourney and it will see 116 teams on the ice with 29 of them from Leaside alone. Games will be played at eight rinks (Leaside, Angela James, Canlan Victoria Park, De La Salle, Don Mills, Oriole, Victoria Village and York Mills). The hard-working chair is Grant Worden and his equally industrious co-chairs are Valerie Cooke, Masja Stark and Line Livingstone. Grant notes that the tournament’s Platinum Sponsor is Scotiabank, without which it would be hard to mount this great sporting and family event. .
LIVE: February 3, 2016, Toronto City Council Meeting
by •
High of 13 or 14 forecast for us by Weather Network
by •
Lowes pays double the stock price to buy Rona outright
by •
U.S- based Lowe’s has scooped up the Quebec home repair and hardware giant Rona by paying double the stock price — $24 — that was being paid at the close of business last night. The whole deal is worth $3.2 billion Cdn. The deal has been cosy with both boards taking votes to approve the deal and Lowes agreeing to place its headquarters in Boucherville, Quebec. That location is a kind of sop to Quebec nationalist feeling about the home-grown Rona. A previous attempt by Lowe’s to purchase Rona in 2012 collapsed after resistance from Rona’s management and outright hostility from the Quebec provincial government and pension fund. Time will tell what opposition still exists. Lowe’s has also committed “to continue to employ the vast majority of its current employees and maintain key executives from Rona’s strong leadership team.”
Macphail speaking contest for students set for February 17
by •
The annual Agnes Macphail Public Speaking Contest for elementary school students will take place Wednesday, February 17, 2016 in the True Davidson Council Chambers of the East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave. The best speeches will be heard in the final round of this event from students in grades 6, 7, 8 of East York and nearby schools. The event will begin at 7 p.m. There are students from schools in the Toronto District School Board as well as the Toronto Catholic District School Board participating. St. Anselm’s will be participating. For information contact Lorna Krawchuk.at (416) 425-4431 or LTKrawchuk8@aol.com
Yahoo fires 1,700 and ponders sale of trademark email
by •
Marissa Mayer
Yahoo is laying off about 1,700 employees and slashing a slew of products such as Yahoo Games, Yahoo TV, digital magazines, real estate and patents. Many of these are things that embattled CEO Marissa Mayer started when she arrived at Yahoo in 2012. But today the long-feared purge began and for Mayer it is a case of make money or get out. The cost-cutting is designed to save about $400 million annually against a steep decline in net revenue this fiscal year. Even that may not be enough. The Internet service will pull back internationally and ponder the sale of all the company’s Internet operations (including Yahoo mail). Analysts have speculated that Verizon, AT&T and Comcast might be interested in buying Yahoo’s main business, despite years of deterioration.
Resident concerned for pedestrians at Bayview and Soudan
by •
Screeching tires and sirens can be heard from inside Mr. Smith’s home.
South Bayview resident, Ian Smith, is sick and tired of seeing collisions and injuries near his home at the intersection of Bayview & Soudan Aves. (Parkhurst to the east). For the last two years he has noticed a steady increase in traffic mishaps in this location and believes that the LRT construction may have something to do with it. With many drivers avoiding the chaos of Eglinton, they are choosing to frequent side streets, causing traffic issues that may not have existed a few years ago.
Mr. Smith has contacted Mark Saunders, Chief of Police, Toronto Police Service and local Councillors Burnside and Matlow (who share this intersection). He wants to see this intersection become safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Dear Chief Saunders,
I am a resident living steps away from the intersection of Bayview Ave. and Soudan Ave.
This intersection has a PXO crosswalk installed and has four lanes of traffic on Bayview and two lanes on the Soudan/Parkhurst cross street. The four lanes of Bayview have the PXO crosswalk.
This letter is to request a traffic survey to ascertain if an adult crossing guard is warranted in this location. Alternately, are there are any other tools at your disposal to improve the safety of this dangerous intersection.
I have contacted City Councillors Burnside and Matlow regarding this matter, and my city Councillor Josh Matlow gave me his full support to make this application. I have also spoken with Sgt Matt Moyer at 53 Division about this issue and possible solutions.
Last month we had a meeting on site which included the Councillors and city staff along with a police officer and concerned residents. The meeting was called due to the increase in traffic caused by the LRT and condo construction diverting traffic to the adjacent residential streets. This increase in traffic has brought with it the frequent collisions we are seeing as traffic tries to cross four lanes of traffic at Bayview, during rush hour it is quite hectic and dangerous to cross the street. The police data itself shows a high risk intersection with almost a hundred collisions a year and around a dozen personal injuries each year based on the month of January data.
This is a residential neighbourhood heavy with pedestrian traffic from schools nearby, I am concerned that the intersection controls as they stand today do not perform their intended purpose any longer. A traffic review and the needed improvements are required in the short term to address this new reality.
Thank you for your consideration,
Regards,
Ian G. Smith
We commend Mr. Smith for being pro-active on this issue. If you live in the area, please contact your Councillor and request something be done to increase safety on South Bayview.
Scottish storm blows waterfalls backwards on Isle of Mull
by •
An Atlantic storm pounding Scotland has driven waterfalls backwards on the Isle of Mull and caused authorities to warn against travel of any kind. Roads, bridges and rail routes have been battered by heavy rain and gale force winds. Trucks have been overturned and trees uprooted. The Forth Road Bridge was also closed earlier on Monday. This brief video reveals a genuine rarity in weather phenomena