The South Bayview Bulldog

The Uptown Yonge BIA is holding its Fall Fest on an unofficial three-day long weekend on September 25, 26, and 27, 2015. It looks like a pleasant occasion for anyone who takes the walk on Yonge from Roehampton (Orchard View on the other side) up to Glengrove Ave. Some events are intriguing: Children’s performer Markus, Jeff Salem Drum Circle, Rob Tardik Trio and singer-songwriter Carlo Copolla. There’s a bit of whimsy related to both the here-and-now as well as the hereafter in the parking lot of the Trull Funeral Home. Someone there will be offering secure shredding for papers requiring a dignified goodbye.

City of Toronto 

Yvonne Prowse will speak at St. Anselm’s Parish Hall at MacNaughton Rd and Millwod  Rd on the recent encyclical of Pope Francis about the environment. Ms. Prowse’s remarks will be in a series of three evenings at the church hall on Wednesday, October 21, Wednesday, October 28 and Wednesday, November 4, 2015. All are welcome and the information on the series says that she will reflect on the Pope’s message and what people can do to “respond to the call of Earth — our common home —  for healing.”

Simba re-united with owner at Pearson Airport

An Air Canada pilot diverted a Toronto-bound jet to Frankfurt so that a French bulldog named  Simba could be released from a cargo area where the heating had failed. The dog was placed aboard another aircraft which arrived back in Toronto about the same time as the original flight. Simba’s journey originated in Israel and it was as the plane headed toward the frigid Atlantic air that the captain saw an indicator which showed the  heating in the compartment had failed. Temperatures for dogs are set by the airline at a minimum ten degrees. Air Canada said: “While we recognize this was an inconvenience for our customers, the overall reaction was positive, particularly once people understood the dog was in potential danger but safe as a result of the diversion.” The owner says Simba is like his child. .

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La Presse, once the dominant newspaper voice of  French Canada, will stop publishing a weekday paper edition in 2016. It is a decision that must send chills through the offices of papers like The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and others. LaPresse ruled public opinion, advertising and classified advertising for  more than a century since its inception in 1884. Now the publication will print only a Saturday paper and rely on the readership of its internationally renowned tablet. This electronic success is read daily by some 460,000 people, LaPresse says.

There was another test in Ontario Wednesday morning of the television Alert Ready System run by the government via the broadcast regulator, the CRTC. Few people know about the system and those who do may know how it might be applied. But when it is tested, it takes over television arbitrarily as it did today. The test occurs without warning and in successive repetitions for about 20 minutes. The type of event which might require the use of the Alert Ready System would surely be catastrophic — a nuclear attack, a widespread biological attack or possibly Martians.

The BBC slugged this stunt “insane” but although somewhat chancy it appears the rider had all his marbles, so to speak. The good part is no one can try it here because we don’t have any dams. This is in Slovenia where mountain biker Primoz Ravnik has clocked up 4.4 million hits on the video since it was posted earlier in September. He hurtled down a 60m (197 feet) high dam in Zirovnica on August 28, 2015. Mr Ravnik learned to ride a bike when he was two, and is now a cross-country and downhill biker who, it might be added, is looking for fame.

CTV 

City staff has recommended that no change be made to the present union collection (CUPE 144) of garbage east of Yonge Street. John Tory made a firm promise during the election campaign that he would extend privatization across the full city. The saving west of Yonge Street, where collection is done by a private contractor, is said to be $11 million annually. Speaking to Steven LeDrew on CP24 Jaye Robinson, chair of the public works committee, said she questions the numbers produced by waste management staff in the report, which was released late Tuesday morning. The Toronto Sun story linked is detailed but does not offer compelling information from staff as to why a similar saving would be not be a net advantage to the city. The report says things like: “A blend of in-house and private sector provision also manages operational and financial risk and provides flexibility for the curbside waste collection system to adapt to changes.” It seems vague. The report goes to Robinson’s committee. Toronto Sun 

The sixth annual Harvest Fair organized by the merchants of Mount Pleasant Village will take place on Saturday, September 26. It is a varied and entertaining family event which always fills the sidewalks. Among the most enterprising features is the petting zoo, staged by the Ken-Jen Petting Zoo of Oshawa. As usual merchants will have food and goods on the street. For those who dare, there will be an apple pie eating contest for all ages. The pumpkin carving contest may be more most people’s speed.  In addition, all Mount Pleasant Village shoppers will have an opportunity to win one of five $100 Mount Pleasant Village gift certificates.

The Toronto Star has launched a tablet format to be known as Star Touch as it struggles to make money in the digital age. Star Touch is inspired by the La Presse tablet app, which is regarded as a worldwide leader in ease of use.  The Star chiefs are talking dramatic change with Star Touch and this may be the case. Ads will also be interactive on Star Touch which presumably means that they can be played with. The one-time dominant source of want ads in Toronto has seen an enormous loss of revenue in the early years of the 21st Century. Now it continues to lose display advertising. .