Bayview to divide 30 and 40 km roads as early as this week

Motorists may see changes to the speed limit on selected streets west of Bayview Ave as early as this week. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) says he has been told by City staff that 40 km/h signs could come down that early and be replaced the same day by 30 km/h signs. As readers may recall, Toronto and East York Community Council voted for this change earlier this year. The council controls several wards (including Ward 22) in central Toronto and the former East York. The change does not apply to Leaside area which is in the jurisdiction of North York Community Council. The change is predicated largely on the science which says that there is a much higher chance of survival for those hit by cars travelling at the lower rate of speed. Mr. Matlow says the Medical Officer of Health has made a recommendation to lower speeds.

WHAT’S A COLLECTOR?

Another issue will be what streets remain at 40 km/h It is a reasonable guess that streets like Moore Ave between Welland and Bayview (and a dividing line between Ward 22 and Ward 26) will remain at 40. Roads like Merton, Millwood, Manor, Davisville, Forman and Cleveland could be the same. Arterials and collectors are said to be exempted but the layman’s knowledge may be tested in this regard.  It is of interest that Jon Burnside (Ward 26) has said that he will support any motion at North York Council to similarly lower the speed limit in Leaside and other parts of the area. As early as this week however the changes between wards may challenge drivers as they move between streets in Leaside (40 km/h and Davisville Village (30 km/h) just by crossing Bayview.

Opinion cools toward a Toronto bid for 2024 Olympics

Opinion is now nearly evenly divided on the question of whether Toronto should bid for the 2024 Olympics. Mainstreet Technologies says its poling information shows about 50 percent of people support a bid and 47 percent oppose it. This is a large correction from previous polls that showed support as high as 60 percent. The public has been pummelled with independent opinion that a bid is a bad idea.

Abbot kicked out by party, Turnbull is new Aussie PM

AP

Hockey veterans bring shine to kids eyes at Sport Chek

heros Sport Chek in the Leaside Smart Centre had one of their Shop With A Pro events Sunday. Former NHLers (and former Leafs) Shayne Corson and Bryan Berard brought a shine to the eyes of these Leaside kids.

Rampaging California wildfire “explodes” north of Bay area

Two California wildfires — one north of San Francisco and the other south of Sacramento — cover over 100,000 acres and have forced nearly 6,000 people to evacuate their homes. On Sunday, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Lake and Napa counties due to how fast the fire in Lake County, Calif., was spreading. The fire, in an area north of San Francisco, started on Saturday afternoon and now covers over 40,000 acres. It has forced over 3,000 people to evacuate their homes, according to Cal Fire. ABC News in San Francisco reports that the fire originally covered 50 acres but it grew to over 40,000 acres within 12 hours.

Reality sets in at City Hall about the lovely Toronto sign

sign

Mayor Tory took a moment out of events marking the 50th year of the Toronto clamshell City Hall today to announce that the popular light-up “Toronto” sign will stay put on Nathan Philips Square for the time being. Previously, in the immediate afterglow of the PanAm Games, he had talked of somehow moving the sign all over town. Not a good idea. Now his honour says the sign will stay where it is at least until the end of its natural life. More than that, the sign’s natural life is said to be until sometime in 2016. The matter becomes more manageable by the moment. Hey, the sign has been a pleasant source of amusement during the games but the City, like homeowners, must understand that people cannot keep absolutely everything.

CLAMSHELL 50 YEARS OLD

There are a number of excellent old photos at the Toronto Archives Twitter account. Inset is the picture of the little known Finnish architect,Viljo Revell, who won an international competition to design the new City Hall. He died in 1964 and barely saw the place finished.

cityhall-550

N. California wildfires race through homes as 6,000 flee

See later post

 

Church barbecue draws large crowd after Sunday service

BBQ St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church barbecue was well attended today (Sunday, September 13, 2015) with Lamb Hall full of parishioners and visitors. Activity spilled onto the green. A visitor was Josh Matlow (Ward 22)  with his daughter Molly. She built box castles to the delight of St. Cuthbert’s Family Ministry Co-ordinator Brenda O’Connor (centre).

Kate’s new hair style as she makes first outing in 2 months

Telegraph 

FLASH FROM THE PAST: Alleve commercial on Astor Ave.

all-10

Take moment to whiz back to 2012 when this was the scene on Astor Avenue.  Soft Citizen Productions is at work in Leaside again doing a commercial for Alleve. This time they’re at 8 Astor Avenue. Actually, the trucks and props and barbecue (inset) are all over the place, so we guess the neighbors are onside. The snapshots above show No 8 with artificial light streaming through the hallway window. They were shooting inside. Outside, the suitably named fictitious delivery company called Overnight Express is standing by. Overnight Express — Overnight Relief, we’re sure you get it. All of this during rush hour Wednesday.

 “BESSBOROUGH STUDIO” TAKES AN ALLEVE

bess alleve
And from 2011: Everyone was feeling pretty good Wednesday night at the Bessborough Drive location for an Alleve commercial. Left, the scene at a home on Bessborough at the corner of St. Cuthberts Rd. as a “real estate agent” (right in gray) is about to learn how to avoid annoying pain as she goes about work. It’s all good.

Firefighting foam fills hangar as system goes haywire

Toronto airport hangar fills with foam from malfunctioning fire system.

Recalling 1950 harness racing at Thorncliffe Raceway

Standardbred Canada has written an interesting little history of the revivial of harness racing at Thorncliffe Raceway beginning in 1950.