What on earth happened to this Boeing 777 on takeoff?

Rules relating to head lice as children are back to school

The CBC has produced this informative report on school board rules relating to head lice.

Arson fires set overnight in Danforth and Coxwell area

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On Strathmore Blvd — Linda Ward/CBC via Twitter

There has been a series of arson fires overnight in the area of Danforth Ave. and Coxwell Ave. These apparently occurred within about a two-hour period in the dead of night — perhaps 3 to 5 a.m. There was a porch fire on Oakdene Crescent, a car fire on Strathmore Boulevard, a garbage fire at 646 Coxwell Avenue and two waste bag fires at 608 and 618 Coxwell Avenue. And once again there is recall of the sinister unsolved fires in Bennington Heights in May last year.  Person of Interest in Bennington Heights arsons

 

Flavours of Thorncliffe to fill Burgess Park this Friday

The 6th annual Flavours of Thorncliffe Food Festival featuring the community’s famous tandoor oven will take place Friday, September 11, 2015 from 3 to 8 p.m. in R.V. Burgess Park. (Incorrect times were published earlier). Sabrina Ali of the Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee says there will be delicious food and fresh tandoor bread. For children, there will be a jumping castle, face-painting and similar fun.  The wood-fired tandoor oven is used to make many dishes but most famously varieties of flat bread such as Tandoori Naan.  Below is an enjoyable video of bread being made for the tandoor oven in Burgess Park.

Departing Starbuck’s manager pens note to South Bayview

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The manager of Starbuck’s on Bayview Ave. at Belsize Drive has penned a warm note to customers and to the community on her transfer to the Collingwood shop. Lindsay Jeffery said in her note, now pinned to the shop’s bulletin board beside the South Bayview Bulldog monthly newsletter, that in four years with Starbucks in eight locations she has never worked in a store where there was so much “love, generosity and sense of community.” In what is clearly a heartfelt sentiment Ms Jeffery said it had been an honour to work on Bayview. She is moving to be with her husband-to-be who is employed in Collingwood. Anyone up that way may say hello to Lindsay at the Starbucks at First and Pine Streets.

Man, 55, fatally injured as Harley spins out on Lake Shore

A 55-year-old motorcyclist died Sunday, September 6, 2015, at 10:33 a.m. when he lost control of his Harley Davidson bike on Lake Shore Boulevard in the 1100 block of that street. The vehicle hit the centre median as it slid out of control. He suffered critical injuries from he later died. The investigation is said to be continuing by the Traffic Services Branch.

Two wheeled-whimsy: Bicycle lanes inside the office

A pleasant bit of whimsy from London where an old building has been renovated and installed with “bicycle lanes.” Well, whatever they’re called the key consideration was that the builder had extra space. Space might be an issue for anyone else thinking about a job where he can cycle between the cafeteria and the washrooms.

Hamilton’s 93-year-old CKOC radio changes to all-sports

It’s been a long and joyous musical road from the The Happy Gang in the  1940s to the 28-year reign of Rockin’ Ray Michaels. But now one of Canada’s oldest radio stations will drop music and go all-sports. Spectator

Beck Taxi calls on Toronto to reduce cab fares

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Local cab company Beck Taxi has issued a news release Tuesday (September 8, 2015) calling for more affordable taxi fares. The Thorncliffe Park based company says there should be a decrease in both the so-called meter drop (the second you sit in the cab) and the in-transit fares. At present the meter drop is $4.25 with in-transit rates at 25 cents for each 0.143 kilometres. Beck says: “Taxi fares are regulated and set by the City of Toronto. To help encourage City Hall to make fares more affordable, Beck has launched an online petition for Torontonians to sign and demonstrate to councillors that riders support more reasonable and affordable fares. The petition can be viewed and signed by visiting http://get.yourbeck.ca/fares/

Pope sweeps away much bureaucracy of annulments

Pope Francis has made it easier, quicker and cost-free for Catholics to have a marriage annulled under reforms announced in a papal letter Tuesday (September 8, 2015). Conservatives are said to view this change as a possible form of Church-approved divorce — Catholic divorce. In his letter, the Argentinian pontiff says annulment will henceforth require only one decision rather than having to be approved by two church tribunals, as currently. This change is to be introduced with an additional simplification. Matters will be handled by individual bishops rather than subject to a hearings process. While Francis is seeking to democratise the procedure in a way that would appear to make an increase in the number of annulments likely, his letter does not amend the exceptional conditions under which they can be granted. The annulment process still requires a belief that the marriage never existed in effect although many of the reasons for annulment would be recognizable as reasons for divorce. Alcoholism may be considered under the new interpretation of annulment. .

Harper will resign if party loses by a seat, he tells CBC

Long interview with Peter Mansbridge reveals this commitment not to try to hang onto power if party comes second.  CBC

Uncertain days ahead as kids head back to school Tuesday

Tuesday  morning will see the return of both elementary and high school kids to class. There are uncertain conditions at both levels as the elementary teachers have yet to reach an agreement with the province,  and high school teachers have yet to approve an agreement which was reached by their union, the OSSTF, in August. Altogether some 817,000 children are scheduled to begin classes in Ontario. The most fractious-sounding voice in this uncertain hour is that of the head of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario Sam Hammond. Talks between the ETFO and the province are set to continue Tuesday as the kids enter school but Hammond’s rhetoric has parents tense. The union could walk out at any time after giving five days notice. Neither side wants to give in. The province is trying to achieve “net zero” increases as it struggles with an enormous provincial debt now pushing $300 billion.

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