There has been a watermain break on Davenport Rd. leading to the closure of this busy street between Greenlaw Ave to Primrose Ave. Drivers will want to know the City is saying it will be shut for an “extended time”. This location is west of Dufferin Street.
Hot Cross Bun Giveaway at COBs Saturday
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COBS Bread Leaside will have its traditional Hot Cross Bun Giveaway on Saturday (February 7, 2015) as it re-opens after a three-week renovation. Much excitement attends a look at the new shop. The Hot Cross Bun is yummy of course but history tells us it was also a way to ensure friendship throughout the coming year. Friends were solemnly told to recite this incantation as they broke bread to ensure their friendship: “Half for you and half for me, Between us two shall goodwill be”. If taken on a sea voyage, hot cross buns are said to protect against shipwreck. If hung in the kitchen, they are said to protect against fires and ensure that all breads turn out perfectly. There are many other enjoyable tales told about Hot Cross Buns at Wikipedia.
Target shoppers grab cosmetics, paper goods
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Shoppers filled the aisles at Target’s East York store on Overlea Blvd. (above) Thursday to snap up bargains on such things as cosmetics and housewares. Lipstick, nail polish and similar essentials with typically high markups found lots of takers at 20 and 30 percent off. All Target stores across Ontario opened at 8 a.m. with liquidation and store closing signs in place. Household articles such as paper diapers and toilet paper were moving quickly. Sun News said some shoppers grumbled that the prices weren’t low enough. But a closing is a bit like an auction. You may not find the prices low enough but do you want to risk finding things gone a day or two later. The parking lot to the north and west of the the East York Town Centre store was full by 8.30 a.m. although crowds were controllable. Store security told The South Bayview Bulldog that only about a dozen people waited in the bitter cold for the doors to be unlocked. Many others were waiting in their cars. By 9.30 a.m. the Overlea store was comfortably full with business at the 12 checkouts quite brisk. Target has said it hopes to close its Canadian stores by the middle of May. (February 5, 2015) CTV tests public opinion
Next “warm” day is Saturday: It will be minus 3
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Queen’s students reject anti-vaccine teaching
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Students at Queen’s University and the student government are calling on the school to investigate a course they say teaches shoddy anti-vaccine “science”. According to in-course slides that have been leaked online, the professor openly questions the safety of vaccines and presents statistics that suggest a link between childhood vaccinations and later brain and immune dysfunction.
24.99% for the unwilling, unable or unconscious
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Everyone knows that it is only the unwilling, unable and maybe the unconscious who run up charges on credit cards and fail to make even the minimum payment on time. This week’s mail brought news from the TD Bank that such people face punishing new penalties which will extend out over an entire year, even after their card is current again. A circular enclosed in monthly statements to all cardholders — including the ones who never carry a balance — announces cheerily that the bank is “making important changes” to your TD credit card account. The circular says that effective March 31, 2015 those who do not make the minimum payment will face a jump in the penalty interest rate from 21% to 24.99%. That puts the annual rate at five percent above the regular rate of 19.99% for carrying a balance on an up-to-date card. Furthermore, effective March 31, the bank will apply that rate to the outstanding balance for 12 months, even after you have started to pay on time. The present penalty period is two months. It is a well-kept secret just how many people carry a bank card balance much less how many neglect to make the minimum payment on time.
Court says Target liquidation can start right away
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An Ontario Superior Court judge has cleared the way for Target store liquidation sales to begin as early as Thursday (February 5, 2015). Shoppers can expect the price slashing as the doors open. Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder told the Canadian Press discounts will take up to 30 per cent off regular prices. Already many Target stores have stopped carrying perishables like milk, eggs and frozen foods, Snyder said. The company is still clearing product out of its distribution centres, she added. The court had yet to decide late Wednesday whether Target can begin the sales of its real estate assets. In court today, landlords were concerned that Target’s liquidation sales would tarnish the image of their malls and take away business from other stores who are renting space. “I think all parties are exaggerating,” Justice Geoffrey Morawetz said. “And I mean that quite sincerely.”
Glebe Manor Square East and West meeting
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There will be meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at Greenwood College for Belsize Dr. residents regarding planning for the two large boulevard green lands known as the Glebe Manor Square East and West. They sit in the centre of Belsize east and west of Mount Pleasant Rd. The meeting is organized by Josh Matlow (Ward 22). Greenwood College is on the southeast corner of Mt. Pleasant and Davisville Ave.
Leaside girls hockey group sets no-touch rule
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This is a fascinating development. A volunteer parent (it’s not said whether a male of female) slaps a player on the bottom and squeezes her shoulders. It is unpleasant or uncomfortable for player. A complaint finds its way to league owner John Reynolds. He sends a memo declaring there is to be no touching of any kind by adults of the kids. Not even on the helmet. We’ve heard of girls complaining in the past about touching. Any man should certainly know enough to refrain from the slapping and hugging that the players give each other. Some observers are saying the no-touch rule goes too far. Read it. National Post
Beer, wine and tapas coming to Starbucks
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The president of Starbucks Canada, Roseann Williams, has told The Toronto Star that its thousands of locations across Canada will be serving an “evening menu” of wine, beer and tapas by the end of this year. There will also be a delivery service of some type. The story says this move is driven by flat coffee sales and a need to appeal to the 60 percent of the Starbucks clientele which is female. It is an interesting strategy and the questions abound. Many women arrive at Starbucks behind a stroller, even after six. The baby bottle is as common as a latte in a lot of places. Will that mix work? Then there’s the food thing. Tapas is a Spanish word meaning cold or hot small dishes. Most people are familiar with this type of eating. Ms.Williams mentions flat bread, olives, nuts and cheese. These seem to be cold dishes. No mention of hot. Recalling the Starbucks lunch, the company’s history with food has not been outstanding. The question will arise as to whether the tapas is being done on the cheap. Will it look as tempting as the dishes at Tinto Bar de Tapas? Read all about it. Lisa Wright Toronto Star Globe writer dumps on everything, including the coffee. Hey, the coffee’s okay.
Cody kids visit Councillor Matlow at City Hall
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Pupils from Maurice Cody Public School on Belsize Drive hang out with Councillor Josh Matlow at City Hall Tuesday, February 3, 2015. Cody school is part of Mr. Matlow’s Ward 22 constituency. Lookin’ good gang.
Sutherland barber shop dies behind LRT hoarding
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The Leaside Barber Shop at 423 Sutherland Drive (behind the Domino’s Pizza) has closed. The long-time business of owner Lui Lavecchia has fallen to the LRT construction. Mr. Lavecchia spoke to the East York Mirror and complained that his landlord seemed to think that a new wave of prosperity had swept the street even as crews dig holes all over the landscape as part of the LRT construction. In fact, the Leaside shop has been hidden from Eglinton for months by an enormous underground access facility that blocks Sutherland north of Eglinton. “It makes me cry but I’ll be OK, my customers will support me,” Lavecchia said. “Local people always did support me. I was a barber to them, they were customers to me, but we were more like friends.” The Mirror records that the Leaside Barber Shop first opened in 1944. Mr. Lavecchia has owned it since 1979. Lavecchia has accepted a job with a neighbouring barber shop, Mister Barber Lounge at 814 Eglinton Ave. E. in the middle of the block between Sutherland and Laird Drive. He hopes to bring his customers over to the that shop.