Eglinton LRT tunnel boring reaches Allen Road

There was a milestone reached this week as the tunnel boring machines digging the Eglinton LRT broke through at the construction chamber at Allen Road. The machines will now cross the short distance to the wall on the east side and begin their boring through to Yonge Street about 6.7 kilometres to the east. Work on the Brentcliffe Road and Yonge Street leg of the Eglinton tunnel is underway and Metrolinx has estimated that it will reach Yonge from the east side by the end of 2016.  

Hodgson rink to open early for Friday PD Day

Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has posted information that Hodgson School Ice Rink will be open tomorrow (Friday, January 23, 2015) between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.  He notes for everyone’s information that the City’s website currently still indicates regular school day hours starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday is a PD Day and thus kids will be able to skate from 10 a.m. tomorrow. This seems like a very useful decision. 

“National costume” stuns Canada and the world

It’s not often the CBC calls anything Canadian “insane” but that word has crept into coverage of our Miss Universe candidate’s national costume. The response to Caledon native Chanel Beckenlehner’s eccentric costume on Twitter has been mixed. Many appreciate Beckenlehner’s commitment to achieving a puckhead look.  The event was held Wednesday, January 21, 2015 in Miami.  CBC  CTV   Winners, losers and train wrecks of the Miss Universe costume contest

Minor injuries to 4 in North York school accident

Toronto Sun 

Leaside’s Pat and Bobbi Cochar are profiled

Kingston Whig-Standard  Here they are again 

BA customer denounces “filth class” seating

A first-class passenger on British Airways from London to St. Lucia has posted a video of what is certainly a filthy-looking seat. Things are tough at the airlines and BA has had additional woes with a particularly fractious union. Welcome aboard friends.

Toronto story: There’s never enough money

Money, money, money as they say on Storage Wars. There is never enough. It seems like a lament for Toronto as Mayor Tory goes about trying to find the cash needed to execute his plans. This morning at Executive Committee members will grapple with City Manager Joe Pennachetti’s request for  an additional $1.65 to perform due diligence on the trickier parts of the mayor’s SmartTrack plan. This week has also seen the introduction of a draft budget for the City that has a sting to it. Yesterday it emerged the budget plan relied on a loan of two million dollars from the Ontario government. Have they got two million dollars? Can Toronto pay it back? Also this morning, Premier Wynne has received failing mark from the Fraser Institute as a manager of money. She will say, correctly, that the thinkers at Fraser are her political opponents but, still, the numbers are the numbers.   There was a moment reminiscent of  Rob Ford Thursday morning when Mayor Tory was stopped at the doors to Executive Committee by what appeared to be a down-and-out supplicant. Mr. Tory listened and promised to looked into the issue.  

COBs back February 7 as a bakery, not a cafe

The final word on renovations underway at COBs at 1539 Bayview Ave. comes from Fiona who owns local COBs and has kindly set us all straight on the City’s building designation known as Bakery/Cafe. It does not mean a business is actually a cafe. As in the case of COBs, it can be one or the other and COBs will remain the same great bread maker you have known for years. This confusion started on Twitter when well-meaning citizens saw the current renovations going on and read the building permit, as did the Bulldog. They took it to mean there was a change coming. Fiona points out that the new COBs arrangement will  provide a little more space inside the front door plus “lights that work and a design for this century.” Thanks for the clarification Fiona and we look forward to getting back in on opening day (February 7, 2015) for our favorite Farmer’s Loaf. Thanks to all who commented on the story.  Facebook

Amphetamine pills stolen near Yonge and Carlton

Toronto Police are alerting the public to the theft of about 400 pills of the amphetamine family which are potentially very dangerous, especially to children.  On Monday, January 19, 2015, at 8:30 p.m., a vehicle parked in the Yonge Street and Carlton Street area was broken into and a the approximately 400 Adderall pills were taken.  Anyone finding the medication is asked not to handle it, but to contact police at 416-808-5100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

6 takeaways from Microsoft’s Windows 10 event

Canada 

Sexy commercial “sells university like beer”

Let’s work in the library 
Just to make it clear, this story is about higher education. Absolutely. The University of Moncton wanted to catch student interest of course and inspire the minds of young people who might like to attend. So, Moncton U authorized a new promotional video that includes a scene showing two students making out in the library. The university posted the promotional video online emphasizing that the French language is a reason to go there. “Notre langue c’est une fierté. Une force. C’est la langue du progres,” is the message at one point in the video. But in French, the word for “language” — langue — is also the word for “tongue.” And with the video including a brief scene in which two students are kissing between rows of books, the video is drawing criticism from some at the university. Marie-Noëlle Ryan, the president of the university’s professors’ and librarians’ association, calls the video “pathetic.” It sells the university like beer, Ryan opined. CBC story contains YouTube video of the commercial.

What the Bank of Canada Governor said today

Here are the remarks of The Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz from a live announcement today. It is courtesy the CBC News Channel on YouTube  Mr. Poloz announced the surprising rate cut to .75 percent and said  ‘oil price shock’ will hurt incomes. Story on consequences of the decision. Dollar sinks as Toronto market heads skyward