Overnight tweets from the Toronto Police Operations Centre have ranged across fires, accidents and quite a few impaired drivers this New Year’s morning. OPS TPS, as it is known, let’s the public know via Twitter about breaking news, and serves as communication for the cops too, Fortunately, the fire reported at River St and Shuter Street turned out to be a pot left on the stove that was easily handled by the fire service. As recently as sun-up the dispatches reporting “impaired driver” or “suspected impaired driver” were frequent. Drunk driving it seems is a daylight thing on New Year’s Day morning. The public was asked to watch for a silver Toyta. Then there was the suspected drunk driver in a Ford SUV headed southbound on the DVP at the Bloor ramp. A house fire near the Don Valley Parkway and York Mills road caused concern for drifting smoke., Someone rear-ended a police car at Finch Ave. and Neilsen Rd. There was a probably a breathalyzer administered there. And many reports of “one in custody for impaired.”
Tory to hold skating party plus meet-and-greet
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It is New Year’s Day 2015 and in South Bayview, Leaside arena will be closed today. But both rinks will be open Friday, January 2, 2015. If you have kids and care to skate today, Mayor John Tory will hold a family skating party at the City rink in Nathan Phillips Square. It will substitute for the long-standing tradition of a levee, or reception by the mayor. Mr. Tory’s skating event will run from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square. There will be a “family-friendly DJ,” hot chocolate, apple cider, coffee and tea. The mayor will move between the outdoor skating rink and the city hall lobby, where he will mingle with people who don’t feel like braving the ice. He has eliminated the traditional levee receiving line. “That’s the only distinction, other than adding the more family-friendly event. Which we really wanted to do and the mayor wanted to do, personally,” said Tory staffer Amanda Galbraith. “He’s a grandfather. He wanted to make it more of a family event. Happy New Year and a prosperous 2015 to everyone from the South Bayview Bulldog.
Families out in cold after fire on Edith Drive
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Firefighters fought a 4-alarm blaze New Year’s Eve in bitterly cold weather on Edith Drive near Montgomery St. Edith Drive is the north-south street that sits east of Eglinton Park north of Eglinton Ave E. The fire got started just before seven in the semi-detached home. The heavy damage has left two families homeless. No one appears to have been injured. The fire started in the chimney and spread to the attic. Firefighters tried to contain the fire, but had to get off the building’s roof as the flames started to break through. As many as 22 units and 90 firefighters were on scene, trying to keep the fire from spreading to neighbouring homes. An aerial unit was called in to fight the fire from above. Officials cut power to the area, and had to close down several nearby streets Damage is estimated to be at least $ 1 million.
Will Chief Bill Blair decide to run for Parliament?
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Toronto Police Chief William Blair has said in a year-end interview with the Globe and Mail that he has not ruled out running for political office and that he has started making unspecified plans for his future after leading the largest municipal department in the country for nine years. Blair retires this Spring around the time of his birthday. It is said to be common political wisdom that a vigorous 61-year-old former police chief would be a very hard man to beat should he decide to run for Parliament in the general election scheduled for 2015. The Globe and Mail story, written by Ann Hui, says that a Liberal Party source told the paper that party strategists have discussed recruiting Blair. Other sources are said to have concluded that “everyone wants Chief Blair.” Globe and Mail
Struggle for lawn club plays out in the shadows
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The future of the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club property on Manor Rd. is playing out largely in the shadows. Among the most recent unusual moves was a closed meeting for shareholders of the defunct club held in the William Lea Room at the Leaside Arena. Security guards refused entry to the media and even turned away Josh Matlow (Ward 22) who is intent, as are many others, on having the land as a park. The property is now said to be essentially in the process of changing hands from a controlling group of shareholders led by Phil Foubert and a developer, Michael Volpenstesta. The deal has not closed because the city has not approved plans to build. The linked account in the Star quotes Mr. Matlow as saying there is something “fishy” about the deal. All in all, the parties to the sale seem to be treating the matter as an entirely private transaction. Katrina Clarke, Toronto Star
Michael Carlevale, owner of Prego, dead at 65
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Michael Carlevale was the ultimate “host and ringmaster” of inside-crowd dining at Prego on Bloor St. W. says Michael Knelman on the occasion of Mr. Carlevale’s death in Boston at age 65.
Ottawa warns of new virus awaiting sun-seekers
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Still time to celebrate 2015 at Tinto Bar de Tapas
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Tinto Bar de Tapas at 1581 Bayview Ave. will begin accepting reservations in 2015, according to its congenial owner Otta Zapotocky. Otta also owns L’Avenue Bistro at 1568 Bayview. Tinto Bar de Tapas is a lively wine and seafood/pork hideaway marking its first New Year’s Eve Wednesday night. There are a few tables left for both the early party-goers and those who want to shout out 2015 on Bayview at midnight. The 5.30 p.m. sitting is a three-hour $50-a-person dinner with an out by 8.30 p.m. requirement. The later sitting is from 9 p.m. to midnight and beyond at $75-a-plate per person. As usual, the wine tasting skills of Otta Zapotocky come with the evening.
Theory of what happened to Malaysian Airbus
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Geoffrey Thomas, editor of AirlineRatings.com, provides a very well-explained theory of how the Malaysian Airbus may “have been caught in a severe thunderstorm updraft”. This could have led to an “aerodynamic stall of the wing” resulting in a severe upset to the aircraft, Mr Thomas says. The hypothesis was extrapolated from radar data that showed the plane’s speed decreasing while it climbed in altitude. BBC
Doctor asks: Don’t use grief as spectator sport
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A psychologist named Peter Kinderman of Liverpool University has had a few things to say about how the media covers great human tragedies such as the crash of the Malaysian Airbus now unfolding. He says he is drawn, as millions must also be, to how the media concentrate on the grief and anxiety of relatives. He comments: “They shouldn’t use grief as spectator sport. I know it’s very attractive, but the media should leave alone those members of the public caught up in such events. Please don’t think the media can do something helpful for these people. Don’t take photos when somebody is doing something slightly unusual like rocking or praying or getting angry; that’s what people do. They’re not odd, they’re not strange and they’re not particularly interesting. Don’t judge them – leave them alone. All shades of human emotional response are normal and natural. A few months ago, several news organizations shared a paparazzo photo of a well-known celebrity caught at the precise moment he was informed of his child’s death. An obviously arresting image—a picture of raw humanity. And therefore hugely attractive for media organizations. Grief and raw emotion are obviously engaging. But… the media also have ethical standards. And I think it is important for them to accept that anxious and grieving relatives need privacy and time. Grief should not be a spectator sport.”
Brief blackout hits South Bayview Tuesday
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Lights were out, including traffic signals, all along South Bayview for about 15 minutes this morning (Tuesday, December 30, 2014). Power returned about 9.40 a.m. That’s good because businesses are looking to see some year-end interest in discounted goods. Fiorio, for example, is offering $40 off Kerastase Gift Packs.
Rescuers retrieve bodies from lost Malaysian jet
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The Indonesian government has confirmed that it has found wreckage from the missing Malaysian Airbus. Reports of bodies found were confused. Latest information says three were recovered but other sources said as many as 40. The remains were located at Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan. Images on Indonesian television showed bodies being brought aboard a helicopter. The plane carried 162 passengfers and crew Mailonline