The long-awaited results of the BIA vote will bring much curiosity as to what it should be named. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) who broke the news of the vote result on Twitter, has long favoured the name South Bayview BIA. That was the choice of The South Bayview Bulldog as well as nearly 80 percent of the people who voted in a Bulldog poll in August. The decision might seem almost automatic except that last summer former Councillor Parker suggested that the name Bayview Leaside should be used. A vote among the five members of the steering committee brought a split in favour of the Leaside name. Mssrs. Matlow and Parker were somewhat at odds until they reached a working compromise at City Council in August to get the voting process moving. The new BIA was left simply unnamed. Mr. Matlow has been a strong voice in favour of a name which is inclusive of those living on both sides of the street. As residents will know, Leaside sits to the east, Davisville Village to the west. Also, South Bayview has a long history and considerable name-recognition throughout the area. In a tweeted reply to area political gadfly and naturalist Rudy Limeback, Mr. Matlow said the new name will be chosen in the New Year. In a tweet late today he added that the decision will be made at the first Annual General Meeting of the BIA and that he will be present to speak for Ward 22 residents.
Merchants, landlords vote 68-26 for Bayview BIA
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The poll is in! South Bayview (b/w Davisville & Soudan) merchants have voted 68-26 in favor of creating a Business Improvement Area (BIA).
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) December 23, 2014
Premier in CNN’s long-list of inspiring women
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Premier Kathleen Wynne is included on a so called long-list prepared by CNN of the world’s most inspiring women of 2014. She was recognized for being the first female premier of Ontario as well as the first openly gay head of government in Canada. Ms. Wynne, the member for Don Valley West, didn’t make the list of the top 15 women. That was topped by Nobel Peace Prizer winner Malala Yousafzai, actress Emma Watson, and Fields Medal winner Dr. Maryam Mirzakhani.
Keurig recalls 564,000 coffee machines in Canada
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Keurig Green Mountain will recall 564,000 Keurig MINI Plus brewing machines in Canada after reports of people being burned by water overheating and spraying out of the machines. As many as 6.6 million machines are recalled in the U.S. There are said to have been 200 reports of such instances in both countries after reports of people being burned by hot liquid that sprayed from the devices. Some 90 incidents caused burn-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The item has been sold since 2009 for about $100, the CPSC said today The recall comes two days before Christmas. Many units will be sitting under Christmas trees and the recall makes for an un-merry Christmas. Last month, the company said it had set aside an estimated $22 million for sales returns on “certain MINI Plus brewers, where in very rare cases hot liquid could escape the brewer.” Keurig said it expected to receive insurance money related to the defective machines and recorded a charge of $10 million in its fiscal 2014.
Joe Cocker remembered by Sir Paul McCartney
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Unknowns shroud death of 14-year-old girl
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The Toronto Star points out the unknowns shrouding the death of 14 year old Amaria (Momo) Diljohn at the corner of Finch Ave E. and Neilsen Road. A critical issue seems to be that no one saw much. Someone phoned in a report that “a woman” had been hit at the corner but it is not known who. It was only much later that the victim was identified as a young teen. Toronto Star
Earth sends tool-design to 3-D printer in space
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NASA has created a made-to-order tool which was required by Astronaut Barry (Butch) Wilmore. on the International Space Station (ISS) The tool — a ratchet — was designed on earth and sent by email to the station’s 3-D printer. According to Business Insider, this is the process: A company known as Made In Space designs the 3D-printed hardware in CAD software, which is then converted into a file-format the 3D printer can read. The company then sends the file to NASA, which is then transmitted to the ISS. The Space Station’s 3D printer can receive the code and begin manufacturing immediately
Koreans are out to shut down Uber taxi in Seoul
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South Korea has declared that it intends to put the Uber taxi phenomenon out of business. Kim Kyung-ho, the head of South Korean capital’s traffic division, has filed a lawsuit which says Uber is flouting the law regarding standardized rates, unlicensed drivers and is generally not operating within the city of Seoul’s bylaws. The City of Toronto licensing committee has launched action against Uber to require it to conform to bylaws related to the taxi industry. Business Standard Uber file.
Clerics get Christmas tongue-lashing from Pope
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Pope Francis is plainly not out to make friends at the Vatican. Reuters reports he has launched a Christmas tongue-lashing of bishops and cardinals in the Italian-dominated Curia, telling them they are “sick with power and greed”. Francis is the first non-European Pope in 1,300 years. The criticism came face to face apparently in a meeting that normally is limited to seasonal pleasantries. Reuters
Window Wanderland results out Tuesday
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Voting was completed on Friday, December 19, 2014, for winners of the annual Window Wanderland event held by the Mount Pleasant Village BIA. The ballots are now being tabulated and the results will be announced Tuesday, December 23, 2014. We’re looking forward to the news.
Mayor Tory talks of “other ways” to find funding
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Mayor Tory has spoken about “other ways” to find money if federal and provincial governments are unwilling or unable to advance the kind of cash needed to sustain big cities needing repairs to such things as public housing. Is this a hint at his desire to somehow privatize or sell off to tenants some public housing? The imagination runs as Mr. Tory talks about an alignment or at least a meeting of minds among big city mayors in the New Year. Globe and Mail.
Loblaws techniques to shave costs with suppliers
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Marina Strauss, the retailing reporter for the Globe and Mail, has an interesting if long article on the techniques employed by Loblaws and others to shave their costs with suppliers. The information will be of interest to informed shoppers in South Bayview who buy their groceries in perhaps the most competitive area of Canada. Marina Strauss, Globe and Mail