Drivers bottled up inside Thorncliffe by paving

by  • 

Thousands of motorists were bottled up inside Thorncliffe Park Drive Sunday (November 30, 2014) by repaving on Overlea Boulevard. Northbound and southbound Overlea traffic was forced to share the west lanes, one lane each way. Delays were significant during the busy afternoon activities. The contractor, who was identified by workmen as Tito Paving, decided to completely block off the north exit of Thorncliffe Park Drive at Overlea (top inset). Cars trying to get out were forced to enter the East York Town Centre, which had all exits to Overlea southbound blocked. They had to travel through the mall and try their luck at the south exit. As residents know, there are no secondary exits from the long crescent-shaped Thorncliffe Park Drive. Normally one can get out at the south or the north end. The intersection at the south end was chaotic as traffic streamed out of the town centre onto Thorncliffe. Anyone else trying to leave was backed up almost to the Thorncliffe Park Public Library. Most people could not understand why Thorncliffe Park was blocked at the north end. Be warned. Work continues. 

Stampeders heavy favourites to beat Tiger Cats

by  • 

CBC

End forced marriage of girls PM urges meeting

by  • 

Stephen Harper has called for an absolute end to the practice of forced marriage for girls as it is carried out in many parts of Africa. Speaking in Dakar, Senegal at the Summit of La Francophonie, the prime minister also urged delegates to get behind Canada’s resolution to promote maternal immunization. He was also present to celebrate the appointment of former governor general Michelle Jean to the post of secretory-general of La Francophonie. CANOE

NOW finds City Council just unbelievably white

by  • 

Free on Bayview Ave. are ad-packed copies of NOW magazine, where this month the editors can hardly believe that City Council is so wretchedly white. Here we’ve just had an election which seemed open and now this. Did something go wrong? Is it your fault? We suspect that the ideal answer would be that it is indeed your fault whatever your colour. An equally perplexing question is why the skin ads in the fetid pages of NOW’s Adult Classified are so white. What’s going on? Could it be that nobody cares?

Cops sound alert over deadly heroin on sale

by  • 

Toronto Police are warning anyone who might use it that a quantity of street-level heroin being sold is deadly.  In the past 24 hours, police officers have been called to a number of heroin overdoses, one of which was fatal. It appears that the common link is a deadly form of heroin that is being sold. If heroin-users encounter serious physical illness, they are advised to attend a hospital emergency room or a walk-in clinic immediately for treatment. For a referral to a substance-abuse treatment facility, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health can be reached at 1-800-463-2338.

Wonderful Star Wars hokum set to fly again

by  • 

It’s nearly 40 years since that wonderful bundle of space hokum known as Star Wars hit movie screens in North America. Hey, may it live forever, because the whole improbable world is back again and from the 88-second teaser above it is still as full of entertaining intergalactic humbug as it was in 1977. Many things may be obvious. But not to everyone. Some had forgotten that Harrison Ford’s spaceship was called the Millennium Falcon (shame). Amazingly, this rusted hulk of Stars Wars junk is still flying. The footage for Episode VII: The Force Awakens features British newcomer John Boyega who is wearing a storm trooper outfit and is seen breathless and panicked in the desert. It begins with a voice over saying “There has been an awakening – have you felt it?” before Boyega’s character appears. And so it goes. Take a look and be patient because the build up is going to go on for a year. Episode VII is out in theatres in December 2015.

Monarch Park fire reveals hoarder’s secret life

by  • 

An East York house fire reveals a tiny home on Monarch Park Ave. near Coxwell Ave. stuffed to the rafters with household articles and junk. There was apparently no one in the home when the fire sarted in the basement. A garbage truck was used to remove debris. CP24

Tory declares conflict on island airport jets

by  • 

Mayor John Tory apparently will not be saying anything about the Billy Bishop airport expansion because his son works there. He says it is a conflict of interest. This will come as quite a letdown for those looking for leadership on a matter that will profoundly affect the nature of the downtown and adjoining neighborhoods. The island airport should be discussed in the terms stated by three formers mayors — Crombie, Eggleton and Sewell — namely whether citizens want a large jet airport downtown. The issue, as David Crombie has suggested, is not simply whether Porter airlines will fly jets from there. The airline industry as a whole is waiting to demand entry to the island,  Globe and Mail  680 News

Black Friday zanies out in force across U.S.

by  • 

Here we see shoppers ducking under the security gate as it’s lifted to open business in Philedelphia. Whoa! Sure hope they survived. 

Originating in the US, Black Friday is also becoming a major shopping event IN THE UK!  BBC video footage shows energized crowds frantically grabbing for their deals. Click here to watch.

Are you braving the crowds today?

Landslide blocks Highway 403 at Hamilton

by  • 

Police say that this landslide has blocked the eastbond lanes of Highway 403 at York Blvd in Hamilton. No one was caught in the large collapse of trees and earth. Photo: Spectator via Twitter

ROAD CLOSURE:#Hwy403 EB b/w Main and York in #HamOnt-Crews on scene with cement barriers, estimated re-open, 9pm.^aw pic.twitter.com/mkfa2p26xA
— Ontario Prov Police (@OPP_GTATraffic) November 28, 2014

Tori and Cates to sell baking, sales equipment

by  • 

Part of auction circular

Tori and Cates Cupcakes will auction off baking, kitchen and sales equipment this Sunday, November 30, 2014. A printed circular from Michael Takis, restaurant auctioneer, has been dropped off at restaurants on South Bayview Ave. Although there has been no announcement to this effect, it would be certain that the cupcake shop is closed permanently. A $200 refundable deposit is required to bid and the items include such things as a Blodgett oven with legs, a 20 quart dough mixer, a sink, marble counter top, refrigerator and freezer plus an under counter refrigerator, a cash register and other items. There is a phone number for Mr Takis: 647-704-8113.    

Dolly Jewellers November prize draw is on again

by  • 

Dolly Jewellers at 1699 Bayview Ave is again offering a chance to win a November prize draw in the lead up to Christmas. Residents can win one 200 prizes by dropping into the store and entering. No purchase is necessary.