South Bayview’s Bell Jewellers to close in 2015

by  • 

Bell Jewellers at 1597 Bayview Ave. will close at the end of January. It will be the passing of a business which has operated at the location for 78 years. The genial owner of Bell’s is Photis Philos. He has said that unless someone offers to buy the business he will lock the doors for the last time in the new year.  Mr. Philos is known universally up and down South Bayview as Photi and has owned Bell’s since 1980. Advertising in recent years recounts his credentials as a master horologist and master jeweller trained in Europe.  Philos is 68 and can hardly be faulted as winter approaches for dreaming of some time in the coastal islands of Greece. He is a staunch Rotarian and an inveterate golfer and can be seen daily with other Bayview fans of the links coming and going from the Second Cup and elsewhere. Bell Jewellers has a liquidation sale underway and is well worth a visit. 

MINI shows foldable scooter at L.A. Auto Show

by  • 

MINI, the BMW-owned car maker, has created a lithium battery driven scooter concept that folds up like a baby stroller. MINI is so keen on its new creation that it is showing only the Citysurfer scooter (no cars) at the Los Angeles Auto Show which opened this weekend. It is a clever contraption and is shown folded as it is hefted out of (and later returned to the trunk) of a MINI vehicle. The video below has German narration by the way, but we think you can get the idea. Other videos make prominent reference to the idea that the Citysurfer is just the thing to get around downtown areas, especially where bikes lanes have already been installed. The Citysurfer has 10 to15 miles of range, a top speed of 15 mph and a charging socket incorporated into its holder for your cell phone. The lithium-ion battery is shaped to the frame, and after a ride, the electric engine is switched off automatically and disengaged from the free-wheel center in the back wheel with the goal that you can proceed by foot power without being kept down by the motor’s rolling resistance. It’s a nice point. The electric drive can likewise be deactivated whenever, with the help of a switch in the brake lever. 

Pictures from the 2014 Leaside Sports Hall of Fame night

by  • 

These wonderful pictures of the honorees at last night’s reception held by the Leaside Hall of Fame have been tweeted. The Bulldog inset them here with the dynamic action shots of Leaside’s Athlete of the Year Ayanna Badali, at top with 2013 honoree Martha McCabe. That’s Ayanna at the right speeding along in top form. Below l-r, inductees into the Hall of Fame: Terry Caffery, representing his late brother Jack Caffery (inset), Dr. Sidney Soanes, Peter Krol, representing his later father Joe Krol (inset) and Christine Pellerin. Jack Caffery (1934-19192) played with both the Leafs and the Bruins during his career. Dr. Soanes, 92, was founding member of the Leaside Skating Club, Joe Krol was the legendary quarterback of the Argonauts, Christine Pellerin has been hockey player, coach and is now member of the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association. Hearty congratulations to all.

Ban Ki Moon hints Ebola containable by mid-2015

by  • 

United Nations chief Ban Ki Moon has said that it may be possible to contain Ebola worldwide by mid-2015. He said there can be no slackening in the effort to stop the disease if the world is going to achieve that goal but there is hope based on a slowing rate of new cases in West Africa. RTE news

More than you need to know about Leaf’s snub

by  • 

Bob Longley of the Sun suggests that Captain Phaneuf has his a nose out of joint over rowdy fans. Sulky soldiers want to blame someone else for losing. 

Power restored at Vic Park-Kingston says City

by  • 

Hydro to begin restoring power to the east end

by  • 

Hydro says it has been “given clearance” to start restoring power in the Victoria Park Ave. and Kingston Rd area. Toronto Hydro Twitter account

Leaking gas brings hydro blackout, evacuations

by  • 

There is natural gas everywhere in the Kingston Road and Victoria Park Ave. area — that’s why hydro has cut off the power. The ripple effect of the natural gas leak is now being felt all through the neighborhood where 4,000 customers are without service, There is a 500 metre perimeter around the location. Both throughfares and many sidestreets are closed. Neil McNeil Catholic High School at 127 Victoria Park has been evacuated and police say it may be eight hours before service is resumed. This was caused by a private company. Its workers ruptured an eight-inch main and it shot a lot of gas under pressure before it was turned off. There are no known injuries but the police are urgently telling everyone to stay away from the area. TTC warming buses are available for residents and the city has opened a warming centre at the Birchmount Community Centre at 93 Birchmount. Residents are able to get into the centre to keep warm.

Time to get real with Lamilly, acne, moles and all

by  • 

A Pittsburgh graphic designer has created a doll similar to the Barbie species but with a whole range of flaws and afflictions — like acne — that make her more real. Or so says Nickolay Lamm, the doll’s creator. The doll is called Lammily. The Lammily kit comes with all sorts of common place stuff suitable to real life. She is the same height and dimensions of a normal 19-year-old, She comes with a set of vinyl “marks” (stickers) that give the doll customizable moles, acne, cellulite, stretch marks and more. Lammily is selling well for Christmas at $25.

Woman, 81, dead in Riverdale house fire, collapse

by  • 

Where is Angie? Sadly neighbors and authorities now know that the elderly woman has perished in the collapse of the home she owned at 282 Withrow Ave. in Riverdale. The building was consumed by flames beginning sometime around 4 a.m. The 81-year-old woman was greatly appreciated by those on the street. Firefighters put out the last of the flames around dawn. The CBC quotes Patricia Goluvev as saying she awoke to hear someone in the street yelling “everybody get out of your house.” “I’ve never seen anything like it.”  Ms. Goluvev said she fears that her elderly neighbour may have been trapped inside. “She’s a lovely sweet woman. I don’t think she got out.” 

Small condo at Leslie-Eglinton fetches $417,000

by  • 

A 909 square foot condominium at 1101 Leslie St. near Eglinton Ave. E. fetched $417,000 in recent days, 98% of its $424,900 price. It is known as Carrington on the Park and is quite near the Shops of Don Mills, a short distance from South Bayview. Toronto Star

“Facebook ads for luxury goods are for fakes”

by  • 

Bloomberg is reporting on new research by two Italian cyber-security experts, who found that about a quarter of the fashion and luxury ads on Facebook are actually touting knockoffs. The findings are based on a review of more than a thousand ads, including 180 in the luxury and fashion space. Of that 180, 43 turned out to be pointing to counterfeit goods. Stylecaster