Uptown Yonge Christmas tree lighting Nov 28

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The Uptown Yonge BIA will hold its Fourth Annual Christmas street lighting on Friday, November 28 in the St. Clements-Yonge Parkette at 14 St. Clements Ave.  It will take place between 7 and 8 p.m. and this charming little corner of town will hold such delights at hot chocolate and holiday songs. Some of the names connected with the lighting are: hot chocolate by Uncle Betty’s, cookies by Dufflet, tree compliments of Sheridan Nurseries, Entertainment by award winning recording artist MARKUS and the St. Clements School Musicians

NSS students asked to take a moment for safety

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Parachute Canada is thanking Northern Secondary School students for participating this morning (Monday, November 17, 2014) in traffic safety awareness. A clever play on words asks kids to take a “Moment of Silence” before crossing the street. Meaning, make sure you are paying attention. This is especially true just outside NSS where the corner of Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Broadway Ave. can be pretty busy when school is over. Everybody is looking good but between the phones and each other the boys and girls are distracted from cars and trucks. Traffic can become an afterthought. So go safely guys. Twitter

Liquor license for Local Public Eatery on Laird

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Notice has been given by the firm known as Local Public Eatery of Vancouver for the liquor license at its new location at 180 Laird Drive. That’s the old CIBC building with the nice parking lot on McRae Drive. The license calls for both inside and outside serving. A patio certainly means that the one-story addition at the rear of the building is intended to have outdoor tables overlooking McRae. There is really no other outside space. Previous post 

Bob Geldof: Band Aid 30 or Boomtown Bore?

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The Guardian newspaper has followed up on a jaundiced profile of Bob Geldof in recent days with a fairly jaundiced analysis of his plan for Band Aid  30. There seems to be a feeling that Geldof has run out of gas as a helpful agent in dealing with Third World issues — in this case Ebola. As the Guardian sees it, Geldof has plenty to say but most of it is stuck in the 80s. His plan to re-record Do They Know It’s Christmas to raise money to fight the contagion in West Africa is probably going to reinforce stereotypes that are not helpful. At least that’s what the Guardian’s thinkers say Many others may simply want some relief from the guilt dispensary that Geldof works so well when there is a microphone at hand. Guardian 

Monday’s Whitby-Oshawa byelection tightens

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Voters of the riding of Whitby-Oshawa go to the polls Monday to elect a replacement for the late Jim Flaherty. The candidates are attractive and it seems like a close race. The Conservative is former Whitby mayor Pat Perkins, the Liberal Celina Caesar-Chavannes, described as an entrepreneur and researcher.The Toronto Star takes a Forum Research poll showing Perkins with 44 percent support and Chavannes at 40 percent to be a dead heat, And maybe that’s justified by the margin of error. But to most people, it may be more like a close race. A loss here for the Conservative Party will be a hurtful thing. The riding is a traditional CP hold. Premier Wynne and many other Liberal luminaries have campaigned in the riding. It will make good television viewing Monday night. Toronto  Star
ANDREA HORWATH
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has easily survived a vote on her leadership at the party’s convention in Toronto Saturday. Horwath got the support of 77 per cent of delbrates.  

G-20 leaders put Putin in political deep-freeze

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World leaders were lining up today to tell Vladimir Putin he is a bully-boy non-gratis at the G-20 meeting in Brisbane, Australia. Prime Minister Harper was one of several heads of government who told the Russian oligarch to get out of Ukraine. Harper told Putin: “I guess I’ll shake your hand but I only have one thing to say to you. Get out of Ukraine.” Putin replied that he can’t because Russia isn’t there. This has been the Russian line since Putin instigated a rebellion by Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine and protected them while they formed a secessionist state. And there is no doubt that the Russians are in Ukraine as long they occupy the Crimea and call it their own. At lunch, Putin was solitary at a table with only the president of Brazil joining him. Later, to the relief of the Australian organizers of the meeting, Putin said he is leaving early — but not because no one wants him there. 

Christmas trees on sale at Bayview-Davisville

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The Christmas trees are out and on sale at the corner of Bayview and Davisville Aves. again, just like in the old days. On Saturday, November 15, 2014 the Davenport Nurseries unloaded the first truck at their new concession at this busy corner,  South Bayviewites will remember the many decades when trees were sold from this location by Garden Court Nureries  The truck arrived overnight so the selection is fantastic. Ask for Carla Rose.