John Tory will be excoriated in a television ad for saying women learn to play golf as means to get ahead in business. Rob Ford is under scrutiny for saying, some declare falsely, that he has a Jewish wife. Olivia Chow is sinking like a rock but her battle cry is that Doug Ford can’t win. Silly may not be a strong enough word for this season. Google leads
Shell drops gas price to 39.9 a litre — in Alberta!
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Shell was selling bronze grade gasoline for 39.9 cents a litre around Alberta Wednesday (October 8, 2014) to mark 30 years of refining in the province. It was a time of booming western growth and there was building everywhere. The Calgary Tower was still called the Husky Tower and it wasn’t quite finished. And gasoline was cheap. The anniversary specifically celebrated the opening of the Scotford refinery and styrene plant located approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Shell says that all products produced at the Scotford refinery come from Alberta’s oil sands. “I’m sitting on empty,” said Dave Dupuis, who was waiting for the 10 a.m. deal at the Edmonton Terra Losa Shell station since 7:05 a.m. “Why not? I’m going to save $80, $90.” He was first in a long line of vehicles hoping to get the deal within the hour it was being offered. “At least 250, 300 vehicles,” guessed Dupois. “It’s all the way past Shoppers Drug Mart.” “I think it’s absolutely awesome. The average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Edmonton was just over $1.12 per litre as of Wednesday October 8, according to monitoring site Tomorrow’s Gas Price Today. Albertans generally pay some of the lowest prices for fuel in the country. The promotion was generally met with enthusiasm on twitter from motorists lucky enough fill their tanks at the throw back prices. Boy 10 at HSC positive for Enterovirus D68
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Peekaboo twins Molly and Megan charm millions
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On demand news has delivered this adorable moment that Liverpool father caught his one-year-old twin girls playing a game of peekaboo after they had been put to bed. Molly and Megan Keher were supposed to be sleeping on Sunday night when dad, Andy, heard giggling from the hallway. Armed with his mobile phone, he crept down the corridor to see what had captured the imaginations of his baby daughters and watched in amazement as they played peekaboo for almost a minute and a half before he was spotted by little Molly.
“New blood” makes Northlea clinic a big success
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It’s sort of a joke among the hard-working people who organize blood donor clinics that finding new donors is a big win. They call it — um — new blood. This week new blood was a critical and most welcome element at the Northlea Public School clinic. Organizer Anne Murray wrote in a group mail that the clinic collected 137 units of blood, the third largest in the clinic’s eleven-year history. Some 168 people registered but of course testing must eliminate some. Anne sent a hearty “well done” to everyone.
Penrose Fish and Chips wraps up last orders
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| Penrose Fish & Chips, October 8th, 2014, 11:01am |
It’s pretty much last call at the beloved fish and chips shop at 600 Mount Pleasant Rd. CBC Penrose Fish and Chips to close
Rocca pumpkin giveaway set for October 25, 2014
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| Patrick Rocca |
Realtor Patrick Rocca invites everyone to get a Halloween pumpkin free at his 7th Annual Pumpkin Giveaway on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Once again the popular giveaway is being held in conjunction with the Leaside Haunted House Contest. Good fun. The pumpkin giveaway will take place at McDowell’s valu-mart at Bayview and Davisville Aves. between 11 a.m.and 3 p.m. Remember, if you can’t make it to the event, Patrick and the gang will deliver the pumpkin to your door. As usual it is sponsors by Patrick Rocca, Bosley Real Estate and McDowell’s. You can ask questions and get information by writing to Patrick. To apply for the Haunted House Contest go here.
Blood moon snapped at dawn over Riverdale
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Yvonne Yuen tweeted “Good night moon” as she snapped this picture about 6.30 a.m. when the blood moon eclipse peaked over Toronto. Now, while some may say that the name is actually more exciting than the experience, astronomers want you to know that this was caused when the full moon was obscured by the Earth’s shadow in the predawn hours. Anyway, thanks Yvonne.
Many turned away from Leaside election debate
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The overflowing crowd trying to get into the mayoralty debate in the William Lea Room was more than the fire regulations would allow Tuesday night (October 7, 2014). Members of the organizing Leaside Property Owners Association made a decision to turn away people at the outer door of the arena function room as the 260 odd chairs filled and standees gathered as many as six lines deep around them. Several umbrella toting persons who had walked to the arena had to turn around and go home. Inside, some LPOA organizers expressed resentment that the crowd seemed to contain many people from outside Leaside. As to the debate, it followed a pattern of frequently hyped answers from the candidates to orchestrated responses. Mayoral debates have largely ceased to offer anything fresh from the candidates. They are exercises in trying to massage the media coverage, whether live or delayed. The message is the media massage, one might say. The questions from the audience were pertinent if familiar. They ranged over transit, traffic and the OMB. This was all red meat in the parlance of politics for Leaside voters facing the chaos of the Eglinton Ave. LRT and the notice served by countless developers. There is also the stinging pain of the death of Georgia Walsh in July. That accident is now pretty much enshrined as proof of out-of-control traffic. Olivia Chow made references to this tragedy and expressed gratitude for the Slow Down signs which have appeared across the city. All candidates spoke sympathetically about this tragedy but their solutions to heavy traffic remain open to question. They all talk of stopping traffic from leaving main thoroughfares, but the definitions were necessarily vague. John Tory responded quietly to attacks on the viability of Smart Track by Mr. Ford. Tory said experts published today called the criticism from Ford and Chow a tempest in a teapot. The plan was a sensible way to use existing track to speed transit, Tory said. Dying honey bees: Let’s hear from all the experts
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The world will be truly grateful to Ontario environmental commissioner Gord Miller if he has indeed struck on the precise cause of the worrying decrease in the honey bee population. Today, Mr. Miller, accompanied by beekeeper David Shuitt, was close to tears as he predicted “the end of the ecosystem.” They say an insecticide named neonicontinoids is to blame. Mr. Miller called it more deadly than DDT, which actually is not saying very much if you listen to some people who think that DDT was wrongly banned in a wave of panic 40 years ago. But the disappearing honey bee could not be a more serious issue for any government. The problem, as described by Mr. Miller, is profound enough to require the attention of the Premier, and indeed of the Prime Minister for that matter. As in all things, it is wise to keep our wits about us in order to act sensibly. There is no value in causing panic. Let us hear from other experts and from our legislators as soon as possible.
Mountie who smoked dope found dead on job
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The CBC in New Brunswick is reporting that the troubled RCMP Corporal who wanted to smoke marijuana at work has been found dead. There is no word on the cause of death. CBC
Trish Quan takes break after giving blood
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Trish Quan was among many giving blood at the Northlea School blood donor clinic today (Tuesday, October 7, 2014). Trish is seen taking a break with cookies and juice after her donation. She has given blood four times at the Northlea Clinic. It was busy today and we will have detailed results as they are available.