Prepare yourself in watching this video for the sheer terror to be heard in the voice of the tractor trailer driver whose point of view you share. He is pushed off the road on Ontario Highway 11 north of Nipigon in northern Ontario as he travelled along with a full load at the speed limit. The oncoming semi pulls into the passing lane going uphill and heading into a curve while carrying a dangerous load, according to a sign on the trailer. The OPP are said to have a report and to be investigating.
Doolittle book deals with Mayor’s personal life
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Star reporter Robyn Doolittle’s book Crazy Town goes into the personal life of Rob Ford, an area that is typically given some privacy by big town commercial journalists The argument seems to be that it is no longer possible to separate the personal from the public when it comes to the mayor. In particular, the book contains an account of a secret recording of Mr. Ford’s wife, Renata, pouring out her heart about Ford’s drug use. Toronto Star The Twitter thread #topoli contains much clucking and giggling over the Mayor’s behaviour in Vancouver if you are still listening.
Hey Toronto, look what Calgary is doing
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At a cost that is much less than what would be needed to build an LRT system, Calgary council has approved a sweeping transitway for newly-designed buses that will whisk commuters downtown. Here in Toronto we may be sure this approach will cause a good deal of sniffing and peering down the nose. What hicks they must be. In this city, council much prefers to savour the psychedelic transit images summoned up by the drinking of our own “world class city” bathwater. Only subways of back-breaking cost will do for our legislators. CBC
Conrad Black stripped of his Canada medal
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The removal of the honours described here represent what seems like loose ends to the Conrad Black story. He will for many years remain an example of pig-headed foolishness in the face of the law. And yet, for all his damaging arrogance, he probably did more to earn the Canada medal than some of his Rosedale pals. They however did less to have it taken away. Reuters
“Take down solar panels and grow vegetables”
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Readers of the Toronto Sun can usually be relied upon to take a jaundiced view of solar panels — especially those that that seem ready to fall several storeys off the top of the apartment at 31 St. Dennis Drive near Don Mills Road. One writer says in response to this story: “Take them down and grow vegetables!” Another says: “One doesn’t need to be an engineer to look at those flimsy support poles and wonder why this collapsed under snow load. Folded like a cheap lawn chair.” And a third opined: (It) looks like a $100,000 worth of panels held up with poles that would not work for a tent.”
Carrie Tse’s creative school is Bamboo Bay
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Carrie Tse
This story was first published in January 2014. In the meantime, Ms Tse has gone on to make a success out of her business. Carrie Tse is a true daughter of Leaside who has two passions — art and children. After working for several years as a securities trader for ScotiaMcLeod, the mother of 3-year-old Ryan has decided to open the business of her heart’s desire. Carrie’s school of creative expression, Bamboo Bay, is now freshly installed in the bright offices above the shops at the northeast corner of Millwood Rd. and Bayview Ave. “I have always been interested in art,” she says. Carrie speaks with an earnest appreciation of the way children will find their own sense of style when given the right art materials. She has taken care to stock her classroom with quality paint, paper and crafts. The Bamboo Bay website details the creative programs available for children two to 12. Carrie is also offering an easy get-to-know-you drop-in opportunity on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. in February. Bamboo Bay. The journey to this new career started at Bessborough Public School. A teacher who became a friend was Jane Withers, now retired. Pupil and teacher kept in contact over the years by phone and e-mail. Carrie was surprised and deeply touched to find that when she visited Mrs.Withers, the teacher had kept pieces of Carrie’s art done years before at Bessborough. Even as Carrie pursued psychology and other fields at Waterloo University, the tug of her dream was there. After her hitch with ScotiaMcLeod, she decided to hone up her business skills at Ryerson. Carrie is the third of four daughters. Mom and dad, Yuet Wo and Shek Ming Tse, live in Leaside. They will be remembered by long-time South Bayview residents as the owners of the China Feast restaurant in the north block of the South Bayview business district. Many may long to taste again some of the excellent Cantonese dishes that were served there.
246 Forman Ave.sold for $951,000 in 7 days
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| 246 Forman Ave. |
The Toronto Star’s popular feature What They Got has information on 246 Forman Ave., a home that sold in seven days for $951,000. The asking price of this 1,300 square foot house was $849,900 and it sold previously in 2007 for $600,000. Further information: Lot: about 52- by 29-ft. irregular lot, built-in single car garage, private drive Taxes: $4,679 (2013) Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Days on the market: This property has a new kitchen and new heated floors in the kitchen, front hall, family room and basement. It also has two renovated bathrooms, a new roof, hot water system and windows.
Break-ins reported in Lawrence Park, East York
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There has been a break-in on Cheltenham Ave. in Lawrence Park. It occurred Tuesday, January 28, 2014, when thieves forced a window. The occupants were apparently out between 4.45 p.m. and about five after ten in the evening. Removed was a computer, a quantity of jewellery, identification, purses, keys and alcoholic beverages. Another break-in took place the same day on Queensdale Avenue south of East General Hospital between 5.30 p.m. and 1 a.m.the following day. Removed was a quantity of jewellery and a walkie talkie set.
Matlow, Parker, Kettel dream of derailed subway
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John Parker (Ward 26) has replied to Geoff Kettel’s e-mailed exhortation for residents to petition Parker to help derail the extension to the Bloor-Danforth subway. Mr. Kettel was inspired by Josh Matlow (Ward 22) who is working at council to delay the project as a waste of money. The subway scheme, known loosely as the Scarborough subway, is the fruit of Mayor Ford’s efforts to replace the already planned and funded LRT with a full out subway. Mr. Ford was provided with assistance in that triumph last October when the federal government agreed to contribute funds. It had been the last government to announce funding for a transit line of some sort. In his reply, Mr Parker says “I have favoured the LRT option from the start, and have voted accordingly at every turn in the debate. The difficult thing is that Council has now spoken. Our side lost.(24-20 on October 9, 2013, results below — Ed ) The councillor goes on: “Be assured I will none the less seek every practical opportunity to confirm my disapproval of the subway expansion proposal. Which I have done consistently as a member of Council and as a member of the TTC every time the matter has come before me. All of that having been said, you will understand that bringing about a change in policy will take more than one more vote from me at Council confirming my disapproval of the subway extension. It will take a new attitude by Council and – to be candid – some backbone at Queen’s Park. Which is where you might want to try to bring some immediate influence to bear if the goal is to bring about a change of policy concerning the LRT replacement proposal.” Below is the vote recorded on October 9, 2013 which was previously published. The only “local” councillor to vote in favour of the subway option was TTC chair Karen Stintz. Previous post plus Mr. Parker’s full letter as sent out by Mr. Kettel. on January 30, 2014.
Yes: 24 Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Giorgio Mammoliti, Peter Milczyn, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson
No: 20 Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Shelley Carroll, Janet Davis, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Denzil Minnan-Wong, John Parker, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam
Escalator horror death in Montreal subway
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A horror scenario in which clothing is drawn into a machine has played out in the Montreal subway with fatal results. A woman estimated to be about 48 years old was at the Fabre station this morning (Thursday, January 31, 2014) when her hair and scarf became entangled in a subway escalator. Police say that somehow the moving staircase grabbed the woman’s scarf. “She tried to pull the scarf free but her hair got entangled and she was apparently strangled to death,” a police spokesman said, citing witnesses and surveillance video.
Most minimum wage earners are far from poor
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A provocative spin here on the true nature of the minimum wage. The minimum hourly rate was officially raised 75 cents an hour by Premier Wynne this morning. It’s now $11. But does this help the poor? Konrad Yakabusski
Patio, sidewalk rules to be reviewed by City
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Toronto will hold a series of consultative meetings to review the bylaws on sidewalk patios and boulevard cafés. The Licensing and Standards division has undertaken the review in an attempt to create one bylaw for Toronto. As patio owners on South Bayview certainly know, each former municipality has a pre-amalgamation bylaw that regulates boulevard cafe and marketing activities. Many a prospective restaurant owner has learned to his chagrin that the east side of Bayview (former East York) and the west side of Bayview (Toronto) have very different rules. As a result, the requirements, approval processes, permit types and application fees are different depending on the area where the business is located. Each of the following four meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, February 6 in City Hall’s committee room 2Tuesday, February 11 in East York Civic Centre’s council chamberThursday, February 13 in Etobicoke Civic Centre’s main boardroomTuesday, February 18 in North York Civic Centre’s committee room 3
Here’s a source of more: Have your say.