Christopher Borgal of GBCA architects has kindly written to clarify some elements of our post earlier this week that the Coca Cola bottling plant at 46 Overlea Blvd. was being demolished. Mr. Borgal says his firm was retained to offer an opinion on the heritage status of the 1965 office building at 42 Overlea. His mail says: “A Heritage Impact Assessment was prepared by GBCA for the office building at 42 Overlea and, while we noted that there are some interesting attributes to the structure, on balance the major benefits to the community — which will be a political decision — may reside in the proposed redevelopment of the site. The report also recommends incorporating the Yarwood sculpture that you feature in the article into a community space for all of Thorncliffe Park to enjoy and supports the retention of the granite wall that is featured at the front of the existing building. Please note, however, that the office building at 42 Overlea is not designated at the moment — it is currently on the City’s Inventory of Heritage Buildings but has not been deemed of sufficient interest to designate under the Ontario Heritage Act. In addition, there has been no application for demolition of the office building.” The South Bayview Bulldog is really pleased to have this general clarification and to be corrected in regard to the office building status. It is always gratifying to receive first-hand information from professional people who have special knowledge of such situations. Our statement that there was “a request” to demolish the office building was a little loose perhaps because what we intended to say was that the building will be demolished if the Costco proposal is accepted and a permit issued. It would be very surprising indeed if anyone presumed to knock down the office building at this interim stage. Previous posts on the Coke site describe some of the points raised by Mr. Borgal. In particular the decision to save and locate the Yarwood sculpture in a place of honour in any new development. See especially post headlined “100,000 sq ft of green space at Overlea Costco.”
53 Div. show jewels, valuables for identification
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| Costly studs, cross and watch |
When police arrested two people during a shoplifting occurrence near Yonge and Broadway Ave. just before Christmas, they didn’t expect to be producing an exhibition of stolen jewellery in the New Year. But they are. The two were seen by security staff stealing a laptop from a shop earlier in the year. When they came back on December 13, 2013, they were recognized and nabbed by police. In the course of their investigation, police recovered items that include gold chains, bracelets, rings and watches. “We have about 15 pieces of mainly women’s jewelry,” Detective Chazz Stern said. “There is also a men’s bracelet and Rolex among the items.” Stern said. Members of the public can come in any time at 53 Division, 75 Eglinton Ave. W. to view photos of the recovered property. “There is a book at the front desk with pictures of the jewelry,” he said.
Mugger opens car door to rob woman driver
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At ten to six in the evening last Tuesday a 45-year-old woman tells police she was parking her vehicle in the area of Markham Road and Eglinton Avenue East. A man — 19 to 24 years — approached and opened the driver’s side door. He attempted to remove the woman’s chain from around her neck There was a struggle in which the suspect punched the victim, pulled her out of the car and threw her to the ground. The suspect then removed the victim’s chain and purse and fled the scene in an unknown direction. No serious injuries were sustained by the victim. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described person in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect: Male, white, 19 to 24 years, 5’10”, 174 pounds, medium build.
Will “smart watches” cause more accidents?
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Curved TVs, smart watches and robot fridges are among the devices on display on day one of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. “Right now you can buy a curved TV, but if you can’t decide if you want it flat or not you can choose a flexible ones,” explained Bridget Carey, an editor with CNET, the online tech site. “Curved is supposed to be a more immersing experience when it surrounds you. Not everyone wants curved all the time.” And there is the “”smart watch.” Will it make you blind? In this age of growing resistance to the use of smart phones in cars, will it even be legal to strap on a smart watch and hit the road?
Penechetti sets storm costs at $171 million in 2013
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| Penechetti |
City Manager Joe Penechetti has run the numbers carefully and announced this evening that the storms that hit Toronto last year will cost taxpayers $171 million. Between the floods in July, and the ice storm in December the city works meter just kept on chugging until it hit this staggering figure. It seems like a lot but anyone who has ever prepared a budget will know how salaries and overtime drive up the cost. All those hundreds of extra people working to restore power are the biggest thing. During the two days of solid rain that resulted in the July flooding, hundreds of men were called out to physically assist hundreds of people stranded on a GO train. Penechetti said he will be suggesting that Toronto ask the Ontario government to help.
Toronto’s Vivian Bercovici named envoy to Israel
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| Bercovici |
It is an appointment that will re-ignite the arguments about just how Canada should conduct itself in the Middle East. Our new ambassador to Israel is a fervent supporter of the state. And it gets down to where each of us find the moral high ground in that benighted part of the world. The U.S. took an interesting approach to what many will call the key point yesterday. John Kerry, the secretary of state, asked the Palestinian authority to recognize Israel’s right to exist and to exist in peace. It goes to the heart of what Canada’s new ambassador, Vivian Bercovici says, namely that the interminable conflict is caused by the refusal of some governments to recognize Israel on any terms. Ottawa Citizen
Polar bear cub takes first wobbly steps at Zoo
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Forget the polar vortex Let’s go with this polar bear cub instead. He has been generating absolute gurgles of love and affection since the Toronto Zoo released this video early Wednesday. Adorable, Huggable. Put him in your pocket. Just remember, he’ll grow up. The sole surviving polar bear cub of three born in November is growing and is now taking his first steps forward. The video shows the cub taking a few steps and making sounds. The cub, now growing whiskers, is kept in a permanently air conditioned room and receives six bottles of milk each day. He weighs just 4.4 kg but according to a Zoo press release, has started to bite things — his blanket being one of his main targets. “He is beginning to teethe and likes to bite objects such as his blanket. His canine teeth, incisors and some of his molars can now be felt.”
China tourist with H5N1 flu dies in Calgary
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Salt at Valu Mart, bags limited 2 to a customer
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There is a supply of road salt at Tremblett’s Valu Mart at Bayview and Davisville Aves. The 10 kg bags are nicely priced at $5.99 and the limit is two to a customer. Wednesday afternoon there was still a stack outside the front door. They were saying inside that this was first road salt they had seen in nearly two weeks. Previously, people were taking bags by the cart load. None of that today but apparently the old husband and wife trick of each going through a separate check-out to buy four is fairly common. We love our salt.
Ice storm work thaws Rob Ford’s approval rating
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Bayview Bulldog’s Secret Road Salt Diary
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Dear Diary, They were very nice at Sobey’s over in the Smart Centre on Wicksteed. It’s just that one girl had a kind of smirk when I asked about the road salt that Ian said was there. But, that was two days ago. It was already gone and there had been another order of several skids since then. However it was sold out too. People were taking them in 50 bag purchases, they said. Gee. Then Marcel beeped me that there was some at Tru Valu Hardware on Bayview Ave. but it was $39.95 for a 10kg bag. Sigh. I guess that’s private enterprise, Diary. It’s not like the old Soviet Union where it didn’t matter if there was road salt because no one had a car and if you complained about it they sent you to mine salt. Canadian Tire Corporation had some salt but they seem very weary of people like me asking them if there’s any left. Probably the best chance of getting some salt is to keep an eye peeled for yellow bags piled up by the gas pumps at the local service station. Don’t you think so, Diary?
So why a total ground stop at Pearson today?
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Many sources including the Toronto Star have raised the question of why a paralyzing ground stop was necessary at Pearson Airport this morning. It has been a frightful frigid day and anyone can understand how the cold will slow down human activity. After all, humans have to ensure their survival before they can work. So there was a real issue. But other airports continued to function. Why a shutdown? Here is a medley of photos showing the jammed luggage carousel, crowded halls and sleepy passengers. Robert Palmer, a West Jet spokesperson, said the ramp was dangerous and it was not safe to put ground crew on it. He called the cold weather extraordinary and unpredictable.