Wind whips South Bayview with more to come

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Bayview and Sutherland
November’s windy weather is especially noticeable this week with gusts up to 40 k/hr today and stronger winds forecast for later this week. Tomorrow we may see gusts up to 50 k/hr.   These garbage containers on Bayview Ave. at Sutherland tumbled out into the road Tuesday. Another effect of the winds is the chill factor. Temperatures of near zero feel like you’re experiencing something well below that. As it turns out,  those higher winds will soon come with warmer temperatures. It will reach a high of 5 degrees Celsius tomorrow  and by the weekend we’ll have temps as high as 12 degrees Celsius. 

Storekeeper, 76, attacked by two young thieves

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There was a gratuitous attack on a 76 year old storekeeper at the AZ Mini Mart at 8 Satterly Road near Islington Ave and Steeles Ave W. It happened at about 6.50 p.m. on Sunday when two young men came into the store.They demanded cash and emptied the man’s pockets of personal money and a phone. Then they hit him on the head  even though he had complied with their demands.  He was taken to hospital and will recover. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying suspects described as follows: Suspect #1: Male, 18 to 20 years, 5’2”, 135 pounds, thin build. Suspect #2: Male with no further description. .

Shoppers Drug Mart shows modest Q3 growth

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Shoppers Drug Mart is showing a modest increase in third quarter same stores sales and a similar increase for the year so far. The company, which was recently purchased by Loblaws and awaits approval from the Competition Bureau, released these high lights Tuesday:  Third Quarter Year-Over-Year Highlights Sales increase of 2.4% to $3.287 billion Same-store increase of 2.2% Pharmacy sales increase of 2.7% to $1.582 billion Same-store increase of 1.8% Retail prescription count increase of 5.3% Same-store increase of 4.1% The public is waiting to see just how the Loblaws and Shoppers businesses will be adjusted to make the purchase worthwhile. Loblaws has said the business will continue to stand alone but common sense dictates that there will be some rationalization. Otherwise the deal  has no value.  

North Korea executes 80 to repress western ideas

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Several large-scale public executions of around 80 people have taken place in North Korea, according to a South Korean newspaper. In one, women and children were herded into a sports stadium and forced to watch people being shot dead by machine gun fire. The executions took place on Sunday November 3, a source told the paper. Speculation in South Korea is that the bloody repression is intended to stop the infiltration of capitalist and Christian thinking into the strict communist country. There is a growing taste for western movies and TV in North Korea. In South Korea, about half of the country’s 50 million people are fairly devout Christians, a distinct threat to North Korea, a state of about 25 million.   Daily Mail 

Flood prevention night at Leaside High School

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An important meeting to discuss causes of flooding in Leaside will be held Tuesday, November 26, 2013, in the Cafeteria room of Leaside High School, 200 Hanna Road. This is the public consultation portion of the city’s strategy to prevent flooding of the kind experienced in 2005 with the storm of August 19.  As we know,  Toronto has also been subject to serious flooding subsequently, most notably August 2009 and again this past July when two days of heavy rain stranded a GO train in the swollen Don River. This will be the First Public Information Centre to learn about the causes of flooding and the options that will be considered to address the problem in the study area. Everyone will have an opportunity to view information display boards and speak one-on-one with project staff.  Location and times again:  Tuesday, November 26, 2013 from: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at  Leaside High School 

Mayor meets with trainer, doctor, nutritionist

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Joe Warmington in the Sun says he has learned that Mayor Ford has “got together” with a personal trainer. The mayor also saw a doctor on Saturday and a “person with expertise in nutrition.”  There is skepticism however that this type of assistance, good as it may be, will address the mayor’s apparent substance abuse issues. Joe Warmington

What will be open and closed across Toronto

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Open: 
All Toronto Public Library branches will be open.
Schools will be open
Fort York is the only one of the city’s 10 historic museums that will remain open. Admission is free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Parks, Forestry and Recreation programs City services that regularly operate 24 hours a day/seven days a week (such as 311 and emergency services) will remain available Emergency shelters
 LCBO Stores will open at noon.

    Closed
    Banks Post offices Federal and provincial government offices
    All Toronto Employment and Social Services locations
    Solid Waste Management Services’ drop-off depots and Container Pickup locations Children’s Services offices and centres
    All parking ticket counters
    Long-Term Care Homes and Services adult day programs
    All Property Tax and Utility payment counters at City Hall and the civic centres will be closed.

        Sea of red and white for Sunnybrook veterans

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        The promised sea of red and white flags greeted veterans and their relatives at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre as Remembrance Day ceremonies took place in the residence of the largest single group of vets in the land. Wartime leader Winston Churchill overlooks this vista of flags, one of many near the George Hees Wing of the hospital. Sunnybrook  is home to some 500 men and women who have fought in  World War II, the Korean war and more recent actions against terrorism in Afghanistan. Downtown, services were held at the Old City Hall Cenotaph. Hundreds participated in  a ceremony that saw a march by colour parties and music from 7th Toronto Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery band. After the clock tower’s bells tolled at the 11th hour, bugler Cpl. Steve Abra of 7th Toronto Regiment  performed  The Last Post. Remembrance Day, which began in Britain in 1919, honours members of armed forces who have died in the line of duty while serving Commonwealth countries. Photo: The South Bayview Bulldog 

        Canada will match funds raised for typhoon relief

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        Canada will contribute $1 for every dollar donated by the public to help the estimated 600,000 Filipinos left homeless by Typhoon Haiyan. The International Development Minister Christian Paradis made it clear that the matching funds will be in addition to $5 million emergency contribution announced yesterday. The matching funds offer will continue until December 9, 2013, Paradis said.

        Sea of red and white to greet vets at Sunnybrook

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        In the early morning hours of November 11th just off Bayview Avenue  thousands of Canadian flags will be planted on the lawns in front of Sunnybrook Veterans Centre. The flags, which were purchased by citizens and corporations to raise funds, will honour and inspire the 500 Canadian veterans living at Sunnybrook. The health centre says that when when the vets awake on Remembrance Day “there will be a sea of red and white flags in a magnificent tribute and show of appreciation, from Canadians far and wide who have not forgotten their courageous contributions”. Proceeds from the campaign will go to the Veterans Comfort Fund at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre. This fund provides veteran residents with things such as computers, community outings, and continued learning opportunities, all in an effort to enable Veterans to attain the best possible life experience while at Sunnybrook. Raise A Flag

        Fighting despair in storm-ravaged Leyte province

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        Canada and the world are struggling to respond to the human crisis in Leyte province in the southernmost part of the Philippines. As many as 10,000 are feared dead in the wake of the ferocious typhoon that hit the country. Canada has pledged $5 million in aid immediately.  Here in Toronto, there were prayers for relatives and loved ones in Filipino churches.