The gripping catastrophe that was the sinking of the Titanic continues to fascinate us even as the actual event fades more than a century into history. So great was the human loss that the stories are seemingly endless. This is about the bandmaster of the Titanic, Wallace Hartley, who with his colleagues continued to play as a solace to doomed passengers. Hartley and his fellow musicians died with those still aboard when the ship broke in two and disappeared. Now the violin that Hartley was playing that night in 1912 has been auctioned off in London for the equivalent of $1.5 million. At the left is the actual bidding. At right, an excellent story from CBS done before the auction in which the story is told in full, including how the violin survived, and how the instrument’s authenticity was established.
Jet noise group TANG meets with Minister Raitt
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The Toronto Aviation Noise Group (TANG) is reporting to members and the general public today in mail about a meeting the executive had with the Minister of Transport, Lisa Raitt. The meeting was also attended by members of the federal air navigation body, NAV Canada, and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority. Also present was Don Valley West MPP John Carmichael. The meeting was run by Minister Raitt and was designed as a briefing for her. TANG was able to present both in person, and in a package of briefing material for the Minister and others in attendance, the core issues related to the aircraft noise problem in our communities. This problem was created by the rerouted and concentrated landing path to Pearson routed over our neighbourhoods (includes South Bayview) in February 2012. TANG also included in the package a range of solutions which are in use in other jurisdictions. They were given “a good hearing” by the Minister and had the sense that she understood the issue and was sympathetic to the problem with which residents are living. The TANG mail says however that there has been no undertaking. Residents of South Bayview began to notice increased noise at all hours when traffic in and out of Pearson Airport was re-routed.
Downtown largely closed to cars for marathon
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There are multiple road closures throughout the City and especially downtown for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The practical effect for many will be the simple closure of the downtown area. CP24
Ghoulish Giveaway finds happy customers
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There was news to be heard at today’s Ghoulish Giveaway event at Tremblett’s Valumart on Bayview Ave. Rob Tremblett has gained assess to the piece of land on Davisville Ave. and will shortly extend his parking lot southward. This is the now tumble down place where Garden Court Nurseries did business and, as it turns about, was the site of Charlene Kalia’s annual event this year. Above happy sisters got faces painted, although one seems not so sure. (Saturday, October 19, 2013)
Wallin says she will fight attempt to suspend her
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The Prime Minister is keeping busy with European free trade and whatever else he can find to do. Meantime, the Senate fiasco grinds on with plans by the Conservatives to suspend three senators over inappropriate expense claims. Government motions to suspend Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin, all former Conservatives appointed by Harper, will be discussed in the coming week. If approved, the action would stop their pay, benefits and Senate resources for the rest of the parliamentary session, potentially as long as two years. Senator Wallin is threatening a legal battle if the plans continue. Her lawyer calls it an affront to Canadian democracy. The Senate motions are set to be debated next week. Wallin’s lawyer, Terrence O’Sullivan says there is nothing in the audits or the resulting Senate reports that make any mention of gross negligence. O’Sullivan says the Senate’s own rules and the constitution require due process, something he says Wallin has been never afforded during a series of in-camera hearings. Meanwhile, Mike Duffy has gone on medical lave from the Senate on the advice of his doctor, he says. Duffy’s health has been conditional for a long time. He has had heart surgery. The huge balloon of the former Ottawa correspondent for CTV and the CBC was inflated in the shadow of Parliament in July. Nairobi suspect was under surveillance years ago
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Somali-born Norwegian immigrant identified as one of Westgate shopping mall suspects was on radar of police for years Telegraph U-K
Lakey finds that the impossible takes a little while
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Jack Lakey must be wondering how he gets so lucky. Back he was again this week wearing his Fixer hat with a Toronto Star card in the band outside the venerable Pik Kwik depanneur on the northwest corner of Mt Pleasant Rd and Broadway Ave. That’s kitty corner from Northern Secondary School. This is where we recorded Lakey’s efforts last year to get a fully functional bus shelter. Instead, the city installed one with no sides. We suggested commuters hide from the winter winds in the phone booth. Now Lakey finds that despite roadwork and the new shelter, the sidewalk continues to pool water to pond-like depths right where people wait for the Mt. Pleasant bus. Previous post
Civitan Arena headed for DVP and York Mills?
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| Don Mills Civitan Arena |
It begins to look like a replacement for the crumbling Don Mills Civitan Arena at 1030 Don Mills Rd will be built on the northeast intersection of York Mills Rd and the Don Valley Parkway. But the final decision will be taken by city council in January. The delay in making a final decision at this week’s council meeting was caused by Jaye Robinson (Ward 25) who said there had not been enough consultation in her ward. Staff has prepared a request for a proposal to build the $24.5 million structure but will sit on it until the decision is taken in the new year.
Pirate movie site IsoHunt finally forced to close
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| Gary Fung |
IsoHunt, the Canadian owned BitTorrent site that has facilitated the viewing of first run movies in violation of copyright, has been forced to close down. It’s owner, Canadian Gary Fung, of Vancouver, has admitted he cannot continue after more than a decade of litigation by wealthy copyright holders like Disney and others. It is not unreasonable to say that the closure of Mr. Fung’s site will alter the television watching habits of millions around the world. The IsoHunt phenomenon was a sub-culture of illicit movie viewing which grew into a enormous business boasting well-off middle class customers who might have easily afforded any form of legal entertainment viewing. BBC
Leaside “manhunt” ends with Gares in custody
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| Starbucks bulletin board |
With the conversation in many corners of South Bayview about Simon William Gares, and pictures of him on the bulletin board at the Bayview Ave. and Belsize Drive Starbucks, the search for Mr. Gares. 32, was about as close to a manhunt as the area has seen for some time. Around 2 p.m. police issued a Facebook appeal to the public for continued assistance, saying that he was last seen in North Toronto and Leaside. Moments later, the Facebook page was gone. Word had arrived at 53 Division that officers had apprehended the wanted man. A number of readers of The South Bayview Bulldog were aware of the details of Mr. Gares’s life — his medical and mental condition, his medication and places he frequented here. Happily he will now get medical care and police may move on to other things. Parents and school officials will be gratified. Previous post
Toronto the “2nd-most reputable place on earth”
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It would be nice to learn how to accept a compliment gracefully. And it is nice, really it is, to think that Toronto is the most reputable city in the world but one. The people who did this survey declared Sydney first. We only know there were 22,000 respondents from G8 countries. There were 100 cities on the list. Knowing this, however, you have to admit that the whole survey sounds a bit like foolish flattery. Keep in mind the top ten cities were Sydney, Toronto, Stockholm, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Edinburgh, Zurich, London and Copenhagen. Do you have a sense that these ten lovely towns might easily be interchangeable when it comes to reputability, livability, niceness, amiability or sensibility. We ask with earnest desire to know. Just what is the Reputation Institute anyway? Listen, if they want to make South Bayview all by itself part of the club, we wouldn’t object. It would be no more contrived than the present list. Not nice either to compare invidiously places like Toronto with Baghdad. That’s an “oops” big-time. It’s like we didn’t have a brain. Link here to CP24 with straight-faced version.
6th Annual Pumpkin Giveaway is October 26
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Realtor Patrick Rocca is having his 6th Annual Pumpkin Giveaway on Saturday, October 26, 2013. This neighborhood original sees a promotion by Tremblett’s Valumart and Patrick Rocca to deliver pumpkins in Leaside for just the asking. You can write to Patrick. Free Pumpkins. Watch for the Tremblett’s and Rocca Hummer and Trailer full of pumpkins travelling throughout our community between 12-3 p.m,