The landmark Granite Club at 2350 Bayview Ave. will place plans for a large expansion in front of North York Community Council today (Tuesday, May 14, 2013). The expansion calls for a 24,500-square-foot recreational facility and bubble, a 4,015-square-foot maintenance building and 6,620-square-foot single-storey pavilion with roof viewing area. The recreational facility could be used for four tennis courts or a soccer field, according to the planning information. Existing homes at 2374 and 2378 Bayview would be demolished while the house at 2382 Bayview would be retained.
Thumbs up from Hadfield on Russian landing
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Canada’s celebrity astronaut, Commander Chris Hadfield, gives it a thumbs up as he is checked out after almost five months in orbit. In a unique and eventful tour of duty in the International Space Station, Hadfield revealed a complex and entertaining personality to the country — and to the world. From impromptu lessons on how to make peanut butter sandwiches to his plaintiff recording of David Bowie’s Ground Control to Major Tom, Hadfield, 53, became a household name in his native land. His safe return tonight was executed in a crowded Soyuz capsule with two other astronauts, American Tom Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko, crammed in there with him. Some have said Hadfield has the stuff of show business in him. Others see him as prime political candidate timber. We’ll see. Meantime, welcome back Chris. Well done. See and hear Hadfield’s Ground Control to Major Tom.
Disbelief as Leafs lose 5-4 heartbreaker in OT
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Maple Leaf Square is a Street of Broken Dreams tonight after the Maple Leafs stunning loss in Game 7 of their quarter final series with the Bruins. The impact of a squandered three goal lead left fans in disbelief. Many were seen crying. One was quoted as saying time stands still when your heart of broken. Having lost the lead, Toronto had to face the energized Bruins in overtime. It was too much. Seasoned sports reporters are calling it a choke loss. Six minutes into the OT it was all over. Reflectively the Leafs are being given credit for mounting the challenge they did. CBC
Bosma case propels cyber-sleuthing into high gear
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This is an interesting story about a matter of very high public interest. Hamilton Spectator
Metrolinx flip flop flips on tunneling under Leslie
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The Ontario agency charged with planning and overseeing the construction of transit, Metrolinx, has reversed itself a second time after complaints from the Leaside Property Owners Association. Metrolinx has now decided that the Scarboro Crosstown LRT will not be tunneled across the Don Valley and under the tributary that runs there. For cost reasons the underground route would have required the elimination of the Leslie St.. station. To build the station underground would have cost an additional $80 million. Now however, Metrolinx says the station will be built at surface level as ratepayers have demanded. In announcing this decision Metrolinx has apparently not mentioned a reason given to ratepayers at a public meeting in December as to why the line should go underground all the way to Don Mills. That concern stated unspecified issues with regard to the integrity of the foundation of the huge Scenic on Eglinton development on the south side of Eglunton Ave. E. if the tracks proceeded at ground level. Where this concern, if it was real, has gone to is not known. Previous post
Star Trek re-make and commercial spin-offs
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Some Star Trek fun in the form of a movie trailer (left) and a distinctly Vulcan Audi commercial (right). As to the movie premier, the film shows how the main characters Chris Pine (Capt Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (First Officer Spock) have been defined by the original players for all time right down to their physical appearances. It’s as if William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy were characters in real history when they warp-sped their way around the living-room TV tube universe.
Hamburgers to sizzle on South Bayview?
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The word on South Bayview today (Saturday, May 11, 2013) was that there will be fast-food hamburgers for sale sooner rather than later at the now vacant Jus de Vie location. We’ll see. But stay tuned. In the meantime, it appears that there are also hamburgers in the Bulldog’s backyard. Thank heavens.
Thundering wall of ice smashes Manitoba town
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| Click to see ice damage video |
A speeding wall of ice has thundered across Lake Dauphin about 300 kilometres north of Winnipeg and smashed into a community of 20 cottages. Residents are stunned by the surprise occurrence and the damage that has been done. Many can hardly believe that tons of ice could have moved so quickly and arrived without any warning. The Deputy Reeve of Ochre Lake has told the CBC that many people were watching hockey in their living rooms when they felt the house shake and heard their decks splintering into junk. A woman recounts looking outside around dinner and seeing the ice wall coming rapidly at her home. She shouted to her husband to get out and followed him in making an escape. The CBC report linked here says locals recall this type of thing only once before in living memory — that was in the 1960s. No one was injured in the ice onslaught. See video.
Volunteers support LePage Shelter Sale Saturday
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The many volunteers who support the Annual Shelter Foundation Garage Sale held by Royal LePage were up well before the birds Saturday morning.They had to unpack and display three PODS full of really excellent donations. These pictures were taken before 8 a.m. at the 1391 Bayview parking lot when there was still an exciting array of goods.
Execution bid at Yorkdale shows need for CCTV
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The amateur attempt at a mafia-like execution at Yorkdale Mall early this morning should make every citizen ask: Where were the CCTV cameras? And not just that. Where is the mandatory public and private program to require such surveillance in our trendy public places. It may not be true in this case, but chic commercial places attract no-goods who like to pretend they belong to the gentry. In this case, it is said that a Honda CRV sped into the mall and stopped in front of the JOEY restaurant just after midnight. A guy got out and started firing through the window at a patron inside. One man was hit several times but is said to be in improving condition in Sunnybrook Hospital This is the second shooting at Yorkdale in two months. If Yorkdale cares about its customers — if the City cares about its citizens — this matter will go to the top of the agenda. Business and government should act now and stop worrying about what some people will think. Such cameras are legal and fully within the rules of our open society.
Food, games and prizes await at Mayfair 2013
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Mayfair 2013 will have a dry is somewhat cloudy day for events in the annual Rosedale Park festivities. Here we see five charming ladies leading off the traditional Saturday morning parade from Mooredale Park at Welland Ave. and Moore Ave. They are beside the great maple tree opposite 144 Hudson Drive. This year Mayfair celebrates cultures, costumes, and food from around the world. In recent times Mayfair festivities have been advanced to Friday evening in a type of preview. Typically this involves trying out and admiring the carnival rides under the lights. Today (Saturday May 11, 2013) however will feature the rituals of food and midway games, bouncy castle, face painting and many things of youthful interest. Kids who dress up win prizes. Cyclists ride will slow Bloor Street traffic
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The Bells On Bloor ride will take place today (Saturday, May 11, 2013) during the mid-day period and will disrupt other traffic along Bloor from Higjh Park over to the Danforth. This is a cyclists organization which is promoting the creation of cycling lanes along this route. BellsonBloor.org.