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,
Examining the “cheese issue” in EU free trade
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Stephen Harper and the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso have signed the free trade arrangement announced Wednesday in the Throne Speech. There is much being made of resistance in the cheese industry in Canada. But many will say Canadian cheese can stand up to European products easily. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has said she will ask for compensation for the dairy industry if there are damages. But hold on, small town Ontario is going to love it when truckloads of Ontario pork bellies start heading for the wharf. It is quality meat and it should have a good shot at breaking into European markets. That’s something the Ontario Agricultural Minister (the same Premier Kath in fact) could live with. Terry Milewski
Somali immigrant in bomb threat at PM’s office
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Sun News reports that a Toronto man, Mohamoud Jimale, 45, is charged in a suspicious package incident that shut down the offices in Ottawa where the Prime Minister normally works. Mr. Jimale’s wife has told the Sun that her husband is mentally ill. He was referred by the court for assessment. Sun News
Square House on Soudan asking $1,990,000
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A classic Square House has been unveiled at 593 Soudan Ave.and it is on the market for a cool $1,990,000. It sits on the south side between Cleveland St. and Banff Ave. and is notable as the lot occupied in the summer of 2012 by an art colony. The place was subsequently demolished. The Square House has many amenities including a finished basement with a recreation that boasts a heated floor. The principal rooms,. Living and Dining, are a very nice size at 25 by 11.5 feet each. It has four bedrooms and a number of other nice features.
Wanted man is Moore-Bayview balcony climber
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| 1220 Bayview, Oct. 3, 2013 |
Sources report that Simon William Gares, wanted for uttering threats to children, is the man who was on the outside edge of the sixth floor balcony at 1220 Bayview on October 3, 2013. He was threatening suicide and threatening to kill others. After nine hours, he was taken into custody. His medical condition is said to serious. According to CityNews, some midtown schools, including Maurice Cody Public School, have sent home information letters about Gares. The threats were apparently unspecified but as reported by the South Bayview Bulldog yesterday (Wednesday) an alert was issued as a precaution. Simon William Gares, a 32-year-old man is wanted for threatening death and mischief. Police say Gares made threats to the safety of elementary school children and believe he is violent and dangerous. Some of the Toronto District School Board principals sent out a letter to let parents know about the incidents while urging them not to worry. “[Police] have recommended to us that we share this with you with the understanding that there is no need for concern,” Maurice Cody Principal Andrew Howard said in a letter. “Our staff is fully aware of this situation and will be extra vigilant letting people in through our security system, supervising at recess and during both pick-up and drop-off times.” Spokesman Ryan Bird told CityNews all TDSB schools keep their outer doors locked and require visitors to buzz in via an intercom, and sometimes a camera. He said some parents have called their children’s schools with questions, and he encouraged any others with concerns to do the same. Police say it’s not safe to approach Gares and anyone who sees him should call 911. Street photos Rudy.ca
Guess what? Bundling is about nation-building
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Those who will take a hit if the government forces cable unbundling are complaining. Cable companies make money when there are more channels and if marginal channels like the aboriginal service are unbundled, very few will buy it for their own home. Revenues will fall and maybe the aboriginal channel will disappear. There are others like it. But we have never lived in a free market when it comes to radio and television, And maybe that’s how we like it, except the part where we have to pay. Guelph Mercury
Lover of Halloween starts decoration contest
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| Karen Fraser in her garden |
A Mallory Crescent woman, Karen Fraser, has organized a contest which will award prizes to the winning homeowners of the best Halloween-decorated home. There is more than a touch of nostalgia in Ms Fraser’s undertaking. “I was born on October 30,” she confided as she stood in her front yard decorated with imitation tombstones. Of course, who doesn’t have fond recollections of Halloween at both a tender and well-seasoned age? Judges for the event will be Ms Fraser, Rob Tremblett (Valumart) the well-known Patrick Rocca, J.D. Singh of the Sleuth of Baker Street and Ms. Fraser’s daughter, Monange, five years. There is a website setting out the categories and some useful reminders for zealous Halloween competitors. Notably, decorations must be “PG13” and safe, the judges’ decision will of course be final and judging of the finalists will be based only on what is visible from the sidewalk. It appears at present that the plans include only Leaside so a crossing of Bayview Ave. to judge the locally-famous work of the family at 384 Belsize Drive may not be on. Once again this home is setting up for an intellectually and visually entertaining display. Last year’s effort, Creepy Peter Pencil Eater was a stand out. There are good prizes offered by the contest. Mr Rocca has donated two Leafs tickets, there is a certificate to dine at the Fox and Fiddle and somewhere in this cornucopia, a couple pies designed to raise the dead by Madeleines.ca, the well-known cake and pastry business. You may read the rules of the contest here and note the deadline for entries is midnight Monday, October 28. 2013 Rules,entry details Creepy Peter decoration