Dr. Allison McGeer to fight SARS in Saudi Arabia

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Dr. Allison McGeer
Dr. Allison McGeer, director of infection control at Mt. Sinai Hospital is heading to Saudi Arabia where officials are asking for help to figure out what strain of SARS has popped up in that country. McGeer is a renowned expert in such matters.  A spokesperson for the World Health Organization says two people from the global health agency are also travelling to Saudi Arabia to consult on the outbreak, which appears to have involved spread of the new virus among patients in hospitals in the city. Saudi Arabia announced last week that it had confirmed a group of seven new cases of infection with the virus in al Hofuf, five of whom were already dead.  CTV

McHappy TEGH fundraiser on Danforth Ave.

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The McDonald’s at 1735 Danforth Ave. just east of Coxwell Ave. was jumping Wednesday morning as many celebrities and VIPS arrived to help raise money for Toronto East General Hospital, just around the corner at  Coxwell and Mortimer.  Outside, ordinary drive-through customers were greeted by two stalwarts from the 55 Division. Staff Sergeant Adrianne Johnstone and Insp Greg Cole were looking for contributions for the cause. McHappily, there were no trunk searches for liquor. Inside, Chief Bill Blair, former Toronto Maple Leaf Nick Kypreos and John Tory from Newstalk 1010 whooped it up with a large turnout which included players with Cricket Canada and the Varsity Blues University of Toronto Club, members of the East York Rotary Club and Crime Stoppers Toronto. 

Mary Shadd PS fire a reason for security cameras

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It is a recurring appeal from those who like The  South Bayview Bulldog believe that communities should begin to understand and accept the use of surveillance cameras better than they. It’s true, that video from the scene of the vandalism at Mary Shadd Public School in Scarboro would not re-build the play equipment, but the cameras might have stopped those responsible from committing this foolish act.  

Kids continue to be targeted for cell phones

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Two more cases of kids being targeted for cell phone being reported by the Toronto Police Service this morning.  A 12 year old boy in Scarboro reports that last Friday (May 3, 2013)  at about 5.20 p.m. was in the area of Markham Road and Cougar Court when he was approached from behind by a male suspect. The suspect engaged the victim in the conversation and grabbed the victim’s cellular phone from his hand. A struggle ensued and the suspect fled the scene on a bicycle in a southeastern direction towards Cedar Drive.  Yesterday (May 7, 2013) two 13 year old boys say that at about 3.05 p.m.1505 hours were in the area of Colbeck Street and Durie Street when they were approached by two male suspects. The suspects went through the victims’ pockets and removed their cellular phone, pushing one of the victims against a car. The suspects then fled the scene towards Bloor Street West. No injuries were sustained by the victims. 

Big space under renovation at Sunnybrook Plaza

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Lots of good guessing going on at Sunnybrook Plaza this week as renovations proceed in the huge portion of the Rogers space which the company gave up last year during the video business downsize. It looks to be maybe 10,000 square feet, highly suitable for a fast food restaurant like a Tim Hortons. We don't know, but Tim was sniffing around Sunnybrook last month. Down at the east end, it is said that New York Fries will take the vacant Mountain Bean space.

Enduring ABBA opens museum in Stockholm

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Click to see video
A museum dedicated to the now legendary Swedish group ABBA has opened in Stockholm. The catchy tunes, outlandish costumes and shimmering boots are all on display and are attracting fans worldwide, even though ABBA has not performed since its breakup some 30 years ago. The permanent exhibit within a Hall of Fame of Swedish pop music opened  today (Tuesday, May 7, 2013). Visitors will be able to sing along to ABBA hits with life-size holograms of band members — and download the images. “I would be interested, even if I hated ABBA, about how it actually happened and why,” former band member Bjorn Ulvaeus said yesterday at the museum. But Ulvaeus, 68, rejected suggestions that the opening could inspire a band reunion. Singer Agnetha Faltskog had hinted last month at one. Video of museum 

McGuinty testimony makes you want to cry

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The linked CBC story is headlined McGuinty admits moving gas plants was his decision  Really. What a surprise. Did he say he was sorry?  The former premier said the closure cost more than he would have liked.  You can bet the house on it.  Too bad he couldn’t contain himself.  He would still be premier and the public would still have the money. CBC

How can Bell-Astral deal possibly benefit Canada?

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Several consumer groups will tell the CRTC Tuesday that it is against the national interest for BCE to absorb Astral Media.  They say the proposed transaction would eliminate the largest remaining independent broadcaster and further concentrate an already heavily concentrated Canadian media market in the hands of a few large vertically integrated players (Bell, Rogers, Shaw).  In particular, the groups noted that the proposed transaction, if approved, would allow Bell to control 59.2% of revenues in the French-language pay and specialty television market. Broadcaster

Three brothers charged in Cleveland abductions

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See video above

Bayview-Moore Petro pumps being replaced

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The Petro-Canada station at Bayview  and Moore Aves. is in the middle of a renovation and right now there’s no way to pump gas. Crews were busy ripping out pumps, service docks and signs today for the change-over. Sources report that the renovated station will sell both diesel fuel and the top-end gasoline produced by Sun Oil, Ultra 94. Petro Canada is owned by Suncor of Alberta. Sun Oil says that Ultra 94 high octane formula surpasses the CGSB (Canadian General Standards Board) performance requirements for super premium gasoline.  Over on Laird Drive meanwhile road and sidewalk work had Esandar Drive down to one narrow lane. Long lines of cars and trucks pulled up in front of Leaside village waiting to enter via Esandar. One lone copper tried to keep order. 

Corriere Canadese ceased publication on Saturday

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The late Dan Iannuzzi

Corriere Canadese, the Italian-language newspaper published in Toronto for over 58 years, has announced  it has suspended operations. “Corriere” was launched on June 2, 1954 by the late Dan Iannuzzi — a third-generation Canadian who later went on to found the multilingual TV station CFMT, now known as OMNI. “Fiercely Canadian and Proudly Italian” was Iannuzzi’s personal motto which was printed on the masthead of each edition. The publisher died a few months after his newspaper celebrated its 50th anniversary. Current editor Paola Bernardini posted a note in Italian on Saturday that explained the economic reasons behind the decision which included the fact that the Italian government decided in 2010 to reduce the grants it provided to six international publications including the “Canadian Courier.” An annual subsidy of $2.8-million, which had been provided since 1994, was cut in half as the government under prime minister Silvio Berlusconi sought to slash cultural spending. The newspaper cut its publishing schedule last year from six to five days a week — which meant that its popular weekend soccer coverage was delayed until Tuesday.

Live map of TTC’s 88 route is worth examining

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Map shows eastbound 88 at Lumley
Residents of the neighborhoods to the south of the South Bayview business district may continue to hold out hope that a way may be found to provide a service up to this preferred destination for so many residents who live north of the CP line. The 88 and 88A routes pass through Moore Park, Bennington Heights and very near streets like Leacrest Road, home of the Crestview Apartments. It seems likely as well that merchants on South Bayview would certainly welcome this assist to their businesses. There is no solution at present and the TTC has undertaken only to look at what might be done. The linked Live Map on the GPS site Nextbus.com is informative as to the number of vehicles on the route at different hours. Nextbus.com, for those who are not aware of it, is a service used by many transit companies to predict when a bus will be at your stop. There may be knowledge in this remarkable application that will lead to the South Bayview service so many would like to see. Take a look at the live map and if you have any thoughts, send them along to us at the address in the Contact section.  Live Map