A minor bump from the rear has resulted in an insurance decision to write off the van that was hit because it now smells of sour milk. The provincial insurance authority has assessed the woman who hit the van some $4800. It is one of the more remarkable examples of “writing off” which has become common in recent years. The decision is supposed to turn on whether it would cost more to repair the vehicle than replace it. It is apparent however that at least some cases challenge the credibility of the insurer’s decision. Why is it done? Some say there is enough money to be made scrapping cars that there is an incentive to write off. Send a comment. Sour milk smell
Monkeylectric lights up your bike at night
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California bicycle tinkerers Monkeylectric wants to electrify your next bike ride with technology that combines art and science to turn bicycle wheels into spinning works of art. It also makes your nighttime ride safer. The company uses a programmable LED display to exploit the human brain’s perception of what it sees, and is turning heads in the process. Ben Gruber reports.
Two commoners are godparents to infant prince
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Two relatively unknown people, commoners Fergus Boyd and Emelia D’Erlanger, both 31, have been picked bythe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to be the godparents of their infant son. Mirror U-K
900 sq ft Leslie condo fetches $379,000 in 7 days
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Small condominiums are an interesting market to watch. A nice 900 square foot space sold for $379,000 at 1101 Leslie St. just north of Eglinton Ave. E. It’s on the 11th floor. It sold in 2004 for $255,000 so there was nice increase for the owner. This unit came with a parking space and storage locker. Fees are $601.38 and taxes $2,268 (2013)
Island Airport jets will impact South Bayview
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The campaign to stop the introduction of jets into Island (Billy Bishop) Airport is now available to citizens at the No Jets TO website where a petition is gathering names. At left is a video made by opponent Richard St. John. At right, is a report from Citytv on the community meeting two nights ago. The opposition extends from the impact of the jets, and the next generation of jets, on the unique recreational activities enjoyed by Torontonians on the islands. It extends as well to all corners of the South Bayview group of neighborhoods where aircraft noise has increased noticeably since Porter Airlines started flying. Porter aircraft heading to Montreal or Ottawa have a very high incidence of flight over this area. The grinding noise of these planes is frequently heard well after midnight over Bennington Heights, Moore Park, Leaside and northwards. A sense of life with a downtown runway can be gained by looking at the San Diego’s Lindburgh Field where, over the years, the number of planes coming and going has grown to more than 600 planes a day. That’s San Diego’ downtown below. Sign the petition.
Fire quickly squelched on Commercial Rd.
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Firefighters made short work of a fire at the rear of the House of Metals plant at the corner of Commercial Rd. and Industrial Street Friday. The fire apparently got started in a box outside the plant and scorched part of the rear of the building. No one was injured.
Olive Oil Emporium first year on Bayview Ave.
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The Olive Oil Emporium is celebrating its one year anniversary at 1707 Bayview. To mark the event the store will be running various special promotions and offers. The owner, Andreas, says their success is thanks to Leaside and surrounding neighbourhoods. Congratulations Olive Oil Emporium!
Possible temporary skating rink in Rowlands Park
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There is a suggestion from Josh Matlow (Ward 22) to create a natural ice rink in June Rowlands Park at Davisville Ave. and Mount Pleasant Rd. this winter. It would serve as a place for the children of Hodgson Senior Public School to skate while repairs are made to the school rink. Mr. Matlow will attend a meeting on Monday, October 21 from 7:30 to 9 pm at Hodgson School to discuss the City’s temporary repairs of Hodgson Rink for the 2013-14 season.
Luckier than they know to be Canadian citizens
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Dr. Tarek Loubani and John Greyson have arrived back in Canada. From Toronto airport they have spoken briefly but did not take questions. They are happy to be back and decent people can only welcome them home with relief that they made it. However few Canadians need this case history to know that imprisonment in Egypt must be dreadful. It should be remembered that Dr. Loubani and Mr. Greyson were not “pyramid tourists” when they were arrested by Egyptian police. Any experienced traveller is surely stunned that these two grown men would knowingly embark on a day of trying to witness the chaotic and dangerous events rocking Cairo. At a minimum, what they did was rash and foolish. It is an entirely reasonable concern that although their intent may have been innocent, they were in fact motivated by their political viewpoints. In the end that conduct required an enormous public and private effort to get them home. They are luckier perhaps than they know to be Canadian. CBC
Disappointment Malala did not win peace prize
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There is disappointment in all parts of the world that Malala Yousafzai did not win the Nobel Peace Prize. The award went instead to a technical body, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, charged with dismantling the biological weapons in Syria. A worthy undertaking, but as critics are pointing out, the OPCW hasn’t done that yet. As to Malala, many thougthful admirers of this girl-woman hope that the great expectations that attend her future are tempered with time enough for her to grow. Mature as she is, Malala probably needs an opportunity to permit her years to catch up with her high aspirations. It is charming that she says she wishes to become Prime Minister of Pakistan, but few real politicians announce that goal in this teenage way. She is a courageous and moving figure. We can only hope that her dream of the liberation of women and girls in her homeland can come to full fruition. Guardian Was she snubbed?
Ontario Honey Crisps now at $2.99 a pound
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The Ontario apple season is in high gear and another lot of the desirable Honey Crisp apples is in the bin at Loblaws at Moore Ave. and Bayview Ave. The thing to notice is the price. These apples are marked at $2.99 which, with inflation, is about as low as they have been seen since maybe two seasons ago. Now these Honey Crisps are not as choice externally as the first lot which appeared about ten days ago. You will have to watch for the odd bruise and they are somewhat inconsistent in size — some smaller, some big. No good for art class. But also too good for art class. They have the same wonderful sweet juiciness and texture as the best of the Ontario strain. This apple is worth the price..Subway closed this weekend to replace signals
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| Frost, Lamport open subway in 1954 |
There will be no subway service between the St. George and Bloor-Yonge stations this Thanksgiving weekend simply because it has been nearly 60 years since Premier Leslie Frost (left) and Mayor Allen Lamport threw the switch on this now ancient-looking signal to open the Yonge subway in 1954. It was a great event but those old signals are ready for the scrapyard. The shutdown will apply all three days — Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The Toronto Transit Commission says replacement shuttle buses will be running throughout most of the route, which could lead to traffic delays for drivers. The buses will not be going to Union Station because of the construction on Front Street. Service will be back up and running at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.