The annual food drive that remembers the work of a little girl from Leaside is on again. This time Rob and Jesse Tremblett and Patrick Rocca are the sponsors. You can donate online with your contribution going to the Daily Bread Food Bank at http://sarahsfooddrive.com. The food drive runs from September 28 to October 13, 2013 Sarah, for those who don’t know this charming story, is now 11 years old but when she was six she told her mom at dinner one night that she was full, even though she still had lots of food left on my plate. Thus was she and her family were inspired to begin raising food for the Daily Bread Food Bank. Please give generously and adopt Sarah’s motto that “we are just getting started.” Previous posts
Bat-crested VW bus lives on in South Leaside
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Beginning in 1950, it rolled from the assembly line in Wolfsburg, Germany and populated the roads, beaches and camping grounds of the world. The VW bus, which was really a variation of the camper, conquered the family vehicle niche and led the way for dozens of imitations. It became part of popular culture ranging from flower power hippie hangouts to family picnics. The bus resides everywhere today, including the South Leaside driveway that is home to the bat-crested Halloween model above. Actually, the bats come off after the trick or treat festival. But now the WV bus, in all its various forms, will cease production. The last model will roll off the assembly line in Brazil December 31. The company says it cannot meet new safety standards in Brazil that mandate all vehicles have air bags and antilock brakes beginning in 2014. Volkswagen Brazil says the final blue and white editions will include special additions such as vinyl upholstery. Because the VW is so durable and a large quantity have been produced over the decades, there should be plenty of the vans on the road for years to come. According to the Associated Press, VW has assembled over 10 million Volkswagen Transporter vans worldwide since first introducing the vehicle 63 years ago in Germany. Brazil alone has assembled more than 1.5 million of them. The van, a symbol of Sixties counter culture, was famously linked to everyone from Bob Dylan to the Grateful Dead, whose many fans toured with the band in their own buses.Fitwall nutrition seminar Thursday September 26
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Fitwall Leaside at 1675 Bayview Avenue is offering a complimentary nutrition seminar Thursday night. That’s Thursday, September 26, 2013. It’s called “I KNOW WHAT TO DO SO WHY DON’T I DO IT” – The Mind Body Connection Space Things get going at 7 p.m. with refreshments served. Call Fitwall right away because space is limited. (647) 748-8011 or info@fitwallleaside.ca
BlackBerry goes private under Fairfax Financial
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Prem Watsa (left) Chairmen and CEO of Fairfax Financial said that the $4.7 billion U.S. deal to take BlackBerry private deal will open a new and exciting chapter for the firm and its customers. “We can deliver immediate value to shareholders, while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company with a focus on delivering superior and secure enterprise solutions to BlackBerry customers around the world,” Watsa said in a press release. Watsa is one of Canada’s best-known value investors and the billionaire founder of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. He has been compared to Warren Buffett because of his investing approach. BlackBerry founder Mike Lazaridis (right) recruited Watsa to join the company’s board when Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie stepped aside as its co-CEOs in January, 2012.Watsa said in April that he’s a “big supporter” of current CEO Thorsten Heins (centre) and called his promotion the right decision in early 2012. He also said he’s excited about the company’s new BlackBerry 10 operating system. CTV ABC
Protected bikes lanes will impact Eglinton retail
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The Eglnton Connects project is a pleasant sounding undertaking which is apparently intended to somehow make Eglinton Ave (both east and west) better than it is. One of the options put forward by planners is breath-taking in its potential to put an end to retail business on Eglinton Ave. forever. This is the one that asks whether there should be “protected” bicycle lanes running the entire distance from Black Creek Drive to Brentcliffe Rd. These are the lanes that separate with a concrete ridge where cars may drive and park from bike travel. The suggestion, if it were implemented, would eliminate thousands of parking spaces on Eglinton Ave. and erect an enormous barrier, both physical and psychological, to shopping traffic. It would also eliminate an unknown treasure of parking ticket fines from this street. This and other ideas are to be discussed at three meetings — west, centre and east — to be held October 7, 8, and 9. The locations are: West Workshop, Monday, October 7 George Harvey C.I. 1700 Keele Street, Central Workshop Tuesday, October 8 Forest Hill C.I. 730 Eglinton Ave West Near Chaplin and Eglinton, East Workshop Wednesday, October 9 Jean Vanier S.S. 959 Midland Avenue Just north of Eglinton. Most business people want to start with their councillor. Website
Jim Flaherty pledges $660 million of “real” money
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Jim Flaherty never likes to miss a chance to say that the federal government really does have the money to pledge towards the extension of the Danforth subway. He also likes to remind Ontario voters that the government in Ottawa is stable — it has a majority — unlike the wobbly Liberals at Queen’s Park. So it was today as Mr.Flaherty, flanked by Mayor Ford and TTC Chair Karen Stintz, promised to pony up $660,000 for the subway extension. The feds are backing the City of Toronto plan to build an extension with many stations, not the two-station economy model announced a few days ago by provincial minister Glen Murray. Flaherty says the money is a “done deal” and comes at the request of Mayor Ford and city council. At the announcement this morning (Monday) in Scarborough, Flaherty said the message from the federal government is “you have our money, now let’s get this subway built.” Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said earlier today that she doesn’t think the federal government would have come to the table if the province had not made its $1.4-billion funding commitment. But she said the “disconcerting part” is that the federal money isn’t part of a broader transit strategy. And so, even when there is agreement, the political shots go on.
Northern SS gifted students night October 16
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Northern Secondary School will hold an information night Wednesday, October 16, 2013 to reveal the many opportunities available to all students. The Gifted Advisory Committee of the Northern Secondary School Parent Council sponsors the information night for parents and students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 for everyone. Parents are invited to come and learn about the Advanced Placement Program, tips and tricks on how to apply for Scholarships and Awards, and for the exciting possibilities of enrichment opportunities available outside of Northern. For information: 416-272-8295
Smile Cookie campaign at Tim Hortons this week
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The annual Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie campaign is on today and this week to raise funds for charities all across Ontario. It is a program that goes back seven years when the company sold some of the happy-face cookies to raise money for the Hamilton’s Children’s Hospital. Now the Smile Cookie is a regular chance for everyone to see the $1 price go entirely to a good cause.East York mugging for gym bag and cell phone
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Toornto Police Service report: A 27 year old male reports that on September 20, 2013 at approximately 2200 hours, he was in the area of Browning Avenue and Chester Avenue when he was approached by three male suspects. One of the suspects grabbed the victim from behind in a bear hug taking him to the ground. A second suspect attempted to remove the victim’s cellular phone. A third suspect kicked the victim. The suspects fled the scene westbound on Browning Avenue with the victim’s gym bag and cellular phone. No injuries were sustained by the victim. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described persons in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect #1-4: Male, 17 to 20 years, 5’6 to 5’8, thin build
PM jets into town with subway funding promise
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Stephen Harper got back into the Toronto subway game today with a brief visit here for a meeting with Mayor Ford minutes from the government jet’s berth at Toronto Airport. Mr. Harper promised to support the construction of an extension to the Danforth line all the way to Scarborough. The prime minister met with the mayor in a Mississauga hotel room. Only cameras, no reporters, were permitted into the room and remarkably there was no one present from the provincial government. The Finance Minister, Mr Flaherty, was there.The PM made it clear there will be collaboration between all levels of government to pay for the extension. “Mr. Flaherty and I, subject of course to the normal approval process, have set aside funds to ensure the financing of Toronto’s plan for the Scarborough subway extension,” Harper said as he met with Ford at a hotel near Pearson Airport. “I think this is good news for Toronto commuters who obviously continue to face the challenges of gridlock.” The amount and source of the money is unstated, but there is of course only one real source of the funds, Mr. and Mrs. Canada. There is said to be news opportunity Monday morning in Scarborough at which Mr. Flaherty may talk more specifically about how much money is available from the federal government. “Mother Angie” wins historic German mandate
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Angela Merkel won an overwhelming endorsement from German voters, putting the country’s first female chancellor on course for the biggest election tally since Helmut Kohl’s post-reunification victory of 1990. Bloomberg
Sun up but lights out north of Eglinton Ave. E.
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There was a power outage of about two hours in length Sunday morning south of Mount Hope Cemetery and north of Eglinton Ave. E. Maps of the outage seems to show it was confined to the M4P Postal Code. Power was restored about 10.20 a.m.