Handbags, headdresses and the perils of retail

by  • 

Oprah Winfrey is probably right when she suspects there was some racism behind the charade about pricing in that Geneva handbag shop. The clerk kept telling the fabulously wealthy Winfrey that she couldn’t afford the items on display. What many North Americans don’t know is just how far bigotry seeps into the everyday business affairs of many Europeans. Born into affluent culturally-unified  communities, a lot of high-brow Swiss, German, French and others are quite openly prejudiced, especially against non-whites. As to the intense sensitivity of Kim Wheeler, an Ojibway-Mohawk lady from Winnipeg, over the toy headdress piece in an H&M, it seems overdone. Of course Ms. Wheeler is entitled to dislike what she saw and to complain if she must.  But her overweening notion that headdresses are not be worn in nightclubs is over the top. People wear the Queen’s tiara in nightclubs. They wear the Pope’s ring.  It may give offense to some but our freedoms trump hurt feelings. 

Help solve the mystery of Kasandra’s death

by  • 

Kasandra Bolduc

Toronto Police Service is asking for the public’s help to solve the mystery of the death of an Elliot Lake woman, Kasandra Bolduc 22. Her body was found in Lake Ontario on March 22, 2013 wrapped in a garbage bag. Now police say that after months of checking with other police departments across Ontario the investigative leads into what happened to Ms. Bolduc have been exhausted. They are appealing to anyone with knowledge of the young woman to contact Detective Constable Amy McGuire at 416-808-1405 or Detective Greg Forestall at 4160-808-1405. The public may also call  Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or go  online at www.222tips.com. Text:  TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Writer Jennifer Pagliaro has a fine account of this small town woman who found her way to the  big city and death

DNA test hopes to tell who owned secret smile

by  • 

Researchers are searching  a family tomb in Florence seeking a suitable DNA sample to compare to bones believed to be those of Lisa Gherardini, the woman long thought to be the model for the timeless Mona Lisa. The tomb is said to contain the remains of Gherardini’s children. No one knows how reliable any testing might be using ancient remains. Bones thought to be those of Gherardini’s were previously found in a Florentine convent. Geologist Antonio Moretti told reporters in the Santissima Annunziata basilica the tomb had an inscribed stone indicating it belonged to the family of Lisa Gherardini’s husband and sons. In her prime, she lived across the street from da Vinci. Gherardini died around 1542, . If the DNA tests are positive, experts plan to reconstruct the woman’s skull and compare it to the portrait.

Bennington Rolph Soccer is getting ready

by  • 

Petra Grantham has written to say spots are available in all age groups for play this fall in the Bennington Rolph Soccer Association. BRSA is a community-based volunteer-run soccer house league for girls and boys aged five to 14 years. The season runs for six weeks in the fall, starting the first week of school. A tournament is held for all but the youngest age group at the end of the regular season. Games are played on the school fields at Rolph Road, Bennington Heights and Leaside High. Parents volunteer as Coaches and Managers. Fee is $95 per player. Applications forms are available by writing to the BRSA

Homes to be built on Bill & Vito’s lot in Leaside

by  • 

Signs have gone up on the northeast corner of McRae Dr. and Sutherland Dr. to say a redevelopment plan is underway for the property known for more than 60 years as “Bill and Vito’s”.  The plan for the corner, formerly owned by Castleton Homes, includes two original bungalows on Sutherland. The present lessee, Rocco Soramo, says Castleton has sold the property to another builder. An application has been made to build two detached and six town homes. The corner was known as a happy service station stop for generations of area families and a place to talk with Bill and Vito, two World War II veterans who started the station when they came home. They are both deceased. 

Danforth Dash Bed Race goes today at 1 p.m.

by  • 

Release (edited)  The Toronto East General Hospital’s Danforth Dash Bed Race will be run today beginning at 1 p.m. It’s on the Danforth two blocks east of Broadview.  More than  20 teams will be compete for the coveted 2013 Golden Bed Pan Trophy in a bed race that will feature teams from the Toronto Argos’ cheerleaders against Toronto’s mascots, Canadian Olympic athletes, NHL players Cody Hodgson, Brad Boyes and Jason Wilson, Emergency Services Teams, local businesses and community groups. Play-by-play calls will be performed by Roger Petersen from CityNews and Anthony Farnell from Global Toronto. Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair will be starting each race and ensuring that all teams follow the rules. An all-star lineup. The Bed Race will raise funds towards Toronto East General Hospital’s $211 million capital campaign, to date over $1.2 million been raised through local business support through the Pilaros Taste of the Danforth Festival, Greektown on the Danforth BIA, sponsors and Friends of TEGH.

Thunderstorms spawn twisters across S. Ontario

by  • 

Environment Canada says three tornadoes touched down after a number of severe thunderstorms Wednesday. Some locations were Orillia, near Arthur west of Orangeville and near Carnarvon which is east of Bracebridge. Upper left,  some very ominous formations near Peterborough, upper right, looks like a twister is going to visit the Target near Orillia, lower left, just east of Arthur on Highway 9, lower right, the rather scary site from a cottage in the Kiwarthas.