Mayor Ford is finally clear form the fundraising issue that has dogged him since 2010. The Supreme Court of Canada said today (Thursday, June 20, 2013) it will not give leave to appeal the matter as requested by Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby. Mr. Ruby was acting on behalf of a client who launched litigation to have the mayor removed from office over $3150 raised for his football foundation. The court’s refusal was anticipated since it would have to have found important public issues in the case that might affect other jurisdictions. If it had granted the appeal the court would have left is deliberations hanging over the 2014 municipal election.
Actor James Gandolfini dead at age 51
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His colleagues and show business people are expressing shock tonight at the death of James Gandolfini at the age of 51. Galdolfini portrayed Tony Soprano on the series “The Sopranos.” He died while on holiday in Rome. “Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving.” HBO said in a prepared statement, “We’re all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family. He was special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect. He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility. Our hearts go out to his wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of us.”George Christopoulos named media v-p of BILD
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George Christopoulos, who resigned as Mayor Ford’s spokesman , has been hired by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) in the newly created position of vice-president of communications and media relations. “Before joining the mayor’s office he was an integral part of the Toronto Police Service’s communications team for nearly a decade,” BILD, which has more than 1,400 members, said of Christopoulos. He starts July 2. Previously, Christopoulos was a Toronto Sun reporter.Sport Clips hoists sign on South Bayview
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The Sport Clips haircut shop hoisted up its main signage today (Wednesday, June 19, 2013). They will be located in the former money exchange shop next door to the Smokin Cigar so we will have quite a macho stretch on the west side down by Byford’s Real Estate. Nonetheless, the ladies will feel at home because the haircutters at Sport Clips are women. Is this all okay at Gender Neutral Central? Well never mind, you get a haircut and watch some sports. Sounds okay. The price list is yet to come. Previous post Tears and applause for Bob Rae as he quits as MP
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Bob Rae is seen with Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau at the Liberal party caucus this morning (Wednesday, June 19, 2013) where he announced his resignation from the House of Commons. His announcement was met by appleause and some tears. The member for Toronto Centre will become chief negotiator for First Nations in talks with the Ontario government about development of the Ring of Fire, an iron ore project in Northern Ontario. He is also going to tour the nine Matawa communities in the mining and resource-rich area this summer. Rae was Ontario premier from 1990 to 1995. His decision to leave the House raises the question of who might contest the important riding on the fringe of South Bayview. It will be greatly coveted by all parties in the 2015 General Election. CBCBadali’s Fruit Market 75th Anniversary Video
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This choice visit to last Saturday’s anniversary party at Badali’s is courtesy of Leaside film-makers Anthony Regan and Barry H. Samuel. Anthony and Barry are the producers of the centennial film 100 Years Inside Leaside. Here is their Facebook page.
Three cases of measles confirmed in Burlington
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The Halton Region Health Department is reporting three cases of measles in Burlington. The cases are confirmed after three children from the same family showed symptoms. Doctors are not sure how the children were infected but say they think that a family member may have picked up the virus while travelling outside the province. Measles no longer circulates in Canada, but Canadians who are not vaccinated or immune through previous infection can pick it up while travelling in places where the virus is still common. Officials remember the dreadful surprise outbreak in Quebec in 2011 when 250 kids came down with measles. That was caused by travellers returning from France where they had been in contact with unvaccinated children who had caught measles. Halton health authority advised that anyone who visited three locations in Burlington on Saturday, June 8 may have been exposed to the virus. The locations are SportChek at the Burlington Mall, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; The Collector’s Vault, near Guelph Line and Fairview St., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Al’s Source for Sports, at 3485 Fairview St., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The children affected visited those three locations at roughly the listed times. Measles has virtually disappeared in Canada and the rest of the developed world, and there are dramatic reductions in the developing world, to the point where last year there was beginning to be serious discussion about eradication. The problem is that vaccines only work if people are vaccinated. But some parents in the Western world are not getting their children vaccinated, or fully vaccinated.Helen Godfrey keeps Bayview Buckets going
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Davisville Village resident and “tree advocate”, Helen Godfrey, is spotted weeding and clearing debris from a City tree in front of Baskin and Robbins. Helen is the founder of Bayview Buckets and is a kind of guardian angel of our trees. Helen feels strongly about community coming together to take care of our City’s greenery. Helen’s blog entries: Our Bayview Buckets adopt-a-tree watering initiative got off to a late start last summer, but this year I’m looking forward to a full season of watering to help the trees thrive. Last year, I canvassed all the merchants on this four-block long neighbourhood commercial strip at Bayview Ave. and Davisville Ave. Most (over 20) of the businesses were on side and agreed to water the tree in front of their store when the weather became hot and dry. Some were quite enthusiastic and promised to put flowers in their tree planters for spring 2013!Hints Bell Media to be shot down a second time
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Investment research firm says the CRTC chairman Jean-Pierrie Blais seems to be hinting that he is going to turn down Bell Media for a second time. Carrt
Bayview Ave. mid-rank among ten worst roads
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Here are the ten worst roads as rated by the Canadian Automobile Association. Dufferin Street is said to be the worst with Bayview Ave. another yearly favorite, in fifth spot. The criteria relate to potholes, rough patches and similar problems. The CAA has its own agenda related to so-called gas tax fairness under which, we suppose, gasoline taxes are actually used to maintain roads. It is noted that four of the worst roads in the province are in Toronto but that is not too surprising since there are about six million people in the GTA and 13.5 million in all of Ontario
Dufferin Street – Toronto.
Burlington Street – Hamilton.
Finch Avenue West – Toronto.
Kraft Creek Road – Timmins.
Bayview Avenue – Toronto.
Lawrence Avenue East – Toronto.
Warncliffe Road South – London.
Bouvier Road – Clarence-Rockland.
Carling Avenue – Ottawa.
Stanley Avenue – Niagara Falls.
Tree falls out of backyard onto Mt Pleasant Rd.
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| 680 News |
A huge and very old tree came tumbling out of a backyard high above Mr Pleasant Rd. south of Garfield Ave. last night around 7 p.m.. It crashed into a car causing a lot of damage but happily the driver was not hurt. One man told 680 News: “It is actually a miracle that nobody was hurt because when I saw the car, it had fallen on the windshield and there was branch that actually impaled through the windshield, through the car, to the floor of the car.”