Cars “melt” under fallen wires near Alliston

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These pictures snatched from TV tonight (Tuesday, May 21) show the splintered hydro poles along County Road 10 near Alliston this afternoon where several drivers were trapped. The poles began to fall like ten pins when a freak wind and rainstorm blasted through the area blowing some vehicles, including an OPP cruiser, right off the road. One driver is shown on CP24 saying that he watched a live, high voltage power line laying across his rear view mirror begin to melt the metal.  Other drivers said they watched in amazement as the poles began to fall, domino-like trapping their cars in a tangle of wood and wire. OPP warned motorists to stay in their vehicles until power was turned off and they were able to safely leave. The Honda Motor Co. cancelled today’s afternoon shift because of dangerous conditions.  

Powerless to speed Laird Drive hydro upgrade

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Single lane northbound
We’re heading into month three of the hydro upgrade on Laird Drive and there’s lots of work being done, but it is a long street. We hear it may be about the end of summer by the time the new hydro conduit is laid and cabled all the way to Eglinton. Those on South Bayview will recall it took five months to finish a similar job on the Bulldog’s namesake drag in 2009. At that time it was said the work would permit the burying of high voltage lines under South Bayview. So far that part remains to be done. This picture of the Laird Drive work is taken right outside the CIBC branch in the Leaside Village. Pedestrians today were using the bank as a bypass sidewalk rather than cross the street. In the south door, across the reception area, say hi to the picture of Manager Despina Polymeris and out the north door. Stay calm and carry on, we say. 

Council votes 40 to 4 to kill casino in Toronto

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Toronto City Council has voted 40  to 4 against having any new gaming ventures in the community. Much of the opposition centred on the perceived social ills of a casino. The decision was taken on a motion by Councillor Mike Layton to oppose the establishment of any new gambling site in Toronto. Mayor Ford’s motion to oppose a downtown casino but expand gambling at Woodbine failed by a vote of 13 to 31. A second motion by Mr. Layton to oppose expanding Woodbine passed 24 to 20. Speaking in a news conference at Queen’s Park, Premier Wynne said her plan to modernize the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation will proceed regardless of whether there is a casino in Toronto. Ms Wynne replied to questions about her dismissal of former chairman Paul; Godfrey by saying she had two critical differences with him. One was how horse racing was to be integrated into the OLG and the second was the principal of no special deal for Toronto, if it were to host a casino. On this day as well, Ms Wynne heard that Andrea Horwath, leader of the NDP, had committed her party to supporting the Liberal budget, thus averting an election.  

Gypsy Moth spray in Moore Park this Friday

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Residents of Moore Park and Bennington Heights should expect the Gypsy Moth spraying this coming Friday (May 24, 2013). The spray will take place between 5 and 7:30 a.m. Previous post. 

Lawrence Park theft of laptop, jewellery, cigars

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Toronto Police Service report: A resident of Weybourne Crescent reports between 1630 hours, May 17 2013 and 1400 hours, May 20, 2013, entry was gained by forcing a window. Removed were a laptop, a quantity of jewellery and cigars.

182 Rosedale Ht sold in eight days for $2,995,000

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The much-admired Moore Park home at 182 Rosedale Heights Drive (corner of Hudson Drive) has sold for the asking price of $2,995,000 after eight days on the market in early May.  The 11-room stone and stucco home has six bathrooms and four bedrooms. This home sits high and proud with its front door on Hudson.

Senate status quo not acceptable says Harper

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CBC

Driving Peter Worthington’s old car on Bayview

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Peter Worthington’s son-in-law, David Frum, tells entertaining story of parking Peter’s beat up Subaru on South Bayview.  David Frum   Previous post. 

Parents seek their children in Moore, Oklahoma

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CTV

Yahoo promises “not to screw up” Tumblr

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Yahoo has purchased the micro-blogging forum Tumblr for $1.1 billion. It is thought Tumblr will bring millions of young users under the Yahoo umbrella. Tumbler’s front page says it owns 108.9 million blogs.  as CEO Marissa Mayer has put a casual stamp on the transaction which Yahoo says “per the agreement and our promise not to screw it up, Tumblr will be independently operated as a separate business” with David Karp staying on as CEO. Charming 

Matlow tweets “resign” message about mayor

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Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has become the first member of city council to publicly call for Mayor Ford to resign. Mr. Matlow tweeted: “Serious accusations have been made against the mayor of Toronto. If they are proven to be true beyond a reasonable doubt, he should resign.” Councillor Matlow has had an on and off relationship with the mayor. In recent times, their exchanges in council have been rancorous. And while there is no record yet of any other elected members calling on the mayor to quit, the coming week would seem to be, to use a phrase, a time of truth for the mayor. Proof of what he did does not lie in scrutiny of the video made by the cocaine criminals from Etobicoke.  The public may reasonably assume the mayor has done what he is accused of unless he is able to say clearly that he did not do it.  This matter will be heard in the court of public opinion and the public will expect the mayor to prove himself innocent. There is not a politician in Canada who could not, if falsely accused in this manner, dismiss the lie with a few simple facts. The mayor’s inability to declare with conviction that this is a hoax should correctly seal his fate in the public mind.

Dear Gawker: Send the dough to Bosma’s widow

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There’s a foolish man named John Cook at Gawker, the scandal outlet. He’s on radio and TV here in Toronto just about bursting with excitement at the thought of being able to buy  the video made by cocaine traffickers so “we can all see Rob Ford smoking crack.”   He wants us all to send him some money for the  creepy cocaine movie makers.  Yes, he knows the price is high at $200,000, but what fun to have that video to drool over. Oh yes, and air it for his audience all over the world too. Well gee, Mr Cook, thanks so very much but no thanks. You may not make the people of Toronto as upset and sad as the mayor, but you are doing a good job. Airing this video will help the people of Toronto not one bit. There is already a picture in the public domain. The mayor, unfortunately for us, has failed to tackle the allegation head on. Unless he does so, we may take it that he did what he is said to have done.  Mr. Cook knows very well there’s no civic value in airing the tape. We wonder if he’s heard of Sharlene Bosma.  Maybe Mr. Cook would care to collect some money for the trust account at the TD Bank in the name for Tim Bosma’s widow and her two year old daughter. That’s where our money will be going.