Woman survives Bangladesh collapse after 17 days

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Workers clearing the site of a collapsed building in Bangladesh rescue a woman from the rubble after seeing her wave her hand.Rescuers in Bangladesh have found a survivor in the rubble of a clothing factory that collapsed 17 days ago.The woman, identified only as Reshma, was shown being carried on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance as a rescue worker applied an oxygen mask to her face. She apparently survived essentially unhurt in the basement of the building where she found food stored in a prayer room.

FBI says accused wanted to kill 100,000 people

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     From CBC embeddable video 
The FBI have arrested a Tunisian-born man who has previously lived in Canada as a co-conspirator in the plot to blow up a Toronto to New York VIA train. The FBI alleges the would-be terrorist had even more terrifying ideas to help bring down civil society. The accused is Ahmed Abassi (seen above) and he is implicated with the two foreign-born men already facing charges in Canada. Among the homicidal plans allegedly discussed by Abassi was a scheme to somehow kill thousands of people with bacteria in the air or water. Authorities say the idea never got past the talking stage and in fact was ridiculed by Chiheb Esseghaier, a 30-year-old Tunisian living in Montreal who was recently arrested here. Abassi was arrested in New York on April 22, 2013, the same day as the Canadian  arrests were executed but the matter was sealed by the U.S. federal authorities apparently for investigative reasons.  CBC

May 11 a Saturday to Spring into Action

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  1. Leaside United Church Awesome Sale Friday May 10 3-7pm and Saturday May 11, 9am – noon
  2. Eighth Annual Spring Into Action! Saturday May 11, 9am to 1pm  Walk, Run or Cycle for Diabetes” in Sunnybrook Park. 2013 Spring Into Action.
  3. Leaside Garden Society plant sale Saturday 11 May 9:00 am – 12:00 pm At Trace Manes Park (Millwood & McRae)
  4. John Parker Free Compost day Saturday 11 May 10:00 – until all gone Loblaws Redway Road Parking Lot 

Shelter Sale is Saturday at Bayview and McRae

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Catherine de Vries reminds us that the annual Royal LePage Shelter sale for women in hostels and shelters is set to go again this Saturday monring at the company’s local office, 1391 Bayview Ave. at McRae Drive. There are three full PODS filled with furniture, house wares, clothing, kids toys and collectibles.  Donations have been plentiful and great quality Previous post

Gypsy moth spraying between May 21 and June 11

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Toronto has announced a window of dates during there will be aerial spraying to combat the Gypsy Moth infestation. This defoliating insect is considered a major pest and its appearance in strength this Spring has caused concern.  As reported in a previous post, Moore Park is a critical concern and will be sprayed. The dates provided are not area-specific. Residents of Moore Park may expect morning spraying between  Friday May 21 and Tuesday June 11, 2013.  The caterpillar, or larvae stage of the insect, eats the leaves of trees, making the trees more susceptible to disease and damage from other insects or weather related factors. The insecticide does not affect adult moths and butterflies, other insects, honeybees, fish, birds or mammals. It kills young caterpillars that are present at the time of spray. Spraying will take place between 5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. This list shows where spraying will occur during the date provided by the City today.

  • Princess Margaret Boulevard and Kipling Avenue
  • Thorncrest Road
  • The Kingsway and Edenbridge Drive
  • Valecrest Road and North Drive
  • Herne Hill
  • Royal York Road and The Kingsway
  • Moore Park
  • Tam O’Shanter Golf Course
  • Humber Valley Golf Course
  • Cherry Beach Park
  • Toronto Island Park

GM to build Cadillacs at its Shanghai factory

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General Motors will build Cadillacs in China it has been announced. GM’s fancy car that first cranked up in Detroit more than a century ago will now try to exploit a Chinese taste for luxury by building the top-of-the-line vehicle at its joint venture factory in Shanghai.  Plans call for the 8 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) factory in Shanghai to begin production in 2015 with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles, according to GM spokeswoman Dayna Hart. GM sells imported Cadillacs in China but the luxury market is dominated by Germany’s Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi. GM intends to send the Caddy where the Buick has previously gone. Buick is among the best-selling cars in China and in Shanghai it is impossible to count the Buicks on the streets. 

Sheppard-Bayview is a seriously clogged artery

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Let’s face it, the intersection of Sheppard Ave. and Bayview Ave. is the size of a small farm — covered in asphalt. It’s also the most congested intersection in town, according to the City’s Transportation Service Committee.  Here’s the worst of the worst.  Toronto Star

  1. Bayview Ave. at Sheppard Ave. E. 
  2.  Yonge St., Highway 401 to Sheppard Ave.
  3.  York St., Front St. to Gardiner Expressway 
  4.  Sheppard Ave. W. at Allen Rd. 
  5.  Leslie St., Highway 401 to Sheppard Ave. E. 
  6.  Lake Shore Blvd., York St. to Bathurst St.
  7.  Kennedy Rd., Highway 401 to Sheppard Ave. E
  8. . Markham Rd., Highway 401 to Sheppard Ave. E. 
  9.  Dufferin St. at Finch Ave. W.
  10.  Black Creek Dr. at Lawrence Ave. W.

Dr. Allison McGeer to fight SARS in Saudi Arabia

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Dr. Allison McGeer
Dr. Allison McGeer, director of infection control at Mt. Sinai Hospital is heading to Saudi Arabia where officials are asking for help to figure out what strain of SARS has popped up in that country. McGeer is a renowned expert in such matters.  A spokesperson for the World Health Organization says two people from the global health agency are also travelling to Saudi Arabia to consult on the outbreak, which appears to have involved spread of the new virus among patients in hospitals in the city. Saudi Arabia announced last week that it had confirmed a group of seven new cases of infection with the virus in al Hofuf, five of whom were already dead.  CTV

McHappy TEGH fundraiser on Danforth Ave.

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The McDonald’s at 1735 Danforth Ave. just east of Coxwell Ave. was jumping Wednesday morning as many celebrities and VIPS arrived to help raise money for Toronto East General Hospital, just around the corner at  Coxwell and Mortimer.  Outside, ordinary drive-through customers were greeted by two stalwarts from the 55 Division. Staff Sergeant Adrianne Johnstone and Insp Greg Cole were looking for contributions for the cause. McHappily, there were no trunk searches for liquor. Inside, Chief Bill Blair, former Toronto Maple Leaf Nick Kypreos and John Tory from Newstalk 1010 whooped it up with a large turnout which included players with Cricket Canada and the Varsity Blues University of Toronto Club, members of the East York Rotary Club and Crime Stoppers Toronto. 

Mary Shadd PS fire a reason for security cameras

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It is a recurring appeal from those who like The  South Bayview Bulldog believe that communities should begin to understand and accept the use of surveillance cameras better than they. It’s true, that video from the scene of the vandalism at Mary Shadd Public School in Scarboro would not re-build the play equipment, but the cameras might have stopped those responsible from committing this foolish act.  

Kids continue to be targeted for cell phones

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Two more cases of kids being targeted for cell phone being reported by the Toronto Police Service this morning.  A 12 year old boy in Scarboro reports that last Friday (May 3, 2013)  at about 5.20 p.m. was in the area of Markham Road and Cougar Court when he was approached from behind by a male suspect. The suspect engaged the victim in the conversation and grabbed the victim’s cellular phone from his hand. A struggle ensued and the suspect fled the scene on a bicycle in a southeastern direction towards Cedar Drive.  Yesterday (May 7, 2013) two 13 year old boys say that at about 3.05 p.m.1505 hours were in the area of Colbeck Street and Durie Street when they were approached by two male suspects. The suspects went through the victims’ pockets and removed their cellular phone, pushing one of the victims against a car. The suspects then fled the scene towards Bloor Street West. No injuries were sustained by the victims. 

Big space under renovation at Sunnybrook Plaza

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Lots of good guessing going on at Sunnybrook Plaza this week as renovations proceed in the huge portion of the Rogers space which the company gave up last year during the video business downsize. It looks to be maybe 10,000 square feet, highly suitable for a fast food restaurant like a Tim Hortons. We don't know, but Tim was sniffing around Sunnybrook last month. Down at the east end, it is said that New York Fries will take the vacant Mountain Bean space.