This is a bright and busy Good Friday on South Bayview. Everyone will mark the holiest day in the Christian calendar as they wish but as part of their day a lot of people are walking the broad sidewalks of our main street enjoying the weather. Among the businesses open as of noon time are Cumbrae, COBS, epi breads, Passion Fruit, Starbucks, Badali, Mad Italian, Shoppers Drug Mart and Hollywood Gelato. There are no doubt others too. The larger food outlets in our region are closed as is Tremblett’s Valu Mart right on South Bayview.
Opel Cascada the solution to the Buick blahs
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The joke about the car brand whose owners were more familiar with social security than social media applies 100 percent to the Buick. GM has managed to get the average age of the Buick owner down to the mid-50s rather than the mid-60s of a few years ago. But the 2014 models showing at the New York Auto Show may not budge the meter much. The Regal has a new “muscle” version but we think GM would be smart to re-badge its German-made Opel Cascada (above) as the Regal convertible. Then they could get the sex appeal of the drop top in the Buick line and also sell “German engineering” too. But then, GM probably does not want our advice.Seize cell phone from drivers says BC survey
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As many as 70 percent of British Columbians told Angus Reid pollsters that the police should be able to seize the phones of repeat offenders who use their cell devices while driving. Sadly, there was a serious self-deception at work with many of the subjects who said they trusted themselves using the phone to talk and text while they drive, but they didn’t trust others to do it. CTV.
Newspaper print readership in Toronto plunges
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The print readership of Toronto’s newspapers is plunging, according to the survey information released by the Newspaper Audience Databank (NADbank). It’s a story that the newspapers are having a hard time telling as they bury these print readership numbers in various ways. The Toronto Star for example puts the lead on its continued status as the most read newspaper across the Toronto area. And that’s fine but the collapsing print readership numbers are a story that is far more important. The current NADbank survey for example shows the Star’s print readership has fallen 13.8 percent across the region. By any measure it is a staggering drop. As a business indicator for the newspaper it can hardly be over-stated. Similar drops are shown for the other daily papers. The Globe and Mail print readership has dropped 13.8 per cent, the Toronto Sun, 10.8 percent and the National Post, 17.6 per cent. This is a national trend it seems as 44 of the 55 daily newspapers surveyed across Canada showed similar levels of declines. The drop has been exaggerated in the NADbank phone survey by the inclusion of homes that have only a cell. Typically, subscribers to the print edition of a newspaper have a land line in the home.
Old CIBC bought by First Capital, owners of Leaside Village
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The old CIBC branch at 180 Laird Dr. and McRae Dr. has been purchased by First Capital Realty, the owners of Leaside Village, The purchase of the two-storey commercial building, which dates from the 1930s, gives First Capital an outpost right across the street from one of its competitors, SmartCentres Inc. at Laird and Wicksteed Ave. The property sits in a somewhat awkward location in a 21st century sense. Its removal would permit a much easier flow of traffic through the intersection and especially southbound onto Laird. Still, as a place of business it has a lot of appeal. There are some 18 parking spots in the attached lot behind the building with access off McRae Drive. First Capital has placed a Leasing Opportunities sign on a number of windows. As we posted previously, the building was listed for $1.9 million and sold for $2.5 million. Although a modest structure by the standard of 1930s bank buildings, 180 Laird does have a well-preserved coat of arms of the bank’s builder, the Imperial Bank of Canada, over the front door The building stayed in the bank’s family until this year’s sale even after the Imperial merged with the Bank of Commerce in 1960 to create the CIBC.
Telus case clarifies when police can read texts
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The Supreme Court of Canada has said in a split decision that police must have what is known as “wiretap authority” as well as a warrant in order to access text messages as part of criminal investigations. The judges issued a 5-2 decision. The matter was brought to the SCOC by Telus Communications. The case arises from a warrant the Ontario Superior Court granted to police in Owen Sound that ordered Telus to turn over texts from two of its customers
Kachkar found “not criminally responsible”
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A Toronto jury has found Richard Kachkar not criminally responsible for the death of Toronto Police Sgt. Ryan Russell during a rampage with a snow plow. The verdict is a statement about Kachkar’s mental state and not his responsibility for the death, which has been established by the court. The jury of six men and six women had been well instructed by the judge on its options. Sgt Russell’s widow, Christine, was is said to have been silent with her head hung during the process. Commentators say another women in the gallery uttered a contemptuous outburst at the convicted man. The court will resume shortly at which time it is expected the sentence will be delivered.
Police warn of break-ins when owners are home
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Toronto Police covering South Bayview and Central Toronto have issued a warning to homeowners about a rash of break-in which occured when the homeowners were asleep. The purpose was to grab the keys to a car and steal it from the driveway. The brazen nature of these break-ins is a concern and is a caution to homeowners to make sure their homes are secure and, according to police, make sure car keys are not stored in an obvious place.
China’s new first lady turns heads in Russia
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As the new Chinese president Xi Jinping made the rounds on his state visit to Russia, it seemed to be his wife, the poised and stylish Peng Liyuan who was getting most of the attention both in Russia and back home in China. Among those apparently quite charmed by China’s first lady was Vladimir Putin. The president’s wife has had a considerable career as a singer and television personality. Chinese state media, which usually ignore the wives of political leaders, praised the dress sense and hairstyle of Peng Liyuan. It seems now however that she will try to recede into the background a bit so she doesn’t upstage the president. Star editor Cooke’s advice to mayor on how to be re-elected
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To hear Star Editor-in-Chief Michael Cooke tell it, his employer just wants to help Rob Ford get re-elected. “If he goes into re-hab, he’ll get re-elected,” the doughty Mr. Cooke insisted as he rebutted Stephen LeDrew’s questions on CP24. LeDrew wondered how any of Canada’s great leaders could have gotten elected if the Toronto Star had been on their case the way the paper has dogged Mr. Ford. Cooke said the paper was just as interested in previous mayors (he mentioned David Miller) but they wouldn’t talk, Cooke noted. Mr. Ford’s problems were all out in the open, said the Star editor. Overall, the Star’s Editor-in-Chief evaded LeDrew’s curiosity about its sources. Mr. Cooke insisted that the many anonymous contributors to the front page screamer were the Mayor’s friends. “They love this guy,” said Mr, Cooke. He also said the Star would not be suing the mayor for calling its reporters “pathological liars” despite the mayor’s invitation. The mayor, through his brother, has said that Mr. Ford will not be suing the Star for its accusations although as we note below, the things said in the story seem highly actionable and potentially, if they cannot be proved, monetarily quite damaging. Previous post
Winter clothing sale at Bayview pop up store
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There is a good-looking clearance of winter coats and related clothing in the former premises of the Country Store at 1657 Bayview Ave. north of Fleming Cres. This sale is the inventory of The Sign of the Skier, 2794 Yonge Street, which as many may know sells ski-related goods in the fall and winter and garden furniture in the summer. Bonnie de Mertis of the The Sign recalls for us that the firm has been in business for 50 years. Markdowns begin at 50 percent, we’re told. The pop up store is expected to last two weeks.
Terry Fallis to speak in Leaside April 8 and 18
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| Terry Fallis |
Celebrated author Terry Fallis will be in Leaside next month as part of his busy speaking schedule. The Leaside High School graduate will speak on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 7.30 pm. at the Leaside Library on McRae Drive. His subject will be Keep Toronto Reading. Then, ten days later, Mr. Fallis will meet the Leaside/East York Chapter of the University Women’s Club. That will happen Thursday, April 18, 2013, 7:30 pm at Northlea United Church, 125 Brentcliffe Rd. His presentation will be in the form of a talk and reading. Terry Fallis’ career extends across many fields. He has worked for a number of important Liberal leaders and at present is a partner in the consulting firm of Thornley Fallis. He is a successful writer and the author of The Best Laid Plans, a satirical novel which was crowned the winner of CBC Canada Reads as the “essential Canadian novel of the decade.” TBLP is in production as a CBC series.