Aging pothole filled in at Bayview and Millwood

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The city’s much vaunted pothole fighters were at work Friday morning cleaning up the broken pavement that has impeded cars and the TTC on Bayview just north of Millwood Rd. for many weeks. This scene is on the west side where buses are supposed to pull in. We’re so happy to see these guys. It is especially nice to think that the big “Arrow Trailer” will now find a new home. For a while there we weren’t sure which was worse, the pothole or the trailer. Well anyway, we hope they are both gone soon. 

TD shutdown a serious public concern

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Attacks on Internet services such as the take-down of TD Bank’s online service tend to pass into history too quickly.  Banks being what they are, there is a tendency for them to say “sorry” and then hope the public forgets about the incident. It must be clear that these disruptions are not the private business of the banks and that they require the most complete and on-going explanations possible. It isn’t just a matter of the inconvenience. The public, business and indeed the government owe a duty to the country to know from whom such attacks originate. Are they a precursor of more serious attacks to come? We understand that there may be security issues related to the investigations but it is important that it be made clear that attacks on public systems are being rigorously investigated. 

Alan Redway winner of the Agnes Macphail Award

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Alan Redway is the winner of the  20th annual Agnes Macphail Award for his commitment to the East York community. Mr Redway, 78, is a former mayor of East York (1977-1982) and long-time MP for the area during the years of the Mulroney government. Alan Redway has been cited in the awarding of the Macphail honour for his tireless work on behalf of the Daily Bread Food Bank where he has also served as chair of the board. He is now retired from the firm of Redway and Butler LLP. Friends and admirers of Mr. Redway are invited to attend the presentation of the award at East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave. on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 2.30 pm. Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons and in her later political career lived in Leaside and represented the riding of York East in the Ontario Legislature. She was a  force for progressive politics in Canada. Inside Toronto   Previous post 

Flaherty removes import tax on hockey gear

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The government has made a stab at creating a crowd-pleasing reduction in the price of skates and other hockey equipment in the budget. It takes the form of the removal of the import tax on such goods. Skates for example are taxed at 18 percent. Let’s see if it has any effect on prices.   Toronto Sun

Bayview Bagel maker moves down to Kensington

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Shawn

Those who remember long-time counterman Shawn Shahzad at the Bagel House on Bayview Ave. may have been wondering where he has gone. Shawn is now part of a team that owns a new Montreal style bagel shop at 240 Augusta Street down in Kensington Market. The new place is called Nu Bugel. and as we wish Shawn well it’s still bucks to bagels that we’re picking up our Montreal chewies at Bagel House, 1548 Bayview. 

Funding for National Digital Hub at CNIB

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Today’s federal budget is said to contain funding in the amount of $3 million for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) on Bayview Ave.  Specifically, these funds are designated for a project known as the “National Digital Hub”. It is a CNIB creation which provides important services to Canadians with print disabilities. The MPP, John Carmichael, made the announcement today.

“Steady as she goes” budget to eradicate deficit

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The Conservative government’s new budget released  this afternoon promises to close tax loopholes and contain spending. The aim is to stick with the Harper-Flaherty agenda of wiping out the budget deficit in time for the 2015 election. This stated, Finance Minister Flaherty said he has found new cash for infrastructure spending for and manufacturers. The projected deficit in the fiscal year ending March 31 is roughly in line with Ottawa’s previous forecast in November, at $25.9 billion. The deficit would be about 1.4 percent the size of the economy compared to about 5.6 percent for the U.S. deficit. Revenues have been slammed however as the economy slowed requiring the government to project a bigger-than-expected shortfall in 2013/14 of $18.7 billion compared with a previous estimate of $16.5 billion. The deficit will shrink to a third of that the following year before returning to a surplus of $800 million in 2015/16.  

T-D Bank online banking hit by cyberattack

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TD Bank has been hit with a cyberattack on its online banking service. The attack seems to be in the form of a so-called denial of service type in which multiple demands overwhelm the servers and prevent customers from using the online service.  TD says that customers can still use the phone to do banking or use the  ATM network, which is not affected.  The bank says it is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible

Please don’t feed, shoot or hang out with coyotes

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Glenn De Baeremaeker
Toronto’s defender and guardian of coyotes Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38 Scarborough Centre) says don’t worry about the coyotes because they aren’t as much of a threat as you think. He says it is “ineffective” to shoot a coyote because it just opens up living space for another one.  Huh? Look, it is illegal for any ordinary citizen to fire off a gun in the city whether he is after a coyote or a rampaging elephant. The fact is, coyotes are not domesticated and they have the capacity from time to time to act in a way that is threatening to people and their pets. Mr. De Baeremaeker’s committee is on a tear to make a law that will stop anyone from feeding coyotes. Okay, but that’s a sham. The coyotes are here not because we set a place for them at breakfast. They are here because of the 24-hour garbage buffet. Garbage is why the promised land of recycling food into soil failed. It attracted vast armies of rats. It’s why we have so many raccoons (yes we know, we’re supposed to love them). The wisest course for city council is to give some simple guidance to the police and authorized animal control officers. It may, occasionally, be necessary to shoot a coyote. Sad but true. But  please stop talking about coyotes like Toronto is their city. Actually, it is ours and the coyotes are here because we’re prepared to have some of them in our midst. They are not an essential part of urban life.  (If you disagree with this post, please click the link at the top of the page and send us your comment). 

1699 Bayview said to be leased as jewellery store

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The word on South Bayview is that the premises previously housing Smokin Cigar has been leased and will presently become a jewellery store. The address is 1699 Bayview. 

921 Millwood “Cooking for a Cause” lunch

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Geoff Kettel has written to say that the 921 Millwood Retirement Home is having a community lunch on Friday March 21. at 12 noon. The cost of the “Cooking for a Cause” lunch is $11.99 with net proceeds going to Leaside United Church outreach programs. These are named in the release as Food Bank, Yonge Street Mission, Massey Centre “and more”. 

Virus thought to be from North Korea, says South

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Disruption that paralysed the computer networks of broadcasters and banks in South Korea appears to have been caused by a virus, an official close to the investigation has told the BBC.