Honda offers glimpse of new small SUV

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Honda brought something a little different to the 2013 North American International Auto Show: a sporty midsize Urban SUV concept with designs on competing with the quirky Nissan Juke. With a long history of success with small cars, Honda is hoping its reputation will help find the Urban SUV Concept an audience — even with no announced specs. Honda plans to have the production version hit showroom floors in Japan before 2013 ends, with an American launch in 2014. MSN

Boy reunites siblings separated for 65 years

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A brother and sister who were separated into different Chicago foster homes as children in 1948 have met for the first time, thanks to the detective work of a friendly 7-year-old neighbor Betty Billadeau, of St Louis, Missouri, and Clifford Boyson, of Davenport, Iowa, were introduced after 65 years apart yesterday. The pair were put into separate foster homes at age five and three respectively and spent decades trying to find each other to no avail. 
But with the help of Mr Boyson’s tech-savvy neighbour, Eddie Hanzelin, 7 (above) and his enterprising plan to track Ms Billadeau using his mother’s Facebook account they are now a family again. ‘Nobody would help me until I came and met little Eddie,’ Mr Boyson told ABC News. ‘One thing he said is that he has someone to send a Christmas card to now,’ Ms Billadeau said of her brother.

Phony tickets written to hide absence from work

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Eight TTC transit enforcement officers have been fired for fabricating offense tickets. Five of the transit enforcement officers face criminal charges for obstructing justice. The tickets were apparently issued to homeless individuals who were known to the TTC although it seems these parties didn’t even know tickets had been issued against them.  They were for offences such as panhandling, loitering or trespassing. Because the tickets were never served, no fines were paid.  Late today news organizations identified the motivation for the phony tickets as a cover up for being absent from work while receiving salary. The TTC said their special officers typically make around $70,000 a year but CTV reported tonight that some of the accused are on the Ontario “Sunshine List”, indicating they take home an income in excess of $100,000. Michael Schmidt, 44, of Barrie, two counts each; Tony Catic, 45, of Oakville, two counts each; John Posthumus, 44, of Toronto, three counts each; Jamie Greenbank, 48, of Milton, one count each; Neil Malik, 38, of Ajax, one count each. 

Wreckers demolish Glebe Presbyterian

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The wreckers went to work on Glebe Presbyterian Church on Belsize Drive yesterday and today. What’s left of the century-church is rubble and the 1913 foundation.  The church sign still stands among shrubs on the large property overlooking Belsize. A small sign for the Mother Nature Day Care service and a  kids playhouse are forlorn reminders of the history of this space. As previously posted here, there is a plan to build six town homes on this site.  

City installs “don’t bother” bus shelter

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So here we are at the corner of Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Broadway Ave,. outside the venerable Pik Kwik store. That’s just kitty-corner from Northern Secondary. This is where, thanks to the efforts of Jack Lakey, the Toronto Star’s “Fixer”, a new bus shelter has been installed. Except that this lovely shelter, Tuesday’s sunshine glinting off its aluminum-strutted roof, has no sides. No sides! The one that it replaced was wretched, but it had glass sides. It will be enough for most of us to know that the designer of these pieces, Astral Media, should have stuck to radio. The only solace we can offer to those who must gather on this corner when it is cold and windy is that there are two beat-up Bell Canada phone booths there. One of them looks like it would be pretty good as a wind-break.

We have to grow our great Avenues says planner

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She wants to grow main street

Toronto fledgling chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat cited five priorities for Toronto that will guide her tenure. Ms Keesmaat, who was appointed last year, spoke to the Board of Trade today. She said the city’s “Avenues” or great streets (such as Eglinton Avenue E above) needed to grow in such a way that jobs and work places were more closely linked. All these streets, St. Clair, Eglinton, the Lake Shore, have tremendous capacity for growth, Ms. Keesmaat said. With existing transit infrastructure and proximity to green space, they could accommodate new mid-rise buildings in a way that would not negatively affect surrounding communities. Ms Keesmaat criticised the political polarization at city hall, saying that conditions there are sometimes not pretty. It should be a priority to change this, she said. Other major goals: Fixing transit, the impact of climate change and the legacy of green space and land use.  National Post.

Boy 2 dead, his brother treated for influennza

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A morning call for EMS to an apartment on Ontario Street found a 2-year-old boy dead and his brother, who is thought to be two or three years older, with flu-like conditions. The brother was taken to Hospital for Sick Children where he is being treated for the flu. Police and EMS say the case does not appear suspicious.

Men of Carreira Casuals holding 50% off sale

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The well dressed men of South Bayview are selling their winter coats, sports jackets and sweaters for 50% off just now. We’re talking about the men in the window at Paul Carreira Casuals at 1563 Bayview Ave. Take a look. If you see Paul, tell him you saw it in the Bulldog. In other South Bayview notes, the owner of Smoklin’ Cigar says he is on track to complete his move to former Leaside cleaners at 1540 Bayview Ave. location by his mid-February target. 

Dates to remember this month and next

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Charlene Kalia has brought to our attention a couple of worthwhile events this winter. The first is January 31, 2013 in support of Leaside Unite. Friends will gather at the Fox and Fiddle, 190 Laird Drive for an evening of socializing and music. Leaside Unite continues to battle the extension as planned of the SmartCentre on Wicksteed Ave. The tickets are $25 which includes two drinks. The band Blue Nash will be playing. Then on February 22, 2013, Charlene’s Laugh Out Loud in Leaside Act 4. That’s at 7.30 p.m. at Fantasy Farm Banquet Hall on Pottery road. It features Yuk Yuk’s Comedy and music. There will be an oyster bar, silent auction and much more. The money will benefit the arena expansion. Charlene notes the fund is 400,000 short of its September 2013 goal. To purchase tickets please contact Charlene at charlene@charlenekalia.com

Nortel executives found not guilty on all charges

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Nortel Networks Corp. executives accused of defrauding the company and the public have had their charges dismissed in a Toronto courtroom today, making them free men. Nearly a year to the day after their trial began in Toronto the three men are cleared entirely of wrong-doing and free to go. They are (l to r) ex-CEO Frank Dunn, ex-CFO Douglas Beatty and ex-controller Michael Gollogly. Thy were all accused of manipulating financial statements at Nortel Networks Corp. between 2002 to 2003.  If convicted, each would have faced up to 10 years in prison. 

Vase stolen from Yonge Street antique store

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Police are investigating the Friday night break-in at the exclusive antique store on at 1262 Yonge Street. The crime occurred at Braem & Minnetti Antique French Furniture on Yonge between Summerhill Ave. and  Woodlawn Ave and it appears to have netted the thief a single porcelain vase with lid. It may be that police have video of the break and enter because there is a detailed description of the the suspected thief:  Male, white, mid 30’s, 5’11” to 6’1”, 161 to 169 pounds, brown/blond hair, thin build.

Art, personal accessories stolen on Forest Hill

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Toronto Police Services report: A resident of Forest Hill Road reports that between September 24, 2012 and September 27, 2012, unknown suspects removed a quantity of art work and personal accessories from their premises.