Brian Porter moves up at Scotiabank

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The top job at Bank of Nova Scotia has been split so that Brian Porter (left) can move into  the role of president. It is a suggestion that Porter will someday succeed the current president and CEO Rick Waugh. Mr. Waugh (right) remains CEO and says he has no immediate plans to retire although he has been the boss at BNS since 2003. Mr. Porter joined Scotia in 1981 and is currently group head of its strategically important international banking division, which has operations in about 50 countries through Latin America and Asia. He will officially take over as president  tomorrow (Thursday) and report to Waugh.

Here are some people who worked on Halloween

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Hope your Halloween plans are going well. If you have a job you probably needed to work just the same. Not like City Council. They voted to leave early today. We’ll let you judge. But look here. Rene the letter carrier made the most of the occasion and of her job. She dresses up every year to entertain her South Bayview customers. This is a very good get up, Rene.  Below, two ladies who work at Homefront and still managed to celebrate Halloween. Brook Saltzman (right) came dressed as her boss Bonnie Kruger (left). A very nice idea well executed by Brook who only complained that she couldn’t find the necessary string of pearls. Back to City Hall for a moment, the inspiration for leaving early came from Ward  16 Councillor Karen Stintz After some back and forthing Councillor Ford said:  “This is ridiculous. We have six speakers. Let’s just vote: we’re either leaving or staying.” So they a left at 4.30 and there was no need to ask the boss. That would be you.

Hey, let’s go door-to-door and collect some taxes

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Who voted for and  against adjourning City Council to go on a Halloween Holiday. 

Hydro worked into night west of Bayview Ave

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Toronto Hydro’s 8 am bulletin on restoring power indicates that 700 customers remain without service. It appears that some of these are in the area  bounded by Talwood Drive on the north, Eglinton Ave E  on the south, Bayview Ave on the west and and Don Mills Rd on the east. It is said crews are turning their attention to restore outages that affect the greatest number of customers first. Localized outages, or secondary lines, affecting one or two houses will be a secondary priority.

Forked Oak falls across four homes in Moore Park

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On Heath Street East just west of Welland Ave a forked Oak tree (inset top when it was standing) has split and fallen across three other houses to the east and the west.  Inset lower, the west trunk has damaged  two homes to the west of the property where the tree was located.  In the main picture, you can see the east trunk leaning rather precariously against the house next door. Homeowners, contractors, insurance agents and neighbors were huddled on Heath today plotting a plan to clean up the  mess. Someone said it appears that two cranes may be needed to safely lower the east trunk to the ground. It is going to be a busy week on this normally quiet Moore Park street. 

Storm can’t stop Pam from carving her pumpkin

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Amid the consternation and sheer hard work of dealing with Storm Sandy there are clear signs that South Bayview is quite all right. One of those signs is the sight of Pam, a resident of Manor Road near Cleveland, who, with her husband, annually gets in the car and heads out to a farm to buy some really big pumpkins. Then Pam begins her  talented labour or love which we see underway here. “Our kids are grown up, but I still get the neighborhood kids asking me when my pumpkin will be finished,” Pam told the South Bayview Bulldog. So once again this year, Pam is producing a wonderful 200-pound Jack O’Lantern for all the children to enjoy. Carving a pumpkin for other people’s kids. Pam, you are the Heart and Soul of South Bayview.

Apple Maps fiasco claims iPhone vice president

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Scott Forstall

The head of Apple’s iPhone and IPad Software Department has been fired for the embarrassing failure of the Apple Map Project. Scott Forstall, who has been with Apple since 1997, was let go this week after the September debacle related to Apple’s feud with Google over Android. The company kicked Google off its devices and tried to replace the mapping function with its own. It didn’t work. In the end, Apple was forced into a humiliating retreat and apology in which it advised iPhone and iPad users to go to Google where it they could to access maps.  Forstall’s responsibilities will be divided among other Apple veterans such as Jony Ives, Eddy Cue, and Craig Federighi.

Hydro says about 30,000 now without power

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The force of the winds smacking Toronto last night is seen in this fallen Red Oak, a tree with huge roots said to be 100 years. The couple living in the badly damaged house were asleep at 1 am on Neville Park Blvd. when the tree toppled onto their home. They escaped unhurt. Picture from embed CBC video   Toronto Hydro has issued its No 7 Update of Storm Sandy indicating that work goes on by daylight to restore power fully. Here is part of the Hydro update: “With the help of daylight, crews are working to remove safety hazards associated with downed wires and trees, conducting full damage assessments, coordinating extensive repairs, and are restoring power where possible. We have over 300 outages affecting approximately 32,000 customers to respond to and crews are being assigned. All planned work has been stopped and all available crews are dedicated to power restoration efforts. The damage was most severe at 4 a.m. this morning. We have reduced the number of customers affected from more than 60,000 down to 32,000 currently.”

Gripping scenes of storm’s effect on New York

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5 am. bulletin says about 55,000 without power

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Toronto Hydro’s Update  No. 6 since the onslaught of Sandy was issued at 5 a.m. and reported that approximately 55,000 customers were without power. “Crews are preparing for a busy day of restoration. The outage count will fluctuate over the next few hours as customers wake to discover they are without power. Toronto Hydro will have a better damage assessment once our morning crews are in the field”” the report said. From what can be read, there were no reports of major disruptions. Sporadic power outages occurred in Moore Park and parts of Davisville and  neighborhoods north of Eglinton Ave. E. It appears as if power has been restored.  Some homeowners found window screens and other small parts blown off. It is time for a check of the shingles.  

Shocking aberration of Toronto after dark

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We are given a glimpse of what can go wrong during a weekend night out by young people in downtown Toronto. This fracas occurred  around 3 am. Saturday at the Pho Xe Lua Restaurant on Spadina Rd. (It’s also known as Train). Someone shot video and loaded it to YouTube where it has accumulated more than 300,000 plays so far. It appears as if it might have begun with a couple of young women fighting over seating and it isn’t pretty. But before it is over two or three very belligerent men keep the fight going. A server trying to separate the women takes a plate on her head. She seemed to be okay. All very unfortunate as dozens of patrons treat the fight as entertainment, cheering and hooting as it progresses. Happily not a typical night out at a restaurant in Toronto

Hydro providing bulletins on power outages

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At 7 pm. Toronto Hydro Storm Update Centre reported a total of 48 outage events effecting some 2,596 customers. It appears that Hydro is providing regular bulletins on this page. Also check the Toronto Hydro Power Outage Map