Dog attack wounds man near Avenue-Davenport

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A 52-year-old man lost a testicle after being bitten by his girl friend’s 70-kilogram American Bulldog named Bully, the Toronto Star reports. The attack occurred in the Avenue Rd. and Davenport Rd. area on Tuesday. Toronto police Det. Murray Barnes said the man was feeding the dog treats when the 3-year-old bulldog attacked his face, neck and groin. “The animal had to be beaten off him with a mop,” said Barnes, “and it was eventually secured in a bedroom by the owner.” Paramedics were called and the man was treated for his injuries. He is well on his way to recovery, police said. The dog was removed from the home and placed under quarantine for 10 days and an investigation is underway. Toronto Public Health will gather details about the incident and the animal to determine if the animal is rabid. When there are issues related to animal neglect and abuse, enforcement officials can take custody of the animal and a court order to permanently remove the dog from its owners could be filed. 

Mr. Christie, You Used To Make Good Cookies

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The 65 year-old “Christie’s” factory on the Lake Shore beside the Gardiner Expressway is about to close.  The international group controlled by Kraft food said today the place is just too  inefficient to renovate . Some 550 employees have been given notice of up to ten months. Their jobs are not likely to be transferred. The plant, originally built by the Canadian firm Christie, Brown is located at  Lake Shore Boulevard and Park Lawn Road. It has seen the company change hands and its products, mostly cookies, were the subject of one of the most enduring promotional catch lines ever created — Mr. Christie, You Make Good Cookies.  City Councillors say there is plan to build condominiums on the property. 

Repairing old roof damaged by Oct. windstorm

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Updated December 10, 20112:  Work is underway to repair the badly damaged roof of the home on Heath Street E just west of Welland Ave.  It was hit by a huge trunk of a Red Oak which came down in October’s windstorm. You can see here and from the inset shot that the mainstay of the roof has been replaced but much work remains to repair the broken roofing and supports caused by heavy branches attached to the trunk. 

Finishing up the stores at Leaside Village

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Leaside Village has been a work in progress since the first businesses opening there in the summer. But now the contractors appear to be closing in on a finished shopping centre. Pretty much everyone is open — Longo’s, CIBC, Linen Chest, Pet Valu, Bulk Barn, Five Guys, Brewers Retail and a number of other shops. This shot today is at the main entrance on Laird where a restaurant facility is being finished up. Still to open is the Cupcake Girls place, full of sweets (in addition to the girls).  Looking forward to that.   

Chrysler to sell CNG pickups to retail buyers

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Chrysler’s natural gas-powered Ram pickup will soon be available for sale to U.S. retail buyers as the automaker has started letting all dealers  order the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) pickup. This program seems to apply in Canada as well. Earlier,  Chrysler had made the truck available only to fleet buyers. It joins Honda as the only automakers selling compressed natural gas vehicles to U.S. retail consumers. According to Peter Grady, vice president of network development and fleet, the dealers were keen on the natural gas-powered Ram pickup and they’ve been clamoring, particularly in the natural gas states. “The electric technology just isn’t advanced, it’s not there, and there’s so much innovation that’s required to make it viable. We’ve got to be there in some fashion, whether it’s hybrids or whatever, but right now, compressed natural gas is here,” added Grady. In recent years, natural gas has become much more plentiful. Natural gas powered trucks are frequently specified as key to a strategic policy of energy independence in the U.S. CNG trucks are said to operate some 30% cheaper than gasoline models.

Feds re-instate Novartis vaccine for general use

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Health Canada has lifted the suspension of a flu vaccine that accounts for 30 per cent of the Novartis brand vaccine. The federal health department had suspended use of all Novartis influenza vaccines after two of the seasonal flu vaccines produced by Novartis were pulled from use in several European countries. In a release the government agency said, “Health Canada looked at the results of its own testing, conducted a health risk assessment, and reviewed information from its European partners and data submitted by Novartis in making its decision. None of the information reviewed indicated a safety issue.”

Air New Zealand’s new Hobbit flight safety video

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“Welcome aboard this Air Middle Earth flight,” says the elvish flight attendant.. Air New Zealand has created a Hobbit-inspired airline safety video. The safety briefing will be familiar to many frequent fliers, but this one includes lots of people in Middle Earth costumes and cameo appearances from film director Sir Peter Jackson, Gollum and even the ‘precious’ ring itself.

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.

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.