Here is a breathless story about how Toronto can be “car-free”. You will love it. Just leave the old Highlander in the driveway and use it for storage. “Car-free” is the inspiration of Kristyn Wong-Tam. Councillor Ward 27. It appears the story’s writer, John Lorinc is also fully on board. You may be guessing that this is about local road closures and such. Street parties, that type of thing. Not a bit. These visionaries see miles and miles of roads closed in the name of “livable streets” This quote in particular sets off the South Bayview baloney-detector: “But closing or partially closing longer networks of arterials to cars on a more regular basis would require the city and the TTC to develop alternate routes and ensure the public and local merchants know what’s planned” Oh yes, don’t forget to tell the public. Globe and Mail
David Blaine “electrified” stunt in New York
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Illusionist David Blaine has spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday at New York’s Pier 54 executing an elabroate stunt. Fun to watch perhaps but as commentators have pointed out (and the video gets wrong) Blaine has not been electrocuted. That would be news. The voltage is running through his suit, not him. In fact, writers at the tech webiste BetaBeat point out the Blaine has ripped off early 20th Century inventor Nikola Tesla who did much the same thing without the promotional tool of the Internet of course. BetaBeat
What a KISS! She lies about rape to win $10,000
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Rogers Media station KISS 92.5 has this program in which three people compete for a $10,000 prize. Each tells a story which is designed to compel the other two to give over the dough. Does the concept worry you? Toronto Star
Matlow raises issue of jet noise at City Council
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Councillor Matlow (Ward 22) is among those attempting to draw attention to noise from incoming jetliners over central North Toronto neighbrohoods. It’s apparent however that the noise is not something that can be greatly dminished without quieter aircraft, which would be quite an accomplishment. Toronto Sun
Chavez rolls to victory with 54.42% of vote
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Venezuela’s socialist President Hugo Chavez won re-election on Sunday, quashing the opposition’s best chance at unseating him in 14 years and cementing himself as a dominant figure in modern Latin American history. The 58-year-old Chavez took 54.42 percent of the vote, with 90 percent of the ballots counted, to 44.97 percent for the young opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, official results showed. Chavez’s victory would extend his rule of the OPEC member state to two decades, though he is recovering from cancer and the possibility of a recurrence hangs over his political future.
LV 2013 launches checks on four escalators
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Paris Fashion Week haas ended and among the many flamboyant shows was the Louis Vuitton spring/summer 2013. Designer Marc Jacobs explored symmetry and mirrors as he unveiled the collection at the Louvre in Paris. The set consisted of four large escalators with yellow striped steps and models stepped out onto the catwalk in pairs, wearing similar patterns with identical styling. Jeanne Bekker liked it
Toronto church excursion hit by bus rollover
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Report from KABC-TV on rollover of Toronto-New York excursion bus: More than 23 people were hurt Saturday when a charter bus carrying 57 passengers from Canada overturned on a highway exit ramp in northern New Jersey. The coach bus from Toronto-based AVM Max 200 Charter Services Inc. overturned around 7:30 a.m. when exiting interstate 80 in Wayne. According to authorities, the Brooklyn bound bus, chartered by the Grenada Toronto Community Network, landed on its side at the bottom of an embankment injuring 23 people on board. Eight of the victims are in critical condition with non-life-threatening injuries. At least 12 passengers on the bus were members of the Toronto Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, Passengers say people were piled on top of each other on the floor of the bus. “I was laying on the floor,” said passenger Leona Broones. “Someone was on top of me. Someone had to pull me up off the floor.” It’s not clear what caused the bus to flip over. However, the driver allegedly told state police he had been cut off by another vehicle. The accident backed up traffic in the area for hours while law enforcement officials Also, Toronto Star
Modular addition at Field Ave. and McRae Dr.
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One of the more interesting local home additions and renovations is this corner structure at Field Ave and McRae Drive, across the street from Trace Manes Park. What was a modest but good-looking centre hall home is getting an addition on the west side. This project is from a company called Modular Home Additions, which as the name suggests, specializes in additions, bump ups or new homes that are fabricated off site. They say you can have an addition in just three days although we must say that seems to suggest there are a few things not mentioned. All in all, however, it seems that when the matching brickwork is done and new windows cleaned up, this will be a very nice home. Ghoulish Giveaway on Bayview October 13, 2012
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As usual, Tremblett’s Valu Mart will be a focus of fun in the lead up to Halloween. This year the Annual Leaside Ghoulish Giveaway will move into the grocery store’s parking lot with a range of activities like pumpkin carving, face painting, candy floss and a barbecue provided by Tremblett’s. A popular feature of the Ghoulish Giveaway is a family portrait taken on the scene. That’s next Saturday, October 13, 2012 between 11 am. and 2 pm. at 1500 Bayview Avenue.The sponsors are Tremblett’s, Real Estate Broker Charlene Kalia and the Royal Bank.
Condo towers built for a bull market thats over
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Mountain Bean in Sunnybrook Plaza now closed
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The Mountain Bean coffee shop in the Sunnybrook Plaza has closed, apparently with rent unpaid. Notices were posted on the shop’s window by the landlord RioCan Property indicating the lease had been terminated for this reason It is just less than three years since the Mountain Bean opened. It was operated, other merchants said, by the same business person who had the Second Cup franchise in this location, which is at the east end of the plaza near the Uptown Restaurant. The Mountain Bean franchise advertised a cozy “ski chalet” atmosphere. Now they are gone.
Northlea kids assemble hampers at Valu Mart
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Kids from Northlea Elementary and Middle School at 305 Rumsey Rd. took over Tremblett’s Valu Mart yesterday to assemble an impressive 250 hampers of donated food for the Daily Bread Food Bank. Here we see these great young volunteers doing a big victory cheer. Well done kids. These hampers were donated thanks to the generosity of Rob and Jessie Tremblett, Locallea merchants, Patrick Rocca and shoppers at Tremblett’s Valu Mart. They will feed 250 needy families this Thanksgiving. More pictures on the website of Sarah’s Food Drive.