Sorting out the bag ban vote

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We’ve had mail to suggest that contrary to our post below, Josh Matlow voted in favour of the bag ban. According to the Star’s map of who voted how, it seems he voted against the motion (red)
Any firm information either way is welcome in comment. Vote map.

Toronto Star has new managing editor

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Toronto Star news editor Jane Davenport has been appointed managing editor of the paper, the newspaper announced. Davenport, 36, has been running the Star’s night news desk for the past two years. She replaces Joe Hall, who is retiring after a 37-year career at the Star, including 13 years as managing editor. Davenport joined the Star in 2008 as deputy national editor. She was appointed to the position of news editor in 2010. Prior to joining the Star, she was national editor and assistant city editor at the Gazette in Montreal, Sunday and weeklies editor at the Halifax Daily News and managing editor of Metro in Halifax.

Man always wins at Man vs Lobster tilt

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Here are some of the events planned for the Saturday June 23, 2012 Summer Sizzler Event on South Bayview. We love McSorely’s Man vs Lobster match-up. Man always wins. Highlight June 23 on your calendar. Southbayview.ca

RBC Young Savers Event! 9am-4pm
Young Savers’ Surprise: RBC Piggy Bank, RBC Balloons, Cookies & Activity Books
Royal Bank – Bayview Branch
1554 Bayview Avenue
Clown & FREE Balloon Twisters! 1-3pm
Bonnie Byford Real Estate Ltd.
1536 Bayview Avenue
MAN VS LOBSTER! 6-9pm
1 1/4 Lb live Lobster cooked on the patio,
corn on the cob, potato salad & moosehead draught $25!
McSorley’s Saloon
1544 Bayview Avenue

What will these impetuous people do next?

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You don’t have to be caught up in Green Politics one way or another to find City Council’s legislative approach bizarre. It’s almost as if they were told to lock themselves in a room and not come out until they’d done something that would stun the City. That’s certainly what the totally unplanned and unexpected ban on all plastic bags has done. At this writing it’s not at all clear whether degradable plastic bags used to dispose of wet garbage are gone. Yellow bags? Did council even think about these things?  It’s interesting to note that local Councillors Josh Matlow and John Parker voted against the motion to ban. Ward 27 Councillor Wong-Tam voted in favour of the ban. Karen Stintz, of Ward 16 was absent for the vote. 

Early morning mugging on Yonge subway

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Toronto Police Service report:  A 25 year old male reports that on June 6, 2012 at approximately 0030 hours, he was on a subway train travelling southbound on Yonge-University-Spadina line when he was approached by a male suspect. The suspect produced a knife and made a demand for the victim’s property. The victim complied. The suspect fled the train at the Bloor subway station in an unknown direction. The victim did not sustain any injuries. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described person in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect: Male, black, 20 to 30 years, 5’9” to 5’10”, thin build

Why bother consulting anyone? Ban the bag

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City stunned by out-of-nowhere plastic bag ban

City bans plastic bags outright — no exceptions

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Drop the bags lady

Get ready for a black market in plastic bags. Got a bag? It’s okay. Joe sent me. It seems to be coming as City Council enacts an outright ban on plastic bags in Toronto. In particular, Council has voted 24-20 to ban any retailer from giving you a plastic bag for any reason whatsoever. Lobalws, Cobs, Chai on Bayview, Homefront, Right Impressions, Mac’s, Subway Sandwich. The list goes on and on. And it seems highly likely, if this ban sticks, that someone is going to get charged under the law. Will it be you? Seen on the street with a plastic bag? .Where did you get that plastic bag ma’am?  Don’t you know that it’s illegal to give someone a plastic bag. Do you have any more at home?

Breathtaking video of Venus across the Sun

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This amazing video of Venus across the Sun was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), the most advanced spacecraft ever designed to study the sun. Some quibblers complain that the high definition is blunted by the upload to YouTube and yet the scenes revealed are frankly breathtaking.

Meeting Monday about Wicksteed site

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There will be a meeting Monday, June 7, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the William Lea Room at the Leaside Arena, 1073 Millwood Road. The subject will be the huge, 147,000 square foot retail development proposed for the lands to the north of Wicksteed Avenue. This is an extension of the SmartCentres development of recent years to the south of Wicksteed. It’s odd shape has won it the name of the Salamander. It features a sinister box-type building of some 83,000 square feet — more or less perfect for a new style Walmart. There’s no confirmation of this tenant but as organizers say, the developer is being cagey about who he is talking to. The meeting is being held by Unite Leaside and the Leaside Property Owners Association (LPOA). Several informed speakers will explore the nature of the planned development, describe the process for City approvals and highlight concerns about traffic, density and other local issues.  Go to the website for information.

Modella Ladies to open at 1579 Bayview

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Modella Ladies Wear, a small chain of women’s wear stores, will open at 1579 Bayview Ave. shortly.  Modella is known outside Toronto for its stores in places like Dundas, Hamilton (Westdale) and Oaville.

Greeting card sale at Homefront

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Right now, there’s a greeting card sale at Homefreont. Buy four cards and get 20% off all four.  Homefront, 371 Eglnton Ave E.
 (416) 488-3189

Cyclist hit by bus at Bayview-Roehampton

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A man on a bicycle was struck by a TTC bus in at Roehampton and Bayview yesterday. The accident occurred around 2 p.m. The CBC reported that the cyclist was taken to Sunnybrook Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. It’s not clear what happened although he area around Bayview and Eglinton Ave E. is extremely busy with cars, trucks and buses.