Merchants in the Torono area are being warned about a new method of tampering with point-of-sales (POS) devices.They say they’ve recovered some tampered sales machines that read the PINs of debit and credit cards. A micro magnetic strip reader has been inserted on the plastic opening of the chip reader guide, which allows the magnetic strip to be read. Wireless technology has been added to transmit customers’ information using Bluetooth, negating the need for a camera device to capture PINs, he said. The only way to tell the difference between a compromised sales device and a regular one is that the debit or credit card in a tampered machine needs to be inserted almost entirely into the machine.
Rob Ford’s approval falls from 48 to 33%
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Mayor Rob ford has seen a sharp drop in his approval rating within the past few weeks, apparently caused by his confrontation with a Toronto Star reporter near his home. National Post
Arena ground breaking June 16, 2012
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The Leaside Arena Expansion Project’s “Official Ground Breaking and Community Barbecue” is Saturday, June 16th at 11:00a.m at Leaside Gardens. Everyone is welcome! Help spread the word!
Wear a Leaside jersey to arena ground-breaking
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Brooke Biscoe and Paul Mercer, key men in the Leaside Arena Expansion, have good news. They write today: “We are pleased to report that the City of Toronto yesterday approved the award of the contract for the Leaside Arena Expansion Project to Aquicon Construction Company Ltd. This was one of the final steps before construction can begin which we expect will be in July. In the meantime we invite you to join us on Saturday, June 16th at 11 a.m. for the Official Ground Breaking Ceremony and Community Barbecue. The ceremony and barbecue will take place on the former Film Review Board property near the Curling Club and this area can be accessed either on foot from the arena parking lot or directly from Millwood Road — when driving towards the Leaside Bridge, enter at the driveway just before the railway underpass where some parking will be available. We look on this day as a community celebration and everyone interested in the second rink at Leaside Gardens is invited to attend. We especially encourage you to bring your kids — the current and future members of the LHA, LSC and TLGHA who will benefit most directly from the new rink in the years to come. Hockey players are encouraged to wear a Leaside jersey.”
Rogers Sunnybrook store shrinks to half
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Rogers large store in the Sunnybrook Plaza will shrink to half its original size. The end of video rentals means the company needs much less space and it will occupy only half of its previous square footage. Rogers will be located on the Froyo side of the present space. The other half, on the west, is said to be due for rental, perhaps when Rogers lease expires.
BIA meeting was “well-attended”
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A report from last night’s BIA planning meeting indicates that the event was quite well-attended with perhaps a couple of dozen merchants on hand. Councillor Parker convened the meeting but had to leave for other commitments. The meeting was handed over to his assistant, the BIA coordinator from Mt. Pleasant and “Michael the BIA guy” who was at last year’s meeting. Councillor Matlow was not present. The reports goes on: “Language during his four minute intro matched that of the letter (announcing the meeting) — extremely strong “encouragement” for getting this through. Wants to have some sort of vote by the end of June. Basically announced that he wanted the steering committee to be formed last night”.
Further details on Bull and Firkin fire
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TPS report: On May 29, 2012 at approximately 0258 hours, a fire was discovered in the Bull and Firkin, 1835 Yonge Street. Toronto Fire Services, main pumper A321, attended under the command of Platoon Chief Halls. Fire Command C20, Toronto EMS buses ESU 7 and ESU 2 were also on scene. Yonge Street was closed in both directions between Davisville Avenue and Merton Street due to the severity of the incident. The fire was extinguished and determined to be accidental, possibly caused by saw dust combined with oil rags. No injuries were sustained. Damage to the building and contents is estimated at $150,000.00. At approximately 0530 hours, Toronto Fire Services Platoon Chief Halls cleared the scene and Yonge Street was re-opened in both directions.
Mulcair snared by the Dutch Baloney Detector
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NDP leader Thomas Mulcair says Canada is infected with some ailment known as Dutch Disease. Dutch Baloney we say. The NDP leader’s vague concern for what might happen when the oil runs out (a hundred years from now?) is just drivel. No one expects the course of Canada’s economy to be perfect. We live in the real world like everyone else. We will deal with it. But this dithering about what might happen some day is foolish. We’re reminded of the late astronomer Carl Sagan who concluded that there was an epidemic of irrationality loose in the world . We needed baloney detector kits to protect ourselves, he said.
OMB reverses NY Council on 140 Dinnick
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The Ontario Municipal Board has directed that a demolition permit be issued for 140 Dinnick Crescent in Lawrence Park. In a written decision dated May 29, 2012, the vice chair of the Board, J de P Seaborn, noted that in February 2012 the City decided to revoke an earlier demolition permit even though it had already issued a building permit for the site. This was contrary to law, the vice chair found. The property at 140 Dinnick was purchased by Tim and Charlotte Stanley in 2011 for the purpose of using the lot to build a new family home. The Board’s report followed a time-line in which the couple had their plans revised to conform with the City’s bylaws and worked with their new neighbors to that effect. It was also noted that at no time prior to the posting of a demolition sign at the site did anyone raise any concern about the heritage status (if any) of 140 Dinnick Crescent. A letter from North York Community Preservation Panel was sent at the very last minute within the time period for the expressions of concern about the demolition. This was, the decsion said, the first time anyone had raised a heritage consideration. The Stanleys are now required by the terms of the OMB’s decision, and after they obtain the demolition permit, to knock down 140 Dinnick and build their new home within a period of two years from the issuance of the second permit. The Stanleys were represented by Amber Stewart. The furor now on-going about the demolition of 140 Dinnick Crescent gives testament to the motivation of North York Community Council on this matter. The council’s concern about heritage status for this rundown 1930 house was well mixed with a potent political element. Let’s just say votes are every bit as important to any councillor as preserving the history of Lawrence Park. The neighbours are shocked and outraged — at least some of them are. Others, perhaps more sensible, understand that 140 Dinnick had doubtful claim to heritage status and most importantly, the City had delivered a serious injustice to the young owners of the property, Tim and Charlotte Stanley. They purchased the house in 2011, having looked carefully into any possible impediment to its demolition. There was none. Zero. The Stanleys were given a demolition permit which, incredibly, was revoked the very next day. This was done on the basis of a letter, which for the very first time in the whole long drama, made claims about heritage status. It was shameful and when the Stanley’s appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board was heard, the City’s flimsy pretense was blown away. Now we have an outcry worthy of a plan to demolish 24 Sussex. We say hooray for the Stanleys. They will make a fine contribution to Lawrence Park by building a new home at 140 Dinnick Crescent. OMB reverses NY Council on 140 Dinnick
Ginkgo Renovation heads toward completion
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The place we called the Ginkgo Renovation seems finally to be heading towards completion. It was nearly a year ago we spotted this wonderful Moore Park home whose beauty is made even greater by the two mature Ginkgo trees flanking the front walk. They are heavily hoarded up these days (inset right) to protect them but their distinctive leaf is readily apparent Previous post.makes reference to the impressive window lintels which we knew would be saved in the renovation. And they were.
Re-dedication of Rosedale Park
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This wonderful old picture of the 1909 University of Toronto Squad was part of the memorabilia on display at the re-dedication of Rosedale Park Field, 20 Schofield Ave. The venerable playing field was where the first Grey Cup game was held 1912. The Cup it appears was in existence for a year or two before the formal annual event began. The CFL held a morning ceremony with many dignitaries, players and local families in attendance.
Bull and Firkin at 1835 Yonge hit by fire
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Fire struck a popular bar at 1835 Yonge Street north of Merton Street. Fire crews has to break in to the Bull and Firkin to deal with an electrical fire just before 3 am. The place appears to be seriously damaged. The Bull and Firkin is one of a chain of pub type restaurants throughout Toronto. They number in excess of 30. A firkin incidentally is a small wooden barrel or covered vessel suitable for serving beer.