Racing to beat the big snowstorm

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These carpenters were racing to beat the snowstorm late Tuesday as they closed in the roof of this Rumsey Road renovation. While most people were well on their way home, these men were up in the bitter cold, hammers ringing. At right, carefully tethered, one man climbs down the mansard with an automatic nailer to secure the sheet of wood. The latest forecast is for up to 15 cm overnight, with an additional 15 cm Wednesday morning. The snow is expected to taper off in the afternoon.

Tattoos: Vamp or tramp?

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This blog entry by British TV anchor Kate Burley deals with a raging issue of the day — tattoos. It’s even a hot topic here on sedate South Bayview. Many men seem to think they make a woman look like a member of a bike gang. But, they have their advocates. Interesting reading.

A&W features self-serve kiosks

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It’s been a long time since girls on roller skates balanced burgers and root beer as they served up A&W fare to patrons. Now perhaps the ultimate opposite to that. A&W is rolling out automatic kiosks where you can order your lunch without speaking to anyone. It’s one of the features of A&W’s thrust into the busy and affluent business districts of our big cities. They’ve opened them in Vancouver and Calgary. Last Friday they opened one on Yonge Street north of College in Toronto, a so-called urban concept place designed to catch downtown burger diners. In fact, these restaurants serve a variety of dishes and also offer conventional counter service.

Groms holding inventory liquidiation

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Groms, the young peoples sports clothing and equipment store, is holding a dramatic looking liquidation sale at its shop at 1707. Everything is papered over with signage declaring 50% off everything in the store.

Like it or not, Hyundai is moving up

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You can say what you like about Hyundai, but there is just no doubt that the once funny little car company has changed its style. and it has changed minds. The South Korean firm has worked its way up to a new level of acceptance. Once known for making vehicles that didn’t meet everyone’s expectations, Hyundai now has a track record for setting the standard for reliability, quality, safety, convenience, technology and owner loyalty. It’s factual. You don’t have to like the Hyundai to acknowledge it. The 2011 Equis luxury model above is an example of the new wind blowing across the Pacific from Seoul. Among other things, Hyundai seems to understand location. It will be a brilliant coupe for Hyundai if it can locate on Laird Drive, where Gyro Mazda is now trying to place a Hyundai showroom opposite its existing dealership. All previous Hyundai posts.

VW will build super efficient XL1

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It may look a bit like a sea mammal out of water but the Volkswagen XL1 concept car is going to make it to the production line. No one thought it would. And it will be the most efficient production car anywhere, the company says. Volkswagen’s Formula XL1 Concept is a plug-in hybrid, meaning that it’s capable of running on battery power alone for awhile, and then if you need the extra range, it’s got a tiny two cylinder diesel engine that can extend its range. Reportedly, it gets a staggering 260 miles per gallon. Volkswagen says that it will be producing about a hundred XL1s, to be made available first in Germany and later in the U.S.

Meeting to discuss Laird Drive plan

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Notice of a meeting has been given for public comment on the project known as 85 and 115 Laird Drive. This is the commercial development that would see the area once home to the Canadian Northern Railway yard transformed into a complex of eight new buildings dedicated mainly to retail purposes, plus a plan for the “adaptive re-use” of the locomotive shop for retail purposes. DATE: Wednesday, February 16, 2011. TIME: 1.30 pm. PLACE: North York Civic Centre Council Chambers, 5100 Yonge Street. Earlier post.

Sharon’s Collection still seeking space

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Sharon’s Collection is still looking for a new home. The shop has until the end of February to find accommodation. Sharon’s Collection has been at 1643 Bayview for some two years.

Approve re-zoning for Gyro plan ASAP!

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Speaking purely in the public interest, we could hardly imagine a modest commercial project that would be more useful to the residents of this area than a new Hyundai dealership at the corner of Laird Drive and Industrial Street. The post below carries the news. Let’s list the reasons why this project should receive rapid approval. First, it will remove a blight of vacant houses and other doubtful structures from Laird Drive. Second, it offers a tangible improvement to neighborhoods which have been notoriously under serviced. Third, it might inspire other auto firms to sponsor dealerships to locate in the area. There’s great demand for convenient sales and service. The people of Leaside, Moore Park, Bennington Heights, Eglinton East and Lawrence Park would surely respond well. The bankruptcy of GM in 2009 brought an end to an ambitious plan for an auto centre in the old railway yard on Laird. It also killed off Brennan Pontiac. Here’s a chance to get going again.

Gyro bid to bring new Hyundai dealership to Laird Drive

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Gyro Mazda, the long-time local dealership, is applying for approvals to open a Hyundai dealership across the street from its 40-year-old business on the west side of Laird Drive. The plan would transform the northeast corner at Laird and Industirial St. (left) into a new showroom and sales facility for Hyundai cars. Hyundai, the South Korean car maker, is attempting to break out into the mainstream of North American auto buyers. But the plan has to leap some municipal hurdles. The proposed site is part of the Del truck body property. Gyro told the South Bayview Bulldog today that with regulatory approval, including re-zoning, demolition and construction, it might be more than a year before a dealership could open.

Schreiber out at Shoppers Drug Mart

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Shoppers Drug Mart is on the hunt for a new chief after it was announced Wednesday that CEO Jurgen Schreiber is quitting the drug giant. Shoppers is an anchor in every business district and street in the country. The move comes suddenly after Shoppers had it first earnings decline since 2001. During his tenure, Schreiber oversaw the somewhat revolutionary two-storey drug store format (right) at Shoppers. As is known, such a location will be installed on South Bayview in the old Bayview Playhouse. Schreiber will be replaced temporarily by Chairman David Williams, a former food retail executive, until a permanent successor is found.

What Common Ground, Mr Premier?

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The Premier thinks that there is “common ground” between Canada and the UAE in the landing rights dispute. Possibly, but he’s keeping it a pretty good secret. It’s fairly clear the UAE wants things done on its terms and its terms only. Some reporters have called Air Canada hypocritical because it proposed a landing deal with Emirates Airline in 2006. But if you read the story carefully, the deal only fell apart because Emirates would not share profits with Air Canada from expanded access to Toronto airport. And it seems that the Germans, French and South Koreans have come to the same conclusion about Emirates, turning down expanded landing rights. Our relationship with the UAE may well be important. But the UAE is trying to bully us. Punitive visas, not for security reasons, but because we won’t give in. What common ground?