Blue ribbons around home of Lisa Lebitka

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Blue ribbons have popped up on trees and houses in the neighborhood of 211 Airdrie  Rd.  They appear to be gestures of remembrance for the well-liked resident of that house, Lisa Libetka. She died around the New Year and her boyfriend, Paul Hindle, faces homicide charges. A blue ribbon is a traditional emblem of remembrance for those who have died unexpectedly. In this case residents are remembering a friend and neighbor.  

They must teach spin in business school

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They must teach spin at business school. Today for example we have eminent academics saying the GST should be applied to food and some other services in the name of efficiency. Of course extending the tax would get the government another $8 billion which it is now “losing out on.”  Don’t you love it? The government has got to get busty and  tax groceries because somebody is getting away with something.  Best spin this week. Of course the government is “losing out” on that money. That’s how it was planned.  Here’s news, The government is also “losing out”” on the fresh air tax, the let’s take a sail on the lake tax and the what were you two doing until 3 am. tax. Three are millions of taxes the government could apply but doesn’t. .It isn’t incompetence.  One of the sages pronouncing on the GST is Jack Mintz. He says other countries are more efficient in collecting taxes. Really. Nice for them. How do they spend the money? Stupidly?  There’s seems a good chance. 

Readers twit scary weather forecast

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Readers of the newspapers have been having fun this morning commenting on stories that warn of 10 cm of snow “by morning.”  In particular, a story in the Star online published around 7.45 am warns of this heavy fall. People don’t quite get it.  Here is what some readers are saying.:  Feb 24, 2012 8:33 AM Okay, for one, it’s wet snow and no snow on ground this morning as they said there would be. Things change once the weather makes its way over here. Second, they’re making this news as if we live in Mexico where this type of weather never happens. I am sorry but do we live in Canada?? Where am I? Feb 24, 2012 8:31 AM Whatever Woke up half hour earlier than usual, looked outside, then spent the extra half hour making a hot breakfast for the first time in years before work. .Feb 24, 2012 8:11 AM The boy who cried wolf. Might want to re-read that on.

Man sought in $15,000 online dating case

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Toronto Police are this morning seeking a 37-year-old man they say tricked a woman into giving him $15,000. The alleged crime took place over a the period between December 30, 2011 and Feb 18, 2012. The suspect targeted a woman using Internet dating sites. He identified himself as a personal trainer or recruiting agent for professional sports teams. He convinced a woman to transfer $15,000 to him, with a promise to have her debts deleted Police believe there may more victims. Romelo Woods, 37, of no fixed address, also known as Jake Simon, Jesse Simon and Simon

Rona closes 10 big box stores

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Rona Inc. will close 10 big box stores across Canada in the face of declining sales and the lingering impact of the collapse of 2008.  It will replace the stores to be closed with smaller units in an attempt to get closer to customers and somehow beat off Home Depot and Lowes.  Some 23 of Rona’s 800 stores will be affected by the company’s 2012 business plan, through closure, reductions in selling space or replacement by new 35,000 square feet “proximity” units. 

Target pop-up store attracts 1500 shoppers

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This photo supplied by Target Corp indicates the appeal of the pop-up store concept it has used in the U.S. In this case, as the company says, they “share their love for Target at the one-day only pop-up store featuring the Jason Wu for Target collection, which sold out in less than five hours.”  Shot looks down on 363 King St. W at John Street. Target donated an amount equal to 100 percent of the sales from the event to United Way Toronto. (CNW Group/Target).

Loblaw, Tim Hortons and Leaside Capital

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There are three rather surprising money stories worth noting. Shares of Loblaw, Canada’s biggest grocer, fell the most in almost four years today after it said earnings this year will bump downward from 2011 because of higher costs for technology. Loblaw fell 5.6 percent to $35.25 at the close in Toronto. It’s the largest drop since April 21, 2008, after fourth-quarter profit missed analysts’ estimates. No word on what kind of technology Loblaw has purchased to cause this nosedive. Airplanes?  Well, better news at Tim Hortons, but still curious. Tim says sales improved in the fourth quarter but profits declined.  More technology? The best part of this is that Tim increased the quarterly dividend a staggering 23.5 per cent. Whatever you say Tim. Finally, the high-end investment firm First Leaside Group has been granted bankruptcy protection. First Leaside doesn’t appear to have much to do with Leaside. It’s based in Uxbridge. The company has been teetering since last fall when it became clear that the rents it expected to get for properties in the U.S. were not attainable.  And although investors appear to have lost a lot, it also seems they have lots left. News reports say qualified investors needed seven figure liquid reserves to get in.

“Waiting in line for pop-up store…getting chilly”

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Toronto shoppers lined up early along King St. West Thursday morning for a chance at designer clothes at bargain prices.  The lineup snaked around the block as mostly female shoppers waited to purchase flirty skirts, dresses and jackets at a pop-up Target store. The National Post ran a story and tweets from the smitten. This one said: “Waiting in line at the #jasonwu for Target pop up in Toronto. It’s getting chilly!”

Premier speaks at Leaside company

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Premier McGuinty appeared today at the Motion Specialties offices at 939 Eglinton Ave E (just west of Brentcliffe Rd.). He was accompanied by Don Valley  West member Kathleen Wynn. Mr. McGuinty said among other things that the government will respond directly to the Drummond Report. It was issued last week and calls  for large cutbacks in programs and spending in Ontario. He also spoke on behalf of the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit. Motion  Specialties makes a variety of wheeled devices for those unable to walk as well as other items used by the elderly.  

Home on Randolph fetches $198K over list

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A story in the Globe and Mail today details how a renovated bungalow on Randolph Rd at Hanna Rd sold for $198,000 over the listing price. The owners had asked $978,000 for the two storey corner home. They got $1,176,000. A brick bungalow built in the 40s, it was renovated on  its 26-by-109-foot corner lot by different owners over the past few decades. It now has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a family room addition with skylights and double patio doors to the wood-fenced yard. It was listed with.Sheree Cerqua, Royal LePage Signature Realty.  Story.