Firefighters calendar a consolation

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Down at Byford Real Estate at 1536 Bayview they’re still cleaning up after the fire that pretty much gutted Leaside Cleaners a week ago. They’re open for business but as Sue Byford reports the smell of smoke from the cleaners has especially affected the stores which are attached including Byfords and the NIMA money exchange. Anyone who has been through a smoke cleanup knows that there is no way to anticipate it. On the street, insurance adjusters abound, trying to figure their exposure. On the plus side, a fireman who fought the Bayview blaze delivered an autographed copy of the firefighters’ calendar to stores. Purchasing a calendar supports the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation

Pusateri’s closed by the health department

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Toronto Public Health has issued a closure order for the Pusateri’s grocery store on Avenue Road. The health department said it responded today to a complaint from a member of the public. The store was subsequently issued a closure order due to poor sanitation and pest infestation. “It was evident there was poor sanitary conditions and infestation of both rats and cockroaches,” an inspector said. The question now is will the closure affect the Pusateri business seriously enough to give its competitors a permanent edge. Pusateri’s is apparently trying to get things cleaned up in two or three days. Certainly places like Summerhill Market may expect to see an increase in business. Pusateri locations in Bayview Village and Yorkville are not affected by the order.

“Birth in washroom” goes to Supreme Court

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The Crown has successfully appealed the “baby in the washroom” case to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court announced today that it will hear the appeal to overturn the acquittal of a woman who gave birth in a Walmart washroom and left the newborn in a toilet. The mother, April Halkett has been found not guilty by two courts. At the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, which upheld the findings of a trial judge, Justice Neil Gabrielson said he believed Halkett’s testimony that she didn’t know she was pregnant and left the store because she thought the child was dead.

Linking to libel is not libel says high court

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In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has found that posting a hyper-link to defamatory material doesn’t leave the person posting it open to lawsuits. The court likened hyperlinks to footnotes and said they should not be seen as publication of the content they are linking to. It said:“The Internet cannot, in short, provide access to information without hyperlinks,” the judgement read. “Limiting their usefulness by subjecting them to the traditional publication rule would have the effect of seriously restricting the flow of information and, as a result, freedom of expression. The potential “chill” in how the Internet functions could be devastating, since primary article authors would unlikely want to risk liability for linking to another article over whose changeable content they have no control. The case was pursued to the high court by a west coast man who felt he had been libelled by various website that linked to a page which carried alleged defamation.

Residents win height limit at 1860 Bayview

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The Ontario Municipal Board has heard an appeal to its decision regarding the property at 1860 Bayview at Broadway (the former Brennan’s Pontiac). The president of the Sherwood Park Residents Association, Ben Daube, has kindly sent a summary of the hearing. Here is what Mr. Daube wrote: “The Board yesterday approved the amendment to the the zoning bylaw and the site plan application in principle but will withhold its formal Order subject to agreement on the last details. We were successful in having a height limit (17 metres) written into the by-law. This will mean that any future applications for increase over the limit will have to be brought to the public first, rather than be negotiated behind closed doors as would have been probable otherwise.”

Another incident at Bayview and Eglinton

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Following is a police report on yet another incident involving young people near the corner of Eglinton and Bayview. There have been enough such incidents that it seems naive to think that they represent a coincidence. Which raises the reasonable question of whether there is some other type of illegal activity going on in this ares which sets the scene for these kinds of crimes. We’re asking. Here is the police report: : A 16 year old male reports that on October 14, 2011 at approximately 1850 hours, he was in the area of Eglinton Avenue East and Bayview Avenue when he was approached by three male suspects. One suspect made a demand for the victim’s phone. The victim did not comply. The suspect produced a handgun and threatened the victim. The victim punched the suspect and fearing for his safety fled the scene. The suspects fled the scene in an unknown direction. No injuries were sustained by the victim. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described persons in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect #1: Male, 14 years, 5’4”, 110 pounds, medium build. Suspect #2: Male, black, 14 years, thin build. Suspect #3: Male, black, 14 years, 5’2”, 79 pounds, thin build.

Fire at Overlea Blvd cosmetics plant

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Toronto Police Service report: On October 15, 2011, at approximately 2210 hours, a fire was discovered in a manufacturing building for Crystal Clear Cosmetics, 20 Overlea Boulevard. Toronto Fire Services, under the direction of the District Chief Pineau attended the scene and extringuised the blaze. No injuries were sustained. The exact cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. Damage is estimated at $80,000.00 to $100,000.00.