Author Ian Rankin at Sleuth on Wednesday

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Sleuth of Baker Street will have a brief visit from author Ian Rankin for one hour on Wednesday, October 26. That’s at 907 Millwood Road from 4:30 to 5:30pm. Then he’ll be off to other appointments. All fans of this popular mystery writer are invited. Sleuth notes that the shop is normally not open Wednesdays, but, will be from 3.00 pm that day. Mr. Rankin will be autographing copies of his new Malcolm Fox novel, The Impossible Dead ($34.99 Orion hardcover, $24.99 Orion trade paperback). This is said to be a terrific sequel to the equally terrific The Complaints ($10.99). Here is Rankin talking to the BBC about how he became disciplined enough to write novels.

Townhomes coming to Millwood and Rumsey

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That development at the intersection of Millwood and Rumsey Rds is to be known as Towns of Castleton. The name refers not to a new community (that would be a real stretch) but rather to the townhomes which will be built on the southeast corner there. It has been vacant for years but with a flashy new sign advertising starting prices at $1,179,000 it appears that construction will not be too long delayed. The sign does not say how many homes will be built on the site which seems a bit strange because the property is not too large. The sign says that homes are available in limited quantities up to 2800 square feet. Notably a previous plan to develop the site by another builder called for five homes.

Despair and backbiting in Europe

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What appears to be the worst nightmare for Europe and the world has been forecast by the IMF. In a few words, it says there probably isn’t enough money in all Europe to save Greece. This bombshell warns that without a default, the Greek debt crisis alone could swallow the eurozone’s entire €440 billion bailout fund — leaving nothing to spare to help the affected banks of Italy, Spain or France.The Telegraph of London’s excellent report.

Local scarecrows have a rich, scary heritage

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Halloween around South Bayview and no more so than on Davisville Ave. where our happy (straw) friends are on display on a lawn near Millwood (far left and far right). The scarecrow is a fairly obvious device to keep the birds off newly sown seed but this ancient phenomenon has developed a rich culture ranging from Ray Bolger’s straw man in the Wizard of Oz (upper left) to the horrification of the concept in a dozen B minus movies (lower right). In between, we make scarecrows for fun, dress ourselves as scarecrows (very fetching at upper right) and even costume Fido in the scarecrow style. The first scarecrows are practically pre-historic.Wiki mentions one from a Japanese book from the year 712. Don’t be scared, read more.

Police consider licensing bicycles

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The Sun reports that the Toronto Police Services Board briefly talked about licensing cyclists Thursday. Councillor Frances Nunziata raised the issue after Chief Bill Blair presented a report on the enforcement of cycling infractions in the city. The York South-Weston councillor wants the city to look at licensing cyclists.Blair said licensing motor vehicles is “very useful” and licensing cyclists would have some positive aspects.“One of the more positive aspects is it does create some accountability for the owner of the bicycle that could assist us in enforcement,” he told the board.He added licensing would help ensure stolen bicycles could be returned to the rightful owner.The board also discussed the hodgepodge of bylaws within the city when it comes to bikes, particularly cycling on the sidewalk.Blair acknowledged sidewalk cyclists are a big complaint police hear about.Board members voted to ask city council to look at creating a comprehensive bike policy for the whole city.The photo shows a rare sight: Police ticketing a biker at Yonge and Dundas. Yonge and Roxborough news.

Gardiner closed, Occupy marchers downtown

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Good morning. There will be smooth sailing on South Bayview today but downtown you can expect the Gardiner Expressway to be closed between 2 a.m. on Saturday and 5 a.m. on Monday for annual fall maintenance. Also, the Occupy Toronto group will march from St. James Park over to City Hall, and back presumably. That is supposed to begin at 2 p.m.

Rubber pylons back on South Bayview

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The rubber pylons are back on the east side of Bayview Ave. Do you know what that means? Well it probably means that the sidewalk replacement which was supposed to start in August is about to begin now. The construction company, A and F deCarlo, would know. If you can get it out of them. And how about this. If they are going to do the sidewalks now, will they then have to remove all the parking meters that they just put back ten days ago? Crazy City, eh?

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