The South Bayview Bulldog

It looks to be a wonderful weekend for those of us here in the neighborhood. We should all make sure we take in both Leaside Dentistry’s free ice cream party and the Rotary Club’s annual corn roast. The ice cream party takes place on Saturday between 2 and 4 p. at the Baskin and Robbins on Bayview. The corn roast is Sunday at Trace Manes Park. It’s a great gathering with rides and activities for the kids.

“We are writing on behalf of a few merchants on the South Bayview business distrrict. We were told with certainty in August that sidewalks were to be repaired or replaced. The work was to begin immediately and be finished by mid-September. Patios and street displays were ripped out at the direction of the contractors. Nothing has happened. Not a thing. We are unable to contact the supervisor Bruce Shaw on is cell phone. There is no response to messages. The company is A and F de Carlo.”

Normally tranquil Switzerland is in turmoil today at revelations that a London-based rogue trader for UBS has created a $2 billion loss from what is said to be unauthorized trading. Kweku Adoboli, a 31-year old trader at UBS, has been arrested by City of London police in connection with scandalous losses. The matter is deeply troubling to local politicians and the worldwide economy as UBS has said it may be unprofitable in the third quarter because of it. UBS tumbled as much as 9.6 percent in Swiss trading following the announcement. The question being asked was how such an important institution could be so inept as to have allowed this large loss to occur essentially under the nose of the bank’s managers. UBS stands for Union Bank of Switzerland. The Telegraph.

Canada’s $2 or less low-end product phenomenon Dollarama has produced another buoyant quarter. It announced an increase in sales of 12.8% in sales and sharply higher earnings.The quarter ended July 31, 2011. Dollarama, with 680 stores across Canada, said sales reached $387.5 million, up from $343.5 million a year earlier. Net earnings were $37.7 million, or 50 cents a share, up from $27.6 million, or 37 cents a share.

Here is a further note to the post (two below) on the all-candidates debate for Toronto Rosedale. As stated, it will be held Friday September 16th at 6:45 pm at Rosedale United Church. The debate is hosted by the following local ratepayer associations: Moore Park Residents’ Association, North Rosedale Ratepayers’ Association, South Rosedale Ratepayers’ Association, Summerhill Ratepayers’ Association, Governor’s Bridge Ratepayer’s Association

This video from China shows the on-going problems of overcrowding and risky practices. Police were staggered to find 64 kids in this van which had been adapted to hold these kinds of numbers. It was designed for a maximum of eight. Although the children were all right –many of them are smiling happily — the opportunity for disaster is obvious. Some 12 police cars were needed to take the children home.