MTY Foods swallows Mr. Submarine

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Entrepreneur Stanley Ma (inset) founder of Montreal’s MTY Foods Group Inc., is back on the takeover trail with his biggest-ever bite: he is swallowing Toronto-based Mr. Submarine Ltd. for $23 million cash. The deal will expand his national fast food restaurant network to 2,070 units, including several smaller deals he has recently made. MTY is a franchisor and operator. The privately held Mr. Submarine sandwich maker, 43 years old and one of Canada’s best known fast food chains, has annual sales of more than $100 million. Montreal Gazette link off the headline above.

China upset with its fractious team

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The New York Times says that China is quite concerned and displeased with its players after a melee that occurred during a “goodwill” basketball game with an American college team. It appears the Chinese took the initiative in the combat. Some have found it sinister that all the U.S. players on the court at the time of the fight were black. Here.

Councillor Matlow responds to Wednesday post

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Councillor Josh Matlow wrote by way of comment to post of yesterday: Thanks for your good questions. You, and any of your readers, are very welcome to contact me to discuss this or any issue at councillor_matlow@toronto.ca. PS- We live near South Bayview and I’d appreciate hearing your views about how to improve our remarkable main street. Thanks Councillor, it’s a deal — Ed.

Teaopia chain to open at 1592 Bayview

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The location at 1592 South Bayview will be occupied by the tea giant Teaopia. A window poster went up today saying the opening will be soon. Teaopia is a national chain of loose leaf tea shops with outlets in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. It advertises more than 100 types of loose tea. Teaopia also carries what it calls a wide selection of teaware “to make the loose leaf tea experience fun, easy and beautiful”.

Toronto a magnet for illegal refugees

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Ottawa is hiring 95 armed border agents to crackdown on the more than 9,200 failed refugee claimants who go underground yearly, most in the Toronto area. About 350 enforcement officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are now trying to remove the more than 9,000 failed refugees yearly but there’s still a huge backlog of deportees to find and remove in the GTA, agency officials said. Toronto Sun

Help! What the heck is AVPN?

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From NOW online: “Launched in June, Viva Napoli (679 Mt. Pleasant, 647-344-8482, rating: NN) serves what the would-be Libretto of Leaside calls “autentica pizza Napoletana.” Translation: no AVPN, though we get the requisite DOP canned tomatoes, mozzarell’ and wood-burning oven. Shame the pies that come out of it are so worrisome.” Silly us. Not in the game. Maybe you know what AVPN and DOP are. Ed’s note: Be sure to read the erudite comment written by someone who knows.

Cadillac confirms “ELR” electric car

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Informational piece in the Wall Street Journal car section on Cadillac’s strategy with the ELR.

Threatening notices on rear of Yonge building

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Our sister blog Yonge and Roxborough News is reporting (with pictures) that signs have been taped onto the rear of a low rise on the west side of Yonge Street in the alley between Roxborough and MacPherson. It’s clear that someone is very upset with someone. The notes carry what some people might consider to be a threat. The notice is shown in part above but the rest of it reads as follows:
Please be informed that in the case that you initiate behaviour of this character again in future you will suffer consequences including but not limited to chopping your (deleted) off, laminating that (deleted) and sticking it through that ignorant sack of grey matter you call your brain. XOXO

Facebook rioters get four years each

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Two Facebook users who encouraged rioters to destroy their local towns on the social networking site were jailed for four years yesterday as the courts handed out their toughest sentences yet. Telegraph

Loblaws food allergy assessment program

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RELEASE — (Edited) — Loblaws is launching a food-risk management program to cater to about 1.3 million Canadians suffering from severe food allergies. Many schools and daycare facilities have implemented rigid food policies. To help moms in packing peanut-free lunches and snacks, Loblaw stores offer more than 80 President’s Choice and no name peanut-free products made in a peanut free facility. And its pharmacies have partnered with Anaphylaxis Canada to introduce the personalized Food Allergy Management Assessment program designed to help parents and allergy patients better manage potentially life-threatening food allergies. Full release

Bungalow on Sharron Drive

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Today it’s number 30 on Sharron Drive where workers are takng apart this modest bungalow. Reconstruction of our bungalows is setting a searing pace this warm August.

Bambrick given morning fill-in at Jazz FM91

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There’s always a fair amount of interest among readers of The South Bayview Bulldog about the happenings at Jazz FM91. And if you are not a morning person, you might not know that the departure of John Donabie has brought Heather Bambrick to that slot for the time being at least. According to the station, a final decision will be made shortly about who will be the morning host. Heather is an accomplished vocalist who has been with the station since 2001. She produces and hosts the “Sunday Afternoon Jazz” program.