Long waits to vote this advance polling day

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Advance polls here in South Bayview-land and across Canada were very busy today. Waits of 30 minutes were experienced at the polls at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School on Garfield Ave in Moore Park. Similar lineups occurred at Trace Manes Community Centre. The National Post says longer waits were in evidence across the country in tweets. It says “Twitter was abuzz Friday afternoon with voters alternatively applauding and lamenting snaking queues in cities such as Hamilton, Guelph, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver.” One voter tweeted, “Couldn’t even get near my advance polling station this afternoon. I hope an indication of interest and of election day voting.”

Merchants discuss impact of Laird Drive

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There is an article here quoting Laurie Oehy of The Academy of Culinary Arts and Susan Follett of the Country Store. They and others comment on the impact on South Bayview of the retail development along Laird Drive. Ms. Oehy is said to believe that box stores do not directly affect independent retailers while Ms Follett says, according to the article, that it has an impact on the number of people who walk the street. Curiously, the writer does not review the impact of ticketing. In the absence of choice, shoppers might put up with parking tickets. The city has declared open season on motorists. Free parking at the new developments may prove a tipping point for some parkers. Equally however many shoppers continue to say that they can not find personal service and genuine care in the boxes. Such service is the standard on South Bayview.

Rose Park Drive house demolished

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What is said to have been a long process of approvals is over and the house at 243 Rose Park Drive in Moore Park has been demolished. The old Dutch Colonial style roof, somewhat unusual in the neighborhood, will no doubt be replaced by a more modern look. The picture on the right was taken Wednesday evening. Picture on the left is undated from Google Street.

Volvo’s amazing Chinese adventure

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The new Volvo is coming and it’s focused seriously on the world’s largest auto market — China. The company hopes to make it a major luxury seller over the next few years. Curiously, Geely, the new Chinese owners of Volvo, has expressed itself in disagreement with the Swedish executives who are in charge of making and selling the new car. Li Shufu, the Geely chairman, thinks the Volvo should be even plushier than it is. But he’s agreed to back off for the time being. For his part, Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby says the concept car shown above, the Tiandi or Universe, “has nothing to do with Geely” and was not influenced in any way by the Chinese company. “I don’t report to Li Shufu,” Mr Jacoby said. Launching the car at the start of the Shanghai show, Volvo Cars officials made only scant mention of Volvo’s traditional brand values of safety and environmental friendliness, focusing instead on its “voluptuous curves” and “coupe-style roof line”. Asked whether safety was no longer important to Volvo Cars, Mr Jacoby said: “We have to look for other brand values next to safety. Safety will remain a core competence, but we will maybe not directly market this as a safe car.”

Stacey Mowbray promises new Second Cup

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Analysts say the lively coffee shop competition has taken its toll on Second Cup, a constant haunt for so many of us. But Stacey Mowbray (above), the company’s CEO, is vowing to change that. “We are very much back in growth mode,” she says. The company plans to add up to 30 locations this year, and is looking to open 130 more over the next few years in order to reverse a long decline. In 2000, Second Cup boasted 390 locations across the country, but that number has been winnowed to 340. Starbucks, meanwhile, ballooned from 238 to more than 1,000 stores over the same period. Locally, as we know, the amiable Hong Ngo has re-invigorated business in the South Bayview shop. Friendly service is a vital ingredient for success. Customers like to be addressed by name. Second Cup also has to identify new franchisees who are able to carry it off. That’s not always easy. And, Second Cup needs to look to variety and ingredients of muffins. Many coffee shop patrons will tell you that the coffee is pretty much good whereever you go. Muffins frequently give a shop an edge. SBB with information from Canadian Business Online.

Street robbery at Bayview and Eglinton

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Two teen-aged boys have reported to police that they were accosted and robbed by three 18 to 20 year olds on Saturday night about 10.30. It occurred in the Eglinton and Bayview area. The boys, 14 and 15 report that were approached by three young men one of whom was wearing a disguise. Police have provided no description of this disguise. One of the suspects engaged the victims in conversation. The suspect then pushed the 15 year old victim causing him to fall exposing his cellular phone in his pocket. A second suspect removed the victim’s phone from his pocket while the third suspect acted as a look out. The suspects were seen entering a silver pick-up truck where they fled the scene in an unknown direction. No injuries were sustained by the victims. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described persons in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect #1: Male, white, 18 to 20 years, 6’0” – 6’5”, 125 to 174 pounds, medium build, blond hair. Suspect # 2: Male, black, 18 to 20 years, 5’5” to 6’0”, thin build. Suspect #3: Male, 18 to 20 years, 6’0”.

Break-in reported on Glenallan Road

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53 Division police say there has been a break-in on Glenallan Road in the Bayview-Dawlish area. The report reads that between 1200 hours, April 12, 2011 and 1030 hours, April 15, 2011, entry was gained into the premises by forcing a window. A quantity of appliances and furniture was taken. This type of theft seems unusual. Normally break-ins target small valuables, liquor and cash. The removal of furniture would certainly indicate that a truck was used in this case.