Police now say that a woman senior citizen found dead on the on-ramp to the Don Valley Parkway northbound at Dundas St. was not struck by a vehicle. The cause of death remains under investigation. They continue to appeal for help in identifying her. She has white hair and was wearing a blue and white t-shirt, blue shorts and white flip flops. Call (416) 808-1900.
The introduction of a bicycle lanes pilot on Danforth Ave between Broadview Ave. and Dawes Rd. has inspired a lot of comment on Facebook. The decision was taken by City Council during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown this Spring. The scheme is called a “pilot project” but those opposed are skeptical. Some people find the virus crisis has been used as an excuse to hurry the lanes into place. Others are happy. A bitter atmosphere between merchants and cycling supporters continues to taint the (now permanent) bike lanes on Bloor St. West. Read the comment on Leslieville FB
Love letters written by RCAF Flying Officer Jim Richards, of Lashburn Saskatchewan, to his sweetheart Wynne Parry in Leeds, England, have been discovered secreted in the wall of an old home in the prairie province. Jim is now gone but Wynne, who became his wife, has been reunited with the precious messages. She is 96. Global News
There’s hopeful news Friday that Oxford University and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in the UK have developed a kind of super-vaccine that will potentially kill off COVID-19. A statement coming Monday, July 20, will indicate whether the vaccine can offer long-term protection against the virus.
Other News
An emergency the Toronto Fire Service describes as a “crane failure” at Wellington and Simcoe has forced the evacuations of the buildings at 145 Wellington St. and 40 University Ave. Chief Matthew Pegg will soon update media at the scene. @680NEWS pic.twitter.com/RfScDMTeFr
— Mark Douglas (@DouglasCityNews) July 16, 2020
The mobile crane is now on scene. Initial estimates from the hoisting engineers on scene are that the completion of operations will require 12 hours or longer to complete. pic.twitter.com/nbrMUOCWu7
— Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) July 16, 2020
Urban Toronto reports Thursday that an application has been submitted to the City to rezone the northeast corner of Eglinton Ave. West and Duplex St. to build a 65-storey condominium tower. The address would be 36 Eglinton West. It joins the frenzy of developer interest in building anywhere along the new LRT. This proposal carries with it the optimistic view that only 72 parking spaces will be required because, of course, everyone will be on the underground. Hmm. Urban Toronto
A Russian-backed hacker group has tried to steal COVID-19-related vaccine research in Canada, the UK and US according to intelligence agencies in all three countries. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE), responsible for Canada’s foreign signals intelligence, said APT29 — also known as Cozy Bear and the Dukes — is behind the malicious activity. The group “almost certainly operates as part of Russian intelligence services,” the CSE said in a statement released Thursday morning in co-ordination with its international counterparts, an allegation the Kremlin immediately denied. The CBC report on this incident says the CSE account of this spying suggests the Russians were also acting to slow down vaccine research in the three countries.
Wow! Hope offered for UK vaccine by September
David Carpenter, chair of the Berkshire Research Ethics Committee, which approved the successful trial of a prospective vaccine at Oxford University, is quoted Thursday in The Telegraph as saying the vaccine research team is “absolutely on track” and that a powerful vaccine could be available as early as September. Fingers crossed.
The Ministry of Health reports 111 cases of COVID-19 Thursday. Wednesday’s total was 102, a three-month low. Both numbers are taken as evidence of progress in beating the coronavirus keeping in mind the tricky and unforeseen ways in which it can re-emerge. Meanwhile, Toronto infectious disease authority Dr. Isaac Bogoch (Tweet below) is pondering the hopeful day when a vaccine of even moderate effectiveness may be available. Let us hope, indeed.
Today, Ontario is reporting 111 cases of #COVID19, a 0.3% increase. Locally, 30 of Ontario’s 34 public health units are reporting five or fewer cases, with fully 19 of them reporting no new cases. Yesterday, the province processed 26,492 tests.
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) July 16, 2020
When we have a vaccine, even if it has moderate efficacy, elimination is a muuuuuuuuuuch more realistic option.
— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) July 16, 2020
Many Leaside residents and other friends of David Bryant are shocked and saddened to read his remarks on Facebook about the difficulties he has faced staging regular fireworks displays at the field behind Leaside High Schoool. He says he has made a decision to cease all such shows. It seems very unfortunate. FB
The CafeTO program is transforming curb lanes throughout the City of Toronto. Maybe this could be an annual summer event — what do you think?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCPEWzWBGlW/
Roger Petersen’s time as co-host of the Toronto morning show “Breakfast Television” has come to an end. The broadcast journalist announced the news in a video on his social-media accounts, calling his two years on the TV program “an incredible time” and praising the crew and co-host Dina Pugliese. Neither he nor Citytv gave a reason for his departure. Petersen only said he’s “done for now” and “taking a little break.” A statement on Petersen’s departure from a Citytv representative said they “are always striving to best serve” their audiences “and deliver a great morning experience to ‘Breakfast Television’ viewers.” Charmaine Khan, senior manager of communications for Citytv, said they thank Petersen “for his dedication and significant contribution to ‘BT’ and CityNews” and wish him “continued success.” — Canadian Press
The shocking, but not unforeseen, cost of COVID-19 losses and handouts by the City of Toronto will leave it some $1.35 billion short this year unless Ontario, Ottawa or both bail it out, Mayor Tory said Tuesday. He was pondering a report on the impact of the pandemic and the fearful task of how to repay the cost. Mr. Tory mentioned such things as shutting down the subway and increasing residential taxes by as much as 60 percent. Of course, there is always the possibility of money from higher governments, also funded by the taxpayer. CBC
