Tough breathing, foggy glasses rankle as masks mandatory

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Necessary but no fun

Masks are mandatory across Toronto if you’re shopping or doing business inside any premises starting Tuesday. There is widespread support for the use of masks but they are clearly not a pleasant necessity. Masks make breathing harder and cause your glasses to fog. It’s not surprising many people of goodwill rankle at them. A Facebook post early Tuesday tells of an encounter at Starbucks on Bayview Ave. We are not happy.

Fire hits Whitby homes under construction early Tuesday

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June home sales nearly steady year-to-year but prices leap

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The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board says the number of homes sold in the region in June was just shy of the mark set a year ago as the average selling price rose nearly 12 percent compared with June 2019. Home sales plunged earlier this year as the COVID-19 pandemic forced buyers to the sidelines, however sales have picked up as businesses have started to reopen. The real estate board says there were 8,701 home sales in June, down 1.4 percent compared with the same month last year. Sales in June were up 84 percent compared with May. The average selling price was $930,869, up 11.9 percent compared with June 2019 — Canadian Press.

Bob Rae to the UN, Mt Pleasant eateries must rip up patios

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Former Ontario NDP Premier and later Liberal MP Bob Rae has been appointed as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations. Then, owners of Hazel’s Diner and Wild Chicory on Mt. Pleasant Rd. have been ordered to rip up their CafeTO patios and start over. Ouch. Below that, tense moments on St. Clair West Monday as police struggled to persuade an apparently distressed man with a knife to surrender. No one was hurt. Lastly, Premier Ford has reiterated his government’s commitment to big City rapid transit.





Speed cameras active Monday but no demerit points apply

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Speed cameras begin to issue fines Monday and that one-km over the limit provision continues to worry some drivers. The limit is the limit, of course, but judging speed based on the fluctuating speedometer can be tricky. Nonetheless, fines apply if you’re caught doing 31 km/hr on a 30 km street. It’s notable that there are no points applied to these offenses. Map showing red light and speed cameras locally.

Pictures of van wanted in Willowdale attempted child-luring

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Suspect van in child luring
Looks like a Chevrolet or GMC van

Toronto police have now found and released video captures of a white van suspected in an attempted child-luring case in a quiet Willowdale neighborhood last week. It occurred Thursday as a young girl was riding her bicycle in the early evening near Dunview Ave. and Longmore Street. The driver of the van tried to lure her into his truck by offering her candy. The girl quickly cycled home and told her mother who called police. The man is described as white, grey hair, late 40s to early 50s. The vehicle appears to be a Chevrolet Express or GMC Savana (2005-2010 model). If you have information, call (416) 808 3200.

Scorching heat will cook South Bayview well into next week

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The current heatwave is here for a while, with long-range outlooks (below) predicting 30º plus weather well into the month.

CafeTO program is transforming City streets, and we love it

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https://twitter.com/TO_Transport/status/1278416655253737472



COVID-19 positivity rate remains at all-time low in Ontario

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Ontario is reporting 138 new cases of #COVID19 today with 27 of them from Windsor-Essex where targeted testing of temporary workers on farms continues. In fact, 30 of Ontario’s 34 PHUs are reporting five or fewer new cases, with 16 of them reporting no new cases at all. Today’s numbers are available at Ontario.ca/coronavirus.

Bayview Eats: Egg Bird grand opening & Darna’s new patio

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The grand opening of Egg Bird is underway at 1595 Bayview today. Chef Hemant Bhagwani is behind the new brunch spot. It features globally-inspired fried chicken, egg burgers, and hand-cut Belgian fries, and is available for takeout or delivery direct from the restaurant or through Uber Eats. Also today, Darna (1613 Bayview) has unveiled their new patio space! Bon appétit!

Egg Bird Darna

Unrelenting extreme heat, dry conditions may intensify

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The Weather Network has great news for those who love the heat! An update published on Saturday morning says “no relief in sight for the stifling heat and prolonged dry spell in southern Ontario…”

Environment Canada Heat Warning Issued at 10:53 Saturday 04 July 2020 –

A prolonged period of hot weather is expected through the weekend into next week.

Daytime high temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius, with humidex values in the high thirties to low forties, are expected for the foreseeable future. Overnight lows near 20 degrees Celsius are also expected through this period, providing little relief from the heat.

Please refer to your public forecast for further details on expected temperatures.

Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high risk category.

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Extreme heat affects everyone.

The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.

Watch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

Heat Warning
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Due to the heat warnings, the City of Toronto has extended pool hours until 11:45 p.m. at Alex Duff Memorial, Earlscourt Park/Giovanni Caboto, Heron Park (open until 9 p.m.), Monarch Park, Parkway Forest, Smithfield Park and Sunnyside Park/Gus Ryder. Pool capacity is reduced to 25% to allow for physical distancing.

Ontario COVID-19 positivity rate remains at all time low

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Today, Ontario is reporting 121 new cases of #COVID19, 21 of which are in Windsor-Essex as targeted testing of temporary workers on farms continues. Having processed over 21,000 tests yesterday, our positivity rate remains at all time lows. Today’s numbers are available at Ontario.ca/coronavirus.