Show off your underoos on the subway this afternoon

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Today is the rather unusual world-wide event known as “No Pants Subway Ride Day”.  Toronto’s edition is hosted by the No Pants Society.  Starting at 3 p.m. at Finch Subway Station, courageous Torontonians will ride the rails, with no pants, ending up at Osgoode Station at around 3:50 p.m.  You’ve been warned.

New Year’s Levee, Thorncliffe Landlord Tenant Town Hall

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15th Annual New Year’s Levee: Join MPP Wynne to celebrate the New Year with refreshments and live entertainment at the 15th Annual New Year’s Levee on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 1–3 pm at Toronto Botanical Gardens, Floral Hall 777 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto.

Landlord Tenant Town hall at Thorncliffe Park: Please save date for the Landlord Tenant Town hall at Thorncliffe Park for Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm to be held at the Thorncliffe Park PS.

9th Annual Volunteer Service Awards: Now accepting nominations!  Do you know someone who makes a significant volunteer contribution in Don Valley West or who lives in the riding and is a great volunteer elsewhere in the city? MPP Wynne would like to recognize the great work they do to make our city and our communities stronger! Please provide a summary of who your nominee is,where they volunteer, and why you feel they are an excellent recipient for this award. Send nominations to kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org *Deadline for nominations: February 28, 2018.  Selected award winners will be acknowledged at a celebratory ceremony in March, 2018. Questions? call 416-425-6777 or email at kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Record setting cold snap finally comes to an end in GTA

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After enduring the coldest weather some of us have experienced in our lifetime, we will be rewarded with a “January thaw” this week. But first, grab a shovel, we’ll see a bit of white stuff today. Have a look…

Niagara Falls, January 6, 2018 (Photo: Susan Byford)

Last night Niagara Falls was a frosty spectacle but not frozen over. CBC, Huffington Post

Unfortunately, the cold snap proved deadly for an elderly couple in Exeter. The man suffered a heart attack while outside of their home, when his concerned wife went out to look for him, she died from exposure. A truly sad story. Read more in The Star.

Flashback (again) to jaw-dropping video of cliff collapse

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This is stunning video that comes back to the pages of The Bulldog from time to time. It was shot in 2011 by Geologist Richard Hocking. Thousands of tons of rock fell into the sea at North Cliffs near Hayle on the UK west coast just days after part of the coastal footpath was diverted. Mr Hocking, who is a soils and materials engineer for Cornwall Council, was there to assess the situation when the collapse happened. He had his camera with him and managed to capture the event on it.

Richard Hocking
Bullbog flashback in 2015 to 2011



Three empty stores key to revitalized South Bayview in 2018

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Memories of 2017
Former TD Bank
Was Tori and Cate’s

As 2017 began, the ten-year Great Recession had done a job on South Bayview. Things were getting better but to walk the finest part of the business district was often to look into an empty storefront. There is still lot to be done but last year three important addresses were all taken and in the case of Cumbrae’s, 1591 Bayview, with seven figures spent to make it a vital hub of business. The former TD Bank building has been a Trend Shoppe, Sleep Country and pop-up venue. It was the location of the fictitious Jefferson Shelter, a hoax perpetrated by misguided friends of the homeless. But mostly it has been vacant. Across the street, Boo Boo and Lefty has rescued 1588 Bayview, former home of the Elegant Garage Sale and La muse now fills the former home of Tori and Cate’s Cupcakes.

Planes collide at Pearson causing emergency evacuation

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A Sunwing plane and a Westjet plane made contact on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport. Emergency evacuation of the Westjet plane was required via the emergency slide. There are no reports of injuries.

In a tweet, WestJet has confirmed that “WS2425, a Boeing 737-800 with 168 guests and six crew onboard, inbound from Cancun to Toronto Pearson, while waiting to proceed to the gate and stationary, was struck by a Sunwing aircraft pushing back from the gate.”

Happy (belated) birthday to Molly Matlow! ??

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Best wishes to Molly on her special day!

Leaside Gardens pool update and synchro success

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Toronto’s Bentway Skate Trail opens Saturday

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Grand Opening & Ribbon-cutting event is January 6 @ 11:00 am – 11:00 pm. Enjoy Pop-up ice lounges with family friendly activities, pop-up curling with Rock Solid Productions, meet and greet with Canadian pairs silver medalists Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch, ice breaking demonstration by the Toronto Ice Skate Group, DJ sets, and much more!

The Mayor’s Skate Party is January 7 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Free hot chocolate, skate rentals and family-friendly music.

A Justin exhibit at Stratford Museum. Can you beliebe it?

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CityNews reports that mementoes from Justin Bieber’s formative years as an aspiring Canadian singer will go on display at a museum in his hometown of Stratford, Ont. next month. “Steps to Stardom” — a reference to the young singer’s busking shows on the steps outside the local Avon Theatre — opens at the Stratford Perth Museum on Feb. 18. More on CityNews

Leaside’s Laureola Family featured in local magazine

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The January 2018 issue of “Neighbours of Leaside & Bennington Heights” magazine features the Laureola family as their cover story. Carrie Laureola is the proprietor of Bamboo Bay, a small and friendly school for creative expression offering art and music classes for children, teens, and adults. The article, written by Richard S. Todd, credits the Laureola family with bringing the Arts to family and community. “Without art, the world would be bland, boring and devoid of joy.” We agree. Carrie grew up in North Leaside, and if you’ve been around for a while, you may remember her parents’ Bayview restaurant, China Feast. “Leaside is the community that I grew up in and have many fond memories of. It’s still a great place to live and we’re so happy to be part of it.”  The heartwarming story of how Carrie met her husband Mike, a dentist running his own practice, and their journey through life as they started a family and grew their careers is well worth the read.

Forget the salad and opt for the fries. You’re welcome.

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While no official recalls have been issued, some restaurants are ditching romaine lettuce after a deadly E. coli outbreak has hit eastern Canada. The outbreak has been linked to romaine lettuce. Cara Operations Ltd. has stopped serving romaine in their restaurants in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Cara operates Swiss Chalet, Milestones Grill + Bar, Montana’s Cookhouse, Kelsey’s, East Side Mario’s and other chains. Boston Pizza and Sobey’s grocery stores have also jumped on board, removing romaine from their shelves. On December 28th, the Public Health Agency of Canada issued the following statement, “Currently, there are 41 cases of E. coli O157 illness under investigation in five eastern provinces: Ontario (8), Quebec (14), New Brunswick (5), Nova Scotia (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (13). Individuals became sick in November and early December 2017. Seventeen individuals have been hospitalized. One individual has died. Individuals who became ill are between the ages of 3 and 85 years of age. The majority of cases (73%) are female.” Newstalk 1010, Health Canada Public Notice