Police launch 5-day campaign against rush-hour stoppages

Toronto Police will embark on a five-day campaign against cars found on rush-hour routes during prohibited hours starting Monday morning. The much dreaded “zero-tolerance” will apply but it’s hard to imagine that somewhere, somehow there might not be an exception. You can read about it here. TPS

Video of Scollard St. arson shows the firebug wore a beard

Captures from a security recording on June 30 of an arson at a business on Scollard St. catches one of the two firebugs with his chin growth showing. Police are hoping others can see things that help identify the two. Video.

YTB Gallery at East York Town Centre from August 3 to 5

The YTB Gallery has an exhibit called From A to B isn’t always linear at the northeast corner of the East York Town Centre parking lot from August 3 to 5. There is an opening reception on August 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. with regular hours on August 4 and 5 from 2 to 8 p.m. Facebook

Strike over “respect” gives Pearson travellers the finger

Everyone will have his own opinion about the strike by baggage handlers at Toronto Airport that is mainly prompted, the union says, by disrespect towards working stiffs by a callous management. Although there are no examples offered of the emotionally hurtful things done to employees, we are told these honest souls just can’t take it any more. “Our members have been so disrespected and I am just talking about common courtesies and simply being a human,”  said Harjinder Badial, vice president of Teamsters local 419. “It has gotten so bad that our members are fed up.”

Visiting for lawyer Boyd Balogh of Gowlings at Humphrey’s

Lawyer Boyd Balogh has died in Toronto at the age of 51. Mr. Balogh was a long-standing partner at the firm of Gowlings WLG. Friends are invited to call at Humphrey’s Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. A celebration of Mr. Balogh’s life will be held at Vaughan Estates, 2075 Bayview Ave (80 Armistice Drive), on Thursday, August 3 from 2 to 5 p.m. Obituary

Ghazal Rug Gallery opens at 1693B Bayview at Hillsdale

The Ghazal Rug Gallery has opened at 1693B Bayview Ave in the north block opposite Hillsdale Ave. Welcome to this new business. Ghazal is a word of Middle Eastern and Indian extraction meaning a lyric poem with a fixed number of verses and a repeated rhyme, typically on the theme of love, and normally set to music. Pleasant.

4 dead as entirely predictable deaths by rogue drugs hit City

Neither police nor health workers are genuinely surprised that drugs tainted with the rogue killer substance fentanyl have taken four lives in Toronto in something like two days. The peril is well-known to anyone who might be a street drug user. But the reaction to these deaths among some is that somehow the City has failed. Perhaps, but as usual the “root cause” solution is hopelessly vague. One worker said the City should have taken “more actions.” What does that mean? Seizing people off the street and jailing them to prevent their habit, or simple stupidity, from turning fatal? These heart-breaking cases are proof again that those determined to take dangerous risks will do so as long as they are free to roll the dice. We’re told that fentanyl is easy to make, quite often made in China and smuggled into Canada in personal belongings. Are the Chinese as responsible as they should be about exporting death to the streets of Canada?

 

Man always wins in annual Man vs Lobster tilt at McSorley’s

South Bayview was bopping right along this Saturday with word that 2 Bros Cuisine is working hard to get open by mid to late August. People at the parent store on Royal York Road say they cannot wait to serve you.  At Mayrick, the eastern Mediterranean restaurant coming to the former Vero’s location, the opening date is now Tuesday, August 8. They too are working to stay on schedule. The former Tinto bar Tapas at 1581 is telegraphed to be a salad bar. This bit of news is contained in Facebook writings of the estimable Chantal Vaillencourt. And at McSorley’s Saloon, staff is already promoting the annual Man vs Lobster evening on August 12 beginning at 5 p.m. Tell the lobsters to be on time. Finally, De La Mer was doing good business as usual with its summertime grill of salmon burgers and dogs. Man and family always win here too.

Homeowners say teens run riot in Beach after jazz ends

Canadian teacher and groom are celebrated “nerds in love”

A New Brunswick teacher, Maryanne Lewell, has married a fellow Jeopardy! contestant, American Michael Townes, this month and become a media sensation in the process. Lewell, a teacher of history and social studies at Saint John High School, says she’s surprised by all the attention they’ve received because she and Townes are “just two nerds in love.”  Lewell met the South Carolinian four years ago during the quiz show’s annual teachers tournament and fell for him after he visited her several times in Saint John. Their July 7 wedding in St. Andrews By-The-Sea, N.B., was featured in the coveted “Vows” section of The New York Times a notation that started a cascade of stories in publications ranging from People to Martha Stewart Weddings. “We are just a couple of boring nerds, who met doing something we love,” Lewell told The Canadian Press in an email from Texas where the new couple is visiting family. “And while the attention and support has been wonderful and affirming, it’s also overwhelming. But it’s cool that people love our story: we love it too.”

 

Tulo turns ankle for nasty sprain and (we hope) that’s all

With Troy Tulowitzki set for tests, utilityman Rob Refsnyder is expected in Toronto tomorrow.

Millwood Rd. closed between Sutherland and Randolph

The ongloing watermain repair and replacement saw Millwood Rd. closed between Sutherland Dr. and Randolph Rd. Friday. Be aware.