The South Bayview Bulldog

The conservative think tank the Fraser Institute says StatsCan numbers show electricity prices rose 71 per cent in Ontario since 2008, a number which is more than double the national average increase of 34 per cent. The study says monthly electricity bills in major Canadian cities increased by an average of $37.68 between 2010 and 2016 but in Toronto they leaped by $77.09 and in Ottawa by $66.96. In 2016, the study says the average monthly electricity bill for residential customers in Toronto was $201 and $183 in Ottawa, compared to an average of $141 for residents in major Canadian cities. Montreal had the lowest monthly electricity bills among Canadian cities at $83 per month.

The 110-year-old carousel at Toronto’s Centreville Park has been sold by its owner, William Beasley Enterprises, to cover the cost of lost business this flooded summer of 2017. The carousel, much sought after by potential buyers, has fetched $3 million from the Indiana City of Carmel where it will decorate the renovated downtown next summer. As reported by the Star, the carousel was built by the Dentzel Company in 1907 and moved from Bushkill Park in Pennsylvania to Centre Island in 1966. It is reputed to have one of the widest varieties of hand-carved animals (52) including 20 menagerie animals, domestic cats, an ostrich, pigs and rabbits, creatures rarely seen on carousels now. Beasley says it will purchase a modern carousel at a much lower cost for use in 2018. The antique model will be in use on the island until November. Enjoy the 2010 ride with kids and parents seen here to the haunting music of Me And My Shadow (All Alone And Feeling Blue) by Billy Rose (composer) and Dave Dreyer (lyrics)

Following the South Bayview Bulldog story of new tenants at the East York Town Centre, the management at EYTC says a new 24-hour Dialysis Clinic run by St. Michael’s Hospital will move into part of the former Target space in late 2017 or early 2018. Overall, the mall is being extended into the large previously undivided retail space. General manager Edyth Karwecki indicates that a location of the US franchise retailer Once Upon A Child will also open in EYTC. The centre is currently marketing the remaining units and negotiating with a number of potential retailers. Earlier

Hydro One Ltd. has signed a deal to buy the U.S. energy company Avista Corp. of Spokane Washington for C$6.7 billion in an all-cash deal. The release says this will create one of the largest regulated utilities in North America. The Toronto-based Hydro One said Wednesday after the close of markets that it will pay C$67 per share in cash for the U.S. firm. “This transaction demonstrates the power and value of the transition into an investor-owned utility, by allowing for healthy expansion into new lines of regulated utility business and new jurisdictions, such as the U.S. Pacific Northwest which is experiencing customer and economic growth,” Hydro One CEO Mayo Schmidt said in a statement. Let’s hope Hydro One knows what it’s doing.  No business like coal like business

Dave’s Killer Bread is proclaimed above the corner of Bayview Ave. and  Millwood Rd. in this giant billboard. It appears to be a family company founded in 2005 in Milwaukie, Oregon which was bought in 2015 by Flowers Foods for US$275 million. Flowers, of Thomasville, Georgia, is a smallish company as such things go, with some 46 bakeries that produce breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, pastries, and tortillas. The bread is stocked at Valu-mart.

Toronto Police have released six pictures of the same man wanted in connection with the debit card switch crime that has been perpetrated by some Toronto cabbies on unsuspecting and sometimes inebriated fares. If you know this man, call police at (416) 808-5100. The theft typically occurs where a taxi operator will switch debit cards while passing the terminal/PIN pad back and forth during payment. The operator gives the fare a different debit card from the same financial institution. The operator is then in possession of the passenger’s debit card and the corresponding PIN. As police say, the cabbie’s position in a taxi, particularly at night in low light, provides ample opportunity to manipulate cards out of the passenger’s sight.

The account of a woman’s death after she got off a TTC bus on Eglinton at Midland Aves. Tuesday has now been published by the Toronto Police Services. It does not contain any reference to a vehcle following the bus, as previously reported. The victim, a woman of 71, dismebarked from the bus and “as the operator pulled away, the woman fell and was struck by the bus. She was pronounced at the scene.” The report does not say if this occurred at the front or rear doors. Once again, police are asking residents, business owners, and motorists are asked to review electronic camera equipment to see if they have anything that is connected with this incident.

Friends and fans of horror movie director George Romero may attend a memorial to Mr. Romero at the Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre on Monday, July 24 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.  He died Sunday at age 77 from lung cancer. The director is credited with reshaping the zombie film genre with his classic Night of the Living Dead (1968) and its sequels. He also directed a number of other horror films including Monkey Shines and The Dark Half.  Romero moved to Toronto in 2004 where he shot many of his later films.

Checking everything

CNN and others are saying that an ad for used Audis being aired in China has received a lot of criticism for its alleged portrayal of women. The complaint from those upset by the ad is that it compares women to used cars. (There are days when The Bulldog feels like a used car). But any way you look it, this ad is better than the “Never follow” promotion of ten years ago which was an encouragement to drive your Audi like a lunatic. These days, themes for North American sales include “Intelligence is the new Rock and Roll.” Not sure what that means but okay. In the end, it is a funny notion (and not unknown) that a mother-in-law would be so pushy but no reason to buy a car. Please do not write to complain about this post.

Taste of the NDP?

MG at Home Depot

Gardens at the gardens

Locals complain about no turn scofflaws

It had to happen. Councillor Janet Davis will host a kind of Taste of the NDP on the east Danforth. Sure to be social. On Facebook, Suzanne Pratt was grumping that this MG was parked in a spot reserved for a “Pro” at Home Depot. Then Councillor Burnside taking a moment to tweet a compliment to Simon Stevenson of Leaside Landscaping. And finally “Katrina” was complaining on the Davisville Twitter search Wednesday about drivers ignoring the rush hour no turns at Yonge and Davisville.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is trying to rally support among premiers meeting in Edmonton to delay the introduction of legalized marijuana by at least a year. Pallister said there are questions that must be answered before the “historic change” is brought into force. “I think that there are too many unaddressed issues that need to be paid attention to for us to hurry into something like this, [given] the magnitude of this,” he said. Pallister especially cited the need to make sure roadside testing is in place to keep drug-impaired drivers off the roads, and to educate the public about the perils of getting behind the wheel high. He also wants to see a uniform national age for the use of marijuana. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, also a Conservative said would not object to a delay.  Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said the group will have further discussions on legalized pot tomorrow, but said their provinces are working towards meeting the July 2018 deadline — CBC