Work to begin on Bayview Ave starting Tuesday, August 2

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The Bulldog editorial meetings are apparently piped downtown to the works department, or so it seems, as a day after scribblers at the dogged blog recalled that Bayview would be dug up this summer, comes this release:

“Lanes will be reduced on Bayview Avenue from Rosedale Valley Road to Pottery Road from August 2 to November 30 while construction work takes place to build a multi-use trail and perform other road work. For the segment of roadway from River Street to Pottery Road, work will occur between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays. Some 24-hour paving work will also take place. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during peak periods. One lane of traffic in each direction will be provided at all other times.

MOORE TO RIVER

From Moore (Avenue) to River Street, the hours of work will be the same, but some work will take place overnight on weekends at the Moore and Bayview intersection. During this work, one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. The City is taking steps to minimize disruption to the public during the closure by extending work hours to reduce the project duration and by using variable message signs in the area to inform drivers of the road closures. Cyclists will be accommodated along the route and safely around the work areas.” Online 

Jays close in on AL East lead with 6-5 win over Orioles

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The Blue Jays have closed the Orioles lead in the AL East to just half a game with a 6-5 win.

Cap and trade such a money mystery in so many ways

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The Ontario Energy Board says the cost of the cap-and-trade tax will be included in the delivery costs of our natural gas. But what it really means is the cost will buried beyond all hope of anyone knowing what is going on. Opposition voices and others were calling for a breakout out of the cap-and-trade tariff on the bill so users could see what the number might be.  But no. It will remain unknown like so much else about the cap-and-trade tax, like whether it is really making any difference in the use of so-called carbon fuels, or whether the government is using the money to make our world a little greener or spending it on lunch. All a mystery.

Appeals against Overlea Blvd Costco withdrawn at OMB

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Appeals by two Thorncliffe Park businesses and a resident of Overlea Blvd. against the construction of a Costco store at 42/46 Overlea have been withdrawn, sources indicate. The process apparently occurred Thursday at a scheduled pre-hearing of the Ontario  Municipal Board. It’s believed that the appeals of two firms, Iqbal Halal Foods and Heritage Funeral Centre, had been settled in advance. An appeal from resident William Catalano that he had not been properly given notice of the City’s decision was apparently withdrawn at the pre-hearing  The hearing to deal with all of the appeals was then cancelled, according to an e-status notice from the OMB. It states that a decision and order were issued which would leave the City Council decision of November, 2015, standing.  At that time Council approved a zoning by-law amendment from Councillor Jon Burnside to permit the warehouse store by a vote of 21 to 7. In March, John McGovern, vice president of development for the Rice Commercial Group, acting for Costco, said he was in discussions with both Iqbal and Heritage to find an agreed resolution.

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1,000 migrants in 3 days as Italy reels from Libyan chaos

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Some will call it the ultimate consequence of a misbegotten Arab Spring, which destroyed whatever structure existed in much of north Africa. Now Italy is being swamped with desperate migrants. They are housed around the country in camps. Overall, more than 250,000 have arrived in Europe this year alone not counting those who died trying. .

Cross-dressing crook gets formal for appearance at bank

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Cross 550 In New York, this crossing-dressing bank robber showed up in a silver and black dress with silver pumps and a chapeau that was just so him. On getting some money, the robber stunned patrons of a nearby delicatessen by lunging into the shop and ripping off his clothes before fleeing down the street bare-chested (inset).

Bob the music teacher “graciously let go” from Muppets

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Sesame Street has released three veteran characters of the long-running children programs but it appears they have all had a pretty good run.  Bob McGrath, who has played Bob the music teacher on the show since it premiered in the 1960s, Roscoe Orman, who plays Gordon the science teacher and Emilio Delgado, who plays Luis, as Mr. Fix-it are all now gone. They are veterans of the early 70s. McGrath is 84 and said he has been “:graciously let go” from the Muppets Cast podcast. The program moves from PBS to HBO in coming months. Toronto Star 

Clear cut slaughter of trees on Bayview south of York Mills

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A developer has clear cut as many as 30 mature trees from a property at the corner of Bayview Ave. and Bayview Ridge apparently without authorization to do so. Neighbors are saying some of the trees were 100 years old. Ward 25 member Jaye Robinson says the fines could be $100,000 a tree. The action by townhouse builders Format Group has shocked and infuriated residents. The community is caught in what appears to be an unstoppable transformation of north Bayview from large homes on large lots into rows of townhouses much like those opposite Sunnybrook Medical Centre. Quite likely there will be plans for high-rise condos. Format Group is developing what it calls “an upscale community comprising of two blocks of exquisitely appointed homes.” On its website, Format claims that it is “known for masterfully developing luxurious communities and one-of-a-kind custom homes that seamlessly fit into the fabric of the community.”

MAYOR TORY INCENSED

Mayor John Tory was angry as he reacted to the clear cutting case. He said the developer should face severe fines, perhaps the maximum. The City of Toronto issued a stop-work order on Wednesday after learning of the cutting. Tory said that he understood that dozens were taken down and that this will be the “biggest single infraction” on record. “We can’t be serious about trees to the point that we have debates over single trees before the entire city council and then just let somebody come in here and take down dozens of tress, some of them 100 plus years old. It is not acceptable,” Tory said. CBC

“Envelope bandit” looking just like himself in bank video

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The so-called “envelope bandit” is on the radar today with a news conference to try to catch the five-time bank job guy. He has hit that many banks mostly just outside Toronto to the west but there was one in Etobicoke. The Canadian Bankers Association held a news conference requesting the public’s assistance identifying the man seen in the video. It’s worth $10,000 to someone on conviction. The man’s method involves having his face concealed by sunglasses, a scarf and a hat and hood. Still, the images seem pretty good. He hands over a note in an envelope demanding money. The CBA is antsy because they suspect he’s not finished. He is described as 30s, 5’5-5’8, thin build, slight moustache

CONSTRUCTION BANDIT

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The Canadian Bankers Association is also offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the so-called “Construction Bandit.” This man robbed three banks in Scarborough in January and in March. He entered the branches with his face concealed by glasses, a hat and hood and presented a note indicating he was armed with a firearm and made a demand for money He has been seen fleeing in an older-model, black, four-door Ford Taurus  He is described as white, 40-50s, 6’-6’2″, heavy build.

When will second shoe drop on re-paving of Bayview?

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Many may have forgotten that Bayview Ave is set for re-paving this summer. Just exactly when remains unknown. This is typical, as construction crews find it takes longer to do a job than expected,  or priorities change.  Sometimes jobs are done in the succeeding year. But we were warned in May that work will be done south from Sutherland Drive to about Pottery Road.

Bayview parking tickets a gift from City that keeps on taking

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Gino Piscelli was complaining on the Leaside Community Facebook page this week about a parking ticket issued on Bayview Ave. He rightly observes the that relentless tax collection methods of the City have a lot to do with changing business conditions on the street. Laird Ave is now sufficiently varied that people can get what they want with free parking thrown in. Mr. Piscelli says he did not receive the stipulated five-minute grace period  — the ticket was issued to the minute at the same time as his time expired — 12.44 p.m. But, as other posters noted, the reason for the ticket is given as failure to display. This could mean a lot of things and there is no further detail in the online exchange.

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July storm packing 50 mm of rain hits City, Beaches hard

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Homeowners are still looking around at the mess and checking for leaks after Wednesday night’s thundering rainstorm. Environment Canada says it dumped 50 mm on the City. It hit about 7.30 and kept up a drumbeat of rain for the best part of an hour. Below are some of the scenes recorded by Torontonians.

Homeownrs are Environment Canada put the City of Toronto under a severe thunderstorm warning around the dinner hour ahead of rainfall that at times was heavy. Just before 8 p.m., the federal agency said it was tracking “a persistent severe thunderstorm” over parts of the downtown core that was responsible for as much as 50 mm of rain falling in some areas.