The South Bayview Bulldog

Mayor Tory says he will use “whatever enforcement mechanisms” are available to stop the growing number of marijuana dispensaries. In his remarks Thursday,the mayor said these shops are “operating unlawfully”. Tory said he will ask the licensing and standards committee to support a “review of the current operations of marijuana dispensaries” but in the meantime he want staff to apply current laws to stop such openings.  “We can’t just have medical marijuana dispensaries popping up on every street corner in a completely unregulated manner pending a change in the law,” Tory told reporters. “The law has not changed yet and I recognize the fact and in fact support that it is going to change. But in the meantime we can’t have the wild west of medical marijuana distribution.” Illegal marijuana stores are blooming like dandelions 

Further update. Loblaws says its stores are all open, but checkouts may be slower than usual, after corrupt file download overnight.

— Sandy Smith (@SandySmithCBC) May 12, 2016

Loblaws experienced some failure of the cash out system at some stores across central and eastern Canada Thursday. The problem appears to have been solved by mid-afternoon at the South Bayview stores were open and operating normally.

Elaine Snider, Chair, Community Relations Committee at the Leaside Gardens has written an informative letter regarding the digital sign proposal being put forth. Community consultation is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 7:30pm, at the Gardens (1073A Millwood Road, in the Boardroom).

May 10, 2016

We’re On Your Side

After more than 30 years, it’s time to change the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens billboard. Technically speaking, the old sign no longer conforms to the city’s legal standards for billboard signs, and practically speaking, the new proposed sign will afford the arena and the community many much improved benefits. While the new sign would be located in the same location as the old billboard, it would be created using the latest technology in both construction and communication, giving it a clean and contemporary aesthetic.

Here are 3 reasons why we are advocates for the new sign:

1. Increased Revenue: The new Leaside Memorial Community Gardens sign will generate 4x the revenue for the Gardens at no cost to the Gardens or the community. The money generated will significantly impact the financial well-being of the Gardens and be used to off-set our ice costs.
2. Showcase our Community: The sign will have two sides; one dedicated to advertising (this side will be facing the railway tracks) and one side exclusively for community and Gardens events and announcements (this side will be facing North into Leaside). The custom designed 10’x10’ digital sign can be used as a communication tool within our community and as such, the community, user groups at the arena as well as other community organizations will have access to this space, free of charge.
3. Landmark for the Gardens: Currently, the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens does not have an identifying sign on Laird Avenue. The new sign will have the arena name (similar to the sign on the east facing the wall of the arena), identifying the building and making it easy to spot while driving on Laird Avenue.

What we would like the Leaside community to understand is that as a Board, we discussed at great lengths the pros and cons of the proposed sign, with the highest regard and respect for the community we all live and work in. Like many of you, we had questions and concerns about the proposal. For instance, we were concerned about the light level of the sign and it being a distraction to nearby homes and drivers. What we found out is this: the sign will have the lowest possible ambient level and that the lights must be turned off by 11:00pm as per city by-laws. This level of light, called NITS level, is so low that one could not read a newspaper underneath the light. Another concern we had was with the size of the sign. It will be 16’ higher and 15’ longer (our existing sign is 10’ by 20’ and is 20’ from ground to top, whereas the new sign would be 10’ by 35’ and will be 36’ from ground to top.) But in looking at the design, it’s clear it does not look out of place and fits very nicely with the Gardens existing aesthetic and architecture.

With the community and the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens in mind, we are advocates for the new proposed sign. The revenue and the ability to showcase our community and the Gardens the new sign affords us is an opportunity for us all.

Please join us in giving your support for the new proposed sign by writing City Councillor Jon Burnside at councillor_burnside@toronto.ca.

For more information, please call Henry Stachelbeck at 416-421-4944.

Elaine Snider
Chair, Community Relations Committee
Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Board of Management
Southlea Avenue

Current Sign

Proposed Sign

An interesting story about a plan to make the high heel shoe more stable. Either that, or stop wearing them.

This is a parking peril that seems to go well beyond a $60 ticket. Note the charming churchyard cemetery beside it.

Joe Fresh has recalled certain baby shoes because of a fear of a child choking  on material which may come loose from the shoe. No injuries have been reported. Joe Fresh says its pre-walker ‘footlets’ in pink, navy and grey with the style code ‘BG26GW2045 and BBS6FW2039 are included in the recall.

Modern medicine has created a stunning phenomenon as an elderly, but healthy couple in their 70s has conceived and given birth to a baby boy. The implications make the mind swim. They will be pushing 100, if they live, when the boy is in his teens.

The City’s Hotspot program of events and places to see over the summer held a lively reception at the Aga Khan Museum on Wynford Drive Wednesday. Here we see the Nagata Shachu taiko drummers at work. Lots of fun. Hotspot site.

Mississauga has banned Uber outright, at least for the time being. There does not appear to have been any hand-wringing similar to that in Toronto about how the community will carry on without Uber, or fear of a technology that will somehow eat the City. Seriously, in a vote of 10-2 on Wednesday afternoon Missy Council said that all ground transportation carriers must “obtain a broker licence and operate using only licensed taxi and limousine drivers, operating licensed taxi and limousine vehicles.” No tears, no fears. No surge pricing

TORONTO CABBIES REJECT SURGE PRICING

Speaking of which, eleven Toronto taxi brokerages say they will not implement surge pricing similar to Uber despite new rules that will allow them to do so. The new ground transportation rules that were approved by City Council last week allow taxi companies to increase their fares when demand rises, so long as the higher fares are only charged to customers who use an online app and not those who hail cabs on the street or order one over the phone.