How will NY Council (and Leaside) decide on 30 km/h

Councillor John Burnside (Ward 26) commented on the unanimous vote by the Toronto and East York Council to lower the speed limit on residential streets to 30 km/h. Ward 26 (including Leaside) is in the next-door North York Community Planning Area. Bayview Ave. divides them. Mr. Burnside said that he will raise the subject at North York Council and if the community wishes to proceed with a similar reduction he would feel obliged to support such an initiative. “My biggest concern is that (the lower speed limit) would be taken as a kind of panacea to all traffic problems,” said the Councillor. “I feel that driver behaviour overall may be more important.” He noted that most complaints he receives are related to stop sign violations and inattention by drivers  “I’m just not sure how much it’s going to help,” he told The South Bayview Bulldog. It is estimated that it will cost a million dollars to convert signage in Toronto and East York to conform with council’s will. That money is not in the municipal budget at present and the question remains as to how it will be approved. Mr. Burnside said he did not know how approval might proceed but added: “I know that when you want a traffic study and there’s no money in the budget, the traffic study doesn’t get done.” There are eleven Wards in the North York area including Ward 26. Map  

Watch frolicking killer whales in Vancouver

It’s play time for this pod of orcas in the Burrard Inlet.

Extended video here.

Presto card: TTC to eliminate tickets and tokens by 2017

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The pros and cons of a single “Presto” card access to the TTC faces riders as the transit service moves to eliminate tickets and tokens by 2017. The Presto card is a money-loadable instrument that permits a rider to tap access to the subway or buses much as she might tap to buy a  coffee at Starbucks. The advantages to the TTC are clear — it will reduce costs and be more efficient at the ticket booths. Riders may find it a relief not to have to rummage for a token. On the other hand, Presto will become the sole means (other than cash in pocket) for access to the TTC.  If it gets lost, it will be something of an inconvenience. As noted, it will still be possible to pay cash to ride, a sensible concession to occasional and affluent riders. But by the end of 2016 tokens and tickets will pretty be like the Canadian one cent coin. It appears there will also be a re-deployment of ticket collectors. The new system will take them out of booths and allow them to provide better customer service for commuters. Not too clear what that means. Children under 12 continue to ride the TTC for free but they will have to tap a Presto card which won’t have any cash value on it to use the service.

Windsor library peep-show woman pleads guilty

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Alexa Morra

The young woman who operated her own peep show using public library space and computers has pleaded guilty in Windsor to committing an indecent act. She is Alexandria (Alexa) Morra, 22. The sentence was 12 months probation during which time she may not enter a public library in Windsor or Essex County. She was also fined $250 and must submit her DNA to a national registry. The Tecumseh area woman was dressed in a conservative black top and pants. She declined comment outside court where she got in a car and left. Testimony revealed she made a total of $1,500 by lifting her shirt and exposing herself as she sat among the books and library patrons including children earlier this year. Her lawyer Patrick Ducharme said she showed remorse by pleading guilty at the pre-trial stage.

 

30-km limit passes Toronto, East York without objection

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These are the 12 wards of the Toronto and East York planning area

Councillors of the Toronto and East York Council have voted unanimously Monday night (June 22, 2015) to reduce the speed limit on residential streets in the 12 wards it includes from 40 km/h to 30 km/h. The large task of changing signs will take some time and there may be an issue about approval of the money needed to do this. That decision is said to belong to City Council as a whole. Mayor Tory has voiced opposition to the plan as has City staff. Leaside is not included in this decision.   Here are the Councillors who voted Monday night: 14 (Parkdale-High Park) Gord Perks 18 (Davenport) Ana Bailão 19 (Trinity-Spadina) Mike Layton  20 (Trinity-Spadina) Joe Cressy 21 (St. Paul’s) Joe Mihevc 22 (St. Paul’s) Josh Matlow 27 (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) Kristyn Wong-Tam 28 (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) Pam McConnell  29 (Toronto-Danforth) Mary Fragedakis  30 (Toronto-Danforth) Paula Fletcher 31 (Beaches-East York) Janet Davis  32 (Beaches-East York) Mary-Margaret McMahon  Toronto  Star 

Rainbow flag raised to mark start of Pride Week

The rainbow flag has been raised at Toronto City Hall to mark Pride Week Mayor Tory proudly wore a matching rainbow-coloured tie. He said: “We stand here today united and eager to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ2 community,” said Tory The 10-day celebration includes events, performances and marches from June 19 to June 28 in the City of Toronto. At Queen’s Park Premier Wynne issued this cry: “There is no angry voice or negative note that is going to take away the fact that I am a lesbian and I am the Premier of Ontario, how great is that?” said Wynne.The Pride parade starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the corner of Church and Bloor Streets.

Damaged plane lands after mid-air collision kills two

Two people have been found dead in the wreckage of a small aircraft located in bush northeast of Fort McMurray after a mid-air collision caused one plane to crash. The pilot of the other plane was seen on video (now withdrawn) landing his damaged craft and running to safety from the plane at the Fort McMurray airport Sunday night, an eyewitness said Monday. Stephen Baker, a helicopter mechanic, watched as the Cessna float plane came in “faster than he needed to be.”

 

Yes, it’s wrong and dangerous but we can’t help it

A poll by Telus suggests that a third of Canadians violate distracted driving laws. In most provinces this means talking on a cell, reading or sending messages and in Ontario includes just having the device in your hand. The poll reveals a psychological impulse to answer a phone. It is behaviour as old as the earliest wall phone. There is a sense of the unknown or possibly urgent that demands an urgent answer. The information does not say how many drivers continue to engage in the most lethal form of distracted driving — reading messages and texting. Pollster Donna Ramirez says: “We as Canadians also need to take a good hard look at our habits and figure out what we can do to curb them. And whether it’s turn your phone on silent, pull over to the side of the road if you have to take an important call.” Ms. Ramirez says the study also found that although 70% of passengers felt uncomfortable riding with a distracted driver, 25% of them would not voice their concerns.

STORY FROM 2012 MAY CURE YOU

A young man and his girlfriend were exchanging sweet endearments this winter as she drove along a busy highway in Quebec. The text messages of love ended abruptly when young Emy Brochu drove her vehicle into the rear of a transport truck near Victoriaville. Now her heartbroken and forlorn boyfriend, Mathieu Fortin has posted those last sentiments on his Facebook page as a warning to all those who might fall into the same deadly trap of distracted driving.  In French, Fortin says the police investigation has found that cellphone use while driving was the cause of the accident, although police have not confirmed the cause of the crash. “This conclusion was a shock because during the tragedy, I was having a conversation with her by text,” Fortin writes. “I have attached our latest texts for awareness and ask you to think twice before texting and driving.” In the texts, Fortin tells “Mme Brochu” that he loves her, to which the young woman replies “moi aussi,” and goes on to tell him that she will do what she can to make him happy. Fortin replies with a smiley face and a “moi aussi” and “XxxxxxxxxxxX.” Fortin then writes that he has a meeting at 12:30 and “would love to hear your beautiful voice before.” He wishes her a good day at school. Nearly an hour later he asks “is everything okay my love?” More than an hour after that, he writes to tell her that he is worried.

Markets rebound over “deal” to avert Grexit from EU

A new offer by Greece to somehow mollify economists at the European Union has sparked a buying party on the North American markets. Both New York and Toronto are up but many may be cautious. There is flimsy information on this hoped for deal. Another day or two may be needed to see it’s real. Eurozone finance ministers left a meeting with Greek officials optimistic over Athens’ offer, with talk of more work ahead to achieve a potential deal this week. The ministers agreed to reconvene before the week is over, after Greece thrashed out details with its international creditors the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

 

Man acquitted 45 years after convicted of killing wife

John Salmon, 75, of Windsor has been acquitted and the Crown as apologized 45 years after he was convicted of killing his wife Maxine Ditchburn. The acquittal turned on evidence presented by forensic experts who testified that injuries sustained by Ms Ditchburn were consistent with Mr. Salmon’s claim that she received them from falling at home, rather from a beating. Mr. Salmon served four years and was paroled when doubt arose about the evidence but was wait until now for acquittal. Wateloo Record

Forecaster predicts warm July, August and Setpember

Climatologist Dave Phillips of Environment Canada is suggesting that Toronto will have a warmer than usual summer. He is quoted by CP24 as saying: “Last summer June was pretty nice but then it went downhill. I think it will be the reverse. This year June was kind of disappointing, very not summer like, and I think July, August and September will be more like the kind of summers that we dream of and that we haven’t seen so much in recent years,” Phillips said. “I think most Torontonians would say ‘Hey, just bring on some of that beer drinking tank top weather’ and I think they won’t be disappointed.” He said last year the average daytime high in June reached 25.1 C but so far this month the city has only seen an average daytime high of 22.4 C with plenty of days failing to break the 20 C threshold.  “In Toronto July looks normal to warmer than normal and when you package July, August and September together it looks like it is going to be a warmer than normal summer,” he said. “You always have to be aware of the extreme weather, but I think there is a going to be good weather to enjoy in the Toronto area this summer.”

DNA of convict found in New York cabin near prison

Authorities hunting escaped New York State convicts Richard Matt and David Sweat say they have found DNA.of one of the two men in a burglarized cabin less than 30 minutes from the prison. The discovery suggests the two have not made it very far from the prison at Dannemora New York where they pulled off their amazing escape two weeks ago. Monday the manhunt around the area near the Vermont border has hundreds of New York and Vermont police hunting and stopping vehicles in an attempt to catch the convicts.