Month: February 2017

ALSO SEE LATER POST A news release distributed to Google News from a Polish public relations firm, Sat Press Releases, announces that Organic Garage, a small chain of organic food grocery stores will open in Leaside. The release says Organic Garage Ltd. “has entered into a lease agreement for a new location situated in the Leaside neighbourhood of Toronto.” It does not name the site of the new store or mention when it might open. There is however a description of the premises as being 12,000 square feet. A rendering of what is suggested to be the location shows an elegant brick building much in the style of the 1920s railway engine repair structure in the Leaside Village which now houses Longo’s. The mystery has many people guessing. The South Bayview Bulldog made several attempts by phone Tuesday to find someone at Organic Garage who knew about this opening but was unsuccessful. Email is pending. On its website, Organic Garage is shown to have two locations open in Thornhill and Oakville with a third about to open at 43 Junction Road in the west end. The company says it is offering its customers a wide selection of healthy and natural products at everyday affordable prices. It goes on: “Founded in 2005 by a fourth generation grocer, Organic Garage is headquartered in Toronto and operates a highly efficient supply chain through its centralized distribution centre. The company is focused on continuing to expand its retail footprint within the Greater Toronto Area. For more information please visit the Organic Garage website at www.organicgarage.com” There is an interesting history and family story at this link.

Where is this building? Unknown depiction accompanies news release

At Chez Lucy

See Photo One below

See Photo Two below

By Tanya Wiles-Bell
Special to The South Bayview Bulldog

Youth at Leaside United Church made a difference this past Sunday, raising approximately $800 for local and global projects that the church supports. The group, known as LUCY, (Leaside United Church Youth) sold 37 tickets to congregation and community members to enjoy a meal at Chez Lucy, a fine dining experience held at Leaside United. The group transformed the auditorium into a magical space and spent Sunday afternoon chopping, caramelizing, roasting, grilling and steaming. Guests arriving at 6 p.m. enjoyed a delectable three-course meal and were treated to top-notch service as well as a number of live acts performed by the youth. It was a spectacular evening filled with food, laughter and most importantly, community.

Photo One: (Kitchen group shot) starting from the left and going around the table: Kiana Darrell, Juliana Harsfai, Grace Murphy, Spencer, Heather Coyne, Ainsley Lind, Gavin Cordon, Thomas Muir, Guin Cordon, Maddy O’Brien and Evie Kim.  (one parent requested only first names so I’ve only given Spencer’s first name)
Photo Two (Stove) starting with the white shirt:  Griffin Lind, Dan and Heather Coyne.
Group Photo in front of black backdrop:  Back row starting with black dress: Evie Kim, Guin Cordon, Juliana Harsfai, Heather Coyne, Spencer, Gavin Cordon, Wesley Robertson and Tanya Wiles-Bell  Front row starting on the left: Kiana Darrell, Ainsley Lind, Griffin Lind

This video embedded from the CBC reveals an especially effective bit of community relations by the Durham Regional Police Service thanks to PC Jarrod Singh Sunday night. He and another officer were called to downtown Oshawa to deal with a disturbance but what they found was a company called Video Media producing a street production. The organizers feared they were going to be shooed off the road but instead Singh, a talented dancer in his own right, got into the spirit of the job with cast members. According to DRPS as reported by the CBC, Singh has been an officer for just over a year, but isn’t new to dancing. Before he became a police officer he was part of the dance troupe at Durham College.

The LIT Espresso Bar at 1517 Bayview Ave. is hiring a full-time barista. The ad says it is looking for “a friendly coffee-passionate barista.”  Email nangellotti@icloud.com  Interviews will be held early next week.

ACADEMY OF CULINARY ARTS

Academy of Culinary Arts at 1703 Bayview is looking for a new addition to staff. They seek an energetic, interested in food/cooking person with some retail experience. It is an approximately three-day a week job including Sunday. Send resume and a brief note about yourself to culinaryarts1703@rogers.com

Here’s a man, Jeffrey Donald Marsh, 53, who has allegedly been on a robbery rampage for the past six weeks or so. One of the spots he knocked off while showing a knife was the 7-11 at Eglinton East and Cowbell Lane. As reported by police Tuesday morning he also hit two banks  There have been four such robberies since December 23.

Organizer Jenna Jackson

LHS Purple Day, Feb. 6, 2017

Wear It Purple

Students at Leaside High School have held a Purple Day event in support of diversity. It was sparked by what are said to be sexist remarks on social media by a classmate. The offending words are not reported. Grade 12 student Jenna Jackson was among those who responded and she told City News that the context of the remarks was the Women’s March and were related to Donald Trump. “We wanted to fight back and stand up for what we thought was right. So, in a way it was a good thing that happened because it really brought everyone together,” she said. Barry H. Samuel of Inside Out Fitness was one of a number of businesses which showed purple on their premises to support the event. The students plan to take a petition to the Toronto school board and City Hall in the hope of creating a non-tolerance policy. Purple Day is also an event held in March which was started in 2008 and is intended to raise awareness of epilepsy.

Omg…last night really happened… pic.twitter.com/WVxdKPYV68

— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) February 6, 2017

There is gambler’s regret at Genie Bouchard’s home it appears after the young tennis star promised to go on a date with a Twitter fan who trapped her into saying “Sure” when he called her on the prediction that Atlanta would win the Super Bowl. At the time she dashed off the tweet, the Falcons were leading. The fan, TW1 @punslayintwoods, dared her “if Patriots win we go on a date” Bouchard agreed. Now we wait to see what happens.

Gene Bouchard

Chaperone?

Known as TW1 on Twitter

Steps from O’Connor Drive

$1,645,000

4 Trimontium Cres

Realtors are pondering the latest evidence of the home-buying mania that grips Toronto and area. It is the sale of 4 Trimontium Crescent on the Taylor Creek ravine in East York. The home sold for $1,645,000 — $286,000 over the listing price of $1,359,000. The story runs that the November sale had been preceded by some improvements the two-storey home, and a four-year period in which there was no turnover on the streets in the pleasant neighbourhood. Like many two-storey dwellings lining the short cul-de-sac, this one was built decades ago with an attached double garage, formal living and dining areas and rear eat-in kitchen and family room, both with access to a deck. It sold last in 2002 for $541,000. Quite an investment.

Toronto Hydro has sent out the “Top Ten no-cost ways” to save power this cold winter. People stinging from hydro bills higher than any they have seen may wish to look. Some of the suggestions are of little value (when baking a turkey don’t pre-heat the oven) but it makes sense to know you have the peak hours and off hours correct. It’s here.

The Davisville Junior Public School JK Open House is Tuesday evening from 6.30 to 7.30 for all parents, friends and family. That’s at 43 Millwood Rd.  Check poster here

Um, stop or go?

Redway route

Wicksteed and McRae at Laird

The volunteer South Leaside Traffic Committee members led by Erica Cooke have a proposal before City traffic department which would simplify the movement of cars and pedestrians at the tricky corner where Laird Drive meets McRae Dr and Wicksteed Ave. The corner has been a confusion since the roadways were laid out in the early part of the last century. There is no easy solution

RIGHT NOW

Right now, traffic on McRae and Wicksteed get separate green lights for through traffic and left turns. For part of that cycle, eastbound McRae traffic gets a green for both straight on and turns together. Westbound Wicksteed vehicles deal with two sets of lights (above) which often leave drivers wondering whether to stop or go.

PROPOSAL

The SLTC is asking the City to install a three-phase protocol which would leave the Laird lights as they are but would stop eastbound vehicles completely while the westbound goes both straight on and left. The full stop would then apply to westbound traffic while eastbound had full green. Here is how the committee states it:

• Phase One. 2 and 4 remain unchanged. When they are green, 1 and 3 are red.
• Phase Two. 3 would get a dedicated green light. Through traffic and turns will be permitted and unencumbered. There will still be a turning lane and a through/right turn lane for 3. 1, 2 and 4 will be red at this time.
• Phase Three. 1 will get a dedicated green light. Through traffic and left turns onto NB Laird from the only remaining lane will be permitted. 2, 3 and 4 will be red at this time.

REDWAY ROAD

The much sought-after extension to Redway Road is complicated by legal and conservation concerns. The tracks which carry CP traffic are now owned by Metrolinx. Why this should be a problem is unclear. But there is much opposition to an extension related to the nearby Crothers Woods nature area in the close-in Don Valley. Still, there seems to be room to build a two lane road which would end at Bayview Ave. with traffic lights. Given the enormous relief that this extension would bring to busy Southvale Drive, it seems reasonable that a more thorough and explicit explanation be made as to why it is not possible.