South Bayview Bulldog Admin

Summer Sale underway today on South Bayview

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They’re having fun on South Bayview this noon and although there is a sprinkle predicted, the crowds are out to sample what’s to be had at the Summer Sidewalk Sale. You can too. De la mer, the premier seafood store next to Starbucks, is cooking up some of its great salmon burgers. Many other merchants have goods out too. Up at Dolly Jewellers a tent covers a variety of things that catch the attention. Those oversize wall clocks are displayed as well. They have an antique look but modern quartz works. Dolly has a monthly draw for just such a clock during July. No sale is required to enter. Next door at Puregrass Med Spa the irrepressible Cheryl Ingram, spark plug of the summer sale, is out in front with friends to preview her many services. Photos: top, making salmon burgers at de la mer; Dolly Jewellers

Why we are saddled with streetcars in Toronto

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The National Post series Streetcarnage addresses publically for the first time in a long time the odd attachment the City of Toronto has for what was once known as the “street railway.”   Streetcars are long gone from Canadian cities although Hamilton retains a charming bit of nostalgia in the 19th century name of its transit system — the Hamilton Street Railway or HSR. How did Toronto become the eternal home of these enormous, unpredictable and road-hogging vehicles? The event is traceable to the efforts in 1972 of what the Post calls “a core of leftist public transit activists through a group called Streetcars for Toronto.”  Its backers included public transit advocate Steve Munro and William Kilbourn, a Rosedale historian says Terrance Corcoran in the linked article. As is frequently the case at City Hall, no one was looking when this happened, much as no one was looking when the 21st Century streetcar cataclysm known as the St. Clair Ave. W. right-of-way occurred.  In this instance, advocates of the streetcar like former TTC Chief Adam Giambone rammed through a monstrous obstruction to traffic and business Nothing mattered but the care and feeding of the trolley.  Terrance Corcoran

Woman on nearly 100 counts of passport fraud

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A 50-year-old Toronto woman has been charged with almost 100 counts of producing and selling fraudulent Canadian passports. The Mounties charged Rozeline Zeitoune, a former passport processing officer with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) this week It’s a case that more than a little alarming considering the high value of Canadians passports to terrorists who wish to do real harm to others.  CBC 

John Tory touts endorsements from 2 Liberals

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John Tory is touting some interesting endorsements this weekend. He has received the support of Alvin Curling, Case Ootes, Judy Sgro and Bernard Trottier for his candidacy for mayor. Ms. Sgro is a Liberal MP who has been fairly partisan over the years but like the others says the Progressive Conservative John Tory is “rooted in the City” and that she will be supporting him. Mr. Curling was for several terms a Liberal MPP and cabinet minister who says Tory’s “post-partisan” nature will make Toronto move again. Mr. Oates was a well known and influential deputy mayor and Mr. Trottier is a Conservative MP.
GIRLS PUT BOYS TO SHAME IN SALSA “ELECTION DEBATE”

At the Salsa on St. Clair event Saturday the girls put the boys to shame in what was supposed to be a contest between candidates for mayor. Olivia Chow and Karen Stintz brought a lot of style to the dance but David Soknacki proved to have two left feet. Mayor Ford’s performance, for which he deserves a prize for guts, was unfortunate. John Tory apparently did not show up.  Also good photos in the Sun here of ladies at work.

Arrangements for Georgia Walsh are announced

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Arrangements for Georgia Walsh include visitation this Sunday, July 20 from 2 until 4 p.m. and  6 until 8 p.m. at Humphrey Funeral Home, 1403 Bayview Ave. The funeral will take place on Monday July 21 at St. Paul’s Anglican Church at 2 p.m. (227 Bloor St. E.) followed by a reception at the church  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation in memory of Georgia. Some suggest showing a pink ribbon 

“Slow down” lawn signs are made in Leaside

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Organizers are proceeding quickly but with care to make lawn signs that would tell drivers to slow down. Mail in Leaside today says they are being designed but before distribution will first be shown to the family of Georgia Walsh to be sure they are acceptable. Georgia, 7, was killed Wednesday afternoon when she was stuck by a minivan at the corner of McRae drive and Millwood Road. Motor firms BMW and Lexus on Leslie are helping to cover the cost of this work. Otherwise, say the organizers, it would not be possible. Interest has been very high with more than 100 requests for signs just today.  

State of emergency declared in Tecumseh

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The fire at the Bonduelle food-processing plant has been burning since 2 a.m. this morning.  Thick black smoke filled the sky. No injuries have been reported.  Quantities of ammonia inside the plant have officials concerned, which has prompted an emergency evacuation order for people in the area surrounding 1192 Lacasse Blvd., Tecumseh (near Windsor).CBC

Honda Indy may not be for people with Hondas

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A wag has said that the Honda Indy is probably not for most people who own a Honda. This alternative view of the odd closing off of the city streets for an event that frequently turns into a destruction derby is voiced at a little greater length in our sister blog Yonge and Roxborough News.

Break-in on Hillhurst during extended absence

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A homeowner on Hillhurst Blvd near Avenue Road reports a break-in during what appears to have been an absence for a vacation. It took place between July 3 and 16, 2014. Entry was gained into the premises by forcing a window.  A quantity of jewellery was stolen.

Where is the pedestrian horn on your car?

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Following the deeply dispiriting death of seven-year-old Georgia Walsh many thoughtful people have talked again about the importance of making eye contact between motorist and pedestrian. It’s very speculative in the Leaside case because we have no official version of what happened at the corner of Millwood Rd. and McRae Drive Wednesday afternoon. But we do know that somehow little Georgia got out in front of a minivan that was turning west. She was crossing from north to south so it is easy to see how eye-contact, if there was any attempt to accomplish it, was difficult. The vehicle was approaching Georgia from behind. Whatever happened, experienced drivers will know that eye contact with pedestrians can be an effective way to ensure safety and timely manoeuvring at a corner or elsewhere. When old friends are saying goodbye on the sidewalk inches from the roadway where a driver it trying to turn right, they aren’t looking at his car. A savvy driver with a responsive well-adjusted  horn is often able to catch the attention of a person on foot before he or she toddles backwards out into the road. But most cars are built with horns that send one signal — a super loud blast suited to stopping a train. Where is the pedestrian horn, the signal that sends a polite “excuse me” to distracted adults and kids at close quarters? It is a question for traffic safety and automobile manufacturers. Police talk about making eye contact and wearing bright clothes. But it takes two to make eye contact.  

Hundreds attend sombre vigil for Georgia Walsh

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Hundred of moms, dads and their kids attended a vigil for Georgia Walsh today (Thursday, July 17, 2014) at the corner of Millwood Rd and McRae Drive. This is the intersection at which Georgia was fatally injured 24 hours earlier when she was hit by a minivan as it turned right onto Millwood off McRae. The gathering was both large and orderly. Parents talked quietly among themselves and also to news people, who flooded the corner with their numbers and five satellite antennae trucks (inset). Parents could be heard explaining to reporters about the amount of activity in the the area — Trace Manes Park, the tennis courts, Leaside Library and Leaside United Church. One mother (inset) was holding her little ones extra tightly as she knelt with tear-filled eyes at the memorial of flowers piled against the LUC hedge just about at the point where Georgia last tried to cross the road. Earlier in the day children, classmates and neighbours sat cross-legged in front of flowers. There is much talk of increased traffic in the area for many reasons, mostly the LRT disruptions on Eglinton Ave. E. “This community has become a traffic nightmare because of all the commercial development that’s going on and it’s only going to get worse,” area resident Patrick Rocca told CityNews. Read the Walsh family’s statement here and the account of the accident here

Mature heads should rule at Leaside girl’s vigil

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Residents shared a group email this afternoon calling on fellow Leasiders and others to hold a vigil at the corner of McRae Drive and Millwood Road at 4 p.m. It is clear from the message that there is a lot of emotion surrounding the death of Georgia Walsh Wednesday afternoon. It is entirely understandable. The mail says that some people think they should block traffic. The author very wisely suggests otherwise. Mature heads should try today to offer an opportunity for people to express their sadness and concern without doing careless or dangerous things. The South Bayview Bulldog can only state the obvious: The police have not yet finished their investigation and they have not given any reason or cause for this accident. The mail also notes that there is a program of lawn signs being prepared. The signs would apparently ask motorists to slow down. Nothing wrong with that. It gives an address which is either soon to be active or already working:  leasidekidsatplay@gmail.com