The first of two walking tours guided by Jane Pitfield and Geoff Kettel gets going at 1.30 this Sunday, April 28, 2013, outside the library at 165 McRae Drive. This the official Layers of Leaside Historical Walking Tour and takes in points of interest in a two hour walk. Next Saturday, May 4 at 1.30 to 3.30 is the Layers of Thorncliffe Park Historical Walking Tour also guided by Jane and Geoff. It begins at Jenner Jean-Marie Community Centre/Thorncliffe Library, 48 Thorncliffe Park Drive
Champagne to mark opening of LCBO store
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There was a champagne toast to the new LCBO at Bayview Ave. and Millwood Road Friday morning before regular customers were allowed to come in. A party of about 150 officials and business contacts gathered at the store about 9 a.m.. and then, as the clerks said, everyone was “kicked out”” so the place could start to do some business.
Afternoon purse snatch near Eglinton and Hanna
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Toronto Police Service report: A 36 year old female reports that on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at approximately 1630 hours (4.30 pm) she was in the area of Eglinton Avenue East and Bayview Avenue when she was approached from behind by an unknown male suspect. The suspect pushed the victim and pulled her purse from her right shoulder. The suspect fled the scene northbound on Hanna Road. No injuries were sustained by the victim. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described person in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect: Male, 25 to 35 years, medium build.
Scary tale of Ottawa’s failure to deport Raed Jaser
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The hair raising details on the failure of Canada to deport Raed Jaser, 35, have been revealed in a CBC report which is shown on video at the link below. From his fraudulent arrival at age 15 in 1993 with his family, through criminal acts of fraud. and deportation orders, Jaser’s case is a textbook example of this country as a soft haven for anyone who showed up at the airport claiming refugee status. CBC.
How will we pay for the Emerald City of Transit?
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An epic showdown appears likely between the forces of Mayor Ford and the “Taxes for the TTC” elements of council after a key Ford supporter, Gary Crawford (Ward 36) has flip-flopped on the application of such levies. Premier Wynne is waiting to slap them on. Gas, sales, business — all kinds of taxes to help us build that Emerald City of Transit we are to believe is out there somewhere. At least that’s how it sounds when the Premier gets going. The other day she was fretting that a “working mother” couldn’t zoom across the GTA in just a few minutes to get to her job. That would be nice. But you get the feeling the premier was talking about zip lines. For his part, the mayor wants to float the subway dream by opening a gigantic casino. That already unpopular idea got another trashing today, this time from the Catholic Church. The archbishop, Cardinal Thomas Collins, warned of the “grievous suffering” caused by gambling. He may well be right and the sad lineups at the OLG ticket stands sometimes give a glimpse of that. As to transit, of course we need it. But how costly must it be? The transit debate is too much like an election campaign. Many people seem to be staking their political success on sending Toronto to Transit Glory, no matter what it costs.
Walmart says mint-scented bags repel raccoons
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Walmart Canada today announced a minted scented which is said to be irritating to rodents of all kinds. The company says that Great Value Mint-X bags are proven effective at repelling such creates because an all natural, mint scented fragrance that is added to the plastic during the manufacturing process. In a study conducted by the University of Maryland, School of Medicine Comparative Medicine Program in 2011, two bags were placed in a test area over a seven day period, one Mint-X bag and one standard untreated bag, both filled with standardized food. In this test, the Mint-X bag proved 100% repellence of raccoons, while the non-Mint-X bags were penetrated 67% of the time. Who knew?
Terror charges not from ‘holy book’ says accused
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National Post on the unusual approach of defendant Chiheb Esseghaier who told the judge today that the charges against him don’t matter because the Criminal Code is not the holy book. National Post.
Comparing Lawrence Park CI with Leaside HS
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A very interesting report by Global News has compared Toronto high schools for the percentage of students who employ a paid tutor with the ability of their parents to pay. It won’t come as a big surprise that well-off neighborhoods, like those around South Bayview, have higher percentages of students with tutors. The information was obtained from the Toronto District School Board through access to information laws. But does the use of tutors help students equally, even when there is money to hire good ones? Department of Education figures which rank the excellence of high schools show Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute with an overall score of 8.4 out of 10 in 2012. Leaside High School had a ranking of 8.3, essentially a tie. But hey, the TDSB figures on tutoring show that 24 percent of Lawrence park students had a tutor, while only 16 percent of LHS kids got outside help. Fun with figures! The TDSB rankings for all high schools are here.
Man harassed girl, 10, near Overlea and Don Mills
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Toronto Police Service is on the lookout for a man who was making a nuisance of himself by insisting on walking home with a ten-year-old girl near Don Mills Road and Overlea Boulevard last week. The girl was crossing the soccer field of Gateway Public School alone around 4:15 p.m. when a man approached and pulled on her shirt sleeve. He was persistent that he should walk her home. The girl ran towards the school and the man left the area. He is described as dark in complexion, 30 to 40 years old, 5’ 8” tall with a medium build. He had short black hair, a moustache, and was wearing a dark blue zip-up hoodie, white T-shirt, light blue track pants and black shoes. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-5400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
Gypsy Moth spraying this May in Moore Park
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There will be aerial spraying of trees in Moore Park and nearby areas this spring to combat the recurring problem of Gypsy Moth infestations. It is the first year since 2008 that arbourlogists have detected a sufficient presence of moth egg masses to require spraying. The Moore Park Residents Association says the spray is likely to occur between May 15 and June 2 and be scheduled between 5 am and 7:30 am in order to minimize disruption. The Urban Forestry Branch will notify affected residents over the next few weeks by delivery of notices, signage, website information and media releases. The last outbreak of Gypsy Moth in Toronto in 2007 and 2008 was successfully suppressed through a combination of the build-up of natural enemies, integrated pest management measures and aerial and ground treatments of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki (Btk), a naturally-occurring bacterium having insecticidal properties. The same spray will be used in 2013. Since that time levels of Gypsy Moth have been very low. But this year there has been detection of the pest in Moore Park and ten other areas of Toronto, particularly near the intersection of Princess Margaret Boulevard and Kipling Avenue. This present level of infestation was not expected and is contrary to past population cycles throughout the Gypsy Moth’s present range. Gypsy Moth outbreaks typically come in a 7-10 year cycle and last for 2-3 years. It is likely that this level of infestation points to the beginning of another outbreak in these areas — with City of Toronto website information.
Leaside Archival Exhibit opens at Library
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The Layers of Leaside Archival Exhibit opened Tuesday at the Leaside Library at 165 McRae Drive. The exhibit is a thoroughly entertaining display of old photographs and memorabilia. The pictures are organized in a way that helps a visitor make sense of the numerous stages in the history of the community. It’s well worth a visit. Pictures we liked showed the long-gone octagonal house (top) built by William Lea in 1850 near the present site of Leaside Arena. The octagonal home, known as Leaside, burned in 1913. Someone was present on that day and captured this image as the house billowed smoke. Also (below) in the Leaside Exhibit is a picture of the 1902 John Edmund Lea home at 33 Heather Road. At lower right is the renovated Edmund Lea home where it can be seen the home has been extended to the south. It also got a third dormer and that elegant decorative window beside the porch. Tara Hatherly — East York Mirror
LCBO “pocket emporium” opens this Friday
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The LCBO’s new “pocket emporium” will open at 1524 Bayview and Millwood on Friday. For those who haven’t been up to the corner for a while, the smallish store is snuggled in the old Blockbuster Video location. It’s a great addition to our sweet South Bayview experience. Hope it stays awhile.