Prague — For the next week or ten days the South Bayview Bulldog will file stories from some points of interest in Central Europe. We will also have local posts as well. Prague is one of the great capitals the world. It has a written history dating back more than 1,200 years. In a modern story we will tell later, you will hear how Prague was the scene of one of the great confrontations between Communism and the forces of Freedom. In particular, we will tell of how in 1968 a young a Canadian correspondent for the Associated Press broke the news of a signal act of suppression by the Red Army.

Work has restarted on this interesting renovation at Broadway Ave. and Hanna Road. This is the one where the front door will move, apparently, from Broadway onto Hanna. There’s still a lot of work to be done but the idea has promise.

A surveillance camera has captured pictures of an individuhal who punctured tires and scratched the paint of 16 vehicles parked on Soudan and Hoyle Aves. on Good Friday eve. Note that the imprint on the picture says it was recorded on video at about four minutes to ten on the evening of April 21, 2011. Toronto Police said the lone suspect struck between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. The person is described as being white. He wore a dark leather jacket, blue pants and a white baseball cap. Investigators at 53 Division are asking that anyone who can identify the man to call police at 416-808-5300 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 or online at 222tips.com.

This holiday proved to be a busy one along South Bayview as many people came out under sunny skies. Above, the broad sidewalks were full. Right, a lady basks in the sunshine and the glow of her latte. Below, time for pictures and yes, absolutely everyone was out. Patios were full and shops had lots of customers. It was a statutory holiday. As many will know, City staff has recommended to the Council that all impediments to business be removed during such days. For reasons that are unclear, City Council has not taken action. As people thronged South Bayview they were making another statement about popular sentiment on this question. The Eaton Centre benefits from the doubtful notion that it’s a Tourist Area. But the issue is not tourism. The issue is equality under the charter. No disrespect, no tourism, no confusion — just what the Constitution requires. Hope you all enjoyed.

The MP for Don Valley West Rob Oliphant (centre) held an informal meeting with friends and constituents at the Second Cup on South Bayview Thursday morning. Mr. Oliphant is running for his second term.

What is said to have been a long process of approvals is over and the house at 243 Rose Park Drive in Moore Park has been demolished. The old Dutch Colonial style roof, somewhat unusual in the neighborhood, will no doubt be replaced by a more modern look. The picture on the right was taken Wednesday evening. Picture on the left is undated from Google Street.

The new Volvo is coming and it’s focused seriously on the world’s largest auto market — China. The company hopes to make it a major luxury seller over the next few years. Curiously, Geely, the new Chinese owners of Volvo, has expressed itself in disagreement with the Swedish executives who are in charge of making and selling the new car. Li Shufu, the Geely chairman, thinks the Volvo should be even plushier than it is. But he’s agreed to back off for the time being. For his part, Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby says the concept car shown above, the Tiandi or Universe, “has nothing to do with Geely” and was not influenced in any way by the Chinese company. “I don’t report to Li Shufu,” Mr Jacoby said. Launching the car at the start of the Shanghai show, Volvo Cars officials made only scant mention of Volvo’s traditional brand values of safety and environmental friendliness, focusing instead on its “voluptuous curves” and “coupe-style roof line”. Asked whether safety was no longer important to Volvo Cars, Mr Jacoby said: “We have to look for other brand values next to safety. Safety will remain a core competence, but we will maybe not directly market this as a safe car.”

Workmen were in the early stages of putting up the sign at the new Sports Swap location at 1541B South Bayview Tuesday. Sources say it will be a lighted blue marker that should look pretty good.

Analysts say the lively coffee shop competition has taken its toll on Second Cup, a constant haunt for so many of us. But Stacey Mowbray (above), the company’s CEO, is vowing to change that. “We are very much back in growth mode,” she says. The company plans to add up to 30 locations this year, and is looking to open 130 more over the next few years in order to reverse a long decline. In 2000, Second Cup boasted 390 locations across the country, but that number has been winnowed to 340. Starbucks, meanwhile, ballooned from 238 to more than 1,000 stores over the same period. Locally, as we know, the amiable Hong Ngo has re-invigorated business in the South Bayview shop. Friendly service is a vital ingredient for success. Customers like to be addressed by name. Second Cup also has to identify new franchisees who are able to carry it off. That’s not always easy. And, Second Cup needs to look to variety and ingredients of muffins. Many coffee shop patrons will tell you that the coffee is pretty much good whereever you go. Muffins frequently give a shop an edge. SBB with information from Canadian Business Online.