In response to interest in the plan to convert Maurice Cody School to a junior facility as early as 2017, Ward 11 Trustee Shelley Laskin says studies to do this are not finalized. The Toronto and District School Board (TDSB) studies “are not finalized until the process is complete.” She remarks that the decision to send Grade 6  to 8 children to Hodgson School in 2017 is “not confirmed.”  She said, “it may be earlier with other neighboring schools moving to K to Gr. 5 in 2016. She said “the timing remains dependent on planning numbers.”

School Trustee Shelley Laskin (Ward 11) has confirmed a plan to make Maurice Cody Pubic School a junior school with classes topping out at Grade 5 as early as the 2017 academic year. The plan is devised because of a growing school population in Midtown Toronto. Cody children in Grades 6 to 8 will transfer to Hodgson Senior Public School. It is no secret that the South Bayview neighborhoods south of Eglinton Ave. are highly prized by young families  Readers of the The South Bayview Bulldog, who sounded the alert on this story, say they purchased homes near Bayview Ave. because of Maurice Cody’s good reputation.

2020 CAPACITY ESTIMATE 750

At present, Cody has some 709 children enrolled but projections on the trustee’s website suggest that number would  rise to 750 by 2020. Cody has an official capacity of less than 700. Hodgson has a present enrolment of about 350 but it would still require an addition in order to accommodate the children from Maurice Cody. Parents who are objecting to the change say the addition cannot be finished for 2017. They say the school board intends to build temporary buildings..

HODGSON NEEDS AN ADDITION

Ms. Laskin spoke to the Maurice Cody parent council yesterday and said these changes were being proposed by the school board’s Central Accommodation Team (CAT).  Those writing to The Bulldog say they are greatly distressed by the plan. They claim there is no indication of when construction might begin on a finished addition to Hodgson School. The century-old school is said to be in need of repairs. It is recalled that in the 1970s and 80s when empty nesting was beginning to change Davisville Village, the school board tried to close Hodgson. Ms Laskin said that recommendations have not been finalized but did confirm the date of 2017 for Cody to change to Grades 1 to 5. She said the accommodation planning effects many schools including Eglinton, Oriole Park, Davisville and Forest Hill. Write to the South Bayview Bulldog 

This snippet of video is from the CBC. It shows TTC staff carefully separating two streetcars on Queen St. E. One of them lost its brakes (!) and rolled back into the other. Not shown is the third tram that banged into the back of this mess.

Tracy Fabri has been tweeting to Leaside about the useful public service she and others will discharge at the Leaside Rotary Club Corn Roast this Sunday (September 20, 2015). Holland Bloorview Hospital will be providing #concussion education of kids and chances to win prizes.  Old friend Margaret selling tickets for corn roast raffle.

Keep an eye on Never Grow Up at 1725 Bayview where they are showing some new arrivals  At top right, Marketing Co-ordinator Kaitlin Kochanov shows some offerings from Emile and Ida. These are a matching shirt and harem diaper pants in a super soft fabric. They are made in Portugal. Below inset, are a Canadian-made Panda Tee from Electrik Kidz. It is made of organic cotton and has an attached pacifier clip. Also shown is a made-in-Israel pair of harem pants from NuNuNu. Never Grow Up is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.,m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

EXCERPT FROM SPARKLESHINYLOVE

“This past weekend I attended the grand opening of Never Grow Up, a hip children’s clothing store located at 1725 Bayview Avenue in Toronto. This is the second location for Never Grow Up you can also find them in Oakville! They carry designers like Andy and Evan, Blune, Chic Mammas, Electrik Kidz, Hucklebones, Lazy Pants, Knot, and one of my personal favourites, Ollie Jones! There was everything from sequins and tutu’s for girls, to rough and tumble alligator sweatshirts for boys” .

Davisville resident Nandy Heule and her neighbors have had an important win at the Committee of Adjustment. Committee agreed with the residents, and with the South Eglinton Residents and Ratepayers Association (SERRA) on an important intensification file. The address is 585 Hillsdale Ave. where the development application asked to tear down a small apartment building, sever the lot and build two “very large tall” homes. As Nandy reports, the developer has appealed the decision. Three residents are noted for helping to organize some 50 homeowners. They are  Bartek (Bart) Plocienniczak, Andrew Pagel, and Ellen Demidov.  The residents are not intractable, as a further explanation shows. This development might have created a “win win” say the homeowners if the plan had been “closer to the required local zoning bylaws.” A letter of opposition came from councilor Josh Matlow. The residents say they are looking for “respectful, sensible redevelopment.” No doubt there will more to hear on this important stand made by the residents of Hillsdale Ave. Many thanks to Nandy Heule for writing to the The South Bayview Bulldog. You can write to The Bulldog too.

The Uptown Yonge BIA is holding its Fall Fest on an unofficial three-day long weekend on September 25, 26, and 27, 2015. It looks like a pleasant occasion for anyone who takes the walk on Yonge from Roehampton (Orchard View on the other side) up to Glengrove Ave. Some events are intriguing: Children’s performer Markus, Jeff Salem Drum Circle, Rob Tardik Trio and singer-songwriter Carlo Copolla. There’s a bit of whimsy related to both the here-and-now as well as the hereafter in the parking lot of the Trull Funeral Home. Someone there will be offering secure shredding for papers requiring a dignified goodbye.

City of Toronto 

Yvonne Prowse will speak at St. Anselm’s Parish Hall at MacNaughton Rd and Millwod  Rd on the recent encyclical of Pope Francis about the environment. Ms. Prowse’s remarks will be in a series of three evenings at the church hall on Wednesday, October 21, Wednesday, October 28 and Wednesday, November 4, 2015. All are welcome and the information on the series says that she will reflect on the Pope’s message and what people can do to “respond to the call of Earth — our common home —  for healing.”