126, 132 and 134 Laird Drive proposal

A mid-rise residential development on the site of the old Gyro Mazda site on the west side of Laird Drive was more or less written in the sky after the City zoned the area for such buildings. That would certainly seem to be the motivation for Gyro’s move to the east side of Laird, which remains low-rise commercial and industrial. The new auto dealership is nearing completion. Some details of the mid-rise development are here. It has an odd name, 126, 132 and 134 Laird, for what appear to be two buildings (not three) on either side of Stickney Ave. At Leaside Community Facebook there are many comments.

Playground will feature climbing structures for older and younger children

Georgia Walsh

Splashpad under construction

Splash pad feature “ground geysers” and more

Senior and junior structures

Work continues daily at the playground on McRae Drive with many wondrous things being installed. The old playground was a favorite place for the late Georgia Walsh. She was killed in a traffic accident coming home from there in the summer of 2014. Now a new playground funded by residents, businesses and friends of the Walsh family will open this fall in honour of Georgia. Builder Shane Baghai gave $250,000 of the approximately million dollar cost.

The Toronto Star (subscription) story Monday is straight from the whacky rabbit-hole world of Alice in Wonderland. It says the UK employment firm FDM Group has sent a bill for $30,000 in “damages” to a Toronto man for, apparently, “damaging” FDM’s reputation. FDM has offices in the Richmond-Adelaide Centre. The fired employee is appealing.

The Toronto Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets 150-122 Sunday night to advance to the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics.

Toronto-area MP Erin O’Toole is the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is 47 and has been the member for Durham since 2012. O’Toole was Minister of Veteran Affairs in the former Harper government. Last night he defeated party founding father (2003) and former Minister of Defence Peter MacKay in the 2020 Conservative leadership election to succeed Andrew Scheer as CPC leader. It appears the ballotting was contentious, requiring three rounds of voting.

This is live CBC coverage Sunday night as the Conservative Party leadership goes on, globalNews is saying the delay was caused by voting machines that ripped ballots when envelope-opening went wrong.

Vitoria Mario will go to college thanks to Taylor Swift/ITV

Vitoria Mario is saying thank you to Taylor Swift after the singer made a £23,373 donation to the girl’s education fund right out of the blue. That’s nearly $40,400 Canadian. Then, that improbable championship winner we know as Nick Nurse.  He’s the NBA Coach of the Year. Below that, a money-for-all-experiment in Germany. Can those who get it hang onto it? Finally, meet the lucky Lillingtons. Raymond and Gaye have won huge 649 jackpots twice in seven years. Yee-haw.

The Conservative Party of Canada has counted more than 175,000 votes from members as the leadership campaign comes to an end Sunday night. We will know the new leader before bedtime. At #CPCLeadership last-minute tweets are flying. One says East York lawyer Leslyn Lewis is trending. Retiring leader Andrew Scheer snipes at media for suggesting CPC is not diverse. Lots of fun. CBC

Check those numbers. A ticket holder in Ontario has won the $6 million jackpot in Saturday night’s Lotto 649 draw. The draw’s $1 million guaranteed prize went to a lottery player in British Columbia. The jackpot for the next draw on Aug. 26 will be approximately $5 million.

Police are looking for a man of about 30 who is reported to have stripped naked on the sidewalk near Yonge and Merton Sts. Thursday at about 10 a.m. They’re calling it indecent exposure. The incident occurred in front of an office building. He is described as white,  6’3″, medium build, shaved head, wearing dark clothing, carrying a knapsack and with a bandana across his face. He is believed to frequent the area.

Butcher and restaurateur team up.

Second-floor bar and restaurant to open in fall

Montgomery Square, home of Stock TC

The first part of a long-awaited collaboration between Cumbrae’s butchers and the Terroni restaurant group is set to open Saturday at 8 a.m. at the former Postal Station K development at Yonge St. and Mongomery Ave. The site is now known as Montgomery Square. A first-floor grocery store including a pastry and bake area will welcome shoppers first thing in the morning. It’s recorded at the Stock TC Instagram account that a second-floor restaurant and bar will open in the fall. It will feature a third-floor patio. The origin of the chosen name for this venture —  Stock TC — remains murky but it appears to be a play on the names Terroni, Cumbrae and Terroni’s restaurant division, Sud Forno. We’ll let you know.

• Stock TC
• Cumbrae’s and Terroni plan eatery in Montgomery Square
• Montgomery Square at renovated Station K open to public