For the first time in recent memory, the semi-annual Leaside Blood Clinic at Northlea school has seen more donors than it is able to accommodate. By 5.30 p.m., with all chairs full, and many donors being processed, it was not possible to accept more walk-in donors, staff said. A count of units collected will be available in the coming hours.

Curve gone

As good as gone

Backup onto Southvale

Southvale

One driver thinks there’s still two lanes

Work has begun on the re-make the corner of Laird Drive and Millwood Rd accompanied by seemingly unprecedented traffic backups Wednesday on Millwood, Southvale and Laird. The project, as reported earlier by The South Bayview Bulldog, will eliminate the Yield curve for traffic headed toward the Leaside bridge and points east. Instead, the greatly touted “improved” intersection will stop all traffic at a three-way set of lights. It’s not clear whether there will be a right turn on red permitted onto Millwood southbound/eastbound from Millwood/Southvale. This project seems to come at a particularly bad time in the context of LRT construction. There are no routes out of Leaside to the north or east that are not blocked with construction. There is a belief among many that City Hall has an unstated policy of eliminating Yield signs where it can, especially at intersections where pedestrians may cross. The Yield sign at Millwood/Laird is as good as gone, although it still stood in isolation Wednesday.

Clau Dia has posted Wednesday morning about an alert to the office at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that the southbound lanes of Bayview will be closed Thursday at Blythwood  Rd. to replace a broken water main valve. Clau put this alert on Leaside Community FB where it reads:

Both lanes (southbound) will be occupied starting at around 9 a.m. for approximately four to five hours. A paid duty police officer has been requested by the City to assist with the flow of traffic and safety of pedestrians at this location. Once the repairs have been completed, one lane will remain closed overnight until their contractors can place temporary asphalt at the location excavated. When the asphalt has cured, the roadway will re-open early Friday afternoon.

Also, as telegraphed by The Bulldog September 21, and confirmed by Gary Slippoy on Leaside Community, traffic at Bayview and Eglinton is down to one lane in all directions and many turns are prohibited as work begins on the excavation of the intersection for LRT station construction.

Learning to skate

Hocky stuff

Asma Yousif

Cedarvale and Cosburn

Barbecue at 1665 O’Connor

Some 30 young New Canadians were learning to skate Tuesday at Leaside arena’s Dr. Tom Pashby Play Safely Rink. It is part of the Hockey4Youth charity which helps newcomers learn Canada’s national sport. Enthusiasm was high among young immigrants like Asma Yousif who came here from Afghanistan a year ago. She is keen to be Canadian. Hockey4Youth is a program of the Let Kids Play Foundation charity. It’s executive director and founder is Moezine (Moe) Hasham. Lower left, City Council has voted 33-3 to put traffic lights up at the corner of Cosburn and Cedarvale Aves. at the entrance to Stan Wadlow Park. The measure was strongly opposed by City staff who feel the crosswalk at the site is satisfactory. But this was the scene of the December 2016 death of an elderly woman, Jae Blue. Finally, the poster at the right tells of the anticipated 54 Division Community Barbecue Thursday at O’Connor Public School, 1665 O”Connor Drive between 3.30 and 5.30 p.m. Toronto Police horses will be there. Bring your camera.

Abdulahi Hasan Sharif

The Somali refugee accused of stabbing an Edmonton police constable on the weekend and running down four pedestrians was ordered to be deported from the United States in 2011 by a U.S. immigration judge. In July 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection transferred Abdulahi Hasan Sharif into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, Calif., according to Jennifer D. Elzea, acting press secretary for the ICE office of public affairs.Two months later, on Sept. 22, 2011, an immigration judge ordered Sharif removed to Somalia. Sharif waived his right to appeal that  Sharif failed to report to the ICE enforcement and removal operations centre on his scheduled date, Jan. 24, 2012.decision. CBC

The Toronto Real Estate Board says home sales in the GTA were down 35 per cent in September against the same month last year. The decline in detached homes was 40.4 per cent. The average selling price for all types of property sold in September was up 2.6 per cent from a year ago, rising to $775,546. The board said higher-priced detached homes accounted for a smaller share of sales than in September 2016 and that the average price for that market segment was flat. The average price for condos was up 23.2 per cent to $520,411 and average prices for semi-detached houses was up 7.4 per cent at $752,379.

Northlea student Emmy Duff

Give in her memory

Teens 17 and over are encouraged to give

Northlea from 2 to 7 p.m.

The semi-annual Leaside Blood Donor Clinic will be held tomorrow (Wednesday, October 4) as usual at Northlea Elementary and Middle School on Rumsey Rd.  Those present to organize the clinic and many of those donating will be remembering the courageous Northlea student whose battle against leukemia inspired this clinic. She was Emmy Duff, a cheerful young woman whose 16 year battle has left a legacy of generosity and public awareness of the need for blood. Emmy died in 2012. This Fall, the tireless people who run the clinic will be hoping to see their friends as well as strangers who are able to give. Teens are especially encouraged to give an hour to this outstanding public service. Healthy kids 17 and over may participate. The clinic runs from 2 to 7 p.m.

Shrine at scene

Stephen Paddock continues to baffle police and psychiatric specialists. Why did a man who had no criminal record and a ton of money concieve and carry out a calculated plan to kill dozens of people? He had no poltical, racial or religious animus that anyone can determine. The death count in the Las Vegas sniper atrocity is now 59, with as many as 500 injured. Who were the victims (recommended)

City Council has voted 23 to 14 in favour of an 18-month trial program permitting chickens to be kept in the backyard of homes in four Toronto wards. Criticism has been aimed not just at the birds but the flighty decision to approve the pilot without any input from the public at large. Councillor Jon Burnside (Ward 26) called the lack of consultation with the public “government at its worst.” Councillor Georgio Mammoliti (Ward 7) disdained the subject as unimportant and asked “What the flock is going on at City Hall?”  But others were pleased. It seems Joe Mihevc (Ward 21) and Justin Di Ciano (Ward 5) will be getting chickens as soon as the pilot starts.

“CLEAN AS CATS AND DOGS”

“To have a few pets in your backyard that also have the benefit of producing eggs, there’s nothing wrong with it from a public health perspective, from a nuisance perspective,” Mr. Mihevc told reporters. “They are as clean as cats and dogs.” Councillor Stephen Holyday (Ward 3) warned this marks “the introduction of livestock into the city,” and it’s not clear where that will end, nor how much work it will create for city officials. Councillors did put forward motion to refer the matter back to staff to study further, but that was rejected. Mayor John Tory voted in favour of going ahead with the backyard chicken pilot project The chicken pilot will be run in Ward 5, Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Ward 13, Parkdale-High Park. Ward 21, St. Paul’s and Ward 32, Beaches-East York. CBC

OPP say an eight-seat vehicle has rolled over on the QEW at Guelph Line in Burlington injuring eight people, two critically. All eastbound lanes and all but one westbound lane are closed. The van was the only vehicle involved in this accident.

A Toronto mom went to war on Facebook when the pay rate for delivery work for her ten-year old boys went from $2.50 an hour to 2 cents a flyer. Things are tough in the newspaper business but Metroland (Torstar) defends the practice even though it paid up when mom made a stink. Will this fuel the campaign which declares all democracy (never mind pay rates) is in jeopardy if the newspapers don’t get tax money? The taxpayer supported CBC tells the story.

Thieves using chain saws stolen from their victim used the tools to then cut wires and binding on a total of $50,000 in gardening and lawn equipment at a Scarborough business overnight Monday. Security video was posted by the Alpine Lawn and Garden Equipment firm to make the public aware. It shows two thieves using saws to cut through parking lot chain locks, front door locks and security cables connecting power saws to store shelves.