Fire sweeps home with well-tended garden

4 a.m. call/Tony Smyth Twitter

Children all escaped

The modest semi-detached home on Mortimer Ave. belonging to a house-proud family was swept by fire early Monday, leaving the family scrambling to make sense of its affairs. Father, mother and children all escaped the 4 a.m. blaze which the owner attributes to a faulty connection along an extension cord to his bar fridge. The home sits on the corner of Logan Ave and from that sidewalk the manicured garden full of children’s toys may be seen. No doubt the semi next door is badly damaged by smoke. This single-alarm fire was called in shortly after 4 a.m.

Cooler temperatures have greeted Monday and the afternoon partial eclipse to be seen over Toronto. The City will close outdoor swimming pools between 2:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. because of low light and a presumed cause for caution. “We would appreciate participants’ cooperation during this time and apologize in advance for any inconvenience,” a notice on the City’s website read. CBC streams eclipse from Vancouver. Below, 1979 broadcast (Frank Reynolds) expresses hope that the next full eclipse (this one) will occur in a world at peace. Amen.

"May the shadow of the moon fall on a world at peace." ABC News report from February 26, 1979 about the world of August 21, 2017 pic.twitter.com/oRK0mwAoLm

— Matt Novak (@paleofuture) August 18, 2017

Tabirul Hasib/Twitter

The CBC says a Toronto man is named on an Interpol list of individuals they fear are waiting to strike the West. Tabirul Hasib disappeared three years ago with two others after a worrisome time for authorities and his family as he flirted with the death cult. Hasib fled to the Middle East, was brought back, questioned and beseeched by his parents to give it up. But then he vanished. Now 25, the former Monarch Park Collegiate student is potentially part of the murky body of individuals who could be anywhere, waiting to strike. CBC

The Open Streets #bloorYorkville & Yonge St. #calmness #liberty #Peace #Toronto #aPlace to #live a #place to #grow #Ontario #UniRose #annex pic.twitter.com/R2pgmulwYI

— 🇨🇦🇺🇸1st🇺🇸🇨🇦We the People… (@1stUSACanada) August 20, 2017

Daryl Christoff tweeted this video of activity on pop-up park on Bloor St. during Open Streets day.

Jerry Lewis has died at age 91. His collaboration with singer Dean Martin sent both men on long and prosperous careers. To the right, police now say there were 12 conspirators at terror in Barcelona. They tried making bombs but were so inept they fell back on killing people with a truck. Below that, the CBC will stream the eclipse of the sun on Monday. Please don’t expose your eyes to this event without protection. And finally, baseball for kids without rules, without a league, without adults and where everyone plays even if there are six outfielders.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians should maintain confidence in the immigration system even as thousands of asylum seekers continue to pour into the country, Canadian Press reports Sunday morning. His comments come hours before an expected rally in Quebec City involving anti-immigration and pro-diversity protesters that had the province’s premier voicing concerns that things could get out of hand. Mr. Trudeua said that all those walking across the United States border won’t receive any special advantage and must go through the usual security checks and immigration evaluations. Federal authorities say that through the first two weeks of August, more than 3,800 people walked over the border into Quebec and that 2,996 who crossed the border in July.

Meet the amazing Urban Garden team who is creating a 5000 SF pop-up park for you at Bloor & Yonge. #OpenStreetsTO pic.twitter.com/axpPYgB4Ol

— Kristyn Wong-Tam 🇨🇦 (@kristynwongtam) August 20, 2017

Helmet says it all

Historic horse

Harley

Interesting people too

More of them

From Piaggio maker of Vespa

Pup is ready to roll

Scooters from Barking Mad Club in Bowmanville

Starry ride

The annual Mods and Rockers excursion gathered in the parking lot of the Rexall Pharma Plus plaza at 325 Moore Ave. by Mallory Crescent Saturday. The weekend events of motorcycle and scooter lovers offers an evening out Friday night and then a drive down Bayview to Keating Channel Pub on Villiers Street. Good fun and fascinating hardware.

Man beds down under Rosedale stairs

Pedestrian goes by above unaware

A man bedded down with his push-cart belongings intent apparently on spending Saturday night under the stairway to the bridge over the main rail line between Rosedale and Moore Park. Outdoor living by the homeless, often by choice, is fairly frequent in central Toronto. It occurs mostly under bridges over ravines where the itinerants are not seen. In this case, the man was lying a few feet from the pavement of Summerhill Ave. One common refuge is under the St. Clair Ave. bridge on the upper reaches of the hills over the Vale of Avoca.

A release from Summerhill Market at 446 Summerhill Ave. says a demolition permit has been granted for the two buildings to the west of the store and that work on expanded parking and “outdoor market” will begin soon. The store expresses hope that the job can be completed by year’s end. As outlined last year, Summerhill wishes to increase its parking by taking down the former Royal Bank and an old storefront in which it used to have an ice cream concession called Scoops. The extra parking will increase spaces from the present 24 to 38. The City’s concern about too much flat land on the street is said to have prompted Siummerhill to propose a seasonal market and touches like the gazebo on part of the property. The plan also calls for a renovation of the store itself.

Expanding parking

Former Royal Bank

Former Scoops