Sewer work on the east side of Bayview will disrupt parking for the rest of this week according to officials who plunked down some temporary “no parking” signs at the south end on Wednesday. The information is that for Thursday, Friday and (ugh) Saturday, April 14 to 16, 2016,  there will be no parking from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the east side of Bayview. The repairs have to do with the connection of sewers to the stores. The first phase of this is Millwood to Belsize.

Parents filled the stands as the very young skated on the Bert F. Grant rink at Leaside Gardens Wednesday evening. This entertaining variation of pitching a tent looked like fun. The red and white “big top” sheet is frequently employed apparently and carries the names of sponsors like Canadian Tire. Watch for the kid who scoots back outside as all the others duck under the sheet. Parents said it was the final day of such skating this season.

There are very nice people inside but the little concrete coloured CIBC branch at 1529 Bayview Ave. has been a little dowdy looking. This week it got a new face and as the small scissor lift was still parked outside Wednesday night it seems there may be a few more touches to come.

Look what our NASP plane saw while patrolling Prince of Wales Island in @GOVofNUNAVUT #WildlifeWeek #PolarBear pic.twitter.com/QfwRdOEaaM

— Transport Canada (@Transport_gc) April 13, 2016

An Aurora aircraft of Canada’s National Aerial Surveillance Program proved to be of interest to this polar bear as it flew over the vast reaches of Nunavut in recent hours. The bear was of interest to the crew and to us as well. Here we see the big fellow lumbering along even as he (or she) keeps an eye on the sky.

The Duke and Duchess and Cambridge have enjoyed an early morning safari in India’s Kaziranga National Park, on the fourth day of their official tour of India and Bhutan. William has been campaigning for a number of years to protect endangered animals and his visit to the park comes as ITV News footage shows the plight of rhino in India. Both are seen feeding the animals with large containers of liquid food.

There are just five days to order garden supplies from the 132nd Toronto Scouts of Leaside. As usual, the 132nd is offering Soil, Mulch, Manure, Leaf Bags —  and new this year — Vegetable & Flower seeds. All orders placed by Sunday  April 17, 2016 will be delivered free to your home in Leaside. Residents can place their orders by calling (416) 425-6881 or online at www.132nd.com/gardenproducts. Remember, the deadline of April 17.

Melissa Sheppard

The woman known as the Internet Black Widow was spotted by chance in a Halifax library on the Internet yesterday, something she was strictly forbidden from doing by the terms of her recent parole. Now she is accused of breaching the conditions of her peace and has been told to stay out of libraries. When she was released less than a month ago officials said she was at high risk to re-offend. That would suggest the finding of an unsuspecting elderly man and doing who knows what to him. The 80-year-old Melissa Ann Shepard was released under 22 court-imposed conditions. Keep your fingers crossed. Canadian Press 

Worthwhile little story about the junky little upstairs-downstairs strip on Yonge St at Helendale Ave just south of Postal Station K, now under redevelopment. The plaza will be demolished and learned voices are quoted saying the architectural trick of pretending that the basement was the first floor (see Yorkville) is a failed concept. Correct again professor and there’s one on South Bayview as well at the corner of Belsize.  What a blessing to see that perpetually vacant lower level disappear.  By the way, CBC calls Station K by the wrong name. It’s K.  CBC

Summerhill Market at 446 Summerhill Ave has received approval to demolish two buildings to the west of the store and create more parking as well as an outdoor market and decorative gazebo. Barring an unexpected objection, the plan could go forward this year. It will increase the number of parking spaces for the busy food store from 24 to 38. The City’s concern about too much flat land prompted the store to propose a seasonal market and add touches like the gazebo. The plan also calls for a renovation of the store itself. The buildings to be razed are the former Royal Bank branch (now closed) and  a run-down storefront which most recently housed an ice cream vending venture by Summerhill known as Scoops.

Loblaws has announced that it will build 50 new stores and renovate at least 100 existing locations in an expansion program that will add 20,000 jobs through staffing and construction. All of Loblaws store flags including Shoppers Drug Mart will benefit from this expansion, the company said in a statement. There are no details of where stores will go but the plans seem to be fairly urgent, set to get underway this year. Local business handicappers have often guessed that Loblaws would like to be stronger on Laird Drive, perhaps replacing the hidden store on Redway Rd. with one that is on the street. Time will tell. Nor is there any way of knowing what might be in store for the venerable location of 301 Moore Ave. A continuation of Redway to the Bayview extension might permit the closing of the dangerous (but convenient) piece of Pottery Road that runs between Loblaws and the Rexall strip mall at 320 Moore. Such an extension of Redway is bitterly opposed by many but would speed traffic east during rush hour. CNW

An unexpected but very welcome group of students and their teacher from the Toronto French School at 306 Lawrence Ave East helped swell the ranks of donors at the Leaside blood clinic Tuesday at Northlea School. As many as a dozen kids made the trip to the school’s auditorium on Rumsey Road in the late afternoon although because of testing standards not all were able to give blood. Teacher Krista Bryndza was quickly persuaded by her Grade 12 students to join the contingent and is seen giving a pint. Regulations permit students 17 and older to donate. Organizers report that the clinic met its target if 72 units.