The South Bayview Bulldog

The CBC has reported on an extraordinary act of kindness by a faith group, Rhema Christian Ministries. Each year the organizers arrange for women who live in downtown shelters in Toronto to visit Azan’s Hair Salon and Spa on Davenport Rd. Today, for the sixth year, 30 women were pampered and coiffed at the Yorkville spa for free. Manicures, haircuts, and massages were dispensed to the hard-luck ladies after months or in some cases years inside Toronto’s shelter system. The CBC quotes the organizer of Project Beautiful, Judth Meikle, as saying: “We just kind of empower them. We let them know they really are beautiful. And that in spite of the situation and circumstances they have been through, there are a group of people that will love them unconditionally.”

The Crown will not appeal the acquittals in Jian Ghomeshi. The news was released on the for such a  move to be made. A statement said there is no legal basis for an appeal. At theTTC, the sad saga of the failed undertaking by Bombadier to build and deliver streetcars goes on. There are yet further delays forecast in this scandalous story with no very good reasons put froward by the Quebec company for any of it. Mayor Tory says he is dismayed and that would be reasonable. On a happier note, the new green bins designed to leave raccoons hungry will begin appearing on sidewalks within a few days. The first will be delivered to Scarborough.

Evan Solomon is making headway on the long road back. His work at the Bell Canada radio station CFRA NewsTalk Radio in Ottawa has landed him a new position as national affairs specialist. He’ll also host the new syndicated weekend program “Real Talk.”  It would be safe to say the 48-year-old Solomon has a substantial following from his work on the CBC program  “Power & Politics” and on CBC Radio’s “The House”. He was fired after the Toronto Star revealed he had set up lucrative art deals for payment among important people he had met and interviewed for the CBC. Not a capital offense but a failure in judgement inspired it seems by some quick cash. Release 

Two months after U.S. regulators expanded their investigation into Fiat Chrysler vehicles and the frankly odd electronic gearshift (see video) the company has recalled 811,000 model year 2012 to 2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans and model year 2014 to 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs in order to alleviate confusion about when the vehicle’s transmissions are in the “park” position. The video really tells the story but two things jump out. Confusing or not it seems like a huge amount of work to change gears. Call us lazy. Then there’s that unnerving little movement of the gearshift handle after each shift. It looks as if the vehicle has gone into neutral, but of course if hasn’t. Quite odd. FCA has received more than 100 complaints about crashes and injuries resulting from drivers inadvertently leaving their vehicles in gear with the motor running. The carmaker says the recall was initiated to “enhance” warnings and transmission shift strategy after an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Fiat Chrysler found some drivers have exited their vehicles without first selecting “PARK.”

This is what teamwork looks like. #YongeCleans #CleanToronto #EarthDay pic.twitter.com/TWtxxJm4ug

— Kristyn Wong-Tam 🇨🇦 (@kristynwongtam) April 23, 2016

The past weekend was an important occasion for volunteer merchants and those who are simply proud of Toronto to get busy cleaning the streets. Here we see the gang from the Downtown Yonge BIA. Great work everyone.  30 volunteers sweep South Bayviewe in the sunshine

An Uber driver was struck by a stray bullet while driving past a fight on Dundas Street West near Euclid Ave. about 12.30 a.m. Monday. He is said to be okay, the bullet causing a slight wound to his arm.

Hush my heart. Drake has announced he will make a 32-date tour of North America this summer stopping in Toronto (6ix) on July 31. Canadian Press is into it.

As many as 320 Toronto elementary students may be suspended this week because their immunization records are incomplete. Without complete records, the Department of Education has no way of knowing if these kids are fully vaccinated.  Toronto Public Health has mailed about 5,000 suspension orders to elementary students born in 2008 for whom records are incomplete. Suspension orders will continue to be mailed out to 584 elementary schools up until Monday with some suspensions having begun last week.

The frenzy by marijuana-related retailers to open shops may be making the federal government a bit nervous.  Reports tell of a Liberal discussion paper warning that legalizing marijuana won’t necessarily do away with the black market for weed. The paper points out that organized crime — including possible infiltration of the new system — is a problem  the government must face. Canadian Press obtained a copy of the December draft through the Access to Information Act.  The Liberals have said they will introduce legislation next year to remove marijuana consumption and incidental possession from the Criminal Code, and create new laws to more severely punish those who provide pot to minors or drive while under its influence.

STOREFRONTS OPENING

All across the country and in all neighborhoods stores with presumed intentions to somehow deal in marijuana are popping up. Three have appeared in recent weeks on the Danforth. There is another on Mt. Pleasant Rd. at Penrose Rd. But there is no legal function for such places. TO pot shops set to “milk the green rush” 

An alert traffic cop in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou sees that the asphalt is sinking before his eyes and quickly runs to get some rubber traffic cones. Not a moment too soon as the road begins to collapse, creating a sinkhole nearly two metres across. The Bulldog says this is the best use ever seen for the normally bogus traffic cones, frequently employed to secure parking outside Starbucks for utility crews. Just kidding. Maybe.

It may be hard to imagine that anyone other than Sleep Country and The Brick are selling mattresses at retail these days but now here comes CT Canada Mattress to take the empty corner store (formerly Mac’s) in the Sunnybrook Plaza  The RioCan owned strip mall can use tenants. Across the street at the wild and crazy intersection of Eglinton Ave. E. and Bayview Ave the demolition of the McDonald’s continues. It is taking a while because that place was built from a lot of poured concrete.