The South Bayview Bulldog

Volkswagen has agreed to pay U.S. diesel owners a lump sum of $5,000 and, if Reuters is correct, buy back as many as 600,000 vehicles. There is no word about Canada. After many months of deliberation and confusion it looks like an agreement between Volkswagen and the federal prosecutors is near, as a Reuters Report cites German newspaper Die Welt, saying VW has agreed with U.S. authorities to pay each affected owner $5,000. Just this alone represents billions of U.S. greenbacks and does not address claims in Europe or the rest of the world.

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The 51st Annual General Meeting of the South Eglinton Residents and Ratepayers Association was well-attended Wednesday night in the gymnasium of Manor Road United Church. President Andy Gort said that after many  years at this location, it was the last time SERRA would  meet there. Renovations to the church and the sale of half the property to make a public park means SERRA will have its AGM in the newly finished Sanctuary of Manor Road Church next year. The meeting heard from Josh Matlow (Ward 22) who reviewed many issues such as transit plans, the proposed Davisville Hub and a number of developments of concern.

BROWNLOW AVE, BAYVIEW AVE

Matlow noted the proposal for 18 Brownlow Ave. at Soudan Ave which he called “egregious and obnoxious.” It contains two towers of 20 and 25 storeys. He said the City is fighting this development all the way.  On the other hand, he said talks continued with the Brown Group for the proposed nine storey development on Bayview Ave. between Soudan and Hillsdale Aves. No firm progress has been made although discussion has gone back and forth about a reduction of storeys with a type of  quid pro quo that would make the building more dense, a design feature which the City opposes.

NOISE LEVELS

A ripple of surprise ran through the meeting when Mr. Matlow said that a proposal to raise the legal decibel level in residential neighborhoods was about to return to Council. This is apparently related to music clubs. The Councillor said he favoured “vibrant streets” but that he would be fighting at the Licensing and Standards Committee against an increase.. In fact, the proposal seems like political gelignite.

CONCERT WITH SHARON AND BRAM

There will be a concert on May 14, 2016 at Davisville Park featuring the surviving members of the group Sharon, Lois and Bram.   Lois Ada (Goldberg) Lilienstein died in Toronto last year. The concert will be a tribute.

 

Depending on where one looks today, there might be references to 420, 4:20 or 4/20.  It may mean nothing or possibly denote  a 1971 cult of teens somewhere who smoked dope at 4.20 every single day regardless of the date. Or it may mean smoke it if you’ve got it today. It’s April 20. Or it may mean Hitler’s birthday.

MINISTER ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION

The world may also wonder if the Health Minister, Dr. Jane Philpott, was coding to a special constituency when she chose 4/20 to announce at the U-N that Canada’s new marijuana legislation will be brought in in 2017. Keep April 4 clear. Prime Minister Trudeau played a good game in the House of disavowing any move to legalize the stuff (apart from medical) in the meantime.

The saga of the over-sized, illegal boat-shaped treehouse in Bloor West Village took another turn Wednesday when Mayor Tory asked City Staff to review its decision that the structure must come down. He told reporters that staff members don’t want to “look like soreheads and party poopers” although none of them was present to confirm that. He went on to talk about how the staff had suggested changes which would bring the unauthorized treehouse into compliance. The builder, John Alpeza, has vowed he will not take it down. He sought approval before it was built and was turned down. The treehouse is in a dead tree. Readers of the CBC story below mostly think Mr. Tory is being soft. One called the Mayor’s remarks “the Uber Effect.” Another called him Johnny Flip-flop.  Boat-treehouse can be salvaged if dad makes some changes, mayor says

The annual general meeting of the South Eglinton Ratepayers and Residents Association will take place this evening (April 20, 2016) at Manor Road United Church. Details

 

Brian Pallister has led the Progressive Conservative’s to victory in Manitoba. It is the first time the Tories have held power in 16 years. A sales tax increase in 2013 up to 8 percent from 7 percent was a critical issue. The New Democrats have been in power since 1999.

NEW YORK

Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump won the Democratic and Republican primaries in New York. Beyond the party contests however Mrs. Clinton is said to hold a lead in polls among voters at large.

 

Coca Cola is giving all its varieties a consistent look it calls “One-Brand” packaging. The scheme was announced in the U.S. but is expected to make its way to Canada in time. Cans and bottles of Coca-Cola Original, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coca-Cola (or Light, in Europe and elsewhere) and Coca-Cola Life will all feature a bright red disk on a background of either red (rendering the disc invisible), black, gray, and green, respectively, as well as the product name of each. The Red Disc is the “signature” element of the company’s new campaign, that it’s using as a unifying color across the brand.

The City told him not to do it, but John Alpeza built a boat  in a tree anyway, and now he has been ordered to take it down. The large sailing-boat sized treehouse was built to give his kids an incentive to play outdoors, says Mr. Alpeza. Neighbors say that’s very nice but the thing is an eyesore. The boat-treehouse sits atop a dead tree in Alpeza’s Bloor West Village backyard. If he doesn’t take it down, the City will charge him and get a court order to remove the boat-treehouse. Mr. Alpeza is muttering things to the CBC like “over my dead body.” Hope it does not come to that. The comments that are tagged to the liked CBC story are running agianst Mr. Alpeza.

Manor Road United Church at 240 Manoir Road has announced a gift to eight local charities totalling $50,000. The gift is made possible by the new financial structure at the church following the sale of approximately half of the Church’s property to the City of Toronto for a park. Reverend Debra Schneider said in statement that giving back “is a wonderful gift. We are excited to be in a position to financially support charities that make Toronto a more fair and compassionate city.”

CHARITIES

The Church is a long-time supporter of three of the eight charities: Massey Centre; Out of the Cold; The Teresa Group. The remaining five groups are: Central Eglinton Community Centre; Fred Victor; Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto; PFLAG; and Toronto Urban Native Ministries.

RENOVATIONS

Manor Road United continues its renovations to help it serve the community by  the modernization of the 90-year old Sanctuary to accommodate a wide range of community tenants and activities and the creation of an investment fund to provide steady income for the Church’s outreach ministries. As well, Manor Road keeps up a close working relationship with the City of Toronto to ensure the conversion of Church property into parkland and the selection of a private daycare provider (www.monarchmanor.ca) as its lead tenant to address the demand for daycare in the local community.

FINISHED BY SUMMER

Renovations of the Sanctuary are expected to be complete by end of the summer. In the meantime, Manor Road United Church continues to host services and family events, including its annual musical Blue Radish Café and Kids Night Out. For a full listing of events, visit the website. Residents can also receive weekly updates by emailing: ellen.manorroad@rogers.com.

 

 

Detective Terry Browne of the homicide squad says there could be more human remains located near Broadview and Gerrard  It’s only a guess but he finds the situation strange enough that it would not surprise him. A bag of body parts was found Tuesday morning by an employee of a butcher shop located near the corner  It was found at the rear of the building as the employee was taking out the garbage. A few hours longer,and it would have been gone. Browne says the victim is almost certainly an adult, light-skinned woman whose sliced up parts were found in a bag behind the in Riverdale today.  Browne said he hoped that those who had missed someone in their lives might check with police to see if this deceased person is known to them. He called it a fairly recent death. Browne was asked if it was significant that the body parts were found behind a butcher shop. Browne replied, “It’s a fair question.” He went on to ponder the notion of a body being cut up or disposed of in such an establishment.  Browne said a doctor would confirm the belief that police are dealing with a human body.

Kim Auchinachie of the community group Leaside Matters writes to say that the group has three interesting events upcoming. They are:

Lea Talk – Leaside Architecture: The Path to Modernization
In partnership with Toronto Society of Architects
Amsterdam Brewery Event Space, 45 Esandar Drive
Tuesday May 3rd, 7 – 9 p.m.

Lea Exhibit – Leaside: The Life of a Garden City
Leaside Branch Toronto Public Library
Friday May 6 and Saturday May 7, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Lea Walk – Leaside: A Garden City Revealed
Meet at the entrance to the Leaside Library
Friday May 6 at 1 p.m. and Saturday May 7 at 10 a.m.

Sounds pleasant.

A woman who saw the leaning structure of scaffolding and walls moments before it collapsed has spoken to the CBC. She jumped out of her car and assisted in the rescue of a baby and mother who were trapped in wreckage. The witness remains anonymous but her compelling story is worth hearing.