The South Bayview Bulldog

It was literally a thrill a minute as police and animal officials in Japan tried to recapture a chimpanzee as he played about among electrical wires. Yikes. The agile simian was hit by a sedative arrow and finally became so drowsy he lost his grip and fell unhurt into blanket or sheet held by rescuers. The chimp had escaped from the Yagiyama Zoological Park in Sendai city, Miyagi Prefecture, in the early afternoon Thursday and was on the loose for more than an hour. The video is quite thrilling heard in excited Japanese

Fortune Magazine has the inside scoop on how the McWrap is being cancelled out at U.S. McDonald’s. It was an attempt to undercut Subway but as the magazine concludes those fickle Millennials didn’t bite. Also on the way out is the McDonald  “snack wrap” for reasons which may be related to the time it took to make a wrap. Fortune notes that wraps might take three minutes to make (horrors) and were holding up kitchen assembly lines.

A 1200-square foot, two storey brick home at 10 Heather Road has seen a bidding war during March which pushed the selling price to $276,000 over asking. The price of $1,249,000 was set at listing but, as the agent, Sheree Cerqua, Royal LePage Signature Realty, explained it to the Globe and Mail the lack of inventory was acutely felt in the week prior to March break. The Globe says the sellers were bombarded with requests for 40 private showings, followed by several busy open houses over the span of a week, but were rewarded with four rival offers. Final price $1,525,000. The story speaks of the home’s closeness to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery but those closer to the geography will understand the special quality of Heather Road and its proximity to that thoroughfare to everywhere, Bayview Ave. The rapid nip downtown along the extension makes all real estate in Leaside and Davisville very desirable.

Northlea United Church will hold an evening of lively music and a silent auction on Saturday, April 30 to aid the settlement of Syrian refugee families which are sponsored by the church. The evening will begin with viewing of the auction offerings at 6.30 p.m. with performances beginnings at 7.30 p.m. The program includes Theresa Tova, David Warrack, Cara Matthew and Friends and The Leaside Singers.  The host for the evening will be David Sparrow. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased here  Northlea United Church is at 125 Brentcliffe Rd (416) 425-5252.

Some of the Northlea friends who will be present April 30 are (top l to r) Theresa Tova, David Warrack, Cara Matthew and (bottom l to r) Roula Said, David Buchbinder and David Sparrow

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.