The South Bayview Bulldog

CNN produced this brief piece on prime ministerial and presidential humour. Laugh, giggle, sign or squirm.

Left-hand turn in front of an oncoming dump truck

A mother and daughter were hit by a dump truck as they tried to turn left onto Highway 27 at Albion Road Friday morning. They were struck by a dump truck. The daughter, said to be in her 20s, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The two were travelling in a Toyota RAV.  Firefighters had to free both women from the SUV. The mother was taken to local hospital with relatively minor injuries. The driver of the dump truck did not need hospital treatment.

Ontario Court Justice William Horkins has found  law professor Diane Way guilty of cruelty to animals following the 2011 discovery of horrifying conditions inside her Manor Rd home near Servington Crescent. It is a tale of pain and suffering for 60 or more cats housed at Ms. Way’s home and for the humiliation she felt about the conditions there — but which she was unable to correct. Judge Horkins concluded that the home had become a nightmare: “Wall to wall cats; floors, walls, furniture rotting and coated in cat urine, cat fur and cat feces. The smell was literally overpowering,” he said this week in his judgement.

DEAD BODY?

“The first officer on the scene thought there might be a dead body inside the house.” Hours later, as OSPCA staff in hazmat gear were in the process of removing a feral colony of 107 cats from the home, homeowner Diane Way returned with a pull-cart full of cat food. Judge Horkins said that Ms. Way loved her cats “not wisely, but too well”. Horkins found Way, 67, guilty of cruelty to animals and causing or permitting unnecessary suffering to animals. Beyond the awful conditions of the animals — cats crusted in fecal matter and suffering from eye and lung infections — court heard that Ms.Way was too embarrassed with the fearful slum she had created to even call a plumber to restore water to the home after a pipe ruptured.

STOPPED STERILIZING

As reported by Metro News, things began to get out of hand in 2009 when Way took in several stray cats in addition to her three kittens, she testified. When she stopped sterilizing the cats and taking them to the vet, the population grew from 19 in 2009 to 107 two years later. She testified she had lost track of how many cats there were by then, estimating the number at 60. Way said she turned off her water after a pipe sprung a leak, too embarrassed to call a plumber. She said she slept on a couch in the living room, and would “wake up in a sea of cats,” Horkins said.

CITY HALL DID NOT HELP

The South Bayview Bulldog reported at the time that the first call to 911 came from an election canvasser who was worried that the dreadful smell indicated a dead body. The fire department came prepared to try to resuscitate a possible victim. The call to 911 was the trigger that brought  the end of the agony not just for Ms.Way and the cats, but for the neighbours who had complained many time to City Hall but had had their cries ignored.  As unhappy as they were, neighbours had not called 911 or police. It is an instructive story.

Robin Pilkey

Robin Pilkey, the chair of the Toronto District School Board,  says the province’s recently introduced new sex-ed curriculum is the cause of declining enrolment. She said that perhaps 2,500 of the 3,500 fewer enrolments next year are the result of the 2015 changes in this curriculum. As a result the TDSB will cut as many as 100 teaching positions and make other staff reductions, Enrolment however has been declined over a period of years. Ms Pilkey made her remarks to the CBC Metro Morning program. The board has previously said the decline was a result of fewer children because of an aging population.

Mayor John Tory has sent a letter to federal transport minister Marc Garneau asking that fewer passenger planes fly over Toronto’s midtown.The impetus for this letter has come from residents’ complaints to Jon Burnside (Ward 26). Leaside, Davisville, Moore Park and other areas have seen elevated noise since the federal government permitted the shift of flight patens south into central Toronto three years ago. This was done because of the enormous traffic in and out of Pearson airport. In his letter, Tory says residents of Toronto’s Don Valley West have met with Burnside to complain of “unreasonable aircraft noise resulting from a change in a new, concentrated arrivals route.”  Mr Tory says: “An overarching concern is for the implementation of this flight plan without consulting both the residents and their local representatives beforehand. As this flight path is concentrated and aircraft operation runs 24 hours a day, residents find little reprieve from the strong aircraft noise throughout the day and night..” Whether the mayor’s efforts will prompt action is an open question. Airline traffic is everywhere and growing.  The noise associated with airports is among the primary reasons for opposition to jets at the island airport.

Bob McIntyre, the much-loved hometown Barrie weatherman has died at age 73. CTV repoirts Thursday night that McIntyre’s health took a “very sudden turn in recent days”. His wife Darlene was by his side when he died. The networks says the family is asking for privacy but that in due course CTV will produce a tribute to honour Bob McIntryre’s life and his legacy. He joined CKVR in Barrie in 1972.  Barrie weatherman McIntyre retires to save job of colleague   Barrie TV weatherman Bob McIntryre dies at 73 

Statesmen and reporters are striving for the essence of the day and the sight of young Justin Trudeau with Barak Obama at the White House. John Ivison in the National Post says the men are behaving toward each other with a kind of mutual reverence. Mr.Trudeau in his remarks placed the relationship with the United States in a category all of its own. Many people will think that could mean different things, for good or ill. All news leads  Canadian Press has selected quotes from prime minister’s remarks at White House.
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Much smoke has been blown by City officials and others about the grand Eglinton Connects Plan done a couple of years ago. Apparently it also connects us with signs the size of City Hall.

Speakers at SERRA seminar Paul Hancock (left) and Terry Mills

There was a standing-room-only turnout Wednesday night for the South Eglinton Ratepayers and Residents Association (SERRA) seminar. The speakers were focussed on problems related to renovations by homeowners especially as they relate to the law and planning. Two volunteers, recognized in their fields, enlightened those present on such matters as “adverse possession” and the black art of long-game resistance to a neighbor who is out of control. They were lawyer Paul Hancock and Professional Planner Terry Mills. The entertaining technique of the speakers if not the technicality of every topic seemed to please those who filled the main floor meeting room at Greenwood College School..The seminar was designed to empower residents on how legal and planning systems work. SERRA reminded members of its annual meeting on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6.30 at Manor Road United Church.  Adverse possession by the way seems to be a kind of squatter’s rights which might prevail in bad situations. May none of us ever deal with it nor stoop to it.

More than 2400 women and girls will play competitive hockey this weekend in the largest tournament of its kind in the world. It’s the Toronto Leaside Wildcats 37th Annual March Break Madness Tournament. Once again this huge happening will hear the shout of a generation of women who know how to compete. A breakaway on goal of their own making will do fine thanks.

140 TEAMS

And so as many as 140 teams will battle it out at 17 area arenas for gold with 450 coaches urging them on. It all takes place starting Friday Two days hence, games will begin at 9 a.m. at Leaside Memorial Gardens Arena and continue throughout the weekend. The final championship game will be held at Leaside Gardens Arena at 5 p.m. on Sunday March 13th. Athletes will compete at all ages and all skill levels, from Novice DS (Development Stream, ages 7-8) to Senior A (21 and over). The final schedule can be found here.

AUCTIONS, BARBECUE

While this  goes on, the Wildcats of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, the Juniors, will be busy too down in London trying to button down their PWHL playoff spot. Still to meet, the thousands of moms, dads, brothers and sisters who will crowd the arenas. There will be more than 200 items at silent auction including a signed Team Canada jersey, Leafs, Rock, Raptors and Jays tickets, gift certificates, gourmet baskets and more. Funds raised will support certification, training, equipment and program development for the more than 1600 Wildcats’ players. The tournament will be hosting a fundraising BBQ all three days at Leaside Gardens
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Leaside United Church will hold a Be Smart Online event on Sunday April 3, 2016 at Leaside United Church from 7 to -9 p.m. for parents and youth. The message is positive about navigating social media responsibly and safely  All are welcome.