The South Bayview Bulldog

Josh Matlow (Ward 22) Carolyn Bennett MP (St. Paul’s) and Rob Oliphant MPP (Don Valley West) will hold a skating party Sunday, February 7, 2016 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hodgson Rink just behind Hodgson Senior Public School, 282 Davisville Ave. Skating only, no politics allowed (maybe).

The Leaside Property Owners Association (LPOA) has sent a news release Monday morning on a well-watched local case. Here is what they say.

Thanks to hard work on the part of Leaside residents Larry Bacon and Vanessa Rose, and LPOA co-president Geoff Kettel, the appeal to the OMB re: 151 Airdrie has been refused. This appeal was to allow an after-the-fact height variance in addition to the one already granted by the Committee of Adjustment, for a house that was already built. The OMB turned it down saying: “A compelling case was not made by the planner (for the appellant) why the subject property should have the status of the tallest home in the neighbourhood. The Board was not persuaded that the building height is not discernible to a passerby, or why the Applicant merits another increment in height above that earlier granted by the COA.” Board decision PDF 

BULLDOG: The home in question is seen here. It is a bulky roofline for sure but there might be other places on the street that rival it in height. Each home has its own zoning history. An issue for the OMB was that Committee of Adjustment had already permitted an exemption which the builder apparently flouted. Note the three-story eight-plex apartment next door on the corner of Millwood Rd. which more or less dwarfs even this large house.

Writer John Rosevear  of The Motley Fool spins a provocative tale.

The Westminster Kennel Club opens at Madison Square Gardens Monday, February 15 and the club seems to be going all out to get tickets sold. At a big news conference late last week they showed off seven ancient breeds that were previously unqualified to compete but which will now strut their stuff with the other dogs. Westminster Facebook Page is informative. 

The Toronto Fire Department has  been of service to South Bayview over the dinner hour Saturday night as it responded to a carbon monoxide alarm on Southvale Drive  between Rolph Rd. and Astor Ave. There was no medical emergency. And on Merton Street between Mt Pleasant and Cleveland St. firefighters responded to a report of someone needing help breathing. Meanwhile a little further east, there was a call to a home on St.Clair Ave East near Vicross  Rd. for smoke in the basement.

After what seems like a 100 years, the vacant 241 Pizza store at Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Soudan Ave. is gone. The address, 691 Mt. Pleasant, is now to become, for a while, a sales centre for The Distinction Condos being built at Yonge and Eglinton by the Lash Group. By the way, 241 Pizza has continued in business throughout the long vacancy on Mt. Pleasant. It is a franchise operation and it appears that 691 Mt. Pleasant was a franchise gone wrong. The likelihood is that someone has been paying rent for a long-term lease all these years.

Edward Domenico

Services were held this month for an area man, Edward William Domenico, 81, at the Mt. Pleasant Visitation Centre and Chapel  Mr. Domenico was known for his constructive interest in local baseball and was well-known as a willing volunteer. He died at  St. John’s Rehab Hospital on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Mr. Domenico was predeceased by his wife Lillian and is survived by his sons Dan, Steve and Ron, and by grandchildren Aaron and Ava.

Premier Kathleen Wynne (Don Valley West) continues her visit to India. The linked dispatch from NewsX  offers both reportage and insight into Indian news coverage and how some of India sees the Premier. This story from a major television news source notes first that Ms Wynne is “the premier of Canada’s Ontario province known for her support for gay rights.” It goes on to say that “Kathleen” was  dressed in a “firozi blue (turquoise) suit with her head covered with a dupatta (Punjabi-style stole).” It describes how controversy attended the visit.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar earlier said that the Canadian leader was welcome to offer prayers at the shrine but the SGPC would not honour her with a siropa due to her views on same-sex marriages. The SGPC maintained that the Sikh religion did not legitimise same-sex marriages. However, a major controversy was avoided as she was welcomed by SGPC officials, escorted to the SGPC information office, and presented with a gold-plated photo of the holy shrine.

Thus does the world differ.

Eight members of the Leaside Wildcats team were honoured Saturday night at Leaside Gardens as their days with the team dwindle down to a precious few. These stalwart teammates are off to university and in most cases university hockey. They are seen here with members of the Wildcats Novice A team (in red) who marked the occasion by giving each of the women a bouquet of roses. From left to right: Alex Woods, Siobhan Birch, Cynthia Cavanagh, Caitlin Heale, Danielle Toland, Bronte Mutukistna, Brooklyn Sarnovsky and Rachel Knee. Leaside 3, Devilettes 2 

Leaside Wildcats recorded a 3-2 victory against the London Devilettes Saturday evening and as the score suggests, the visitors put on a spirited performance. The battle at Leaside Gardens was only one of two triumphs for the Wildcats. The second emerged from inside the computer of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League  At the end the day, it found that the Wildcats had shoehorned themselves into second place leaving the Whitby Wolves in third. It is a fractional lead but part of a picture emerging in January of a Leaside team that knows how to win.  Durham West still tops the league. At the arena, Megan Pardy scored in both the first and second periods. What turned out to be the winning goal was also scored late in the second courtesy of Samantha Jones. A Leaside penalty to Emma Pye in the third gave London a chance to challenge and they did. Bryce Desa recorded the power play marker for the Devillettes. But that was all the scoring there was. Molly Jenkins faced 33 shots for London and the Wildcat’s Katie Mowbray, 27. Assists go to Emma Pye (twice) Cynthia Cavanagh, Caitlin Heale and Mariah Hinds. Standings

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Next Saturday there is a nice opportunity for children to participate in a Valentine’s Day card making drop-in class at Bamboo Bay, the arts, craft and play school in Leaside. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and pre-registration is recommended to make sure you get a spot. It’s $30 a child for 30 cards and envelopes plus card making supplies and materials. That’s Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Bamboo Bay, 1515A Bayview Ave Suite 200W. That’s at the corner of Bayview and Millwood Rd above Write Impressions. See poster enlarged