The South Bayview Bulldog

Metrolinx has issued an alert that a new traffic configuration will be implemented at Yonge St and Eglinton Ave possibly as early at Monday. Traffic on Yonge will be shifted to the west side and traffic on Eglinton will remain on the south. The east-west crosswalk on the south side of Eglinton Avenue will close, and the crosswalk on the north side will be relocated slightly south. This configuration will be in place for approximately two weeks. Release

Balcony fire on Merton St/David Garcia

Toronto Fire Service has extinguished a midday fire on a balcony at a condo building on Merton St. The location was between Pailton Cres and Al Green Lane. There are no reports of injuries. David Garcia tweeted three pictures

Polls, polls, polls. Here are stories on two recent soundings — Ipsos and Nanos. They appear to show a tighter race but CPC leader O’Toole continues to trail Prime MInister Trudeau in personal popularity. And then there’s Toronto. Polls here suggest that the Liberals will easily win the City. Proof again that the Ontario capital is not Canada. Some say it’s not like anything they’ve ever seen.

Dr. David Fisman has resigned from the Ontario Government’s advisory body known as the Science Table alleging political interference in the kind of information the board is making public. He also says there is a “grim” forecast circulating among Science Table doctors. Others deny that and Dr. Fisman doesn’t say just what he means by grim. Most laymen will find political interest in what the doctors are doing to be understandable. It’s an enormous issue of public importance. And very few people like the shutdown, even those who understand why it’s necessary. The most critical issue is Dr. Fisman’s “grim” alarm bell. What’s it mean? CBC

Postings to Leaside Facebook Monday say the Shoppers Drug Mart at 1601 Bayview was robbed of expensive perfumes and cosmetics by three men. The poster, Jennifer Peattie, has heard that the value of the goods at retail was something like $50,000. Given the prices of many fancy name products, it would not be hard to hit that figure quite quickly. This form of robbery is not new to South Bayview. In 2018, a man and woman swept many shelves of cosmetics at the Rexall store at 325 Moore. Quotes like this reflect the cynism about the cost of cosmetics.

For perfumes the profit margin can be up to 90 percent. The liquid in the bottle is only three percent of the price. The rest of the price goes into the packaging, overhead costs and mostly into the marketing. So if you pay 70 dollars for your Armani, Hugo Boss, Gucci or Guess fragrance, you will only get a liquid that is worth two dollars. Of course you need a bottle so in total you will get something of a value of six dollars.

Nature photographer par excellence Colin Mcconnell of Leslieville has posted new photos at the neighbourhood Facebook page. This one catches a honey bee looking right into the lens as it goes about its important work. More photos

Lorde

Rachael Bale

Rod Brunt

Good Lorde, here are more faces with the stories they tell. The Kiwi child phenomenon Lorde (real name Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor) confesses to City News storyteller Lindsay Dunn that she was rather full of herself when she broke in as a tweener. It happens. Then at centre is Rachael Bale, head of the Animals Desk at National Geographic. She tells ABC News about the nasty trade in cheetahs among wealthy people in the Persian Gulf. The little cat-like creatures are said to live miserable lives as pets. At right is Canada’s first and only bicycle detective Rob Brunt, of Vancouver. He appears in this CBC report and recounts how bikes worth maybe $6,000 will trade for $200 in drugs.

Lexus vehicles are stolen/OPP

OPP have discovered three stolen Lexus vehicles in the back of a transport truck that was stopped for unstated violations of the highway traffic act. The Tweet is here and is accompanied by a number of grumpy comments from motorists who suspect the HTA was used to stop the truck so the back could be opened. Other comments applaud the OPP.

Motorcyclist loses control on DVP exit, dies in crash

There’s been another distressing motorcycle fatality on the exit from the Don Valley Park to Highway 401. The young biker was just 22. It appears he simply lost control on the curving road. Toronto.com

Damaged cars off Manor Rd.

Toronto Police were going door-to-door on the streets immediately west of Bayview Ave between Manor Rd. and Belsize Drive Friday looking for leads on an apparent drunk driver. Witnesses said that the man, who seemed to be very intoxicated, slammed into more than one vehicle just off Manor on Cleveland Ave possibly in an attempt to park. All of this occurred sometime before 9 a.m. By shortly after nine there were police checkpoints at most corners west of Bayview over to Thurston between Manor and Belsize.

Canada’s inflation rate jumped to 3.7 percent in July, as the cost of shelter and durable goods went up at a fast enough pace to push the cost of living up to its highest level since 2011. Some are saying the cost of living may influence how the current election will be decided. Provincial rates of inflation range from a staggering 6.1 percent in PEI to merely 2.3 percent in Saskatchewan. Ontario’s rate is 3.5 percent but you can bet it is higher than that in fat Toronto.

National inflation rates

Supermarket prices starting to sting

No chicken even though there’s lots of chicken

Many Britons are without chicken as shops like Nandos and Kentucky Fried Chicken close up. Why? It’s because of Brexit. Cheap labour from Eastern Europe has gone home and the chicken joints can’t find staff. Amazing.

Ready, Set, Midtown: Parks & Public Realm at Charlotte Maher Park on Roehampton Ave near Bayview Ave.

Read the plan

The City is asking residents to make recommendations for the best use of parks. “From August 4 to September 14, Parks, Forestry and Recreation is seeking public input to help identify opportunities and confirm priorities for park improvements. Tell us how you use the existing Midtown parks, areas of concern, and your ideas to make the parks more enjoyable and welcoming.” This signage is in Charlotte Maher Park on Roehampton Ave. Below is the Charlotte Maher playground as it was finished by workers in 2014. Does it need an update?

Charlotte Maher playground near completion in 2014

As part of the Ready, Set, Midtown study, the City is looking at parks in the Yonge–Eglinton area to identify opportunities for improvement. Improvements upgrade the function, condition, quality and amenity of parks to better meet the community’s recreation and social needs. These can include the addition or enhancement of amenities such as seating, lighting, pathways, playgrounds, recreation facilities and much more.