The South Bayview Bulldog

A story on the sentencing of Miguel Oliveira in the cycling death of a much-loved school teacher Tom Samson in November of 2012 contained a suggestion that Mr. Samson “scooted” through a red light. Mr. Samson was riding his bicycle on Lansdowne Ave when he was struck by cars crossing Lansdowne on what was apparently a green light. A complaint to the South Bayview Bulldog took issue with the suggestion that Mr. Samson tried to “scoot” across Davenport while the light was red. Albert Koehl pointed to an agreed statement of facts at the sentencing of Miguel Oliveira on his conviction for leaving the scene. The Crown conceded that Mr.Samson was “at zero or very slow velocity, within the westbound centre lane ” at the time of the accident. Mr Koehl adds that this would be consistent “with the rider making a proper left hand turn.” His complaint does not deal with the state of the traffic signals at the time of the accident. The other driver was Manuel Martin. He was not charged. It was his testimony that the cars were travelling through a green light in opposite directions on Davenport. Rd.  The issue of responsibility for the accident was never the subject of any charge only Mr. Oliveira’s decision to flee the scene. The South Bayview Bulldog apologizes for any incorrect suggestion of how Mr. Samson entered or was in the intersection. The story as first published made the point that there is frequently a rush to judgement. in the case of bicycle fatalities.

Leander Andy Elder posted an interesting tip on his Facebook page today noting that his friends Jeff and Diana recently purchased a four-bedroom condo in Barcelona. They are making it available to rent. Andy suggests a visit to the website for more details. His readers (and friends) like Peter Neal and Kimberley Fearon Zincone have already shown interest. Andy is the owner of the Grilltime meat shop at 62 Laird Drive.

The McMullen family is a South Bayview legend as founders and keepers of Summerhill Market. The dizzying success of the super high-quality grocery store and its satellite store on Mt. Pleasant Rd. near Sheldrake Blvd. attracts customers from distant parts of Toronto. North Toronto homemakers of particular taste deprived of Pusateri’s by last summer’s fire make the trip south. Then they wait for the Summerhill grocery cop to wave them into the snug parking lot beside the CP tracks. A footnote to the Summerhill saga is the closing of the nearby ice cream store known as Scoops. It was managed by Brad McMullen, currently manager of the main store. Ice cream in the cone is a seriously seasonal business. This alert comes in Friday’s arrival of the 12.36 e-mailer authored by Marc Weisblott and owned by St. Joseph Media, publishers of Toronto Life. The new year will see all grocery stores in South Bayview sizing up the new Whole Foods store soon to launch at 1860 Bayview (corner of Broadway). Will such effete “foods” as coconut water be able to knock out Summerhill Markets unreconstructed butcher shop favorites like marinated lamb rack? Or the deli with every processed meat including Veal Bolonga known to Italy and Germany combined? We think not.

Five Canadians were among more than 30 people mowed down by a woman driver who apparently purposely sped along crowded sidewalks on the Las Vegas strip Sunday. One person is dead. Two of the Canadians are still in hospital. Both are reported to have sustained critical injuries. The driver, Lakeisha Holloway, is in custody after she appeared to deliberately aim at people with her car.

A TTC bus driver has complained that a woman threatened him and spit on him for no reason. It happened Friday, October 30, 2015, at approximately 5:40 p.m. on a bus near Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue West . She is  described as white, Russian, 50, with light-brown collar-length hair. She was wearing a dark winter coat, sunglasses, purple leggings and brown boots.

CBC

McDonald’s Brand Eating reports says that the fast food chain is now testing a Mac and Cheese dish at a Cleveland location. Customers can get the dish a la cart or as a Happy Meal option to fries. Only piggies want both. Mac and Cheese has been a near-staple in many places for long time and has enduring appeal. McDonald’s is trying a lot of things to try to et back its mojo as the place to go for quickie food. This is a trial run of unknown length. In Cleveland, the current price of the Mac and Cheese extra is $1.75.  If this makes national release, customers may start throwing the cheesy noodles on their Big Macs or breakfast sandwiches says gourmand food writer Peter Pham.  Mac and JEEZ!: Festival leaves Liberty Village filthy

Christmas will be easy time to get around based on seven-day forecast for Toronto. The Weather Network is predicting above freezing and generally untroubled weather right through to Sunday, December 27, 2015. The weatherman says that during the next four days Toronto will see unseasonably warmer temperatures that range from 7 C to 10 C. Seasonal norms for this time of year typically hover around -7 C to 1 C.Christmas Eve will see a high of 10 C and a 30 per cent chance of rain, while Dec. 25 is expected to be a bit chillier and sunny with a high of 7 C. The two kissy deer approve.