The South Bayview Bulldog

REWARDS: Kids feel the sun on South Bayview Thursday

by The Bulldog • December 17, 2015

Maurice Cody kids assembled outside Starbucks on Bayview Ave. Thursday morning for a reward after giving the second last morning concert of carols to coffee drinkers this Christmas season. The reward appears to have been a beverage of choice and a Madeleine cookie. These students, teachers and parents were among the lucky South Bayviewites who caught the sun as it moved in and out at mid-morning.

Shoppers at Loblaws, where the carts accumulated in the soft sunshine, said they hadn’t felt the sun on their faces in days. We are at midnight on the daylight clock. This day will be less than nine hours long (7.46 a.m. to 4.41 p.m.) December 21, 2015, will see the pattern reverse. By January 1, 2016, it will be easy to see the days getting longer.

At Childrens Garden School on Eglinton Ave.E. in Leaside there were enough smiles to brighten any day as the staff held their annual Christmas Party. That’s principal Marie Bates in the centre.

Stolen wreath recovered in back of window washer’s truck

by The Bulldog • December 16, 2015

The Christmas wreath stolen a week ago off the door of a Summerhill area home has been found and returned to its owner on Macpherson Ave. The simple theft was given extraordinary interest when the homeowners video system recorded the brazen thief, a woman of perhaps 40, taking the wreath at 3 a.m. She has not been found. But the wreath was discovered by a window washer in a bag in the rear of his truck when he was working in the Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Inglewood Drive area. The Facebook video of the crime was viewed nearly 320,000 times.

The Force Awakens much curiosity, hits the screen Friday

by The Bulldog • December 16, 2015

CBC’s Eli Glasner has an informative take on the most recent Star Wars sequel which opens Friday in Toronto. He gives it four out of five Death Stars.

Cyclist, 60, in grave condtion after hitting car on Leslie St.

by The Bulldog • December 16, 2015

A man in his 60s who was riding a bicycle on Leslie Street near Bannantyne Drive is in hospital in grave condition Wednesday. The noon-hour accident happened outside the Keg restaurant on Leslie when the cyclist collided with the front of a vehicle and was thrown into the windshield. Shortly after 4 p.m. TPS Ops tweeted that Leslie was open both north and southbound after reconstruction work.

Panicked viewers call 911 over Alert Ready warnings

by The Bulldog • December 16, 2015

The Alert Ready warning folks were at it again Wednesday morning, interrupting television with examples of what we can expect if there is ever a catastrophe so great it requires this body to give us direction. Hey, it could happen. But it was also more or less pre-ordained that sooner or later people would be panicked by the funny buzzing and urgent voice. Now Toronto Police Operations (TPS Ops) has tweeted a plea for panicked TV watchers to NOT call 911. It’s only a test. Below is what the test looked like on CP24 in June. More at: Martians? No, just your friendly Alert Ready System

Ontario managers get increases despite salary freeze: Star

by The Bulldog • December 16, 2015

Some 8,400 managers in the Ontario civil service will get hefty wage increases despite the reputed salary freeze in effect. The reason, according to the government, is that managers are falling behind their unionized employees who get raises regardless of the freeze. On average, the increases come to $6,905 each for 8,400 civil service managers. The reason there is a wage freeze is because Ontario is groaning under a debt that has won it the prize for the non-sovereign jurisdiction with the largest per capita debt in the world. You know, cancelling electric plants and such. Rob Ferguson, Toronto Star

Bayview handyman Peter (“Pie”) Vryssaotis dead at age 59

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • December 16, 2015

Peter (Pie) Vryssaotis Jr.

Peter (Pie) Vryssaotis Jr. passed away at the age of 59 on Saturday, December 12, 2015. Mr. Vyrssaotis was well known to friends, residents and merchants along South Bayview Ave. where he was employed for many years as a handyman at a number of businesses including the Bagel House at 1548 Bayview. Pie was the sole caregiver to his 93-year-old father with whom he lived. A sister to Mr. Vryssaotis is arriving from Greece to attend to the family’s affairs. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 18, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Trull Funeral Home Danforth Chapel. Funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 10 am at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Thorncliffe Park Dr.. More here.

Starbucks wine at three stores but not South Bayview

by The Bulldog • December 16, 2015

Starbucks has applied for permission to serve wine in the evening at locations at 3079 Bloor West in The Kingsway, 446 Spadina in Forest Hill and 1740 Avenue Rd. near Lawrence Ave. It is part of the plan to bring the so-called Evenings concept to Canada. This is a program of wine and snack food like nuts and olives to be served after 4 p.m. “Just as each customer is unique, so are our stores and we consider a broad range of products and experiences for each neighbourhood,” said Starbucks spokesperson Madeleine Lowenborg-Frick in an email to CBC News. Starbucks has many locations nearby including Bayview Ave., Eglinton Ave E and Laird Dr., Mt Pleasant and Soudan, Laird and Kenrae Rd. and in both the Smart Centre and Leaside Village (Longo’s).

“See something, text something” new anti-terror watchword

by The Bulldog • December 15, 2015

The insidious nature of people who are able to commit hurtful acts against the public has prompted U.S. law enforcement to ask the public to text suspicious things they see on social media — Facebook or Twitter mostly.

Agnes Macphail Award nominations are open for 2016

by The Bulldog • December 15, 2015

Agnes Macphail

Geoff Kettel has sent mail to his many contacts reminding them that nominations for the Agnes Macphail Award are open for 2016. Agnes Macphail was Canada’s first woman Member of Parliament (elected in 1921) and later served in the Ontario Legislature for the riding of York East, which included Leaside. For a number years, Ms. Macphail lived at the corner of Millwood Road and Donegall Drive. The award in her name is given annually to a resident of the former Borough of East York who best embodies similar volunteer spirit in the field of social justice. The former Borough of East York includes East York, Leaside, Thorncliffe Park, Governor’s Bridge, and Bennington Heights. The deadline for nominations is midnight on Thursday January 28, 2016. The award will be presented on Agnes Macphail’s birthday, Thursday March 24, 2016. The Awards Ceremony and celebration will be held at the East York Civic Centre starting at 7 p.m.

Cops warn Nigerian car ring may still have use of stolen data

by The Bulldog • December 15, 2015

Toronto Police are warning that data stolen by a corrupted Service Ontario employee may still be available to potential thieves even though police have broken up the gang with the arrests announced last week. Police also say that car thefts appear to have dropped significantly with the sweep of raids that ended Project CBG. The 53 Division Facebook page asks however that homeowners in South Bayview and elsewhere “continue being vigilant in protecting your vehicles and your property. The information which was shared about vehicle registration by the suspects prior to being taken into custody is out there. Although there is no new information going out to identify new luxury vehicle location, the existing information might be used by others who are in possession of the files.” The police ask owners to protect keys both while in use and at home. If possible, place the car in a garage. Also report suspicious behaviour in the community and if you have further information about vehicle theft contact police.