The South Bayview Bulldog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0tUrIYXjaA

There has been a fairly lively debate about the nature of Islam in general between University Rosedale MP Chrystia Freeland and television personality Bill Maher. CBC

At times of crisis, it is a parent’s duty to keep children safe and make them feel safe. We all know this and parental skill at such important reassurance of kids will be pretty high right across Toronto neighborhoods. Licensed psychotherapist Tom Kersting was offering advice to Andrea Grymes in New York today. He made the distinction between younger kids who probably aren’t too aware of the horror in Paris and elsewhere. Older kids may pick up on television reports and ask about why such things happen. The essential duty is to ensure children, both young and teens, that they are safe, that their home is safe and that Canada is safe. Happily all this is entirely true. Kersting especially suggests parents try to avoid projecting fear while being realistic. Keep images and sounds of terrorism to a minimum in the home. Endless 24-hour repetition of events both abroad and at home is enough to depress adults unnecessarily, much less children.

Many utility agencies are on the scene as a sinkhole has opened up at Yonge near Wood-Grenville Sts causing concern for services. There is no word on just how long this will take. Pictures on Twitter  are only distance shots.

Unknown millions of people have crossed over and travelled under the Dunn and Dowling Ave. bridges in Parkdale in their 114 year history. Now they are coming down and some people are saying whatever will we do without them. The plan is to put temporary structures there in the New Year and ultimately to replace the worn out overpasses. But the date for that is murky. Today the demolition seen above is causing slowdowns both on the Gardiner Expressway and the GO line. Previous 

Bell Media will require its CTV television anchors in Ottawa to record newscasts for playback on the Bell-owned CFRA radio station. CTV and CFRA occupy the same building.  The decision is the first such known broadcasting curiosity in Canada.  It is being called a kick in the teeth for the radio news staff, who will still have to write the news. The Ottawa Sun runs the story Saturday. The practice will start Monday and following the retirement announced in recent days of long-time radio anchor Steve Madely. Ottawa Sun

Ben Cobbold measures speed of cars on Heath St. E.

A Moore Park student is finishing up a school project which is designed to tell us whether motorists are influenced by lawn signs asking them to slow for children playing.  Ben Cobbold, 12, a Grade Seven student at Upper Canada College, brainstormed the idea with his family after his teacher announced the class would be participating in a school science fair. Ben had heard of the death of Georgia Walsh in Leaside last year and the enormously popular lawn sign program which followed. He wondered if drivers took notice of signs, and if they slowed. Thus was born a project with a before and after element — three days of testing speeds on Heath Street East before signs and three days with signs in place. Ben and his mom, Sunny Edmunds, obtained a number of yellow and black “Please Slow Down” signs made by the City from the office of Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. Neighbors welcomed the signs. Keeping in mind streets and drivers are different, Ben says, “So far, what I’ve seen is that the signs work and are slowing cars down.” But Ben is being diligent. “For the next step of my project I am probably going to use the “slow down, kids at play signs” that you see in Leaside and see if they slow down traffic as effectively as my yellow signs do.”

When you are out shopping today drop into Andy Elder’s Grilltime at 62 Laird Drive for a sampling of some amazing sausages from Black Knight Brands. It is part of Grilltime’s seventh anniversary and it goes between 11 a.m.and 3 p.m.. There is parking right behind the store which is just at Kenrae Rd right beside Starbucks. Stop by if you are in the area There’s always a very warm welcome.

Leaf legend George Armstrong meets friends and admirers Friday night

The affable hockey legend George Armstrong chatted, laughed, signed books, old pictures and pucks, posed for pictures and surely seemed to have a fine time Friday night at the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception.  The former Leaf’s captain was decidedly himself: unpretentious, good-natured and proudly wearing an aboriginal Thunderbird necklace in honour of his mother, a full-blooded Ojibway. Armstrong is a 55-year resident of Leaside.

INDUCTEES

He joined four other new members of the Hall of Fame for 2015: Laurie Irwin in the sport of basketball, Pat Friesen, a talented multi-sport athlete, Annie Fahlenbock for contributions to women’s hockey and Norm “Charlie” Ahier for his contributions to baseball. The event was held at the William Lea Room of the Leaside Arena. Armstrong was known universally among fans and players as “The Chief” for his captaincy of the Leafs. He played 21 seasons for the team and scored the final goal of the original six era when Toronto won the 1967 Stanley Cup. The Chief turned 85 this year.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Upper Canada College student and promising hockey professional Reid Humphrey was honoured as Athlete of the Year. The guest speaker was Brian McFarlane. The gathering heard a tribute to David Stickney from Howard Birnie. The Master of Ceremonies was Anthony Reagan. Many firms contributed to the fruition of this third annual induction ceremony and community reception: They are listed as Grilltime, Leaside Life, McDowell’s ValuMart, Stanley Manufacturing, Telegramme Prints, G.M. Thornton and Son and Wisey’s Pies. Financial support was given by Lexus on the Park and PatrickRocca.com Bosley Real Estate.

All in all it doesn’t seem to be quite the same old Tim Horton’s. Customers in New York and Maine were surprised Wednesday when the lights went out about midday and whoever was left in the place was told to leave. Employees said they had just learned of the closings. The company has had little to say but a TV station in Bangor reported the that the chain “is pulling out of New  England”.  It appears that 21 shops have closed in the two states.