The South Bayview Bulldog

Councillor Matlow (Ward 22) notes the annual Ecumenical Christmas Food Drive organized by churches in the neighborhoods. This is the 44th year that they have done this good work. As recorded in the news release: “Flyers are delivered to area households on Saturday, November 21 and donations are then picked up on the following Saturday, November 28. There are two locations. The first is Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church  (OLPH) on St. Clair Avenue East, one block west of Mount Pleasant Road. The other is St. Cuthbert’s  Church  on Bayview Avenue, south of Millwood Road near Humphreys Funeral Home. Please note that this is a changed location from Leaside Presbyterian because of the LRT construction on Eglinton Avenue.”

DAVISVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL

There are many other subjects of interest to Davisville residents and people beyond as well in the Matlow release. There is word on funding for a new Davisville Public School. The timing of the actual construction of this much-needed facility may be another matter. Mr. Matlow says he continues to work to encourage the government and others to create a community hub on this large piece of land near Yonge Street.  November 6, 2015 news release

At Andy Elder’s Grilltime meat store Saturday there was both nibbling and outright snacking of sirloin slices accented with spicy strawberry jam. There were also popular tasty bits of beef with dried tomato mustard and spicy pickled carrots to liven things up. Christine Manning, the creator of these goodies and many jams, jellies and marmalades was saying that she also runs Toronto’s first dedicated rental commercial kitchen space. It’s a business model that flows from the time Christine was getting started. Obtaining rental kitchen time from other businesses was one of her greatest challenges. The availability of the kitchen is critical when you are making food from fresh local crops. When she took the leap of renting space on her own at 105 Vanderhoof Ave Unit 8 in Leaside, Christine realized that rental space was important to others. Now Manning Canning operates both a 24/7 availability rental facility plus a kitchen that does her own cooking. Christine is using that kitchen two to three days a week on average. For the rest of the time, it also for rent. Some products (like spicy pickled carrots) are made on a regular schedule all year long. Ontario preserved peaches are only made during the Niagara season. The kitchens see other food makers creating everything from hot sauces to iced tea. Christine Manning has spread the availability of her products to as many as 30 retail shops and stores stretching from the City of Winnipeg to Eastern Ontario.  She also sells online. One of her first and most successful outlets was Grilltime at 62 Laird Drive at the corner of Kenrae Rd. There is pretty much always parking behind the store.

The illegally-constructed house at 27 Fleming Crescent just off Bayview Ave. has been demolished. The work occurred over the past 45 days. Parts of the structure remain including what appears to be a wall of the original home. That wall may be important to establishing the southwest wall of the replacement building. The home was built in violation of several codes and without regard to plans shown to the Committee of Adjustment. Wholly illegal. Work was finally halted through the efforts fo lawyer Rob Ellis, a neighbour, and a team of engaged  residents.

The more you learn about this Toronto man, Sean Cooper, 30, the more he kind of shakes you. He is a nice guy everyone agrees. His frugal life is admirable and he has accomplished a lot. But the way he revels in “his best friend” Kraft Dinner is scary. Longer CBC interview here

According to the union, Unifor, hundreds of job cuts at Bell Media will come from  CTV’s local news operations in Montreal and Toronto. .The number offered by Unifor is 380. In Montreal, 110 jobs will be cut: 70 in production and editorial, 45 in sales and marketing and five in administration. In Toronto, 270 jobs will be cut: 220 in production and editorial, 45 in sales and marketing and five in administration, Unifor said.

CP24 

Breakout Event Venue is the small door between Fiorio Salon and COB’s Bread that leads downstairs to the enormous basement at 1541 Bayview Ave. It was rocking Friday after dark as a Sweet 16 party took over. There were squeals and screams of greeting as friends arrived. At the bottom of the steps, the gentleman (left) kept careful record of the invitees. Bayview after dark!

An Ontario man has been sentenced to six years in U.S. federal prison for travelling to Washington state to have sex with a 14-year-old girl. Tyler Beavis flew from Toronto to Seattle in January where was arrested. The King County Sheriff’s Office followed Beavis after he rented a car and headed to the girl’s school. He had been under surveillance since December 2014 when police learned he was chatting online with the girl.  Among other things, Beavis had claimed he was 22 but he actually was 31 and lived in Canada. During chats, Beavis told the girl that he would fly to Seattle and get a hotel room so they could spend the weekend together.

The amusing picture of Niko the police dog clinging to his master’s leg during a rappelling exercise has produced a lot of excitement about a rappelling dog. Really? It looks fairly clear that Niko is practicing a simpler skill — hanging on for dear life. Happily he is a wearing a harness that would prevent a fall if his paws slipped but dogs are not so clear on that sort of thing. Better to let instinct kick in and grab the boss’s leg. The Vancouver Police Department posted this photo of service dog Niko, a five-year-old purebred German shepherd, in the middle of a training scenario in which he’s “rappelling” down a wall with his handler, PC. Dan Ames. The photo, posted on Oct. 22, is captioned “Hey dad … This rappelling? Yuh, I’m not a fan.” The picture has since garnered more than 3,400 likes, more than 2,800 shares and nearly 300 comments.

A group of nine local arts has leased the large premises at 1591 Bayview Ave. to show and sell their work up until December 7. The What are you lookin at? exhibit opens tomorrow (Saturday, November 7, 2015). The large display window of the former bank building (recently the scene of the misguided homeless scam) has been showing signage asking this cheeky question for a week or two. Now like all good advertising, it has an answer. Not much. But of course one could be enjoying a work by Millwood Rd. painter David Gadke (above) who struck this pose wearing a souvenir hat from a recent visit to Russia. Others exhibiting are Bill Drummond, Ron Eady, Nicholas Edwards, Wayne Gadke, Kathy House, Ed Hughes, Michael Mouat and Gerrald Sevier. Information (416) 483-1986 and ((647) 391-6355.