The South Bayview Bulldog

Cecilia Pye of the Bayview Leaside BIA has written to remind everyone about the 1st Annual Fall Sweep the Streets Campaign. This is the first ever community clean-up event organized by the BIA. Members and local residents will meet tomorrow (Saturday, October 3, 2015). All are invited to particpate.  The neighbourhood will pull weeds and sweep the streets -– a joint effort to clean the neighbourhood, as well as a chance for local business owners and residents to meet. The clean-up will take place on Bayview Ave, from Davisville Avenue to Soudan Avenue. The start location will be the northwest corner of Bayview Ave and Millwood Rd  Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Bayview Leaside BIA will be providing clean-up materials as well as refreshments. Participants are encouraged to BYOB (Bring Your Own Broom). Also, at 9:30 am, the Leaside Property Owners Association will be presenting the Bayview Leaside BIA with a cheque for $25,000. These are funds obtained as a partial settlement from the SmartCentres Corporation for withdrawing previous opposition to the “Smart Centre North” under construction between Vanderhoof Ave. and Wicksteed Ave. East. Cecilia Pye can be contacted Cecelia@bayviewleasidebia.com and 647-971-1456 Previous post

Max Keeping

Max Keeping has died in Ottawa at the age of 73.  He succumbed to cancer after a long battle with the disease. Max Keeping was among the most successful of local television news anchors in becoming through his work an Ottawa broadcasting legend and community leader. CTV Ottawa Chief Anchor Graham Richardson replaced Max when he retired, “It wasn’t just about the news, charity work and public service. For him, it was the whole package and it was huge.” Long-time weather man J..J. Clarke spent 25 years with Max. ”Max was blessed with a rare gift. He was able to connect with people on-air and in person. I don’t think there was a hand he didn’t shake in our viewing region. Carol Anne Meehan was Max’s co-anchor for 22 years. “He was a selfless man who loved life – and lived it to the max. There will never be anyone like Max Keeping ever again.“

Nurse Sue Berger was reunited with Amanda Scarpinati 38 years after she held Amanda as a badly burned infant. It is just a simple meeting but a deeply moving moment.

Tracking through the warm ocean waters of the Bahamas, Hurricane Joaquin exploded in intensity while becoming a dangerous Category 4 storm Thursday. But, at the same time, the forecast track for Joaquin shifted markedly east and it is now very likely the storm will remain out to sea rather than slamming into the East Coast. While Joaquin may remain offshore, parts of the East Coast remain at risk for flooding from a predecessor surge of moisture streaming up the eastern seaboard Friday into Saturday.

There has been another obscene mass killing by automatic weapon in the United States. The president has spoken and said the country is numb from such outrages. The  U.S. lives in its own terrible and strange space compared to other civilized lands. It seems genuinely insane. Washington Post 

They’ve closed the McDonald’s at Bayview and Eglinton but maybe that was just in time to open a new one in South Bayview featuring the Create Your Taste Kiosk that the company is rolling out across North America. Yes, it’s burgers by the button. But why? Some insist this is about reducing staff but McD’s denies it. The kiosk requires table service.  Some, like the CNBC business commentators in this video, say that by letting the public add elements (priced separately) they can get the price of a burger up to ten bucks. It is coming to Toronto for sure, according to McDonald’s Canada president and CEO John Betts. He says the firm will hire 15,000 people in the process. Best quote? “We’re basically blowing up the front counter,” said Betts. Wow can we get a picture of that?

Maria Mitousis

Lawyer Maria Mitousis has become a profile in courage since that day three months ago when a package bomb sent to her office blew off her right hand and burned her badly on the face, arms, chest, thighs and left hand.  This week Mitsousis  spoke publicly thanked police and EMS personnel who helped her and to say that she will not be sidetracked by her injuries. She had been targeted by the estranged husband of a woman she was representing.  Speaking to reporters at the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service’s training academy, Mitousis thanked the first responders and her law office staff who helped her in the moments after the package exploded. “They’re the ones who got me through that morning, and I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to share with Winnipeggers that I believe that we’re truly fortunate that we have these people, with their expertise and integrity, right here among us, and our city’s well-equipped to manage all forms of crisis,” she said. Mitousis, who was right-handed, said she has had to adapt to using her left hand in daily life. As well, she is dealing with extensive burns from the blast.

Could you walk it?

Toronto Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who has been robbing people of their cell phones in elevators in Thorncliffe Park. It happened first on August 12 when a man boarded the elevator at 53 Thorncliffe Park.Drive. The thief was also on the elevator and produced a kitchen knife.He demanded the man’s cell. He got off at the fifth floor and escaped. Then on Friday, August 28, 2015, at 2:10 p.m. a 21-year-old woman has a similar experience at 27 Thorncliffe Park. She was followed in by an unknown man who threatened her with a kitchen knife and stole her phone. He is described as in his 20s, bearded, with short black hair, 5’8″-6’0″, thin build.  Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

Ford Canada will recall as many as 60,000 older Windstar minivans in Canada as part of a safety notice related to a previous recall for a rear-axle repair that possibly did not take. The latest recall covers around 342,000 vans built at Oakville from 1998 through 2003 and sold in both Canada and the United States.