The South Bayview Bulldog

Charges of criminal negligence and causing bodily harm against a 64-year-old Eastern Ontario bartender, Ann Senack, have been stayed Thursday at her trial in Pembroke. A statement from Mrs Senack’s counsel, Edelson Law of Ottawa, was released as follows: “This has been a difficult trial not just for Ann, but for the community as well. We hope that the finality brought today will bring some measure of closure. It is important to note there was no finding of criminal guilt or even civil wrongdoing against Ann. While we strongly believe that, had this matter gone to a verdict, Ann would have been acquitted, the stay of all charges today allows her and everyone involved to move on that much sooner. We are happy the Crown finally made this decision.” Renfrew Today

Route from the US to Toronto remain in place/CTV

Greyhound Canada is permanently cutting all bus routes across the country, shutting down the intercity bus carrier’s operations in Canada after nearly a century of service. The motorcoach company said its remaining routes in Ontario and Quebec will cease permanently on Thursday. Its American affiliate, Greyhound Lines, Inc., will continue to operate cross-border routes to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver once the border reopens.

Empty fareboxes

The decision comes a year after Greyhound Canada temporarily suspended all service due to a sharp decline in passengers and mounting travel restrictions amid the first wave of COVID-19. The bus carrier has struggled for years with declining ridership, increasing competition and deregulation. But the complete loss of so-called farebox revenue during the pandemic has forced the company to permanently cease operations, said Greyhound Canada senior vice-president Stuart Kendrick.

Premier Ford has announced that the stay-at-home order shutting down much business and restricting gatherings will be extended to June 2. “The situation is slowly trending in a better direction. Make no mistake. We’re not out of the woods yet. Our hospitals are still under immense pressure, the spread of variants remains a major concern. So we must stay vigilant,” Ford said. Release

Canada has come face-to-face with just what we would have to suffer if all that nasty petroleum thing was suddenly taken away. Gee. No airplanes, no heating oil, economic chaos. The Enbridge pipeline crosses just five miles of US territory.

710 Mt. Pleasant when it was a Sobeys

A building permit for 710 Mt. Pleasant Rd in the Briton House building indicates the vacant space is being renovated to house a Shoppers Drug Mart. The space is a former Sobeys store. Sobeys owners, Empire Inc., closed it when their other subsidiary Farm Boy opened a new store in the Art Shoppe Lofts at Soudan Ave and Yonge St. The arrival of Shoppers is an eyebrow-raiser because it already has a modern outlet just up the street at 759 Mt. Pleasant.

Drug-store wars

It may be that Shoppers plans a Wellwise location, its store for seniors. And yet, a Shoppers in the retirement home would be a welcome asset both for prescription business and for the sale of food. Shoppers carries ever more grocery items since it was purchased by Loblaws. The drug-store wars on Mt. Pleasant have seen Shoppers move to its location at 759 from the location at 732. That spot was grabbed by Rexall for a time but then transferred to Dollarama.

Rolph Rd and Airdrie Rd/Greg MacPherson

This grab shot from inside the house is getting lots of attention on Facebook Wednesday. It was taken at Rolph and Airdrie Rds but it seems the sight has been seen often around the neighbourhood. FB

SERRA, the South Eglinton RAepayers and Residents Association, has once again called attention to the City’s consultation meeting on the development of lands at the corner of Bayview ASvger and Davisville Ave. That’s the site of the ValuMart. The meeting is May 13. SERRA

New stories of Bill Gates sketchy association with the late sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein were key to Melinda’s decision to demand a divorce. It’s said that Melinda was shocked by a story, vague as it is, that her husband stayed late one evening at Epstein’s home.

Ford all-electric pickup will be unveiled May 19

Ford brings back Lightning name for all-electric pickup

Ford’s all-electric F-150 will be fully unveiled next week on Wednesday, May 19 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Ford’s YouTube channel. It will go on sale in mid-2022.

FBI confirms Darkside group behind Colonial Pipeline cyber attack

Those who disparage oil may wish to get closer to the hard realities of life in the First World. The entire US east coast is in jeopardy of grinding to a halt as Internet extortionists hold a vital pipeline to ransom. It’s another cute curiosity of the Internet age which the criminals parade as a more or less respectable way to grab some dough. Excuse me, ma’am, gimme your purse or else.

Vacant home of Gyro Mazda for decades

Why did Mazda cross the street?

Gyro Mazda has moved to its new showroom and offices on the east side of Laird Drive. Its former home of 40 years is now vacant and awaiting approval for an eight or nine-story commercial-residential development. It’s all part of the City’s (and developers’) push to re-make Leaside (and other parts of town) into a much more densely populated community with whatever benefits that brings.

The new home of Gyro Mazda on Laird Drive

This fascinating video released late in April by Metrolinx takes the viewer on an aerial trip over the Yonge and Eglinton site and then down into the LRT station and tunnel. Worth a watch.

Meeting June 10

Susan Lipchak

Master Gardener Susan Lipchak will speak at the Leaside Garden Society virtual meeting on June 10. She is an active volunteer at the Toronto Botanical Garden and loves digging in her own garden. Ms. Lipchak is also a member of the Ontario Rock and Hardy Plant Society.

Leaside man gives shrubs to LGS to boost scholarship

The Leaside Garden Society is thanking a Leaside man, Logan Philp, for donating 50 boxwood bushes to the society. The bushes were made redundant at the Philp home after landscaping. His neighbour Jane Monteith was eager to accept them with a plan to raise funds for the LGS scholarship fund. It worked. Some $900 was raised when the boxwoods were offered in a virtual plant sale. Now the scholarship fund, which is strapped for cash because of the pandemic, will be able to offer its annual $1,000 scholarship for 2022. Well done all.