The South Bayview Bulldog

Karen Becker

Moms-to-Be-and-More will close on Bayview Ave on Sunday, May 3, its owner Karen Becker has announced. In a statement, Ms Becker said the large multi-store shop at Bayview and Manor Rd. will close Sunday May, 3, 2015. The satellite location on Research Rd will close on July 5, 2015. Recently the company said it was downsizing by letting go two storefronts at the north end of its large premises. Over the years, the dynamic Ms Becker had parlayed the corner premises into a four storefront behemoth. In her statement she thanked clients, suppliers and staff “for being a huge part of the success of my store”. The Bayview location opened shortly after the turn of Y2K having seen both a Black’s Camera (before Blacks was owned by Telus) and a Mr. Sub (not Subway Sandwich) shop open and close in short order. In closing, Ms Becker said: “It has truly been an honour and pleasure to share in so many of my clients’ happiest moments. From baby’s first steps to first pregnancies, there have been too many amazing moments to mention and I now hold them in my heart as fond memories. I hope in turn we also hold a special place in the hearts of all of you.” It is perhaps coincidental that another childrens’ clothing store Never Grow Up is scheduled to open this Spring at the location previously held for many years by Newsome Photography

Welcome to the new WordPress platform of The South Bayview Bulldog. Many readers will know of this versatile platform for news websites. But you don’t have to be a blogging wonk to know that our new format is a move to do more, offer additional services and to gain access for The Bulldog to places where we have not yet gone. We continue to be The South Bayview Bulldog, committed to the news and activities of our home. Please tell your friends and send us your news too. We love our neighborhoods. Please send your stories. Sue Byford and Ted Stuebing, Publishers.  

Snowy weather will sweep in during rush hour Tuesday making for a difficult evening and overnight.Because of the snow, roads will be particularly slippery and motorists are advised to be super careful. Don’t drive if you can avoid it. And it will be messy. Some outlets are saying there may be freezing rain. “Around the evening commute, there will be a transition into ice pellets and freezing rain in a band from Lake Huron to Lake Ontario, through the GTA and Hamilton,” says Weather Network meteorologist Brett Solderholm. “This will certainly result in travel chaos, so plan your drive home accordingly.”

Twitter is busy with congratulatory comments on last night’s Laughing Out Loud in Leaside event at the William Lea Room. Michael Zivot tweeted: “Great time at Laughing Out Loud in Leaside. Way to go Charlene (Kalia). Great grab bags Neal Bros.” Dr. Lesley Beyers said: “Great cause and great friends” as she posed with a couple of pals. The Caterer to Leaside, Andy Elder of Grilltime on Laird Drive, tweeted a picture of a delectable flank roll appetizer. We could eat too many Andy.  This  was the sixth annual Laugh Out Loud in Leaside and was held in aid of Moorelands After-School programs. This fine charity has helped children from less fortunate surroundings for more than a century. It is a reminder to affluent areas such as Leaside that more than 73 per cent of our families in Toronto live on less than $24,000 a year. Moorelands says that through its structured out-of-school programs, it provides disadvantaged Toronto children and youth with the tools and skills they need to succeed. They “teach kids how to make good choices, help them build competence, confidence and character, and connect them with caring adults and their communities.”

The Fraser Institute ranking of elementary public and catholic schools across Ontario has been released. This annual assessment of schools is created based on information from Department of Education testing. It is always a source of interest for parents and some use it to try to angle their kids into schools with higher scores. Others criticize the annual exercise, saying it has only a very general application (see below)  Local schools of note in this year’s listings are Blythwood, 9.5 (out of 10) and the always highly-ranked Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 9.8. Here are some other rankings:  John Ross Robertson, 8.9, Deer Park 8.7, Rosedale 8.7, Allenby 8.7, Northlea 8.4, Rolph 8.3, Bessborough 8.7, Cody 8.4, Bennington 7.6, Eglinton 7.2. Fraser rankings  

A service will be held for Craig Scott Silver, 63, of Leaside at the Mount Pleasant Visitation Centre on Friday, March 6, 2015 beginning with a celebration of his life at 3 p.m.  Mr. Silver died in a winter weather accident outside his home on Thomas Elgie Drive last Wednesday evening, February 25, 2015. Police have called it death by misadventure. In a notice published Sunday in the Toronto  Star the family recalls Mr. Silver’s love of his family and sense of humour. He and his dog Remy, also known as Spots, were inseparable. It notes his special skills at cooking. Shortly before midnight it appears Mr. Silver slipped on ice and fell. He was carrying a new kitchen knife at the time. The knife punctured his leg and the injury caused fatal bleeding.  The notice says the family is broken hearted the loss of  “a wonderful, kind and loving man.” There will be a celebration of life on March 6th between 3 and 4 p.m. with a service at 4 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Visitation Centre (375 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario M4T 2M1).  In lieu of flower donations may be made to a favorite charity,  Adopt a Dog Save a Life.