High interest in Brown Group meeting tonight

by  • 

There is considerable interest across South Bayview Wednesday morning in a meeting scheduled for this evening at the Leaside Library. It is convened by a company called the Brown Group to explain its proposal for a nine-storey so-called mixed use building on South Bayview between Soudan and Hillsdale Aves. The development would sit in Ward 22 (Josh Matlow) and require the demolition of four old brick bungalows on Bayview, a townhome complex plus two other homes on Soudan and the aging building known as the Hillsdale Apartments at the corner of Bayview and Hillsdale. There is much to know about this proposal and one can be sure there will be fierce resistance to revisions that would allow a building of this height. Councillor Matlow tweeted tartly that the developer is proposing the wrong building for Davisville and is holding the meeting in Leaside. The development would take out the properties between 1674 Bayview (the Hillsdale Apartments) and 1684 Bayview. As well, it would remove 720 Hillsdale and 701 to to 713 Soudan. The map shows residential buildings in green, commercial properties in purple. The single commercial site is a former physicians office in a converted bungalow. The meeting is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, December 3, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the Leaside Library on McRae Drive. A phone number and contact names are provided in the notice: Laura MacCormick or Sherman Brown at (416) 222-0344 extension 122.  Previous 

Beliveau charmed us with skill, looks, decency

by  • 

Jean Beliveau has died at 83 in Montreal. He was an enormous figure in world hockey, on and off the ice. Talented and uncommonly decent, he charmed millions with his skill, good looks and humility. Global News 

Pancake breakfast at Manor Road United Dec. 6

by  • 

Saturday, December 6, 2014 will see an entertaining family morning at Manor Road United Church. It’s described as a Santa Pancake Breakfast. Families get to register ahead with the church and get a nifty $5 pancake breakfast, Then kids can meet Santa Claus. Could be good. There will also be caroling, kids crafts and a bake sale.  It runs from 9.30 to 11 a.m. Register by calling (416) 483-0695

Burnside: Ward 26 City Hall office bare of records

by  • 

Ward 26 Councillor Jon Burnside has told CP24 that there has been no handover of records or constituent concerns from his predecessor, John Parker. Mr. Burnside said the Ward 26 office was bare of any material from the previous term. The CP24 interview was done at City Hall on Tuesday (December 2, 2014) as the newly-elected council prepared to hold its first meeting.

Canadian Tire Showroom lights up Leaside Centre

by  • 

Here’s The South Bayview Bulldog’s rendering of a tweet from Ray White of Leaside. It shows the Canadian Tire Corporation’s Showroom decked out in impressive lights. Visit it in the RioCan Leaside Centre at Eglinton Ave. and Laird Drive. Thanks for the shot Ray.  

Newly-elected school chair also wants to be MP

by  • 

Shaun Chen was elected chair of the Toronto District School Board at its first meeting of the new board yesterday. There is a good deal of talk about a new start at the dysfunctional board. But the stories announcing the election result also say that Mr. Chen, who is 34, will seek a Liberal nomination in next year’s federal election. If Mr Chen is as good as he is ambitious, everything will be just fine.

NSS sugar shake a misstep says Ron Felsen

by  • 

Ron Felsen, the able principal of Northern Secondary School, was blinded-sided it seems by the school’s cafeteria staff recently when they invited the Canadian Sugar Institute to speak to kids at lunch about the nutritional benefits of sugar. Well, some of us might like the idea of a little nutritional sugar but, as Felsen told veteran education reporter Louise Brown of the Toronto Star, it was “a misstep” from the perspective of high school kids. Brown’s story of how NSS Grade Niner Ryan Young called out the school on this visit is worth a read.  Louise Brown, Toronto Star

Gill is okay she says: “Ignore these (bs) stories”

by  • 

Pictures from Gill’s Facebook page 

Gill Rosenberg, the Canadian-Israeli woman who has gone to fight ISIS with the Kurdish army, seems to be okay. Despite posts on radical Islamic sites saying she has been taken prisoner, messages which appear to have come from Ms. Rosenberg personally deny it. This afternoon (Monday, December 1, 2014) has seen a flurry of messages to Rosenberg’s Facebook page. In one which has the sign-on “Gill Rosenberg” the message says:  “I’m totally safe and secure. I don’t have Internet access or any communication devices with me for my safety and security. I can’t reply regularly and only happened to have a chance to log in and see these (bs) news stories. Ignore the reports  I’ve been captured.” Ms Rosenberg, 31, is by any measure a remarkable person. Her Facebook page is a compendium of content both youthful and mature. She is inspired by the de facto alliance between Israel and Kurd peoples in Iraq to defeat ISIS. Israel’s Haaretz reported Rosenberg gave an interview to Israel Radio, explaining why she wanted to join the Kurdish fight against ISIS. “They are our brothers. They are good people. They love life, a lot like us, really,” she reportedly said. Rosenberg indicated she was a member of the IDF from 2006 to 2008 and posted several photos of herself in uniform.

Siren serenade signals rubbish fire on Donegall

by  • 

Shoppers and merchants on South Bayview were serenaded by sirens about 3.30 p.m. Monday as fire department units responded to a rubbish fire on Donegall Drive between between Fleming Crescent and Parkhurst Blvd.  It is now out and  all is well. 

Sparkling night for Uptown-Yonge tree lighting

by  • 

The evening of Friday, November 28, 2014 sparkled as the Uptown-Yonge BIA lit its Christmas tree in St. Clements-Yonge Parkette. At lower right, Ward 25 Councillor Jaye Robinson is seen with Daly McCarten, BIA Co-ordinator

Union reports ‘chaos’ with new welfare software

by  • 

K-W Record 

Wars of Don Valley West well buried Monday

by  • 

Premier and mayor meet
Old opponents from the Wars of Don Valley West met in a cordial public-interest meeting at Queen’s Park Monday morning (December 1, 2014). Kathleen Wynne and John Tory battled for the seat in the 2007 provincial election. Tory lost. Today they met privately and then came before the media to speak of their plans to work together in the interests of the City. There wasn’t a lot to learn but it was nice. The most tangible evidence of action may have been with Smart Track, the mayor’s plan to electrify and integrate the rail systems into the TTC. The premier seemed to suggest that planing with her government is underway. Let’s hope so.  Mr Tory has appointed Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34) deputy mayor.  The new mayor has also named some deputy mayors for areas of the city. although their roles are not quite clear. These appointments are subject to a council vote. They are Vince Crisanti (Ward 1) west, Glenn De Baeremaeker  (Ward 43) east and Pam McConnell (Ward 28) south. Importantly, Josh Colle (Ward 15) is the chair of the TTC, charged with making Smart Track happen. Gary Crawford (Ward 36) will be budget chief.  Lots of griping however