It will be no cheapie in-and-out weekend for the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Manhattan. No, the famous twosome are catching a bit of jet nappies tonight at the lush Carlyle Hotel. They touched down around noon New York time to much fanfare from the excited crowd of spectators. Prince William and Kate were about an hour late but the crowd never slowed down with signs, balloons, British flags and tons of excitement. It was Rogers and Hart who wrote to music that the the island was an Isle of Joy just made for a Girl and Boy
DiMaggio’s love letter auctioned for $78,125 U.S.
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It was a sad remnant of a marriage made in an uncertain Celebrity Heaven as auctioneers sold Joe DiMaggio’s love letter to Marilyn Monroe for $78,125 U.S. at a Beverly Hills auction Saturday. The letter was a last ditch effort by baseball hero DiMaggio to keep his gorgeous movie-star wife as their volatile marriage came to an end. Munroe had informed diMaggio that she was divorcing him. It was said he had dreamed of a quiet life together while she continued to be a much-sought-after sex symbol. The letter was sold to an undisclosed party. Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills also sold 300 items from a stache they called “Marilyn Monroe’s Lost Archives.” A handwritten letter from Monroe to her third and final husband, playwright Arthur Miller, sold for $43,750. Monroe, who died of a drug overdose at age 36 in 1962, willed the collection of letters to her mentor, the legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg. (Posted Sunday, December 7, 2014)
Three hurt in car-truck crash on Eglinton East
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Police are investigating a dramatic crash between a car and a Wonder Bread tractor trailer at Eglinton Ave E. and Pharmacy Ave. Sunday morning (December 7, 2014) Three people were taken to hospital. Their conditions are not known. Two of the three had to be freed from the wreckage of the car but one was thrown out. This may be the most dangerous thing that can happen in an accident. The truck is said by City-tv to have driven off and parked at a nearby No Frills store. Police have now apprehended the driver. The collision happened 2:15 a.m. Conditions were clear at the time of the crash. Police are investigating. Star article on Eglinton Ave. E. and Laird Drive
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The Toronto Star article here by Vicky Sanderson of the Home Section makes a thrust into the neighborhood game and offers a nice profile of Paul Oliver, principal of the Urban Nature chain of stores and long-time advertiser in The South Bayview Bulldog. It also takes note of a favorite Bulldog business, Wisey’s Pies and Bakehouse. The focus on Eglinton Ave. E and Laird Drive portends the growing importance of the corner over the next ten or so years. Toronto Star Urban Nature has new arrivals for the holidays Urban Nature a haven for birders, nature lovers Wisey’s Pies and Bakehouse opens
Scarboro fire a 2-alarm spectacle Saturday night
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Fire has torn through a house under construction and damaged another on Heale Ave. west of Midland Ave and north of Kingston Road in Scarboro tonight. There are apparently no injuries. It was a spectacular fire with 30-foot flames that engulfed two homes. Crews responded sometime after 8 p.m. High flames were reported as the blaze spread to an adjacent house. Police shut down Midland Avenue from Hagley Road to Park Street as firefighters. The TTC tweeted a diversion for the 57 Midland bus. Also on this cold night the Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association has responded to the fire 78 Heale. That’s the volunteer canteen service for firefighters. Photos: Twitter
A week later, Overlea is still the street from Hell
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It was a week ago that thousands of motorists were bottled up inside Thorncliffe Park Drive because of the re-paving strategy of the contractor on Overlea Blvd. Saturday night (December 6, 2014) things seem to be just about the same as northbound traffic is still being funneled into one of the southbound lanes. This is the intersection of Overlea and Millwood Drive where four police officers are necessary to get traffic where it is supposed to go. Top, that TTC bus was westbound on Millwood. The driver made a wide turn to position the vehicle so he can get inside that line of traffic cones marking the temporary northbound lane. Looks like he still might miss it. Bottom, traffic off eastbound Millwood makes its way into the same pileup on Overlea. Signs warn drivers to be ready for long waits or just forget it. (Actually, that’s our advice).
88 Leaside diverting because of work on Overlea
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The ominous tweets from the TTC suggest that the repaving of Overlea Blvd continues to cause chaos. Just before 3 p.m. the TTC flashed that the 88 South Leaside route was diverting both ways via Beth Neilson, Overlea due to construction at Overlea.
Stocking stuffer gifts for $59 at LIFT Fitness
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South Bayview merchant Bonnie Goldmacher has some inventive Christmas promotions. Her fitness studio, LIFT Fitness, is offering “Stocking Stuffer” fitness gifts at three sessions for $59. And there’s a Gift Special which is eight sessions for $149. (647) 748-8011
Pancake breakfast big hit at Manor Road United
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The Santa Pancake Breakfast was a big success at Manor Road United Church Saturday morning (December 6, 2014). Top we see the many pancake families in the great hall to the east of the church. Below left. a lad has some quality time with Santa and right, a couple give Santa (and themselves) a good laugh by muscling in on the “What would you like for Christmas?” fun.
Skating party to celebrate newly-renovated Hodgson rink
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Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has invited residents to a skating party to celebrate the completion of the newly finished Hodgson Senior Public School outdoor ice rink. The gathering will take place Sunday, December 14 between noon and 2 p.m. behind the school at 282 Davisville Avenue. Below are some pictures of the year-long work at this venerable outdoor rink during its resurrection. The old rink was built in 1980. Both the old and the new rinks mark Hodgson as one of only a few open-air artificial rinks in the city. It would be a worthy local task to record the history of hockey and pleasure-skating at the Hodgson rink. The school itself was built in 1915. The old rink had suffered many break-downs and engineers were worried that an ammonia leak might poison kids or others. There was a further delay in re-building the rink when the City was unable to get the school board (TDSB) to agree to a lease for public use that would make the cost of the work worthwhile. Finally, a ten year agreement was reached. The South Bayview Bulldog is indebted to Twitter picture poster Matthew Pelligrino, who appears to have had a personal role in the work seen below and called The Big Pour. Beneath it are photos supplied by CIMCO refrigeration, which installed the mean-looking blue refrigeration unit that keeps the ice in diamond-like condition.
Vote on BIA taken, ballots await authentication
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Merchants and property owners in the South Bayview business district voted Thursday in the City’s process by which Business Improvement Areas are formed and approved. It was the most important step in seeking the creation of a BIA on the street. The results are now in the hands of the BIA office at City Hall which will authenticate the voting. The results of that process are expected next week. (Friday, December 5, 2014).
He is wanted in four bank robberies in Toronto
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It should be easy to identify this man. He was photographed at a Royal Bank of Canada branch during one of four armed holdups this fall. They took place mostly in the west end with the last one being on Monday, November 10, 2014. If you know him, call police, If he is located, do not approach him. Call 9-1-1. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.