The South Bayview Bulldog

Skyway Bridge to re-open by Monday dinner hour

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 31, 2014

The Skyway Bridge northbound into Toronto will re-open Monday night between 6 and 8 p.m. This after a three-day shut down for repairs. It was closed down last Thursday when a dump truck with the bin raised slammed into the superstructure. Traffic will be slow for a few days as repairs are completed. A 34-year-old Brampton man is facing a count of impaired driving.

There’s a welcoming smile to be had at Refuel

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 31, 2014

There’s a welcoming hello and smile at Refuel from Abbie Memon. The new cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juice bar at 1633 Bayview Ave. is just opened. Abbie and husband Naeem are an enterprising couple and their place should become a frequent stop for South Bayviewites. Naeem met Abbie when he was a senior staffer of many years with a large juice chain and he hired his future wife. Their dream now is to make their little juicery a success. The large colourful menu reveals many easily customized drinks. We had a soy-milk orange, apple and strawberry smoothie. Delicious. Naeem has plans to add some off-season attractions to his menu. A fresh fruit and vegetable salad bar will soon appear, he says. We say welcome to Refuel and to Naeem and Abbie. Give them a visit. They’re next door to Pagnello antiques.

Separated as kids, sisters embrace, cling together

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 31, 2014

Twin sisters Victoria Guzzo of Toronto and Clair Heathcote of Scotland embrace and cling to each other as they meet for the first time in their lives. The story of the wonderful fulfillment of their search for each other is at CTV .

Truck rollover snarls Overlea-Millwood

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 31, 2014

We thank “Captain Frank” of the Salvation Army headquarters staff at Millwood Rd. and Overlea Blvd for snapping then tweeting his picture of this truck rollover Thursday morning on Overlea. It appears the vehicle may have been a bit top-heavy and although it was a messy accident, there were no serious injuries.

Leaside Pub Grand Opening August 14, 2014

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 31, 2014

Mark Thursday August 14 from 4 to 11 p.m. on your calendar. That’s the day of the Grand Opening of the Leaside Public at 190 Laird Drive at Mcrae. The first 150 people will get a Leaside Pub T-shirt but everyone, early or late, will enjoy the live music and prizes throughout the evening. Sue Barrett and her fellow owners, Jeff Hohner and Pram Ratna, of the Pub are hoping you will drop in.

Man on bicycle hurt on Banff Road about 11 p.m.

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 31, 2014

A cyclist is in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle at Eglinton Ave. E. and Banff Rd. last night (Wednesday, July 30, 2014). The man in his 60s was struck about 11:30 p.m. He is in Sunnybrook Hospital with life-threatening head injuries. The man was not wearing a bike helmet, according to police. This intersection will be well-known to residents across South Bayview and particularly SERRA-area residents with the old Happy Convenience store on the corner. The distance between the traffic lights is longer than normal because Banff Ave is offset to the east on the part that runs north of Eglinton. It makes for a wide corner on the Eglinton side. But clearly, police will be trying to determine what the lights showed at the time of the accident. The impact, as revealed by the centre picture inset was very great. Eglinton buses both ways diverted to Davisville via Mt. Pleasant and Bayview during the investigation. Photos top and centre Twitter; bottom City News Those with information about this accident please send to Bulldog News

Kahkaha means laughing out loud in Turkish

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 30, 2014

It’s moments like these that makes you worry about that other half of the world. You know the half we mean. In this case it’s the Turkish deputy prime minister urging women not to laugh in public. His name is Bulent Annc. Apparently the Turkish prime minister feels the same. Like many countries, Turkey is made up of a cosmopolitan in-your-face capital (Istanbul) and the — um — other part. It is the other part that makes you wonder. Anyway, the women of Istanbul are roaring with laughter that they should somehow stifle their laughter. God bless them. Kahkaka means hearty laughter in Turkish

England’s historic Eastbourne Pier swept by fire

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 30, 2014

The 140-year-old Eastbourne Pier has been destroyed by fire. It was the scene of countless parties, picnics, weddings and family outings through the decades. The blaze is said to have broken out in one of the arcade buildings and spread quickly. Experts in fire protection noted the vulnerability of many of the U-K’s entertainment piers. Fire on a pier is hard to fight because it is usually inaccessible. There is also a view that piers are often built or repaired in a shoddy fashion.

Board cuts Bill Blair loose after 9 years as chief

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 30, 2014

Maybe it’s time for Chief Bill Blair to go, but maybe not. He has been chief since 2005 and the Police Services Board has voted not to renew the contract. So be it. Blair will serve into next year when a new chief will be appointed. Problem is, the board continues to behave in a clubby way that sheds very little light on what its reasons might be. Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37) has been the most talkative but frankly he has said almost nothing. He is quoted as complaining the chief didn’t do enough to control costs within the force. Really councillor. Would you mind rhyming off a few items for the public’s education? Board Chairman Mukherjee is also talking in obscurities.

Toronto Police have not forgotten the case of Nicole Morin

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 30, 2014

Nearly 30 years after she vanished in her own apartment building, police have still not forgotten the case of 8-year-old Nicole Morin. They have released a re-enactment video (right) on the 29th anniversary of Nicole’s abduction with the hope of finding new leads in the case. Nicole was last seen leaving her family’s apartment at 627 The West Mall in Etobicoke around 11 a.m. on July 30, 1985. Police say she had made plans to meet a friend in the lobby of her building to go swimming and was never seen again. “We have received leads continually since 1985,” said Detective Sergeant Madelaine Tretter during a press conference on Wednesday (July 30, 2014). “We have received leads as currently as this year. We’ve never lost hope in finding Nicole.” Video on the left is of an international video conference held earlier this year in which Toronto police were spreading word about the case.

We’re ready to die for our lands say chiefs

by South Bayview Bulldog Admin • July 30, 2014

Never let it be said that our aboriginal chiefs don’t have a flare for the melodramatic. A group of First Nations chiefs say their people are prepared to lay down their lives “to protect their traditional lands from any unwanted development.” Those at high levels who meet with the chiefs will tell you this seems reflective of the tone of their meetings. First Nation persons are said to claim their reservations must be treated like Switzerland.