Pro-west chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko seems set to take the presidency of Ukraine The pro-Russian unrest in Eastern Ukraine has played into Poroshenko’s hand as it was impossible to set up polling stations in the great eastern province of Donetsk. Poroshenko’s victory will likely to enhanced because his pro-European supporters in the west were unopposed. Wall Street Journal
Vivid Sydney light shows thrill some 800,000
by •
Vivid Sydney, the annual extravaganza of colour and sound, has immersed hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists in the Australian capital. One of the most compelling and enjoyable spectacles is the light show reflected on the Sydney Opera House (inset). The event is held annually during winter in the Southern Hemisphere over the course of three weeks in May and June. The centrepiece of Vivid Sydney is the multimedia interactive light sculptures and building projections that transform various buildings and landmarks in and around Sydney. This year the crowds seem even bigger and authorities are asking people to be patient getting around. There’s always crowding in a big town — or as we call it in Toronto — Gridlock. Vivid Sydney was created just six years ago and this year is believed to have attracted 800,000 people on opening tonight. The Sails of iconic Sydney Opera House came alive with world-exclusive, stunning 3D-mapped projections, and the Harbour City was filled with color and light. Vivid Sydney, the largest light, music and ideas festival in the Southern Hemisphere, and Australia’s Event of the Year, features a huge, free nightly light show of lighting installations, building projections and water theatre around Sydney harbour from 6 p.m. until midnight. Open house at 71 Walder Ave. in a busy RE day
by •
This beautiful day in South Bayview saw many open houses. One of the most expensive listings was 71 Walder Ave. near the corner with Broadway Ave. It is a two-storey detached, 4 +1 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms with an asking of $1,975,000. A nice day like today should have yielded an offer. Toronto Star
Knowlton Nash dead at the age of 86
by •
The celebrated journalist’s career is told by his long-time employer, the CBC
Great goalie sees naming of John Bower Lane
by •
The formidable and still very sharp Johnny Bower, legendary goal keeper and Toronto gentleman, was honoured in his childhood neighborhood as the City named John Bower Lane. Bower will be 90 in November Previous post
Fun and politicking at Bessborough Mayfair
by •
Bessborough Public School saw a wonderful day for the 20th Annual Mayfair Fundraiser. Saturday warm weather bathed the school grounds and among among other things drew a fine body of political candidates. Mayoral candidate John Tory (centre) inspected the candy floss operation. David Soknacki and Ward 26 Councillor John Parker (at bottom) were happy to attend. This year’s Mayfair featured a skateboard park with some professional help from the Evolve Skate Camp. The nice weather also seemed to fulfill the expectations of an attendance of at least 2,500. Mr. Parker observed that the Bessborough Mayfair has the highest parent-to-kid ratio in town which is certainly commendable. We suppose that statistic is measurable at the board. But Cody kids were present at the Bessborough Mayfair too as a tweet from organizers of the Cody Spring Fair were eager to point out. That event comes along Saturday, May 31, 2014Who said things are a bit bent on Bayview Ave?
by •
When the Hydro gang put up the new cedar pole on the northwest corner of Bayview Ave. and Belsize Drive they made a few adjustments in the street sign. Like “Gimme that hammer. I can bend this baby.” The poles need to be close enough so wires can be stretched to fit we’re guessing.
Residents fight lot severance in Summerhill
by •
Our sister blog Yonge and Roxborough News notes today that the Toronto Star online has allowed a link to someone else’s web page, something it pretty much never permits. Still, notes Roxy Blogger, yesterday’s story on the web featured such a link to “save the coach house.ca” At first it led to nowhere but now it is linked to the web page of Hiscox Holding Group that asks people — you guessed it — to sign a petition to save the coach house. That’s the 119 Isabela structure that a developer wants to put on a small yet-to-be severed lot on Molson Street. On the website Hiscox Holding Group lists offices in London, New York, Toronto and Lagos. No doubt people in London, New York and Lagos will flock to sign the petition says Y and R tartly. But the idea will not be so popular among people who live near the proposed site. Hiscox Holding Group is much more than a developer, according to the web page. It says it provides financial advisory, private equity, corporate advisory, mergers and acquisitions and independent trading.
Joy of the perfect garage sale “find” near home
by •
Here at 30 Bessborough Drive this morning (Saturday, May 24, 2014) the high quality garage sale was attracting a lot of attention when the South Bayview Bulldog came by shortly after starting time of 10 a.m. This lady shows us her new hurricane-style lamp (right) and left is helped to her car by sale operator with another purchase, a fine mirror. So much did this purchaser like these items that she quickly drove home to get the cash to buy them. Sale runs to 2 p.m. Ah, the garage sale season.
LPOA regrets no provincial candidates debate
by •
It’s got to do as much as anything else with the fact that the sitting member is now the Premier. It’s tough for her to work in a couple of hours for a local event when she trying to cover the whole province. The Leaside Property Owners Association says on its website that we can catch the televised leaders debate on June 3. Also says the LPOA, it is is already planning two all candidates meetings for the October municipal election.
No breath test for NSS students at prom May 29
by •
Northern Secondary School has decided not to breath test students for alcohol as they enter the Spring Prom on May 29, 2014. But the move appears to be a kind of rear-guard action as the school and board of education prepare to confront the issue in court later this year. Principal Ron Felsen is said to have reversed his plan to conduct breathalyzer tests at the door to the Eglinton Grand event centre on prom night in the face of an action brought by local lawyer Jonathon Lisus on behalf of student council president Brett Gorski and other students. The test is being challenged as a “presumptive unreasonable search” under the Charter of Rights. According to Mr. Lisus, the turn-around appears to have occurred because the TDSB did not have enough time to prepare the type of case it wished to present. It appears that the challenge will still be heard later this year. Mr. Felsen has repeated, as have many educators, that the school board would be negligent if it did not address the issue of alcohol consumption by students at school events. Previous
Two June events from the Leaside Garden Society
by •
The Leaside Garden Society will meet Thursday, June 12, 2014 when the subject will be Creating Garden Rooms with speaker Celia Rutte. That meeting is in the Trace Manes Centre at 110 Rumsey Road. On Saturday, June 21, 2014 the Society’s Magical Gardens of Leaside Garden Tour will be held. Website