Jon Burnside to run against John Parker in W. 26

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Businessman Jon Burnside has filed papers to run for Councillor in Ward 26. It will be the second time Mr. Burnside will make this civic endeavor. In 2010 he ran second in the ward against the incumbent Councillor John Parker, finishing just 425 votes back. In that contest, both men faced a strong third-place challenge from candidate Mohamed Dahnani.  This time Mr. Dhanani has moved on an executive position with the Aga Khan Foundation in Canada and will not be running. But a third candidate, David Sparrow is running in Ward 26. Mr. Burnside is the president of his own company, Healthy Heart Meals. 

Cops swarm Hasty Market looking for clues

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Police investigating the reckless arson rampage in Bennington Heights think their best chance of getting those responsible lies in the now-closed Hasty Market at Bayview and Moore Ave. Forensic officers were all over the store Friday morning checking cameras and taking pictures of anything that might have a fingerprint or DNA on it. Here we see an officer taking pictures of the edges of broken glass. There is also word that some of the homes in Bennington had alarm systems which incorporated cameras directed at the street. The arsonist struck overnight — many residents say at about 3 a.m. — torching nine cars and one house. Media reports continue to say that the incident took place in Moore Park, but they did not. As locals know, the age-old  division between areas and names runs along the Moore Ravine, with Bennington Heights on the east. It was part of the former East York and before that Leaside and continues to be much prized by some territorial Leasiders although Bennington residents frequently like to think of  themselves as independent of everyone. Notwithstanding, it remains a part of Ward 26, which also includes Leaside and much of the former East York. Earlier Friday 

Rowe Farms store opening today on Bayview

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Rowe Farms Bayview Market, the niched meat and grocery store outlet opens today. The shop is at 1617 Bayview Ave. next to the Tru Value Hardware.  

Awesome Sale underway today at Leaside United

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The Leaside United Church Spring Awesome Sale is underway today at 3 p.m.. It runs tonight until 7 p.m. and then resumes Saturday, May 10, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. As usual shoppers will thousands of pre-sorted quality items in 15 departments. There is a snack bar! Proceeds go to fund LUC and Outreach Programs. Leaside United is on Millwood Road at McRae Drive. 

Rampage destroys cars, home in Bennington

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A 3 a.m. rampage through Bennington Heights has left nine cars destroyed by fire and one home on Burhman Rd badly damaged. The reckless person or persons responsible for this outrage set fire to a car in the garage of the Burhham home where a boy, said to be two years old, was sleeping. He escaped, as did everyone else in the vicinity. Cam Wooley said on CP24 that the cars were unlocked, permitting the culprit to set fire to the inside. A woman on Burnham said she and her husband heard a thump about 3 a.m. and then saw bright lights outside their home. The Audi parked out front was in flames. Councillor John Parker (Ward 26) said the crimes appear to have begun near Bayview and Moore Aves where the windows of the Hasty Market were broken. There seems to be a chance that video in the store may have captured images of perpetrator, one or more. Photos: from top, burned cars on Brendan Rd., Burnham Rd., Councillor Parker speaks to reporters. burned home on Burnham.  CP24  Later post

U18 Lightning champs a credit to their league

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John Child

The victory late in April of the Leaside Lightning Girls U18 volleyball team in the provincial championship has thrown a new focus on the Leaside Volleyball League operated by John Child. A three-time Olympian and Bronze Medalist in Beach Volleyball, Child decided to pursue his love of the game in a lifetime of training girls and boys to play the sport. The girls of the Ontario champions LVL Red Team (above) are at the pinnacle of their young time as high school volleyballers in a program that has brought them along from age eight. It’s purpose is to help get boys and girls interested in volleyball at a young age. Like all house leagues the players come from all over but Child says most come from Leaside or nearby. Practices and instruction take place in the early evening. There are seven girls teams housed at the York School on Yonge St. The boys practice at St. Micheal’s College School and at Blantyre Public School in Scarborough,  Each session consists of 45 minutes of warm up and skill development, followed by 45 minutes of structured game play. John has coached for many years at various levels from aspiring Olympians to young beginners, including being the head coach of the Havergal College Volleyball program and their five teams. This year, he is coach of the U16 Leaside Thunder boys team. The U18 girls are in national championship play in Calgary this week and there is high hope they can extend their Ontario championship to a cross country supremacy. Stay tuned. Their coaches are Melvin Lowe and Gaby Jobst, seen with the team above after their victory in the provincial tournament in Waterloo on April 27, 2014. Previous post  Leaside Volleyball League

Target stores are Zellers with lipstick say critics

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It is an easy criticism for a Canadian retail consultant to make and it is probably unfair. Nonetheless, the remarkable gap in execution between the renovation costs (huge) and the need to fill the shelves is amazing. The Target staff they are getting better and it wold be foolish to count them out. Chatham News  

One in 10 in U.S. think aliens abducted Flt. 370

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Spectator 

John Tory’s jobs plan sees med school at York U

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Toronto mayoral candidate John Tory unveiled his job-creation plan Thursday, vowing to create “economic corridors” in Etobicoke, Scarborough and North York – including a pledge to bring a medical school to York University. Globe and Mail 

Randy Carlyle renewed, three assistants fired

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed head coach Randy Carlyle to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday but assistant coaches Dave Farrish, Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin will not be returning next season.  TSN

Here are some things not to worry about today

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Stephen LeDrew was saying on CP24 today that “we’ve got to get over Rob Ford.”  “Yes,” said LeDrew’s on-and off foil for Ford silly-talk Ed Keenan. “We’ve got to figure out some way to  do that.”  Actually guys, a lot of people are there already.  Honestly, it is number one on The Bulldog’s short (and long) list of things not to worry about. The Bulldog has also stopped worrying about bloated whale carcasses. Maybe we’ll pop in and see the ROM skeleton exhibit once it’s up and running but, you know, another day. The whales may explode, they may be seized by armed residents of Trout River or possibly parked underground at City Hall. We’re not worrying. Finally, we’re not going to worry about what’s online. The Ottawa shoosh-now lady says the government is gathering information about us online. Really. Should we expect a knock at the door? Eighty years ago, the feds were mining personal data from the phone book, city directory and our neighbors.  

Linemen hold meeting in the sky over Bayview

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It looks a bit like a convention up there.  This was the scene Thursday morning at Bayview Ave. and Manor Road.  Ontario Hydro linemen had some tricky wiring to do as they routed potentially lethal voltage away from their work area. These men and many others are re-installing lines onto new tall hydro poles on streets west of Bayview Ave. Previous post.