Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony.
Van “explodes” as it hurtles into truck on QEW
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A 30-year-old man is dead and four others are in hospital after an accident which appears to have been caused by careless driving. It occurred on the eastbound QEW west of Toronto. Police were dealing with a broken down car when the white van seen in the inset pictures hurtled into a parked MTO truck that was protecting the car. The van “exploded” according to witnesses. The dead man was a passenger in the van. The van’s driver, a 25-year-old man from Beeton, was seriously injured. The van collided with other vehicles before coming to a stop. The top picture via Twitter from CP24 shows the nasty mess caused by the accident. Centre is the exploded van. Bottom is a witness who says she saw the van weaving in and out of traffic and crossing two lanes of traffic as it sped by. All lanes eastbound are blocked due to the collision and traffic is being diverted at Cawthra Rd. It is not known when the QEW will reopen, but the closures may last through most of the morning, according to the OPP. Google Doodle recalls actress Audrey Hepburn
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The Google Doodle today (Sunday, May 4, 2014) is identifiable to most over 40 as Audrey Hepburn. This would have been her 85th birthday. Hepburn had a long and distinguished acting career but is best remembered for her role as Holly Golightly in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. She was born on May 4, 1929 in Brussels to a British father and Dutch aristocrat mother, before moving to London in 1948 to continue training as a ballet dancer. Widely considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful women, Hepburn rose to film stardom after appearing in several British movies. She won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for her lead role in ‘Roman Holiday’ and starred in other classics, including ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ and ‘My Fair Lady’. She won a record three BAFTA awards for best British actress in a leading role. Hepburn appeared in fewer acting roles in later life, devoting much of her time to working with UNICEF on good causes in the developing world. She died in Switzerland aged 63 in 1993 after a battle with cancer.DVP closed? Take the South Bayview Parkway
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You’ve heard of the DVP. This weekend, we get our semi-annual dose of the SBP — the South Bayview Parkway. That’s what happens when they shut the Don Valley Parkway for spring maintenance. Today (and again Sunday) scenes like those inset will be the norm. Top, it was a bit crowded in the business district. Here at Belsize Drive everyone stayed cool and courteous. Not so much in the northbound lanes near McRae Dr.where drivers on the right were following the “I want the pavement that your car is sitting on” method of driving. Many seemed to feel that DVP speeds limits applied. If you are planning on heading downtown this weekend you may want to leave your car at home — or better yet, stay at home yourself. The Don Valley Parkway will be closed in both directions from Highway 401 to the Gardiner Expressway between 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Some of the tasks that will be completed during the closure include the replacement of subway beams on the Prince Edward Viaduct, the cleaning and repairing of about 500 catch basins, guardrail repair as well as highway sweeping and litter removal. And of course there are the closures for the Toronto Marathon. See post below for that. Toronto Marathon road closures listed in full
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Jane’s Walk of Moore Park Sunday morning
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Sunday, May 3, 2014, will see better weather for the Jane’s Walk through Moore Park. This interesting neighborhood which was built during the 1920s was orignally known as Lot 16. Before homes were constructed in the mid 20s and after, there was a militar barracks perched on the crest of the heights where Ridge Drive now runs. The barracks down in 1919. Much similar lore and perhaps more timely information wll be available from walk leader and local resident Lorraine Tinsley. The walk is supported by Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 26). It is said that you’ll learn about famous residents, treasured architectural features and natural landscapes on this walk. This is a two hour event beginning at 10 a.m. with the marshalling point in Moorevale Park on Moore Ave.PADDLE THE DON
Tomorrow is also the day of the Manulife Paddle the Don event in which hundreds of paddlers travel 10.5km from E.T. Seton Park to the mouth of the Don River in Toronto at the Keating Channel. It is said to be an experience like no other.
Who knew? This is World Naked Gardening Day
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Those who promote it call World Naked Gardening Day a way to connect oneself with nature. No doubt. A little more than necessary or survivable in this climate, we say. But look, different strokes etc. People wax rhapsodic about it. “Gardening naked is not only a simple joy, it reminds us–even if only for those few sun kissed minutes (Ed. — lol) –that we can be honest with who we are as humans and as part of this planet.” They say it is a global movement but suspiciously much of the coverage is in British newspapers, including the Guardian. That would be the British. No sex but lots of nudity. WNGD The Bath Chronicle
Global Marijuana March at Queen’s Park at noon
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Some day it may be seen as terribly incorrect to snicker at the Global Marijuana March. It is scheduled this year to take place Saturday (May 3, 2014). We could not help notice the comfortable hours kept by the crusaders for whatever it is that the march represents. The day begins at 12 noon more or less. The parade itself will begin forming up on the north side of Queen’s Park. The march is scheduled to commence at 2 p.m., ending at approximately 4 p.m.. The participants will proceed onto Queens Park Crescent East and head north. The parade will turn eastbound on Bloor Street West, southbound on Yonge Street, westbound on Wellesley Street, and again northbound on Queen’s Park Crescent East. The participants will disperse between St. Joseph Street and Charles Street. Demonstration components: 10 trucks/cars/floats and some bicycles. No that haze is not the Liberal cabinet burning documents.
Yonge jewellery store robbed by two armed men
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Thieves robbed the Jewellery by Isaac shop at 2490 Yonge Street on Thursday (May 1, 2014). Two men wearing disguises entered the premises. One of them produced a handgun and smashed several glass displays then removed a quantity of jewellery. The suspects fled the scene westbound on Castlefield Avenue. The owner of the shop, who is 63, was not injured.
“Ford could spoil the election for Tory from jail”
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What is not being said about Rob Ford following another election poll is that he still has more than enough support to spoil the outcome of the voting for mayor. Spoil it, that is, for those who do not want to see Olivia Chow win. With 22 per cent of the support — as recorded by Forum Research — Ford would be well able to ensure John Tory’s defeat at the hands of Ms. Chow. Even after the ghastly pictures of his honour sucking away on a dope stick in his sister’s basement and that shockingly vulgar and juvenile barroom language — Mr. Ford has enough support to win thousands of votes. He would win them even if he were locked in a jail cell. All of this seems written in the stars unless somehow Mr. Ford’s name is off the ballot. No scent of that happening. The only way it could come about is if Ford drops out of the campaign before the ballots are printed or if he is arrested and convicted of an indictable offense. In that case, he could be removed from office. The Forum poll has found that Ford has dropped to third place in the mayoral race for the first time with that 22 per cent. Thirty-three per cent said they would vote for Olivia Chow, 27 per cent for John Tory, six per cent for Karen Stintz and five per cent for David Soknacki. The poll was conducted one day after Ford announced a leave of absence. Residents fight 25-foot lot appeal in Moore Park
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The Moore Park Ratepayers Association is fighting an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) that would permit the construction of two three-story homes on lots with 25-foot frontages. The lots would be created from the present property at 139 Glenrose Ave. (between Mt. Pleasant and Welland) which has a conforming home on an original 50-foot lot. The MPRA says in a letter to its members that a successful appeal is likely to have a significant effect on the future development of the 1920s neighborhood. “We were very concerned.” says the letter, “about this because the minimum frontage in this area and much of Moore Park is 40ft. If this appeal were successful, it would likely act as a precedent for so many of the 50ft lots in Moore Park and we could see a rapid transformation as the developers push through further such severances. We see this as a major threat to our area.” The MPRAS says it was successful in stopping this plan at Committee of Adjustment but the developer has now moved on to the OMB where the matter will be heard on June 9 and 10, 2014. The letter says a residents group and the MPRA have come together to raise funds to retain the professionals needed. A trust account has been opened and cheques may be sent to Ross Marshall, payable to the “Ross Marshall Trust” at 134 Glenrose Ave, Toronto ON M4T IK8. Also, cheques may be made payable to the MPRA and sent to the Treasurer, Peter J. Gordon at PO Box 43525, 1531 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4G 4G8.
Duelling garden centres at Bayview-Davisville
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It appears to be case of duelling garden centres at the corner of Bayview and Davisville Aves. That’s because the Valu mart grocery store, owned by Loblaw subsidiary National Grocers, has taken several spaces in the parking lot and built a fenced garden sales centre smack up against the new Davenport Garden Centre. As readers of The Bulldog will know, Davenport recently leased the space formerly owned by Garden Court Nurseries and installed a nice flower and plant place right on Davisville You can see the Valu mart place in the foreground of the top picture, with Davenport’s new building in the background. Below is a shot inside the Davenport centre. You can see how the Valu mart structure pretty much isolates the Davenport nursery from the parking lot. Well, it does belong to Valu mart after all. Today it was very crowded in the parking lot without those extra spaces. Some traffic had to exit by way of Bayview. For her part, the manager of the Davenport space, Carla Rose smiled and said: “The more the merrier.”