Leger poll asked about a Scarboro subway — and what it would cost. CITY News Leger news release
Fourth-hand smoke hides under the bed
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Just to make it clear, The South Bayview Bulldog doesn’t smoke, never has and doesn’t like the habit. But there is a limit to how much third-hand-smoke baloney we’ll consume. Now some people in Riverside, California have put mice in cages “exposed to third hand smoke” and found the poor creatures have suffered organ damage. It’s a little hard to follow but the suggestion seems to be that third hand smoke sticks to things and gets even nastier than it was, sort of like cranky old curmudgeons of the human type. Maybe, but unless homosapiens are about to start licking third-hand smoke off the furniture it seems like a lot of worry about not much. We’re waiting to hear that fourth-hand smoke hides under the bed and infects your underwear at night. You know. Could be a problem.
Low-family-income rural school scores high
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Further to the The Bulldog’s post reviewing the ranking of public schools in South Bayview, the CTV post linked below breaks out the better performing school across Toronto as a whole. It also contains comment by the Fraser Institute, which compiled the numbers about the performance of kids as a funtion of their family’s income. At Cottingham Public School on Birch Ave., which won the highest score of 10, family income is well in excess of $200,000 a year (as it is in most parts of South Bayview). But says the institute, at Langdon Public School in Fenelon Falls the pupils still achieved an 8.2 rating in a community where family average income is merely $19,000 a year. Remarkably good work. And flies in the face of a complaint from a group called People for Education which seems to say that the Fraser survey is elitist, (our word) measuring things like “university trained parents” and others metrics of affluence. CTV
Fire destroys fire station and vehicles
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A rural fire department has lost six trucks and emergency vehicles when fire whipped through the Mount Albert Fire Station Sunday morning. The local authorities are scrambling to make sure there is adequate fire protection for residents of the area northeast of Newmarket. Firefighters were called from Holland Landing and Queensville fire stations shortly after 8 a.m. at 22 Princess St. in Mount Albert. There was really nothing they could do. The two pictures here show the station before the fire and during. Sources said the firehall is not manned and no one was inside when the fire started. Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s Office sifted through the debris for any evidence that can help determine a cause. Cottingham a perfect 10 in school rankings
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The annual ranking of public and Catholic high schools and elementary schools shows Cottingham Junior Public School on Birch Ave. with a perfect 10 (out of 10) ranking based on departmental metrics for the school year 2012-2013. Our Lady of Perpetual Help School on Garfield. Ave. is ranked 9.9. The Fraser Institute think tank collects education department numbers and issues an annual ranking of schools. Those interested may check the specific standing of a school by going to the link at the bottom of the post. Here in South Bayview Rosedale Public School ranked 9.8 and Deer Park registered 9.7 with the Fraser Institute. Some other area school rankings: Bennington Heights 9, Maurice Cody 8.9, Bessborough 8.5, Eglinton 8, St. Anselm’s 7.9, Rolph Road 7.8, Northlea 7.5. Whitney School registered at 8, down a half a point from 2011-2012. Public school rankings
The Buczynskis are at home on Belsize Drive
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| Walter and Danuta Buczynski |
When Walter met Danuta in Warsaw in 1960 there was a kind of curiosity, but not it seems, love at first sight. Within three months, however, the young couple — he a Canadian scholarship student in music and she a multilingual representative of the state assigned to look after such foreigners — found that they liked each other quite well enough to get married. Time being the test of such things, we may assume that it was the real McCoy. Speaking this week in the charming home on Belsize Drive they have owned for 43 years, Walter and Danuta Buczynski reflected on their productive life together. Walter Buczynski’s distinguished career as a composer, academic and musician is part of Canada’s music history. Until his retirement, Mr. Buczynski was the head of the music department at the University of Toronto. In recent weeks he has turned 80. It is a busy and productive time for the active piano artist as colleagues and friends organize concerts to celebrate the landmark. The next one, for those who care to drop in, is Sunday, April 13, 2014 at the Heliconian Hall at 35 Hazelton Ave. At home, Mr. Buczynski continues to compose. As her family matured, Danuta Buczynski volunteered at the Royal Ontario Museum. Her social, artistic and language skills were useful to the organization and now, 27 years later, she spends engaging hours in the service of the ROM as a trustee of the museum. William Littler has written an entertaining article about Walter Buczynski in the Toronto Star.
Nightmare encounter on the King’s Hwy No. 11
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Prepare yourself in watching this video for the sheer terror to be heard in the voice of the tractor trailer driver whose point of view you share. He is pushed off the road on Ontario Highway 11 north of Nipigon in northern Ontario as he travelled along with a full load at the speed limit. The oncoming semi pulls into the passing lane going uphill and heading into a curve while carrying a dangerous load, according to a sign on the trailer. The OPP are said to have a report and to be investigating.
Doolittle book deals with Mayor’s personal life
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Star reporter Robyn Doolittle’s book Crazy Town goes into the personal life of Rob Ford, an area that is typically given some privacy by big town commercial journalists The argument seems to be that it is no longer possible to separate the personal from the public when it comes to the mayor. In particular, the book contains an account of a secret recording of Mr. Ford’s wife, Renata, pouring out her heart about Ford’s drug use. Toronto Star The Twitter thread #topoli contains much clucking and giggling over the Mayor’s behaviour in Vancouver if you are still listening.
Hey Toronto, look what Calgary is doing
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At a cost that is much less than what would be needed to build an LRT system, Calgary council has approved a sweeping transitway for newly-designed buses that will whisk commuters downtown. Here in Toronto we may be sure this approach will cause a good deal of sniffing and peering down the nose. What hicks they must be. In this city, council much prefers to savour the psychedelic transit images summoned up by the drinking of our own “world class city” bathwater. Only subways of back-breaking cost will do for our legislators. CBC
Conrad Black stripped of his Canada medal
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The removal of the honours described here represent what seems like loose ends to the Conrad Black story. He will for many years remain an example of pig-headed foolishness in the face of the law. And yet, for all his damaging arrogance, he probably did more to earn the Canada medal than some of his Rosedale pals. They however did less to have it taken away. Reuters
“Take down solar panels and grow vegetables”
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Readers of the Toronto Sun can usually be relied upon to take a jaundiced view of solar panels — especially those that that seem ready to fall several storeys off the top of the apartment at 31 St. Dennis Drive near Don Mills Road. One writer says in response to this story: “Take them down and grow vegetables!” Another says: “One doesn’t need to be an engineer to look at those flimsy support poles and wonder why this collapsed under snow load. Folded like a cheap lawn chair.” And a third opined: (It) looks like a $100,000 worth of panels held up with poles that would not work for a tent.”
Carrie Tse’s creative school is Bamboo Bay
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Carrie Tse
This story was first published in January 2014. In the meantime, Ms Tse has gone on to make a success out of her business. Carrie Tse is a true daughter of Leaside who has two passions — art and children. After working for several years as a securities trader for ScotiaMcLeod, the mother of 3-year-old Ryan has decided to open the business of her heart’s desire. Carrie’s school of creative expression, Bamboo Bay, is now freshly installed in the bright offices above the shops at the northeast corner of Millwood Rd. and Bayview Ave. “I have always been interested in art,” she says. Carrie speaks with an earnest appreciation of the way children will find their own sense of style when given the right art materials. She has taken care to stock her classroom with quality paint, paper and crafts. The Bamboo Bay website details the creative programs available for children two to 12. Carrie is also offering an easy get-to-know-you drop-in opportunity on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. in February. Bamboo Bay. The journey to this new career started at Bessborough Public School. A teacher who became a friend was Jane Withers, now retired. Pupil and teacher kept in contact over the years by phone and e-mail. Carrie was surprised and deeply touched to find that when she visited Mrs.Withers, the teacher had kept pieces of Carrie’s art done years before at Bessborough. Even as Carrie pursued psychology and other fields at Waterloo University, the tug of her dream was there. After her hitch with ScotiaMcLeod, she decided to hone up her business skills at Ryerson. Carrie is the third of four daughters. Mom and dad, Yuet Wo and Shek Ming Tse, live in Leaside. They will be remembered by long-time South Bayview residents as the owners of the China Feast restaurant in the north block of the South Bayview business district. Many may long to taste again some of the excellent Cantonese dishes that were served there.