The South Bayview Bulldog

This multi-car accident Saturday morning at Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Blythwood featured high speed and a fleeing driver. He deserted what was a rather nice Mercedes (left). The other cars were a red mini sitting high on the pile of junk and maybe a Mazda, as seen in these captures from CP24 on air. Apparently there were no reported injuries. 

Here are the faces of three of the young spirits at St. Anselm Catholic School on Bessborough Drive who grew a little today as they took part in a moving exchange by Skype of Valentine messages with 17 children in Uganda. Teacher Michele Whyte organized the assembly and communication in a program called C.H.A.T. to the Future. C.H.A.T. stands for “Care and Hope through Adoption and Technology”. a registered charity started by a teacher in New Brunswick. Ms. Whyte told CTV that St. Anselm’s wants its pupils to become “global learners” and to know about different ways of life. She has arranged other Skype visits by her class to far off places. Students at the school sold candy grams and raised $500 for the 17 orphans who reside at C.H.A.T. House, ages 5 to 17 years, in Uganda. The St. Anselm students sent messages to their Ugandan friends and, as reported by the school’s website, were deeply touched by the stories of their counterparts who live in Uganda.  CTV Naomi Parness.

Patrick Chan has won the silver medal in men’s figure skating for Canada. After a performance with moves close to brilliant but also hurt by the pressures of expectation, the young Canadian was seen to mouth a humble “sorry” to his Canadian watchers. The gold medal was won by Yuzuru Hanyu, a 19-year-old Japanese skater who performed well but fell in today’s long program. Twitter is alight with praise for Chan and appreciation of his humility and skill.  Today, he was unable to capitalize on the Japanese skater’s error. Chan grew up near Yonge and York Mills. Chan spent much of his childhood skating at the Granite Club on Bayview Avenue 

But open for love donuts

The Esso Station at 1840 Bayview Avenue, at Broadway was closed until lunchtime today (February 14, 2014) for pump maintenance and upgrades.  But it was okay because the “On the Run” convenience store and Tim Horton’s was still open for pedestrian traffic. You could pick up that special Valentine Donut for your loved one — or just for yourself. We don’t judge.

It’s a compulsion that’s older than Canada but in the digital age unreconciled separatists use Photoshop to make their point. Canadian Olympic Committee photos of Chloe (left) and Justine Dufour-Lapointe have the mogul medalists dressed in Canadian colours. The girls say they are proud of the red and white. But the Fleur-de-Lis sham picture on the right is being distributed in parts of Quebec. As we said, older than old.    

It seemed like the end when the pleasant little notions shop closed last month, but it wasn’t. Whatever Lola Wants (WLW) at 1625 Bayview Ave. has reopened with proprietor Rhonda still in charge. It took a few weeks apparently but as Rhonda recounts it, she was able to work out a deal with her landlord to adjust the rent, buy new inventory and open again last Saturday. Inset at right, we see her sign proclaiming a New Lease On Life. Below, and also on Bayview at this mid-week was evidence of business to be done at No. 1600, where the new sign announcing Dr. Emel Arat’s Leaside Orthodontic Clinic has gone up. That’s the space owned by JD and Marion, owners of the Sleuth of Baker street.  For those who wish to know more, here is a short profile of Dr. Arat  published previously by The South Bayview Bulldog. Dr Arat is a resident of Leaside, where she lives with her husband Arin Arat, P. Eng., and their three children. And down at Millwood Rd., paper and card store Write Impressions had its new sign installed today (inset bottom). It is a nice sign but not so very different we thought from the one before.