The South Bayview Bulldog

Mayor Tory and MOH Dr. Eileen de Villa are urging the province to keep many parts of the GTA, including Toronto, in stay-at-home mode until at least March 9. Then, 7-Eleven, the world-wide Japanese-owned corner store chain, will seek permission to crack you a cold beer right in the store. Hmm. Below that, Ford Motor announcing at its European headquarters in Cologne that it will have a full line of electric vehicles for sale on that continent by 2030. Lastly, take a look as the famous Trump Plaza building, once the centerpiece of Atlantic City casino action, comes tumbling down. Rather symbolic.

Dump truck rolled over on the 403 off ramp to the 401/OPP

OPP media man Sgt. Kerry Schmidt offers an interesting explanation of just how dump truck rollovers occur as he attends this accident Wednesday. Tweet here and below

Hey Jagger! You’ll soon be busted and home again

A Facebook triumph midweek as a dog found in Bennington Heights early Wednesday turns out to be Jagger, a much-loved Munsterlander pup who got lost in Crothers Woods Tuesday evening. FB

Camp fire remains near Adelaide St and Parliament St/Kevin Misener 680 News

A homeless man has died early Wednesday in an encampment fire in Orphans Green Dog Park at Adelaide East and Parliament St. Video here. And about 1,000 households have had their power restored after the unexplained collapse of a utility pole in Scarborough.

New Leaside LRT stop on southeast corner of Bayview and Eglinton 📷 Metrolinx

Leaside station is being designed and constructed with additional structural elements to accommodate a future residential or office building 📷 Metrolinx

There’s renewed evidence this week that Metrolinx intends to sell off lands on the southeast corner of Eglinton Ave and Bayview Ave for the construction of a high-rise building along Bayview. This concern was flagged as early as 2015. The project would presumably rise over the new “Leaside” LRT station and on the quadruplex properties to the south. The Leaside Residents Association released information Tuesday that eviction notices have been sent to the residents of 1783-1785 Bayview, the northernmost of the ten quadruplexes on Bayview between Eglinton and Parkhurst (“Talbot Quads”). Metrolinx owns this property. It notes:

• The LRA is concerned for several reasons:- Forced dislocation of tenants in a pandemic, though we understand that moving and housing assistance will be provided, with a June departure date (i.e. not in the winter);
• The property to the south (1779-1781 Bayview) is owned by a developer (Condor), and we understand that Metrolinx is selling the building to it;
• The property to the north – Leaside Station – is built to enable future development above it, namely “additional structural supports … and a layout that allows the entrance to remain operational during any potential high-rise construction”.
• Municipally, the property is zoned for 4 storeys. However, the province is frequently using Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs), which circumvent local planning decisions.

Premier Ford appears on Citytv and discusses the decision to begin re-opening business outside the GTA

Israel now vaccinating healthy 16-year-olds

The astonishing success of Israel in vaccinating almost all of its population against C-19 is examined here. Healthy kids of 16 are getting the jab. The implications are real for the population in general and for Prime Minister Netanyahu who is trying to salvage his political career.

Singer Joss Stone on her life as a sausage

Time to smile as the outlandish costumes on celebrities in The Masked Singer Contest dance across your screen. Any why not?

Looking south at St. Clair Ave and Mt. Pleasant Rd. about 9 a.m.

Toronto is digging out of a heavy snowfall Tuesday morning as traffic cameras seem to show roads are fairly passable but no doubt slippery. Go carefully all. Traffic cameras

AccuWeather North American radar shows approaching snow in blue

The approaching snow is seen in shades of blue at about 6 p.m. Monday on the AccuWeather North American radar. It is forecast to drop 15 to 25 cm of snow overnight and into Tuesday daytime. Here’s a City News summary. It contains such useful advice as “Get up early and get ready to shovel your snow.” Umm, thanks.

Resident snapped action at Strachan Ave and East Liberty St/Aaron Rabinovitz

Toronto Police say they have investigated an “irregular” discovery in Liberty Village on Monday and the matter is now concluded. The bomb squad was called to deal with what seemed to be the discovery of explosives. Police say they were conducting an unrelated investigation in the Wellington Street and Strachan Avenue area when they came across something “of great concern”. TTC buses were also called in to provide shelter to residents however police said no evacuations had been ordered. Around 1:40 p.m., police said the “situation has been resolved” and residents who were not inside the building already were allowed to return home. There is no word on any injuries or arrests. No further details were provided regarding the nature of the initial investigation or why the bomb squad had to be called — City News

Details scarce/City News — Arthur Pressick

OIaf

The Leaside Rotary Club Scavenger Hunt is underway Monday. It’s a pleasant way for the family to find safe fun on Family Day. The website tells of a showpiece 7-foot tall Olaf from Frozen. He’s at 775 Eglinton Avenue at Sutherland. We haven’t got a picture of him but would love to get one and other photos of people enjoying the hunt.

A second child coming for barefoot Harry and Meg/Misan Harriman

Harry and Meghan have announced that they are expecting their second child. An artsy black-and-white photo taken in their California backyard was used to tell the news. The couple is shown barefoot. ITV

Canada recruits other countries to shame China

Canada says it has recruited some 57 countries to shame the Chinese Communist government in the PRC for its arbitrary seizure of Micheal Kovrig and Micheal Spavor  It is a laudable condemnation but many countries don’t want their name made public fearing retaliation by the great Asian giant.

Comedian challenges human rights ruling at SCC

The Supreme Court of Canada is set to hear a case against Mike Ward, a stand-up comedian from Quebec, after a human rights tribunal ruled that his joke relating to the survival of a boy with a rare genetic disorder who was supposed to die, but didn’t, is an act of discrimination.