The South Bayview Bulldog

The Ontario apple season is in high gear and another lot of the desirable Honey Crisp apples is in the bin at Loblaws at Moore Ave. and Bayview Ave. The thing to notice is the price. These apples are marked  at $2.99 which, with inflation, is about as low as they have been seen since maybe two seasons ago. Now these Honey Crisps are not as choice externally as the first lot which appeared about ten days ago. You will have to watch for the odd bruise and they are somewhat inconsistent in size — some smaller, some big.  No good for art class. But also too good for art class. They have the same wonderful sweet juiciness and texture as the best of the Ontario strain. This apple is worth the price..

The bright young teacher Jason Trinh, over at Northern Secondary School, is an example to his profession. The way he had to get his current job is not. That’s because Jason (inset top) has had to wiggle past an oddly framed regulation to catch a full-time job at the venerable Mount Pleasant Rd. hall of learning. Regulation 274 was designed to prevent nepotism by principals and others in a position to hire. The story has been followed by the estimable Louise Brown, veteran education writer at the Toronto  Star.  No. 274 requires new hires to come from among the five candidates with the most seniority. It isn’t clear to most people how this straitjacket is supposed to maintain or enhance teaching standards. It might prevent nepotism but it can’t be the best way to do that. In fact, it might not prevent nepotism. In any case, the exemplary Trinh — named New Teacher of the Year in 2012 — just happened to be at Northern on a temporary assignment when that school’s well-liked principal Ron Felsen (inset centre) needed a quick fix for an unexpected vacancy in the science department. Regulation 274 permits principals to hire at their discretion if they have less than ten days to find a replacement. Felsen grabbed Trinh for the three sciences courses that needed a teacher. Back at the Legislature, MPP Lisa MacLeod (inset lower) has tried to get the regulation changed to merely prohibit favoritism and nepotism. The NDP and Liberals defeated the motion and the Education Minister, Liz Sanders, has asked two experts to study the regulation and report back.  Louise Brown (subscription may be required)

Police have issued an appeal asking for the public to help in their investigation of the traffic snarling accident on Tuesday (October 8, 2013) at Avenue  Rd. and Glengrove Ave. It occurred at 4:22 p.m. when a woman driving west on Glengrove turned left onto Avenue. Reader C-Note tells the Bulldog that there is a light at this intersection and no left turns from 4 to 6 p.m. The vehicle stuck a 66-year-old woman and 46-year-old woman — both said to be teachers at nearby Allenby Junior Public School. They were attempting to cross Avenue Road in the south crosswalk from the west to east. The driver, described as a 46-year-old woman was operating a 2003 Buick Rendezvous. The pedestrians were struck by the car and the 66-year-old woman was dragged as the car continued to make the left turn. The car veered into the northbound lanes and was struck by a northbound 2010 Ford pick-up driven by a 53-year-old man. He is seen in the foreground of the inset photo talking on his cell phone. The 66-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries and the 46-year-old woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Both were taken to hospital for treatment. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416−808−1900.

Peter Leon

Former Etobicoke Hydro Chair Peter Leon has been appointed by City Council to serve as the member for Etobicoke Ward 3 until the next election in November 2014. Mr Leon will not run in the election by the terms of his appointment. He emerged from among the 30 persons who had put forward their names after an endorsement from Doug Holiday, the former member from that ward and now MPP for the area. It was an exciting contest as Council ran three votes for this position, with Mr. Leon, 71, tied with former MPP Chris Stockwell on the first vote.  Mr. Stockwell had been the favorite heading into balloting with the support of  the Etobicoke York Community Council. It nominated him for the position last week.  But Holyday wrote a letter urging his former colleagues to ignore the local body and choose Leon. “I would like to point out that ever since this process began, my calls from my former constituents strongly support the appointment of Peter Leon as opposed to that of any former office holder. Obviously, I agree with them. Hopefully, you will give every consideration to what appears to me to be the wishes of Ward 3 residents,” Holyday wrote.  Leon needed 23 votes to win. On the third round of voting, he got 26 to Stockwell’s 16. Councillors make just under $105,000. Leon is a self-described fiscal conservative. The vote split among Bayview area councillors is as follows:  For Peter Leon: Karen Stintz (Ward 16) Josh Matlow (ward 22) Jay Robinson (Ward 25) and Kristyn Tam-Wong (Ward 27). John Parker (Ward 26) voted for Mr. Stockwell. 

For Peter Leon: Councillor Paul Ainslie Councillor Maria Augimeri Councillor Ana Bailão Councillor Michelle Berardinetti Councillor Shelley Carroll Councillor Raymond Cho Councillor Josh Colle Councillor Janet Davis Councillor Mike Del Grande Councilllor Sarah Doucette Councillor John Filion Councillor Paula Fletcher Councillor Mary Fragedakis Councillor Mike Layton Councillor Chin Lee Councillor Josh Matlow Councillor Pam McConnell Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon Councillor Joe Mihevc Councillor Peter Milczyn Councillor Cesar Palacio Councillor James Pasternak Councillor Jaye Robinson Councillor Karen Stintz Councillor Adam Vaughan Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam.

For Chris Stockwell: Mayor Rob Ford Councillor Gary Crawford Councillor Vincent Crisanti Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker Councillor Frank Di Giorgio Councillor Doug Ford Councillor Mark Grimes Deputy Mayor Norman Kelly Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong Councillor Ron Moeser Councillor John Parker Councillor Anthony Perruzza Councillor David Shiner Councillor Michael Thompson 

List of candidates:  Dennis Ewaniuk, Valrie Cushing,, Chaitanya Kalevar, Vincent Conforzi, Brian Dillon, Aziza Mohammed, Mario Giansante, Nickolaos Fragos, Stephen Thiele, Chris Stockwell, Princess Boucher Daniel Trayes, Tony Vella, Marek Zarkowski, Bruce Sinclair, Robert Scott, Nancy Green, Peter Leon, John Nunziata, Naidu Pandurangan, Lake Pong, Jack Huynh, Roland Ollivier,William Star, Gary Walsh, Rosemarie Mulhall, Paul Agapito, Peter Surjanac, Danish Ahmed , Ross Vaughan.

You may feel  stumped at trying to guess the purpose of this large structure next to the Target store  at Thorncliffe Park Ave. and Overlea Blvd. It is a seldom seen roof-top garage to hold dozens of vehicles at the new Thorncliffe Park Kindergarten. The new school is officially known as the Fraser Mustard Learning Academy, as we reported a few weeks ago. Upper right is the daunting in and out ramp. Below is a side shot as seen from the Target parking lot. For such a large structure it has joy in the walls. Numbers in the side of the long wall indicate the courses ( or layers) of bricks under the number. It will be source of learning to kids for as long as it stands. The Mustard Centre is already open, home to some 700 kindergarten children from all over.  Previous post

The Northlea United Church Fall Market will take place Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be artiswts, artisans and craft folk and a kids table too.  The church is located at 125 Brentcliffe Road.