The South Bayview Bulldog

Police say late Saturday that a woman who knew her name but was unable to find her way home has now been reunited with family. The Scarborough woman spoke only Cantonese and although a translater was able to learn her name and talk with her, she could not give him an address. She came to the attention of police mid-morning Friday.

The government has issued a curious Friday night release saying it will introduce legislation this fall to freeze rent for some families next year. Maybe it thinks the landlords are on vacation. Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark’s office said the proposed rent increase for 2021 was to have been 1.5 percent. But if the government bill passes it will mean the “vast majority of families” will not see their rent increase at all next year. CBC

Concern over racism has resulted in a shutdown of playoff games in both the NHL and the NBA, at least temporarily. The shooting of a man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, triggered this interesting reaction.

Mental stress on police raised by Sun writer

Joe Warmington of the Sun has written to defend police under siege after the accidental death fall of a woman from her apartment home in High Park. Toronto Sun

Dundas to be expunged from streets, maps of Ontario?

It’s a name that’s oriented Ontarians around Toronto and all across Ontario for more than 200 years. But a petition asks that it be removed because “names and monuments should reflect our values and priorities.” CBC

Thirsty squirrel gets a drink from kind man in park

Watch as a gray squirrel approaches a family and literally begs for water. They kindly let the squirrel drink its fill. This is posted to Leslieville Facebook and reveals an interesting side to the eastern Canadian indigenous squirrel. They are normally fairly shy.

Policeman ensures safe passage for cyclists

Decorative boulders?

New playground and splash pad

Traffic on Welland Ave. Wednesday

Large excavation needed to install splash pad plumbing

The busy corner of Moore Ave. and Welland Ave. was clogged Wednesday as work continued on renovations at Moorevale Park. Park-wide changes are being made to update the tennis field house and replace a playground and wading pool (with a modern splash pad). It’s an exciting improvement to the old park and its facilities but it appears there will be disruption until summer 2021. Moorevale Park Revitalization

Renovations to Moorevale tennis fieldhouse and a new splash pad for kids

Mayor Tory

Councillor Matlow

Mary-Anne Bedard, general manager of Toronto Shelters

An open letter to the general manager of Toronto Shelter Support and Housing from Mayor Tory and Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12) has called for daily searches of playgrounds and school property near the Roehampton Hotel street persons shelter at 808 Mt. Pleasant. The letter also calls for searches of residential properties.  Private property notwithstanding, the letter says: “We are ready to engage private property owners if there are barriers to access on these sites.” Violent incidents continue to inflame community feeling against the shelter. It was created without public notice in July and is said to be necessary to protect individuals previously living in City-issued tents. The letter asks the general manager, Mary-Anne Bedard, to conduct searches aimed at finding syringes, drug paraphernalia or other items dangerous to young people. The letter, which is here, seems to relate not just to concern for the safety of the community but to a potential political issue at the 2022 municipal election. Excerpt:

Please utilize space in the hotel to provide recreational activities and programs to support the health and well-being of the people staying at the Roehampton program. Community members have offered to facilitate fitness, music, and other classes. These programs should be pursued not only for the obvious benefit to the residents but to also help integrate them into the neighbourhood.

Stories we found interesting Tuesday include the first news conference of the new CPC leader Erin O’Toole. Then, KFC puts its “finger-lickin” motto in the closet while C-19 rages. Below that, famous retailer Debenhams seems to be in serious trouble. Lastly, gun crime, the pandemic and its upside-down politics have some people saying New York City is dead. Can it be?

The Ministry of Health counted 100 new cases of C-19 in Ontario for the 24-hour period ending at midnight. New infections continue to waver around or slightly above this mark and clearly reveal a province suffering the Stage 3 blues. Cases in Toronto are also up although Midtown continues to so far dodge the insidious bullet. There were 25 cases in Toronto and 26 in Peel reported Tuesday. C-19 weary citizens are warned yet again that the virus cannot be ignored.

126, 132 and 134 Laird Drive proposal

A mid-rise residential development on the site of the old Gyro Mazda site on the west side of Laird Drive was more or less written in the sky after the City zoned the area for such buildings. That would certainly seem to be the motivation for Gyro’s move to the east side of Laird, which remains low-rise commercial and industrial. The new auto dealership is nearing completion. Some details of the mid-rise development are here. It has an odd name, 126, 132 and 134 Laird, for what appear to be two buildings (not three) on either side of Stickney Ave. At Leaside Community Facebook there are many comments.

Playground will feature climbing structures for older and younger children

Georgia Walsh

Splashpad under construction

Splash pad feature “ground geysers” and more

Senior and junior structures

Work continues daily at the playground on McRae Drive with many wondrous things being installed. The old playground was a favorite place for the late Georgia Walsh. She was killed in a traffic accident coming home from there in the summer of 2014. Now a new playground funded by residents, businesses and friends of the Walsh family will open this fall in honour of Georgia. Builder Shane Baghai gave $250,000 of the approximately million dollar cost.

The Toronto Star (subscription) story Monday is straight from the whacky rabbit-hole world of Alice in Wonderland. It says the UK employment firm FDM Group has sent a bill for $30,000 in “damages” to a Toronto man for, apparently, “damaging” FDM’s reputation. FDM has offices in the Richmond-Adelaide Centre. The fired employee is appealing.