The South Bayview Bulldog

Ontario will give free iPads and wireless to as many as 21,000 low-income students who don’t have access to the province’s online learning tools as schools remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Education Minister Stephen Lecce made the announcement Friday at a news conference accompanied by the Premier and Health Minister. The devices will be distributed by school boards.

Toronto will shake off the chilly March-like weather of the past few days to enjoy a genuine April weekend. About time.

Hopes for a reversal in the growing number of new cases of COVID-19 seemed distant Friday with a daily high of 564 announced by the Ministry of Health. The count Wednesday and Thursday was 494 and 514. Ontario reported 55 new deaths bringing total deaths in the province so far to 478. Ontario is entering its second month of lockdown in an attempt to slow and ultimately end the current spread of the virus. Website

The City has begun installing traffic lights and pedestrian signals at the corner of Bayview and Davisville Aves. The lights were requested by the Bayview Leaside BIA in 2018. It’s unclear whether traffic planners had second thoughts about the lights in the two years since the lights were forecast. At the time, public opinion was mixed on the suitability of lights at this intersection, busy as it is. People living west of Bayview have complained about northbound vehicles taking a shortcut along Merton St. and Belsize Dr.

Transit First

In the end, it appears that Toronto’s “transit first” policy has won out over the remarkable proximity of Davisville Ave. and the traffic lights at Millwood Rd. It’s unusual. A red light at Millwood may well see the northbound 11 Bayview bus and other traffic backed up onto Davisville even on a green light at Bayview. But it seems certain that pedestrians will enjoy the added safety of crossing Bayview at rush hour.

• BIA member says stoplights coming to Bayview/Davisville

Here’s a Piper Cherokee plane landing Thursday on Highway 40 outside Montreal. The pilot did quite a nice job of putting down the plane with the help of considerate motorists. What else could they do but get out of the way? The trickiest bit seems to be finding enough pavement between those overhead signs. Police say the plane suffered an engine failure.

Fort Erie to Buffalo/Cal Millar Twitter

The Prime Minister has put a soft treatment on Ottawa’s decision to keep the border with the US closed notwithstanding a suggestion by President Trump that it would re-open soon. Many Canadians (as seen in the comments to this video) are eager to note that any return to normal crossing takes two to tango. Mr. Trudeau said Thursday there is still a long period ahead before people can move back and forth between the countries the way they normally do. This is particularly necessary because Ontario and Quebec are next door to New York State, where COVID-19 is taking a terrible toll.

Church St. fully flooded

A broken water main flooded Church St. between King and Front Sts. Wednesday night. These great photos were tweeted by Ramna Scahzad, CBC producer and self-styled professional nosey person. Go Ramna.

Here we are down at curb level as broken water main floods Church between King and Front

Looks like a water main broke on Church and King 😞 @CP24 @CTVToronto pic.twitter.com/bvyOjediJR

— jaclyn lo (@hugzs) April 16, 2020

The Ministry of Health has announced 514 new cases of COVID-19, the second day that the number crept up. Wednesday the count was 494. The highest daily count was 550 recorded last week on April 8.  Government website

Durham Regional Police say they’re looking for Jordan Bertrand, 33, after he bamboozled staff at a Whitby bank to withdraw $82,000 from someone else’s account. They say a falsified driver’s license was used. There’s no mention of a bank card. That was in January and it appears police have spent the time since identifying Mr. Bertrand. His whereabouts are unknown, but he has ties to Edmonton. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police service. Call Detective Carriere of the DRPS fraud unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5279.

Canada has not seen the predicted surge of COVID-19 cases in hospitals that many feared would overwhelm the health-care system and lead to a spike in deaths, but experts say relaxing physical distancing measures anytime soon could put that in jeopardy. There are almost 30,000 presumptive and confirmed cases in Canada, but Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledged “cautious optimism” Wednesday as the rate of new cases went from roughly doubling every three days to every 10 days. CBC

• Trudeau says COVID-19 shutdown to last weeks longer, won’t be drawn into WHO row
• Home sales fell 14% in March as COVID-19 settled in, CREA says

Dr. Paul Morgan

Howard Drive home where deceased was found/ Chris Doucette Toronto Sun

A man identified as retired oral surgeon Dr. Paul Morgan, 79, has been found dead at a home on Howard Drive in North York.  Reports are vague on the circumstances except that the kind-hearted Dr. Morgan apparently was prepared to assist all sorts of people who were down on their luck. An excerpt from a Toronto Sun story by Sam Pazzano says:

In a March 2019 article in the Sault Star, Morgan is identified “as a benefactor for Indigenous youth in the arts.” Morgan was adopted, raised  and educated by an Indigenous family. Dr. Morgan was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General in 2012 for his support of breakfast programs, arts activities,  and sporting events for First Nations communities and youths at risk.

An oral surgeon (known formally as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon) is a dental specialist as opposed to a medical doctor.

Crusty joy looks yummy

Angela Lam Perieteanu of Stainton Murray and Lam

Sour dough starter jars are available

South Bayview lawyer Angela Lam Perieteanu of Stainton Murray and Lam has found a pleasant occupation during her home isolation as a sourdough bread baker. Her posts to Leaside Community Facebook have drawn more than 50 responses. Angela says she has lots of starter jars available for area cooks.

Nice way to spend time at home