The South Bayview Bulldog

Raptors and kids at Jimmy Simpson Centre, 870 Queen St. East

Toronto Raptors players and executives visited the Jimmy Simpson Centre at 870 Queen East Friday afternoon much to the excitement of kids and area fans. The Raptors along with NBA Cares, the league’s social responsibility initiative, dedicated a newly-created Learn and Play Centre at the Centre. The location is an integral resource for kids and families in the east end. Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Danny Green along with GM Masai Ujiri, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and others participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. City News

Raptors fan Robyn Hochglaube is posting on her Facebook page Leaside Community about Sunday’s Jurassic Park North viewing at Amsterdam Barrel House on Laird.  “Another exciting addition to Sunday’s Game 2 celebration at Jurassic Park North. We’ve got a DJ!! Pre-game party with prizes hosted by local Leaside DJ Domenic Carullo of Mixademic. Come early to meet new neighbours and settle in before the game! Remember, first 200 people on site receive a free hot dog and bottle of water (donated by Longo’s) and/or Sparkling water donated by Susan Irving.”

S and global stock markets slumped Friday in response to President Trump’s tweet threatening a five percent tariff on all shipments from Mexico. The surcharge would continue said the President until Mexico starts to prevent the flow of illegal entries into the US. In the tweet, Mr. Trump called himself Tariff Man. At midday the Dow Jones index was down more than 250 points and the TSX by more than 50.

The CAA has announced that its regular poll of drivers has called Eglinton Ave. the worst road in Ontario. Um, yeah we noticed. It’s what happens when you spend billions ripping up a City to build a subway. Or does the CAA know that? For years Eglinton Ave. has been dangerous and unsafe by definition. The worst-road designation seems like a bad joke. Anyway, here’s City’s Shauna Hunt playing the thing straight.

Police reminding motorists that parts of the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway will be closed Sunday for the 32nd Annual Ride for Heart. The closures will begin at 2 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. on June 2, 2019:

Don Valley Parkway closed from the Fred Gardiner Expressway to York Mills Road in both directions
Fred Gardiner Expressway closed from the South Kingsway to the Don Valley Parkway in both directions
There will also be road closures in the area surrounding Exhibition Place

Due to the extensive road closures, motorists can expect significant delays in the downtown core, particularly on arterial roadways. Alternative routes and public transportation are strongly recommended.

SOUTH BAYVIEW TRAFFIC

Residents will notice heavier traffic than normal on Bayview Ave. as vehicles divert onto this important north-south artery.

The aftermath (or Raptermath) of Toronto’s Game One victory over the California guys played out late into the night. Everything seems okay. Here are a couple of snippets. The next game is Sunday at Scotiabank Arena. Local businesses and have organized an outdoor-indoor group viewing at Amsterdam Barrel House on Laird. It sounds like fun. Here are the full game highlights.

The Canadian economy squeaked out a tiny 0.4 percent expansion in the first three months of the year, giving the country its weakest back-to-back quarters of growth since 2015. Statistics Canada says downward pressure on growth was driven by weakness in net trade as imports rose and export volumes saw their first quarterly decrease since 2017. Many will find it a grim reminder that it is 2019. Heavy industry has been beaten up by US tariffs and China Friday continued threats about the “consequences” of assisting the US in the extradition of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the company’s founder. Got that clear? A country of 1.4 billion people is threatening a country of 37 million.

Ferry service has been halted to Hanlan’s Point and the area surrounding Gibraltar Point has been closed as water levels in Lake Ontario exceed the levels reached in the flooding of 2017. The lake has reached 76.03 metres above sea level on surpassing the high of 75.93 metres in April of 2017. The lake is expected to peak and then begin to recede in seven to 10 days.

LIVE LOOK | #jurassicpark

Your Toronto @Raptors take Game 1 118-109 against the defending champ @warriors. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/eGjIomY8lG

— CBC Sports (@cbcsports) May 31, 2019

Jurassic North is Sunday for Game 2

Saturday

Sunday

Leaside Raptors fans new and old can meet at the Amsterdam Barrel House on Laird Drive Sunday to socialize and then watch Game 2 of the NBA finals against the Golden State Warriors. Merchants like Patrick Rocca, Andy Elder, Cloud Nine Audio Visual and CitizenRad Stainless Steel Jewellery have sponsored the occasion. Robyn Hochglaube, the admin of Leaside Community Facebook, had a role in this too. Also this weekend, the Bessborough Public school Mayfair on Saturday and the South Leaside Monday Group Everything Kids Sale Sunday at St. Cuthbert’s Church.

Aubrey and mom Faye Dorfman are current owners/Toronto Sun

Mayor Tory present for farewell ceremony/MayorTory

Bring it on/Katz’s

The legendary home of corned beef and related deli delights, Katz’s Deli, will close for good Friday night. Katz’s was founded 49 years ago and has consistently pleased the palates of hearty sandwich eaters. Mayor Tory was present Wednesday for a cake-cutting and farewell ceremony. The family has sold the property at 3300 Dufferin St. for a condo redevelopment. Lorrie Goldstein