The South Bayview Bulldog

A CBC Toronto report on a Leslieville couple contains their stunning allegation that their modest semi-detached home on Connaught Ave. was sold against their wishes. The allegation is made by the man, Harold Verge, 72, that he and his wife were told by a real estate agent that they were not permitted to own property over the age of 65. Mr. Verge is blind. His wife is retired from McDonald’s. The home was sold for some $675,000, an apparent bargain for the buyer. The entire catalogue of events as reported by the CBC descends from there. The story is the subject of much interest on the Leslievillian Facebook page.

Harold Verge is blind rattan weaver

42 Connaught Ave.

Art Shoppe on Kincort St. in York Region

A news release Tuesday from the family-owned Art Shoppe furniture store says the firm’s outlet at 71 Kincort St. in York Region will be closed. The release calls the decision a strategic reassessment and announces discounts of up to 50 percent on merchandise. It recalls the history and upscale mystique of the business. “Founded by Leon Offman in 1936, The Art Shoppe was for decades located on Yonge Street near Eglinton Avenue, where its sumptuous showrooms literally served as a tourist attraction and destination for out-of-town collectors, designers and celebrities.” Mr. Offman’s son, Martin, took over the business in 1973. The current ownership team is comprised of Martin’s three daughters. Canada Newswire

Large turnout for meeting to protest Bill 108/ Tristan DowneDewdney ‏

There were large turnouts at meetings held Monday night at City Hall and in Willowdale at Earl Haig Secondary School to protest Bill 108. It’s the Ford government’s proposed legislation to reverse reform of building approval in Toronto. Two town halls Monday protesting Ford’s “return of OMB”

• Ontario Place redevelopment will not include a casino or condos

Tina Yazdani of City News on the decision by the Ford government to end the monopoly contract with Brewers Retail. The firm was founded in 1927 as a brewers monopoly in uptight Protestant Ontario where successive governments worried that demon drink would destroy society. Hey, who knows?  Fedeli casts beer drama as Molson, Labatt vs ordinary man

Police have reported an extraordinary haul of loot valued at $500,000 from a home on Huntley Street in the St. James Town area south of Bloor and east of Jarvis Sts. This occurred Sunday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.when the residents were out. The report from police posted Tuesday said simply that “the suspect(s) stole several valuable items, which included: watches, jewellery and purses; in all exceeding a total value of $500,000.”

Huntley St. in St. James Town

Earl Haig Secondary meeting

City Hall meeting

What does the province fear from Toronto’s residential bylaws? Whatever it is, the Ford government has taken the extraordinary step of introducing a bill (108) to essentially wipe out the freedom so-long sought by the City to moderate its dizzying growth. The issue is livability. Bill 108 would, apparently, return so-called de novo (start over) powers to the process. Builders would have the right to simply say that Toronto’s bylaws should be put aside for their project. It permits, as per the old OMB, entirely new and different criteria to be put in place for each project. And of course, each departure from a bylaw becomes a precedent, permitting more and more precedents until the bylaw is dead.

Jenny Tremblett and her Border Collie friend/Instagramcollie

Visiting at Parklea and Rumsey/Facebook

This Thursday

Sewer vacuum season/Bulldog

Seen around South Bayview early this week is the arrival of patio season. Love it. That’s Sophie’s (upper left) on Sunday. To the right, Jenny Tremblett and her white Border Collie from the Leaside Instagram account. Centre left is a charming visitor to a garden at Parklea Dr. and Rumsey Rd. Centre right we see a reminder for the Northlea EMS first annual (if you please) Spring Fling. Below that is the scene at McRae Dr. and Bayview Ave. Monday as the sewer vacuum season gets underway. More critically, does this signal the end of those wretched orange cones blocking the corner?

The PC government will reverse its intended retroactive funding cuts to municipalities after heavy pressure from mayors who warned of devastating impacts to public health, child care and ambulance services. Premier Ford announced Monday he had heard from municipalities that they could find savings in their own budgets, but they needed more time to do so. “We’ve come up with a conclusion that we’re going to work together,” he said Monday. “We’re going to maintain the funding throughout this year. Every mayor I talked to said they can find savings. So that’s good news. But they said they needed more runway” — Canadian Press

#BREAKING: Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces government will cancel retroactive cuts to public health, child care and other municipal services #onpoli

MORE: https://t.co/x6vbi0481B pic.twitter.com/fYhMKWfeaE

— Global News Toronto (@globalnewsto) May 27, 2019

A Facebook post tells of an attempt at a midnight egging with unintended consequences for the perps on Broadway Ave between Rumsey and Hanna Rd. Sunday morning. The post runs “a black sedan came speeding up to us as four teens attempted to throw eggs at us. A drive-by egging. As they veered over to our side of the street the idiot driver failed to see the car parked in front of him and crashed directly into the back left side of the vehicle causing fairly significant damage to both cars. These teens were most definitely driving mommy or daddies car trying to cause mischief. We were unable to see the license plate or model as both me and my friends were a little shocked at the time however it is a black sedan with probably a lot of damage to the front right side of the vehicle. If anyone knows who it is please go speak to them, encourage them to man up to their mistakes and take responsibility and apologize for the damage they caused to that poor unsuspecting person’s car.”