The Manor Road United Church rummage sale opens at 10 a.m. Saturday. The church is loaded with rummage goodies. MURC is located at 240 Manor at Forman Ave. Facebook
Most people have a lot to learn about how squirrels can cause a blackout like the one that hit many homes in Leslieville and the east lakeshore Thursday. Andrew M. Smith is the go-to man it seems on how this occurs. On Facebook he has made a number of posts Friday explaining how sometimes a squirrel merely causes the lights to blink, but sometimes, total outage. He says “usually the squirrel gets fried and jumps/falls off the wires, so all you get is a quick power off/power back on thing. It’s when the squirrel short circuits the wires and stays in place that causes the bigger, longer blackouts. The squirrel causes a major short circuit and will continue to do so until it is removed. In 2018, Toronto had had about 60 major squirrel outages.” Another post reads ” I’m sorry, but I started chuckling as soon as I read EE’s lead ‘freaking squirrel’. Now I can’t stop, having read others following up. Poor squirrel. But they really are not that bright.” .
The Cody Spring Fair will move inside the school Saturday because of forecast rain. Doors Open Toronto is on this weekend. Here is the list of sites open.
In a few short weeks it will be time for Team Canada — Gillian, Lila, Leah and Julia — to climb on a jet and head to Singapore for the world finals of the Kids’ Lit Quiz competition. These book-loving girls from Hodgson Middle School are the certified True North champions of this worldwide challenge based on knowledge of English-language authors. Amazing. To help cover travel costs for Team Canada, dozens of local merchants and businesses have donated goods and services in an auction that begins on the evening of May 23. One stunning prize is a week at the Kemur Girls Equestrian Camp valued at $1,300. Names like Amsterdam Brewery, Aroma Espresso Bar, Canada’s Wonderland, Davisville Eye Care, Eggstatic, McSorley’s Saloon, Tall Ship Cruises and Ten Spot Leaside are but a few. See all of them and make a bid here.
This elaborately-finished semi-detached home at 77 Hazelton Ave. has sold for $4,900,000, just below the listed price of $5 million. It is narrow (17 feet) and despite its complete makeover some at least will find the price surprisingly high. The lap pool in the open garden is given some credit for the price but the new owner would have to have highly specialized swimming needs, especially in this climate. Here’s a video.
She has taken a lot of abuse in tough circumstances not of her making but many will say that Theresa May is a credit to herself and the UK. She will quit June 7. Her career
Torstar will close its Hamilton printing and mailroom operations on Frid St. near Dundurn St. this summer and look at selling the property. The newspaper publisher says the printing work done at the facility will be transferred to TC Transcontinental Printing and other Torstar-owned facilities as well as other external printers. The decision will require new accommodation for the Hamilton Spectator which built the facility some 40 years ago.
WARNING: Disturbing Content.
Exclusive video of Wednesday’s pedestrian getting hit by a van in Etobicoke. Good news is the victim is going to be okay and a driver was charged. But residents say it’s been a problem for years. Full story on @NEWSTALK1010 pic.twitter.com/FC4RgWUp0A
— Lucas Meyer (@meyer_lucas) May 23, 2019
A video posted by Lucas Meyer of NewsTalk1010 is very upsetting to watch but it is a vivid lesson to drivers and pedestrians alike about how the slightest inattention can lead to a catastrophe. In this case, which occurred Wednesday on the Queensway at Milton St in Etobicoke, the driver is hurtling along this four-lane speedway in what must be a zombie-like trance. He fails to see the crosswalk, fails to see the woman crossing and doesn’t even get the brakes on until she is flying through the air. It is very shocking. He or she has been charged, of course. The only thing that can be said in the driver’s favour is that it wasn’t a hit and run.
TOUGH CASE
There is an even tougher lesson for pedestrians. Social media writers are saying, correctly, that it is always the driver’s responsibility not to hit someone no matter the circumstances. It’s true. But that’s no consolation after you have been run down. Bulldog readers know that the approach recommended here is to behave like every driver is out to kill you. There can be no distraction or sense of real safety until one is on the other sidewalk. That means the eyes must be on a constant swivel to monitor traffic in both directions all the time.
The City has announced that aerial spraying to control the Gypsy Moth menace to oak trees is likely to begin this weekend. The moth is targeted as a threat to the health of mature oaks that grow in many parts of South Bayview and are especially numerous in Moore Park.
During the aerial spray, two twin-engine helicopters with ultra-low-volume spray systems will fly about 15 to 30 metres above the tree canopy to apply a biological insecticide (described in detail below). The product must be applied directly to tree foliage, as Gypsy Moth caterpillars must feed on the treated leaves for the insecticide to be effective.
Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12 and 15 have been identified for aerial spray as they contain a large portion of the City’s oak trees and exhibit significant gypsy moth egg masses. The first round of aerial spraying for Day 1 areas will take place on Sunday, May 26 between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. and spraying for Day 2 areas will take place on Monday, May 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m., weather permitting. A second round will be applied within days but specific dates have yet to be determined. A map of the designated spray areas which identifies each location’s specific spray date is available at: http://cot-pfr2.maps.arcgis.co
m/apps/webappviewer/index.html ?id=fc89e8cce2324aa98736877c0e ef6fb3. Spraying is weather dependent and will only be initiated in the right conditions. As a result, specific spray dates are chosen 48 hours in advance and can be cancelled if weather conditions change. Residents within the affected spray zones are encouraged to check for and subscribe to updates on the City’s website at http://www.toronto.ca/gypsymot
h or call 311. Previously, the City has controlled gypsy moth caterpillar populations by using integrated pest management measures including tree banding and injections as well as egg scraping. However, those methods alone will not effectively control or reduce the population in the identified high-risk areas.
