The South Bayview Bulldog

Team Canada: Gillian, Lila, Leah and Julia are heading to Singapore to compete in Kids’ Lit Quiz/Bulldog photo

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.

Auction offering of a week at Kemur Girls Equestrian Camp near Cambridge

Lap pool

77 Hazelton

House is 17 feet wide

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.

Queensway is a four-lane speedway at Milton St.

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.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fc89e8cce2324aa98736877c0eef6fb3.

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/gypsymoth 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.

Peacock Hotel o Dundas West in 1924/Toronto archives

Vacant when fire struck early Thursday/Jeremy Cohn

A three-alarm fire broke out at the old Peacock Hotel on Dundas Street, just east of Keele Street, just before 3:30 a.m. Thursday. The historic building was condemned last year when part of the rear wall collapsed.

A transformer fire has knocked out power to as many as 3,800 customers (homes) in two areas in and near Leslieville. The boundaries affected are from the lake side up to Gerrard Street and from the Don Valley Parkway to Woodbine Avenue. Toronto Hydro tweeted at 9 a.m. that it is working to have power restored within the next two hours.

Transformer fire

Lavish diamond encrusted jacket for Drake

MLSE gift

That’s the slightly sour question asked by a BNN anchor Wednesday as the full impact of the Raptors gift to Drake began to sink in. Is it his God-like nature that requires an offering of a $747,000 (Canadian) diamond-encrusted jacket? Can it be his music? Are we in touch with reality?  BNN video