The South Bayview Bulldog

Dark line reveals open space down centre of Highland Creek Bridge in Scarborough

Not so apparent when driving, walking on Kingston Rd.

A young man has fallen to his death after he somehow fell through the opening “median” between east and west bound lanes of the Highland Creek Bridge on Kingston Rd. The freakish accident occurred Saturday night when the victim, 20, was apparently homeward bound with friends. The design of the bridge may be deceiving to those at road level but the gap in the centre of the road is open to the ground below. Police have described the incident as a “complete accident.” 

Open Streets will close both Yonge and Bloor Sts. in central Toronto Sunday. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Bloor will be closed between Montrose Ave and Sherbourne Ave and Yonge will be closed between Davenport Ave and Queen St

Statistics compiled by Toronto Public Health reveal opioid overdoses and deaths in Toronto occur along geographic and apparently economic lines. The map below, re-published by City News from health department files, shows very light use of such medications in affluent areas of Midtown like South Bayview. Reported overdose calls in places such as Leaside, Davisville, Moore Park and other area neighborhoods ranged between 5 to 16 during a monitored period from August 2017 to August 2018. Other parts of  the City, particularly downtown, show a much higher crisis occurence of both overdoses and deaths. Paramedics received 358 calls for suspected opioid overdoses in the Church-Yonge corridor, 337 in Moss Park, and 158 in the Bay St. corridor. Some 1,250 people have died from opioid overdoses in the province in the last 15 years— an increase of 246 per cent — numbers from Public Health Ontario show.  One in four opioid-related deaths in Ontario occurred in the City, Toronto Health says.

Zhu Jingriu

Wanda Barzee

Derek Burney

In China, where they execute as many as 2,000 people a year, Zhu Jingriu is fighting to clear the name of her late son. The fascinating Australian Broadcasting Corporation report says the emphasis in the Middle Kingdon for capital cases is merely a confession, not forensic evidence like DNA. At centre is Wanda Barzee, the woman who with her demented husband imprisoned and tortured Elizabeth Smart, then 14. Barzee is to be released from prison in Utah and Smart is furious. Then, former ambassador to the US Derek Burney asks what, if anything, the US is prepared to concede to get an agreement on trade. He calls the American attitude “Nafta shaft-ya.”

Henri Bendel

Manhattan store

Brown and white stripes

You’re a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet, you’re Mickey Mouse 
From You’re the Top, Cole Porter

Henri Bendel, the US luxury brand chain of 24 stores, will close after 123 years in business. The brand was started by Henri Bendel in 1895, when he moved to New York and began making white-and-brown-striped bags and hat boxes that appealed to the city’s elite. Ninety years later, in 1985, Henri Bendel was acquired by L Brands. L Brands, which also owns Victoria’s Secret, PINK, Bath & Body Works, and La Senza, announced on Friday that it would be closing all Henri Bendel stores, including its website and flagship store, to focus on its more profitable brands. Analysts agree Bendel has succumbed to a double whammy of online shopping and expensive real estate.

Sidecar Molly

Warren Porter and Molly at Park and Bark

Stern looking but loyal friend Migo

Lucy get nails done

Ice cream for dogs (!)

Hmm. Are you for real?

Park and Bark offered good dog watching Saturday morning at the lot at Yonge St. and Millwood Rd. Sidecar Molly was there with her friend Warren Porter of Iron Gate Private Wine In Leaside. Warren has a Vespa and Molly is nearly as famous as Mustang Sally for her motoring pastime. There were a number of pet services to be seen including Your Dog Butler (647) 477-5858 for a caring way to move injured or elderly dogs. There was also the new brand of Barker and Snouts ice cream for dogs. There’s only one flavour, Peanut Butter Banana. It’s made with organic yogurt, peanut butter, bananas and honey. Can they tell it’s not Vanilla or Rocky Road? Never mind, we want some.

Richard Southern has been transferred to the Ontario Legislature by 680 News. For many years, Southern has covered business news for the radio station. The move is called a “homecoming” for Southern, who started as a Queen’s Park page when he was 12.

No winning ticket was sold for the $55 million jackpot in Friday night’s Lotto Max draw. One of the five $1 million prizes will be shared by two ticket holders in Ontario. Each will get $500,000. The jackpot for the next Lotto Max draw on Sept. 21 will grow to approximately $60 million, and players will have a shot at 16 Maxmillions prizes.

Rahier is sold, staff confirm

See what the pixies have done

Maurice Cody movie night featured Coco

Grade 9 Parent’s Night at Leaside High

Park and Bark Saturday

Staff at Rahier have confirmed that owner Francois Rahier has sold his classic pastry business, a Bayview Ave. standby since 1996. There is no word on the new owner. Rahier’s remarkable journey in life from early jobs in his native Belgium to our own main street is well told on his website. On the right, Bayview’s most treasured volunteer women have been profiled by Michelle Dube on the early evening news at CTV Toronto. It is much deserved. Centre left, parents and kids held forth in the playing field at Maurice Cody School Friday night for their annual open-air movie night. The feature was Coco, a charming animated film with many excellent lessons for children about life, death, family and music. Lower left, Wilmar Kortleever was re-tweeting pictures of the annual Grade 9 parents night at Leaside High School Thursday. Finally, at bottom right, a reminder that Park and Bark returns to the parking lot at Davisville Ave. and Yonge St. Saturday morning.

Ceiling panels and other components replaced

Thorncliffe Banquet Hall

Wall built to seal mall from Food Basic, which remains open

East York Town Centre will be closed until Thursday, September 20 to clean up smoke damage after a fire in the centre’s Thorncliffe Banquet Hall Sunday, August 9. The one-alarm fire occurred late in the evening at the hall which is upstairs at the EYTC. Friday workers could be seen replacing ceiling panels and other elements of the mall. Many businesses with outside entrances remain open. EYTC names these:  Food Basics, Chunky Chicken, Fit4Less, Kandahar Kabab, Once Upon a Child and Pizza Pizza. Tim’s was closed Friday.