The South Bayview Bulldog

Constellation Brands is upping its bet on the cannabis industry, announcing an additional $5 billion stake in Canopy Growth on Wednesday. The US maker of Corona and Modelo beers took a 9.9 percent stake in the Canadian cannabis company in October. The deal included the option for future investments, giving Constellation a first toehold in an industry the brewer said it expects to soon be legalized across the United States. Shares of Canopy Growth surged as much as 50 percent in Wednesday’s premarket from Tuesday’s close of $24.62 per share. Constellation’s stock was down more than 3.5 percent.

Constellation beer brands

Testosterone and heat

Mom says “Hey, hey, hey!”

This incident was recorded by Christian Patrick and published on YouTube by the Toronto Sun. It occurred Friday on College St. between Dufferin and Ossington. The woman who broke it up is just a perfect mom. Below at the right there was a head-on collision between a police SUV and a sightseeing bus Tuesday on Queen’s Quay. The bus driver is said to have lost control of his large vehicle. Summer in the City.

The Attorney General says illegal pot shops like the ones that have dotted Toronto streets for more than two years will not be allowed to rehabilitate themselves after marijuana becomes legal this fall. Caroline Mulroney has given more definition to the Ford government plan to permit some legal pot shops next year. But they won’t be the ones that have been flouting the law up til now it seems.  Mulroney says that the government has no plans to permit such dispensaries to participate in the legal market. Mulroney spoke in an appearance on CP24 at noon. Plans include online sales through the provincially-run Ontario Cannabis Store as of Oct. 17 and then sales in private retail stores, beginning in April.

Open-air urinals have started appearing on Paris streets where men have been relieving themselves on the grass. Take a look. Or avert your eyes. Whatever. Then, a sharp reversal in the Florida stand-your-ground case we told you about in July. Below that, 680 News reporter Carl Hanske at the scene of a hit and run in New Toronto. Then finally, all you Aussies speak really funny. Sorry, the truth is your accent is very hard to imitate.

Ward 38 member Glenn De Baeremaeker will not run for re-election because his chances of winning are “a long shot” in a 25-ward election campaign. In a news release Monday, he said that the provincially imposed plan to shrink council in half means winning in a ward that is double the size would be too tough. “I think I might have been able to pull it off, but at what cost to family, friends and supporters,” De Baeremaeker said. “A campaign is a grueling, seven-day-a-week proposition. It’s a lot to ask of people when winning is a long shot. Rather than fighting against former colleagues, I decided it would be more positive to invest my energy in branching off in a new direction.”

Mike Tufts

Cones occupy Bayview Ave.

Waiting to fall

The weekend saw a new sign on the Valumart at 1500 Bayview. Mike Tufts (left) congenial franchisee for more than 18 months, has moved to the Valumart at Bayview and Cummer Aves. A new boss at the local store will be appointed in due course. Until then it is signed “Bayview’s” Valumart. Valumart, as many will know, is a subsidiary of the Loblaw company, National Grocers. Centre is a parade of giant traffic cones that occupied the west side of Bayview from Merton St. down to nearly Moore Ave. on Saturday. This is not a good omen. At right, another bad sign and residents should be careful not to stand under it. These wonky fixtures are all over town. It seems the Works Department needs a new plan. The Councillor is alerted.

Richard Russell

Isabela Moner

Skip the ashes, thanks

His face would not tip you to the destructive need of Richard Russell, 29, to steal a commercial jetliner and do barrell-rolls in it as he committed suicide. But his intercom meanderings reveal the same self-absorption of so many who seek fame in death. Listen to his lament. Then, hello to the face of a flesh and blood Dora the Explorer. Her name is Isabela Moner and she will star in a Dora movie. Good stuff. Finally, we’ll pass on the charcoal food thanks. According to this report, millions are rooting around in the ash can for everything from ice cream and hot dogs.

Reviews are mixed for the sky-blue Chardonnay recently introduced in France. The vintner says business is booming but some people on Youtube say they’d prefer to drink Windex. Nasty. Then, NASA is headed to (near) the sun. What fun. Below that, a close (and scary) look at the new boss of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Everything. Ugh. And finally, Miss India is making waves in her home country about the wretched taboo on menstrual hygiene. You go gal.

Green Mountain Flowers from home next door

Fire in upstairs rented room hits March 20

Angie Pong seen with late husband and her three children

Residents of the lower Coxwell Ave. neighborhood near Fairford Ave. pass the burned out property of Green Mountain Flowers and express again their regret over the fire that hit the landmark business last March. They hope so much for the successful return of owner Angie Pong and her children to the site and a re-birth of business there. Flames hit the upper floor of the old building at 350 Coxwell March 20 and those in touch with Ms. Pong say she too is waiting hopefully for the insurance settlement. She can be seen most mornings puttering around the modest premises, watering flowers that remain from before the fire. It is said to have started in the room of a tenant. It does not appear to have been suspicious to fire authorities. A GoFundMe page was started and may be seen at this address.
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Leaside Chit Chat is just on fire Sunday morning with responses to a video posted by MK  Britt-Rose about a visit to the Meow Cat Cafe on Mt. Pleasant Rd. by a local man who is wheel-chair bound. This follows a story by Global News about a teen boy who was refused service because he is in a wheelchair. It is a sad story all around but the origin of the conduct of the owners seems to be rooted in the documented peril for cats from wheelchairs  Meow Cat Café co-owner Erica Yun told Global she understands why people would be upset by the no-wheelchair policy but they have a responsibility to keep their cats safe. Among the posts to Chit Chat is a desperate letter (below) from the cafe owners now posted on the door. The owners clearly feel they are misunderstood about a legitimate concern. They say they feel the media can disregard them because “they are weak women and Asians who don’t speak English well.”

• Wheelchairs and Pets: Be Careful Where You Roll
• Teenage boy denied entry to Toronto cat café because of his wheelchair