The South Bayview Bulldog

$100 milion Nigigon Bridge

Snapped bolts cause deck to be yanked up by cables

Tons of concrete to hold it down

Two years after several bolts snapped off of the newly-opened multi-million dollar Nipigon Bridge, the Ontario government just doesn’t want to talk about who is going to pay for the cost of fixing it. A Canadian Press report says there is a repair bill of perhaps $12 million to pay according to documents it has seen. The bridge itself cost $100 million to build. But the Ontario government is refusing to say just how much over, and whether taxpayers will have to foot the bill for fixes to the bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway. Engineering reports found that a combination of design and installation deficiencies of several key components caused the bridge to fail, severing the critical national link. Specifically, Improperly tightened bolts on one portion of the bridge snapped, causing the steel decking to lift about 60 centimetres. That was just 42 days after the bridge had opened in late 2015. Tons of concrete have been used to hold down the deck as a temporary means of making the bridge passable. The CP report does not name the contractor or the engineering firm

• Snapped off bolts sent bridge road bed lunging upwards

Playing under the floor of Davisville home

Andy Elder, Jon Burnside

Mackenzie Bier collected 300 pairs of running shoes for friends in Thorncliffe Park

Purple Tree Day Care

Stranger than strange and a lot of fun too is Liz MacFarland’s tweet this weekend on the well-preserved movie listing from the Toronto Telegram that she found under the floor of her Davisville Village home. In this ad from Saturday, September 29, 1940, we see that the Belsize Theatre (now the Regent) at 551 Mt. Pleasant was playing Irene starring Anna Neagle and Ray Milland. A second bill was George Sanders in The Saint Takes Over. Roll ’em both. To the right, Ward 26 rep Jon Burnside has noted the generous charitable work of Andy Elder, owner of Grilltime at 62 Laird. Anyone who knows this congenial man is well aware of his selfless efforts to do good locally. Below that, also from Burnside’s December newsletter, the inspiring story of Leaside High School student MacKenzie Bier. Her love of running prompted her to collect and clean suitable shoes for kids in Thorncliffe Park. Read the whole story here. Finally, directors of the Purple Tree Daycare on Soudan Ave., Shelley Flood and Jane Ashford, are reminding moms and dads of their service. They are delighted to provide a happy place where children can safely grow, explore and discover their potential.

There were no winners for either Lotto 649 or the Lotto Max draw this weekend. The 649 guaranteed $1 million prize was claimed by a ticket purchased in Ontario.

The TTC says subway service on the Yonge Line was suspended until nearly 1 a.m. Sunday because of the appearance of a cracked track between Union and King Station. Service was halted from Union to Bloor St. but is back on again Sunday.

General Motors says it is asking the US government for permission to sell a fully autonomous car. That means a car with no steering wheel, brake or accelerator pedal. It wants to do this by 2019, the company says in an application to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The new vehicle is called the Cruise AV. It is a rebranded version of GM’s Chevrolet Bolt EV and among other efficiencies will open doors for those who  are unable to do that for themselves. The Cruise will be among the first cars to do away with manual controls for steering, brakes and throttle. The former driver’s seat will become the front left passenger seat.

Robert Lowrey 1945-2017

Eglinton and Brencliffe

Leaside native Robert Lowrey died on Christmas Day. Mr. Lowrey is survived by his wife Kim of 35 years, by his daughter Katie, sister Sylvia Christensen and other family. His business, Robert Lowrey Piano Experts, located at Eglinton Ave. E. and Brentcliffe Drive, is a community landmark. His obituary is published in the Toronto Star and reads in part: “Rob’s keen interest in all things allowed him to speak with anyone regarding any topic, whether it was sports, politics, literature, history, music or the arts. He had an extensive knowledge of all these subjects but at the same time he was humble and had a way with people, which put them at ease. He was extremely thoughtful, sensitive, articulate and witty and took joy teasing those with whom he was closest. He loved his dogs, whom he walked or cross-country skied with every morning and could not sleep at night until he knew the birdfeeders were filled for the morning birds.”

Save the Regent (Belsize)

Franke Drake in Leaside

Leaside United Church Trivia

St. Cuthbert’s Potluck Dinner

“Return” scam on Danforth

Creeds needs a barista

Left, Josh Matlow (Ward 22) will hold a meeting January 22 at Greenwood College School to discuss how to save the Regent Theatre now that its owners have put it up for sale. Reputed price is $9 million. The place was built in 1927 as the Belsize Theatre. That’s why there is a great carved stone “B” on its front wall. Any plan to honour its heritage should surely see it take back the orignal name. At upper right, late-Steampunk drama is all the rage and the Frankie Drake Mysteries sees Leaside as fertile ground. The CBC series has produced an episode in which “Frankie and Trudy visit Leaside airfield.” Welcome to Thorncliffe Park ladies. Below that, a reminder of the Leaside United Church Trivia night set for January 20. Lower left, don’t forget the St. Cuthbert’s Potluck Dinner, also January 20. Bottom centre, Susan Puff of the Danforth BIA tells of an old post-Christmas scam that has hit stores there. Someone is trying to “return” shoplifted items purchased for a sister, mom, aunt etc. It has been seen on Bayview Ave too. Finally, Creeds as yet unopened shop at 1595 Bayview is looking for a barista.

Tim Beseker leaves home

Sure he does

Security cam caught it all

Tim Besecker of Ashburn, Virginia is a star after security video at his home caught him navigating  (if that’s the word) down his icy driveway. He is now known as driveway guy. His wife was amused enough to post it to YouTube. Then, the Wall Street Journal says that a porn star was paid $130,000 to keep quiet about a sex encounter with Donald Trump. He is not accused of harassing her, just to be clear. All very sordid but the president’s lawyer says Trump denies it all. Below that, lots of people use Facebook but do they care about how Mark Zuckerberg is going to make it better? Maybe. And lastly, a $1000 kitchen gadget that allows you to pour wine without removing the cork.

Diamond Corp. wants to build 26 Storey tower on Yonge

Unknown opponents posting this

As reported by the Summerhill neighborhood blog Yonge and Roxborough News, unknown parties have launched a poster campaign to stop the construction of a 26-storey condominium on Yonge St south of the venerable North Toronto station (now LCBO). It is called a threat to the view of the “Summerhill Clock” which has adorned the street since the station was constructed in 1916. The opponents, whoever they are, have a fanciful turn of mind, having created posters in the likeness of the The Valley Hill Telegraph, a fictional newspaper featured in the movie-series Back To The Future.

Toronto Police will hold meetings across the City in the New Year to receive input on what is called “TPS organizational culture”  A mid-February session will take place in Flemingdon Park at a location to be confirmed. The date set is February 15, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Public invited to provide input on TPS organizational culture

King St. merchants came out of a meeting with Mayor Tory Friday apparently optimistic that they can get the “street rules” lifted from their businesses after 7 p.m. It all seems to obvious. Ban cars, kill business. Think of South Bayview without cars. Uh-huh. Then, Donald Trump says he has cancelled his official trip to London to open the new US embassy there. It seems certain he would be besieged by demonstrations. Below, be happy as a craftsman of the old school continues to carve carousel horses. This is lovely. And finally, let’s go to arctic Murmansk, where many Canadian sailors laboured and died in WWII to save Russia from the Nazis. These days residents are celebrating the return of the sun after 40 days of darkness.