The South Bayview Bulldog

Man is sent flying as driver turns car into his path and guns the motor

Man crosses

Just about out of the way, but…

Manchester Police in the UK are on the hunt for a driver who appeared to be obeying the law Friday as he stopped at a crossing to let a man cross. But as the pedestrian was nearly out of the way, it seems the motorist could not resist turning his Honda Civic towards the man and gunning the motor to hit him. Proof again that humans will do almost any destructive thing that they can imagine, just because they can. The victim remains in hospital with back injuries and severe bruising and police are appealing for information.

Urban Toronto website has published information about an application filed with the City to rezone parts of the residential streets west of the Briton House Retirement Centre at 700 Mt. Pleasant Rd. to permit a high-rise extension to the home. Urban Toronto says that plans from Gordon Wells Ltd. call for the expansion with frontages on both Soudan and Brownlow Aves, currently occupied by a number of single and semi-detached homes. In their place is proposed new buildings with a 1,595 m² footprint, designed by Julian Jacobs Architects. The addition would consist of an 18-storey tower atop a 7-storey podium volume and reaching a height of 88.6 metres, or approximately 291 feet.

A weather advistory issued early Sunday says there may be brief heavy snow along a cold front later in the day with a more widespread snowfall likely Monday and Monday night.  An Arctic cold front will cross Southern Ontario late this afternoon into this evening. It will likely be accompanied by a brief burst of heavier snow with reduced visibilities affecting travel. A coating of a couple of centimetres in a short timeframe is possible in some areas. A “general snowfall of 5 to 10 cm appears likely.” 

Neither Saturday night’s Lotto 649 draw nor the Friday night Lotto Max jackpot (for $55 million) yielded a winning ticket  However, the guaranteed $1 million prize was claimed by a ticket holder in Ontario. The jackpot for the next Lotto Max draw on December 15 will now grow to approximately $60 million and players will also have a shot at 15 Maxmillions prizes.

Cheeky Santas dash through Yorkville to raise funds for SickKids Hospital https://t.co/G8r4p7jmzl pic.twitter.com/Vd4LOtSSgh

— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto) December 9, 2017

The 12th annual Toronto Santa Speedo Run took place on a very cold day Saturday once again in aid of the Hospital for Sick Children. The body of runners in red underwear and various skimpy garb was a distinct entertainment for fully-dressed on-lookers. The runners dashed through the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood along  Bay, Yorkville, and Cumberland. The run has raised over $320,000 for the hospital since it began. The money raised goes to the Toys and Games Fund at HSC.

Jozy Altidore scored in the 67th minute and Victor Vazquez added a stoppage-time goal Saturday as Toronto FC completed a record-breaking season with a 2-0 win over Seattle in the MLS Cup final, avenging a penalty shootout loss to the Sounders in last year’s championship game. CBC

https://twitter.com/BearVibesLive/status/939642314548396032

Friday at Manor Road United Church

Group has raised more than $40,000 for United Church of Canada

Manor Road United Church welcomed in the Christmas Season with Songs of Love, Hope and Inspiration performed by The Four Men on Friday evening. The quartet of accomplished singers is composed of Mervin Fick (tenor), Brian McIntosh (tenor), Michael Downie (baritone), and George Kopulos (baritone). They are accompanied by Ronald Greidanus on the piano. For the first half of the evening, the men served up a rich variety of gospel, spiritual, and maritime melodies.  Following a reception of mulled apple cider and homemade cookies, the second half opened with a lively rendition of Deck the Halls and was brought to a close with a delightful and humorous rendition of My True Love Gave to Me (Fischer/Beck). Since its inception, this talented group of men have raised over $40,000 for The United Church of Canada’s Mission and Service Fund which supports  justice, development, community outreach, and advocacy work.  In addition, they have raised over $20,000 for local charities. Tonight’s concert was their 51st and was enjoyed by an appreciative audience.

Ben Tomory with family’s maple syrup

Cody gear at Winter Fair

Toques were hot item

Mayor Tory with Steve Mastoras

Planned for Mortimer and Broadview

South Bayview met Ben Tomory Saturday as he made maple syrup taffy outside Cumbrae’s. It was a big hit with the under-tens although some adults sneaked a stick or two. Ben’s family produces the syrup on their farm near Pefferlaw. To the right, upper and lower, a happy Cody Dad shows off school gear he was selling Saturday at the Cody Winter Fair. What a joyous madhouse that was. Below, Mayor Tory is everywhere these days and Friday it was at Mortimer and Broadview to see Whistler’s owner Steven Mastoras. Mr. Mastoras tweeted his pleasure with the imaginative new condo (right) that will fill the corner in due course.

Jeff Hohner, Edward Wong and Daryn Everett

Jeff Hohner, Mike Zivot and Daryn Everett

Chicken Wing Eating Contest in progress

2017 Guys Night Out at Leaside Pub/Don Bates

It was an exhilarating and busy Friday for Jeff Hohner of the Leaside Pub and friends. They were up late Thursday and into the early hours in the office at the pub counting the proceeds from the Leaside Guys Night Out event.  About 125 men attended the auctions (silent and live) contests (darts, chicken wing eating) and made donations that yielded a lot of money. The Belle of the Ball prize so-to-speak was the Steak and Cigar evening at Andy Elder’s Grilltime with Nick Kypreos (for eight)) which was bought for a record $2,500 by community member Ed Barrett.

WOULD IT BE ENOUGH?

Would it all be enough to buy 4,000 toys for every boy and girl at the four schools in Thorncliffe Park and Flemngdon Park? By 2.30 a.m. Hohner, Mike Zivot, Daryn Everett, Edward Wong and friends had the answer. It was good. They were up early Friday to pick up and pay for the toys. Then it was on to the schools for delivery. With four locations to cover, time was tight. There were five palettes for Thorncliffe Park Public School alone. At the end of job, the annual Guys Night Out looks to be in good shape. There is a little money left for further good work from the total of about $20,000 collected. The turnout and selfless purpose of the contributions speaks loudly and well of the men of Leaside. Mike Zivot observes that the gratitude expressed by teachers and administrators at the schools was overwhelming.

Local 24-hour Metro may cut hours

Former 7-Eleven at Danforth and Donlands

Metro Inc say it will cease 24 hour service at most stores in Toronto because of the impending cost related the $15 minimum wage and other Ontario legislation which forces it to pay part-time workers as full-time. Among the Metro locations which may no longer offer 24-hour service is the very busy store at Eglinton Ave. and Bayview Ave. It was once called the busiest Metro in Toronto although LRT construction may have slowed business somewhat. Metro says it expects to incur $45-$50 million in extra costs next year from Ontario’s minimum wage hike, according to the Financial Post

LOBLAWS EXPERIMENT

It remains to be seen what the wage increase will mean at Loblaws. Many stores, like 301 Moore Ave., is open until midnight staffed entirely by part-time help. Will this continue? Loblaws tried a 24-hour model at Moore Ave and elsewhere in 2011. The pilot lasted just four months before it was cancelled.

Six years since it was occupied

Snapped Friday

As seen in 2011

There is a tenant for the basement unit at 1560 Bayview Ave that was last occupied by the photography supply dealer in 2011. A small sign over the door of the walk-down unit indicates it is leased. The photo was snapped Friday and so far the new tenant is unknown. But it won’t be long before we know.

The Facebook Live video below was filmed Thursday afternoon, at the moment the Lilac Fire started to engulf the San Luis Rey Downs training facility in Bonsall, California. Trainers were frantically setting the horses loose into the inner track area as the barns started to burn. Reports say that at least 25 horses have perished in the fire, and at least one trainer was injured. Up to 500 horses are normally housed in this facility. Viewer discretion is advised. More: LA Times