The South Bayview Bulldog

Health Canada has issued a warning about packages of Alesse birth control pill that contain broken tablets or pills that are smaller than normal. This may make those pills less effective, Health Canada says. Health Canada says the complaints involved a package of Alesse 21, which contains 21 active birth control pills, that expires in August 2018, and a package of Alesse 28, which contains 21 active birth control pills and seven tablets that don’t contain hormones, that expires in April 2019.

TORONTO AND HAMILTON GET MOTOR PARTS INVESTMENT

Premier Wynne says auto parts maker Johnson Electric will invest more than $350 million in equipment and capacity in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The decision is expected to create 326 new jobs. Ms. Wynne is on a trade mission to China and made the announcement from Hong Kong where Johnson Electric is based.

NO WINNING LOTTO MAX

There was no winning ticket for the $50 million jackpot in Friday night’s Lotto Max draw.  Two Maxmillions prizes of $1 million each were drawn and one of them was claimed by a ticket sold in Ontario.

Saturday is Christmas Fair day on Mt. Pleasant Rd. as the BIA offers music, photos with Santa, Sales and the AppleTree Market Cup O’ Cheer. There’s a grand prize draw for $500 and Briton House (see poster above) is throwing open its doors to a market of local merchants sales tables. Up the street, have your picture taken in front of a likeness of the LRT station at the Crosstown Photo Booth. This is the one that will recreate the 1920 bank building in a modern form for thousands to pass through every day. Why not. See you there. BIA Facebook page

Leaside resident Verna Vader has died at age 95. The mother of four, Mrs Vader, lived most of her married life with her husband, the late Allan Vader, in the community. Allan and Verna were longtime members of Northlea United Church and Leaside United Church. Verna loved social activities such as bridge clubs and was a charter member of Leaside Curling Club and Leaside Lawn Bowing Club. Obituary

A man has filed a class action suit against PayPal Canada alleging an undisclosed fee occurs when PayPal automatically converts US funds to Canadian as cash is withdrawn. Leonid Kaplan engaged the Toronto law firm of Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP to prosecute his complaint against PayPal. The CBC says documents filed to the Ontario Superior Court on November 24 on behalf of Kaplan state that when PayPal Canada account holders wish to withdraw foreign currency from their accounts, the  company unilaterally and automatically converts those funds to Canadian dollars. The statement of claim says the conversions are not authorized by contract or otherwise and that PayPal Canada charges account holders an undisclosed fee to convert foreign currency on withdrawal as well as a percentage fee added to the exchange rate charged.

Carolling in the Pines at Northlea United Church is December 10

December 10 at Leaside United

St. Anselm playground repairs

The Four Men at Manor Road United

Empathy creatures at DPS

New name but still TNO

Deep-fried chicken or shrinp

Hash topped with poached egg

Upper left, we see carol singing from the 2016 Carolling in the Pines at Northlea United Church. This year’s gathering is Sunday, December 10, at 7 p.m. among the church’s lovely urban tree stand at 126 Brentcliffe Rd. There will be lots of hot chocolate and it’s an outside event lasting about 45 minutes so dress warmly and bring a flashlight. (Bad weather location is inside the church) To the right, the Leaside United Church Choir under Carol Beckstead will perform carols on Sunday, December 10 at 7.30 p.m. Middle left, Angela Kennedy, Chair of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, was tweeting her enthusiasm for the re-make of the St. Anselm School playground happening soon. Good luck and Godspeed with that task. Then a reminder that the The Four Men Sing on December 8 at Manor Road United Church. Below right, fantastic looking Dutch-style hash with a poached egg and sausage is on the menu at the Netherlands cuisine eatery Borrel at 1333 Danforth Ave. Check their Instagram pictures. Lower left, the kids in Room 102 at Davisville Public School were making “empathy creatures” this week. Take a look. And the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, long-known as TNO, will also henceforth be known as just The Neighbourhood Office, also TNO.

Stephen LeDrew, the outspoken commentator of CP24, has been suspended for saying that so-called Two-Spirit people are confused. For those who may not know, a Two-Spirit is a “pan-Indian, umbrella term used by some indigenous North Americans to describe certain people in their communities who fulfill a traditional third-gender (or other gender-variant) role in their cultures.” It’s not a term you will hear often on Bayview Ave. But on Fox News with Tucker Carlson, the former Toronto mayoral candidate and a former president of the Liberal Party of Canada, was somehow engaged to taker part in a discussion of “LGBT inclusivity” and at one point said the term Two Spirit referred to people who are “confused” about their identity. “Two Spirit sounds like there’s someone they don’t know whether they’re fish or a fowl, they don’t know whether they’re frick or frack,” LeDrew said. “So they’re clearly confused.” LeDrew was subsequently suspended by Bell Media for “his violation of the CTV News Policy and Code of Conduct,” according to the company’s vice president of communication, Scott Henderson.

Creeds Coffee Bar on Dupont St. has confirmed that it will open at 1595 Bayview Ave in January. Sources also confirmed that the new Creeds will accept dry cleaning at the Bayview location. The unusual combination of coffee, confections and dry cleaning is a formula seldom seen. Creeds has become a well-known and frequented hang-out for Annex and west end residents. Creeds Coffee Bar is run by the descendants of the legendary retailer Eddie Creed, the patriarch of the Creed family. They tell a story on their website that Mr. Creed was in Italy a few decades ago finishing up dinner one evening. “As was typical after a nice meal, he was hankering for some decaffeinated coffee and ordered a Sanka. For those of you who don’t remember, Sanka was a brand of instant decaffeinated coffee (one of the first to market). The waiter was a bit confused that Eddie wanted Cinque coffees but when asked to confirm the order, Eddie repeated yes Sanka. A few moments later five espressos landed on the table and laughter ensued as Eddie realized that he’d accidentally ordered five coffees. Eddie always loved coffee and this story is a favourite for retelling among the Creed family. It seemed fitting to name our new custom coffee roast after him. And from one travellers experience at a small café in Italy “Cinque x Creeds Coffee Bar” was born.”

Regal Rd. and Springmount Ave.

Randolph Rd. and Kenrae Rd.

Residents around the funny Y-shaped intersection at Regal Rd. and Springmount Ave in the west end have said for a long time that there was just too much pavement for the cars and too little room for people. This corner northwest of Davenport and Ossington isn’t safe for kids to cross. So as outlined by City News above (and as seen in the composite photo on the left) residents changed the corner with chalk and leaves. You see it before and after along with an artist’s rendering of what it would like with grass in that triangle. It is a reminder of the massive re-work of pavement and greenery at the corner of Randolph Rd. and Kenrae Rd. (right) you have seen recorded in The Bulldog in recent days. Return again to Leaside’s freshly-made spaghetti sidewalk

The Dow Jones industrial average smashed the 24,000 mark and then some as an abundance of news from Washington, world economies and the US national economy sent the index to a 286 finish. Toronto closed up 99 points with Enbridge leading the way. The Dow was up 359 points at midday Thursday and the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index was having its best day since March. Markets responded positively to reports that Republicans were making progress on President Trump’s legislation to reduce corporate taxes. News reports that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was backing the plan gave supporters hope that the GOP may get enough votes for passage. Carl Icahn issued a warning about the stock market on Thursday. “I really think even though earnings are going to be very good … I just think this thing has gotten into a euphoric state,” he said.  But the investor did acknowledge there is a lot of underlying strength to the market. “It’s run away and there might be a big correction but I can’t say it’s insane.”

GM SEES ELECTRIC CARS AT RETAIL BY 2019

General Motors said on Thursday it expects the commercial launch of self-driving vehicles in dense urban environments in 2019. The No.1 US automaker views electric and autonomous vehicles as the keystones of future transport. It said it believes government regulations will support development of self driving cars in the coming few years.

• Yorkdale boutique hotel and condos?
• Lonsdale Rd. home sells for $4.8 million in 48 hours

Illustrator Michael Martchenko

Paper Bag Princess

Carefree parking

Now boarded up

Buy a tree from 132nd Scouts

Tower in the Park

Avenue Bistro

The Leaside neighbour at upper left is the internationally recognized children’s book illustrator Michael Martchenko. He is famous for work like that to the right from the Paper Bag Princess by author Robert Munsch. Mr. Martchenko is perfectly tickled with Leaside just as he tickles millions with his delightful art. Thank you sir. Below that on the right is some carefree parking captured by Frank Alberts at the Leaside Library and posted to Leaside Community. Lower left, regular customers at the 7 Eleven at store #25705 at 975 Danforth Ave. at Donlands Ave. have been stunned to find the place boarded up. Kicked out by Starbucks?  See the East York Chronicle  Middle right is a notice from Wilmar Kortleever asking residents to patronize the 132nd Toronto Scout Group by getting one of their fabulous Christmas trees this Friday through Sunday. First come, first/best choice at Leaside Presbyterian Church on Eglinton at Hanna. Below that is a shot of 141 Davisville Ave. where another Tower-in-the-Park apartment from the 70s is up for additions that cover the park. Ugh. And lastly, take a look at the new gallery along the wall of Avenue Bistro on Bayview Ave. Nice.