The South Bayview Bulldog

SmartCentre

Shoeless Joe’s on Eglinton

East York Town Centre

Grilltime on Laird

Businessmen and women in the Leaside Business Park are proposing a large Business Improvement Area which would include small shops on Eglinton east of Sutherland Drive to industries such as Del Equipment truck fabrication on Laird Dr., to the East York Town Centre in Thorncliffe Park. The BIA, as proposed, would also include the SmartCentre and all its tenants like Winners as well as the unbuilt Costco. A meeting has been held and pending matters were identified as follows: final boundaries, proposed budget, agreement of the many merchants and businesses in the proposed space and the need to spread the word.  Mail from organizer Ian Morton to more than three dozen businesses and individuals speaks of the BIA as a “seat at the table” with the City on issues such as infrastructure investment, research studies, beautification, safety/security and marketing the area “as an excellent place” to do business.

ZONING TO BE RATIONALIZED?

For many, the size and sheer spread of this concept will be alien to known BIAs. They normally bring together merchants on a single street or adjoining streets. But as Morton noted, there are two or three other such giant BIAs in operation. The proposal may well raise the matter of consistent zoning which on the surface does not exist within the proposed area. That and the status of businesses now operating outside the industrial status of the land east of Laird may now be rationalized. A second meeting is set for Wednesday, September 27, with other details to come.

Hockey moms and dads will be familiar with the Hockey Canada rule requiring 6-year-olds to play on a small rink — so-called Cross-Ice or Half-Ice pads. In North York there is a lot of resentment as reported by Cristina Howorun of City News.

Two people rushed to hospital after four-vehicle crash in Ledbury Parkhttps://t.co/hgrkahhDLB pic.twitter.com/Rre1oC8awQ

— CP24 (@CP24) September 18, 2017

Five people were injured in an accident involving four vehicles at Lawrence Ave. West and Grey Rd. Monday morning. It appears the driver of a car trying to enter westbound traffic failed to yield. The car landed on the lawn of a home on the corner of Lawrence and Grey. Two occupants were taken to hospital with serious injuries but non-life-threatening injuries. Two children and one adult, were treated for minor injuries.

5 Alarm Fire – 40 Crockford Blvd. One firefighter with injured hand. Road closed. Investigators notified. pic.twitter.com/B3EpY7oE8Z

— Tony Smyth (@LateNightCam) September 18, 2017

A five-alarm fire in a catering business on Crockford Blvd. in Scarborough caused a next-door school bus operation to delay some routes Monday morning. The Toronto Student Transportation Group said in a tweet that the fire at 40 Crockford delayed some vehicles by a few minutes. The blaze is said have caused $500,000 damage.

The unusual spectacle of a residents association reversing itself on the need for a stop sign is playing out in North Rosedale. The association had lobbied for a four-way stop at Glen Rd. and Bin-Scarth Rd. but now it says please take down the signs. The linked story makes it clear that the community is deeply divided, a condition not unknown. CBC

The improbable world of human rights may yet see enormously-endowed private schools like Branksome Hall and Upper Canada College eligible to apply for free food from the City’s School Nutrition Program. That’s the plan that makes sure children in poor areas are getting breakfast. It is said to be possible that some private schools would apply and be approved. Starving children at the Mt. Pleasant Rd. campus of Branksome, where tuition is about $35,000 a year, may seem too detached from reality to bother most people, but the City Solicitor made the decision under pressure from those who find value in such concerns. In fact, some private schools based on religion may well apply and be approved. Here’s what the ever-equitable Joe Mihevc (Ward 21) had to say: “If you have a social equity program, you cannot distinguish on the basis of religion, or geography, or whether they are a publicly-funded or not publicly-funded school.” CBC

Voting for the federal NDP leadership is an extended affair that will go on in stages between now and October 15. Next, Four college woman from Boston are out of hospital in Marseilles after a deranged person threw acid in their faces at the railway station. One may need eye surgery. Below that, several British men have built this 20-foot Star Wars vehicle on a front lawn for fun. And you were worried about your neighbor. Lastly, a must-see as a woman in Texas gets out of handcuffs in a police car and takes off in the vehicle. There appears to be cameras everywhere as she speeds away and then crashes. Illuminating.

CBC — Denis Shapovalov made the most of an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing for his country this weekend at the Davis Cup. The 18-year-old put Canada through to the World Group for 2018 after a dominating 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory over Ramkumar Ramanathan of India in its best-of-five Davis Cup tie on Sunday on the indoor hard court at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton. CBC

Back on the job

Corn is ready

Rotary reach

The 24th Annual Toronto-Leaside Rotary Club Corn Roast was held in perfect weather Sunday at Trace Manes Park. Bouncy castles, slides and numerous other activities entertained children. Premier Wynne visited (as she usually does) and Councillor Jon Burnside’s cotton candy concession was busy.

UPDATE – COLLISION
SB Bayview Extension at Rosedale Valley Rd, CLOSED Rosedale Valley Rd, Park to Bayview #GO1687241 ^cb

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) September 17, 2017

Judy Weiss is urging supporters to keep momentum going for her petition to return the speed limit to 60 km from the present 50 on the Bayview Extension south of Pottery Road  Most interesting is her information that the change to 50 km on this part of the road was something like a thoughtless afterthought (our word). Judy says: “I have spoken to Councillor Jon Burnside of Leaside, who advised that this reduced speed limit to the Bayview Extension was added to a Publics Works committee vote in respect to 34 other problem locations noted in police collected data. He advised that one or more members of that committee added in to vote for standardizing the entire road of Bayview from the bottom of the extension all the way up to Steeles Ave to be posted at 50kms/hr with no data to back up this submission for a vote. The other 34 locations had problems noted in the police data. But Bayview was included in this vote with no data to support it being included. Let’s undo this bureaucratic mistake ” The petition has 640 supporters Sunday morning Change.org petition