The South Bayview Bulldog

Leaside Mulberry

Pear tree shown on Triangle Gardener

The Facebook page Leaside Community continues to host interesting matters of local concern. Thursday shows many posts related to a case of what looks like fire damage on a much-loved Mulberry tree on private property in south Leaside. The owner was concerned this might be vandalism of the most alarming kind. Others raise the possibility that the tree has been struck by Fire Blight, a tree disease that is harboured in Juniper bushes. There is a juniper nearby, the owner confirms and she is seeking advice. Triangle Gardener

HAZARD: Mount Pleasant Road and Jarvis Street, @TPS51Div. Info – Man holding a brick over the bridge. Police on the way. #GO1484330 ^CdK

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

There are two bridges here but the pedestrian overpass is glassed in. The Bloor St bridge is open to Mt. Pleasant below.

The teen, Jeremiah Perry, 15, who drowned in Algonquin Park last month while on a Toronto District School Board camping trip, failed a swim test but was still allowed to go. His brother also failed and he too was permitted to go on the trip. Stories Wednesday tell of the swimming-test requirements for those able to participate. After failing a first attempt at learning to swim, Perry and his brother were supposed to be given more chances to learn, but were not. Nor is it clear whether time was an issue, or at what point a decision to deny the two an opportunity to go on the trip would be made. There would no doubt be enormous reluctance to tell two students out of dozens that they were being denied.

Pick this carrot!

Mary Grams with long lost ring

An Alberta woman, 84, has been re-united with a ring she lost while gardening 13 years ago. Astonishingly, the ring was found wrapped around a carrot pulled from a garden at the family farm by her daughter-in-law Colleen Daley. For many, the fateful appearance of the ring could well proclaim an unseen hand of destiny. Or just the rarest quirk of luck. The 105-year-old heirloom was lost by Mary Grams in 2004 while gardening. Despite furious searching, it could not be found. But this week it came back, secured on a carrot plucked from the soil in the same garden at Armena, southeast of Edmonton.

Trucks turn around on Merton

Wires down on Merton

Merton Street was closed for about an hour Wednesday morning after a high truck knocked down local service wires. Hydro workers recalled that it is a very common problem. During the repair, there was no control of traffic at Cleveland St resulting on a back of up vehicles and mass turnarounds.

An electrical fire at Toronto’s landmark CN Tower was extinguished Wednesday morning after firefighters took turns climbing into an antenna mast to deal with smouldering wiring and insulation. There was nothing to be seen outside except the CN tower. Power was turned off for a period which affected transmisson of some radio statons. For some on Twitter, like Arthur Sinclair, it recalled the 1975 fire during construction. He notes that at the time it was considered the world’s highest fire. This must be a distinction long-since lost to tower blazes elsewhere.

Millions of Canadians who hold PC MasterCards will be watching to see what impact, if any, the decision by CIBC to “absorb” those attached to bank accounts into a new brand called Simplii Financial has on their day-to-day use of the card. CIBC has provided the back-end banking services for PC Financial for nearly 20 years but the companies said Wednesday they are going their separate ways. Loblaws owned PC says it will continue to offer MasterCard credit card products and the PC Plus loyalty-points program as usual but the mechanics of that are not outlined. PC spokesperson Lana Gogas did write to The South Bayview Bulldog to state that there are no changes to the PC Financial Mastercard products as they are solely provided by PC Bank.

EFFORTS TO EXPLAIN

There are brave media efforts to keep this clear for PC card holders who are not depositors at CIBC. It appears to be the case that PC branded cards will still be issued but the future is by definition unknown.  “We are excited about the future and our ability to create new products to serve Canadians,” PC Financial spokesperson said Ms Gogas. “Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for PC Financial, including continued strength in payments and loyalty through our PC Financial MasterCard products.” Canadian Press CBC

Imp says Hi

Superintendent Scott Baptist

Celtic fiddler

Sandlot politics

Thursday is National Thrift Shop Day

Round and about South Bayview, this imp says “Hi” from Davisville on the Instagram account of real estate agent Mark Oulahen. Maybe just cause dad asked. Then to the right, Superintendent Scott Baptist, commander of the new Midtown District — a merging of Divisions 13 and 53 in central Toronto. Good luck Super. Below that, a cheery Celtic fiddler at Tuesday’s East York Farmer’s Market. Lower left, MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith should blush, even though he has something to do with the good work of getting these kids to play ball. We trust things are just as functional in Ottawa. And finally, Thursday is National Thrift Shop Day. Yes. There will be surprise freebies for shoppers and regular discounts too at the Sally Ann thrifts, one of which is at Overlea Blvd and Thorncliffe Park Drive.

Fire has swept an 19th century church in Burlington at 4372 Appleby Road. The church has been the property of the Trinity Baptist Church since the early 1970s when it was purchased after sitting vacant. It had previously been a United Church. Halton police say a call came in about a fire at the church after 1 a.m..It appears from Twitter that there had been a series of church events being held at the location during the early days of August. The pastor of the church of the church said he suspected arson but had no specific information.

Jay Szymanski/Peel Paramedics

A man in his 30s has been badly hurt in a motorcycle accident at Mavis and Burnhamthorpe Roads in Mississauga Tuesday night. He was the rider of the bike. A woman believed to be in her 20s suffered what are called minor injuries in the crash which apparently involved collision with a car. .