The South Bayview Bulldog

Sunnybrook Health Sciences  Centre at 2075 Bayview Ave. continues to be the place where the most parking tickets in Toronto are issued each year. This continued to be true in 2016 with 8,966 tickets issued on the hospital’s campus –some might call it a crazy quilt parking lot. But nonetheless, the urgency of a driver’s visit to hospital (got to see a doctor, or keep an appointment) means people frequently find themselves leaving their cars where they probably would not in other circumstances. Many might just forget the trip altogether if conditions were the same for visiting a grocery store, or similar routine errand. According to Veronica Appia in the East York Mirror infractions include parking on private property, parking without a permit and parking on the street during prohibited times. Julia Saca, supervisor of parking and transportation at Sunnybrook, told Appia there are specific steps the hospital takes to ensure visitors know where they are able to park and where they are not. But none of this changes the urgency felt by people who park there. It is common for patients to contest their tickets. Says Ms Saca: “Even though we do issue a lot of tickets to the patients, we probably cancel half of them.” Another high ticketing spot locally is 40 Orchard View Blvd. (Toronto Public Library – Northern District Library, 1 block north of Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. W.)

Striking workers have reached a tentative agreement with their employer, the Toronto Zoo. This suggests that the popular attraction will re-open soon. About 400 members of CUPE Local 1600 walked off the job on May 11 after last-minute negotiations ahead of a midnight strike deadline failed to lead to a negotiated settlement. It appeared during negotiations that the issue related to how soon temporary employees might be permitted to claim permanent employment status, an issue that the union described as job security.

The Carlaw Ave firm will be in Liberty Village this time to show Gucci, Prada, Miu Miu and similar chic brands (see interactive poster). It’s at the e-gallery. 117 Jefferson Ave. Instagram

7 Glenvale Crescent

Two doors away

A well-kept bungalow at 16 Glenshaw Cres. in East York’s Presteign Heights neighbourhood has sold for substantially over asking. The list was $1,088,000 and the owners got $1,458,000. The home is in a nice area on a ravine where the bump-up and rebuild phenomenon is alive and well. It is a short distance from St. Clair Ave. and O’Connor Drive. It last sold in 1987 for $215,000.

Housing starts in Canada slowed more than expected in May against April as the Canada Mortgage and Housing set the adjusted annual rate at 194,663 units in May compared with 213,498 in April.  The figure was expected to be closer to 205,000. The drop came as the pace of urban starts fell 10.2 per cent in May to 178,518. Multiple-unit urban starts dropped 10.8 per cent to 118,694, while single-detached urban starts fell 8.9 per cent, to 59,824.

PEANUT BUTTER PRANK AT SCHOOL

A thorough cleaning is being done at Senator O’Connor College high school at 60 Rowena Drive just west of Victoria Park Ave. after peanut butter was smeared over walls inside the school. The school was closed because of the prank.  Toronto Catholic District School Board’s John Yan said a student or students entered the school earlier Wednesday and plastered a mixture “throughout a large portion of the school, including on floors, stairs and doorknobs and handles.”

A tractor-trailer went off the road on Highway 401 in Pickering Thursday morning injuring the two occupants of the cab. CP24/City News by Twitter.

Inside Vero

Something going on

New at Sunnybrook Plaza

Avoca Chocolates signage

Opening next week

South Bayview super snoopers say there’s a light on at 1580 Bayview, former home of Vero Trattoria, and that someone else is moving on. This may be the case as there is clearly work underway. Let’s hope so. At Sunnybrook Plaza a framing store, Frame Express, has popped up on the corner where Mac’s used to be. And over at the corner of Millwood and Rumsey Rds. the signs were going up Wednesday for Avoca Chocolates, a sweet store by any measure. They say they will sell everything from tea to truffles to milk shakes and more. The sign guy said look for them to open next week. Chocolate shop will open on Millwood beside Trace Manes

Old Chester will invoke a meadow

Humans live here

St. Patricks

Chester

Woodbine

Sherbourne

The TTC held an exhibit on Monday for the public to see art that will be installed at seven stations. The stations are Chester, King, Runnymede, Sherbourne, St Patrick, Wilson and Woodbine. Among the eclectic styles is a geometric blizzard set for Sherbourne and intriguing figures of what are said to be actual subway riders for St. Patrick. The old Chester station on the Danforth is looking at a dream of the 19th-century meadows that stretched along the east side of the Don before anyone ever ordered Tzatziki there. The art concepts were selected by a jury and will go before the TTC Board for review and approval in the near future. The selected artists will then develop the artwork in cooperation with the TTC Chief Architect and the Easier Access/Second Exit/Public Art project team. Installation is said to be planned at “a later date” so don’t expect to see it tomorrow. TTC art

Five students were taken to hospital after a school bus rolled onto its side in a collision with an SUV Wednesday morning at the intersection of Richmond Street East and Berkeley Street.

It’s come to this. A Halifax woman has started an airport car service that has all-women drivers. It appears that Chrissy McDowell’s Lady Drive-Her may  give men a ride now and then but only women are allowed behind the wheel. And although Ms. McDowell softly suggests it’s about women “feeling more comfortable” with a woman driver it’s those endless stories of male cabbies molesting their fares that is driving this business.

The East York Farmers’ Market was held as usual on Tuesday outside the Civic Centre at 859 Coxwell. This weekly evet runs until October 31 this year and is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Among those present this day was Marilyn Smith (bottom left) with her bit of cookng whimsy known as My Left Frying Pan.