The South Bayview Bulldog

Shocking damage to Jeeo

OPP have charged a 32-year-old Pickering man with three instances of hurling concrete blocks off bridges over Highway 401. In one case, the potentially lethal block smashed through the roof of a jeep (above) and landed on the seat next to the terrified driver.  It happened last week about 10 p.m. when Chad Charlemagne was driving near Progress Avenue. He told OPP Sergeant Kerry Schmidt that the block smashed through his roof with the force of explosives.  “I thought it was a bomb,” Charlemagne said, adding that he saw his life flash before his eyes. Then again at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at Yonge Street another concrete block which missed drivers but still did damage to the vehicles.  Heavy patrols of the bridges led to the arrest of a man on Thursday of last week. The accused, Everton Emmanuel James, 32, will appear in court Friday.

Things are extremely tense in the US, as most will know. CNN could not withstand the viewer blow back over a posed picture cooked up by Kathy Griffin showing her holding the severed make-believe head of Donald Trump. Maybe there’s just too much real beheading going on. Anyway, despite a prostrate apology, Griffin is gone from CNN.

Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has published his May 31 newsletter with many matters discussed. The reform of the Ontario Municipal Board is among the most important. If legislation passes it will no longer permit the OMB to substitute its own view of what’s best for a City but would instead require it to respect bylaws and planning legislation. This will reverse in a dramatic way the capacity of the OMB to make height rules, for example. Elsewhere, Matlow notes the so-called Bus Barns meeting to discuss the future of TTC lands at Eglinton Ave and Yonge St. That’s on June 7 at 7 p.m. at the North Toronto Collegiate Institute Commons, 17 Broadway Ave. Newsletter

Toronto is extending permit cancellations with the prospect of refunds in some cases for as many as 90 groups who will not be able to hold their scheduled events on the Islands this June and July.  The cancellations will affect approximately 350 summer camp registrants. Officials said City staff will work with parents on a case-by-case basis to find accommodations in other programs or issue refunds if needed. Much of the traditional summertime playground is still awash from recent rain and high water. The flooding also mean that ferry service is restricted to island residents until further notice.

The thought that her sweet baby, Matilda, nearly died makes mom choke up. A very moving story with an adorable child. Then, digital addresses the non-paper reality with what? Why, a pad that feels like paper of course. You write on it. Below that a quaking great blast in minute detail as a water main in the Ukraine just flies to pieces. Who knows? Finally, Harry the prince of disabled soldiers poses with part of the army of athletes he will sponsor in Toronto later this year. Thanks Harry.

An 11-year-old girl has had an astonishing escape from death after a five-storey fall from her apartment home  on Grand Ravine Drive in northwest North York. She is in the Hospital for Sick Children with broken bones but is said by doctors to be set to recover. She may have rain-softened ground to thank for her survival, The girl was conscious when she was found Tuesday and was able to speak to emergency personnel  Police do not believe there was anything suspicious about the fall. The girl’s mother was in another room and the victim told police that after leaning against a railing she tumbled over

Badly damaged front fender

Two teens girls have been gravely injured while crossing Bayview Ave. at McKee Ave. Wednesday. They were struck by the Volkswagen sedan shown above from the Twitter account of CP24. The badly damaged front fender attested to the impact. McKee forms a T-junction with Bayview. This can be a confusing factor for drivers when assessing risks at such corners. The driver of the Volkswagen involved in the incident remained at the scene and police are trying to determine if a second vehicle may have been involved. Both girls were taken to hospital where their conditions are said to be life-threatening. The driver of the VW was said to be badly shaken by the accident.

New

Old

So here are pictures of the new planters which will grace Yonge St. as tweeted by citizens and re-tweeted by Josh Matlow (Ward 22)  Go here to read the many comments about them. Most are upbeat but Urban Dreamer seems skeptical: “I somehow doubt these new planters will last more than a decade, much less 30+ years like those cool brutalist ones.” Nor is it clear when the jack hammers will remove the old ones because clearly they can’t just be picked up and thrown on the back of a truck. The original concrete number looks like those lining the west side of Bayview Ave.

Mike Crawley of the CBC says four months ago the Premier was really cool to the idea of an immediate $15-an-hour minimum wage. In fact, she didn’t like it. CBC

Plan for 21 Mercer St.

De Niro and Matsuhisa

Robert De Niro and celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa were flicking away concerns about a Toronto real estate bubble at a news conference Tuesday for their collaboration with Madison Group’s 660 unit condo venture on downtown Toronto’s darkest Mercer Street. Canadian Press doesn’t say where the event occurred but the building, when it gets started, will be at 15 Mercer, a side street between John St and Blue Jays Way south of King West. De Niro has real skin in the game along with Chef Nobu, a celebrity cook of some importance it seems. But in the end, few hearts will bleed for this well-heeled and enterprising bunch as they roll the dice that interest in high-end vertical living in Toronto will sustain, driven by the Japanese chef’s reputation and De Niro’s Hollywood clout, says CP. Can’t wait.