The South Bayview Bulldog

Choose your spin on the French election but the victory of political novice Emmanuel Macron (about 65 per cent in the vote) in Sunday’s run-off is seen as either a new wave of European commitment or a leap into the unknown. Macron is compared carelessly with Justin Trudeau but that seems superficial. Trudeau (his father’s son) is a member of an established political party with seats in a Westminster-style parliament. Macron is a solo flyer — no lineage, no party and a Republican system of government with a president and a premier. Time will tell what he can do with that.

Jana Girdauskas with donations at Kimbourne United

Personal products and toiletries

Donations

VIDEO: #EastTO @ThePeriodPurse drive yield 410 purses! Our @joannalavoie stopped by the packing party in #EastYork. pic.twitter.com/y2w95hEnDn

— Beach – East York Neighbourhood Voice (@BeachEastYork) May 7, 2017

The Period Purse “packing party” at Kimbourne United Church on Wolverleigh Blvd. saw volunteer women from East York and the Danforth preparing donated purses and personal care products for women living in area shelters. The gift of purses filled with pads and tampons was inspired by Jana Girdauskas. Her efforts and those of friends and other generous people has led to the delivery of more than 750 purses to such needy women in just a few months. “I think it’s something so simple and basic and a natural body process that all women go through so I think it is hitting people that it is not our choice, it is needed and we know how expensive those products can be,” Girdauskas told the CBC. Joanna Lavoie of the Beach Mirror was present Saturday and spoke with Girdauskas and friends.

This excellent CNN summary recounts some of the reasons for people being kicked off a flight. One woman was bounced for showing too much cleavage. Readers may recall the post about the Delta passenger thrown off for using the bathroom before takeoff. Then, the BBC tells the heartbreaking story of a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome who among other things is condemned to a life of a constant feeling of hunger. Below that is a CBC report on the Fidget Spinner toy which seems condemned by its own popularity. Also here. And finally, a very good review of the horse racing classic Saturday won by Always Dreaming and the annual guessing game about the Triple Crown.

At Toronto Pearson Airport, we spotted this little fellow checking to see who had come off the flight from Edmonton. pic.twitter.com/m2nSdrxwXt

— Cameron Graham (@camerongraham) May 6, 2017

Cries of “aww” and “isn’t he cute” greeted a raccoon which appeared in the ceiling of Pearson Airport Terminal Three Saturday evening. Proof again that raccoons are everywhere.

Hundreds of sharply-dressed cyclists took to the streets of central London Saturday for the Ninth Annual Tweed Run for tweedy English men and women. The scenic 12-mile ride rolled out from Clerkenwell and past London landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Natural History Museum. A picnic following the event saw judging for the Dapper Chapper and Dashing Dame titles. The prize if any isn’t mentioned.

Passengers stranded on a bus on Warden Ave near Eglinton Ave Saturday night were finally able to leave the vehicle after power lines were disconnected and removed from the bus. The mishap occurred when a Jeep struck a pole outside a strip mall on Warden leaving the post hanging from wires above and other live  wires on the ground. There was a brief local power outage.

Held for questioning

Drew De Voursney

Francesca Matus

Belize police say they are holding Canadian John DeShaies, 54, for questioning in the deaths of Francesca Matus and her boyfriend Drew DeVoursney last week. DeShaies was a tenant of Matus, living in the basement of the Matus seaside home in Corozal, Belize. There is a second suspect who has not been named. DeShaies is described as the “best friend” of Francesca Matus. The information raises challenges of motive and capacity. A family friend who spoke to the Toronto Sun defended Deshaies, saying: “It’s a terrible misunderstanding. Francesca was his best friend. He’s a really good guy.” DeShaies is a construction company owner in Canada but is also said to have been in Belsize for about three years..

Too good

First location

Gelato

Simryn Fenby, chocolate maker

Avoca Chocolates will open in June at 850 Millwood Rd. at Rumsey Rd., the corner store beside Trace Manes Park. The successful business sells hand-made chocolates, ice cream and gelato. It has been operating at 176 Hampton Ave. beside the Second Cup on the corner of Danforth Ave since 2015. The new space was previously occupied by Today’s Menu which has now moved one door east on Millwood. Avoca Chocolates is run by a mother and daughter team who make the products on the premises. Simryn Fenby told The South Bayview Bulldog that she and her mother will add coffee to their offerings and have sitting for those who wish to stay a while. “We can’t serve coffee here because we’re beside Second Cup,” she said. The confectionery has had rave reviews on the Danforth and Ms Fenby, who spent much of her youth in Leaside, is hoping the second Avoca Chocolates will be similarly received.

Paul Hickey and Lisa Barton

Selection of snacks

Frozen entres

New home at 852 Millwood

Paul Hickey and his wife Lisa Barton have been making meals for busy Midtown residents for 15 years. Now they have expanded to a larger store at 852 Millwood Road. It’s right next door to the smaller shop they had since 2012 on the corner of Rumsey. Paul and Lisa have a wide stock of their prepared gourmet meals for pickup or delivery. They specialize in family meals, new family meals and vegetarian meals. Drop in and try the fresh bread and soup. Today’s Menu

Starbucks will expand its loyalty rewards program at grocery stores to include more products, as it seeks to win more customers amid a soft retail and restaurant environment in the United States. The coffee chain’s move to more than triple the number of products it sells under the rewards program comes following customer backlash after Starbucks overhauled an existing program last year. BNN