The South Bayview Bulldog

Botanical Gardens

George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture

777 Lawrence Ave East

Geoff Kettel sends on the notice from Sarah Hill, Senior Consultant with Lord Cultural Resources, about the ongoing planning for the future of the Edwards Gardens and Toronto Botanical Garden Master Plan. The second meeting in this process will take place Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave. East in the  Floral Hall of the Dembroski Centre for Horticulture Those interested may write or call Ms. Hill at shill@lord.ca and (416) 928 9292 ext 296. There is also the City website.

A $10.5 billion budget representing a 2 per cent property tax increase was approved by a vote of 27-16, with limited changes to what was approved by Mayor John Tory’s executive committee. Among the many sub-issues of what to cut and what to finance are school swimming pools  CBC

Devastating. Motion to save SH Armstrong Community Pool programs loses on a tie pic.twitter.com/fKF230eViX

— Paula Fletcher (@PaulaFletcherTO) February 16, 2017

Toronto Police will reveal a “new super look” Thursday at 11 a.m. at headquarters with the launch of their partnership with Holland Bloorview’s Capes for Kids campaign. This fundraising campaign asks the public to join forces with Holland Bloorview by fundraising and wearing a cape from March 6 to 12 to support and celebrate kids with disabilities. Research teams from Holland Bloorview will be on site to showcase innovative technologies and gadgets as well as remarks from Chief Mark Saunders; Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack; Constable Joe MacDougall, a Holland Bloorview client family; Sandra Hawken, President and CEO, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation; and Tai Holland, Bloorview Ambassador — TPS release edited. 

The life of good local reporters is never dull because they know they’re at the start of big things to come. The estimable Beach Mirror scribe Joanna Lavoie checks in here from the Loblaws at 600 Victoria Park Ave. (at Gerrard St) where she was judging student cooks for Chopped Canada. There is another Lynn Crawford or Mark McEwan in there for sure. All news is local. Joanna Lavoie

VIDEO: Our @JoannaLavoie is thrilled to be judging Round 4 action of #Chopped55 cooking comp in #EastTO. Fun! @tdsb @PabloTPS pic.twitter.com/XdZ9IMCMJT

— Beach – East York Neighbourhood Voice (@BeachEastYork) February 15, 2017

On a day when City Council passed a budget that will add about $100 to the average tax bill, Bank of Montreal economist Doug Porter was getting quoted for saying out loud that Toronto and surrounding communities areas are in a housing bubble. But even with annual increases in price of 20 percent, Porter had to say that he didn’t see much that would burst the bubble very soon. Interesting video below.

St. Michael’s Hospital has fired 31 employees after finding some $200,000 in health benefit claims that were irregular in nature. The names and positions of these employees was not released by the hospital nor is it known if the police are investigating. But the stern action taken by St.Mike’s suggests that the unacceptable claims did not occur by accident or through ignorance. St. Michael’s Hospital employs more than 6,000 people, including 1,689 nurses and 812 physicians.

Stuart McLean

Stuart McLean of the CBC has died at the age of 68. Mr. McLean was a bestselling author and host of the radio program “The Vinyl Cafe.” In December, McLean announced he was suspending the long-running program to focus on treatment for melanoma, which he was diagnosed with in late 2015.

BC cook wins $46,000 in sandwich theft case

A Burger King franchisee has been ordered to pay $46,000 in severance and other awards to a minimum wage cook he had employed since 1989 over a fish sandwich she took without paying. National Post

Badminton and Racquet Club destroyed by fire in February

A graphic picture published Wednesday by the Toronto Fire Service reveals the great peril survived by apartment occupants next to the Badminton and Racquet Club on St.Clair West. The grime and soot on the balconies reveal the presence of lethal fire and smoke. Numerous tweets at the chief’s account @ChiefPeggTFS remark on this. People displaced by the six-alarm fire may be able to return to their homes sometime Wednesday

Suspect #1

Suspect #2

Suspect #3

Suspect #3

Honda Odyssey minivan

Three suspects

Suspect #2

Three men have stolen colonoscopy equipment from Toronto Western Hospital on Bathurst Street in a daring mid-afternoon robbery last Saturday. The men forced their way into a surgical area and removed a large quantity of medical equipment worth an estimated $1.2 million. The vehicle of interest is described as a silver Honda Odyssey mini van, possibly an early 2000s The men are described as: 1) the first suspect is 6’0”, 35-45, clean-shaven, medium build, last seen wearing a black English-style cap, black ¾-parka with fur on hood, black pants, and black shoes with noticeable white/silver eyelets. 2) The second suspect is 5’7”-5’9”, 45-55, clean-shaven, short dark hair, stocky build, last seen wearing a black English-style cap, black blazer, light-blue dress shirt, blue jeans and black shoes, carrying a large black-and-grey backpack. 3) The third suspect is 5’7”-5’9”, clean-shaven, medium build, last seen wearing a black winter toque, black winter jacket, black pants, black shoes with a white sole, pulling a purple suitcase on wheels with an extendable handle.

In ten days Canadian tennis sensation Eugenie Bouchard will be 23 and that would make her old enough by most standards to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. And she will. Bouchard leads a flirtatious Twitter existence as illusrated by her recent Super Bowl dating-game engagement and she seems to want to take her act on to other venues. Genie makes good on lost Super Bowl bet

“LOL it made a Twitter moment”

SI Swimsuit Edition

New venues?

Busy, busy

The European Parliament has passed the Canada-EU trade agreement after a stormy session that saw lots of angst about it from isolationist members. In the end, it is believed about 58 percent of the parliament voted to approve the extensive deal which was negotiated bv the  Conservative government. Just when if ever we will see Ford Canada dealerships on the Champs-Elysees or a $15 bottle of Burgundian Pouilly-Fuissé at the LCBO is entirely unknown. CBC

It is what one reader was told when he spoke to an employee at the Whole Foods store at Yonge and Sheppard. “When will Bayview and Broadway open?”  The answer was Friday, April 21, 2017. Take it for what it’s worth.