The South Bayview Bulldog

Here’s a charming rendering of some of the shops on South Bayview Ave. by artist David Crighton. They appear in delicate colours and remind us of places we love. They’re not quite in the same order as they appears on the actual street and big names like Starbucks and Scotiabank have have been jumped over but that’s fine. They won’t mind.

@LeasideBIA @southbayview This is pretty special. Artist David Crighton's take of shops on Bayview https://t.co/ZxJGUAjO7o pic.twitter.com/4lNzsf54XG

— Leaside Chit Chat (@LeasideChitChat) January 25, 2017

Okay, in order, there’s the birth Tuesday of a premature Hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo. The zoo says 17-year-old Bibi gave birth early Tuesday to the first Nile hippo born there in 75 years. Clockwise, we have a FedEx tractor-trailer getting creamed at a Utah level-crossing when the gates didn’t come down. Everyone was okay, quite amazingly. Lower right is a truly odd complaint that the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has against a pebbled iced cream, whatever that is. Lower left, the happy rescue of a horse from a deep ditch in Miami-Dade County in Florida. Makes you feel good.

Councillor Burnside

Thorncliffe Park and Don Valley

Councillor Jon Burnside is reminding constituents that his annual Community Town Hall meeting is this Wednesday, January 25, at the Leaside Memorial Gardens. There will be representatives from Financial Planning, Transportation Services, The Planning Partnership, Metrolinx and 53 Division in attendance to make updates on current projects. It is a chance for people to voice concerns and ask questions. He invites those with questions in advance to contact his office at 416-392-0215 or councillor_burnside@toronto.ca.

Costumed polars

Chief and friends

Polar cops go crazy

A group of about 50 people, many police officers, raised around $10,000 for Special Olympics Ontario by wading into Lake Ontario waters over the weekend. It was the first Toronto Polar Plunge in support of Special Olympics Ontario at Woodbine beach on Saturday, January 21, a new tradition for the Service, which fundraises for athletes each year.

This hole is still growing even as the school bus which fell into it is rescued by a tow truck. No one was injured in this incident at Symes Road and Hillborn Ave near St. Clair West and Keele Street.

No injuries after huge sinkhole opens under school bus in west end https://t.co/aqZWPy2uQa pic.twitter.com/9637x3BLvD

— CP24 (@CP24) January 24, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed executive actions to accelerate the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipeline projects and to decree that American steel should be used for pipelines built in the United States. Trump also signed an action to expedite environmental review and approval of high-priority infrastructure projects that he hopes to get moving as part of his drive to rebuild U.S. airports, roads and bridges. Trump told reporters that “we are going to renegotiate some of the terms” of the Keystone XL project. “And if they like we will see if we can get that pipeline built – a lot of jobs, 28,000 jobs, great construction jobs.”

Addressing the haggis

Quick of step

Haggis

Tracey Harding has posted photos to Facebook of Saturday’s East York Kiwanis Robbie Burns Supper on Saturday. It was held at York Banquet and Event Centre on Millwood Road and was judged by Vivien Young to be “lots of fun.” And so it seems. There was haggis of course and even more joyously perhaps single malt whiskey. Och! That’s guid.

Carley Allison and Sarah Fisher

Carley Allison

Kiss and Cry

A new movie, Kiss and Cry, tells the story of a Toronto girl, Carley Allison. She was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the age of 17 and died within two years at the age of 19. The film, Kiss and Cry, stars her best friend and supporter through this illness, actress Sarah Fisher portraying Carley. The cancer that struck Carley was a form of sarcoma, so rare it afflicts only one in 3.5 billion. As told by Shannon Martin of the CBC, Carley refused to let it define her. Instead she used her cancer diagnosis to inspire thousands of young people around the world by sharing her personal motto: “Always Smile.”

Kevin O’Leary has the support of 27 percent of respondents to a Forum Research poll asking who they would prefer for Conservative leader from among the 13 declared candidates. Some 38 percent answered “someone else.”  It is an example of the magic of name-recognition for O’Leary, the gadfly media personality and dot com millionaire. But it also suggests a lot of people are not impressed with the party’s offering of possible prime ministers. O’Leary says he’s the only Tory leadership candidate who can defeat Trudeau. It is a potent declaration. Whatever individuals think of Mr. Trudeau personally, there seems little doubt he is PM today because of his father’s name. The poll’s respondents were asked to provide their opinions on eight Conservative leadership candidates, including O’Leary, Bernier, Raitt, Michael Chong, Chris Alexander, Steven Blaney, Kellie Leitch, and Andrew Scheer.

60 Overlea Blvd

Typical of a thrift store

Dolls

The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Thorncliffe Park will debut with a special Grand Opening ceremony at 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 26th at 60 Overlea Boulevard (at Thorncliffe Park Dr.) The store will help the most vulnerable in the City and is a proud effort by the Army. “There is a strong sense of family and community in East York that we are proud and excited to be a part of,” said Michele Walker, National Retail Operations Manager at The Salvation Army Thrift Store. For individuals and families who need assistance, The Salvation Army Thrift Store offers vouchers provided through Salvation Army community and social service programs which can be redeemed for clothing and other items.  In an effort to integrate into the community, the Thrift Store has worked closely with local non-profits for recruiting and will have a ‘Community Corner’ in store with free reading materials.

DEDICATED DONOR WELCOME CENTRE

For the Grand Opening there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments, giveaways and a ‘welcome mural’ done by students of Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute and Leaside High School in different languages to greet guests from diverse backgrounds. Speaking will be MP Rob Oliphant and Commissioner Susan McMillan, the Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. The store includes a dedicated Donor Welcome Centre with donations accepted seven days a week. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. The Donor Welcome Centre is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.  The store opens in the same premises as the Goodwill store which regrettably was part of that charity’s bankruptcy last year. Student mural sets tone at Salvation Army Thrift Store 

The Trump administration is indicating clearly that the new president will approve the Keystone XL pipeline proposal and is also open to bilateral trade deals as it renegotiates NAFTA. Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, said his boss had been clear about a preference for the project. “It’s good for economic growth, it’s good for jobs, and it’s good for American energy,” Spicer is quoted in the Globe and Mail. The White House indicated Monday that he intends to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the next month as he opens a renegotiation of the North American free-trade agreement. It seemed promising for continuing business with the U.S.

Toronto Police are asking for help in finding several persons they say committed a break in January 20 at the apartment of a man in the St. Dennis Drive and Don Valley Parkway area Jewelry, clothing and cash were taken from the man’s apartment Police have obtained security camera footage of three men and two women and the vehicle reportedly involved in the Break-and-Enter. The photos are not shown because the TPS discovered that some of the suspects were minors. .

CROOKS AND CASTLES

At least two of the suspects wore clothing with the word Crooks printed prominently across the front. This is apparently clothing from the Crooks and Castles line. The urban dictionary says this is taken to mean “Crooks”, criminals, pimps, hustlers, thieves, etc. And “Castles” those who got rich by becoming a crook.