Filmmaker will be at Bayview-Belsize starting on Monday

A shoot for a film called Molly’s Game will be underway at and near the corner of Bayview Ave. and Belsize Drive next week from Monday to about Wednesday, November 30, 2016. The film crew will employ 1560 Bayview, with its perennially vacant downstairs, both as a backdrop and for an interior shot or two. More interior shots will be done in January. The film is set in Los Angeles, New York City and Colorado. No indication about which of these Bayview Ave. will be portraying.

THIS MAY HURT

Molly’s Game will see trucks and vehicles parked on the north or south side of Belsize from Bayview to Cheston Rd., the east or west side of Gresham Rd. between Belsize and Manor Rd. and the  west side of Bayview Ave between Manor Rd and 100 feet south of Belsize Drive. Once again retailers may wonder if the trickle-down benefit to the economy of foreign film making will find its way to South Bayview as customers flee in dismay. City Hall wants to nuke trucks making deliveries because it causes congestion but the sky is apparently the limit for film making.

STARS

For some it will be enough to star-watch or merely thrill to the presence of Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba and Kevin Costner somewhere out there among us. Molly’s Game is written by Academy Award winning writer Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Moneyball, The Social Network)  and tells the story of an athlete with dreams of achieving Olympic status. She turns the misfortunes of a sporting accident into financial fortune as she rises to fame as a host of an elite high-stakes poker game.

Facebook ads (booga booga) are mighty strange, weird

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Strange advertising: Come on (left) leads to ad (right)

Want a good scare? Try landing on a Facebook ad come-on like the one left above where splashes of what look like blood spot the face of dot-com winner and present-day Shark Kevin O’Leary. It’s just an ad for a ho-hum way to make money (sure) but the first thing you see makes you think O’Leary has been bludgeoned. It also suggests he has died. This is a fairly common practice on the part of whomever runs ads on Facebook. You can find questions on the Internet from readers wondering why Facebook keeps saying famous people have died when they haven’t. Strange, to be sure.

Fire retardant miscue drowns California airport in foam

A malfunction at a hangar at Mineta San Jose International Airport resulted in the release of fire retardant foam that flooded surrounding streets. San Jose fire department warned people to not touch the foam, as it can cause skin irritation.

Dorothy Livey was member of the Northlea United choir

Long-time Leaside resident Dorothy Jane Livey has died at the Donway West Home on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. Dorothy Livey was a nurse, mother and wife, grower of fruit in her Leaside backyard and a member of the Northlea United Church choir. Her obituary in full is at the site of the Humphrey Funeral Home

Stolen van drama has happy “good doggie” ending

CBC  All dogs are accounted for and in good health. Dog walking firms which leave the motor running so the air is on for the pets might like to find a way make sure the vehicle isn’t filched however.

Sports Hall of Fame reception in the William Lea Room

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Tom Kalweit and wife, Mike Bradford and friend

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Terry Caffery and the late Ian Shaw

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Co-chairs Roanne Argyle and Tim Wright, Athlete of the Year Remy Cattell

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Speaker Terry Fallis with (left) wife Nancy Naylor and realtor Carol Wrigley

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Jennifer Smith, of the Leaside Girls Hockey Association, and friends

The 4th Annual Induction Ceremony and Reception of the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame was held Friday night at the William Lea Room. The event saw the induction of four athletes of distinguished performance and the recognition of a young Athlete of the Year. Those inducted were figure skater Tom Kalweit, former Argo Mike Bradwell, former Chicago Blackhawk Terry Caffery and the late Ian Shaw for his work in supporting women’s hockey. LHS Grade Ten runner Remy Cattell was recognized as Athlete of the Year. Guest speaker and novelist Terry Fallis spoke with humour of his own hockey career as a youngster in Leaside including his exploits on a peewee team that had Stephen Harper on right wing. The crowd included many well known Leasiders. Patrick Rocca, realtor and a sponsor of the event and Jon Burnside (Ward 26) were seen. The reception was catered by Andy Elder of Grill Time. Other sponsors were the East York Mirror, Lexus on the Park, Bosley Real Estate, Amsterdam Brewery, Stanley Manufacturing, Telegramme Prints, North Shore Pie Company and Gyro Mazda.

Wild and crazy bucket truck fun outside Tim Hortons

There was lots fun of Friday midday on the southwest corner of Bayview and Eglinton Aves. as multiple bucket trucks from Hydro One performed unknown adjustments. On the ground however, there was a happy police presence for those heading to Tim Hortons. Coffee and doughnuts lunchers were practically under police escort as they approached. This to keep them out from under the constantly moving buckets. Once inside, coffee and doughnuts. Wild and crazy.

Shane Baghai gives $250,000 to Georgia playground fund

Developer and builder Shane Baghai has given $250,000 to the fund to renovate the playground in Trace Manes Park, a place which was much-loved by Georgia Walsh.  Georgia, 7, died in 2014 when hit by van as she ran home from the playground. Her mom, Jillian has created and driven a campaign to raise $1.2 million to convert the 1950s playground into a modern, safer and more entertaining place for local kids. Plans include rubberized tiles underfoot for safety, a modern splash pad and many other improvements. With this addition, the fund to rebuild the playground stands at about $850,000.  The goal is within sight but there is more work to be done. A home-stretch fundraising campaign between now and December 31st is underway. Everyone is asked to give what he/she can by going to the Remembering Georgia Walsh website. The donation from Mr. Baghai, whose firm is applying to build a condominium on the land known as 3-5 Southvale, was announced by Jon Burnside (Ward 26). He said the developer did this out of “the goodness of his heart”. The development on Southvale is apparently not large enough to force the Section 37 fund donation usually required of builders. In addition, said Burnside, Baghai donated $50,000 to the Bayview-Leaside BIA to be used as it sees fit.  City of Toronto Planning

All dogs stolen in walker’s van recovered in good health

UPDATE: (8:40pm, November 18, 2016) The van with 16 dogs inside stolen in downtown Toronto Friday morning has been located, Toronto police have confirmed.  Apparently all of the dogs have been accounted for, are being reunited with their owners. The van had been left running to keep the air conditioning going while the walker went to fetch another dog. The Bulldog loves a happy ending!

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WORLD: Two stories of extraordinary decency are reported

Here are two stories to make you believe in people again. A Phoenix grandmother has responded to a text from an absolute stranger to by inviting him and his entire family to her U.S.Thanksgiving dinner. Below, the wonderful story of how a Bencia, California cop was touched by the hard work and tough times of a young man and what he and his colleagues did about it. .

Carding melodrama goes on as police adopt new rules

The Toronto Police Board has adopted new rules for the practice known widely as carding. That’s the stopping of citizens — usually young men — to ask what they are doing. It can’t be fun for those who are stopped. On the other hand, is it the life-changing trauma so many critics of carding claim. The police have long insisted that carding “follows the crime.”  It goes where there are break-ins and thefts. It is said to be welcomed by many people who live in such areas. But this is an argument that has no traction with those opposed. And so it seems carding will continue to be a battleground with the police insisting that there are real advantages to the practice.

Rosedale’s Holly Berry Fair set for Saturday, Nov. 19

The much-loved Yule fundraiser of Rosedale United Church will open again this year at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at the church.  It is at 159 Roxborough Drive at Glen Road.  All are welcome to this joyous event. Come early if you want to catch some of the famous egg salad sandwiches for lunch. Last year’s notice is here: Rosedale’s Holly Berry once again graces South Bayview

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