The South Bayview Bulldog

Similar to snake seen

A resident of St. Clair Ave. E. near Hudson Drive has spotted a small boa snake in his garden. Arthur Hammond said the creature was perhaps two feet long and had needle-like teeth. Mr. Hammond was trimming his Elderberry when he saw the snake. He says it was “finishing off” a small mouse or similar animal. He checked with the Humane Society and Animal Services which said there was nothing to be done because the snake could now be anywhere.  For the time being, mail has been sent to a neighborhood network warning people to keep small cats and pups close at hand. If the snake is seen, care should be taken with it. Those teeth are known to wound. Councillor Wong-Tam has been told as has the Moore Park Residents Association.

Here they come, 72 more courtesy of CNN. And really, what business does anyone have questioning the wisdom of the “Unicode Consortium” of Emojis? Use ’em or be so 2015.

The designer resale store Rewind will re-open in a larger store with a party occasion tonight (Monday, June 6, 2016) from 7 to 10 p.m. The new store is at 577 Mt. Pleasant Rd.  The owner, Dawn Librach, invites friends to have a glass of Champagne and hors d’oeuvre as they check out her large resale collection.

Toronto is embarking on a summer program of having uniformed police directing traffic at several  major intersections. Mayor Tory says it is part of the second phase of his congestion management plan. During the pilot, which begins one week from today on June 13, police officers will be deployed during peak periods at eight selected locations including:

• Bay Street and Queen Street
• Front Street and Simcoe Street
• Lake Shore Boulevard Parklawn Road
• Sheppard Avenue and Yonge Street
• Front Street and University Avenue
• Bay Street and Bloor Street
• University Avenue and Adelaide Street
• Bay Street from Bloor Street to Front Street

The pilot will take place during four weeks in the summer and four weeks in the fall. Staff will use criteria such as intersection blockage, pedestrian and cyclist compliance and illegal turn movements in its evaluation of each individual intersection. Major cities in North America including New York City and Vancouver use similar programs. More: http://bit.ly/1X6JRaY

A new splash pad and improved playground facilities opened May 28, 2016 at George Webster Park at 30 Chapman Street in East York. The occasion recalls the ongoing campaign to re-make the playground in Trace Manes Park modern features as well as a high-tech splash pad. It is a project of Jillian Walsh and her many friends in Leaside and elsewhere. Jillian was the mother Georgia Walsh, the seven-year-old so cruelly taken from life by a car accident at Millwood Rd. and McRae Drive in July of 2014.

GEORGE WALSH MEMORIAL ALL-STAR GAMES

Once again this year, the Georgia Walsh Memorial All-Star Games will be held to raise funds for this great goal. The date is Saturday, August 27, 2016. Take a look and please donate  Georgia Walsh: What the new splash pad might look like

The Philippine president-elect, Rodrigo Duterte, has encouraged the public to give him a hand in the war against brazen drug dealers by shooting and killing those who resist arrest. “Please feel free to call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun — you have my support,” Duterte said in a televised address. He described an extensive illegal drug trade that involves even the country’s police.

A raging truck fire closed Highway 427 for a brief period early Monday morning. The road has since been cleared. The tractor-trailer fire occurred Rexdale Boulevard.

More than seven million people have watched the YouTube replay of Laura Bretan’s audition for America’s Got Talent.  The 13-year-old opera singer is both an extraordinary personality and an astonishing talent. Her voice stunned the judges — all of team — with its strength, beauty and clarity. On this one audition Laura was awarded the so-called Golden Buzzer for the current season of AGT. This isn’t her first time on TV. Laura appeared on Romania’s Got Talent, where before her performance she spoke fluently with the judges. She is Romanian but was born in the U.S. On the show, Laura says her grandfather wanted her to perform in Romania so she did. The moment she opened her mouth to sing, the judges stood in silence, in disbelief. The audience was moved to tears. After the performance, the judges walk on the stage to hug and kiss Laura — who was also moved to tears.

Marco Estrada held things together Sunday night to give the Blue Jays a 5-4 win over the Red Sox in Boston. Estrada took a no-hitter into the eighth inning for the third time in a year before it was broken up by Chris Young’s home run with one out, but it wasn’t enough to put the Sox ahead. CBC 

Leaside has won the 2016 Troy May Memorial Tournament organized by Baseball Oshawa. Nice going guys.

@BaseballOshawa Your 2016 Troy May Memorial Tournament Finalists (Clarington) & Champions (Leaside) #Congratulations pic.twitter.com/HOuzwOQgMD

— 2005 Legionaires 15U Elite (@2005Legionaires) June 5, 2016

Bobby Curtola is dead. The one-time pop-star of the early 60s died at the age of 73 at his home in Nova Scotia. He was born in Thunder Bay.  Bobby Curtola is best remembered for international hit singles Fortune Teller and Aladdin. Below is Curtola singing Fortune Teller at Club Seven 44 on Mt. Pleasant Rd. just about one year ago.

Welcome to Elgieville (top) where three homes, still to be finished, now sit on the lot which held the original Thomas Elgie homestead. The City has given it the address 262 Bessborough. The pioneer home remains in the centre of the two new ones. It has been a year (centre) since it was moved onto a foundation which approximates the original location where the settler family huddled in good weather and bad. Bottom, a 1950s photo of the Elgie home with one of two additions it had over the years. Both additions were demolished to restore the look of the original.