Events in Toronto this weekend and some road closures

JAYE ROBINSON

Jaye Robinson (Ward 25) has an Environment Day event Saturday at York Mills Collegiate at 490 York Mills Road, East Parking Lot from 10 in the morning until 2 p.m.  It a chance to clear out forgotten items during your spring cleaning as well as used electronics and household hazardous waste. Bring everything from computer equipment and electronics to compact and fluorescent light bulbs for disposal and recycling. Also accepting items for donation such as sporting goods and books and small household items like dishes and utensils.  City staff will be giving out one cubic meter of compost per household – for free! – on the west side of the high school.

AGA KHAN WALK

Aga Khan World Partnership Walk will take place Sunday with the roads affected by closures to be John Street in the west, Wellington Street in the south, University Avenue in the east and Queen’s Park Circle in the north. University Avenue will be closed in both directions from Wellington Street to Queen’s Park Circle from10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m Sunday

WALK WITH ISRAEL

A number of partial closures will take place from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 29 to accommodate the Walk with Israel event. The roads affected will be in the area bounded by Strachan Avenue in the west, Lake Shore Boulevard in the south, York Street in the east and Wellington Street in the north.

DOORS OPEN TORONTO

The 17th annual Doors Open Toronto, presented by Great Gulf, returns this weekend, May 28 and 29, offering free and rare access to more than 130 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across the city. The event includes 40 new participants this year, walking tours, talks and other special programming. Most venues will be open to media and the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Detailed locations and hours are available at http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen.

Branksome Hall re-union at Mt. Pleasant school tonight

One of many events this weekend is the Branksome Hall reunion with dinner in the school gymnasium on Mt. Pleasant Rd. It is customary for alumni to make a visit every five years even though the reunion is held annually. Last year many old girls got to see the splendid Athletics and Wellness Centre which opened last year. Keep Well The Road ladies.

Bayview and Soudan/Parkhurst with another collision

Mariam Hassan has written to report yet another accident at Bayview Ave. and Soudan/Parkhurst Thursday (May 26, 2016). It happened about 2.30 in the afternoon and saw an SUV trying to cross Bayview westbound from Parkhurst to Soudan. It hit a car heading southbound. There was a lot of debris but no injuries apparently. But of course it could easily have been worse. After The South Bayview Bulldog raised the need for a traffic light here some readers said it would be opposed by residents because it might slow down their exit on right hand turns north from Leaside. Maybe. The corners at Millwood and Fleming Crescent are classic cases of how traffic frequently goes nowhere. On some lights traffic hardly moves as cars turning left or right wait for pedestrians to cross. But it is safer than the game at Bayview and Soudan/Parkhurst. The number of accidents are a clear sign that lights are needed. Citizen “traffic study” suggests stoplight at Soudan.

Heartbreaking scenes of migrant chaos in North Africa

Video shows some of the heartbreaking evidence of the millions of people who no longer want to live in North Africa. The chaos flowing from the collapse of all order there, part of the Arab Spring disaster, has left essentially no government worth the name. Libya in particular is now an ISIS hunting ground.

Terry Fallis to speak at Sports Hall of Fame in November

Locking the door behind you is also gender neutral

There is much excitement among washroom-watchers as a new Royal Ontario Museum exhibit on exploring gender diversity in ancient Japan has inspired the ROM to open a set of gender-neutral toilets. The story doesn’t say but it seems this means that you can’t lock the door behind you the way you do at home or at Starbucks. The new inclusion means men are denied that male sport of standing while they urinate. Urinals are covered with plastic caps. The CBC story has an air of emancipation about it. Hallelujah brothers and sisters. Will the ROM be counting how many men, as opposed to women, venture into these new come-one-come-all rooms? We’re thinking not too many women except maybe the adventurous kind. CBC

Bayview south of Sutherland to be re-paved this summer

Parts of Bayview Ave are in rough shape. although the business district is all fairly new and smooth. The community has already been warned that there will be re-paving this summer south of Sutherland Drive and on down the extension. This is recalled as the Canadian Automotive Association (CAA) calls Bayview the worst main road in Toronto.  CAA’s 2016 ‘Worst Roads’ list was released Thursday morning and Bayview Avenue, which was ranked as the 10th worst road in the province last year, moved up to 8th spot on this year’s list. Lawrence East is called the third worst in town. Generally however, the state of South Bayview is seldom complained of around here and may well rank as a first world problem.

1) Bayview Avenue

2) Dufferin Street

3) Lawrence Avenue East

4) Markham Road

5) Scarlett Road

Krispy Kreme moves in next to Green Room pot spot

It might be that the Mt. Pleasant Village BIA would approve of the presence of a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop next door to the Green Room Society marijuana dispensary at 562 Mt. Pleasant  That’s what has happened down on Spadina Ave at Nassau St.  A coincidence no doubt.

Bennington Rolph registration for Fall now underway

Get kicking

Registration has opened for the Fall season of Bennington Rolph Road soccer, a terrific neighborhood league for boys and girls aged five to 13. You don’t have to live right there to play.  The Bennington Rolph Road Soccer Association is a non-profit, volunteer-run house league that runs games for six weeks starting the first week of school. It’s a perfect league for those who spend the summer out of town. A tournament is held for all but the youngest age group at the end of the season.  Games are played once a week on the school fields at Rolph Road and Bennington Heights.  For more information, please visit our website www.benningtonrolphsoccer.ca.

313 Manor a lawyers battle as Dennis camps in backyard

The City of Toronto’s plan to seize 313 Manor Road for some $83,000 in back taxes has been thwarted by a lawyer who arrived just minutes before the foreclosure was to occur and paid the full amount. As told by Cynthia Mulligan of City News, the lawyer had a  deal with Dennis the outdoor hoarder who lives on the porch or in the backyard because he is locked out by the City, to be repaid the full amount in six months or sell the home at his discretion. He wasn’t paid on time and the home was listed last Friday. Many in the  neighborhood were incensed that Dennis was being taken advantage of. From somewhere, another lawyer working pro bono, has appeared. What he is saying is not clear from the City News story but there is said to be as many as seven offers on the semi, one for $976,000. In the City News story Dennis says he will not accept any of the offers because “then you’re homeless. Who wants to be homeless.” Just how much control he has over the sale is vague however, impacted by the actions of the second lawyer working pro bono. And by the way, in this notable matter of the public interest, who are the lawyers? The listing, issued by Re/Max Hallmark Corbo and Kelos Group, states the property is in need of a total renovation and is being sold on an “as is” and “where is” basis. It states there is “no access” to the property. City seeks taxes on Manor  Rd. home by power of sale

Bayview delays caused by search for sewer calcite

Checking for calcium in the sewers on Bayview Ave. has caused several days of disruption and loss of parking in the district.  A contracted firm called No-Digg in there every day scanning the sewers to see there is a build up of this pernicious mineral. Some think Wednesday is the last day for it but next week, when the scanning has been reviewed, there will be calcite wonks back here examining those sewers again  This may be progress. Calcite

Gord Downie reflections shared as we root for him

From residents of Moore Park who remember Gord Downie when he had a home on Rose Park Drive to the Bobcaygeon cottager who has decorated his summer place with framed lyrics from the  Bill Barilko song, Canadians are talking about and rooting for the lead singer for the Tragically Hip. One day after revealing that singer Downie has terminal brain cancer, the Tragically Hip have posted the dates for an upcoming summer tour.

 

  • Victoria, July 22. Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
  • Vancouver, July 24. Rogers Arena.
  • Edmonton, July 28. Rexall Place.
  • Calgary, Aug 1. Scotiabank Saddledome.
  • Winnipeg, Aug 5. MTS Centre.
  • London, Aug. 8. Budweiser Gardens.
  • Toronto,  Aug 10 and Aug. 12. Air Canada Centre.
  • Hamilton , Aug. 16. FirstOntario Centre.
  • Ottawa, Aug. 18. Canadian Tire Centre.
  • Kingston, Aug. 20. Rogers K-Rock Centre.