The South Bayview Bulldog

Neighbors talk about closure of the marijuana store on Mt. Pleasant

The marijuana storefront at 562 Mt. Pleasant Rd. is closed, its hours of business “cut short by intimidation” according to a sign on the door. The lights are off. The Green Room reaction is rather mild compared to the fire-breathing condemnations being issued by marijuana militant Mark Emery and his wife. Such advocates have invoked the name of swinish big business, the suffering of millions and a mission worthy of Florence Nightingale. Maybe. But the store is closed and a CP24 online poll of listeners suggests a slight majority of a small sampling of barely a 1,000 people by dinnertime Friday favor the closures 54% to 46%.

This summer China will run tests of the amazing “straddle bus” concept which permits traffic to move under the transit vehicle. This extraordinary invention has been in the planning stages for a while but it will now be installed in northern China to see if works. Brilliant really.

Former prime  minister Harper has spoken at the Conservative Party convention in Vancouver. He delivered an upbeat speech in which he declared the party was strong and united even after last fall’s election defeat. He expressed his thanks across many areas of support and especially to his family and wife Laureen who he called the love of his life. YouTube.

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.

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.

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.

2015 induction November 18th with Special guest speaker award winning Canadian novelist Terry Fallis @TerryFallis pic.twitter.com/jrh3SIQHVt

— Leaside SportsHall (@Leaside_Hall) May 25, 2016

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

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

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.

A Krispy Kreme just opened up in my building right next to a weed dispensary. #KnowYourMarket #Toronto pic.twitter.com/ZWmHq2EzWA

— Paul Hillier (@PaulHillierdesu) May 25, 2016