The South Bayview Bulldog

The CBC has put together this excellent report on relevant baby arrivals in the New Year — as if moments really mattered. The times in “after witching hour seconds and minutes” are 39 seconds, five minutes even and 34 minutes. We’ll let you match up the times with the names. Nice stuff.

A man described by Toronto Police Operations as in his 50s was struck and hospitalized at the corner of Davisville Ave. and Mt Pleasant Rd. Friday night. Police remained on the  scene in bitterly cold weather three hours later as part of accident reconstruction. Several homes for the elderly line the west side of Mt. Pleasant between Merton St. and Davisville. This accident occurred during the peak afternoon period afternoon for pedestrian accidents. It is matched by a similar dangerous period in the morning when people are up and about but it is still dark

MUST BE CAREFUL

Clint Stibbe

PC Clint Stibbe of Toronto Traffic Services spoke on CP24 about traffic fatalities in 2015.  At 64 dead, it is the highest number of traffic fatalities recorded in 11 years. The toll of pedestrians was 38. In 2014 the number of traffic deaths was 51 and in 2013, 63. The highest number of total traffic deaths in recent years was 66 in 2004. Stibbe said the highest number of pedestrian collisions happen while vehicles are making left turns. The second highest is during right turns followed by mid-block crossings.

PARKING LOTS ARE DANGEROUS

Collisions in parking lots came in fourth. Parking lots are tricky because the rules of the road often seem suspended. Both pedestrians and drivers move in irregular patterns and frequently appear from any point on the compass. This is a common complaint at the Loblaws parking lot at 301 Moore Ave.

THE ELDERLY

Older people are vulnerable for reasons of reduced agility, awareness and inability to recover as easily from an injury. Experts say older pedestrians — and others — should have a strategy when crossing. Follow the lights, watch for cars turning especially from behind and if crossing in mid block, wait until stop lights at a nearby corner has stopped traffic. Never cross diagonally nor by charging into the street, especially on a four lane road.  “It doesn’t take much, especially when an individual is older, for their body to receive a substantial injury,” Stibbe says.

Nine months after Rosa Agostino sold Caffe Doria at the corner of Yonge Street and Roxborough St. W. the new owners have closed the landmark coffee and snack business. The reason is not stated in the closing announcement but the notice posted on the door states there is “a new and innovative project set for 2016.” No hint has been given as to what that might be. Under Agostino’s 15 year ownership the sidewalk (and indoor) cafe built a loyal clientele from across Rosedale, Summerhill and beyond. Loyalists sadly say the post Agostino Doria was less customer friendly and saw patrons drift off to other Yonge Street hangouts like Terroni and 7Grams  Rosa Agostino sells Rosedale landmark Caffe Doria  Here is a personalized history of Caffe Doria in recent times from Yonge and Roxborough News 

Caffe Doria was frequently quite busy in fine weather

Natalie Cole, the American singer who overcame battles with substance abuse and the long shadow of her famous father to earn worldwide success of her own, has died. She was 65. Cole died Thursday night at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles “due to complications from ongoing health issues,” according to a statement from her family. Patrick Garrity and Elisha Fieldstadt NBC News

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stuns Turks and the world by declaring that Turkey should structure its power in him, much like Hitler managed to do in Germany. Telegraph UK

Scene looking southwest from corner of Mt. Pleasant and Carstowe Rd.

A boy has been struck by a CPR train on or near the tracks at the bridge over the Mt. Pleasant extension at  Carstowe Rd. about 3.30 a.m. Friday morning. Police say the victim was walking with friends near the bridge. The boy, 16, is in grave condition in hospital. The tracks through Rosedale are heavily fenced and in fact difficult to access by members of the public anywhere in the City.

Among the host of public and private businesses closed New Year’s Day, the Loblaws at 60 Carlton Street in the old Maple Leaf Gardens is advertising online that it will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This store has been open in the past on statutory holidays. Statutory holidays in Ontario represent a complete no man’s land for merchants who legally might be prosecuted but in recent years never are  Most grocery stores in South Bayview are closed but Summerhill Market at 446 Summerhill Ave. in Rosedale is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

OPENINGS A BIG ISSUE

The issue of holiday openings continues to be a concern for shoppers and merchants because of the inequality and uncertainty surrounding potential prosecution. This is a story written earlier this year about openings that took place on Good Friday

Shoppers in Ottawa have split 50-50 in an Ottawa Sun poll asking whether the newly-opened Whole Foods Market there should have been doing business on the day Christ was crucified. In fact, there is no way of knowing what those opposed to the opening were thinking. The people in favour just want to shop. In the past, province-wide polls have shown a majority would support all-holiday openings. Ottawa area MPP Lisa McLeod got quite exercised about the Whole Foods opening, but merely said that Ontarians must obey the law. She did not say that she would demand that a charge be laid.

FINES AS HIGH AS $50,000

The fine might be as much as $50,000. In the past, a first offense has usually netted government coffers an amount equal to that day’s receipts. It is of interest in South Bayview because Summerhill Market opened Good Friday while other grocery stores were closed. And of course, Whole Foods is preparing to open at 1860 Bayview in Spring 2016. Will we be discussing a rogue opening by that store in April? Maybe not. The issue of holiday openings in Ontario (and Toronto) is an incredible crazy quilt of  “yes” and “no” even before we get to exempted workers like movie theatre staff.

CHARTER OF RIGHTS

It is believed by some legal minds that the entire system is unsustainable in front of the Charter of Rights. But the question has never been referred to the court much less tested by the justices. And it appears there haven’t been charges laid either, perhaps because the government doesn’t want a well-heeled retailer to take it to the Supreme Court. .

A Fort St John  British Columbia man, Robin Elgie, has barely  survived an attack by two Pit Bulls which barged into his trailer home when his partner opened the door to let her own small dog inside. They Pit Bulls ripped apart the family cat and then attacked Elgie, 66, who tried to defend himself with a shelf. His partner, Wendy Lee Baker, 51, hid in a bedroom and called the RCMP. When they arrived they had to shoot the dogs in order to stop the attack. Elgie was flown some 400 kilometres from the B.C. outpost of some 20,000 people to a trauma centre in Edmonton. He was interviewed there by the CBC. Doctors are trying to save his hands and the use of his arms. Elgie is heavily drugged in this video.

The Toronto Fire Service has put out a two-alarm blaze at Edo, a celebrated Japanese restaurant which has been a fixture on Eglinton Ave. W. for many decades. The current location at 484 Eglinton West is located between Heddington Avenue and Castle Knock. The fire of unknown origin apparently started in the basement. There are no injuries reported.

Tara Deschamps of the Toronto Star was first to chronicle this buried bit of history. King Falafal has been at 875 Eglinton Ave. East for 38 years but must make way for the Eglinton LRT station. As recorded, it is the end of a neighborhood favorite and proud example of private enterprise.

Those who love hockey but have not seen the top floor arena at the old Maple Leaf Gardens may want to take in the exhibition game Saturday night between the Leaside Jr. Wildcats and the Ryerson Rams. This part of the historic old building at Church and Carlton is now known as Mattamy Arena to recognize the generous donation of Peter Gilgan to fund its creation. The name is also on his construction company but it comes from the eldest two of his eight children Matt and Amy. Love that. The arena sits high above the ice where the Leafs once played (that’s now a Loblaws). Mattamy inhabits the rarefied space of the gondola from which Foster Hewitt and then his son Bill and countless other play-by-play people used to broadcast to the world. Wildcats and Rams at 7.30 Saturday.