VOL. 36 NO. 12 December 2018 YEARS Your FREE Neighbourhood News from the Beach to the Rouge Bluffs Monitor Photo ~ john smee Hey, You’re Not Santa ; 2 year-old Juliet Stewart bolted from the crowd at the Beaches Santa Claus Parade on Sun. Nov. 25th, to come face to face with... “GPS” of the Toronto Chapter of Guardians of the Children Club . Their mission is to recognize and react to child abuse and educate the public to do the same. He got a high five anyway. Not So Happyland By John Smee (3218 Eglinton Ave. E.) we (TPS) are more for criminal incidents.” logical reason for it. The Happyland Pub at 3218 Eglinton So it was on to AGCO. An email from So the officials did what they were sup - One thing is certain, men and women Ave. E. is a story about frustration. The Bluffs Ray Kahnert Senior Advisor, Communica - posed to do. The frustrating part for the start to gather outside the bar early afternoon Monitor first heard about problems in the tions revealed that: neighbours was the officials didn’t solve their and can be there until the wee hours of the small plaza just East of Markham Rd. in July “ The AGCO received one complaint (in problem. It was up to them. morning. And outside that bar is a place you 2018. We talked to the neighbours of the pub August 2017) concerning the licensed estab - To their credit what the neighbours and don’t want to be. There is a genuine feeling one evening and heard complaints about al - lishment at this address. Two AGCO Inspec - business owners have done is offered to buy of desperation and fear that permeates the leged patrons of the bar drinking, swearing tors visited the location and did not find any the building that the pub occupies. With the plaza parking lot. Those that do venture in, to and fighting in the parking lot. There was instances as described in the complaint. Fur - caveat that the current lessee and owner of go to the other businesses, move quickly and talk of drug use in stairwells as well as busi - ther the bartender confirmed they only sell al - the pub not be the tennant. The owner of the keep their eyes down. The Little Bavaria ness owners needing to step over people cohol for consumption on premise. The building has offered to sell it to them. With Resturant, 2 doors east of the Happyland Pub, passed out in those same stairwells when Inspectors reminded the staff person of abid - the caveat the purchasers deal with the owner has to close down early in the summer when coming in to work in the morning. There was ing by the rules and regulations of the LLA. of the pub. The lease on the space is up De - there are generally more people in the park - talk of aggressive panhandling by supposed One of the Inspectors followed up with the cember 31st 2018. Simply not renewing the ing lot. patrons of Happyland. With people congre - complainant and provided the details of the lease could lead to bigger problems for the The Happyland Pub has been around for gating outside the premises, it has created an inspection.” owner of the building. more than 10 years. And for the most part, atmosphere of dread and loathing for those One issue is that no one has actually wit - It takes a while to register when you has been a good neighbour. The current prob - who run businesses and for those who want nessed a drink being served at the bar and first enter the pub. Something is amiss. You lems started, according to the other occupants to patronize the neighbouring businesses. then taken outside. There is a very good take a long walk across the room to the bar of the plaza, a little over 2 years ago. That’s There was also talk of inactivity by local chance, of course, that the inspectors were before it strikes you. There is virtually no when the business was purchased by a new Councillor Gary Crawford and the Alcohol not there on a hot Saturday night in July place to sit down. It feels like you’re in some - owner. That owner did not respond to an in - and Gaming Commission of Ontario when the parking lot is especially lively. one’s basement. There are a couple of tables terview request for this story. (AGCO). So we checked. An email to Toronto Police Services and chairs near the windows and a decaying The colder months will bring some relief Your local councillor is not the place to brought this response from Crime Prevention old couch at the opposite end of the room for the neighbours as fewer people want to be take complaints about a business. That’s Officer, Constable Julie Campbell, 43 Divi - near the bar. Other than that, nothing. So if outside. But the warmer weather is just 6 dealt with by Municipal Licensing & Stan - sion: it is the bar patrons outside there may be a months away and still no solution in sight. dards (MLS). The councillors office con - “I completely understand their (business firmed that they had received a complaint owners/ neighbours) frustrations. Believe me about the pub and had pointed the business when I say Happyland is mentioned in some owners in the plaza towards MLS. Council - way or another at every single Crime Man - lor Crawford’s staff confirmed their last agement meeting due to a criminal offence email from the other business owners was a occurring there, a liquor licence check or “thank you” and they assumed the matter had proactive patrol. Officers in both uniforms been dealt with in a manner satisfactory to and plainclothes are there as much as possi - them. ble... Perhaps 311 could also be helpful in re - A check of complaints made about the porting garbage, urinating, loitering, and A woman asleep on the ground in the middle of the day. The parking lot in the plaza pub with MLS showed that there have been noise. Municipal licence officers handle any where the Happyland Pub is located. North side of Eglinton East of Markham Rd. no complaints made against the address investigations as it relates to all those things, E-edition of Bluffs Monitor available. Send your e-mail adress to [email protected] and get local news delivered to your in-box Page 2 - December 2018 Christmas Services Calendar Your FREE Neighbourhood News from the Beach to the Rouge WEBSITE: www.bluffsmonitor.com The Anglican Church of St. Nicholas Fallingbrook Presbyterian (wheelchair accessible) 1512 Kingston Rd. (W. of Warden Ave.), 416-691-0449 35 Wood Glen Rd. (& Kingston Rd.), 416-699-3084 CIRCULATION: 20,000 Dec. 16 10:30am Advent 3 - Lessons & Carols with Dec. 02 10:30am Advent 1 Communion AD SALES / EDITORIAL Eucharist. Dec. 08 9:00-11:00am Annual Food Drive - 28th Year! 5:30-07:00pm Messy Church - Supper & Games [email protected] / [email protected] Dec. 21 07:30pm Quiet Christmas Service - (For those who find Christmas a difficult time). Dec. 09 10:20am Advent 2 Carols & Choir Presentation or to VOLUNTEER for DELIVERY Dec. 24 5:00pm Christmas Eve Eucharist Dec. 16, 23 & 30 10:30am Welcome All! 7:00pm Lively Family Eucharist with Children’s Dec. 24 07:00pm Candlelight Carols & Readings 416-691-4085 Pageant UPCOMING DEADLINES 11:00pm Traditional Eucharist with Candlelight Grace Church (Presbyterian) 447 Port Union Rd., 416-284-8424, www.gracewesthill.ca In by: Dec. 21st Dec. 25 10:30am Sung Eucharist with Christmas Carols SWuend wayasr m-09ly:1 i5navm it e y oTrua dtioti ownaol rSsehrivpic! e For: January 2019 Issue Birchcliff Bluffs United Church 10:45am Contemporary Service 33 East Road (Kingston Rd./1st N. off Warden), 416-694-4081 Delivery: Thurs. Jan 3rd 12:45pm Arabic Service Dec. 02 10:30am Advent I - Open, inclusive Communion & 03:00pm Urdu Service Feb. issue deadline: Jan. 21st Delivered: Jan. 28th New Member service. Dec. 24 06:00pm Christmas Eve - Children’s Service March. issue deadline: March 19th Delivered: March 26th Dec. 09 10:30am Advent II - White Gift Sunday, Theme: 08:00pm Christmas Eve - Family Service “Gifts of the Season in Story and Song” PUBLISHER / EDITOR: John & Glenda Smee 10:00pm Traditional Candlelight Service with Carols (Please bring unwrapped food item for Dec. 30 & Jan. 06 one service only at 10:00am Editorial Asst: Mary McIntyre Rafter the Bluffs Food Bank). Production: [email protected] Dec. 15 07:30pm “Christmas Miracles - A Celebration of Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church Unexpected Gifts” ; BBUC’s annual fund- Reporters: Derek Pinder 140 Guildwood Parkway, 416-261-4037, raiser to support the Bluffs Food Bank, Photographers: John S mee, Barry Schef fer, www.guildwoodchurch.ca Tickets: $15.00 at www.bbuc.ca. Dec. 21 07:30pm Longest Night Service - A quiet service of Web Master: Lloyd Gray Dec. 16 10:30am Advent III -Christmas Reflections & Music. prayer and healing on the longest night of Writers: Heather Anne Hunter, Erin Jones, Dec 17 11:30am Dorothy’s Place lunch for LGBTQ seniors the year. & friends. E.M. Joseph , Cathy Austin, Patricia Boyes, Dec. 24 07:00pm Christmas Eve Service-Readings & Carols Monica McClure , Nick Kossovan, Emily Daw - 12:30pm Christmas Music by Neighbourhood Spirit Choir. Kingston Road United Church son, Felicia Carty ... and the Backpack Dec. 23 10:30am Advent IV - Music Service, 975 Kingston Rd. (at Scarborough Rd.), 416-699-6091 Hailey McCowan “Christmas Notes: Carol Sing” Monitors Dec. 09 10:30am White Gift Sunday and Children’s Play.