Meet & Greet at Bayshore Towers

More than 60 residents gathered in the lobby of Bayshore Towers this afternoon for the first Meet & Greet in the building's 35-year existence. Click on any image for a larger view.

Marcie made the delightful punch, Arlene found Peak Frean cookies at a great price, and Gwen, Hazel S, Henny and Maria contributed their baked goods to the refreshment table.

Paul and Barb (left) won a $150 shopping spree at Metro while Natasha, shown with a son, won $100 toward her February condo fees. Georgs, the chair of Bayshore Neighbours, stands behind the winners. Not shown is Roger, the president of Durham Condominium Corporation #19, whose name was drawn first but who, in a show of class, declined the Metro gift certificate.

James Dawson Cornelius, the youngest resident at Bayshore Towers, is shown with mom Sonia and great-grandmother Helen.

Bill and Bernice, the newest residents at Bayshore Towers, are show with daughter Marjory.

Arlene (left) and Marcie (right) did all the work but somehow Georgs managed to grab the credit for organizing the Meet & Greet which is sure to become a regular fixture on the Bayshore Towers calendar. The event was organized, promoted and funded by Bayshore Neighbours, an informal association of owners and tenants active in community life in our common home.

Meet & Greet on December 6

Win $250 in door prizes . . .





. . . at the first annual Bayshore Towers Meet & Greet on Sunday, December 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Lobby. Free punch. Free cookies.

Meet your neighbours and have a chance to win $150 worth of groceries at Metro and $100 toward your condo fees or rent in January.

Organized and sponsored for all residents by Bayshore Neighbours.

PartyLite Party!

Beautiful candles. Gorgeous candle holders. Just in time for the dark days of winter.

THIS SUNDAY
From 2 to 4 p.m. - Activity Room on Lower Level

Your purchases will help fund improvements to the visitor entrance from the garage.

Call Marcie @ 905.839.0406 if you cannot attend and would like to see the PartyLite catalog.

Fall program at Bayshore Towers

REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, October 7

TRAVEL PRESENTATION
Wednesday, November 4

MEET & GREET YOUR NEIGHBOURS
Sunday, December 6

BBQ every other Wednesday

Click on the image for a larger view.

Annual BBQ goes indoors—and rocks!

Day-long rain drove the third annual Bayshore Neighours BBQ indoors but a great time was had by all. Click on any photo for a larger look.
Joan, a longtime resident of Bayshore Towers, is an inspiration to the youngsters in Bayshore Neighours.
Sisters-in-law Arlene and Sandra were among the volunteers who put in long hours on event day.
Two cousins enjoy their time together to the delight of their moms.
Poverty Line was all the only band we could afford. Just kidding . . .
Elvis was in the house with the band.
Connie and friend trip the light fantastic to the sounds of Poverty Line.
Stella and her daughter Natasha enjoy a turn on the dance floor.
Fellowship is one of the main reasons Bayshore Neighbours exists.
Honorary resident Willie (left) is greeted by Jocelyne and Norlene.
Doris is ready to serve Joe and others as the eating begins.
Super super Ivan is served by Henny and Sandra.
Super janitor Maria and a guest are served their choice of three meats and fixings.
BBQ organizing committee chair Hazel dances with husband Jim.
Everyone has a ball during a circle dance.
Ken, who was supposed to be enjoying a day off, jumped in to help Hazel with the grilling of burgers, sausages and dogs.
Door prizes galore for more than a dozen lucky BBQ attendees.
MC Don and the ladies of the BBQ committee who outdid themselves—despite the rain outdoors.

What a view!

Another million-dollar view from Bayshore Towers:


This photograph by Marjory A was taken from the 17th floor at sunset facing west across the head of Frenchman's Bay, with downtown Toronto at the far right some 50 kilometres away. Click on the image for a larger view.

Pickering residents unite to oppose San Francisco by the Bay tower

Click the poster for a larger view. Print and pass on to your neighbours. The date for the next meeting will be announced shortly.

Rogers TV: Pickering residents up in arms

Battle of Bay Ridges heats up regarding third high-rise at San Francisco by the Bay

Click on the images to enlarge them for easier viewing.





You can read the same News Advertiser report on the Web.

San Francisco by the Bay means more cars in an already congested South Pickering

Won't plans announced by GO to expand parking at the Pickering station alleviate much of the traffic problems in South Pickering?

No, no, no! Expanding GO parking or enlarging the GO station will have exactly the opposite effect on an already congested Bayly and Liverpool intersection.

That will mean that most of the 1,100 cars resident at San Francisco by the Bay, the SR&R monster development, will be tempted to drive to the GO. At least the current parking situation is so bad that it may actually act as a deterrent.

Can you imagine what adding 1,100 cars to the mix will be? Bayly and Liverpool will become a zoo!

Already, commuters who walk to the GO have to take their lives in the hands when they cross the intersection.

Of course, the promoters of the SR&R development, will tell you that a traffic study has absolved SR&R, that there will no significant increase in traffic along Bayly. Sounds to us like SR&R funded the study because it describes another planet, not Bayly Street as we who live there know it.

Anyone in the area of the Bayly/Liverpool intersection knows the mess that ensues every time a train pulls in and disgorges its passengers at the Pickering station. The Liverpool stoplights back up cars as far east as the industrial mall to the east of the GO station. Cars are backed up across the 401 overpass and back down Liverpool. Add to that hundreds of cars attempting to get in and out of Tim Horton’s. Now add another thousand cars.

What is being proposed with the third high-rise tower at San Francisco by the Bay beggars belief.

—Georgs K, chair, Bayshore Neighbours

No white elephants in Pickering!

My family has had the pleasure of living in Bay Ridges since 1964 and has seen many changes. The San Francisco By the Bay development has me most concerned.

I would like to request the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Pickering to take a logical approach to the latest proposal from the developer, SR&R Bay Ridges.

Why is this re-zoning and 25-storey building even under consideration?

The two condominium buildings already approved by this Council are not even started! City of Toronto has several high-rise condominium buildings that have the foundations almost completed, but the developers are walking away. According to both Tony Wong and Will Dunning of the Toronto Star, “Toronto’s Condo Boom is heading for a Bust”.

Major projects have been put on hold. Due to poor ales and dropping prices, developers are walking away from projects that have already been started. Minto Urban and Trump are amongst these.

Toronto has 33,919 units sitting empty! This should suggest to Pickering Council that it is time to re-think San Francisco by the Bay and not allow the 25-storey and re-zoning. Properties are just NOT selling. And YES, we residents would rather see a nice park there that would complement the area to preserve and enhance the Douglas Ravine and Frenchman's Bay.

Of course, Bay Ridges residents are disturbed! We still have NO grocery store South of the 401. Geographically, this does not make sense. There is no choice but to cross the 401 bridge to get even the basics of life. Safety hazard to walkers and making it essential to use cars creating more problems with volume of cars and pollution from unwanted emissions.

We are also VERY concerned about getting a fair hearing. We have had the embarrassment of adverse publicity for Pickering regarding corporate donations. Surely this is the time to allow cooler heads to prevail and deny the SR&R application until the economy recovers.

Please, no more, Mr. Mayor and Councillors. We voted for you to act for us, not for developers.

—Hazel D of Bayshore Towers, resident of Bay Ridges since 1964

San Francisco By the Bay buyers: Do they know about the third tower?

Do the people who have been early buyers in so-called San Francisco by the Bay townhouses and two high-rise towers know there is a third giant tower coming to their development?

Have the people selling units for the SR&R/Chestnuthill Homes been telling the truth and the whole truth? There is no mention of a third giant tower at the San Francisco By the Bay site.

Our guess is that SR&R has not explained to the current residents that an additional, taller tower is going to be built. We suspect the first SR&R buyers are not really aware that they will be living in a valley between two approved towers and Bayshore Towers--let alone a third tower looming over their heads.

—Georgs K, chair, Bayshore Neighbours

Dickerson promotes San Francisco By the Bay. Why?

First Local on Rogers TV interviewed Bayshore Towers residents about their opposition to the so-called San Francisco By the Bay development and broadcast their views on Friday evening. Click here to view the newscast; it's the second item on the show. Be patient while the file downloads to your computer.

For good reason, South Pick residents are up in arms about the proposed third tower and the impact it will have on traffic, safety, the environment and quality of life in the area.

First Local also interviewed an outspoken supporter of the development, none other than Pickering City Councillor Doug Dickerson. Mr. Dickerson must think the people of Pickering are stupid as he attempted to justify the development by saying it would not impact traffic much.

Add another 237 residential units to the 497 units already approved in such a small area and you'll hardly notice the traffic. Really, Mr. Dickerson, do you take us for idiots?

In fact, Mr. Dickerson, as you have accepted political donations from developers, we believe you must recuse yourself from speaking and voting on the third tower when it comes before City Council, next at a hearing on March 9.

In fact, if anyone on City Council accepts money from developers, they should not be voting on applications from those same developers. To do otherwise smells.

—Georgs K, chair, Bayshore Neighbours

Pickering traffic jams will grow worse

When so-called San Francisco by the Bay in Pickering by Chestnuthill Homes is completed, traffic conditions will only deteriorate.

LISTEN UP ALL GO TRAIN COMMUTERS! PAY ATTENTION ALL THOSE STUCK IN TRAFFIC ALONG BAYLY NEAR LIVERPOOL ROAD...EITHER SLOGGING IT OUT GOING TO OR FROM WORK!

A 25-STOREY HIGHRISE IS LIKELY TO BE BUILT AT THE VERY CORNER OF THE ALREADY-CLOGGED BAYLY AND LIVERPOOL INTERSECTION. THAT IS IN ADDITION TO AN 18-STOREY HIGHRISE AND A 16-STOREY HIGHRISE, PLUS WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TOWNHOUSES...ALL ON THE SAME DENSE SITE.

THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING:

Townhouses - 120 Units
16 Storey Tower - 235 Units
18 Storey Tower - 142 Units
Previous Total - 497 Units

New 25 Storey Tower - 237 Units
New Total - 734 Units

IT WILL ADD NEW PEDESTRIAN AND CAR TRAFFIC IN THE THOUSANDS TO THIS CRUCIAL CORNER.
ALSO...THIS CORNER IS THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR THE WHOLE OF THE THOUSANDS IN THE EAST SHORE COMMUNITY IN THE EVENT OF A NUCLEAR CALAMITY.

AND THIS CORNER IS THE 8TH MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN PICKERING...THAT'S WITHOUT ADDING ANY NEW TRAFFIC.

AND THERE WAS A RECENT MAJOR TRAIN WRECK THAT MISSED BEING A TOXIC EMERGENCY BY A HAIR...IT HAPPENED NEAR THIS INTERSECTION.

THE 25 STOREYS ARE LIKELY GOING TO HAPPEN WITHOUT WIDESPREAD PRIOR PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OR INPUT....UNLESS YOU READ THIS LETTER!

DO YOU WANT MORE TRAFFIC TROUBLES AT BAYLY AND LIVERPOOL?

IF NOT...THEN GET ON THE SPEAKERS LIST FOR THE MARCH 2, 2009 MEETING OF COUNCIL MEETING AS PLANNING COMMITTEE AT 7 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. SEND AN E MAIL TO lroberts@cityofpickering.com SAYING YOU WANT YOUR SAY. OR MAKE A WRITTEN SUBMISSION TO: CITY OF PICKERING, ONE THE ESPLANADE, L1V 6K7. THE DEADLINE IS NO LATER THAN 4:30 P.M. MARCH 2, 2009.

LET'S CAUSE A TRAFFIC JAM AT CITY HALL COMPRISED OF CONCERNED COMMUTERS.

—Doris H-R of Bayshore Towers, a long-time resident of Bay Ridges

Potluck a tremendous success

Master of Ceremonies Don H could hardly believe his eyes when Jim D stood up to make a large toast to the 72 residents gathered for the third annual Bayshore Neighbours Winter Potluck.

Appetizers and a choice of great salads were first on the menu . . .

. . . followed by many main dishes such a hot samosas and delicious butter chicken . . .

. . . and still more main dishes, such as gourmet mac and cheese, and to-die-for scalloped potatoes.

There was no opportunity to picture the decadent dessert table as all the goodies disappeared quicker than photographer Dave M could focus.

With so much excellent food to be enjoyed, there was hardly time for conversation, but somehow we managed to eat and talk simultaneously.

Georgs K, chair of Bayshore Neighbours, proposed a motion that Denise, who runs the Bayshore Towers office, be recognized as Honorary Neighbour for all she does for everyone in the building. The motion was passed--unanimously.

A bevy of door prizes were kindly provided by Maryann B, Allison M, Gwenn, Jocelyne H, Helen W, Hazel D, Tiny and Marcie.

Ken D was among the winners of door prizes . . .

. . . and Paul . . .

. . . and Alexandra with son Alex . . .

. . . and Helen M, surrogate for Yvonne . . .








. . . Mary M, prize in one hand and oxygen in the other . . .









. . . and Natasha, visiting daughter of resident Stella.








Potluck guests would have continued their neighbourly fellowship much longer but for the clean-up crew swinging into action to return the Activity Room to pristine condition.

MC Don H introduces some of the many volunteers who worked so hard to make the Potluck a huge success: From the left, Gwenn, Tiny, Allison M , Don H, Helen M, Maryann B, Sue Q and Mary M. Not pictured are Jocelyne, Hazel D, Ian H, Ken D, Norlene C and Dave M.

The potluck was a tremendous success, no question about it. Here's how one resident described it:

Want to add my voice of thanks to those who worked so hard and did such a splendid job of creating a wonderful decor, beautiful gifts, atmosphere, and all the elements, not to mention marvelous food. So glad I planned my arrival home in time to attend. Wouldn't want to miss this great moment in our community's increasingly vibrant life. Cannot express how wonderful it felt to walk into a room of friendly faces, be made to feel welcome, greeted with warmth and fellowship...it is an invaluable aspect to making Bayshore home and I am so thankful to live in less isolation...much gratitude to all, Doris H.

Why developers rule in Pickering

If there was any doubt about why developers and other corporate interests always seem to get their way at Pickering City Council, the front page of today's Toronto Star tells it all:

Pickering tops the list of GTA municipalities in campaign contributions from developers and other corporate interests

A whopping 76.7 per cent of campaign contributions in Pickering comes from corporations! That compares to 50.0 percent in Whitby and only 22.4 percent in Ajax where Mayor Steve Parish refuses to accept donations from developers. Ten GTA municipalities were covered in the study by Robert MacDermid, a political scientist at York University.

Heavy reliance on developers and other companies erodes democracy, Professor MacDermid fears.

In Pickering, we have all heard Councillor Doug Dickerson defend the practice by saying that he cannot possibly be influenced by a $750 donation (the maximum one company can donate to a candidate) from a developer. Who is Councillor Dickerson trying to kid?

If a bunch of us in Bay Ridges donated $750 each to the councillor's campaign coffers, would we be continue to be ignored? We don't think so. Would SR&R Bay Ridges continue to have its way at City Hall? We don't think so.

It's sad, but that's all that democracy is worth in Pickering.

It might be cheaper to toss out City Council in the next election and elect candidates who will truly represent the people.

Potluck social on January 31