Boy foils abductor who doesn’t know code word

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A scheme to get more kids to walk to school more often has been announced on a day when every parent is fretting about their kid’s safety at school. A man has tried to pick up a 10-year-old boy outside Kimberley Junior Public School in the Kingston Road and Main Street area. The man told a story that has tricked other kids. “You’re mom told me to pick you up,” he said. Fortunately, this lad’s mother had trained him. The boy asked for a code word and when the would-be kidnapper didn’t know it, he fled in a beat up car. Now put this teachable moment for parents next to the boilerplate news release from the  local school boards and the city about how too many kids are being driven to school. Nowhere in this excited story about what an adventure it is to walk to school does it mention the constant spectre of harm to children that compels parents to try to hand their kid directly to the teacher. Listen, we get it. Such close supervision isn’t necessarily the best thing for a child. Walking, cycling and running are what kids are supposed to do. But the fact remains the streets are not as safe as we might wish.  It’s too bad that the walk-to-school campaign doesn’t have some answers. 

Man rescued from trench collapse on Mildenhall

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A workman has had a close call after being buried in earth up to his shoulders on Mildenhall Rd. in the Lawrence Ave. and Bayview Ave. area of Lawrence Park. The man and his workmates were attempting to seal a leaky basement, a process known as parging. They had dug a deep trench beside the home and early in the afternoon the earth gave way, trapping the man. It took firefighters digging and carefully shoring up the sides of  the trench to finally extricate the man. He is said to be essentially unhurt but was checked out at hospital. 

“Live town meeting” by phone in by-vote riding

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Phones were ringing all over the riding of Toronto-Centre with a recorded message from Liberal leader Justin Trudeau Tuesday evening. It invited those who answered to stay on the line and, within a short time, to take part in a “live town hall meeting with thousands of your fellow constituents.” The recording said that Mr. Trudeau were be available at the meeting and answer questions from anyone.  Toronto Centre is one of four federal ridings in which a byelection will be held November 25.

Fed minister says Ford should quit immediately

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Raging bull and Ms McConnell
Ward 24 member of City Council Pam McConnell  is okay after that raging bull performance by Mayor Ford Monday. As seen in he pictures (inset) Ms McConnell is literally bowled over by Mr. Ford as he rushes to join in an imagined rumble in which his brother was involved. This school yard performance begins with Mr. Ford barreling along a narrow aisle at City Hall council chamber. He seems to think he can slip right by Mr. McConnell but of course is absolutely unable to do that. In the centre pictures he might be trying to muscle her out of the way but the impact has knocked her off balance. At bottom, she reels backwards barely avoiding a bounce off the floor, but members of the mayor’s staff catch her. “I was pretty shocked,” said Ms. McConnell.. “I had the stuffing knocked out of me, and the location I was hit in was very dangerous. So I feel extremely lucky, like I had angels on my shoulder yesterday.”  It was a brief incident on the day that saw the mayor and his brother, Doug, isolated at city hall. In fact, today brought more shunning of the Ford brothers both at City Hall and in Ottawa, where Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism said Ford should immediately stop dragging Toronto through this embarrassment and resign. Kenney is the member for Calgary Southeast. 

Money reporter Bartiromo calls it quits at CNBC

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Maria Bartiromo

CNBC says veteran anchor and reporter Maria Bartiromo is leaving the business news channel. Bartiromo’s contract ends Nov. 24, concluding 20 years with CNBC, the channel said Monday. The New York Times and others reported Bartiromo is joining Fox Business Network. The Fox network said it had no immediate announcement to make Monday. The Drudge Report was first to report Bartiromo’s move. “After twenty great years of having a front row seat to some of the most important economic stories in the world, it’s hard to sum up the gratitude and appreciation I have for the team that helped make it happen,” Bartiromo said in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to accomplish.” Her representative did not immediately respond when asked to comment on reports that she’s going to Fox Business. ABC

Moore Park ravine home sells for $2 million

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The large and spacious bungalow at 113 Hudson Drive has sold for $2 million even, a down tick of $79,000 (or 4%) from the listing. This interesting home is on an excellent street and has a frontage of 66 feet. It sits on a ravine lot that is 276 feet deep. Pictures inset show the view from an upstairs sitting room and the patio outside the basement family room. For a potential buyer it was presumably a trade off between the view and the privacy against the limited amount of table land at the rear. The home has 2+2 bedrooms and some really nice amenities like a walk-out balcony from the master bedroom, two gas fireplaces and four washrooms. The taxes in 2013 were $13,571 which in context is enough but Torontonians in fact pay very reasonable property taxes compared to many cities in the U.S. This home dates from the post war period and is part of the ravine property owned by the Simpson Knitting Mills family. Much of it was sold off  in 1945 to build homes similar to 113 Hudson.

Explosive device detonated on King Street W.

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A suspicious explosive device seemed so unstable to police that they detonated it right on the spot this morning at the corner of King St West and Peter Street. It was a noising announcement to the neighborhood at 7.45 a.m., rattling windows and leaving an ugly black scar on the road. The device was found in the trunk of a white Civic Honda  which was stopped this morning by police. Two men were taken into custody. 

Jeanine Noyes and friends to rock Manor United

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Canadian singer and musician Jeanine Noyes and a band of entertainers and friends will perform at Manor Road United Church on Friday December 13, 2013. We’re hoping Jeanine will render the old gospel favorite Go Tell It On The Mountain (video) from her recent album He’s Here, the cover of which is seen next to the picture of Jeanine at the right. Jeanine describes the show this way: This year’s Christmas offering from The Arts Engine is something a little different and we think you’re going to love it. 2000 Candles performer and composer Jeanine does the concerts with her full band. The show will be full of songs and stories and includes one actor who will perform monologues and poetry.  In addition to Jeanine on keyboard and guitar the band includes Fergus Marsh, bass, Chapman Stick and vocals,  Al Cross, drums,  Carol Olson, keyboard and vocals, Dale Yim, vocals and stories. 

Mayor, brother threaten war on City Council

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The Ford brothers shouted and threatened “all-out war” today as they became more and more isolated at City Hall, Queen’s Park and in the Conservative hallways in Ottawa. Council voted in large majorities of as much as 36 to 5 to remove budgetary elements of Mayor Ford’s powers. The council transferred these powers to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly. It was a frequently erratic process which began Monday morning and was not over until nearly dinner time. It has enraged the two brothers. The mayor was both frightening and comical as he compared council’s actions to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. He summoned up images of the first president Bush warning Saddam Hussein to stop and of the dramatic war that followed. Mr. Ford said if councillors think that American politics is dirty they have yet to see what he and his brother Doug will inflict on the members of council. This bellicose bluster drew laughs from many members. Later, Doug Ford called on the City of Toronto to rise up against the end of democracy at City Hall. “The war is not done”” he said ominously. Deputy Mayor Kelly said that although the Mr. Ford wanted to make war, he wanted to practice peace. He then went to a meeting of the executive committee bearing his new powers as its chair. At Queen’s Park, Tim Hudak, leader of the Progressive Conservatives, said that he would certainly support council’s action in the face of an inability of the body to function. In Ottawa, the prime minister’s office said it found revelations about the mayor “troubling” and  the government does not approve of the use of drugs  

Justin robocalls roll across Moore Park, Rosedale

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Those interested in just what’s happening in the Toronto-Centre byelection battle would surely love to know what the internal polling of the parties says. The added spurt in  both NDP and Conservative signage has been matched by an extra top piece of Mr. J.T. himself stapled onto the already heavy Liberal placard lawn parade. With Monday morning comes Justin robocalls looking for support. What do those polls show? You vote next Monday. 

53 Div. cops seek Jamie Simpson for break-ins

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Jamie Simpson

The Toronto Police Service is looking for the public’s help in locating a wanted man. Jamie Adam Simpson, 43, of Toronto. Simpson is wanted for  seven counts of break-and-enter, 11 counts of mischief, 11 counts of theft, and possession of burglars tools  53 Division is located at the corner of Eglinton Ave. W. and Duplex Ave. and services all of South Bayview as well as areas to the west. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637)