Blue Jays are the potent 2015 league-leaders we can’t enough of as they paste the New York Yankees 11 to 5 in New York. Jays lead the American League East by 2.5 games.

Many people expected a bad end to the elementary school labour talks and that seems to be what they’re getting. Meetings have broken off and both sides are proclaiming a kind of wonderment that this has happened. The education minister, Liz Sandals, says the government and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association have tabled a “comprehensive” proposal to the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) that she says is in line with the tentative agreements reached with other teacher unions in the province. The head of the teachers union, Sam Hammond seems staggered: “We’re shocked at this development,” he said. Hammond accused the Liberal government of “walking away” from talks and refusing to continue bargaining. He hinted at even tougher action in schools where labour strife has already cost 800,000 public elementary school kids field trips and parents chances to meet with teachers.

LITTLE CONCERN STATED FOR PUPILS

And so, the mothers and fathers who elected the government watch, without information, as the school system they own is held hostage by the union. Such circumstances would not be permitted except through the fear of electoral vengeance of a province-wide union of teachers ready to vote against the Liberals at the next election. There is no apparent capacity in the cabinet to face down the teachers with back-to-work legislation and little interest expressed among teachers for their professional duty.

Police at 53 Division are warning owners of Lexus and Toyota SUVs to get their cars locked and, if at all possible, into garages. Detectives are not sure whether the gang of thieves stealing these vehicles in the area, including South Bayview, have access to electronic devices which can compromise an SUV’s security system. But there has been a spike in the theft of these vehicles and the dirty work is being done smoothly. There is no sign of damage at any of the scenes. It began in January. Investigators are asking members of the public to be vigilant when securing their SUVs, even in their driveways. Using a locked garage is recommended and any spare keys for SUVs should be kept in a safe location.

SIX DISAPPEARED ONE NIGHT IN 2009

They also ask people to report what they see. Suspicious cars patrolling the neighborhood or anyone lingering near a car. All of this is too similar to the night six years ago of the big Toyota sweep: Toyota thefts recall 2009 heist of six Highlanders  It is still unsolved. There is a very sophisticated organization at work. They have inside knowledge of the vehicles and how to get them out of the country. These cars are popular abroad and unlike U.S. trademarks such as GM and Ford the Japanese cars blend right into the local scene.

There is discussion among staff and managers at Pusateri’s flagship store on Avenue Road that the quality grocer is shooting to re-open in December in time for Christmas shopping. Pusateri’s was struck by fire Sunday, August 15, 2015. Investigation focused on something in the coffee bar and the fire has been declared accidental. It was unknown until damage had been fully assessed just how long it would take to open the doors again. Now as work continues inside it appears the principals feel it is a reasonable goal to open before Christmas.

The agent doesn’t say when 117 Hudson Drive was built but it appears by its appearance and location to be among the post-war homes constructed on the remaining land of the Simpson estate. The lot is 70 by 263 feet, nice but a width which these days makes the neighbors edgy about intensification — two homes for one. But it is beautifully set and maintained with three bedrooms, four baths, lovely principal rooms and a pretty good-looking back yard notwithstanding that some of the property goes down towards Mud Creek. The asking is $2,895,000

It may well be, as some are saying, that people who threaten death online are less likely to actually do it because they ventilate. Possibly. But that hopeful reading of online threats is no substitute for the type of defensive moves being taken at the University of Toronto this morning. In recent days a comment somewhere on BlogTO threatened to shoot women in the university’s women’s studies department. Many publications, especially online, have a fairly rigid requirement for those wishing to comment. As well, most publications have someone take a look at what was actually said before it is permitted online. BlogTO requires only that the reader give a name and the comment is published immediately. That may be too easy. The South Bayview Bulldog reads every comment before it is published and like most publications, reserves the right to discard any comment for any reason. The most remarkable trove of obscene threatening and abusive comment by far is found on Youtube. There, for reasons not entirely clear, it seems anyone can publish anything and have it remain there indefinitely.

This fine group of young people was at Sunnybrook Park on Wednesday as part of the Morning Glory Cycling Cycling Club youth cycling program. MGCC has a program for children 3 to 14 years to learn riding skills and fun grass-track racing. Grass-track racing is a popular European sport for kids learning to cycle competitively and is a fun and safe way to introduce kids to bike racing. The program is run weekly in season.  Thanks to Dr. Tim Marshall of the Bayview Chiropractic Clinic for this.

Police have released video captures of these three men wanted for the stabbing of student at Central Technical School on Bathurst Street earlier this week. From left to right the men are described as follows: 1) black, 18-20, 5’11”, 165-175 lbs. and has his hair braided. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a Blue Jays T-shirt, and was carrying an orange bag. 2) Black, 18-19, 5’10”, and with a medium build. He was wearing a Blue Jays baseball hat with a curved brim, black hooded sweater with a white logo, and dark jeans. 3) Black, 18-19, with a slim build and black hair. He was last seen wearing a white Adidas jacket, black T-shirt with a large white logo, and khaki pants. The 19-year-old victim has improved in hospital from what were said to be very serious wounds,

Pedestrians ran for cover and at least one has complained of glass in an eye from a shattered pane. Toronto Star

New Normal at Hot 89.9

The recently created e-mail news memo called @12.36 reports today that Ottawa radio station Hot 89.9 is giving away $40,000 for a gender transition. Says @12.36, Hot 89.9’s fall ratings-baiting contest, “The New Normal,” has an interesting grand prize: the chance for a lucky listener to “live the life they want to live.” An application asks detailed questions about the medical and treatment history of each hopeful. The station promises to be empathetic in the way it portrays the entrants, although the official rules stipulate that finalists “must demonstrate sufficient physical, psychological, and mental capacity to endure the process of the contest.”