Michelle Shemilt

Monica Witt

Marcella Zoia

Life has it travails, as notable businesswoman Michelle Shemilt (left) has found as she faces charges in the hit-and-run death of Michael Watts, a homeless man who was sprawled unconscious across a Cabbagetown lane near her home as Shemilt drove by. He died on the spot. Sun court reporter Sam Pazzano was at a court appearance for Ms. Shemilt. At centre is Monica Witt, once an admired cryptologist and counter-intelligence investigator with the US air force. Then in 2013 Witt, 39, decided she wanted to betray the US and live in (either) Russia or Iran. She’s now enjoying (if that’s the word) life in Tehran. Go figure. Lastly at right is that chair girl, Marcella Zoia, 19, who is getting the razzy treatment from some for her bad behaviour (Narcity linked). Will she grow up soon? Instagram.

The snowy, icy winter has left Toronto without road salt. The search for salt to melt ice and break up hardened snow recalls a similar issue during the ice storm of December 2013. City News found some at Lowes in Vaughan. Then, doctors say missing as few as two days of school a month can cause irreparable damage to a child’s ability to excel. Below that, the distressing report of a BBC reporter who has interviewed a British girl, now 19, who ran away to Iraq as an ISIS bride. The story says she has had two children die there and is now nine months pregnant. Just heartwrenching. Finally, in case you missed it, Wire Fox Terrier King is Best of Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

King is Best of Show at Westminster Kennel Club Show

They’re clearly giggling over at GO Transit tonight with the release of an over-the-top video to accompany the appearance of one of their highway buses at the Canadian International Auto Show opening Friday. Heaven seems a little closer as thunder and lightning herald a ride on this darkly-conceived commuter behemoth. Catch the ebony Tomcat growling its approval. Rather like the voice of God commanding you to get aboard. Listen, at least the kids will have fun sitting behind the wheel of the big green bruiser.

Resistance from many taxpayers and political forces on the left has caused Amazon to abruptly cancel plans to build its second headquarters in New York City. Many people thought New York State and local officials went overboard with subsidies to Amazon estimated at as much as $3 billion.

Eyes upwards as warmer day causes falling ice/carlososorio@carlososorio Twitter

Warmer temperatures Thursday brought the inevitable aftermath of sleet and freezing rain — falling ice. Police closed parts of Yonge St. at Gerrard, College and The Esplanade because of dangerous chunks of ice. Police were later sent to Lake Shore Boulevard West and Dan Leckie Way for reports of “large chunks” of ice falling from a high-rise. This may be a forecast of things as a high of 3 has been posted for Friday.

Falling ice, Bloor St/ Yonge St – large chunks of ice falling from a building at the intersection – Bloor St is now closed to pedestrians pic.twitter.com/uhoXMRFJQp

— Alfredo Colangelo (@CityAlfredo) February 14, 2019

Airbus will stop making the A380, pulling the plug on its super-sized jumbo jet that once promised to revolutionize commercial air travel but failed to deliver on outsized expectations. The European plane maker said Thursday that it will stop delivering A380s in 2021 after its key customer, Dubai-based airline Emirates, slashed its orders for the world’s largest airliner. “It’s a painful decision,” Airbus CEO Tom Enders said during a conference call with analysts. “We’ve invested a lot of effort, a lot of resources and a lot of sweat into this aircraft.” “But obviously we need to be realistic,” he added. “With the decision of Emirates to reduce orders, our order backlog is not sufficient to sustain production.” The decision could cost as many as 3,500 jobs at Airbus in European countries over the next three years. The A380 first flew 14 years ago on a giant bet that airlines would need a plane that can carry up to 853 passengers. But the 21st Century instead saw airlines buying cheaper, smaller plans to help trim costs — with CNN

A printable version of the TTC Subway and Streetcar Map is available here.

A study done at McGill University which appears in the Psychiatry Journal of the American Medical Association Thursday says smoking cannabis as a teenager increases the risk of depression and suicide during young adulthood. Individual risk from the use of cannabis remains moderate to low but because so many teens are smoking cannabis, there is potential for large numbers of young people to be affected, according to findings. However the researchers, led by Gabriella Gobb, didn’t find a link between marijuana use and increased risk of anxiety. Montreal Gazette

Seen Tuesday on Parkhurst

Robinson at Bayview Leaside BIA

Hey you 1975 Leaside Trotters

Broadview Danforth

Mark Stewart at Garden Society Thursday

Family Skate on Family Day

Upper left, it’s no one’s business if this gentleman wishes to walk along Parkhurst Blvd. dressed in shorts or whatever in this weather. But it caught the eye of more than one resident and who talked about it on Leaside Chit Chat. It was shot Tuesday morning. Brrr. Upper right, Councillor Robinson met with the board of the Bayview-Leaside BIA this week. There’s lots to learn for the new member of Don Valley West. Below that at right, Kathy Tunnicliffe McGrade has posted this great shot of the Leaside Trotters Junior Girls Hockey team from 1975. Love it. Go through and see who remembers who. Below that, the Danforth BIA has changed its name to the Broadview Danforth BIA to reflect its westernmost location on the Danny.  Bottom left, hands must hold seeds if they are to flourish. Mark Stewart is at the Leaside Garden Society Thursday night to discuss Seed Saving and Seed Libraries. Lastly, a reminder of Patrick Rocca’s Family Day Skate.

They’re digging up the 18th Century dead in London to build a new train station and it is yielding wonderful glimpses of England’s history. But not everyone is happy. Then, Toronto will conduct a safety blitz of so-called “high-risk high rises” to try to avoid the water, power and heat failure seen in St. James Town this winter. Below that, York St is closed because glass panels are falling from a new building. What the heck is going on? Lastly, every new mother and father should watch this CBS report on a new pacifier that will play a preemie infant a song sung by his mom or dad. The babies are said to love it.