The editor and publisher of Your Ward News, James Sears, 55, and LeRoy St. Germaine, 77, have been found guilty of promoting hatred against women and Jews. The much-disliked publication had previously been banned from delivery by Canada Post. YWN has continued to be delivered unsolicited to doorsteps in Midtown by paid delivery. In his finding, Judge Richard Blouin, of the Ontario Court of Justice, called evidence of guilt overwhelming. The convicted men had argued YWN was meant to be satire but Blouin found nothing funny about their views. If what they were doing didn’t amount to wilful hate promotion, the judge said, nothing would. “YWN repeatedly and consistently dehumanized Jews and women,” Blouin said in his ruling. “Both men were fully aware of the unrelenting promotion of hate.” In 2017 at the time charges The South Bayview Bulldog called YWN “a journalistically scatter-brained giveaway which many find incoherent. But it’s headlines and stories frequently flirt with ideas that people of both genders and of all backgrounds find offensive.” The Canadian Press story by Colin Perkel has ignited a long thread of comments which range predictably from the revulsion felt by many for YWN to thoughtful concern about limitations on free speech.

The somewhat disastrous decision by the City of Windsor to remove fluoride from the drinking water has yielded a generation of kids with huge cavities. Interesting. Then, it looks like a domestic homicide overnight on Mould Ave in the Stockyards area of town. Carl Hantske reports. Below that, the CBC wanders the dark halls of 260 Wellesley St. at the scene of that confused blackout and water stoppage. Crazy. Finally, Rob Bowman is Canada’s Jack Black (School of rock) it seems. Bowman is the Toronto Rock and Roll Professor and he’s in line for another Grammy

Icy Cleveland and Manor/Bulldog photo

Side streets across South Bayview are extremely icy Thursday morning. Cleveland St. (seen above) was treacherous even at mid-morning especially at intersections. For reasons unknown, the salt trucks have not yet arrived.

Anybody see a Toronto salt truck anywhere. 😱 skating rink out here.

— M. R. Crypto (@MrVari) January 24, 2019

Buses on Line One/Alex Forgay@AlexForgay

Vaguely described signal problems on Line One Thursday have slowed trains and prevented others from entering service. Many (or maybe most) people are on buses which is where Alex Forgay@AlexForgay tweeted this

Mayor Tory addresses tenants meeting

Some may think it too harsh to say there was a stunning absence of information about what’s gone wrong at 260 Wellesley St. But the public meeting Wednesday night to explain burst water piping and the loss of power heard what seemed like many empty statements. There was no advice on what had happened or how soon repairs might restore water and electricity to the 1,000 tenants. One unhelpful quote called the blacked-out high-rise “an incomplete story.” The deputy fire chief said he had “no idea” what had happened. The owner Danny Roth said that Thursday will provide “greater clarity around repairs.” The Twitter feed of Toronto spokesman Brad Ross indicates that temporary hall lighting is being strung and that tenants can stay in their darkened units with temperatures at about 20C. Brad Ross

Actually these photos of St. Clair Ave looking West from Yonge St. were taken just a whisker under 107 years apart. The top one was shot on October 25 1911 and the bottom was recorded in July of 2018. That’s Sellers Hotel at the left. OldTO

Interesting City News story on the theft of a pair of Stanley Cup Championship rings from a west Toronto home. It appears the thieves took the safe which held them.

Lost sash

Click to see

Meet Mondays at Leaside United

A lost Girl Guide sash found in the snow at Trace Manes Park belongs to a member of the 198th Toronto Guide Unit which meets at Leaside United Church across the street each Monday evening. A neighbor who found the sash is taking it to the church where it is hoped the owner will be found.

Thief is seen entering driveway to search car at about 10.30 Monday night on Broadway Ave.

A Broadway Ave. resident has posted video of a person opening her car and looking around at about 10.30 Monday night. The FB author has a different twist on preventing losses. She says leave the car open so the window isn’t broken but of course, remove all valuables. Not sure about that. Sadly the video doesn’t show much but it is a reminder again of how much theft there is from cars.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Canada-US Rivalry Series

Citizenship Award for Colette

Kindergarten information night

Got a poppy toonie for a kiddo?

St. Cuthbert’s Potluck Dinner

Upper left in this mid-week summary of local news, there’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with some pals from the Blue Jays organization keeping fit with stones and brooms at the Leaside Curling Club. Sweep, sweep. At right, MP Rob Oliphant presents Colette Bright with the Canada Citizenship Award for 17 years of faithful service to the St. Anselm Catholic School as head secretary.  Well done, madam. Centre left, the Wildcats are promoting sales to the Canada vs USA Rivalry Series February 14 at Scotiabank Arena. Looks like fun. Centre right, a Remembrance toonie like the one seen here was once the precious possession of a Moore Park kiddo until it rolled under the baseboard and disappeared. Many people are offering to come to the rescue with a new toonie for the kiddo. Then a couple of poster reminders. The St. Cuthbert’s Potluck Dinner is Saturday and Davisville Public School Kindergarten Night is next Tuesday.

Just kidding. We knew that Fan Food wouldn’t make it into the new Canada Food Guide. Keeping in mind that there are limits to a chickpea regimen, it seems fairly straightforward. You can only expect so much from a Bulldog.

• B.C. legislature clerk claimed Apple Music subscription as business expense and other outrages
• Drop dead dad! Belinda Stronach countersues father in legal feud
• Leafs GM Dubas talks trade deadline plans, Matthews and Marner extensions

Snow tonight and early Wednesday morning with risk of freezing rain late Wednesday morning then followed by strong winds and rain.

A Colorado low will track northeast across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay Wednesday, bringing a dramatic change in weather with it.

A band of snow will move through the regions tonight with most areas getting 2 to 5 cm of snow except 5 to 10 cm snow near Lake Huron. The snow will change over to rain near noon Wednesday or in the afternoon with the passage of a warm front. Risk of freezing rain is also possible during the transition.

A brief thaw will arrive with temperatures soaring several degrees above freezing.

Strong southwesterly winds gusting to 70 or 80 km/h are also expected later Wednesday.

Environment Canada is closely monitoring this situation. Freezing rain warnings may be required as this event draws closer.

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Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.