Thursday morning

Know this guy?

A photo posted to Leaside Community shows a scene at about 4 a.m. Thursday in what is called the “Millwood Laird area.” It shows an apparently old man in a toque and sandals checking to see if a car door is open. The poster says the man is “walking around for unlocked doors. If you had anything taken out of your car, police reports are being filed. (Deleted) also rides a bike, leaves it lockup at the end of the street during the day and comes back to get it when going thru the cars. The bike has a unique feature: two large reflectors in each wheel.” This fellow should be easy to find. There are many posts and the consensus seems to be that with everything that is known about this person, plus the good photo, he can be captured.

Richard Southern of 680 News with word on what seems like a no-brainer. The Ford Conservatives will require new aspiring teachers to pass a mathematics test to qualify for their certificates. Why such a simple certification is not already in place does make one ponder.

A man said to be between 25 and 40 has been prowling streets in the Danforth Rd. and Cowell Ave. area in recent days, sitting behind the wheel of a car naked from the waist down. This was first noticed Monday, September 17 with the last sighting on Wednesday. He was seen driving slowly past girls on the sidewalk. He is described as having a light complexion, medium build, short brown hair and driving a light-coloured four-door style sedan. Police request the public to report any suspicious activity to police at 55 Division, (416) 808-5500

Seen in Danforth and Coxwell area many times

Jays impressed by the way the Tampa Bay Rays use data in their decision-making.

The Blue Jays have hired Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Charlie Montoyo to coach the Toronto Club during its planned rebuild next season. Montoyo agreed to a three-year contract with a club option for the 2022 season. Twitter posts. SportsNet

Because of expected rain, the closure of the Gardiner Expressway planned for Friday has been put over one week and will now take place between Friday, November 2 at 11 p.m. until Monday, November 5 at 5 a.m. The Expressway will be fully closed during this period from the Don Valley Parkway/Carlaw Avenue to Highway 427/Queen Elizabeth Way.

In the beginning

50 years on air

With sidekick Marilyn Denis

CHUM 104.5 host Roger Ashby has announced his retirement after 50 years with the station. A release from Bell Media, owner of CHUM 104.5, says Ashby’s farewell broadcast will air live from the Sheraton Centre Toronto Grand Ballroom on Wednesday, Dec. 5 beginning at 5 a.m. ET. It will feature “a multitude of celebrity guests” and recount Ashby’s most amazing memories from his half-century on CHUM-FM. “It’s easy to get up early every morning when you love your job and the people you work with,” said Ashby. “Of course, I couldn’t have done it without the amazing Marilyn Denis. From the first moment we met, I knew she was the right person to spend my mornings with. And our success over the decades would not have happened without the dedication of our longtime listeners.” “Marilyn and Jamar will keep entertaining Torontonians every morning on CHUM 104.5, and I look forward to listening,” he continued. “I’d also like to thank my wife, Moira, and my family and friends – with whom I will be spending a lot more time, whether they like it or not!”

Two twists on your recreational high-times are offered by City News. Marijuana users say that the new government pot retailer OSC is falling flat on its face. Wait-time on the phone has been recorded at six hours and vanishing orders are common. But, there’s a nice new brew called Been A Slice now offered by the Common Good Beer Co. in Scarborough. The clever name derives from its main ingredient, stale sourdough bread. Love it.

Hit while stopped/Peel Police and Paramedics

BMW ran into ambulance

Paramedics survived

One man is dead and two paramedics have been injured in a two-vehicle crash in Brampton Wednesday. Peel Police say it happened around 8:30 p.m. at McMurchy Ave and Queen St. when a BMW hurtled through an intersection and collided with an ambulance that was waiting to make a left turn onto Queen.  Paramedics tended to the driver of the car but he was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Two paramedics in the ambulance suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital in non-life threatening condition. The ambulance was not transporting a patient or responding to a call at the time of the crash. Roads in the area are currently still closed for the investigation.

MAN AND DOG RESCUED FROM BALCONY

A man and his dog were rescued from a fourth floor balcony of a community housing building near Yorkville early Thursday when fire hit the location. .Fire crews were called to the scene shortly before 7 a.m. They found the apartment occupants on the balcony of the unit where the fire originated.

With any luck, there will be mail delivery in Toronto on Thursday. Canada Post employees (CUPW) stopped so-called rotating strikes here sfter a stoppage Tuesday and Wednesday. The walkouts have moved on to Sherbrooke, Calgary and Kelowna, the union says.

The Toronto and New York stock markets saw punishing drops again Wednesday based on an interest rate increase from the Bank of Canada and outright fear about world stability in the US. Toronto fell 376. Headlines about Saudi Arabia out of control, possible cancellation of the nuclear treaty with Russia and other concerns drove the Dow to an astonishing drop of 608 points.

• David Rosenberg: Things aren’t nearly rosy as the Bank of Canada believes

Striking CUPW members outside Wicksteed Canada Post plant

The federal government named a special mediator Wednesday in the hope of ending rotating walkouts that appear to be getting more permanent. Labour Minister Patty Hajdu announced the appointment of Morton Mitchnick hours after the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said it would keep its members on the picket lines in the GTA. The announcement made the strike seem rather more permanent. The minister said Mitchnick, a former chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, is a highly respected senior arbitrator and mediator. She said he will be joining a team of federal mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service that have been working with the two parties.

• Death threats, vandalism target Ont. government after labour bill introduced
• Bank of Canada inches closer to normal with rate hike — and signals more to come

There is an outpouring of thanks on social media to Councillor Jon Burnside for his work on behalf of the community over his four-year term at City Hall for Ward 26. Burnside was defeated by Jaye Robinson in the newly-created Ward 15 (Don Valley West) in Monday’s election. The many comments can be seen at Leaside Community and Leaside Chit Chat.