Trap set for Luna, but neighbor objects

The search continues in North Leaside for Luna, a probably-pregnant tabby who strayed from home about a week ago. Its owner is saying on Facebook that a trap has been set on Thursfield Crescent at the spot where she is seen every day. A kind homeowner, of whom there seem to be many, has allowed the trap in his backyard. But incredibly, there is a neighbor threatening to call police because the owner is sitting in her car on the street to monitor events with the trap. Unbelievable. One reader says Luna’s owner should buy the person a Tim’s card and thank her for her understanding. Luna’s owner says she needs to be so close to the trap in case it shuts. Luna might injure herself. Most of the time her partner is in the car during the night and early morning because those are the times Luna is out. She asks for any help with alternate parking. During the day Luna hangs out between 37 and 47 Brentcliffe. Leaside Community

The Boston Bruins earned a victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in a wild Game 7 on Wednesday evening, clinching the series win and setting up a second-round meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pointing something at officer

But as cop approaches with baton, subject drops the object (circled)

He retreats and falls to knees

The frames above are all taken from about four seconds of video shot by Zaid Yakub from his vehicle Monday as PC Ken Lam, using apparently only his night-stick or baton, arrests a man on Yonge St.  It reveals that the subject of Lam’s attention drops whatever it is he is pointing at the policeman. Most reports say it was a cellphone. The wanted person immediately raises his hands and moves to the sidewalk and falls to his knees without being forced or hit. Lam is much celebrated for his courage and judgement. Fortunately for him, his perceptions were correct. He did not unholster his gun and most certainly could have been shot by anyone with a gun.

Ontario’s auditor general says the Liberal government’s statements on the province’s finances understate its deficit by billions. In a pre-election report released Wednesday, Bonnie Lysyk also says the government has not accurately reflected the true cost of its borrowing plan to cut hydro rates by 25 per cent, and is raising questions about the way it accounts for revenues related to two teacher pension plans. As a result, Lysyk says the government’s deficit projections are off by 75 per cent in 2018-2019, jumping to 92 per cent in 2020-2021. Lysyk says the 2018-2019 deficit projected by the government was $6.7 billion and will instead by $11.7 billion. The deficit projections for 2020-2021 are $6.5 billion, but Lysyk says that figure will actually be $12.5 billion.

PLANE WITH SIX ABOARD LANDS SAFELY ON CALGARY STREET

A small plane carrying six people made an emergency landing on a Calgary street Wednesday morning. Police say the twin-engine plane was coming in from the south, heading for a landing at the Calgary airport, when the pilot radioed in that the aircraft was low on fuel. Sgt. Duane Lepchuk said the plane came down shortly before 6:00 a.m. on a two-lane stretch of 36th Street, about five kilometres south of the airport and not far from the Trans-Canada Highway. There were no injuries among the four passengers and two crew members. “36 (Street) is an overpass that goes over the Trans-Canada,” noted Lepchuk, who said there was no indication the plane was damaged during the landing.

Respect/Steve Russell@RussellPhotos Twitter

Grief and strength at North York memorial/Nathan Denette Twitter

Michael de Adder/National Post

Prayers in Olive Square at Yonge south of Finch

PC Ken Lam with proud dad David

In the depth of the grief and despair felt by people across Toronto, there is much simple decency to help us be brave. We will find it in thousands standing vigil at Olive Square off Yonge St. for victims of the truck attack Monday. It’s in prayers expressing love for all and in the generous giving underway to address personal and family catastrophe. And there is the pride of a father in his fearless son in blue. It is our pride too. Toronto Strong. Stay as you are.

Not legal but we love to pull U-turns

The dangerous and illegal practice that is so common on Bayview Ave., and elsewhere near home, occurred again Tuesday morning. This time it caused an accident. Social media was alive with the U-turn crash on Bayview between Manor Rd. and Millwood Rd. A rental van attempted a U-turn from a parking spot and was struck by a bus. It seems we love to do it even though Bayview is signed from Davisville to at least Parkhurst to the contrary. The practice may be slightly less dangerous on South Bayview than elsewhere, if you don’t mind $1,000 in repairs. The Highway Traffic Act does permit U turns under elaborately cautious conditions and if not specifically forbidden.

TWO DEATHS LOCALLY IN A YEAR

But on Mt. Pleasant Rd. near Carstowe Rd. or the Bayview extension near the Brick Works, it’s been deadly twice in slightly more than a year. And it could easily kill a pedestrian right on our favorite street. Both these accidents were caused by illegal turns in violation of a City bylaw that  prevents them where “unsafe,” sources say. Such turns are also referenced in a bylaw on “dangerous practices.”  U-turns are dangerous because they create a surprise for other drivers. It’s a 360 degree window of peril. A driver exiting parallel parking on Bayview cannot know that someone on the other side is going to turn in front of him. Although specifically prohibited here, and elsewhere, there is little enforcement. Offender demographic is well peppered with matrons with kids in the car, dads, bozos and guys in a hurry.

See later post

Red indicates mid-rise zoning

Gym at St. Anselm

Population to nearly triple in this zone

A modestly-attended meeting in the gymnasium of St. Anselm School Monday night was primer for residents on the enormous development planned for Laird Drive and Eglinton Ave. down to Brentcliffe Rd.  There will be parks, boulevards, trees, bike lanes and similar amenities on all these streets and others. Nothing much was seen regarding schools. Schools are the purview of the school board which from time to time complains that the City and Province don’t do much to help coordinate growth with classroom space. The huge developments at 815 Eglinton (at Laird) and 939 Eglinton (at Brentcliffe) are elements that will trigger the transformation of a low-rise street into something more like downtown North York on Yonge St. But many other addresses will also be rezoned to mid-rise and higher on the north side of Eglinton and the west side of Laird. Schematic drawings showed familiar places which will all be available for buildings six to eight storeys high. Density will mushroom. Comparative depictions of a radius around Laird and Eglinton showed the population leaping from 3749 people to 10420 people. Insights lately had by many  about the full meaning of an LRT along Eglinton.

The Leafs scored into an empty net with seconds remaining in Game Six to win 3-1 against the Bruins.

• We’re going to Game Seven: Maple Leafs demolish the Bruins 3-1

Alek Minassian

Police hold van driver on Yonge St. near Poyntz Ave/CP24 capture

CBC News has confirmed that Alek Minassian, a 25-year-old Richmond Hill man, the news agency says in a story online. Minassian’s LinkedIn profile identifies him as a student at Seneca College. Police have told CBC that the suspect is not associated with any organized terrorist group and he does not represent a larger threat to national security. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation, the CBC says Witness Jamie Eopni, who saw the struggle to arrest the driver, had estimated that he might be as old at 40. But the person taken into custody had his head shaved, making him seem older. Tom Winter of NBC News say that “multiple law enforcement officials in Canada and the US say the preliminary theory is that Minassian may have had mental health issues and had an online discussion about Elliot Rodger who went on a rampage at UC Santa Barbara.” At a news conference Monday nght, Chief Saunders was unable to indicate a motive but he did say that authorities believe the the action was not about national security. Twitter is alive with people who say they knew Mr. Minassian in some capacity offering a range of unverified allegations about his mental state and intelligence.

• Only driver’s license and credit card required to rent van
• A very angry and scared young guy’ Witness describes driver in Yonge & Finch incident