The forecast holds a two-day blessing of five degree C weather for Wednesday and Thursday this week. As well, the symbols posted by the Weather Network offer hope of generally sunny skies.

Isahaq Omar.

CADN 350

The man who was shot, apparently by another passenger in a parked car and thrown onto the road near Bayview and Finch Aves. has died. He is identified as 36-year-old Isahaq Omar. Police seem to have no idea what Omar and another man were doing as the SUV sat near Burbank Drive and Canary Crescent about 11 p.m.Thursday in the quiet residential neighborhood. There is no information about Omar except that he has connections to Regina and Vancouver. The shooter drove off in the vehicle described as a 2017 Jeep Cherokee with Ontario plates CADN 350.

Legislature Speaker Chris Stockwell

Former Speaker of  the Legislature, Chris Stockwell, has died at the age 60 after a long battle with cancer. Vic Fedeli, the interim leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, tweeted Sunday that he was “very saddened” to learn of Stockwell’s passing. CBC

City News has video and a report from the explosion and fire in Mississauga earlier Sunday. Then, a compelling piece from ABC on the Monarch Butterfly winter refuge high in the mountains of Mexico. Lovely. Below that, Israel shoots down an Iranian drone launched from Syria and lastly, a look ahead to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this week at which some 100 dogs from Canada will compete.

Raccoon/archives

Distemper symptoms in dogs

An incident with a raccoon suffering distemper led to a second-hand warning about an unspecified virus when Toronto police re-broadcast information from Toronto Animal Control on Sunday. It is now said a raccoon captured at St. Clair Ave East and Danforth Rd. was suffering from distemper, but was not rabid. For humans, the information is concerning because while distemper will not make humans ill it can make them carriers of the distemper virus which may then be communicated to pets. Here is an extract from Vetinfo describing this concern.

OWNERS CAN INFECT PETS WITH DISTEMPER

“Distemper is closely linked with the measles virus in humans. The two diseases are so similar, in fact, that it is speculated by medical historians and pathologists that the measles virus may have mutated at some point and spread to dogs. Because of this close link between the two, human beings can be infected with the canine distemper virus. However, an important thing to note is that, while the virus can successfully replicate in the human system, it produces no illness and no symptoms. Unfortunately, this does mean that you can be a carrier of the disease and that you, as a human, can then pass the distemper virus on to your pets. Therefore, if you’ve previously owned a pet that suffered from distemper, it’s a good idea to ensure that any pet that you get later on be vaccinated against the disease before it comes into your home, just in case you might pass distemper on to it.”

Canadian chair for sale

We love this thing

Card show in Esandar until 4 p..m.

Beach Chess Club

Lamb shank on Valentine’s menu at Today’s Menu

Rob Oliphant at Starbucks

Hop-on-Hop-off

We love this Canadian-themed chair (left and upper right) being sold on Leaside Community. The price is $35 and it comes with a sad story about how the kids don’t want it in their bedroom. Ha ha. On the right below, the Toronto Card Show was held Sunday until 4 p.m. at the Amsterdam Brewery at 45 Esandar Dr. Down from there is some scrumptious looking lamb shank, one of many ideas from Today’s Menu for Valentine’s. Further down, MPP Rob Oliphant has been busy holding discussions in coffee shops locally about one thing and another. At the bottom, Mayor Tory tweeted this promotion of his  Hop-on-Hop-off initiative for the TTC to Leaside. Why not? And finally, bottom left, great fun as the Beach and East York Historical Society recall the palmy days of the Beach Chess Club. That’s this coming Tuesday evening at the Beach Public Library, 2161 Queen St. East.

Gord Perks

John Tory

Rob Ford

David Miller

According to Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4) homeowners are dragging their tails when it comes to property taxes. You have to pay more, says Perks. He says he will push for an increase of the rate to an unspecified level. The City will then use the money to do all sorts of stuff. TTC, recreation and childcare. No mention in here of hiring a “Night Mayor” to make our midnight jaunts just super. Perhaps Mr. Perks is opposed to that looming boondoggle. But that’s it of course. No one really knows how tax money will be spent until it gets funneled into the pig trough. Mayor Tory steered the City to a 2.1 percent tax (inflation rate) in 2018. You will pay the first installment this month. Rob Ford froze property taxes and the highest increase in recent years (four percent) came when David Miller was mayor. Perks has a particularly chilling way of talking about this. “Right now, if you own a lot of real estate, the City of Toronto is a gold mine for you,” Perks told CBC Toronto. How’s your gold mine doing? Need a new roof?  Call the Night Mayor.

The Canadian Press reviews the reaction of Federal Liberals, including the prime minister and the justice minister, in which they appear to be criticizing the justice system after the acquittal of a Saskatchewan farmer in the shooting death of an Indigenous man who had come onto his property with two women and two other men. Among others, Michael Lacy, a partner in the criminal law group Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP in Toronto, said politicians “have no business at all” in commenting on the outcome of a trial. Canadian Press  Globe and Mail background from November 2017

Commercial site explodes/City News Twitter

Nearby apartment

Smoke/CTV Twitter

Three people have been hospitalized after an explosion at a commercial location in Mississauga on Sunday. Peel paramedics say one man suffered serious injuries while a woman and young boy suffered minor injuries. Hurontario Street is closed in both directions from Dundas St to Hillcrest Ave. The call came about 7.30 as reported by City News.

Outside St. Cuthbert’s (Facebook / Kathleen Davies)

On Bessborough Drive (Facebook / Patrick Mahoney)

Two mounted officers from the Toronto Police were in Leaside Saturday evoking many pleasant memories among those who saw them and others who looked at photographs on social media. The mounted police were stationed at St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church for the service for Mona Piper, a signal mark of respect as this much-loved member of the community was honoured. Later they were seen on Bessborough Drive. On Leaside Community Facebook page, there is a long thread in which residents say they recall when it was common to see mounted police in the community. One called their presence at the funeral a touching and lovely reason for them to be in the neighbourhood. Others merely said “Wow.”

Leaside Jr. Wildcats defeated the Waterloo K-W Rangers 2-0 Saturday night in Leaside with some nice dipsy-doodle from Quinn Johnston and Myah Bowal. The two forwards steamed down the ice at the 12 minute mark of the first period to execute a pretty pass-and-score play. Skyler Stockie in the K-W net had no chance as Johnston patiently waited to feed the puck to Bowal, the right winger. In the third, it was Bowal scoring again unassisted at 11.39. Kate Stuart earned the shutout.

GRADUATION COMING FOR 12

Also Saturday night, the Wildcats acknowledged the graduation of 12 players this Spring, a mass departure that will leave openings at the top. Bowal and Johnston as well as fellow forwards Kristin Della Rovere, Mackenzie Lloyd, Sarah Brooks, Marlo Campbell, Lexy Staresinic and Mackenzie Macdonald will move on to other challenges. Defense personnel Katie Wilkinson, Sam Jarron and goal tenders Alysha Letwin and Kate Stuart are also saying goodbye.