Words cannot express the deep loss the entire Hydro One family is feeling after today’s tragedy, and we extend our sympathies to the families affected. Our focus remains on ensuring that our employees and their loved ones are being cared for and supported in every way possible.

— Hydro One (@HydroOne) December 15, 2017

Four Hydro One employees died when their helicopter crashed on a rural property in eastern Ontario Thursday afternoon. The one pilot and three crew members were part of a crew performing routine maintenance work on a hydro line and at a hydro tower on a property in the municipality of Tweed, Ont., when the aircraft went down, Hydro One spokesperson Ferio Pugliese confirmed. Hydro One has not released the names of the victims pending the notification of next of kin, but Pugliese said they were based in different regions from across the province — CBC

Fighting between young men armed with heavy sticks has again broken out at a Brampton plaza. City News makes a stab at trying to explain it. Not much luck. The video to the right is in Punjabi, one of many on YouTube in this language. There are also videos of past fights as well. Below that, the CBC assays the Canadian economy’s strength and has an interview with Stephen Poloz, head of the Bank of Canada. And finally, Disney has purchased 21 Century Fox lock, stock and barrel for a tidy $54.4 billion dollars. The BBC tries to tell us why.

Burglar breaks into home of elderly woman

Ignore pleas to stop ransacking bedroom

Lawrence and Leslie

A pair of brazen burglars have robbed a woman of 96 and when she told them to stop they told her to “stay out of the way.”  This occurred December 8 at Lawrence Ave E and Leslie St. It was mid-afternoon when the elderly woman heard something in her residence and realized she was not alone. She followed the sounds and discovered a man and woman ransacking her bedroom  She yelled at them to stop. They ignored her and continued to go through her belongings. The two fled with a jewellery box containing a quantity of costume jewellery and other items  A witness who observed them leaving the home followed the two east to the Shops at Don Mills. They were last seen on foot, heading northbound on Don Mills Road approaching Lawrence Avenue East.  The man is described as approximately 30, 6′, medium/heavy build, tanned complexion, black hair, clean-shaven. He was wearing a dark peacoat-style jacket, blue jeans. The woman is described as approximately 30, 5’5″, slim build, long blonde hair, wearing a waist-length winter coat with fur-trimmed hood, light-coloured leggings.

Portraitures by Mitch Harrison

Mitch Harrison’s IN2VISUAL Production and Photography business is an impressive new sponsor at the South Bayview Bulldog. Harrison runs his multi-faceted service from Glenavy Ave. near Bayview and Eglinton. His work ranges across Promotional and Marketing Videos, Video Resumes, Interviews and Testimonials, Live Event Video Production, Video and Sound Post Production and Products and Services Videos. On the photography side, Harrison creates Portraits, Talent Head Shots, Photo Restoration, Live Event Coverage and Wall Photoart. The videos below offer a sample of this work. There’s much more to see on the website. Welcome to the South Bayview Bulldog Mitch Harrison.

There are so many things wrong with the idea that an $846,000 bank draft could be given to UPS for delivery between two Ontario towns that it’s hard to imagine how anyone would entertian such a thing. But it happened last February and there is no resolution in sight. CBC

Unknown accusations of impropriety from a person unknown lay at the doorstep of an aide to the prime minister Thursday. His office has confirmed that an investigation is under way and that Claude-Eric Gagne, the deputy director of operations, is on leave. All three members of a family caught in a fire at a Toronto Community Housing building at Allen Rd. and Flemington Rd. have now died. A boy, 16, died Wedneday following the death in hospital of his brother,18, and his mother. No cause has been released. And a woman is complaining that she was refused a ride in a taxi downtown early in the morning because the trip was only a few blocks. Good story.

Stephen LeDrew returned to Tucker Carlson program on Fox Wednesday night

Stephen LeDrew returned to the Tucker Carlson program on Fox News out of Washington Wednesday night, exactly two weeks after his appearance there that caused him to be fired. LeDrew said that in the end, Bell fired him for “mocking” the huge conglomerate because they had suspended him for appearing on “the competition.” The notion that Fox News represented anything like competition to a regional news channel like CP24 in Toronto was a source of some amusement to Carlson. Both he and LeDrew professed puzzlement at the reasoning. The former noon hour gadfly told in greater detail than he had previously what happened the morning of Thursday, November 30. “Thursday morning I was called by one person.”

“ONE PERSON”

“Bell Media is a great organization.” LeDrew said, “but one person runs the local cable show. I was told it’s against the rules.” LeDrew said he asked “What’s the rule? They (Fox) didn’t pay me. They (the one person) said Fox is competition to CP24. You can’t go on the competition. Later that day I was suspended,” LeDrew said. “You don’t tell everybody that (you are) suspended for seven days without saying why, so I said clearly they thought Fox was competition to CP24 in Canada. And after that they (Bell  Media) said, well now you’re fired because you’re mocking us. No one likes to be ridiculed, it’s a ridiculous decision.” Carlson said that LeDrew should come to the US as a refugee and he would be taken care of. LeDrew responded that he didn’t need “to be taken care of. I haven’t sold my Rolls Royce yet. I’m still in pretty good shape,” he said laughing.

Richard Zussman

Stephen LeDrew

Marie-Pier Cloutier

Media giants CBC and Bell Canada fear no government but have been quick to shoot dead two staffers who fell afoul of fear and loathing. Richard Zussman has been fired for writing a book about BC Liberal premier Christy Clark and the rise of the NDP under John Horgan. Hey, off with his head. Then the dismissal and moments later the firing of Stephen LeDrew, yackey noon hour host of CP24. He went on Fox News deemed by CP24 owner Bell to be “the competition” and said he thought that “two spirited” people might be confused about sex. Bell seemed a bit confused too because for three whole days it insisted this was about Fox News. Not yet fired is Marie-Pier Cloutier, a reporter for Quebec’s TVA Nouvelles who said a Montreal mosque had forbidden women construction workers at their job site. The mosque vehemently denies this and no one can confirm it.

Cupcake Girls Heather and Lori have apparently made a succces of cupcakes

Empty shelves and locked door at Cupcakes

The Cupcakes shop in Leaside Village on Laird Drive has closed leaving some customers without treats. It raises the question as to whether just cupcakes in a standalone retail venture is a real business, even with the promotional support of the famous Cupcakes duo. Lori and Heather started the franchise operation from Vancouver.

Flashback to September

Backed up to Welland Ave on Wednesday.

Flashing red at Bayview and Moore

The traffic lights at Bayview and Moore Aves. were flashing red again Wednesday, smack in the middle of the evening rush. Traffic was backed up eastbound to Welland Ave. As the story from September (above) relates, this is far from unknown at Bayview and Moore. Police and traffic planners understand there are no rules for this problem at a busy, multi-lane intersection. It is not possible to coordinate as many as a dozen drivers waiting at the white line to cross or turn.

Look at the cameras/@robindeliva

1954 at Davisville Station/@transittoronto

Kinglewood IV/Bulldog

Menorah lighting for Second Night

MRUC Stand Pancake Breakfast

Robin of @robindeliva was grousing Wednesday about crowding on Line One. She mentions Davisville, St. Patrick and St. George, where she took the picture at the upper left. Look at the cameras. But in 1954, upper right, crowds were thinner as commuters streamed off the streetcar and across Yonge St. into Davisville Station. Below that, the gentle gentry of Inglewood Dr. are marking Kringlewood IV this month with their famous parade of CTC Santas up and down this fine street. Merry Christmas guys. Below that, take notice please of two events. The second night of Chanukah will see the menorah lit at Davisville and Yonge courtesy the Midtown Yonge BIA and Chabad Lubavitch On The East Side, the Jewish social service agency. It goes at 5.30 tongiht (Wednesday). To the right, Manor Road United Church at Manor and Forman will hold its popular Santa Pancake Breakfast Saturday starting at 9.30. See you there.

Could cost you

Inspector Blue might visit

Modern life is complex and just in case you don’t have enough to do, please dedicate enough time (or more) to your garbage. Notices this month warn homeowners in South Bayview that “recycling mistakes could cost you” when you put the wrong thing in your Blue Bin. There’s a suggestion you may be getting a visit from Inspector Blue. Among the fairly familiar advice about garbage is that we should be trying to give as much of it away as we can. An alternative to landfill and reuse are the Waste to Energy Centres like the one in Durham. That big fire pit doesn’t care what you put in it. City News has an interesting package on the recycling alert.