The fresh-faced bank bandit has struck again. On Saturday at approximately 1:10 p.m. the youthful looking robber hit a branch near Yonge Street, just north of Lawrence Avenue West.  He waited in line  saying he would be making a cheque deposit but then passed a hold-up note demanding specific denominations of cash  He is described as early 20s, 5’10” – 6′. Fresh-faced “4-bank bandit” in photos from holdup squad

See later post.

Night Owl Mac’s

Going black one by one

Original Mac’s

Mac’s, a Canadian name since the 1960s, will disappear for good in coming months as its owner, Couche Tard, of Laval Quebec, rebrands 15,000 corner stores and gas stations worldwide with an American name. The really galling thing for many people is that Couche Tard (it means night owl) will survive as the name of the corner stores in Quebec. Everyone else, including the chain founded by Ken and Carl McGowen in 1962 will be called (ugh) Circle K y’all. The Mac’s name has been owned by Silverwood Dairies Limited which acquired the firm in stages but then sold it to Couche Tard in 1976. So, Quebec stores will get to keep the signature owl name and logo. “Our roots are here, the name is French. The popularity of the brand is so strong here. There was no question (that we would change it),” said executive chairman Alain Bouchard, addressing a press conference in Laval last year. Funny how the Quebec owners get it about their French name but not the English one.

Gordie Tapp

Canadian radio and television entertainer Gordon Robert “Gordie” Tapp has died at 94. Tapp was instrumental in changing radio entertainment in Canada and later moved to Nashville as a member of the cast of the country television program Hee Haw. His character Cousin Clem was a favorite. Tapp was born in 1922 in London, Ontario and worked there in radio before moving to Guelph and Hamilton, where he was a mainstay at CHML radio. It was here he gained fame for Main Street Jamboree, a radio program that successfully moved to television. He worked for 13 years as the host of the CBC program Country Hoedown before his American venture. .

HOCKEY BOSS AS ARMY SECRETARY

The owner the Florida Panthers NHL hockey club, Vincent Viola, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to become the secretary of the Army. If the nomination is successful Viola will give up that responsibility.  The Panther hockey operation says the move will have zero impact on the team.

CHRIS SPENCE

Chris Spence, the former director of education at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), has been stripped of his teaching licence by the Ontario College of Teachers. It found him guilty Monday of plagiarism. He had been previously been found guilty of guilty of professional misconduct last month following the 2013 scandal which led to his resignation as director of the TDSB. Spence, 54, admitted to plagiarizing passages of an opinion piece he wrote for the Toronto Star and it was later discovered that he had done the same in the writing of his PhD dissertation.

Bennington Heights reader High Grant has tweeted his surprise that the South Bayview Bulldog has not carried something on where to find prepared Christmas dinners. Well, Hugh’s word is our command. It appears that Christmas dinners can be had from Andy Elder at Grill Time at 72 Laird. He offers pretty much everything you might wish for a Christmas dinner but you have to serve it yourself. Longo’s Signature brand offers Turkey Dinner in a Dash. It serves four to six for $99.99. And Today’s Menu on Millwood Road has a nice looking “family size” plate of turkey with cranberry sauce for $29.95. Add a few oysters from De La Mer on Bayview, and this is some great feast.

The Ontario government has released the most popular names for newborns in the province in 2015. Once again Liam and Olivia are among the hottest names. But previously common monikers like Edward, Kathleen, George, Susan, Mary and John are gone from the top 25. Just plain Bill is hanging in at six for boys. Here’s the list (see how many movie stars and celebrities you can find).

Toronto will have some welcome snow-melting weather for four or five days this week. It is anyone’s guess how long it will last.

WINTER SOLSTICE

Wednesday will see the official start of winter and the actual turnaround in diminishing of daylight. By January 31, we will have gained the best part of half an hour of daylight.

Great Family Skate yesterday. So much fun especially when Santa arrived! 🎅🏻Ho, ho, ho! ❤️⛸🎄 #leasideskatingclub pic.twitter.com/pQwwBErmvn

— Leaside Skating Club (@leasideskating) December 19, 2016

This is next door to the site of the the new condominium site.

FIRE:
Southvale Dr + Millwood Rd
-Fire in backyard
-Piece of machinery
-Close to the house
-Residents evacuating
#2238751
^dh

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) December 18, 2016

BBC