Five years ago, Randy Guijarro purchased an old photograph for $2 at a junk shop in Fresno, California.. Now, he could sell it for $5 million. That’s because the photo shows infamous outlaw Billy the Kid and his gang playing croquet in 1878, according to Kagin’s, the company that verified the image. There is only one other portrait of Billy the Kid known to exist, which was purchased in 2012 for $2.3 million.
Bott sisters Catie, 13, and twins Dara and Jana, 11, with their parents
A toxic mix of old fridges, stoves and other appliances is burning at in a Gormley scrapyard on Woodbine Ave. between Stouffville Road and 19th Avenue. Firefighters are letting it burn down until they can deal with it more effectively.
No one likes bed bugs and we should be on the lookout for them But a news story inspired by Abell Pest Control’s Mike Heimbach has a slight feeling of deja vu. It was about this time last year that Mr. Heimbach and the folks at Abell Pest asserted that there was a looming rat infestation downtown because construction at Union Station had displaced the rodents. The only thing was, no one could find the rats. The Star hunted diligently. There aren’t many things The Toronto Star can’t find. But the rats were never located. This year City News has recounted the ordeal of a woman who lives on San Romano Way. “Her tormentors are tiny. But their effect has been gargantuan,” says City News. And it points to a “yet-to-be released report by Compas research on behalf of Abell Pest Control” which finds that 70 per cent of Ontario’s public health inspectors felt bed bug reports were up in their area. “We thought it would be on the decrease, but it’s actually on the rise,” Abell’s Mike Heimbach told City News. Well, as we said, bedbugs are the enemy for sure but the City’s Health Department seems to think things are not out of control. It sounds like the apartment where this lady lives is poorly managed. In researching this post we came across a Texas pest control firm called Assassin Exterminating. Its motto is Always Hire A Professional.
Bank of Nova Scotia has cancelled support for Buskerfest, Caribbean Carnival (also known as Caribanna) and the CHIN International Picnic. Last week it was learned the bank had also cancelled support for Nuit Blanche. The bank apparently reviewed its spending in these areas and told the organizations in question last February. The bank says it spends about $25 million on support of community events in Toronto and area each year. Scotiabank said in a statement. “Arts and cultural sponsorships remain an important part of our overall sponsorship strategy.”
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The Spring Awesome Sale will be held at Leaside United Church on Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17, 2015. The sale will keep its usual hours of 3 to 7 p m. Friday and 10 am. to noon on Saturday. The Awesome Sale is an excellent rummage offering which typically shows thousands of pre-sorted items, many of fine quality. There are 15 departments with treasures such as trinkets, clothing, linens, furniture, small appliances, housewares, .jewellery and others. There will also be a snack bar. The organizers remind us that anyone wishing to volunteer or with questions about making donations and arranging pick ups may contact George at georgehurst@sympatico.ca 416 421 6491 or Bob at aelister@sympatico.ca 416 757 1491
Camera catches Jose Bautista as he hurls away bat with intense pleasure
The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Wednesday to advance to ALCS with a 3-2 series score. Jose Bautista delivered a three-run home run in the seventh inning as the Jays willed an astonishing reversal of fortune after losing the first two games at home. TSN blog
Volkswagen executive Winfried Vahland has quit the firm rather than take charge of the diesel-testing scandal in the United States. Vahland had been named as the man who would clean up the mess but today (Wednesday, October 14, 2015) he resigned instead. News of Vahland’s bolt for the door came as media reported that at least 30 Volkswagen managers were involved in the test cheating, citing internal and external investigations. VW said the figure was without any basis.
A man apparently unknown to his targeted victim has tried what appears to be two abduction attempts on a 9-year-old boy near Thorncliffe Park Public School at Thorncliffe Park Drive and Overlea Blvd. The first attempt occurred today (Tuesday, October 13, 2015) between 8:35 and 8:55 a.m. when the man approached the child. He grabbed him by the shoulder. Then at noon, the same man approached the boy again. The lad ran back into school and told a teacher. The suspect is described as brown, 40s to early 50s, 6’0″, with short light brown hair, short facial hair near the chin that is light-grey, and a moustache. He was wearing a white shirt, dark zip-up jacket, black pants with word ‘ADIDAS’ written near pocket, Nike shoes with orange on them, and a black hat with an orange circular symbol. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
Toronto Zoo has releaed this picture of two teeny-weeny Giant Panda cubs born today (October 13, 2015). They are the first first pandas ever born on Canadian soil. The zoo’s female Giant Panda, Er Shun, gave birth to the first cub early this morning, at 3:31 a.m. EDT. A second cub followed at 3:44 a.m. EDT, according to zoo staff. The first cub weighed 6.6 ounces (187.7 grams), and its slightly younger twin weighed 4 ounces (115 g). John Tracogna, CEO of the Toronto Zoo, called the births “historical,” and praised the organization’s successful reproduction program.
The video produced and shot on Bayview Ave by Leo Burnett Advertising has been released on the website of the charity Raising the Roof. The deceptions used to obtain comments are revealing. The audio is all taken from phone recordings of people who were invited to “reach out” to the fictitious Jefferson Homeless Shelter with “questions, comments and concerns.” Callers were well primed for their calls with misinformation that a 62-bed shelter with a three person volunteer staff would be installed at 1591 Bayview. In the final decision-making by Leo Burnett, there may have been some concern by legal counsel about what was being done because the video carries a tiny-type advisory that “We’ve re-recorded and edited the messages to protect people’s’ privacy.” It isn’t too clear just what that means — are these the actual callers we are hearing?
MISSED THE MARK
There were cameras rolling from a high point on the west side of Bayview across the street and seemingly from a moving vehicle. There are eight clips. One man calls the homeless “drug addicts and drunks.” Others express concern about what the presence of such a hostel would do to business and property values. Councillor Jon Burnside says he thinks the effort “missed the mark.” He told CP24 that he did not think the hoax did anything to address the needs of the homeless. He questioned the claim by Raising the Roof that Leaside was picked at random. The charity however seems to firmly believe that its trickery is justified by the end. What was the purpose? Promotion of the charity? A spontaneous outpouring of interest in opening a shelter in neighborhoods across the country?
TRUST BROKEN
In South Bayview the hoax has broken a trust in many homes. These are neighborhoods of unparalleled generosity. Will ordinary property owners and business people everywhere find themselves comfortable with this standard? What other tricks might people with a certain zeal attempt? Public relations codes are replete with the insistence that members of the public be dealt with fairly and honestly. The advertising council proclaims Truth, Fairness, Accuracy. YouTube
