The South Bayview Bulldog

Maria Mitousis

Lawyer Maria Mitousis has become a profile in courage since that day three months ago when a package bomb sent to her office blew off her right hand and burned her badly on the face, arms, chest, thighs and left hand.  This week Mitsousis  spoke publicly thanked police and EMS personnel who helped her and to say that she will not be sidetracked by her injuries. She had been targeted by the estranged husband of a woman she was representing.  Speaking to reporters at the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service’s training academy, Mitousis thanked the first responders and her law office staff who helped her in the moments after the package exploded. “They’re the ones who got me through that morning, and I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to share with Winnipeggers that I believe that we’re truly fortunate that we have these people, with their expertise and integrity, right here among us, and our city’s well-equipped to manage all forms of crisis,” she said. Mitousis, who was right-handed, said she has had to adapt to using her left hand in daily life. As well, she is dealing with extensive burns from the blast.

Could you walk it?

Toronto Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who has been robbing people of their cell phones in elevators in Thorncliffe Park. It happened first on August 12 when a man boarded the elevator at 53 Thorncliffe Park.Drive. The thief was also on the elevator and produced a kitchen knife.He demanded the man’s cell. He got off at the fifth floor and escaped. Then on Friday, August 28, 2015, at 2:10 p.m. a 21-year-old woman has a similar experience at 27 Thorncliffe Park. She was followed in by an unknown man who threatened her with a kitchen knife and stole her phone. He is described as in his 20s, bearded, with short black hair, 5’8″-6’0″, thin build.  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.

Ford Canada will recall as many as 60,000 older Windstar minivans in Canada as part of a safety notice related to a previous recall for a rear-axle repair that possibly did not take. The latest recall covers around 342,000 vans built at Oakville from 1998 through 2003 and sold in both Canada and the United States.

CBC 

A familiar regular on South Bayview has died. Raymond Ratchford, a happy and friendly presence on his motorized scooter passed suddenly at the age of 57. Mr. Ratchford was known for his role as a backup singer to the late Rita MacNeil and his friendship with the maritimes singer. He was found in his Davisville home September 27, 2015. Ray Ratchford’s Facebook page with pictures

Russia launched air strikes against targets in Syria on Wednesday in the Kremlin’s biggest intervention in the Middle East in decades. It has told the U.S. air force to steer clear. Russia says that it is bombing ISIS but it seems to also be bombing Syrian opponents to Bashir al Assad. It is a galling time for the Americans and for the world. But many will say this bitter outcome is absolutely made in America and in the West. The Russians have done what the democratic governments have not been able to do.

RUSSIA CHOOSES BETWEEN TWO EVILS

It has made a choice between what it sees as the lesser of two evils. It prefers Assad to ISIS. No European power nor any western government has been able to stomach that decision. It is the failure of policy that misread entirely the limited capacity of the middle east and much of North Africa to function in an orderly, much less civilized way, without a distasteful strong man at the top. It began with feckless babble about an Arab Spring and ends with Russia, of all countries, trying to restore order.

He’s happy

The University of Toronto student newspaper The Varsity says that the Drake concert for Ryerson University’s Orientation Week cost $515,0000. Quoting the Ryerson student paper it says that $300,000 of this came from local businesses (!) and $215,000 from the Ryerson Student Union budget of which $100,000 was a straight gimme from the adminstration. Remember when the costliest element of  orientation was the old tomatoes that students threw at each other? Varsity