The South Bayview Bulldog

BNN assesses the decision of George Weston Ltd. to find a buyer for its 139-year-old Weston Foods bakery division. In a release early Tuesday, the Toronto-based conglomerate announced it launched a process to divest its bakery unit after a strategic review conducted by its board of governors. It also announces that Loblaw President Sarah Davis will resign in May from that position. She will be replaced by Galen G Weston, who will hold all the top titles including Chairman and Chief Executive of George Weston.

The death of Bernice Nantanda Wamala, 3, of Scarborough, remains a mystery as federal scientists, the coroner and police continue to investigate why the child became ill and died on March 6. It appears the probe has moved on from early suspicions about a breakfast food taken by the child. It was also consumed by a friend with whom Bernice had a sleepover, and although that child became ill, she survived.

The CNE has more or less doubled down on opening this Fall by expressing its determination to hold the Canadian International Air Show as usual. Directors have already said they hope and expect to open the big waterfront exhibition in full in 2021. Cross your fingers for the early arrival of herd immunity this summer and the freedom it will bring. Instagram

There’s been a remarkable public protest by high-ranking diplomats from all over the world in front of the Beijing court where Canadian Michael Kovrig is undergoing a secret trial this week. It’s a disgrace to the Communist autocracy. Then, disturbing violence in the UK as the government proposes to give police greater powers to enforce C-19 restrictions. Below that, AstraZeneca has reported the result of recent US studies. They’re good. And lastly, the new Netflix documentary on the college admissions scandal, Operation Varsity Blues. No connection to men’s and women’s sports at the U of T.

Jovial weather veteran Dave Phillips talks Spring weather on CTV and offers a guarded prediction of pleasant days ahead.

Wicksteed crossing in 2019/Rudy Limeback

The railway crossing on Wicksteed Ave re-opened Sunday night after a supper-hour accident in which a train hit a man walking on the tracks while talking on his phone. He is recovering from serious injuries. The Wicksteed level crossing is among the last in Toronto and is a frequent cause of delay to drivers, pedestrians and the 88 Leaside bus. Of course, a bridge would not have been much help to someone who likes to walk along railway tracks talking on the phone. Wicksteed Ave. level-crossing among the last in Toronto

Herd immunity occurs when very few people remain unvaccinated

Fearful predictions of a raging C-19 wave three are being heard locally. One epidemiologist speculating about just how bad it might get is Colin Furness of the University of Toronto. He is quoted by CTV as saying the decision to increase indoor dining occupancy as infections continue to rise amounts to “asking to be clobbered.” “We’re going to have a very difficult April and a very difficult May,” he is quoted as saying.

Herd immunity the goal

The variables are human behavior and as Mr. Furness says on his Twitter account, the nature of vaccination. He points out that getting this form of protection does not mean you can’t be a Covid carrier. In order to slow down the spread of C-19, it will be necessary to vaccinate enough people to achieve so-called herd immunity. That’s a state where only a relative few remain without protection. For C-19, doctors estimate that about 40% to 50% of the human population would need to have antibodies in order to have herd immunity.

GTA hotspots continue to boil

Numbers released Sunday show 1,791 new cases found in the previous 24-hours. The majority were found in the GTA. Toronto reported 495 new cases, Peel 350, York 177 and Durham 106. There were 49,200 tests completed.

Mt. Pleasant mural/Mount Pleasant Village BIA

The new mural on Mt. Pleasant Rd. at Belsize Drive will see its first Spring this year. The mural was finished during the Fall of 2020 when the world was focused on C-19, according to the Mount Pleasant Village BIA which comments on its Facebook page. There are also wonderful detail photos to be seen at Murals By Marg, the website of Margaret Cresswell, Associate of the Ontario College of Art. Call for artists to make mural proposal for Mt. Pleasant BIA

An Ontario ticket holder won Saturday’s $6 million Lotto 649 jackpot. And the draw’s guaranteed $1 million prize went to a lottery player in Quebec. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on Mar. 24 will be an estimated $5 million.

You’ve got to love this story of a Toronto businessman who is spending the pandemic tapping his (and neighbors’ trees) in Caledon to make maple syrup.

Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger were down for a period Friday across the world. The three apps – all of which are part of the Facebook company, and share common technology – stopped working on Friday. Updates here

• WhatsApp and Instagram was down for thousands of users worldwide, restores later