The South Bayview Bulldog

Wine tasting, racquet cover

The Winter Wonders event organized by Bessborough Public School Home and School Wednesday night was a lively and entertaining experience. Dozens of independent retailers and small entrepreneurs purchased sales tables down the hallways of the All-Canada Self-Storage facility on Laird Drive. Early indications showed a good turnout. Inset, a medley of pictures show the eclectic variety of goods. We hope the Winter Wonders is a success and comes back next year. Here are the vendors who took part: Eliza Perry Jewellery, Snapdragon, The Prepped Shoppe, Wild Poppy, Dotty Dress, John Lorimer Agency,, My Boyz3, Carol Walker Jewellery, Valentine Rouge, Ladybugs, Susan’s House of Cards, YWCA International Boutique, Andy and Elle, My Little Craft Crate, Serano Meats, LumaeSweets, David’s Spices, Jamberry Nails, Arbonne, Barebottom Shoes, The Lash Bar, Grill Time, Alex Farm Cheese, Little Miss Henna, Creature Comforts, Original Organic Artwork, Intution Ladies and Menswear, lia sophia, Holmes 4 Homes, Little Miss Henna, Twig, Usborne Books and Sentaler Coats

News release — edited –– Bell Canada is congratulating four of its leaders recognized by the Women’s Executive Network with the Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Award: Mary Ann Turcke, Bell’s Executive Vice President of Field Operations, inducted into the WXN Hall of Fame this year; Marilyn Denis  (left) and Sandie Rinaldo (centre) recognized in the Arts & Communications category; and Michelle Dubé (right) awarded in the Future Leaders category. Release

Premier Wynne and Deputy Mayor Kelly emerged from their meeting today to face the usual barrage of not very illuminating questions. “Is this the beginning of a new era between the City and Queen’s Park, Premier?” Sure. Perhaps it never crossed the mind of either leader in  their tete a tete that Mr. Kelly’s recently revealed game of footsy with Porter Airlines president Robert DeLuce (top) is an emerging issue in the City. It certainly never occurred to the media. Our question for the member for Don Valley West (that would be Premier Kath) is whether she and the deputy mayor discussed putting jets into the Island Airport. If the premier cares about Toronto, and no doubt she does, the part she cares most about is called Don Valley West. In Leaside (and all of South Bayview) her constituents  are dead set against more jets flying over these previously quiet neighborhoods. The Premier knows this truth like she knows her PIN number. We are thinking her constituents would not mind at all if she told Mr. Kelly, who is acting a little too cute by half, to take the advice of staff and leave this matter to the 2014 election, where the people will decide. Now, the poll released Tuesday which is said to show “nearly half” of residents want jets was done by Forum Research. For itself? Well, never mind. The Toronto Star has this story and there is no indication in it if the poll bothered to ask about noise — super quiet jet noise or ordinary jet noise.  There aren’t many silent jet planes, you may have noticed. 

An amazing story of a Hamilton woman who bought a winning $50 million ticket in November 2012 and then more or less just forgot about it. She didn’t check to see if she had won and in all that time never gave the outstanding jackpot much thought. Then, after a meticulous investigation, the OLG “detectives” came knocking on her door. Kathryn Jones, a 55-year-old engineer from the Hammer was formally announced today as the winner of the $50-million Lotto Max jackpot that remained unclaimed for almost a year. Jones, who purchased the ticket at a Shoppers Drug Mart in nearby Cambridge, where she works, said she lost her ticket and had no idea she had even won until OLG officials launched an investigation into the unclaimed prize. “As you can imagine this has been a very weird and wonderful journey,” Jones said during a press conference to announce her as the winner. “I feel almost as though I have been struck by lightning twice,” she added. OLG President and CEO Rod Phillips said the organization received more than 430 inquiries regarding the winning ticket since it was sold last November. He said the OLG undertook a comprehensive investigation to verify that Jones was the rightful winner of the multi-million dollar jackpot. Among the elements of the probe, CCTV video from the drug store showing Ms. Jones buying her ticket at the same moment her credit card records said she did. The actual ticket was lost, so these forensic findings were crucial to confirming Ms. Jones as the winner. There is a large unreported and unexplained aspect to this story. It would be relatively easy to do the verification work once Ms. Jones was identified. But how did OLG identify her?. It seems a long shot that she was known to personnel at the drugstore, even when they saw her on camera. More likely, it seems, is that Ms Jones paid by credit card and it was possible to obtain a name and address from the card issuer.   

Fiat Doblo (top) and Ford Transit Connect

Chrysler is going head-to-head with Ford for the small service van market, a niche which Ford Motor re-discovered four years ago. Chrysler will base its new 2015 Ram ProMaster City on the similar vehicle of its parent company, Fiat. That’s the Fiat Doblo (inset with the Transit Connect, lower) “The Ram ProMaster City further expands the Ram Commercial truck lineup, which includes everything from vans to pickups to Class Four and Five trucks,” Reid Bigland, president and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group, said in a statement. “As Ram Commercial continues to gain share and grow sales in the market, we will be aggressive in our goal of expanding our commercial vehicle offerings.” There would seem to be room to do business with the smaller van. As a simple drive along any street in Toronto reveals, the Ford Transit Connect has been a big hit with small and large users. Bell, Rogers and countless small businesses have embraced the trim little truck. The Fiat Doblo, which has generated more than 1.3 million sales in European and other markets overseas. “Our successful relationship with Fiat Professional, one of the world’s foremost commercial truck manufacturers, gives Ram a competitive advantage with access to proven products and technology that will resonate with our U.S. and Canadian customers,” added Bigland.

John Zivcic

PC John Zivcic, 34, has died in St. Michael’s Hospital from injuries suffered in the crash of his police car on Saturday. Constable Zivcic suffered head injuries when he was thrown from his car when it came into the same path of another vehicle.  Police have not said what happened at the scene. Toronto Police Association president Mike McCormack said, “It’s a terrible day for the Toronto Police Service. “Our hearts are broken for John’s family.” Toronto Mayor Rob Ford called it a very sad day for the city’s police force. “He worked very hard and that’s why we have to support front-line police men and women. They sacrifice their life day in and day out and it’s a very sad day today,” said Ford Zivcic, who was originally from St. Catharines, Ont., was described as a “greatly respected guy,” specifically at 22 Division where he works. Police are saying little about what may have caused the crash, which is under investigation by Traffic Services.