A ticket holder in Quebec claimed Saturday night’s nearly $30 million Lotto 649 jackpot. And the draw’s $1 million guaranteed prize went to a lottery player in the Prairies. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on Dec. 23 will be approximately $5 million.
Dozens of people are commenting on the picture of this elegant visitor to a Leacrest Rd. backyard. FB
Scarborough neighborhoods like Rouge, Malvern, Woburn and Scarborough Village are C-19 hotspots with cases per 100,000 of population ranging up to 783. The CBC says it’s because many residents are “front line workers” who can’t stay home plus what it calls “multi-generational” homes. This would mean kids living with parents or vice versa. Sadly, the highest rate of infection is currently in Thorncliffe Park, 1,094 to every 100,000 of population. Interactive Map
Toronto tax would persuade landlords to rent
Toronto Council has voted to design what it calls a vacant home tax as a way of getting landlords to rent empty homes.
Minassian trial near end
The trial of Alek Minassian is nearing its end. Closing arguments are now being heard and Justice Anne Molloy will then decide whether the Yonge St van killer will go to a hospital or to prison. City News
California has announced a “mass fatality program” after 142 people have died from C-19 in a single day. The state has ordered 5,000 body bags and placed 60 morgue trucks on standby at hospitals. Horrible. Then, Canada continues to sell citizens on the use of C-19 vaccines. A combined 79 percent of people say they will take it immediately (48 percent) or after a short wait (31 percent). Below that, in the UK, the famed young Aston Villa star Jack Grealish is in disgrace after being discovered apparently drunk behind the wheel. Lastly, a subdued Peter Nygard has appeared in court at an extradition hearing in Winnipeg.
A new park for south Leaside will be created in due course with access off of Southvale Dr. at the former site of No. 21 Southvale. That home has now been demolished and the lot will become a parkland entry point to the long-hidden open land behind Leaside Memorial Gardens. The quiet space behind the Gardens is an estimated three-quarters of an acre and is a public asset largely unknown to residents. The plan to create a City of Toronto park was confirmed by the office of Councillor Robinson in reply to an inquiry from The South Bayview Bulldog.
Public to be consulted
Park staff said the land must first be conveyed to the City by the Gardens at which time it will become part of the Parks Capital program. “Once the project is funded, the City will look at 21 Southvale and the Leaside Memorial grounds as a whole and will consult with the public on the best design for the space,” said the Parks Department reply to the Councillor’s office. In 2017, The Bulldog speculated about this outcome in a post titled “Parkland” behind arena to remain ever isolated, unused?
Another roaring fire has ripped through a tent at the homeless camp on Fort York Blvd Tuesday night. Less than a week ago, a similar blaze injured two men in Liberty Village. No injuries were reported in the Fort York fire. The City says it has no plans to dismantle the many homeless camps dotting the downtown and has opened warming centres as the cold weather approaches. Video tweeted by Tony@Mrtdogg
Stolen van chase in Brampton
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your Mustang down. Who knows what Elon Musk (much less Wilson Pickett) might think about the new all-electric Mustang? But the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is said by reviewers to make you re-think what it means to go running all over town now.
The Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales rose 32.1 percent in November compared with the same month last year, matching the record-breaking year-over-year increase seen in October. But the real estate association also says home sales edged back 1.6 percent between October and November as the market settled into the traditionally slower winter season after COVID-19 delayed the spring rush. CREA says 511,449 homes have been sold so far this year, putting Canada’s real estate market on pace for a potential annual sales record — Canadian Press
Snow and three days of colder weather are predicted for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. As much as five cm of snow may fall tomorrow. Daytime high temperatures will rise to about 4º Celsius over the weekend.
We love it when old store names reappear from behind decades of other business signs. So here’s the almost-forgotten sign for Broadloom Consultants at 1727 Bayview Ave. The sign has been revealed as Mobility for Life moved out. Note that the phone, 483-2425, needed no area code. The new tenant will be a business called Relevé. It’s “Elevated Active and Lounge Wear”. releveclothing.com
People of interest in this Monday Video Wheel are John Le Carre, spy thriller-spinner extraordinaire. The famed writer has died at 89 in the United Kingdom. Then, Pam Seatle will retire from City News. Her long career dates to the early years of the station. Below that, when will we see a normal life again. Experts are guessing no sooner than Spring 2021.
Inglewood Drive was full of families, friends and various sightseeing joggers this brisk Sunday morning amid the eighth year of the Kringlewood Santa show along this fine street in Moore Park. As told in a 2016 post, the tradition dates to 2013.
The whimsical decision of two neighbours in 2013 to place a couple of 14-foot inflatable Santas on their front lawn has grown into a grand tradition for residents of Inglewood Drive in Moore Park. The Canadian Tire Santas ($250 each) line the lawns (with few houses not participating) from Mt. Pleasant Road to Rosedale Heights Drive. This weekend neighbours will have a street gathering with hot chocolate and such. Those attending are asked to bring a food donation for the Daily Bread food Bank. Organizer Amy Westin says the neighbors have a goal of 500 lbs of food.
