The South Bayview Bulldog

A teen boy abducted from near his school Wednesday was found hidden in a barn at 10869 Heritage Road near Wanless Drive in Brampton about 11 p.m.Thursday. He had been kidnapped in some sort of bizarre revenge or extortion for his stepbrother’s alleged $4 million drug debt. The boy was taken by Halton paramedics to the Hospital for Sick Children where he was met by his mother. Also late Thursday, OPP officers located a burned-out Jeep vehicle in Forks of the Credit Provincial Park in Caledon that they believe is the Jeep that was used to abduct the boy. It was found a 26-minute drive away from the barn. There are questions about why the lad’s school did not report him absent sooner. The Toronto District School Board said four staff members have been put on home assignment while an investigation is launched into why the boy’s family wasn’t notified sooner of their son’s absence from school.

Live news conference Friday morning

Chief Mark Saunders will hold a news conference at police headquarters, in the media gallery, to address the community and media regarding the recent abduction investigation of a 14-year-old boy. The event will be available on Bell TOC, and live-streamed on YouTube.

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Just looking for Mike/Facebook

Some 65 comments (by mid-morning Thursday) tell of a man who rang a photo-doorbell in Leslieville and who seemed suspicious to the homeowner and others. But at least one person felt the need to say that the man, who said he was just looking for Mike, wasn’t doing anything wrong. Take a look.

U.S. stocks and bond yields dropped Thursday, reflecting continued volatility in markets as investors around the world remain jittery about the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. The Dow index plummeted more than 600 in early trading. The TSX was down more than 250.

Ontario virus cases jump to 22

Two more people in Ontario have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the province’s active cases to 22. Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said one of the new patients is a woman in her 50s who returned to Canada from Italy on March 3 and later went to a hospital in Kitchener with symptoms. The second patient returned to Toronto from Iran on Feb. 29 and went to Sunnybrook HSC on March 3 with symptoms.

A FB post which notes the closure of Rollian Sushi in the Sunnybrook Plaza has inspired a thread of comment that includes a spooky tale of quicksand under the old commercial site. History records that Walmsley Brook did indeed flow through the intersection and it’s believed the foundation of the re-developed Sunnybrook will require reinforcement. One post has a sinister suggestion that the redeveloped plaza will ultimately sink into the muck. Hmm. It also asserts there is a steam engine buried somewhere there.

UPS store now relocated at 82 Laird Drive

Among the last businesses to depart Sunnybrook was the UPS store. It’s now open at its new location at 82 Laird Drive opposite Leaside Village. They say they’re up and running, printer and all.

Midtown landmark at 662 Mt. Pleasant

Mabel’s Fables children’s bookstore, 662 Mt Pleasant Rd at Hillsdale Ave., is facing a staggering 70 percent rent increase from developer Maple Venture Properties. It appears to be an attempt to drive out the long-standing business, a landmark for Midtown shoppers. Mabel’s has been at the location for 31 years. A Facebook post indicates the rent increase is being called a final offer. Maple Ventures already owns buildings on the west side of the block north of Hillsdale and is apparently consolidating property for redevelopment. Councillor Josh Matlow is urging people to sign a petition in support of Mabel’s Fables. He urges residents to share the news with neighbors and friends. He has also organized a public meeting for March 10 at 7 p.m. at Eglinton Public School.

Derailed freight train at Kingston/Twitter

A freight train has derailed Wednesday morning near Kingston and police evacuating residents of the area because one of the cars in leaking.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s approval rating has softened amid solidifying negative views towards the blockade of key transportation corridors in Canada, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News.

There has been a wonderful conclusion to the hunt for a lost engagement ring. It has been found by a person described by the owner as “an angel named Paula” somewhere at Sobey’s in the SmartCentre at Wicksteed Ave. and Laird Dr. An important step in finding the ring was a check of security cameras at the grocery store. Management located the owner entering the store and the ring was on her finger. Hunt for lost engagement ring prompts dozens of responses

The Bank of Canada is cutting its key interest rate target by half a percentage point, dropping it to 1.25 per cent in response to the economic shock from the novel coronavirus outbreak. The central bank said Wednesday that it cut its target for the overnight rate because COVID-19, as the virus is named, was “a material negative shock” to this country’s economic outlook.

Education Minister Lecce has asked the OSSTF and Catholic board teachers to call off strike action that they have planned for Thursday following his decision to back down on the expansion of classes and the introduction of e-learning. Given the concession, Mr Lecce said he would find it “totally unacceptable” for the unions to proceed with strike action they have planned for tomorrow.