The South Bayview Bulldog

Nuit Blanche launches another stay-up-late large-form art show in seven neighborhoods across Toronto starting Saturday at 7 p.m. It’s the 14th annual Nuit Blanche.

The $65 million jackpot up for grabs in Friday’s Lotto Max draw was won by a ticket selection sold in The Prairies. In addition, 1 Maxmillions (one-million-dollar prize) was won thanks to a selection sold in Ontario. The jackpot at the next Lotto Max draw to be held on Tuesday, October 8, will be worth approximately $17 million.

Montreal family wins $37 million jackpot

The September 30 Lotto Max jackpot worth $37,499,701 was won by four members of a three-generation family. Johanne Leblond, Guy Leblond, Patrick Lamothe and Yanick Lamothe-Leblond from Montréal took home the prize.

Montreal parents have applied to begin a class-action suit against the makers of Fornite, the video game that has swallowed a generation. We shall see. Then, the Toronto Symphony will play the music of Star Wars this weekend. Lots of fun. Below that, recordings of Robert De Niro in an angry tirade to his one-time assistant. She’s suing him for harassment. You talking to me? Finally, Prince Harry is suing several British tabloids for breaking into his voice mail when he was younger. Sounds like a dish of revenge served cold.

Update – @TPS55Div. Road closure – southbound still closed on O'Connor Drive from Northline Road to Sunrise Avenue. Northbound is open. Avoid the area. #GO1913243 ^CdK

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) October 4, 2019

Coming to a street near you/Toronto Star

Mayor Tory and Councillor Pasternak (Ward 6) have unveiled Council’s elaborate Queen Street Towing Pilot. It begins Monday and will see vehicles towed off of Queen St. all the way from the Beaches to Roncesvalles for six to eight weeks during afternoon rush hour. Here is the release:

The pilot location is Queen Street between Fallingbrook Road (to the east) and Roncesvalles Avenue (to the west). Tow trucks will relocate vehicles that are illegally parked along Queen Street to designated side streets (Cameron Street, Ryerson Avenue, Michael Sweet Avenue and Stephanie Street) or move them to other no parking/open locations.

Police pounds are located outside of the downtown area, requiring up to 90 minutes for a tow truck to move one illegally parked vehicle and then return for others. It’s expected that this pilot will result in shorter tow truck response times and contribute to fewer delays along Queen Street.

Drivers of vehicles that are relocated/towed from Queen Street during the pilot period will receive a parking violation notice but the towing fee will be waived.

In 2018, almost 11,000 parking/stopping violations were issued and approximately 2,400 vehicles were towed during the rush hour period on Queen Street. Police identified the afternoon rush period on Queen Street as particularly challenging due to cars parking and stopping illegally. Each day, approximately 45 tickets are written and 10 vehicles are towed on Queen Street.

If successful, City staff and police would explore opportunities to run this program during morning and afternoon rush hour periods on other routes. Feedback and data gathered from the pilot may also inform future congestion strategies, including updates to the City of Toronto’s Congestion Management Plan.

Peter Wittek

Skilled mountaineer

Mount Trisul

Authorities in India continue to search for University of Toronto assistant professor Peter Wittek, 37, apparently swallowed up by an avalanche while in his tent during an expedition to Mount Trisul in the Himalayas. Friends say Mr. Wittek was lost in the avalanche around 7 p.m. Sunday. Wittek, a Hungarian national, has been an assistant professor at the U of T since 2018. He is considered one of the world’s leading experts in quantum-enhanced machine learning and artificial intelligence. CBC

The vicious practice of ransom attacks against corporate computers has hit Michael Garran Hospital on Coxwell Ave. where they’re now working in the ER without computers. It’s despicable. In Scotland, the legislature has abolished any and all excuses for using corporal discipline (smacking) on children. It’s still allowed in many places including Canada but with conditions. Below that, two people have died in a car-truck collision in Port Perry and parents are weighing the looming new burden that will hit home if CUPE workers strike Monday.

Toronto and area parents are once again facing a strike that will shut down schools. This time it’s CUPE support workers (cleaners, librarians, secretaries, lunchroom staff) who will walk off. The deadline set by the union is Monday. The issues as referenced by CUPE seem to bear on government cutbacks and potential job losses. Above is Toronto District School Board Director of Education John Malloy speaking Thursday.

Do we need sympathetic movie portrayals of terrifying killers to understand them? Is our freedom of speech violated if we decide such money-making bonanzas are mostly an incitement to bloodshed? Just asking.

A wife’s refusal to have sex apparently out of a genuine fear of the nature of intercourse has caused an Ontario Superior Court justice to sign a decree of annulment sought by a new husband. City News

Former mayor of Vaughan charged

A former mayor of Vaughan, Michael DiBiase, 71, has been charged by OPP with breach of trust and municipal corruption related apparently to his years in office. He was mayor from 2003 to 2007.  Mr. DiBiase is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 30. No further details have been released regarding the allegations.

Paul Magder dead

Paul Magder, 83, of Toronto, has died at Toronto Western Hospital. Mr. Magderis is remembered for his battle during the 80s and 90s to keep his fur business open on Sunday. It was a time of the Lord’s Day Act. Violation of the act was punished with heavy fines. It is said that Magder’s long battle against the forced closings led to the financial collapse of his business.

The weekend weather should be fine if not perfect for enjoyable local events. Take your pick or visit several. Also check the South Bayview Bulldog Bulletin Board.