Two handbag thieves are stalking local hotel dining rooms

Toronto Police are alerting the public to the work of two handbag thieves who struck in the dining rooms of Toronto hotels late last month. On July 19 they stole an unminded purse at the Don Valley Hotel near Wynford Dr. and Eglinton Ave. Two days later, they did a similar crime at the Novotel Hotel on north Yonge St. In this case, police note that one man distracted a woman patron while the other guy grabbed her purse. They are wanted for theft over $5,000.

Man #1 (left)is described as 5’8″, medium build, light brown skin. He was wearing a brown dress shirt, blue jeans, brown shoes, dark jacket, and dark baseball cap.

Man #2 (right) is described as 5’8″ to 5’10”, medium build. He was wearing a white dress shirt, blue jeans, dark shoes, dark jacket and a dark baseball cap, with a white logo on the cap.

Driver flees scene after tangle with truck on QEW at 427

Traffic on the QEW was snarled overnight after a collision in the eastbound lanes near Highway 427. The driver of the demolished car was sufficiently unhurt to run from the scene and is still being sought. The trucker was treated for minor injuries. DR@Media371

One dead, one injured in apparent domestic stabbing

New restaurants on Bayview offer Italian, East Indian fare

Both the food spots preparing to open on Bayview Ave opposite Belsize Dr. are off-shoots of established businesses. Tutto Pronto is an Italian cuisine sit-down and takeout restaurant operating on Avenue Rd. Maurya Indian Roti has places on the Lake Shore and in Liberty Village. It seems to have an emphasis on takeout. Tutto Pronto, in the former jewellery location north of Scotiabank, has been slow to get open. Maurya has taken over from a tenant who tried but did not get open. Work was hurriedly going on there Thursday. It is in the former Rosie’s space where 2 Bros Cuisine tried but failed to make a go of it. It is a challenging business. The economy is okay but one has to know what the customer wants. Good luck to all.

Adorable photo of dogs at Stratford performance goes viral

A photo that appears to show the Stratford Festival going to the dogs is winning hearts online. The picture shows a group of pooches ranging from poodles to golden retrievers sitting patiently in their cushy seats, taking in a production of Billy Elliot at the Stratford Festival last week. But while the photo may be fun, it turns out the dogs’ mission is serious: they’re training to be service dogs, and they’re practicing what it’s like to help their handlers navigate through a theatre. “It’s important to prepare the dogs for any activity the handler may like to attend,” says Laura Mackenzie, owner and head trainer with K-9 Country Inn Working Service Dogs, who led the Stratford Festival outing — CBC

Many homes destroyed as car hits gas pipe in London, ON

Authorities are now saying that seven homes were destroyed when a car smashed into a gas pipeline late Wednesday in London, Ontario. Remarkably, no one appears to have been injured.

“Arson by negligence” as alcohol still blows up in Brampton

Police say a Brampton man blew the back off his home when an alcohol still exploded as he apparently cooked up moonshine in his Herdwick St. residence. A release from the Peel Region service Thursday confirmed that an infant received second-degree burns and two men and a woman sustained minor burns and smoke inhalation. They say the explosion is now confirmed to have been caused by an operating still located in the basement of the home.  A man, 57, faces the unusual offense of arson by negligence. The accused was released on a promise to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.

Wheels on Danforth, Taste of Manila events this weekend

Wheels on the Danforth will return to Danforth Ave. and Danforth Rd. east of Byng Ave. on Saturday. Also this weekend, Taste of Manila both Saturday and Sunday on Bathurst St. between Wilson Avenue and York Downs Drive.

She says stolen mail used to get CTC, National Bank MCards

A Facebook post Thursday morning says personal mail has been stolen in Leaside to apply for and produce MasterCards from Canadian Tire and the National Bank.  The author of the post says these firms require only “a valid name and address for doing a credit check with TransUnion and Equifax.” The post says the mail was stolen by persons apparently delivering flyers. She posts several videos of such deliveries. Visits were made daily “trying to intercept the letters with the credit cards. I was lucky that the letters got into my hands before theirs.” Leaside Community

Raw fear unleashes market bloodshed, TSX plummets 304

Raw fear stalked North American markets Wednesday following reports of shrinking European economies. It led to equity bloodshed in Toronto and New York. The TSX was down 304 points and the Down Jones more than 600. Globe and Mail.

Tenants wait as 650 Parliament fixes target now November

Tenants displaced after a massive fire last August at 650 Parliament St. will have to wait a few more months until they can begin moving back in. In an update Wednesday, Danny Roth, spokesperson for Wellesley-Parliament Square (WPSQ) management, said re-occupancy is expected to commence “later this fall.” “Right now the estimate is likely November,” he said, saying work on the building is about 65 percent complete. The expected re-occupancy date has been pushed back several times already. But Roth maintains building management has done everything possible to accommodate up to 1500 displaced tenants and attempt to expedite the move-in process. “I would suggest to you that this is the single largest re-housing process the city has ever seen,” he said. CityNews

Markets plunge, recession fear as German economy shrinks

Stock markets slumped on Wednesday as Germany’s economy went into reverse, fueling fears of global recession and slamming the brakes on a rally for equities after Washington delayed tariffs on some Chinese imports. Early in the afternoon, Toronto was down a stunning 272 points while New York sank by 654. Germany’s economy, Europe’s largest, shrank 0.1% in the second quarter as the trade war and weak demand dragged on German manufacturers. The eurozone as a whole barely grew in the same quarter, with the 19-country bloc adding 0.2% – a slowdown from the first three months of the year. Market Insider