The South Bayview Bulldog

There was no winning ticket for the $5 million dollar jackpot in Saturday night’s Lotto 649 draw. However, the guaranteed $1 million prize went to a ticket holder in Ontario. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on May 22 will be approximately $7 million.

Naeem and Abbie Memon

Otta Zapotocky

Alessandro Settimi and wife Alana

The locked door at 1581 Bayview Ave. tells the story at Refuel Juicery. The business has closed after five years of endeavor at two addresses on the street. Husband and wife Naeem and Abbie Memon (left) are hard-working, experienced and cordial people. It is sad to see them go. Before Refuel, 1581 Bayview was celebrated by many reviewers as an innovative wine bar seldom seen in the City. It was the concept of sommelier Otta Zapotocky (centre). At the time, Zapotocky was a full two years into his successful French restaurant L’Avenue across the street. But the new business, Tinto Bar de Tapas, was not as profitable as hoped and ultimately overextended Zapotocky. At right is Alessandro Settimi and his wife Alana at 1581 Bayview on the night of January 18, 2010 as they opened The Mad Italian. The place was a huge success that summer, especially when Setimmi’s father, Aldo, stood outside offering gelato samples. Then stunning good fortune arrived in a man who offered and paid a sum reputed to be near $1 million for the two-store operation. The Setimmi family took the money, as the expression goes. Ultimately the new owner declared bankruptcy. Fortune’s fickle game.

Ornge chopper ambulance prepares to land/Tamipeddle Twitter

Damage from flying wheel/OPP

SUV lost wheel/OPP

Saturday brought serious injury to a young driver on Highway 400 near Highway 89 when his car was shattered by a flying wheel off of an SUV heading the other way. The man, 20 or so, suffered serious injuries to his head and internal organs and was airlifted by Ornge air ambulance to Sunnybrook Medical Sciences Center. A woman passenger was taken to a hospital in Barrie with minor injuries. The unidentified victim was heading northbound when the southbound SUV suddenly lost a front wheel. The highway re-opened about 2.30 p.m.

Fired gun in business

Fairly clear image

These enhanced images produced by The Bulldog from video released by Peel police are said to show a man who was carelessly firing a gun in and around a Brampton business May 8. No explanation is offered as to what that was all about. A video of him fleeing is here. He is described by police as bearded, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, grey pants, a scarf across his face and gloves.

No winning ticket was sold for the $22 million jackpot in Friday night’s Lotto Max draw. The jackpot for the next draw on May 21 will be approximately $27 million.

Late Friday headlines include a proposal from an eminent planner to move the Science Centre to Ontario Place. Hands off, we say. Then, the rather overwhelming explanation of TDSB cuts required by provincial belt-tightening. Below that, the fireworks will go as usual at Ashbridges Bay Monday night but you may get your feet wet. And speaking of wet, the bars will be that way as early as 9 a.m. Sundays from now on. Don’t forget you have to cut the lawn sometime.

Raptor claw to inspire fear in Milwaukee?/Global News

Mayor himself paints final square of Canoe Park Raptor’s claw/John Tory

Keeping spirits up is what it’s all about at playoff time. Here the City has painted a giant Raptors claw in Canoe Park on Fort York Blvd. Mayor Tory painted in the last little bit Friday.

Never let it be said that the toll highway business isn’t a desirable investment. The owners of 407 International Inc. are off to the Ontario Supreme Court in June to settle who gets the ten percent share now owned by SNC-Lavalin. In what seems a remarkable faux pas, SNC had agreed to sell its share to OMERS, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement Service. But wait. Both the other owners had first right of refusal over that purchase. They are the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and a Spanish firm, Cintra Global S.E.  City News

Thanks to City News for this raw video of a bad start to the weekend for the woman who was driving this car on the Danforth at Eldon Ave just west of Victoria Park Friday. For reasons unknown she struck a utility pole and then slammed into a building. They say she suffered only minor injuries and that’s good. Hang in there lady. It’s only a car.

The City has published the following list of events and recreational locations over the Victoria Day weekend.