The South Bayview Bulldog

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.

Grumpy’s frown captivated millions

The feline whose frown turned the world upside down has died. Grumpy Cat, armed with a cranky expression that launched a thousand day-brightening memes, was 7. Tardar Sauce was her real name. She died Tuesday morning at her home in Arizona from complications of a urinary tract infection, according to an announcement posted Friday on Grumpy’s Instagram page. The behind-the-scenes story of Grumpy was that she was an affectionate pet who could not fairly be called grumpy in real life. “Besides being our baby and a cherished member of the family, Grumpy Cat has helped millions of people smile all around the world – even when times were tough,” Grumpy Cat’s owners wrote. “Her spirit will continue to live on through her fans everywhere.”

Scourge of Midtown

The electronic theft of code from inside locked homes to open and steal expensive cars in the driveway has exploded some 240 percent since late last year in 53 Division. The CBC story linked does not state raw numbers but the stunning statistic is a reflection of car theft in Leaside and area neighborhoods. As previously discussed in The Bulldog and elsewhere, the only fast (and maybe certain way) to prevent such theft is to insulate your key and fob inside the home. Owners have taken to putting the key in a metal box far from any door or window. Some keys are stored in the microwave. The phenomenon seems like an absolute failure of modern technology and manufacturing. Welcome to 2019.

• Rampant car theft in South Bayview as three stolen in days
• Police urge steering locks as car thefts double in 53 Division
• Keyless technology used to steal three Lexus cars in Leaside

Fears appear to be growing that the Ontario government is stalling on the City’s Midtown in Focus — limiting height and density at Yonge and Eglinton. Midtown in Focus has been the goal of Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12) for many years. One of the most appealing parts of Midtown in Focus is the requirement for extensive parkland. The minister, Steve Clark, must sign off on the plan for it to become law but he has not done so. CBC