The South Bayview Bulldog

Police have seized a replica handgun from a teen boy who apparently took the device to school in a backpack Tuesday. Toronto Police Operations tweeted an alert and then confirmed officers had seized a gun. This occurred at (or near) Avondale Secondary Alternative School at 26  Silverview Drive in Willowdale a short distance from Yonge St. and Cummer Ave.

Woman died in this donation box crying for help in middle of the night/Tony Smyth@LateNightCam

A woman has died early Tuesday after a horrifying ordeal stuck in the opening of a clothing donation box on Bloor St. near Dovercourt Rd.  Police say the woman could be heard screaming sometime before 2 a.m.  When found, her body was sticking out of the box. Clothing bin deaths now total six as man dies in Vancouver

• Bell wants permission to gather and track customer data
• TTC closes collector booths at Yorkdale and Lawrence West stations

Carl Hantske of 680 News reviews the damage done by a man, 20, Monday night. He was apparently nursing a grievance against a former girlfriend and said correctly enough “I’m having a bad day.”

Leans to his left and reaches down

Laptop is visble as he steals it.

Woman walks out with laptop hidden in front of her.

A woman student, Gulay Kilicaslan, has had her laptop, SIN card and vital residency documents stolen from a bag she placed on the floor of a Bloor St. W. restaurant while she chatted with friends. It is mistake well known to police and savvy citizens. But the distraction of being with friends can often defeat our best efforts to keep property safe. In this case, the man seen with his back to Ms Kilocasian and her three friends turns slightly to his left and reaches into the victim’s bag. The centre photo shows the laptop in his hand. He slips it under the table to the woman with him. She then walks out (right) carefully holding the computer in front of her. The thief soon follows. Police say there is no safe storage for such possessions except in your lap, on the table in front of you or physically wrapped around one of your ankles. All of this occurred Saturday evening at the Future Bistro near Bloor St. and Brunswick Ave.

Welcome aboard/GTHL

What’s the word coach? /GTHL

Now listen/GTHL

Coach joins team/GTHL

With Minor Atom “AA” Leaside Flames/GTHL

Leafs coach Mike Babcock joined the Minor Atom “AA” Leaside Flames for a practice to mark their winning $8,000 donation to the Movember charity. Babcock brought the whole coaching staff with him. Hockey heaven. More at GTHL site.

High shot tweeted by David M@FishBelowTheIce shows train on fire.

Some 200 passengers were safely taken off a GO train Monday after the engine caught fire. This in the City’s Distillery District. Emergency crews were called to the area of Lake Shore Blvd and Cherry St. at around 10:20 a.m.

Fixing big diesel/Globe and Mail Twitter

Smokin’ GO/Ali Al Astarabadi

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun

Kelleth Cuthbert

Krystal Whipple

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (left) is a Saudi woman who says she is fleeing an abusive family. She has gained temporary asylum from the Thai government as she battles to reach Australia. For reasons unknown, it is her destination of choice for a new life. Let’s hope she makes it. At centre, a Canadian model, Kelleth Cuthbert, is now known around the world as The Fiji Water Girl. Anyone watching the Golden Globes Sunday night will have seen Kelleth photo bombing endless stars. It is hilarious. CTV says she was working for a Canadian man who owns Fiji Water. At right, Krystal Whipple, 21, who is on the lam after running down a manicurist who tried to stop her from leaving without paying for a $35 nail job. This occurred in Las Vegas. So sad.

After a strong year for Greater Toronto Area (GTA) real estate in 2017, 2018 saw declines across the board for home sales, listings, and average selling price. A new report from the Toronto Real Estate Board reveals pronounced declines in these categories, which is being partially attributed to increased borrowing costs as well as the new mortgage stress test. A total of 77,426 residential transactions were recorded in 2018, representing a drop of 16.1% when weighed against the 92,263 sales reported in 2017. Similarly, new listings entered into the MLS system dropped by 12.7%, with 155,823 recorded during 2018. Selling prices also took a hit, though not as much as transactions and listings, falling 4.3% year-over-year to $787,300 — Urban Toronto

Toronto Island resident Ron Sampson has lived in the home 8 Omaha Ave. all his life but a legal snag threatens to see him evicted. Title to the home is in the name of his late brother. But the land is owned by the Toronto Islands Residential Community Trust Corp. When the trust was formed 30 years ago the rules of residency permitted a home to be bequeathed to a son or daughter, but not a brother. Go figure. The Star updates the story by saying the trust seemed to backing down on a threat to evict Sampson Monday. Will the 61-year-old marine mechanic get a reprieve to remain in the home where he was born? There is more to come in this fascinating tale.

The Toronto Observer, publication of the Centennial College journalism program will cease printing a paper edition and revert solely to online distribution. The Observer was established in 1977 long before the journalism program moved to the Carlaw Ave campus of Centennial College at Carlaw and Mortimer Ave. The publication is seen here.

The East York Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee is now accepting nominations for the 26th Annual Agnes Macphail Award. Agnes Campbell Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons (1921) and the first seated in the Ontario Legislature (1943). During her years in office, Agnes Macphail focussed on issues of equality rights and social justice. Nominees must be a resident of the former Borough of East York and an outstanding volunteer leader in community life in areas including, but not limited to: women’s rights, fairness to seniors, criminal justice and penal reform, international peace and disarmament and to adequate housing, health care and education. Nomination forms are available in public buildings in East York. The deadline for nominations is midnight, Thursday, February 7, 2019 to Councillor Paula Fletcher, councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca , 416 392 4060.

Mysterious surprise/Facebook

Right hand drive BMWs/Facebook

A dealer in Bulgaria has posted Facebook details and photos of what are said to be 11 E34 5 Series BMWs, thought to date from 1994. They are said to show zero km. The Facebook account (in Bulgarian) is now filling up with questions from hapless English-speaking BMW lovers who want to buy the vehicles. It appears they will be auctioned although when and where is still vague. The British publication Motoring Research says the cars consist of “ten saloons and one solitary touring estate (and)  the collection is made up of a mixture of 520i and 525i models. Black and Calypso Red appear to have been the colours of choice.” It says the vehicles are equipped with 148hp 2.0-litre straight-six engines for the 520i models and a more powerful 189hp 2.5-litre straight-six motors for the 525i cars. It remains unclear just how the cars were left to gather dust. Some reports say a leasing business failed but somehow the cars were not sold off.