The South Bayview Bulldog

First, a  very smart report from City News scribe Danielle Michaud on a move to call a new Halifax CFL team the Explosions. Oh dear. Then, the New England Patriots were showing off their private Boeing 737 aircraft as they landed in Minneapolis for the Super Bowl. Below that, the CBC is calling it the dirty little secret of government gambling. It says that 50 percent of the revenues of Ontario casinos comes from problem gamblers. Finally, culture vultures will enjoy the success of the Malta Baroque Music Festival now underway in its sixth year.

Doug Ford

Caroline Mulroney

A conventional take on the scheduled March leadership convention of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario is that the heavyweight contenders are Doug Ford and Caroline Mulroney. Name recognition and political credentials bulk large for both as does their desire to defeat Kathleen Wynne, ending the 15-year Liberal suzerainty of the province. Ford is a pugnacious defender of the people’s money while Mulroney is a lawyer, businesswoman, wife and mother. She has the Mulroney name and has already been acclaimed in the Conservative heartland riding of York-Simcoe.

https://twitter.com/TO_WinterOps/status/958146198723993600

A man and his girlfriend have complained to the OSPCA after finding what they call “mass cruelty” to dogs at a Barrie-area dogsledding aventures business. CBC

One like this stolen off Randolph

Lazer Eyes is out there

Leaside Select starts Feburary 1

Will Ashworth leaving Leaside

Gyro Bar lives in former bank

A blue Honda Odyssey like the one at upper left was stolen overnight off Randolph Road. The owner is offering neighbours a heads up. No word on whether it was left open or if thieves did a lock pick. To the right, that logo heralds the February 1 puck-drop of the Leaside Select Invitational Tournament for 2018. More than 2,000 kids played hockey last year. The amusing front page of Leaside Life with Goeff Kettel facing off against columnist Will Ashworth reminds us that Mr. Ashworth and his family are moving away from Leaside. Local friend Wilmar Kortleever has penned a nice farewell on Leaside Community and Ashworth has responded with equal grace. Lower left, south Leaside residents are asked to keep a sharp eye out for, um, Lazer Eyes, the mesmerizing pet belongs to Johannah J. This cat is not to be confused with Shady, another black and white who is bunking for the moment in North Leaside. Bottom centre, Select Bakery at 405 Donlands is hiring. Could be good. Then, in the same neighbourhood, it’s never good when banks close but the Gyro Bar at 1050 Coxwell is making suitable use of the building. TD left behind an ATM.

Uovo at 2112 Yonge

Site at present

On the ground

Urban Toronto shows renderings and provides details on the proposed condominium planned for the southwest corner of Yonge St. and Hillsdale Ave.  The name Uovo means egg. It led to a comment that marketing people must be running out names for condominiums.  Urban Toronto

A weather statement issued early Monday warns of cold weather and snow this week. Totals of 5 to 10 cm may fall, with some of it as early as Monday rush hour. A cold front and associated weak low are expected to move slowly across Southern Ontario this day. The frontal zone is forecast to become active and generate appreciable snow in some areas. It will begin this afternoon over portions of the Golden Horseshoe and continue this evening before tapering off later tonight.

Go crazy in a digital galaxy of make-believe combat. Oh yeah, it’s upstairs at 1510 Birchmount Rd.

Rrepairs begin

Matt Campbell family

Scene August 22, 2017

Work has begun to repair the semi-detached home of the family of Matt Campbell at Mortimer and Logan Aves. The home was badly damaged in a fire that was caused by an electrical flaw. That was late August. Neighbors, friends and the public responded generously to a GoFundMe appeal. Work appears to have been underway for only a day or two.of

 OPP say the fatal collision which involved five cars may have been caused by what is known to police as a “brake check” — an act of retaliation in which a driver deliberately brakes very hard in front of another driver who may be following too closely or who has somehow offended the braking driver. It is a form of road rage. In the terrible pile up Saturday, police belive the driver who caused it sped away as the collision occurred behind him. The suspect vehicle was a dark colour and had a recently registered license plate that may have included the letters #CE, police said. The wreck happened in the Toronto-bound lanes of the QEW, east of Cawthra Road in Mississauga at around 10 p.m. Saturday night. “This crash happened as a result of what may have been an experience of road rage on the highway that did not involve the victims of this crash,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said in an update on social media.

CAUSED CHAIN REACTION

Schmidt said that while a total of five vehicles were involved in the collision, there may have been a sixth vehicle that was indirectly involved, triggering a chain reaction. “Investigators now believe that prior to this crash taking place, a vehicle similar to a Honda Civic travelling in the middle lane moved in front of traffic travelling in the left lane and slowed down, applied their brakes and did what they call a ‘brake check’” Schmidt said. “The driver behind that vehicle then slowed as well to avoid a collision, but the ensuing traffic behind these vehicles triggered a multi-vehicle chain reaction.  “Four vehicles back, a pickup truck slammed into the back of a Toyota that was carrying three occupants, including Nicole Turcotte, as well as another female passenger in hospital and the male driver.” See post below.

Mayor @JohnTory taking a stroll on the new off ramp. He won't be able to do this in a few hours. The rebuilt York-Bay-Yonge ramp opens to drivers later today. @CityNews pic.twitter.com/CjF4yL9an9

— Nitish Bissonauth (@NBissonauth) January 28, 2018

The new off ramp from the Gardiner Expressway to York and Bays Sts. was opened Sunday afternoon. Mayor Tory is seen with others taking a stroll down the new exit before it was opened to traffic.

Unknown Trouble: York St/ Harbour St…receiving reports that a woman has jumped into the lake and hasn't resurfaced. Marine unit otw.

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) January 28, 2018