The South Bayview Bulldog

Forecasters say a strong storm will cross Ontario bringing heavy rain for Toronto and heavy snow further north. Generally there will be rain for southwestern Ontario through the Golden Horseshoe on Saturday with spotty rain/snow mix overnight Saturday. Freezing rain could occur in eastern Ontario Saturday afternoon, persisting through the overnight. As the core of colder air arrives Sunday, lake-effect snow streamers will bring bursts of snow for the snow belts, with occasional flurries into parts of the Toronto and the GTA — Weather Network. 

No winning ticket was sold for Friday night’s $22 million Lotto Max jackpot. That means the big prize for the next Lotto Max draw on Nov. 24 will be approximately $31 million.

Two men are now in custody for these crimes. There is an alarming wave of carjackings in Durham Region where police say they have dealt with seven such incidents in a month. Most recently, a man was accosted outside his home on Thursday about 7 p.m. in Ajax. Two men entered his car, one in the passenger seat and the other sat behind the driver. They demanded he hand over his wallet and drive them to a bank. When he refused, the victim was hit with a hand gun and punched in the head. The victim began to honk the horn and a scuffle ensued before the suspects fled. The victim was treated in hospital for his injuries and released. Police say suspect #1 in the front seat is black with a thin build, approximately 6′ tall, 165 lbs, in his early to mid 20s. He had a deep voice and was wearing grey pants and a grey or white hooded shirt. This suspect had a hand gun. Suspect #2 in the back seat is described as: male black, with a thin build, about 6′ tall in his early to mid 20s. He was wearing a dark baseball hat. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Carter of West Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2562.

HIGHWAY 427 COLLISIONS

Late Friday the express lanes of Highway 427 near Dundas Street West are closed after a number of collisions there. Officers said at least two collisions took place in the area causing the closure of the northbound and southbound lanes at around 7 p.m. on Friday. An OPP officers was taken to hospital as a precaution but he is in stable condition.

Natasha Biondolillo/Twitter

Hall of Fame inductee Shawn O’Sullivan and twin sister Maureen

A large turnout of residents attended the Fifth Annual Induction Ceremony and Reception of the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame in the Lea Room at Leaside arena Friday. Among those present was Shawn O’Sullivan, former Leaside resident and Canada’s Athlete of the Year in 1984. Among many other distinctions, O’Sullivan won the gold medal as a light heavyweight in the World Amateur Championships. He was accompanied to the induction by his twin sister Maureen. The inductees were former Canadien Dave Gardner, long-distance runner Robert Moore, the late Phil Stein as a builder and O’Sullivan. Leaside Athlete of the Year was Mariah Hinds, a three-year defensive star with the Leaside Jr. Wildcats. She was unable to be present because she is attending classes at Lindenwood University in Missouri. The guest speaker was Charles (Spider) Jones, journalist, author and former boxer. Some of those present in the early evening of this event were Rob Oliphant MP, Jon Burnside (Ward 26) Ray White, Chair of the Board of Leaside Memorial Community Gardens, Alan Redway, former mayor of East York, Ann Brown, Chair of Community Relations at Leaside arena, Kim McCullough, head coach of the Junior Wildcats, realtor Patrick Rocca and Andy Elder of Grilltime. Mariah Hinds chosen Leaside’s 2017 Athlete of the Year

Joe Tilley

Lance Brown

Melissa Lamb

A news release from Unifor, the union which represents on-air and broadcasting technicians at 17 local CTV stations, says that CTV Toronto sports reporting figures Joe Tilley and Lance Brown are among those laid off in a series of job cuts. Unifor says that as many as 50 jobs have been cut at 15 television stations across Canada. So far as is known, Bell Media has not yet announced or commented on this. The South Bayview Bulldog requested confirmation Thursday but has not had an answer. Others laid off according to Unifor are Ottawa CTV 2 hosts Melissa Lamb and Lianne Laing and BNN host Michael Kane. The union is critical of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission for granting Bell a five-year licence renewal in May of 2017 without requiring conditions related to what it calls “local presence.”  CTV News Toronto Sports said to be close to end of road

PERSON WITH A KNIFE:
Yonge St + Eglinton Av
-Man standing in front of bank
-Waving a pair of scissors at passersby
-No injuries#GO3017400
^dh

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) November 17, 2017

Rain is expected to move over Southwestern Ontario tonight and will persist into Saturday. The rain may fall heavily at times. Total rainfall amounts of 25 to 40 mm are likely. The rain is expected to taper off Saturday evening. But the forecast for Sunday and the Santa Claud Parada looks like a cocktail of everythng from rain or snow to bursts of sunshine.

A massive 5-alarm fire is burning through a six-story building in Upper Manhattan. Some 170 firefighters are at the scene. There are no reports of injuries so far at this commercial-residental building. Next, Tesla boss Elon Musk has unveiled an electric transport truck. It is not clear at all when this vehicle might be seen on the roads. Below that, distinguished army dog Mali is honoured in the UK with the Dickin Medal, sometimes called the canine Victoria Cross. Mali is a Belgian Malinois. He was hurt by three grenades and hoisted up a building but still managed to locate militants in Afghanistan, arguably saving the lives of the men who came after. Finally, it’s the New york City Taxi Driver Pin up Poster. What can we say?

Canadian Press says the president Hydro One has announced his intention to raise rates if approved. Mayo Schmidt did this at the Empire Club where he was speaking Thursday.  Schmidt said the application to the Ontario Energy Board seeks to increase rates by 0.5 per cent this year and 4.8 per cent next year. “What we apply for is to keep the system stable and functioning,” Schmidt told CP.. “If in fact we don’t apply for capital that’s required to replace aged equipment and that equipment fails, the system fails, so Ontario — in whatever region that would be — would be without power.”

Parking on north block reduced

Merska Skating show

Lauren and Helena at Home Depot

Mt. Pleasant Village Banner for Christmas

Bernnitta Hawkins of The Red Door Shelter

As Bev Simmonds of Dolly Jewelers was saying: “What can we do.” The watch repair and accessories shop at 1699 Bayview Ave saw no street parking Friday, just like all the other businesses in the north block. A commercial for Special K was being filmed at Hapkido Academy. Orange cones and vehicles took both sides of the street. Then to the right, Meraki Skating will introduce its new synchronized skating program Sunday evening at Scarborough Centennial Arena. Many local girls participate. Lower left, we check in with those ambitious two, Helena Giamos of Branksome Hall and Lauren Essaye of Northlea Middle and Elementary School. They collected some 34,000 batteries to redeem in Teck Resources battery recycling program. For every battery deposited with the campaign,Teck donated the value of the zinc contained in it and sent it off to help zinc deficient children in Africa. Great work ladies. To the right, the Christmas banners are up in Mt. Pleasant BIA Village.  Finally, Friday is the last day on the job for the much-respected Bernnitta Hawkins, executive director of East Toronto/s Red Door Family Shelter. Much good luck and sincere thanks for your tireless work Ms. Hawkins.

Reporter Mark Carcasole has covered the story of the extortion attempt being made on Leaside residents Patrick Rocca and Andy Elder. Global News   Leaside extortionist demands US$250,000 from local men

Patrick Rocca and Andy Elder will not be paying extortion demand

Manhattan bartender Caitlin Cahill has received a no-strings attached $5,000 tip from the former vice president of PayPal Jack Selby. His reasons for doing this and the rather over-the-top name Tips for Jesus are murky but Cahill doesn’t mind. She says she’s going shopping. Then, Senator Al Franken, the one-time comedian has apologized for giving radio host LeeAnnn Tweeden a sloppy kiss during a USO appearance they made together in 2006. It’s today’s #MeToo expose. Next, a painting of Christ by Leonardo de Vinci has fetched $450 million at auction in New York. Salvator Muni (Saviour of the World) dates from the 14th Century. And finally, Ginella Massa with the story of a wife scammed out of $10,000 to “rescue” her husband. Once again the extortionist’s currency of choice was Bitcoin, the money made for all manner of dishonest activity. If someone wants Bitcoins from you, it’s a fraud.