The South Bayview Bulldog

A man, 26, in a stolen pickup truck smashed into two OPP cruisers as they tried to stop him on Highway 401 near Harmony Road Thursday. The perpetrator also hit a Department of Transportation sign truck with an arrow on it. PC Kerry Schmidt said that the suspect sped away from the scene before exiting the highway and entering a nearby parking lot, where he slammed into parked trucks. At that point he fled on foot but was apprehended by Durham Regional Police a short time later. One OPP officer is hospital as a result of the collision, according to Schmidt.

Many reports from the Franco-Dutch holiday island say Irma has claimed at least eight lives in St. Martin and flattened 95 percent of the infrastructure. In total as many as 13 are said to have died. “It’s an enormous catastrophe. Ninety-five percent of the island is destroyed. I’m in shock. It’s frightening,” said Gibbs, a former French lawmaker, speaking on Radio Caribbean International. Irma is pounding other islands as a Cat 4 hurricane Thursday and is expected to roar ashore in Florida late Friday.

The Ontario Government will conduct a three-year study which as far as anyone can guess is intended to permit teens succeed to the most suitable career beyond high school. The plan will reportedly delve into the rates of suspension and expulsion by race among other things, although it seems likely such informaton is at hand already. There will be more “teaching material to address a variety of cultural backgrounds” and make the system more equitable and inclusive for people of all backgrounds and cultures. Canadian Press quotes the minister, Mitzi Hunter, on the moral high ground of the plan. “I strongly believe that we must continue to deepen the connections between achievement, well-being and equity,” she is quoted as saying. “These must be inextricably linked, almost like a braid, just wound together. And we must put the student experience at the centre of all that we do.” CP then concludes that “Hunter revealed few details about the plan, including potential changes to the Grade 9 curriculum.”

3:13 PM EDT Thursday 07 September 2017
Weather advisory in effect for:
City of Toronto
Conditions will be favourable for the development of funnel clouds today.
Scattered thunderstorms across Southern Ontario will continue into this evening.
Some of the thunderstorms will bring dime sized hail, wind gusts to 70 km/h and frequent lightning.
Funnel clouds may also make a brief appearance this afternoon in this unseasonably cool and unstable air mass.
Thunderstorms are expected to dissipate later this evening.
These types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. This weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground. However, there is a chance that this rotation could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado.
Treat any funnel cloud sighting seriously. Should a funnel cloud develop nearby, prepare to take shelter. These funnel clouds usually appear with little or no warning.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ec.cpio-tempetes-ospc-storms.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

Originals celebrating

Wildcats hockey is back

They walk to fight cancer

Who goes there and why?

UrBun Eats Co

Thursday already and Originals Ale House at 1660 Bayview wants you to remember that Saturday, September 16, 2017 marks its 34th year. They’re partying and it looks like it will be fun. Then, September heralds the sounds of Leaside Junior Wildcats hockey ringing round the Doc Pashby Play Safely Rink at Leaside Arena. Friday September 22 the Cats play their first game in Preston against the Rivulettes. The first home game is against the always tough Whitby on September 27. Below, courageous people we know include Ilana Sutherland (second from right) who will again be there in the 2017 OneWalk to Conquer Cancer and remember her fiance who died of the scourge. Her friends here are Leah Cherniak, Judy Cherniak, Samuel Sutherland, Miriam Cherniak, and Shaneal Hogaluk. Lower left, who is getting onto the catwalk at the Leaside Bridge? Police and City might ask this as pictures like this show up on Twitter and Reddit from “live social media” adventurers. Finally, UrBun Eats Co is open at 874 Eglinton East (next door to Starbucks) and is tooting this Kimchi, Angus Beef and Sriracha Mayo burger. Yow!

Photo: Ian Smith

Update: Units OS advises, no serious injs. ^adc

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) September 7, 2017

l to r: Gerry Lougheed, Andrew Olivier, Patricia Sorbara, Premier Wynne

David Livingston and Laura Miller

CBC’s Mike Crawley at Queen’s Park points to the calendar showing the start of two corruption trials involving highly-placed Ontario Liberals. One hearing will feature testimony from the Premier herself. Crawley says the outcome has the potential to kneecap the party as it tries to stay in power at the 2018 general election.

TRIAL ONE

Trial One will hear charges of bribery against Wynne’s former campaign director, Pat Sorbara, and Liberal fundraiser Gerry Lougheed Jr. They are accused of violating Ontario’s Elections Act by allegedly offering a job to a would-be Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier in exchange for stepping aside in the 2014 byelection in Sudbury. Their trial begins Thursday. The speculation could not help but touch the Premier herself and she will appear in court next Wednesday to personally deny involvement.

TRIAL TWO

Monday in Toronto top aides to Wynne’s predecessor Dalton McGuinty face a criminal trial on charges of breach of trust and mischief. David Livingston, McGuinty’s chief of staff in 2012-13, and his deputy chief of staff Laura Miller are accused of destroying government documents about the cancellation of two gas-fired power plants. CBC

The Leaside Lawn Bowling Club will host the Ontario Provincial Men’s and Women’s Novice Pairs Championship on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Thirty-two men and women representing the 16 Districts across the province will compete for the title of Ontario Champion. If you have ever wondered about what goes on at the Leaside Lawn Bowling Club in Talbot Park, this would be an excellent opportunity to check out the club and see some top-notch bowling. The address is 190 Hanna Rd. near Leaside High School. Phone  (416) 483-1418

Serving up the corn

Seasoned to taste

Lots to be had

Friends arrive

Front lawn activity

Annual event

Friends, neighbours and fellow parishioners of Northlea United Church, 125 Brentcliffe Rd., enjoyed a late summer dinner of corn and hotdogs Wednesday evening. The green front lawn of Northlea with its elegant stand of trees was alive with activity. Kids bounced on an inflated play castle. Proceeds went to Northlea’s General Fund. Friends of the event are Maria Montessori School, Pawsitively Pets for Kids, Sportball and 132nd Toronto Scouts.

The renovation dreams of the owner of 291 Indian Rd. are over as the old home is demolished after half the house collapsed on the weekend.

Much-loved crossing guard Mona Piper has served the kids, parents and staff of Maurice Cody School just around the corner from her home for 43 years. Now she has suffered an injury and fallen ill as well. She must retire. She spoke with Tom Hayes of Global News.

Here are weekend events and road closures as released Wednesday by the City:

Toronto International Film Festival
TIFF’s fourth annual Festival Street initiative will run from Thursday, September 7 through Sunday, September 10. Festival Street events will result in the full closure of King Street West to traffic between Spadina and University Avenues from 5 a.m. on Thursday, September 7 until 5 a.m. on Monday, September 11. John Street between King and Wellington Streets will also be closed during the five-day period. More information is available at bit.ly/2wART4M.

Taste of the Kingsway
Bloor Street West between Prince Edward Drive North and Montgomery Road will be closed from Friday, September 8 at noon to Sunday, September 10 at 11 p.m. A series of full and partial road closures will also take place in the surrounding area to accommodate the Taste of the Kingsway event.

Festival of Praise
The formation of the parade and festival area for this event will require the closure of all northbound lanes of Queen’s Park Circle from College Street to Bloor Street on Saturday, September 9 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The dispersal area for the parade will result in the closure of the northbound lanes of Queen’s Park Crescent from College Street to Wellesley Street from 2 to 5 p.m.

Cabbagetown Festival
Parliament Street between Gerrard and Wellesley Streets and Carlton Street between Parliament and Berkeley Streets will be closed from Saturday, September 9 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, September 10 at 9 p.m. for the Cabbagetown Festival.

Bang and Olufsen Yorkville 5K Charity Fun Run/Walk
and Canadian 5K Road Race Championship
A series of road closures will take place in the area bounded by Davenport Road to the north, University Avenue/Queen’s Park/Avenue Road to the west, Dundas Street to the south and Bay Street to the east on Sunday, September 10 from 8 a.m. to noon for these two events.

Toronto 5K for Sick Kids Hospital Foundation
A series of road closures will take place in the area bounded by St. Clair Avenue West to the north, Christie Street to the west, Davenport Road to the south and Russell Hill Road/Boulton Drive to the east on Saturday, September 9 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. for this fundraising event.