The South Bayview Bulldog

St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California parlayed a $15,000 investment into a windfall of at least $24 million in the Snapchat IPO. This thanks to a unique venture capital fund set up by the school’s investment-savvy parents. Upper right, a Pennsylvania woman has had a 180-lb. ovarian cyst removed after years of wondering why she was gaining weight. Lower right, human remains have been found in the sewers of a former church-run home for unmarried mothers in Ireland. The discovery is in the town of Tuam in western Ireland and the bodies are said to range from newborns to toddlers. And in London, Uber is fighting a court decision upholding a Transport Department order requiring Uber to prove that its drivers can speak English. At last notice, carefree Toronto took the position that it didn’t matter.

Came into contact with train

A young man has been gravely hurt when he somehow came into contact with a speeding train entering Bloor Station on the Yonge line Friday night. The man was on the southbound platform and perhaps glanced off the train, a frightening prospect that most commuters will easily be able to imagine. He fell to the platform surface. Paramedics told CP24  they were called to the Line 1 station at 9:48 p.m. for a report of a man injured by a moving train. Police said there was no indication that the incident was suspicious in nature which suggests the man was not pushed.

The Leaside Junior Wildcats were eliminated from further play in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League playoffs last night in Stoney Creek where the game ended in a shootout. The sudden-death solution to a tie always ends in a 2-1 outcome for one team or the other  The tough Sabre squad prevailed at their home arena near Hamilton. Leaside stood ninth, Stoney Creek eighth in the 20-team PWHL rankings going into the best of five preliminary series last weekend. The Leaside women played with great heart but were taken down three games to none by Stoney Creek.

OAKVILLE POWERHOUSE

As the playoffs enter the quarter finals it seems likely that the Oakville Hornets with a stunning record of 31-3-4 will be taking home the league trophy when it’s all over.

Sun tweeted gag shot

Elected to community group at 17

Tireless volunteer, advocate

It was a remarkable turnout for Justin Van Dette Thursday. He’s a young man (one source says he was 17 in 1996) who has built a large community of loyalty and affection for his tireless commitment to East York and the good works that are done there. This night it was the AIDS Committee of Toronto which benefited. Notables like Premier Wynne, PC leader Patrick Brown and Mayor Tory joined “roasters” including Mel Lastman, Don Cherry, Brian Burke, Gail Nyberg, Bill Saundercook, George Smitherman, Anthony Farnell, Ken Reid, Tyler Currie and yet more friends of Van Dette at EG3 at 77 Peter Street. It was said that at least 170 people had committed to the event. Like many men of accomplishment and promise Van Dette is a low-key personality with a mannerly style. So East York. Day to day he can be found working on Community Relations at the Michael Garron (Toronto East General) Hospital. His politics are conservative but his social style is distinctly unaligned. In an amusing column Friday Joe Warmington of the Toronto Sun suggested that Van Dette is known among his intimates as The Shaker. This may be. Although we are not told the principal talent of this distinction it seems likely to be similar to that of a rainmaker.

(For lease) Prime Retail Location on Bayview | Leaside/Davisville, Toronto | Bonnie Byford R.E. https://t.co/YUX4ZmOkk9

— Bonnie Byford R.E. (@bonniebyford) March 3, 2017

Part of Bayview Ave. since 2004, Frank and Nora to retire

Costco will charge shoppers in Canada and the US an extra $5 or $10 for an annual membership starting June, the firm has announced. The membership fee is a huge part of Costco’s revenue. It amounts to $2.6 billion US globally, more than the Costco made in profits last year. The increase will put a regular “gold star” membership at $60 in national currency in the U.S. and Canada. An executive membership, which comes with discounts and benefits, will be bumped up $10 to $120 a year. The last increase was in 2011. Costco had almost 87 million members at the end of its last fiscal year, including about 10 million in Canada.

It’s not an epidemic yet and you want to do your part to keep it that way. Most valuable in this CBC account is the advice that those between the ages of 25 and 47 may be more vulnerable to this disease. It apparently has to do with just how well — or poorly — vaccine was administered for a period between 1970 and 1992. Otherwise, the best information says it would be wise to stay away from certain west-end bars where a cluster cases seems to have originated and to stay home if you are sick. CBC

Do you know him?

Dating fraud say police

Large sum of money obtained

Police are trying to find a man who went by the name of Domenic Gurino when he met a woman, 52, in an on-line dating site that police say is a fraud. This was in November and about a month into the relationship the man told her of a property investment with “profitable returns”  The woman provided a “large sum of money” on the strength of the man’s word, say police. Having received the funds, the man has evaded the woman

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It won’t be too surprising to learn but the poor little house under construction that snapped in the wind early Thursday will be torn down. Joanna Lavoie of the Beach Mirror checks in with word that the trouble began when the house lifted off its foundation causing the structure above to crumple.

What fun. It happened on the Metro Train system in Melbourne. Take a look.

New CEO John Boynton

Can Star still afford printing?

Didn’t seem to click

Torstar’s new president and CEO is John Boynton. He is a turnaround agent and some will wryly add his rainmaking skills are much-needed at the Toronto Star 

171 teams will compete

The largest women’s hockey tournament in the world will kick off next Friday when the 38th Annual Toronto Leaside Wildcats March Madness Tournament begins at 18 arenas across the City. Players and parents from across Ontario and many other parts of Canada converge on Leaside Arena for at least part of the time. One large contingent is flying in from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. This year, says Mark Schrutt, tournament director, a record 171 teams will compete across all age levels and categories. Hundreds of volunteers and paid personnel like referees and arena staff will toil from Friday March 10 to Sunday March 12 to keep the program moving.

SILENT AUCTION

It’s an expensive event and one important element in carrying the cost is the silent auction which takes place in the William Lea Room at Leaside Arena. This year a huge variety of exciting prizes is up for silent bidding. West Jet has donated two round trip tickets to anywhere they fly. There are Leaf Tickets, Raptor Tickets, Jays Tickets, an Autographed Darryl Sittler Stick, Original Richard Johnson Ice Hut Photograph, CWHL Autographed All Star Jersey, Sonos Play 1 System. Apple Watch, many hockey camp gift certificates. Eagles Nest Golf Passes, Restaurant Gift Certificates, Wine Baskets and NHL Alumni  Autographed Jersey.The Auction closes at 7 p.m. on Saturday March 11th and payment may be made by cash, cheque or credit card.

ARENAS

Games will be played all across Toronto: Angela James in Flemingdon Park, Baycrest, Commander, Don Montgomery, East York, Leaside, RINX, Scarborough Centennial, Ted Reeve, Birchmount, Cummer, Malvern, Oriole, Phil White, Scarborough Village, York Mills, Mitchell Field.

2017 Leaside March Break Madness Schedule (as of Feb 27 @ 9:30 pm, subject to change)