The South Bayview Bulldog

The strange workings of the TTC will now see the transit agency hire “undercover fare inspectors” of all things in order to make sure people pay their fares. This is another streetcar issue. The shortfall in revenue occurs because of non-payment (as much as $20 million). It starts with mobs of people standing in the street to get on the tram. They’re out there blocking traffic, along with the streetcar, because the tracks are in the middle of the road. So the TTC loads people by all doors and many of them don’t pay. What a surprise.

HOW ABOUT PORTABLE PRESTO SCANNERS

No one can cheat on his fare on the 88 Leaside bus or the Yonge subway. One would have to be an invisible acrobat to get over the gate. But we have streetcars in Toronto. Since it’s digital 2016, how about designing portable, wireless Presto scanners? They could be held at the doors of the streetcars by some of the TTC employees who are now sent home early. Three or four to a streetcar. Or would that be a “not my job” issue at union hall?

Bessborough School Grade Sevens got a treat Tuesday when they attended the Raptors shootaround (informal practice) at ACC. Then on the way back to class they all poured into Starbucks on Bayview Ave. Funny how that makes the lineup merge into one big crowd. This clip missed the full impact of the onslaught. Teachers were saying things like: “Okay everybody, get your things and go outside.” Actually, you’re welcome in there any time kids.

We hope you had fun on Santa's Horse Drawn Carriage the past two Saturdays. Here are some photos of the event. pic.twitter.com/bxidZbVqkn

— Bayview Leaside BIA (@LeasideBIA) December 20, 2016

The fresh-faced bank bandit has struck again. On Saturday at approximately 1:10 p.m. the youthful looking robber hit a branch near Yonge Street, just north of Lawrence Avenue West.  He waited in line  saying he would be making a cheque deposit but then passed a hold-up note demanding specific denominations of cash  He is described as early 20s, 5’10” – 6′. Fresh-faced “4-bank bandit” in photos from holdup squad

See later post.

Night Owl Mac’s

Going black one by one

Original Mac’s

Mac’s, a Canadian name since the 1960s, will disappear for good in coming months as its owner, Couche Tard, of Laval Quebec, rebrands 15,000 corner stores and gas stations worldwide with an American name. The really galling thing for many people is that Couche Tard (it means night owl) will survive as the name of the corner stores in Quebec. Everyone else, including the chain founded by Ken and Carl McGowen in 1962 will be called (ugh) Circle K y’all. The Mac’s name has been owned by Silverwood Dairies Limited which acquired the firm in stages but then sold it to Couche Tard in 1976. So, Quebec stores will get to keep the signature owl name and logo. “Our roots are here, the name is French. The popularity of the brand is so strong here. There was no question (that we would change it),” said executive chairman Alain Bouchard, addressing a press conference in Laval last year. Funny how the Quebec owners get it about their French name but not the English one.

Gordie Tapp

Canadian radio and television entertainer Gordon Robert “Gordie” Tapp has died at 94. Tapp was instrumental in changing radio entertainment in Canada and later moved to Nashville as a member of the cast of the country television program Hee Haw. His character Cousin Clem was a favorite. Tapp was born in 1922 in London, Ontario and worked there in radio before moving to Guelph and Hamilton, where he was a mainstay at CHML radio. It was here he gained fame for Main Street Jamboree, a radio program that successfully moved to television. He worked for 13 years as the host of the CBC program Country Hoedown before his American venture. .

HOCKEY BOSS AS ARMY SECRETARY

The owner the Florida Panthers NHL hockey club, Vincent Viola, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to become the secretary of the Army. If the nomination is successful Viola will give up that responsibility.  The Panther hockey operation says the move will have zero impact on the team.

CHRIS SPENCE

Chris Spence, the former director of education at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), has been stripped of his teaching licence by the Ontario College of Teachers. It found him guilty Monday of plagiarism. He had been previously been found guilty of guilty of professional misconduct last month following the 2013 scandal which led to his resignation as director of the TDSB. Spence, 54, admitted to plagiarizing passages of an opinion piece he wrote for the Toronto Star and it was later discovered that he had done the same in the writing of his PhD dissertation.

Bennington Heights reader High Grant has tweeted his surprise that the South Bayview Bulldog has not carried something on where to find prepared Christmas dinners. Well, Hugh’s word is our command. It appears that Christmas dinners can be had from Andy Elder at Grill Time at 72 Laird. He offers pretty much everything you might wish for a Christmas dinner but you have to serve it yourself. Longo’s Signature brand offers Turkey Dinner in a Dash. It serves four to six for $99.99. And Today’s Menu on Millwood Road has a nice looking “family size” plate of turkey with cranberry sauce for $29.95. Add a few oysters from De La Mer on Bayview, and this is some great feast.