The South Bayview Bulldog

So here it is. The heavy to moderate rain began about 4 a.m. and will continue in what Environment Canada calls a periodic fashion. That means we may see some breaks. In the meantime, there is local flooding in all the known spots. The underpass on Bayview south of Moore will be showing water. The rain may fall heavily at times and a few thunderstorms are likely as well. Rainfall amounts are expected to be highly variable, with 20 to 40 mm likely. A few areas may even exceed 50 mm where showers and thunderstorms are most prevalent. The system responsible for this rainfall is a moisture-laden low pressure disturbance from Texas.

Transformer fire Yonge St near Roxborough Rd, report that a truck may have struck the pole and left the area ^ma

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 16, 2016

https://twitter.com/tpscalls/status/765533831491383296

Hazard calls now for traffic signals out at many locations along Danforth Ave. Obey the rules of the road at uncontrolled intersections ^ma

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 16, 2016

The Skyway bridge at Burlington was closed to all traffic on the QEW Monday afternoon for several hours as OPP and medical personnel negotiated with a “distressed man”. This drawn-out discussion came to an end with the man being taken for medical care about 6.30 p.m.

UPDATE: Burlington Skyway re-opens after police investigation resolved https://t.co/E41Ami8Xpr pic.twitter.com/SQHWjklVHG

— Hamilton Spectator (@TheSpec) August 15, 2016

Ontario doctors have voted by 63.1 percent to reject a fee agreement hammered out between the MInistry and the Ontario Medical Association. The OMA says the vote means it will immediately request a meeting with the provincial government to communicate its expectations for renewed negotiations. Voting took place Sunday during a town hall-style meeting in which doctors argued over the agreement. In rejection the deal doctors turn down a 2.5 percent a year increase to the $11.5-billion physician services budget. The undertaking that doctors would  co-manage the deal is also  rejected with many physicians suggesting their real influence in such an arrangement was largely fictional.

Analysts predict a price war nastier than anything seen so far as Loblaws tells its suppliers to reduce the price of everything the grocer buys by 1.45 percent. In response, the huge wholesale buyer United Grocers, which buys for Metro and other Loblaws competitors, has told manufacturers that it wants the same cut in prices. The meanness of the atmosphere is revealed by a threat to simply reduce all invoices by that amount if the sellers don’t comply. What’s going on? Many informed business sources say it’s about the ambitions of Walmart and Costco to muscle their way further into the Ontario grocery market. It is said these two mammoths have already made inroads in Quebec, controlling as much as 15 percent of the market.

This parade of four Hydro bucket trucks is finishing up the connection of new, taller hydro poles that were planted throughout Midtown (and South Bayview) last summer.  Welland Ave in Moore Park appears to be one of the last streets to be fully converted.

The Blue Jays will introduce flex pricing to season ticket holders next year. That’s a system by which the price of games go up according to demand.  Toronto Sun

Councillor Jon Bunside has sent a reminder to constituents about the Ward 26 Community Environment Day to be held on Sunday, August 28. Come by Leaside High School between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. You can drop off electronics, household hazardous waste, fluorescent bulbs, unused medications, oils, solvents, pesticides, propane tanks, and batteries. Please note that the following items will not be accepted: construction waste, gasoline, garbage, wood, cassette and videotapes, commercial/industrial hazardous waste, and scrap metal.
When: August 28, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Leaside High School, Parking Lot, 200 Hanna Rd.

Toronto Police are alerting the public to the loss of medication. It occurred Saturday about 10 a.m. when two bottles of liquid (each containing 140 mg) methadone were lost in the parking lot of 396 St. Clair Avenue West.

A handful of protesters blocked traffic Monday at Yonge and Dundas Streets to “make demands” after the death of a black man in Ottawa July 24. The group known as Black Lives Matter briefly shut down the intersection.  Social grievances face to face in arrest-death of Ottawa man

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Toronto ahead of what it calls the “most significant widespread rain in many months.”  It is expected to arrive Tuesday and might drop as much as 40 millimeters of rain. It is a slow-moving low pressure system making its way up from Texas and is supposed to combine with the tropical moisture causing flooding in Louisiana.  A further warning from EC is promised if 50 millimetres or more is in the forecast. Weather Network