The South Bayview Bulldog

Here is Star Editor Michael Cooke’s note to staff trying to buck up the Star newsroom after 52 more layoffs and underwhelming progress to profitability of the digital phenomenon Star Touch. He vows never to permit canned content of the type widely seen on the Internet. This material sometimes known as catchbait stories often shock readers and usually sell weird stuff.  His memo

Leaside’s Martha McCabe gave it her all in women’s 200 metre breaststroke today (Wednesday, August 10). She fought back tears after touching eighth at the Olympic pool.

#CAN Martha McCabe touches 8th in her 200m breaststroke heat #Swimming #Rio2016 https://t.co/iVTbighMKh https://t.co/6N6UlHjLKg

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 10, 2016

The Globe and Mail says that Ontario unions have spent more than $15-million to campaign in the past three general elections, 94 per cent of all third-party advertising. Anyone who has watched election advertising will probably remember the ever-present “Working  Families” ads.  Globe and Mail.

GO Transit

Newly-acquired buildings by First Capital at Pusateri Corners

Common sense and simple observation have led many Bulldog correspondents to conclude that there are condominiums ahead in the newly-aggregated 2.2 acres of land at Lawrence Ave West and Avenue Road by the First Capital Realty REIT. Some of the six properties acquired by FC, besides Pusateri’s, are already earmarked for condo development. The FC news release was sufficiently vague that we can’t be sure but some are betting that the fine quality grocer will rise at the intersection — a kind of Pusateri Corners — with homes up above it. While we are speculating about your neighborhood, does work on the original fire-damaged Pusateri’s seem to be going agonizingly slowly?  Previous

There are many reasons to fear for the future of humanity, but this one is real enough. The well-heeled BMW Pokemon hunter is seen from a York Region cop chopper keeping an eye out for break-in artists at 3 a.m. The car sped up and slowed, lurked in driveways and, oh yes, stopped in middle of the road like it had run out of gas. The driver was given a warning. Would that be “go to bed”?

Thank you to @digital_mainst, @YellowPages_ca, Turnstyle & @CampTechCo for coming to our first Business Enhancement Breakfast!

— Bayview Leaside BIA (@LeasideBIA) August 9, 2016

None of this should come as a global revelation, although as it occurred the Delta Airlines computer collapse was shockingly inconvenient. A power outage Monday localized to Delta headquarters in Atlanta cancels more than 1000 flights and leaves thousands of people stranded for hours. The cancellations continued into Tuesday.

Greater Toronto Airways has started a daily flight from Toronto Island Billy Bishop Airport to Niagara Falls. The company say it makes the fight in an eight-passenger propeller aircraft in 12 minutes. The schedule is suited to commuters with an 8:30 a.m. departure from Niagara District Airport and a return flight from Toronto at 4:30 p.m. The service is set to start Sept. 15. Other suggested advantages include the onward movement of travellers to Union Station, Pearson Airport or Buffalo Airport, organizers said. Clearly the appeal of avoiding the drive is real. Just how many will pay for that is an open question. According to the Greater Toronto Airways website, the cost of a one way flight will start at $85, and return flights will start at $159. Greater Toronto also flies a schedule to Muskoka and Collingwood. It is a private mostly charter airline. CBC

Officer Anthony Lefrancois and Officer Lisa Prechotko

Two worthy Toronto cops, Anthony Lefrancois and Lisa Prechotko are heading to Haiti later this month as part of a United Nations peacekeeping and peace support program in support of Haitian law enforcement. Past Toronto Police officers have worked side-by-side with Haitian officers, acting as mentors and helping to deliver training. Lefrancois is a former armed forces member and student of Haiti from his days as a young man in his native Montreal. PC Prechotko ran a successful Pro Action Cops and Kids-sponsored program – Sista – for young girls. She enjoys travelling and doing humanitarian work. When she saw the posting for Haiti last winter, she knew the mission was the perfect fit.  Full story

Paula Gianasi of Richmond Hill has shot pictures of a rare albino raccoon bouncing around her backyard. At first Gianasi was baffled by the unusual looking creature. It looked like a big white rat, but that bushy tail said no. The pictures were submitted by the CBC to Professor Suzanne MacDonald, animal behaviour specialist at York University. She says it is “definitely” an albino raccoon. MacDonald says an albino birth is a one in 10,000 probability. CBC