Photo: "14" by a*e, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

In sad news, Hank Young (also known as the Gladstone Cowboy) passed away at the age of 68. A beloved Parkdale icon, Hank's association with the Gladstone Hotel spanned decades, and his gig as the antique elevator operator was a natural fit for an unofficial neighbourhood and hotel ambassador.

Here's proof that city council actually does work in our best interest sometimes. For the fourth consecutive year, council voted in favour of foregoing the purchase of 16 season tickets to the Toronto Blue Jays for city councillor use. Or perhaps I'm wrong, and this proves instead that the Jays aren't even worth watching for free. I kid, I kid!

Ritchies, the high-end auction house based out of Toronto, has gone bankrupt. Who would have thought that collecting significant commission on millions of dollars worth of art couldn't be sustainable and profitable?

Was missing teen Mariam Makhniashvili lured via the internet? Police have seized computers from Forest Hill Public Library and the Barbara Frum Public Library, as part of their investigation into her disappearance. While Toronto Public Libraries don't log keystrokes, browser history might contain clues. I haven't used the web on a TPL computer in forever... do users log in with accounts (that maintain user-specific logs), or is it totally open public access on their machines?

In a follow-up on the stolen tractor trailer of toys story, generosity from the community and businesses, and effective police work have resulted in a serendipitous windfall for the Toys For Tots charity program. Police are still seeking a fourth suspect in the case.

And Prince Charles and Camilla (the Duchess of Cornwall) will be part of the opening ceremonies at the Royal Winter Fair this year. Their stop in Toronto is part of a 12-day (smile and wave and try to remain relevant) tour of Canada.