The Bulldog

Donor-husband is “My hero, best man I know”

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A news conference at the Hospital for Sick Children has been told that doctors have identified as many 7 possible liver donors for the second Wagner twin, Binh. They are working on refining the medical match and say they hope to do the transplant that will save the child’s life within about a month. At the news conference Joanne Wagner (inset) adoptive mother of the two Vietnamese children, offered a moving thank you to her husband for giving up part of his liver for the other twin, Phuoc. That operation occurred earlier this week and was pronounced successful for both parties by doctors this morning. Ms. Wagner said her husband is “my hero, the best man I know” for his act.  The girls have a genetic disorder called Alagille syndrome. It affects their vital organs and is fatal without a transplant. The surgeries on Tuesday lasted 13 hours at the Toronto General Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children. 

Cruel and unusual cold could burst more pipes

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It’s the cold but it’s also that uncertain catastrophe known as a broken water main. Weather experts and engineers have to admit that these are the conditions for such things. Weather Channel 

FLASHBACK! It happened last year in Leaside

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There are lots of broken water mains and even some sinkholes in the news this week. Here’s a reminder of a huge sinkhole that struck at the corner of Sutherland Drive and Hanna Rd just a year ago. Flashback! 

A galloping kind of rush hour in York Region

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This was the kind of traffic motorists in Stouffville were being warned of yesterday during the  afternoon rush hour.  York Regional Police tweeted that a horse was on the loose in the area of Hwy 48 and St John Sideroad and warned drivers to be cautious.  It broke free of its owner and was last seen traveling eastbound on St John Sideroad.  This video from the YRP archives shows a horse that got away from his owner and took a nice easy gallop until it was corralled by police and a local farmer and returned home.  We hope yesterday’s escapee found its way back home safely as well. 

Noted newsman Bob Simon dead in NY taxi crash

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Bob Simon

CBS News 60 Minutes correspondent and foreign reporter Bob Simon died on Wednesday night at the age of 73, the network announced. The veteran newsman was reportedly in a cab when it crashed on the West Side Highway in New York City, police told the Daily News. Simon’s cab collided with another vehicle around 7 p.m., sending it off the road, the New York Post reported. Both the driver and Simon had to be cut out of the cab, according to the paper. Simon was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in serious condition, but later died from his injuries. The driver of the cab and the 23-year-old driver of the other involved vehicle were not seriously injured, according to the Daily News. The award-winning reporter’s career spanned five decades, taking him conflict scenes around the world. Simon joined CBS in 1967, and then 60 Minutes in 1996. Over his career, he covered topics including the Vietnam War and the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. One of his most notable assignments, “Curveball,” detailed the investigation of the Iraqi defector who provided the faulty testimony that eventually led America to war. Simon spent 40 days in an Iraqi jail after being arrested while covering the Gulf War. He won a total of 27 Emmys.

Concordia captain sentenced to 16 years in prison

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The captain of the Costa Concordia has been sentenced to prison for 16 years. Francesco Schettino was called everything from a coward and to an idiot during the19-month trial into his responsibility for the loss of the flagship ocean liner. It was established that Schettino took his vessel too close to shore while entertaining a woman passenger. In the event, Schettino may count himself lucky since a maximum sentence for all charges would have netted a 26 year term. 

Measles alert: Mom “angry as hell” at anti-vaxers

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A York Region woman who has 15-day old baby has been caught in a measles quarantine says she is mad at hell at unvaccinated people who have caused her a week from hell. “I blame you,” are among accusatory statements of Jennifer Hibben-White whose son Griffen is too young to be vaccinated. Baby Griffin was in a York Region doctor’s office with his mother and was potentially exposed to  measles. That’s because a man who had been exposed to measles had been in the office shortly before them. Now Hibben-White, her son and three year old daughter are all in quarantine until February 17, 2015. Griffin is too young for vaccination and the daughter is not yet old enough for her booster. Ms. Hibben-White has written on her Facebook page, unburdening frustration, anger and fear over the situation.  Elsewhere, there have been no new cases of measles reported in Toronto although York Region has identified a case in a young man who it says had already been vaccinated according to CTV. There are ten reported cases in Quebec, most of them related to the Disneyland outbreak. At City Hall Christin Carmichael-Greb (Ward 16) introduced a motion that asks the city’s Medical Officer of Health to draft a report on the “potential enhancements to existing public health programs to ensure children in day nurseries are adequately immunized.” It surprised some that Toronto Public Health doesn’t offer a day care immunization program, something apparently required by Ontario Public Health Standards.  School- aged children are also required to be vaccinated. Parents are able to request an exemption from vaccinating their children on medical, philosophical or religious reasons. Photos: Jennifer Hibben-White, Griffin

Sotto Sotto, Spuntini fire had undetermined cause

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The cause of the fire at Sotto Sotto and Spuntini Ristorante on Avenue Road has been called “undetermined” by the Ontario Fire Marshall. The blaze occurred December 25, 2014 and for several days was said to be called “suspicious” by fire officials. But then investigators backed off saying only that they weren’t sure what had happened. That appears to be where they have finally landed in their six-week probe of the fire. 

TGH: Kingston dad’s liver transplant a success

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Moving story of father’s efforts to save life of one of two adopted twins. Search continues for a donors for the second girl. Globe and Mail 

UK-made Cadbury’s chocolate still on sale here

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Americans are waking up these mornings to find that they are unable to buy Cadbury chocolate that is actually made in the United Kingdom. The outcome of a lawsuit has given Hershey, the Cadbury name-holder in the U.S., authority to tell importers to stop bringing in Cadbury-labelled goods. The unexpected prohibition has raised questions — if not alarm — in Canada as well, where many people say they can tell the difference between Hershey-made Cadbury and the real thing made in Blighty. For those who want British-made Cadbury there is Uncle John’s Candy Shack at 635 Mt. Pleasant Road. Dina Vander Beek, wife of Uncle John himself, was telling the South Bayview Bulldog she has the real thing. The English Cadbury chocolate is produced under a different recipe (the first ingredient in U.K. Cadbury chocolate is milk, while the first in American-made Cadbury chocolate is sugar, according to the New York Times). 

Two from Kitchener under watch for Ebola

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Two members of the same family who are recent arrivals in Canada have been admitted to Victoria Hospital in London for observation of Ebola symptom. This occurred late last night said late Tuesday night with doctors saying the two are at low risk at the moment. The patients have been tested to see if they have the virus, and the results are expected within 24 to 48 hours, according to Dan Flaherty, the communications manager at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Dr. Chris Mackie, the medical officer of health for London, said the two have very low-level symptoms that may or may not be compatible with Ebola, but out of an abundance of caution, they’ve been transferred to London Health Services from  outside of London.

Matlow motion reveals deeply split City Council

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Josh Matlow’s motion to refer the question of the Scarborough subway to Executive Committee has revealed a City Council that appears to be deeply divided over the wisdom of the project. The vote among those present was 21 to 21,  causing the motion to fail on a tie. Three councillors, Augimeri, Peruzza and Filion were  absent for the vote, prompting speculation among Twitter watchers that the motion might have passed had they been present. Matlow (Ward 22) is pursuing an investigation into the true cost of the subway and its value for money in light of what kind of traffic it might carry. His efforts have been greeted by a territorial response from Scarborough Councilor Glenn de Baeremaeker who said it was time that his part of the city got its “fair share.”  He made it clear he thinks Matlow and others are out to switch the city’s planning back from a subway to an LRT system. The issue has been put in focus in recent weeks by an analysis done by former TTC general manager Michael Warren. He wrote a column giving reasons why the subway as planned is poor value for money. He offers criticism of both Mayor Tory and Premier Wynne for  pursuing the subway. He cited Wynne for acting on Liberal Party strategy to elect members in Scarborough and Mr. Tory for  currying favour with Wynne. In the past Tory has said he did not wish to poke a stick in the eye of Queen’s Park on this matter. Among South Bayview area councillors, the split on the Matlow motion looked like this. In favor: Wong-Tam, Burnside, Carmichael. Robinson, Fragedakis, Matlow. Opposed: Colle

Yes: 21 Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Joe Cressy, Janet Davis, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Cesar Palacio, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Kristyn Wong-Tam

No: 21 Paul Ainslie, Michelle Berardinetti, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, David Shiner, Michael Thompson, John Tory Absent: 3 Maria Augimeri, John Filion, Anthony Perruzza