The funeral service for Barry and Honey Sherman will be held in the Toronto International Centre, an enormous venue making it possible for thousands to attend.  It will be Thursday at 11 a.m., according to Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel. In the meantime, the death of the two revered persons, has been made more bewildering with the release of autopsy results which show they died of neck compression. CTV and other media have said that Sherman and his wife were found hanging together in the basement of their home. The circumstances of how this might have come about is enough  to make most minds swim in horror. Not surprisingly, it is said that the homicide squad has been assigned to the matter. Efforts to reconcile such a bizarre end for two such important people with how it could possibly have happened must be weighing heavily on the cops, as it is on the public.

• Sherman: ruthless tycoon who revolutionized Canada drug industry.
• Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel
• Barry and Honey Sherman sued builders of North York home

As a life-long Leafs fan, I am excited by the team’s chances this year. Tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. I am officially proclaiming December 19th as Toronto Maple Leafs Day. #TMLTalk #nhlnext100 pic.twitter.com/bZNc3xAHxS

— John Tory (@JohnTory) December 18, 2017

K-pop star Kim Jong-hyun, 27, has been found dead in his Seoul hotel room with burned coal briquettes in a pan on the stove. They produce deadly carbon monoxide. He was the lead singer of the South Korean boy band SHINee. Police said Kim’s sister told them that, before his death, the singer had behaved erratically and sent her text messages that included messages such as “Final farewell” and “I’ve had difficulties.” CBC

See later post

Liam McIntyre

Netflix inspires royal names

Lately popular Lincoln

The Ontario government has issued a release saying that Olivia and Benjamin are the most popular names for baby girls and boys born in 2016. Lincoln joined Ontario’s top 20 list of baby names for the first time since such records were kept. Go figure. That durable Hollywood moniker Liam (Neeson, McIntyre) has dropped to second place this year after being in first place for boys for five years. Royal names for babies are on the rise after the television series The Crown was released on Netflix, the ministry noted. That means there are more Elizabeths, Margarets and Winstons being bundled home from the hospital.Top names for baby girls in Ontario in 2016:

• Olivia
• Emma
• Charlotte
• Ava
• Sophia

Top names for baby boys in Ontario in 2016:

• Benjamin
• Liam
• Noah
• Ethan
• Lucas

Kate Wheeler and Christine Bentley of What She Said

Carolers dropped in

Kate Wheeler with daughters painted by Heather Cooper

Sophie and Alex Beaton

Ann Brodie and Kris Abel

Bill Hutchison and Harold Robbins

Rani Jamieson and Ted Stuebing

Mary Whittall and Cindy Alexander

Kate Wheeler and husband John Beaton hosted Let’s Get Lit, a smart reception at their Lawrence Park home Saturday. Guests dined on a dazzling selection of finger foods. Many made a meal of the delicious eggnog created by the hostess. Dozens of business friends and neighbors talked and laughed the evening away.  Christine Bentley was there. Like Wheeler, she is a former CTV anchor. Now the two women own a multi-platform radio and Facebook program called What She Said! Talk. They showcase enterprising and interesting women. The program is newly lodged at 105.9 The Region. airing weekends at noon.

Daughters Sophie and Alexandra Beaton were there. Sophie is graduating from McGill with honours and is heading to law school. Alex is on her way to Los Angeles for pilot season, she is currently the lead in a web series called Spiral www.spiralbackwards.com  and has been a lead in The Next Step on Family Channel for six years.

Seneca College Journalism Professor Bill Hutchison joined the party too. The former CTV reporter and anchor is also anchoring some morning shifts at The Region. Guests were enchanted by a painting of Kate as a young mom with Sophie and Alex done by artist Heather Cooper. It was commissioned by Mr. Beaton. Cooper is also the designer of famous corporate logos such as Roots, CN and the LCBO.

Freeman Real Estate crowds/@joemihevc

Long lineup/@joemihevc

The annual turkey giveaway started by Honest Ed Mirvish some 30 years ago has been taken over by Bathurst St  Realtor Elden Freeman of Freeman Real Estate and Spirit of Math, an afterschool math program for kids. Sunday Freeman’s office at 988 Bathurst saw hundreds of people waiting in line for a free Yule bird  The first person in line arrived around 4 a.m. and, by opening hour at 9 a.m., there were hundreds of people. The annual line up outside the former Honest Ed’s location was a holiday custom for many in the area.

Barry and Honey Sherman are reported by CTV to have been found hanging inside their Old Colony Rd. home. The network quotes “police sources” as the autopsy results on the celebrated couple reveals that death was caused by “ligature neck compression.” This would be consistent with hanging. The CBC meanwhile says Toronto homicide Det. Brandon Price told reporters outside the couple’s home on Saturday that police “cannot say 100 per cent with certainty” whether or not foul play was involved. The billionaire philanthropists were discovered at their home in the St. Andrew-Windfields area near Bayview Avenue and Highway 401 on Friday morning.

Pam Seatle of City News filed this report late Saturday wrapping up information so far in deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman. Autopsy results may be available Sunday.

No winning ticket was sold for the $9 million jackpot in Saturday night’s Lotto 649 draw. The guaranteed $1 million dollar prize went to a ticket holder in Ontario. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on December 20 will be approximately $12 million.

Rides on the TTC will be free on Sunday as the service marks the official opening of the Line One subway extension to Vaughan. Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca made the announcement at Sheppard West Station on Saturday morning, saying it that it was only made possible through the ability of the province and the City to work together in a “rapid fashion.” The free service will be in effect from 5 a.m. Sunday until 5 a.m. Monday and will cover the entire TTC network, including buses, streetcars and subways.