Weather Statement: Issued at 04:51 Thursday 29 December 2016 Winter Weather Travel Advisory in effect for this morning. Snow continues to fall over the region with total amounts of 4 to 8 cm expected in most areas away from Lake Ontario. Near the lake, wet snow or a mix of rain and snow will lessen any accumulations. With the snow falling during the morning rush hour, holiday travelers and commuters may experience travel delays. The snow will taper off later this morning.

Appreciate the little things#Happy #Chickadee #Urban #Nature #Toronto #Snow pic.twitter.com/dDxR7gAhv6

— Steve Steinbach (@SteveSteinbach) December 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/meta_guide_ca/status/814472311143137280

Have had several reports of drivers trying to squeeze around plows and salters, don't do this, you are putting yourself and others in danger

— 680 NewsRadio Toronto Traffic & Weather (@NewsRadioTO) December 29, 2016

Debbie Reynolds, star of the 1952 classic Singin’ in the Rain, has died just one day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher according to the Associated Press. Reynolds broke into the movies in 1950 when she was 17. Two years later she starred with two much old dancers, Gene Kelly who was 40  and Donald O’Connor, then 27. Reynolds was a huge success. Yesterday she was taken to hospital with a medical emergency in Los Angeles.  Debbie Reynolds was 84.

The Daily Beast website offers details of the mechanics of how sister Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo liked to receive payments from men they allegedly extorted. Paypal was one. It also tells about their webmaster and how he was picked up trying to extort billionaire Femi Otadola. Police nailed the sisters by tracing email they had sent to the webmaster which say cops implicated the two. They were caught with laptops and other devices with incrimarting evidence. The sisters remain in jail, remanded to January 27,  .

City crews worked all night and through morning snow to partially open Yonge St. at Roxborough St. shortly before noon Thursday. There is one lane each for traffic north and southbound. Yesterday a stout structure of two by six timbers was erected at the sinkhole at Yonge and Roxborough Streets. Some called it “Fort Sinkhole”. The hole opened up Boxing Day and investigation by Toronto Works produced concern that they may not have the full story on how to deal with the underlying weakness in the road. Some residents suggested that work done before Christmas by Enbridge may have somehow undermined the sewer system. Wednesday afternoon the roadway was piled with broken pieces of old pipes, concrete and paving. The scene is further animated by television truck transmission towers and water vacuuming equipment. CP24, City News and CTV were all focused on the “fort” Wednesday afternoon. The sinkhole is among few pieces of real news to be covered locally during the holiday actuality drought.

Tuesday night’s ice follies on the highways are well illustrated by the multiple vehicle crashes on the off-ramp of Hwy 410 near Derry Road. As many as 40 vehicles were damaged. Photographer DR @Media371 was there. CBC story has some details.

15 patients transported to local hospital following a multi vehicle pile up on the ramp from Highway 410 southbound at Derry Road. #onstorm pic.twitter.com/JBRDkK7Wo4

— DR (@Media371) December 28, 2016

Gunfire in the night brought police to the distant eastern side of Flemingdon Park Tuesday morning. It was heard on Pavane Linkway, the road that borders the Don Valley in the apartment area. Nothing was seen by police who speculate there may have been gunfire between vehicles.

Shots Fired – Pavane Linkway (DVP + Eglinton) No victims found. 2 vehicles seen leaving the area. Shell casings located. @TPS54Div pic.twitter.com/OZrFFihmcA

— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto) December 27, 2016

Check details, tickets

Robbie Burns

Haggis

The East York Kiwanis Club will hold its annual Robbie Burns Dinner Saturday, January 21, 2017 at the York Banquet and Event Centre at 1100 Millwood. Click the poster above for details. This is alway an occasion of great fun and, for those who wish, a taste of Haggis. Recipe

Carrie Fisher has died following a heart attack suffered Friday on a flight from London to Los Angeles. She portrayed Princess Leia in the Star Wars film franchise and later wrote award-winning books that included touching on her battles with addiction. She was 60. Carrie Fisher was the daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds, who survives her daughter at age 84. Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, confirmed that her mother had died at 8:55 Tuesday  CBC

Osler Hoskin Harcourt statement on the death of Geoff Taber, wife Jacquie Gardner and sons Scott and Andrew.  Earlier

City workers are still digging and hoping to find the end of the erosion at that sinkhole on Yonge Street at Roxborough Street. The pavement opened up yesterday and all the authorities can say is that it is sewer-related but they don’t know the extent. The street may be closed — as it is now from Crescent to Roxborough — until Thursday. Traffic is diverting at St. Clair and Davenport Rd.

Democratic South Korea, home of the Hyundai and KIA, has seen a shift in the political earth as members of the government party split with the besieged president Park to form the South Korean New Conservatives. They want popular diplomat Ban Ki Moon to be their leader. Moon is about to retire as UN general secretary. Such a good example to the North Korean tyrant as well as the oligarchic Chinese.

Facebook page tells of Metro Toronto Skating Academy offering. More linked at FB symbol above. If not that, there’s Snoopy.