Rogers Media will lay off 400 jobs in its television, radio and publishing divisions the company said Monday. Earlier in the day Monday, it was said the figure was 200. There is no explanation for the difference. The bad news will be given personally in February and “conclude as soon as possible.” “The media industry continues to experience significant pressures from a softening advertising market, fierce competition from global players and shifting audience consumption habits,” spokeswoman Andrea Goldstein.

John Burnside has reminded everyone that the 7th Annual, Laugh Out Loud (LOL) is set to take  place on Friday February 26, 2016 at Leaside Gardens. Proceeds from this year’s event will support the Regent Park Community Food Centre and Community Food Centres Canada to bring people together to grow, cook, share and advocate for healthy food for all. Join your neighbours and friends for an amazing evening of food, fun, music & comedy. Tickets may be ordered here www.universe.com/lolleaside7  To contribute to the silent or live auction, please contact  charlene@charlenekalia.com  As usual the event is sponsored by many locals firms: Lexus On The Park, Neal Brothers Foods, Grilltime, De La Mer Fresh Fish Market, Amsterdam Brewery, The Indecision Band and RBC.

Guild Electric was installing hard wiring from the  “beg button” boxes on utility poles at Bayview Ave. and Merton/McRae Monday to facilitate more sophisticated walk signals. The workmen weren’t quite sure what was to come, but such wiring would permit sound activated signals for the seeing impaired. There is also the possibility that these signals will be changed to show the lighted Walk sign regardless of whether the beg button is pushed.

Shane Baghai doesn’t want you to call it a threat but his remarks about selling the parcel of land at 3&5 Southvale sound peevish for sure. Personal too. Baghai is quoted in the Post as saying: “If my presence … will become such an issue and bring about division within the community, I do have a way out. This is a very sought-after property. If [residents] would like me to sell it, I would sell it.” Come on. This is not about Mr. Baghai. It’s about the height of the building. The zoning is the same now as it was when Baghai bought the parcel. He knew that the limit was four storeys not eight. His remarks may not have been intended as a threat but they sound very uncompromising. Southvale plan said to “raise concerns beyond its scale“

 

CBC

These 2 passengers were in business class, describing what happened. #cbcnl pic.twitter.com/HhGjmlTPFb

— Meghan McCabe (@McCabeMeg) January 25, 2016

Seven people have been treated in the aftermath of a short but quite violent “bump” for an American Airlines flight that diverted to the St. John’s airport on its way from Miami to Milan. American flight 206 was hit by the turbulence. Three flight attendants and four passengers were hurt. The flighty landed safely in St. John’s at 9:46 p.m Sunday night.

https://twitter.com/TelyLouis/status/691437780816232448

In the Newfoundland town of Clarenville, Ralph (Boonie) Lethbridge has shaved his beard after 39 years. As you will hear him say in jest below, he thinks this may be cause for his wife to divorce him. Mr. Lethbridge has shaved in order to raise money for ALS research as friends have been struck with the disease.

Dave Keon will join fellow greats like Turk Broda and Tim Horton in Legends Row at the Air Canada Centre this fall. Keon participated in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday night as the hockey club formally announced the 75-year-old would join the ranks of Leaf heroes.  A feared goal scorer and checker Keon was known among Montreal Canadien players as the Hab Killer. He spent 15 seasons with the Leafs, winning the Calder Trophy in 1961. He guided the Leafs to four Stanley Cups and is the only member of the franchise to ever win the Conn Smythe Trophy (1967) as post-season MVP. Keon had been estranged from the hockey club since he left the team. But during a media availability Keon made it clear that time has cooled whatever was bothering him. He is quoted by the CBC as saying: “I guess the best way to sum that up is that I was notified that I had been selected, I talked to Brendan [Shanahan], we talked a couple of times and I told him that I was honoured to be selected and if there was anything I could do, to help the ceremonies along, that I would be happy to participate and I’m here tonight.”