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

Williams suspended for 6 months without pay

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Brian Williams has been suspended from NBC News for six months without pay. Although it is called a suspension this punishment would surely seem to mark the end for Williams at the Peacock Network. It has been a dizzying fall from a great height for the 55-year old anchorman. The irony is killing. Williams destroyed the only professional capital he owned. His credibility. It seems he will never be able to get it back in the cynical world of big-time journalism. 

Fiona’s happy business of baking COBs Bread

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Fiona Boylan, owner of the COBs Bread outlet at 1539 Bayview Ave. has celebrated the fifth anniversary of her franchise with a thoroughgoing renovation that has enlarged and modernized the location. The store re-opened last Saturday after three weeks of furious work. In the middle of work, with the shop pretty much gutted, it was occasionally possible to witness a kind of panic in the street as customers incorrectly assumed the store was closing. Such is the indispensable quality for many of this luscious bread. Most noticeable in the renovated store is the larger reception and sales area. Doors have been brought forward to align with the rest the storefront. The bread-buying space is now much larger. New LED lights and cabinets grace the inside. Sumayyah Desai of the COBs Leaside staff chronicled the excitement of the opening hours. The Hot Cross Bun special that day with butter and strawberry jam added a buzz and excitement, Sumayyah recalled. There were gift bags of COBs bread and other goodies and an appearance by the store’s mascot Breadhead, courtesy of Fiona’s three-year-old son Max. Fiona Boylan talked about the appeal of the bread business as it’s conceived by the Australian parent company. She liked the idea of a franchise with such a stable firm.  And a bakery is a happy business she observed. It is indeed hard not to like being inside a COBs bakery. Fiona found the neighborhood appealing (of course) recalling that many residents of Leaside have cottages at Midland’s Wymbolwood Beach, as do she and her husband. The original COBs opened ten years ago and was operated as a corporate location until Fiona became the franchisee. She is a strong supporter of the new Bayview BIA and most merchants would have to agree that COBs now ranks among South Bayview’s most compelling anchors. A final note, the South Bayview Bulldog is honoured and proud to count COBs among its advertising sponsors beginning this month. Photos: Left to right, Ryan and Anne Marie are ready to rock the Grand Re-opening, Max, 3, as COBs mascot Breadhead, Fiona Boylan, owner 

Hopson Grace to open at Yonge and Macpherson

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Andrea Hopson, a former vice president of Tiffany’s in Canada and her business partner Martha Grace McKinn,  will shortly open a new shop featuring tabletop items. They have chosen to locate at 1120 Yonge (at Marlborough) formerly occupied by the Patachou Patisserie. Ms. Hopson is quoted extensively in Canadian Jeweller Magazine about this new venture. She says that after 21 years with Tiffany & Co. has joined the Advisory Board at Mindham Fine Jewellery and other jewellers. But it appears her real focus a “niche luxury retail bricks and mortar and on-line business in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood.” Hopson Grace will focus on entertaining with a highly curated merchandise offering of largely exclusive tabletop designs from around the globe. We will extend an elevated customer experience as we encourage Torontonians and Canadians to “‘come back to the table”. Hopson Grace plans to open in the early Spring of 2015.  Sounds nice.

City Council buries Scarborough subway concern

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Jennifer Pagliaro, Toronto Star 

Terrible crash on Hwy. 401 at Milton kills one

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CP24

Eg-Lawrence: Adams plans to run against Oliver

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The Eve Adams conversion to Trudeau Liberalism gets stranger  by the day. Now the Huffington Post says that the ambitious MP plans to run against Finance Minister Joe Oliver in Eglinton–Lawrence. It seems  quite a challenge for Ms Adams, who would not normally be taken for the “sacrificial lamb” type of candidate. (Or was that the deal?) It’s true Oliver had to defeat long-time Liberal back bencher Joe Volpe. Still, Oliver has acquitted himself well. In this mixed Jewish riding, many will wonder if Ms. Adams would know how to place an order at United Bakers. Then there is her  other baggage. Will Oliver sneaks arrange a bad car wash in the hope Adams will block the gas pumps? But elections are tricky. Mr. Oliver is 74, albeit very active and alert. Will he be vulnerable to this 41-year-old glamourous would-be giant killer? Stay tuned.