Red Deer couple welcome home third set of fraternal twins

A Red Deer, Alberta couple, Pam and Taylor Armstrong, have welcomed home their third set of fraternal twins. It is a happy occurrence calculated to take place merely once every 500,000 times. Pam, a former delivery nurse, and Taylor, a middle school teacher, have moved to a larger house to accommodate their family of eight. The newborns, Maverick and Blakely, were born April 20. slightly early at 37 weeks at Red Deer Regional Hospital. Their brother and sisters were eagerly waiting. They are Brynlee and Adileigh, 5, and Parker and Emery, 9. Parker was glad to see a brother in the crowd. The family says jokingly that he had threatened to move to an aunt and uncle with three boys if the newcomers were both girls. Pam says the four older siblings are “absolutely thrilled” to help out with the new babies. The five-year-old sisters seem especially keen at playing with the newborns. Red Deer Advocate

Clear with temperatures of 13 and 10 for mid-May weekend

Saturday will be pleasant enough for the many outdoor events this weekend. Temps of 13 and 10 are predicted for the two days. There’s Mayfair, Park and Bark, the Awesome Sale and the Leaside Garden Society Sale in Trace Manes Park. The Mother’s Day balloons (upper left) at Longo’s on Laird Drive look like fun. We especially liked Mabel’s Fables reminder about wealth versus a loving mother:

Richer than I you can never be
I had a mother who read to me

Red Kelly was a national hockey hero, MP and gentleman

Family, friends and the hockey world bid farewell to Red Kelly Friday morning at a funeral mass at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at St. Clair Ave. and Tweedsmuir Ave. .The eight-time Stanley Cup champion, who played 20 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, died last week at age 91. Leonard Patrick Kelly started his hockey career as a defenceman, but switched to centre after getting traded to Toronto. Kelly was Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969 and was elected as a member of Parliament in Toronto twice in the 1960s while he was playing for the Leafs. He was a member of the franchise’s last team to raise the Stanley Cup in 1967. The native of Simcoe died on May 2 exactly 52 years to the day of that victory. Honorary pallbearers at the funeral included Frank Mahovlich, Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald, Bob Baun, Dick Duff, Ron Ellis, Dave Keon, Eddie Shack and Jim Gregory. Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Kyle Dubas, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and former Toronto captain Wendel Clark were also in attendance. Red Kelly is survived by Andra, his wife of 60 years, their four children and eight grandchildren.

Two-year Ontario pilot project to test speed limit of 110 km

The Ontario Government will conduct a two-year pilot program on sections of four-lane highway to see if the maximum speed should be increased to 110 km/h. Highway 402 from London to Sarnia, the QEW from St. Catharines to Hamilton, and Highway 417 from Ottawa to the Ontario-Quebec Border will soon see new signs. Speeds will be increased to 110 km/h starting in September. A speed limit of 120 km/h already exists on one BC highway and the limit is 110 in parts of Manitoba. Speed limits of 120 km/h are common in Europe.

Passage of time? VE Day tribute mixes Germans, Canadians

It was a long time ago but veterans (and others no doubt) wish that the government could tell the difference between members of the First Canadian Army and the German enemy in WWII. Video released by the Veterans Affairs Department Wednesday to commemorate Victory in Europe (VE) Day featured German troops prominently off the top. Then we see some Canadians. The sequence seems to have confused even the CBC reporter talking about the furore. Put it down to the passage of time.

Lad, 16, dead when car slams into Scarborough utility pole

A young driver, 16, is dead and two others, also 16, have what are called minor injuries after this luxury car slammed into a utility pole on Brimley Rd. near McNicholl Ave. in wet weather early Friday. The young man behind the wheel appears to have lost control of the Mercedes, says 680 News reporter Carl Hantske from the scene.

Traffic “pretty crazy” near Northlea school during roadwork

Tractor-trailer up on streetcar platform at St. Clair/Bathurst

St. Clair Ave was closed in the westbound lane between Vaughan Rd and Bathurst St. Thursday night when this tractor-trailer was unable to negotiate a turn onto St. Clair. As the sad history of the St. Clair streetcar right-of-way has told us, there is precious little room for anything but the raised concrete platform carrying the tracks. It gives fire and emergency personnel nightmares but they’re not permitted to complain out loud.

CTV tells its reporters to become like Citytv videojournalists

The media blog written by Steve Faguy, reports that staff at CTV News departments across the country were called into mandatory meetings on Thursday and told that they have to carry a camera as well as tell a story. “I don’t have specifics or numbers (I’ve asked CTV News for comment), but the headline is that journalists will be transformed into “videojournalists” who do not only their own reporting but also their own camerawork, editing and even writing for the web,” says Faguy. “As a result, editors and cameramen will be offered buyout packages or laid off. Layoff notices have been issued in Montreal and Toronto, I’m told, but not everywhere. In Montreal, 15 jobs are being cut and an unspecified number of online jobs added.

UNION CRIES POOR FOR BELL MEDIA

“CTV News already employs some videojournalists (there are four at CTV Montreal, all of them young), and they’re used at other networks as well, notably Citytv, which relies almost exclusively on them. “Today’s announcement from CTV of its shift to ‘digital-first’ airing of local news stories on the Internet was inevitable,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Retooling local news for digital is necessary and, hopefully, a successful business plan because local TV is being starved for advertising revenues and anything that brings in a bigger audience and more ad revenue is welcome.” Dias cautioned Bell Media of its responsibility to guide news staff through the technological change — Peter Rehak’s Media Matters. 

LUC Awesome Sale and other lawn, street sales on Saturday

The Leaside United Church Awesome Sale begins its annual stand tomorrow (Friday) starting at 3 p.m. and continuing Saturday at 9 a.m.  The venerable sale always attracts hundreds of people. This year the sale has gently-used bargains in more than 15 departments (no furniture). There’s a friendly welcome at the Luncheon/Cafe with delicious home-baked goods and refreshments. Leaside United thanks everyone for continued support of the Outreach Programs at Leaside United Church.

Leaside United Church
822 Millwood Road (at McRae)
Fri. May 10th 3 to 7 p.m.
Sat. May 11th 9 a.m. to noon

LEASIDE LADIES GARAGE SALE

Also Saturday, the  Leaside Ladies Garage Sale at 315 Cosburn Ave. It runs from 9 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. There is said to be “loads of stuff – tools, painters’ supplies…poles, 5 step-ladders. Not just your typical household and decor items, although they’re available as well.”

YARD SALE IN SOUTH LEASIDE

There’s also a yard sale in South Leaside Saturday ay 206 Sutherland Dr. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with antiques, costume jewelry, perfume and more.

Environment Day collection is rained on but not rained out

City workers and City hall staff laboured on through pounding rain that came and went Thursday at the Ward 15 Environment Day at Leaside Arena. The traffic was steady as cars arrived with old recyclables. Councillor Robinson greeted residents and took cover with many others during the torrent seen below.

DJ stupid, farewell Fanshawe and $200,000 Tinder sweetie

Left, BBC DJ Danny Baker says it was stupid of him to tweet an image of a couple holding hands with a chimpanzee dressed in clothes and the caption: “Royal baby leaves hospital.” He’s been fired. At centre is Riley Papp, departing at year’s end from Fanshawe College in London. She says her fellow students should do better at disposing of their discarded furniture. There seems to be much finger-pointing at Toronto Millennials in the Forest City. At right, Cecilie Fejellhøy thought her Tinder romance was with an Israeli diamond billionaire but no. Some $200,000 later, he is revealed as a Finnish con man. So sad.