Please abandon your baby here and DUI aerials in Markham

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In Belgium they call it the Baby Box. But it’s really a place to abandon your new-born anonymously with knowledge that it will be fed and put up for adoption. The Baby Box saw four infants deposited there during 2017. It is run by the charity Moeders voor Moeders (Mom for Moms). Then in the UK, the pressure on hospitals from winter illnesses has led to a decision to cancel all elective surgery until at least February. In York Region, police have released aerial video of a drunk at the wheel in Markham. Scary. And finally, My God there are two them. Yes, brothers Logan and Jake Paul are busy on the Internet flexing their muscles and building cult-like followings of teenagers whose minds are controlled by these golden-haired digital itinerants.






Leaside Jr. Wildcats voice sorrow at death Avery Andrew, 18

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Barrie Sharks Captain Avery Andrew

Leaside Jr. Wildcats have tweeted a message of sympathy Wednesday expressing sorrow at the death of Avery Andrew, a star defense player and Captain of the Barrie Jr. Sharks. Both Leaside and Barrie play in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League. OPP have identified Avery as a victim in a two-vehicle collision on Simcoe County Rd 15 near 5th Sideroad Monday. The crash took place around 9:30 p.m. January 1 when Avery was a passenger in a northbound vehicle. For reasons unknown it  crossed the centre line and struck a southbound vehicle. Police said she was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver, an 18-year-old New Tecumseth male, received non-life threatening injuries.The driver of the other vehicle, a 23-year-old Adjala-Tosorontio man, wasn’t seriously injured. The road conditions are believed to have contributed to the collision. Alcohol and distracted driving have been ruled out as possible causes.

SHARKS STATEMENT

A statement on the Barrie Sharks website called the 18-year-old Andrew “a wonderful friend and teammate.” It goes on: “The Barrie Sharks are saddened to share news of the tragic and sudden passing of Avery Andrew, Captain of our 2017-18 Barrie Jr. Sharks. Avery began playing hockey at the Novice level with the Clearview Girls Hockey Association, and has been a member of the BWHA since 2012. A talented and hardworking player, Avery was a member of our Bantam AA and Midget AA teams before playing with our Intermediate AA Barrie Jr. Sharks for the past two seasons. Avery was named team captain this past September, a responsibility that fit perfectly with her leadership on the ice and in the dressing room. Avery will be remembered by fellow players as not only a talented and determined player, but as a teammate who lifted the spirits of every room she entered. On behalf of all of our Barrie Sharks players and families, we would like to share our deepest sympathies and condolences. Our thoughts are with the Andrew family through this difficult time.”

Fatal 401 collision with sign standard seems to defy physics

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The photgrapher, Tony Smyth @LateNightCam, saw it at the scene and was left astounded. Two persons died in this terrible wreck when the car somehow collided with the stout steel support for a highway sign on the 401 eastbound at Warden Ave. Smyth says: “Just when you thought you’d seen it all. This vehicle is wrapped around the overhead sign support beam. Folded in half.” Indeed. What dynamic creates such a strange collision. One clue may be the sloped concrete barriers which rise to meet the metal support. If the driver got a wheel on that cement at high speed it might have flipped the vehicle roof-first against the steel with terible force.

Perilous crossing of Bay using stick to stab ice for thickness

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Open water in the foreground
Stabbing to test the ice
Closer to shore now

Global News has a “harbour cam” which captured distant shots of two people crossing the Bay using a stick or pole to stab at the ice as a test of its safety. The scene just shouts the question: “What were they thinking.”  Ice like this isn’t so agreeable that it gives a warning about when it will plunge you into icy depths. Global quotes a police marine officer, PC Ricardo Gomez, as follows: “There are times when we’re out on the ice geared up and we’re going through the ice unexpectedly, so I can’t imagine members of the public that are not suited up in dry suits and life jackets without the training to be out there — it’s extremely dangerous,” Gomez told Global News on Tuesday, noting tracks of broken ice are regularly being made to allow boats to pass.

Logan Paul (who?) blunders into view of all those over 30

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Logan Paul is like countless millenial kids. He has a large following on YouTube — sometimes millions of other kids — while being utterly unknown to everyone over 30. Now he is in a crisis of sorts because he posted video of a body hanging in a Japanese forest where people commit suicide. Some people thought it was a bad thing for other kids to see. He has apologized.




Margaret Killingbeck remembered for her film, theatre work

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Margaret Killingbeck
With director Don McKellar (The Grand Seduction)

Margaret Killingbeck has died at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on December 30, 2017. She was 84. An obituary and condolences published at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles-Newbigging Chapel website says she will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Among the condolences are entries by Joan Doiron, Tobi Kaufman and Connie Guccione. Many speak of friendships created at the Act II Studio at Ryerson University. Margaret Killingbeck’s film credits as recorded by the Internet Movie Database are Pixels (2015), The Grand Seduction (2013) and Ham & Cheese (2004). The family will receive friends at Humphrey’s, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2018. A service will take place on Friday, January 5, 2018 at 1 p.m. There will be a reception at the Rosedale following an interment at Mount Hope Cemetery. If desired, donations to Doctors Without Borders Canada, 551 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 0N8, would be appreciated.

Firebug torches car in driveway near O’Connor/St. Clair E.

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A firebug has struck near O’Connor Drive and St. Clair Ave. E. Friday about 5:15 a.m. This car was parked in the driveway to a home when the man appeared and smashed the window. He doused the car with gasoline and lit it causing a nasty explosion that may have hurt the perpetrator. He is said to have fled in a white 4-door sedan. He is described as wearing a dark jacket, gloves, and black boots. Police are concerned the suspect may have sustained significant injuries.

Wind, snow, cold cause ground stop at Pearson Monday

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High winds and general winter weather have caused a ground stop at Pearson International Monday afternoon. As many as 200 flights were cancelled according to this report. CBC

HIGHWAY 400 WHITEOUTS

Blowing snow and snowfall have turned Highway 400 north of Barrie into a slow and dangerous stretch. OPP say there are many accidents on southbound Highway 400 near Duckworth Street. The crashes caused a backup stretching north to Line 3 in Oro Township.

2018 babies at Humber, St. Michael’s born at stroke of 12

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Phillip/Humber River Hospital
Phillip and Victoria/Humber River Hospital
Shiloh/St. Michael’s Hospital

Toronto saw two New Year’s babies born as the clock struck midnight. They are Shiloh Dlamini, born to mother Hlengiwe Khoza at St. Michael’s Hospital, and Phillip Tijir-Timor to mother Nadira Tijir-Timor at Humber River Hospital. Phillip was followed by a twin sister, Victoria, as 12.00.07. They were delivered by Caesarian Section. Phillip weighed four pounds, six ounces at birth. Shiloh weighed seven pounds, 11 ounces. Phillip and his sister weighed four pounds, six ounces and five ponds nine ounces respectively.

Pop and lock cop, squirrels alive, Elvis rites and ice cascade

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The Video Wheel takes us on a morning-after journey starting in Indore, India where dancing cops are much more welcome than here in Canada. This guy is good although his act may not have much to do with traffic. Then, be prepared for a squirrel flying at you on a sugar-high. You’ll survive. In Las Vegas last night, CNN filmed an Elvis Wedding. The King performed the service. Hilarious. And finally, gorgeous drone images of Niagara Falls now slowed down to a trickle by this extreme weather.






Large crowds brave cold at Phillips Square to welcome 2018

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Large crowds were at Nathan Phillips Square despite the cold weather and shortened events. Below, Tony Smyth sees reveller on way home taking balloons with him.

Off-beat New Year’s photo gallery with good wishes for 2018

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Escapers scooped in Hamilton
Mobile NYPD
Cristina Tegnalia fights nature
Lonely duty
London
King weds these two in Las Vegas

Upper left, it was a good day to do a good deed for Hamilton police as they captured these two adorable runaways Sunday. The Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) normally deals with more threatening matters but this New Year’s they were happy to scoop up these rascals and turn them over to Animal Control until their owner is found. To the right. this is what New York cops are driving in Times Square Sunday night. Why not. Centre left, the estimable Cristina Tegnalia makes the best of a live hit from City Hall that no doubt made her feel like she had been hit by an iceberg, To the right, a glimpse of London lighting up and finally (bottom) the CNN highlight of the night (Waterford Crystal New Year’s Ball notwithstanding) as Gary Tuchman and friend invade an Elvis Wedding in Las Vegas. The King Lives! Happy 2018 all!