Monday, April 30, 2007

Jury Selection Begins For Alicia Ross Murder Trial

Jury selection will begin today in Newmarket, for the trial of a man accused of killing his next-door neighbour.
Daniel Sylvester of Markham is charged with second-degree murder in the slaying of 25-year-old Alicia Ross.
Her disappearance on Aug. 17, 2005, sparked one of the largest missing person searches in Ontario history with nearly 1,000 volunteers combing the area surrounding her home in Thornhill.
The exhaustive search turned up nothing.
Five weeks later, Sylvester surrendered to police on the advice of his lawyer.

- ER

Ironheads Win Season Opener

The Markham Ironheads started their Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior "B" season, with an 11-9 win over Huntsville.

Next Game: Friday, May 4th, vs. Barrie
Time and Site: 8pm, Centennial Arena

- ER

Students Banned From Year-End Trip

At least five Grade 8 students from a Thornhill school have been banned from an end-of-the-year trip to Montreal, after disparaging remarks about teachers appeared on the Internet site, Facebook.com.
Last week, letters about the "misuse of the Internet" were sent to parents of about 20 students at Willowbrook Public School by principal Kelly Fassel.
Parents were asked to meet with Fassel about their children's conduct.
During the meetings, at least five of the students found out they were no longer welcome on next month's two-day trip to Montreal.

- ER

Sports Report

The Raptors have fallen behind 3-1 to the Nets in their best-of-seven first round series, after New Jersey's 102-81 victory last night.
Vince Carter led New Jersey with 27 points while teammate Richard Jefferson added 23 points.
Andrea Bargnani led Toronto with 16 points.
The Raps will try to stave off elimination on Tuesday when they host Game five at the Air Canada Centre.

Tomo Okha picked up his second win of the season and 50th career victory as the Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 7-3.
Okha went seven innings giving up one earned run on five hits and striking out two.
The final game of the series goes tonight at the Rogers Centre.
Roy Halladay (3-0) will face the Rangers' Vincente Padilla (0-3).
First pitch is at 7:07pm.

Scoreboard

NHL Playoffs

Anaheim 3 Vancouver 2 (Ana. leads 2-1)
N.Y. Rangers 2 Buffalo 1 (Buff. leads 2-1)

- ER

Friday, April 27, 2007

Man Robs Gas Station Twice

York Regional Police is asking for your help to solve two armed robberies at the same Markham gas station.
At about 10 p.m. Sunday, a man armed with a knife walked into the Petro-Canada at the corner of Ninth Line and 16th Avenue, approached the clerk and demanded cash.
According to police, he made off with a small amount of cash and two trays of lottery tickets.
On Wednesday, at about 7 a.m., the same man walked into the same gas bar, again armed with a knife and demanded cash.
Once again, he took a small amount of money and lottery tickets and fled running south from the store.
The clerk was not injured in either robbery.
The robber is described as male, with a light tanned complexion and dark hair, in his late teens or early 20s.
He is between five feet, seven inches and five feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 160 to 175 pounds.
At the time, he was wearing a black hoodie and dark pants.
Anyone with information, is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7873, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave a tip at www.1800222tips.com

- ER

Mayor Jackson Declared Winner After Recount

Linda Jackson is still Vaughan's mayor after a court-ordered recount of disputed ballots cast in last November's tight mayoral race, found her ahead of Michael Di Biase by 90 votes.
The hand recount was ordered by an Ontario judge after Di Biase, the former mayor, challenged the results over "irregularities."
The 90-vote difference is the same as reported on election night.
Di Biase stated that he's satisfied with the result, but would not say anything about possibly filing an appeal.

- ER

Sports Report

The Raptors are in New Jersey for tonight's game three of their best-of-seven first round series against the Nets.
Coach Sam Mitchell says he will use the same starting line up from Tuesday's game two victory.
Tip off is at 7pm.
The Raps and Nets are tied at one game a piece.

The Blue Jays wrapped up their latest road trip with a 6-0 shutout over the New York Yankees.
AJ Burnett pitched seven strong innings, giving up four hits and striking out five.
The Jays open a four-game series at the Rogers Centre tonight against the Texas Rangers
Josh Towers (1-2) will be on the mound while Texas counters with Robinson Tejada (2-1)
First pitch is at 7:05pm.

Toronto FC vs. Kansas City Wizards
Saturday, 12:30pm, BMO Field

Scoreboard

NHL Playoffs

Ottawa 5 New Jersey 4 (Ott. leads 1-0)
San Jose 2 Detroit 0 (SJ leads 1-0)

OHL Playoffs

Plymouth 4 London 1 (Plymouth wins 4-1)

- ER

Thursday, April 26, 2007

End In Sight For Vaughan Election Recount

Vaughan’s mayoral controversy could come to an end today.
More than 60,000 votes cast in the November municipal election were recounted yesterday morning at the Terrace Banquet Hall in Concord.
Of those, 1,322 were blank, according city clerk John Leach.
That leaves approximately 300 to be counted and scrutinized today at the civic centre.
Mayor Linda Jackson and former mayor Micheal Di Biase were both on hand to witness the recount.
Results may be announced today or tomorrow.

- ER

Media Release: Vaughan In Motion Walk to Cure Cancer - Sun April 29 - Vaighan Mills Mall

Vaughan in Motion’s
“Walk To Cure Cancer”
5 km inside the Vaughan Mills

Sunday, April 29th at 9:00 a.m. (Entrance #3)

Net proceeds to benefit The Canadian Cancer Society

Special appearances by
Reptilia - come to the show and discover the world of reptiles.
Elvira Caria - On-Air Radio Personality
Doo Doo the International Clown
and many local talent groups!

For more info call 905-832-8298 or visit our website
http://www.vaughaninmotion.com
info@vaughaninmotion.com

Roads Re-open After Storm

All regional roads in York Region have re-opened following Monday's thunderstorm.
Some roads remained closed until Wednesday morning as crews worked to clean up the mess.
The storm brought down hydro lines, knocking out traffic signals and sending debris onto the roadways.
While some roads were reduced to a single lane, others remained closed during the cleanup.

- ER

Sports Report

The Blue Jays and Yankees were rained out yesterday.
A makeup date has not been set.
The two teams will meet this evening at 7:05pm.
AJ Burnett (1-1) will take on New York's Phil Hughes, who will be making his major league debut.

Toronto FC were shut out by the Kansas City Wizards, 3-0, in the first game of a home and home series.
Toronto has yet to record their first win and first goal in club history.
The FC's next game will be Saturday's home opener at BMO field against the Wizards.

Scoreboard

NHL Playoffs

Anaheim 5 Vancouver 1 (Ana. leads 1-0)
Buffalo 5 N.Y. Rangers 2 (Buff leads 1-0)

OHL Playoffs

Sudbury 4 Belleville 1 (Sudbury leads 3-2)

-ER



Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Police Lay 335 Charges During Belt Blitz

York Regional Police charged 335 drivers and passengers for not wearing their seat-belts during the first week of a provincial-wide blitz.
The public is reminded that a conviction for not buckling up will result in a $110 fine and two demerit points.
According to police, 1,400 people have been charged for not wearing a seat-belt and three people have died in crashes in which the improper or non-use of a belt was a factor.

- ER



Sports Report

The Raptors have tied up their best-of-seven first round series against the New Jersey Nets, after last night's 89-83 victory.
Anthony Parker led Toronto with 26 points.
Now evened at one game a piece, the series switches to New Jersey for Friday's game three and Sunday's game four.
Before last night's match, a ceremony was held, honouring Raptors' head coach Sam Mitchell, who was named the NBA's coach of the year earlier in the day.

The Blue Jays swept a mini two game series with the Red Sox, defeating Boston last night 10-3.
Vernon Wells went 4-for-5, scoring four runs and picking up three RBIs.
Greg Zaun injured his right hand and has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The Jays begin a new two game series tonight against the New York Yankees.
AJ Burnett (1-1) will face New York's Andy Pettitte (1-0).
Start time - 7:05pm - New York

Toronto FC look for their first win in club history when they take on Kansas City Wizards.
The FC are currently at 0-2 and have yet to score a goal.
Start time - 8:00pm - Kansas City

Scoreboard

OHL Playoffs

London 5 Plymouth 2 (Plymouth leads 3-1)

- ER

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Power Out In Markham After Storm

A power disruption from yesterday's thunderstorm was still affecting parts of Markham this morning.
Streets affected were Ramona Boulevard, Wooten Way, Avondale Crescent, Sir Constantine Drive, Sir Caradoc Place and Sir Bedevere Place.
Powerstream estimated that the power would be back on by 12:30 today.
For more information, please call Powerstream's service hotline at 1-877-777-3810.

-ER


Vaughan Recount Starts Wednesday

The city of Vaughan will begin a recount of 1,600 disputed ballots from last fall's municipal election. It will start tomorrow and is expected to take several days.
The recount will be another chapter of the bitter feud between former mayor Micheal Di Biase and current Mayor Linda Jackson.

-ER


Monday, April 23, 2007

RH Mayor Joins GO Board

Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow has joined GO Transit's board of regional service and will serve along with 12 other members until March 2009.
A longtime member of Richmond Hill’s transit committee, Mr. Barrow is also the town's director for the Viva rapid transit system.

- ER

YRP Seize 500 Pot Plants

York Regional Police have snuffed out another marijuana grow operation.
Last Thursday, police raided a Woodbridge home on Bluestone Street, in the Hwy. 27 and Langstaff Road area.
Inside, officers found more than 500 full-grown pot plants and a large amount of indoor growing hardware.
Police say the street value of the drugs is estimated at $520,000.
Phong Nguyen of Vaughan, was charged with the production of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and theft of electricity
The public is urged to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7817, if they suspect a grow op is being conducted in their neighbourhood.

-ER

Sports Report

The Blue Jays were swept by the Baltimore Orioles yesterday, extending their losing streak to five games.
Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada each collected three RBIs, as Baltimore defeated Toronto 7-3.
The Jays are in Boston tonight to begin a two game series.
Tomo Okha (0-2) will face Boston's Tim Wakefield (2-1).
First pitch is at 7:05pm.

Scoreboard

NHL Playoffs

New Jersey 3 Tampa Bay 2 (NJ wins 4-2)
Detroit 2 Calgary 1 (Det wins 4-2)

OHL Playoffs

Belleville 2 Sudbury 1 (Belleville leads 2-1)

- ER

Friday, April 20, 2007

YRP Search For Two Men

York Regional Police are hunting for two men who robbed a Vaughan convenience store.
Around 1:50 a.m. Sunday, two men entered the Mac’s Convenience store at 9661 Jane Street and approached the male clerk.
The robbers demanded cash and then smashed a portable automated teller machine with a hammer, but didn't get any money.
A large quantity of cigarettes were also stolen
The two robbers left on foot through the rear door and fled in what may have been a dark Honda Civic.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7873, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave a tip at www.1800222tips.com.

- ER

Markham's 20-Minute Makeover

The Public is invited to join Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Members of Markham Council, Markham Town Staff, local businesses and students, for this year's 20 minute makeover.
Today's event begins at 1:00pm and will take place at Millennium Park, between Town Centre Blvd. and Cox Dr.
Now in it's third year, the 20-Minute Makeover is a GTA-wide event, that aims to clean up litter found on city streets and in parks.

- ER

Illegal Gambling Operation Shut Down By OPP

An illegal gambling operation inside a family restaurant in Port Bolster, has been shut down by the Ontario Provincial Police.
According to the OPP, video gambling machines, similar to slot machines, were being used in the Lake Ridge Road restaurant that was raided along with a business in Beaverton on Tuesday.
Police seized two of the machines in the case, worth $5,000
Three people have been charged and will appear in court on May 28th.

- ER

Sports Report

The Blue Jays jumped out in front 3-1, but their bullpen was unable to hold the lead, as the Boston Red Sox beat Toronto, 5-3.
Sean Marcum took the loss after giving up a game tying two-run homer to Manny Ramirez in the 8th and then walking Eric Hinske in the 9th.
Hinske scored on Alex Cora's RBI triple, off Jason Frasor.
The Jays are in Baltimore to begin a weekend series against the Orioles.
AJ Burnett (1-1) will face Baltimore's Daniel Cabrera (1-1).

The NLL playoffs begin tonight.
Toronto Rock will face the Rochester Knighthawks in the opening round.
The game begins at 7:30pm in Rochester.

Toronto FC acquired defender Kevin Goldthwait and a 2008 first round draft pick from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for midfielder Richard Mulrooney.

Tomorrow, the Raptors begin round one of the NBA Playoffs against the New Jersey Nets.
Tip off: 12:30pm, at the Air Canada Centre.

Scoreboard

NHL Playoffs

Ottawa 3 Pittsburgh 0 (Ott. wins 4-1)
Calgary 3 Detroit 2 (Series tied 2-2)
Dallas 1 Vancouver 0 (Van. leads 3-2
Anaheim 4 Minnesota 1 (Ana. wins 4-1)

OHL Playoffs

Sudbury 3 Belleville 2 (series tied 1-1)
Plymouth 5 London 1 (Plymouth leads 1-0)

- ER

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Vaughan Votes To Be Counted Manually & Mechanically

A Newmarket judge has decided that all ballots in Vaughan’s November municipal election, will once again be fed into vote tabulation machines for a recount ordered last week.
Justice Peter Howden has ordered the machines to be programmed differently than they were on election night.
The machines will be programmed to spit out about 1,600 ballots that weren't counted.
Only those 1,600 ballots will be counted manually, with a judge presiding over disputes.
The recount will occur within 15 days.

- ER

Student Arrested After Threat

A male youth has been arrested after a threat that referenced Monday's Virginia Tech shooting was scrawled in a bathroom at Keswick High School.
The threat was found on a bathroom wall, according to York Region District School Board spokesperson Ross Virgo.
Specific details of the threat were not immediately available and the school was not locked down during the police investigation.

- ER

Sports Report

The Raptors failed to set a new team mark for most wins in a season, after falling 122-119, to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Luke Jackson led Toronto, scoring a career high 30 points.
Andrea Bargnani returned to the lineup for the first time since having his appendix removed.
The Italian rookie scored 17 points.
With the regular season finished, the Raps will now prepare for their first-round playoff match against Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets.

The Boston Red Sox evened up their series with the Blue Jays last night.
Tim Wakefield pitched seven innings, allowing only one earned run and four hits, as Boston beat Toronto, 4-1.
The rubber match of the series will take place this afternoon at the Rogers Centre.
Roy Halladay (2-0) will be on the mound for the Jays, while the Red Sox counter with Julian Taverez (0-1).
First pitch is at 12:37pm.

Round three of the OHL playoffs are underway.
In the Eastern Conference final, Belleville took game one, defeating Subury, 3-2.
The Western Conference final begins tonight as London hosts Plymouth.

Scoreboard

NHL Playoffs

N.Y. Rangers 4 Atlanta 2 (NYR wins 4-0)
New Jersey 4 Tampa Bay 3 (Series tied 2-2)
Buffalo 4 N.Y. Islanders 2 (Buff. leads 3-1)
San Jose 3 Nashville 2 (SJ leads 3-1)

- ER

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

YRP Search For Woodbridge Robber

York Regional Police want your help identifying a bank robber who struck in Woodbridge on Monday afternoon.
The man walked into the ScotiaBank at 9333 Weston Rd, approached the teller and demanded cash.
He passed a note saying he was armed and dangerous.
The teller gave up the money and the suspect ran northeast from the bank.
No one was hurt during the robbery and no weapon was seen.
The suspect is described as male, possibly Hispanic, 22 years old, between five-feet, six-inches and five-feet, eight-inches tall, 170 pounds with a stocky build.
He has a round face and a mole on the left side between his nose and mouth.
Anyone with information is urged to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7873, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave a tip at www.1800222tips.com.

- ER

Sports Report

Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka was strong against the Blue Jays, striking out ten and only giving up three hits, but it wasn't enough as Toronto defeated the Red Sox, 2-1.
The Japanese star had a tough 4th inning when he walked Greg Zaun with the bases loaded, giving Toronto the lead.
Gustavo Chacin picked up his second win of the season, while Jason Frasor recorded the save.
Game two is tonight at the Rogers Centre; Tomo Okha (0-1) will face Boston's Tim Wakefield (1-1).
First pitch is at 7:07pm.

With Chris Bosh and Anthony Parker getting the night off, the Raptors lost to the Detroit Pistons, 100-84.
The Raps had an injury scare, when Morris Peterson hyperexteded his right knee.
However, the veteran forward doesn't expect to miss any action.
Peterson will be evaluated later today.
The Raptors will host the Philadelphia 76ers in their final regular season match.
Tip off is at 7pm at the Air Canada Centre.

Two more players have joined the Toronto FC.
English striker Danny Dichio has been added to the roster as well as defender Marvel Wynne, who was picked up in a trade with the New York Red Bulls.

Scoreboard

NHL Playoffs

Ottawa 2 Pittsburgh 1 (Ott. leads 3-1)
Calgary 3 Detroit 2 (Det. leads 2-1)
Vancouver 2 Dallas 1 (Van. leads 3-1)
N.Y. Rangers 7 Atlanta 0 (NYR leads 3-0)
Minnesota 4 Anaheim 1 (Ana leads 3-1)

- ER

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Markham Man Robbed; Police Look For Five Suspects

Five people are being sought by police after a Markham man was tied up, beaten and robbed in his home on April 13.
Around noon, the man answered the door of his Duxford Crescent home — which is also a small jewelry repair shop — in the Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue area of Milliken.
The victim was kicked and punched but was able to get free and call police.
He suffered cuts and bruises in the attack.
One of the suspects is described as female, between 20 and 25 years old, possibly of South Asian heritage with a dark complexion, five-feet, three-inches tall with a thin build, wearing jeans, long boots and a black jacket.
The second suspect is a Caucasian male, between 20 and 25 years old with a light complexion, five-feet, six-inches tall with a thin build and was wearing jeans and a denim jacket.
The three other suspects are described as black males, wearing balaclavas and gloves.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7873, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave a tip at www.1800222tips.com

- ER

Rouge Park Gets $2 Million

The Provincial Government has demonstrated its support for Rouge Park in Markham, by investing $2 million.
Supporters and politicians stood in the rain and wind yesterday, to hear Markham MPP Michael Chan make the announcement.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and York Regional chairperson Bill Fisch were on hand for the announcement, which they said signified a partnership between the region, town and province.
The region has set a target of allocating 25 per cent of York Region for forest cover.
Today, it stands at 22 per cent.

- ER

Sports Report

The Blue Jays welcome the Boston Red Sox to the Rogers Centre tonight.
Gustavo Chacin (1-0) will face Japanese star, Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-1).
The first pitch is at 7:07pm.
The Jays also received some news on the injury front.
Closer BJ Ryan will be out 4-6 weeks with an elbow sprain; third baseman, Troy Glaus was put on the Disabled List with a tight hamstring and bone spur in his left heel; and Reed Johnson has elected to have surgery, to repair a herniated disk.
The centre fielder will be out of action until July.

The Raptors will play their final road game of the season as they take on the Pistons in Detroit.
Winners of their last six games, the Raps have a record of 17-23, when they're away from the Air Canada Centre.
Tip off is at 7:30pm.

Scoreboard

NHL Playoffs

Tampa Bay 3 New Jersey 2 (TB leads 2-1)
Buffalo 3 Islanders 2 (Buff leads 2-1)
San Jose 3 Nashville 1 (SJ leads 2-1)

OHL Playoffs

Sault Ste. Marie 4 London 8 (London wins 4-3)

- ER

Monday, April 16, 2007

Media Release: Sod turned for Bocce Courts at Town of Markham's Centennial Community Centre

MARKHAM, ON ~ A sod-turning ceremony was held on April 14, at the Town of Markham's Centennial Community Centre to celebrate the start of construction of a 10,000 square foot indoor bocce facility. This facility is scheduled to open early next year.

"The four new bocce courts add an exciting dimension to the Centennial Community Centre," said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. "I'm delighted that, working together, we are building a new home for the Markham Centennial Bocce Club and introducing bocce as a new way for residents throughout the community to get active, stay fit and have fun."

"The Markham Centennial Bocce Club is one of most active in the Greater Toronto Area," said President of the Markham Bocce Association and Markham Ward 4 Councillor Carolina Moretti. "We're very excited about our new facility which is result of the generous support of our members, an excellent partnership with the Town and support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation."

The bocce courts are part of an $11.4 million renovation and expansion of Markham's Centennial Community Centre. Designed by architects Oleson Worland and Taylor Smyth in a joint venture, the addition will increase the Centre's size to 132,955 sq. ft. from the current 99,100 sq. ft.

"The Centennial expansion will make this one of the Town's leading recreation centres, bringing new facilities and a variety of new programs to local residents. We anticipate welcoming almost 30,000 visitors a week," said Mayor Scarpitti.

The first phase of the expansion - a two-level fitness centre and change rooms totalling 11,200 sq. ft - opened in October, 2006. Renovation of the centre's lobby is underway and work continues on the next phase of expansion. This includes a multi-purpose room, a new gymnasium and updated pool administration area in addition to the new bocce facility.

York Region Raises Thousands For MS Society

The SuperCities Walk for MS raised about $5.5 million across Ontario to fund multiple sclerosis research and services, while at the same time providing local services to people with MS and their families.

Here are the results of The SuperCities Walks for MS across York Region:

• About 775 people walked in Newmarket, raising more than $126,000.

• About 425 people walked in the Loblaws SuperCities Walk for MS in Markham-Stouffville, raising more than $79,000.

• About 575 people walked in Richmond Hill/Thornhill, raising more than $92,000.

The MS Society of Canada’s next fundraising event is the MS Carnation Campaign from May 10 to 12. This helps kick off MS Awareness Month across Canada.

For more information, call 416-922-6065 or 1-800-268-7582 or visit mssociety.ca

YRP To Launch Seat Belt Blitz

York Regional Police is set to launch their provincial seat belt campaign.
Officers will conduct spot checks across York Region, from April 18 - 30.
Failure to use seat belts properly can result in a $110 fine and two demerit points.
Drivers are also responsible for passengers in their vehicle under the age of 16.
As part of the campaign,
the Ministry of Transportation and York Region Health Services will also hold a one-day child car seat clinic (weather-permitting), on April 18 from 9 a.m. to noon, at Canada’s Wonderland (9580 Jane St. in Maple).
Inspections will be on a first-come, first-serve basis and the available time will only allow for 60 vehicles with installed car seats to be inspected.

- ER

Sports Report

Scoreboard

NBA

New York 105 Toronto 107
*Raptors secure home court advantage and clinch 3rd place in the Eastern Conference

MLB

Detroit 1 Toronto 2

AHL

Grand Rapids 1 Toronto 5

NHL Playoffs

Calgary 1 Detroit 3 (Det. leads 2-0)
Ottawa 4 Pittsburgh 2 (Ott. leads 2-1)
Anaheim 2 Minnesota 1 (Ana leads 3-0)
Vancouver 2 Dallas 1 (Van. leads 2-1)

OHL Playoffs

London 5 Sault Ste. Marie 4 (Series tied 3-3)

- ER

Friday, April 13, 2007

YRP Discover Forgery Factory In Milliken

Five people have been arrested in connection with what York Regional Police are calling a large-scale forged document factory operating out of a home in Milliken.
On March 6, officers patrolling the Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue area spotted two vehicles. According to police, the people inside the vehicles were acting suspiciously.
After launching an investigation, officers came to an Eastpine Drive home, where they found property used to make documents.
The home was raided on March 7, as police seized hundreds of fake documents including passports, college and university diplomas, degrees, other government documents and equipment used to make them.
Ruiqiong Zhong, Yan Shen and Jie Xu, all of Markham, Yuanxia Zhu of Vaughan and Zhaoyang Wang of Scarborough, were each charged with two counts of forgery and one count of possession of instruments of forgery.

- ER

Man Charged For Illegally Hunting Deer

A Markham man has been fined $2000 for illegal deer hunting.
Yu Xuan Zhang pleaded guilty yesterday in a Peterborough court room.
Based on a tip, the Ministry of Natural Resources and OPP found Mr. Zhang with a deer he had shot with a rifle in Galway-Cavendish-Harvey Township on Dec. 8th.
Hunting for deer in the area had ended on Nov. 19th.
Along with the fine, Zhang is banned from hunting for two years.

- ER

Sports Report

Scoreboard

MLB

Detroit 5 Toronto 4

NHL Playoffs

NY Rangers 4 Atlanta 3 (NYR leads 1-0)
Calgary 1 Detroit 4 (Detroit leads 1-0)
Tampa Bay 3 New Jersey 5 (NJ leads 1-0)
NY Islanders 1 Buffalo 4 (Buffalo leads 1-0)

OPJHL Playoffs

Aurora 4 Wellington 1 (Aurora leads 3-1)

- ER

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Press Release: Markham's "Many Faces" Concert Will Put Diversity At Centre Stage

Markham, ON-Racial harmony will be in the spotlight at the ninth annual Many Faces of Markham concert, featuring musical and dance performances, on Sunday, April 15, 2007. Sponsored by the Town of Markham's Race Relations Advisory Committee, this year's concert theme is "Living Diversity," in honour of the multicultural fabric of Markham.

A highlight of the event is Guest Speaker Dr. Jean Augustine, Fairness Commissioner for the Province of Ontario.

This year's concert features music and dance performances from professional and community groups with a diversity of background. The groups include: Jayadevan's Sariga Creations, Ritmik (African Drums), Nrutha Kala Kendra, and solo performers; Lisa Pinnock Fernandes, Nicole Leigh Bennett, Sarah Yoshida, Mark Braithwaite, Jenna Burke, Rob Davies, Ishwaria Chandrabala and Victoria Chan. These talented artists will take centre stage at the Markham Theatre for Performing Arts, 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham.

"Being one of the most diverse communities in Canada, Markham is a great example of diversity in action," said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. "The strength of our future lies in recognizing the energy, determination and talents of everyone who makes Markham their home. We celebrate our differences and acknowledge our similarities, interacting with each other in mutual respect to foster racial harmony."

Census data from Statistics Canada reports that about 56 per cent of Markham residents (of its more than 265,000 population) are visible minorities – making it the municipality with the second highest proportion of visible minorities in Canada.

During the event, Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Dr. Jean Augustine, Members of Markham Council and the Race Relations Advisory Committee will present awards to students from area schools who have earned literary and arts awards through competitions held by the Many Faces of Markham Organizing Committee.

The Town's Race Relations Committee promotes and increases the recognition of the richness of Markham's diverse cultures through events, seminars and concerts such as this one. The Many Faces of Markham celebration acknowledges March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as designated by the United Nations and proclaimed by Markham Council.

Many Faces of Markham Concert
Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.


Markham Theatre for Performing Arts
171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham
(northwest corner of Highway 7 and Warden Ave.)

Stronach Leaving Politics

Liberal MP Belinda Stronach has announced that she is quitting politics to return to Magna International and intends to accept a position with the auto-parts company immediately.
Stronach holds the federal seat in the riding of Newmarket-Aurora, but won't run for re-election and is going to step into the role of executive vice-chair in the company founded by her father, Frank Stronach.
Ms. Stronach also said she wanted to spend more time with her two children.

- ER

Vaughan Election Recount Will Take Place

A judge has ruled that a full recount in Vaughan's municipal election last November will take place.
The terms have not yet been set, but lawyers representing the City of Vaughan and former Mayor Micheal Di Biase, will consult with Ontario Superior Court Justice Peter Howden about how to conduct the recount.
A computer recount of completed ballots was ordered by city council in late November after Di Biase, disputed the results and found a four-ballot difference, widening the gap between him and current Mayor, Linda Jackson.

- ER

Sports Report

Gustavo Chacin pitched five strong innings, giving up three earned runs as the Blue Jays defeated the Kansas City Royals last night, 7-4.
BJ Ryan picked up his third save of the season, Troy Glaus hit a solo homerun, and Alex Rios and Aaron Hill both contributed with two-run doubles.
The Jays open up a four game series with the Detroit Tigers tonight at the Rogers Centre.
Tomo Ohka (0-0) will be on the mound, while the Tigers counter with Mike Maroth (1-0).
First pitch is at 7:07pm.

The Toronto FC have announced a television deal with three broadcasters.
The CBC will air 14 games including the April 28th home opener.
The Score will air 8 matches, as will Rogers Sportsnet.
CBC has also acquired exclusive Canadian rights for the MLS All-Star Game and Playoffs.

The NHL Playoffs are underway.
The Ottawa Senators took game one after a solid 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Meanwhile, Henrick Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks scored with 1:54 left in the 4th overtime period, to give his team a 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars, and a 1-0 series lead.
Other game one winners included Anaheim and San Jose.

Scoreboard

OHL

Kitchener 4 Plymouth 2 (Plymouth leads 3-1)
Sudbury 4 Barrie 2 (Sudbury wins 4-0)
Belleville 5 Oshawa 2 (Belleville wins 4-0)

- ER

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Markham Man Arrested, Charged With Theft

A Canada Post employee from Markham and two Toronto men have been arrested and police have laid numerous charges of stealing mail after they discovered a number of stolen cheques had been altered and cashed in.
York Regional Police said Tuesday that the thefts have caused "significant financial losses for companies across North America."
Police began working with postal inspectors to track where the cheques came from.
As a result, police say they arrested a Canada Post employee, Orville Brown, after they saw him transporting mail from a Canada Post building to his home in Markham.

- ER

U-Ville Man Shot In Face

A Thornhill man has been charged after another man was shot in the face while hunting near Lindsay.
Kawartha Lakes OPP were called to a game preserve on Hartley Road north of Lindsay, Sunday afternoon.
The victim, a 56-year-old Unionville man, suffered non-life threatening wounds to his face and body.
He was taken to Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, where he was treated and released.
Hon Fong Cheng of Thornhill, is charged with firearms offences.
He will appear in Lindsay court next week.

- ER

20 Charged After Easter RIDE Blitz

Twenty people are facing impaired driving charges after the York Regional Police Easter RIDE blitz.
Officers stopped 1,595 vehicles between Good Friday and Easter Monday, arresting five drivers for drunk driving at the spot checks and another 15 elsewhere on the region's streets.
Police also laid six 12-hour driving suspensions and six other criminal charges during the campaign.

- ER

Sports Report

The Blue Jays were doubled up by the Kansas City Royals, 6-3
Josh Towers took the loss, giving up three earned runs and 10 hits, while his teammates committed four errors on the field.
Royals' pitcher Zack Greinke picked up his first win of the season, holding Toronto to just one run over six innings.
The series finale takes place tonight; Gustavo Chacin (0-0) will face KC's Jorge De La Rosa (1-0).
First pitch is at 7:07pm at the Rogers Centre.

The Aurora Tigers have taken a 2-1 series lead over the Wellington Dukes, in the finals for the OPJHL Championship.
Aurora needed double overtime to defeat Wellington, 4-3.

Scoreboard

AHL

Rochester 3 Toronto 3

OHL

Belleville 6 Oshawa 4 (Belleville leads 3-0)
Kitchener 5 Plymouth 4 (Kitchener leads 3-0)
Sault Ste. Marie 3 London 0 (London leads 3-1)

- ER

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Public Meeting in Newmarket

The public will have a chance to say if York and Durham regions should build a $250-million incinerator to deal with trash.
Public consultation runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Roman Palace Banquet Hall, 1096 Ringwell Dr., in Newmarket.
You are asked to register by calling 1-866-398-4423.
For more information, go to durhamyorkwaste.ca

- ER

Man Charged For Impersonating Officer, Public Intoxication

A Newmarket man faces charges after claiming he was a police officer in a failed bid to get into a Bradford bar.
The man showed up to the pub, in the Simcoe Road and Holland Street East area of Bradford's downtown.
Confronted with a long line, the man walked to the front of the line, claiming he was an undercover York Regional Police officer.
The man was charged with impersonating a police officer and being intoxicated in a public place.
His first court appearance is set for May 3rd.

- ER

Sports Report

The Blue Jays held their home opener last night and treated their fans to a 9-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Lyle Overbay led the Jays with a three-run double and AJ Burnett picked up his first win, allowing one earned run and three hits, while striking out five.
Game 2 goes tonight; Josh Towers will make his 2007 debut on the mound against Kansas City's Zack Grienke.
First pitch is at 7:07pm.

The Raptors extended their winning streak to four games, after downing the Minnesota Timberwolves, 111-100.
Anthony Parker picked up where he left off on Sunday night (27 point performance vs. Chicago), scoring 24 points; 13 of those in the 4th quarter.
The Raps are off until Friday when they host the Detroit Pistons.

Scoreboard

OHL Playoffs

Sudbury 3 Barrie 2 (Sudbury leads 3-0)
London 6 Sault Ste. Marie 5 (London leads 3-0)

- ER

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Slick Conditions For York Region Residents

The blowing snow made for slick conditions this morning, causing minor collisions across the GTA.
In Toronto, commuters were faced with the closure of the Don Valley Parkway after several cars slid off the road.
Closer to Markham, a car ended up in a Thornhill back yard after its driver lost control.
Temperatures are expected to hover around the freezing mark throughout the long weekend and flurries are in the forecast, each day.

- ER

Update: Sports Report

Today's Blue Jays-Tigers game, has been postponed due to cold weather. It will be made up on Sept. 10th, 7:05pm.

- ER

YRP Seizes Weapons, Drugs, Plane

York Regional Police have seized almost $9 million in drugs as well as weapons after a parking lot takedown in Vaughan and a raid on a home.
In March, police crime analysts, identified a trend of vehicle break ins in the highways 400 and 7 area of Concord.
Plainclothes officers watching the area on March 29th, spotted two SUVs parked bumper to bumper in a parking lot.
The people involved were investigated by the officers and a large amount of drugs were seized.
With help from the drugs and vice enforcement bureau, the vehicles were held and the Vaughan home of one of the suspects was raided.
York Regional Police is now reporting that they have seized cocaine, ecstasy, two handguns and an airplane.

- ER

Sports Report

The Orlando Magic jumped out to a 15 point lead, but were unable to hold on, as the Raptors picked up 111-108 victory.
Chris Bosh led his team with 28 points, while Anthony Parker scored 20 points and Joey Graham picked up 19.
The Raps will face Philadelphia on Friday.

The Blue Jays rallied from an 8-0 deficit but could not complete the comeback as the Detroit Tigers held on for a 10-9 win.
Detroit's Curtis Granderson led the way hitting a grand slam home run and picking up five RBIs on the day.
The rubber match for the series takes place this afternoon at 1:05pm.
Gustavo Chacin will be on the mound for the Jays; Justin Verlander will pitch for the Tigers.

The Maple Leafs take on the New York Islanders in another "must-win" situation.
Toronto remains one point back from the final playoff spot.
The game gets underway at 7:30pm in Long Island, New York.

The Marlies lost to the Rochester Americans, 5-3.
Toronto plays Grand Rapids on Friday.


- ER

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Aurora Targets Graffiti

Aurora's council is looking for four individuals to join an eight-member team to tackle the ongoing issue of graffiti.
As well as four private citizens, the committee will be made up of Councillor Alison Collins-Mrakas, a representative of the local Chamber of Commerce and a member from the crime prevention committee of the York Regional Police.
The new committee will spend six months addressing the graffiti problem at the local level.
For more information, call 905-727- 3123, ext. 4241.

- ER

Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation: Spring Tick Alert

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - April 3, 2007) - Canadian
Lyme Disease Foundation -

Spring brings not just warmer weather but also some pretty nasty
disease carrying bugs that are becoming more and more prevalent in
Canada. Lyme disease carrying ticks have now been found Canada wide.
They are only slightly larger than the period at the end of this
sentence when they are in the nymphal stage.

We have areas of higher risk in Canada but we have no areas within
the 10 provinces that can be considered Lyme disease free. Our
friendly migratory birds transport these ticks around at random. In
the U.S. where our springtime migratory birds come from there is an
estimated 200,000 human cases of Lyme disease each year. Canada has
no standard surveillance criteria so little is known about how many
cases occur each year. We do know Lyme is being misdiagnosed as other
illnesses, or not diagnosed at all. Lyme is robbing many Canadian
children of their youth and adults of their careers.

Lyme disease can cause serious long-term health issues if not
identified and treated early. It can affect the brain, eyesight,
hearing, heart, nervous system, muscles, joints, digestive tract, and
lymph nodes. Because Lyme disease is a multi-system disorder many
systems of the body can be affected at once.

Ticks that carry Lyme disease can be found in your lawn, on your
pets, in tall grass or brush. If outside do not brush up against
brush or tall grass, wear a repellent containing DEET, and do a daily
full body tick check on yourself, your children and your pets. Talk
to your veterinarian about protecting your pets. Use fine tipped
tweezers to remove an attached tick. Prevention is the best medicine.

For more information visit: www.canlyme.org

Richmond Hill Man Missing

York Regional Police are asking for help finding a missing Richmond Hill man who suffers from a form of dementia.
Christopher Hughes went missing from his home in the area of Bay Thorn Drive on Saturday.
Police are urging you to watch for Mr. Hughes and call them if you see him.
He is a Caucasian male, six feet tall, weighing 160 pounds with a thin build and short brown hair.
He was last seen wearing grey track pants and white and grey sneakers.
Call YRP at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7241, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip at www.1800222tips.com

- ER

Sports Report

The Maple Leafs picked up a big win over the Philadelphia Flyers last night.
Bryan McCabe scored a powerplay goal in overtime to give the Leafs a 3-2 victory.
With two games to go in the regular season, the Leafs remain in the playoff hunt but are still one point back from the final playoff spot, currently held by Montreal, who also won last night.
Toronto will face the New York Islanders on Thursday.

The Miami Heat stopped the Raptors three game winning streak, with a 92-89 decision.
Despite the loss, Chris Bosh led all scorers with 24 points while Shaquille O'Neil led Miami with 16 points.
The Raps are back at it tonight when they take on the Orlando Magic.

The Blue Jays continue their series with the Detroit Tigers this afternoon.
AJ Burnett will throw for Toronto while Detroit sends Nate Robertson to the mound.
First pitch is at 1:05pm.

- ER

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Children's Centre Receives Funding

A centre providing mental health programs for children and youth in York Region, has received a $1.5-million boost in provincial money to expand its building.
Children and Youth Services Minister Mary Anne Chambers announced yesterday that The York Centre for Children, Youth and Family Services, will receive the money immediately.
The centre provides treatment and intervention services for children, youth and their families who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral or mental health problems.

- ER

Sports Report

The Blue Jays opened up the 2007 season with 5-3 extra innings win over the Detroit Tigers.
With the bases loaded, Troy Glaus knocked in the winning run with an RBI single in the tenth inning.
BJ Ryan picked up his first save of the season while Roy Halladay pitched six innings giving up two earned runs.
Both the Jays and Detroit are off today but will resume their series tomorrow.

The Maple Leafs will host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight in a "must win" situation.
With three games to go in the season, the Leafs are one point back from the 8th and final playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference.
The puck drops at 7:30 at the Air Canada Centre.

Chris Bosh was named the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
The Raptors' forward averaged 22.3 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 4 assists.
The Raps are in Miami tonight to face the Heat.

Toronto FC have signed Scottish midfielder Andy Welsh.
Financial details were not disclosed.

- ER

Monday, April 2, 2007

Di Biase's Case Will Proceed

Michael Di Biase will get his day in court.
During a brief hearing this morning, Ontario court Justice Peter Howden ruled the former Vaughan mayor's case will continue to trial.
Last week lawyers representing the city petitioned the judge to toss the case, which seeks to have the November election declared invalid.
If Di Biase is successful, the judge could order a hand recount of the ballots, a new election or uphold the official results.

- ER

Stabbing in Richmond Hill

Three men were hospitalized after they were attacked by two men in the parking lot of a Richmond Hill bar, Saturday morning.
Around 1:30 a.m., police showed up to Philthy McNasty's at 9712 Yonge St., finding the men suffering stab wounds.
Two were taken to Sunnybrook Hospital and the other was taken to York Central Hospital, treated for minor head injuries and released.
Police are looking for two men in their 20s for the attack.
They were in the bar before the stabbing along with a Caucasian man and woman.
If you have information about this case, please call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7241, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave a tip at www.1800222tips.com

- ER

Markham, YRDSB, Build New Sports Fields

Three new outdoor sports fields will be built at Markham's new Bill Corthers Secondary School for Athletics and Healthy Active Living.
The shared use of these upgraded fields at the school will provide a first class facility for Markham's soccer organizations.
A kick off ceremony will be held tonight at the Milliken Mills Soccer Dome, 7700 Knennedy Road, at 6pm.
Mayor Frank Scarpitti will be in attendance, along with youngsters from the local soccer community.
The project is in partnership with the York Region District School Board and the Town of Markham

- ER

Sports Report

The Blue Jays begin the 2007 regular season this afternoon against the Detroit Tigers.
First pitch is at 1:05pm.
Roy Halladay will be on the mound for the Jays; while Detroit counters with Jeremy Bonderman.

For the first time in five years, the Raptors will be in the NBA playoffs.
Toronto clinched their playoff spot last night, after beating the Charlotte Bobcats, 107-94.
Chirs Bosh led all scorers with 24 points and 16 rebounds.
The Raps will now focus on gaining home court advantage for the playoffs as well as clinching their first ever Atlantic Division Title.

The Maple Leafs were beaten 7-2, by the New York Rangers.
New York's Sean Avery led his team, scoring two goals.
Despite the loss, the Leafs are still hanging on to their playoff chances and remain one point away from the 8th and final playoff spot.

Scoreboard


AHL

Toronto 4 Hamilton 1

OHL Playoffs

Ottawa 3 Belleville 4 (Belleville wins 4-1)
Sudbury 6 Mississauga 3 (Sudbury wins 4-1)
Saginaw 3 at Sault Ste. Marie 4 (SSM wins 4-2)

OPJHL Playoffs

St. Mike's 1 Wellington 3 (Wellington wins 4-1)