Press Release - Homes For The Holidays

Join us for the 6th Annual Homes for the Holidays TourOn November 16 and 17, 2007, 10 beautiful homes in and around the Markham area will open their doors and showcase their holiday best. Local businesses and designers have teamed up to create holiday cheer inside and out. Get all the latest ideas for the holidays and get inspired!

This event is made possible through the generous homeowners who open their homes to allow local florists, interior designers, exterior decorators and lighting specialsts to showcase their talents. Our incredible sponsors, dozens of designers, real estate agents, many local businesses, caterers, restaurants and our dedicated Varley and Breast Cancer volunteers devote countless hours to this incredible event.You are sure to catch the holiday spirit as you tour these beautifully designed homes throughout Markham and Unionville while supporting the Breast Health Centre at Markham-Stouffville Hospital and the education program at the Varley Art Gallery. Enjoy a lovely self guided tour of these homes, join us at the Varley Art Gallery for refreshments and do some holiday shopping there and on our main streets.On Friday, as our special guest, you will tour the homes in the early evening. After you tour, you will join us back at the Varley art Gallery for a lovely Gala event, highlighting all that is best in Markham. You will have to first opportunity to shop the Design Boutiques while sampling delicious wine and food. Participate in some of our fabulous draws, and perhaps walk away a winner!On Saturday, guests will join in the thrill of visiting our homes throughout the day. Enjoy the crisp fall weather as your senses are delighted with the sights and smells of the holidays. Be sure to start early as you will want to join us back at the Varley Art Gallery to view the Designer Boutiques, and perhaps do some shopping. Take a moment to enjoy some refreshments and participate in some exciting draws. Plan to meet you friends on Main Street afterwards for dinner and drinks, and more fun shopping! What a fun way to end such an exciting day!We are really excited this year as the balance of funds raised will support the brand new Breast Health Centre at Markham-Stouffville Hospital. This will ensure we provide earlier breast cancer detection and diagnosis in our community. And once again this year, 50% of funds raised will support the Varley McKay Art Foundation. This will directly benefit children’s art and community education programs at the Varley Art Gallery. Over the past 5 years the Homes for the Holiday tour has donated over $240,000.00 towards the Varley McKay Foundation and breast cancer care in York Region. We hope that you join us for several hours of fun, discovery, and Christmas Cheer!

Sports Report

NHL: Boston 5 Toronto 2

OHL: Windsor 5 Brampton 3

Tonight

NBA: Indiana vs. Toronto; 7pm, Air Canada Centre

AHL: Toronto at Syracuse

OHL: Saginaw vs. Mississauga; 7:30pm, Hershey Centre
Brampton at Sault Ste. Marie
Belleville vs. Oshawa; 7:30pm, GM Centre

OPJHL: North York vs. Markham; 7:30pm, Centennial Arena

Gunpoint Robbery In Thornhill

York Regional Police are looking for two men, after a gunpoint robbery in Thornhill.At about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, a man left work in the Thornhill Woods Drive area and drove to a ScotiaBank branch near Yonge and John streets to deposit cash. As he was leaving the bank, another man walked up to the passenger side window of the vehicle and smashed it out with a black handgun.

According to police, the robber grabbed the money bag from the passenger seat and fled toward a getaway car, described as a white, six or eight-year-old two-door Honda Civic with a spoiler, waiting at the parking lot’s entrance.

The vehicle was last seen headed north on Yonge, driven by a second person.

The victim suffered minor injuries from the smashed glass and was treated by at the scene.

Police describe the robber as a Caucasian male, five-feet, 10-inches to six-feet tall with a medium build, no facial hair, an oval face and neat appearance.

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

With files from Yorkregion.com

- ER

Mayor's Dinner for the Arts Raises Over $100,000 For Markham Culture

Markham, ON ~ The annual Markham Mayor's Dinner for the Arts, held on October 25, set a new fundraising record, bringing in $105,000 for the Town of Markham cultural centres. "This is the first year we have broken six figures," said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. "Providing access to cultural experiences is a vital part of a healthy, vibrant community. Funds raised from the Mayor's Dinner support education and programming at our three cultural sites. Thank you to all the companies and individuals who sponsored and supported this special evening." The Markham Museum captures the Town's history and provides exciting programming for our children who will make the history of the future. The Markham Theatre for Performing Arts brings nationally and internationally recognized performers to Markham and provides opportunities for Markham talent to shine. The Varley Art Gallery is home to many of the works of Canada's famous Group of Seven artists, and also mounts exhibitions of works by emerging Canadian artists. Corporate sponsors for this year's dinner were: TD Canada Trust, Remington Homes, Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham Conference Centre & Spa, MetalWorks Production Group Pepsi Cola Canada Ltd., York Region Media Group, NightinGail Photography, FOS Décor Centre, Mercedes-Benz Markham, Markville Shopping Centre, Esquire Homes, Tridel Dorsay Development Corporation, Second Cup, Angus Glen Golf Club, LA Limousines Inc. Homewood Suites by Hilton Markham and Soho Orchids."We know the strength of our future lies in recognizing the energy and determination of talented Canadians. The funds raised will be used to help offer a variety of world-class cultural experiences to our residents," said Mayor Scarpitti.

Green Markham Goes Platinum Wins Top 2007 RCO Sustainable Municipality Award

Markham, ON ~ The Town of Markham has gone platinum. Markham’s Mission Green environmental initiative has earned the coveted 2007 Sustainable Municipality Platinum Award from the Recycling Council of Ontario.The Recycling Council’s annual Ontario Waste Minimization Awards are the province’s most prestigious recycling awards. “This is great recognition of Markham’s environmental leadership.” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “Markham’s had Town-wide organics collection in operation since 2005, with a goal to divert 70 per cent of residential waste from landfill by the end of 2007. We were delighted to achieve our target earlier this year.”“When you see the recently released numbers on diversion through green bin programs now in place in all nine York Region municipalities, you can see everyone is increasingly on board and committed to going green,” said Mayor Scarpitti. “Residents are constantly challenging us to find more ways to recycle,” said Regional Councillor Jack Heath, the Chair of Markham’s 3-Stream recycling sub-committee. “When we call for Markham residents to get involved and support environmental initiatives, they never disappoint. In fact, they push us to do more.”Markham Council decided earlier this year to set a new ambitious target of 75 percent waste diversion.Chair of Environmental Issues and Sustainability Committee Councillor Erin Shapero noted, “Markham is the first large urban municipality to win a platinum award from the RCO. We could not have won this award without the support and commitment of our residents and we want to thank them for their participation. We are all working together to ensure we have a healthier environment in our world.” Even with the 70 percent level of diversion in Markham, a detailed waste audit in early 2007 revealed the green bin and the expanded blue box program were not capturing all the materials they could. To help reach the new 75 percent target, Markham has five pilot projects underway to test options to further increase waste diversion and reduce litter. The Town is testing the effectiveness of transparent bags for waste residue and a blue box lid to keep materials from spilling out and becoming litter. “Environmental sustainability is a key focus area for this Council. In addition to our aggressive new waste diversion target, we have passed a pesticide bylaw, are planning tree planting initiatives and are supporting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in all new developments,” said Mayor Scarpitti.

Sports Report

NBA: Utah 92 Toronto 88

OHL: Kitchener 5 Mississauga 2

Tonight

NHL: Toronto at Boston

OHL: Brampton at Windsor

- ER

CHEV Radio Station Update

The engineers were in on the weekend. They evaluated the equipment, installed some new wiring, took stuff out of the transmitter, and cleaned up after themselves. Bottom line: it looks like our equipment needs more extensive work then we thought.

Therefore, all shows and our live stream will be suspended until Nov. 15. We won't go back on-air (internet and hopefully radio) until every single equipment issue is taken care of. For the record, Nov. 15 is not set in stone. We might be ready before that time and we might be ready after that time.

If you any questions or comments, please contact CHEV Radio: 905-294-0033 or chevradio@gmail.com.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please continue to check our websites for updates.