York Region residents divert 33 tonnes of reusable goods through Reuse/Drop-off events with Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity

Resident participation drives 69 per cent increase in diversion over last year

NEWMARKET – York Region residents diverted over 33 tonnes of reusable goods from landfills through four Reuse/Drop-off events hosted this year by The Regional Municipality of York in partnership with Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity.

This year’s total of 33 tonnes of reusable items is a 69-per cent increase over the 19.3 tonnes collected last year. Thanks to the participation of hundreds of York Region residents, over 31 tonnes of reusable items were collected for Goodwill and two tonnes collected for Habitat for Humanity.

The Reuse/Drop-off events were held at various locations across York Region, including York Region’s Waste Management Centre in the Town of East Gwillimbury, the Region’s Household Hazardous Waste Depot in the City of Vaughan and Hillcrest shopping centre in the Town of Richmond Hill. The events were hosted in partnership with Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity to ensure the reusable goods were directed back into the community.

Reuse/Drop-off events were developed to educate residents about the options available when disposing of reusable items and renovation materials. Items collected at the events include clothes, housewares, books, CDs/DVDs, tools, fabrics, games, sports equipment and kitchen cabinetry. Over 900 kilograms of shredded paper was also collected for recycling at these events.

This is the fourth year York Region has hosted Reuse/Drop-off events and the program will continue in 2008. To date, York Region residents have diverted over 60 tonnes of reusable goods through participation in Reuse/Drop-off events.

For more information on Reuse/Drop-off events or other Solid Waste Management programs, please visit www.york.ca/waste or call 1-877-464-9675 Extension 5746.

Sports Report

NBA: Toronto 93 Houston 80

AHL: Milwaukee 2 Toronto 1

OHL: Brampton 4 Sudbury 1; Mississauga 4 Niagara 2

Tonight

NHL: Toronto vs. Tampa Bay; 7:30pm, Air Canada Centre

- ER

Smartrisk Heroes Program New Initiative Launches December 7

Markham, ON ~ December 6, 2007 ~ Markham's Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School and Markham Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) are launching a new injury prevention program Smartrisk Heroes.

Background:

Unintentional injuries (or accidents) are the number one cause of death of Canadian teenagers. These injuries don't just happen - the Smartrisk Heroes program shows, in a fun and entertaining way, how they can be predicated and prevented.

Futher information is available at www.smartrisk.ca

Sports Report

NHL: Toronto 6 New York Rangers 2

OHL: Oshawa 4 Saginaw 2

York Region Athletics

Sr. Boys' Hockey — Stouffville 5 (Lee Averill, 2, Sam Carrick, Nathan James, Andrew Tracey), Alexander Mackenzie 0; Brother Andre 6 (Ryan Goodridge, 2, Jason Deveny, Gary Teskey, Mike Donaghey, Braedon Goebel), Unionville 1 (Ian Bell); Huron Hts 4, Denison 1;

Jr. Boys' Hockey — St. Joan of Arc 3 (Franco Campisi, Lucas Lessio, Michael Ricci), Holy Cross 3 (Matthew Naccarato, Giacomo Manno, Francesco Corrado); Mulock 4 (Ben Barrett, MattCallichlia, Troy McLaughlin, Cameron McDavid), Cardinal Carter 2 (Leo Napolitano, Brandon Pedersen );

Varsity Girls' Hockey — Sacred Heart 2 (Shannon Bergeron, Leisel Schweighardt), Brother Andre 0; St. Robert 2 (Emily Cullum, Melissa Young), St. Theresa of Lisieux 1 (Cassandra Nasso); Unionville 3 (Christie Pawluch, Michelle Bastien, Alizeh Ladak), Williams 2 (Sam Burtt, Dania Simmonds);

Sr. Boys' Basketball — Emily Carr 61 (David Quach, 19), St. Joan of Arc 58 (Jason Burke, 23) in OT; Vaughan 69 (NickWiggins, 26), Maple A 34 (Nathaniel Timm, 8); Huron Hts 75 (Adam Hintz, 20), Keswick 35 (Alex Plestid, 15); Unionville 64, Alexander Mackenzie 35;

Jr. Boys' Basketball — Alexander Mackenzie 65 (Pejman Ghaffari, 25), Unionville 51 (Terrance Wong, 12); Milliken Mills 50 (Max Dirie and Tyler McLaughlin, 16), Markham 45 (Afsheen Taji, 14)

Tonight

NBA: Toronto at Boston; 7:30pm

AHL: Toronto at Rochester; 7:35pm

OHL: Niagara vs. Brampton, 7:30pm, Powerade Centre; Peterborough vs. Oshawa, 7:35pm, GM Centre; Mississauga at Sudbury, 7:30pm

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

With files from thestar.com

Woman Arrested For Armed Robbery

A Markham woman has been charged after robbing a drug store on Wednesday.According to York Regional Police, the woman walked into Sunrise Pharmacy at 5970 16th Avenue, claiming she had a gun and demanded drugs.The clerk handed over some drugs and was unharmed.The woman fled, but was arrested by police a few hours later.Tamara Rodin, 40, of Markham is charged with robbery while armed with an imitation firearm, disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence and two counts of failing to comply with release conditions.She will appear in court on Jan. 9.

- ER

Press Release - The Regional Municipality of York reaches three-year agreement with CUPE Local 905

Labour agreement involves 1,700 York Region employees in many job sectors

NEWMARKET – The Regional Municipality of York has reached a three-year labour agreement with our unionized workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 905.

Details of the agreement include a three per cent wage increase in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for 1,400 full-time and 300 part-time employees. It also includes salary adjustments in six different job categories, bringing wage parity to these classifications with our GTA peers and other employers in the marketplace.

York Region's CUPE 905 unionized employees include both inside and outside workers employed in 300 different positions. Salary increases for 2007 will be retroactive to April 1st, when the former agreement expired.

"This agreement represents a good deal for York Region, is fair for our CUPE employees and demonstrates excellent value to our residents," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "This new agreement will ensure the continued delivery of exemplary service that our residents, businesses and visitors have come to expect."

York Region's negotiated salary and wage rates, in addition to modest adjustments in employee benefits, are in keeping with cost of living increases throughout Greater Toronto. The new contract follows the general trend in municipal worker settlements, estimated by the Ontario Ministry of Labour to be approximately three per cent annual wage increases.

"This agreement will continue to help our corporation attract and retain highly qualified and skilled personnel," said York Region Chief Administrative Officer Bruce Macgregor. "Our employee commitment, together with great support of Regional Council, shows why York Region is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers."

York Region's unionized employees are represented by CUPE and the Ontario Nursing Association (ONA). Members of ONA are under contract until March 2009.

For more information on The Regional Municipality of York, please visit www.york.ca

Sports Report

NBA: Pheonix 136 Toronto 123

OHL: Brampton 5 Kitchener 4 (SO); Belleville 6 Mississauga 2

York Region Athletics

Sr. Boys' Basketball — Maple A 69 (Usman Umar, 14), St. Joan of Arc 40 (Bartoz Makowski, 11); Woodbridge 46 (Mark Salerno, 13), Westmount 31 (Uri Barak, 9); St. Theresa of Lisieux 77 (Matt Brown, 12), St. Robert 51 (Jonah Deke, 15); St. Jean de Brebeuf57 (Tercio Rodriguesand Jermayne Jarvis, 13), Toronto District Christian 52 (Peter Groot, 18); Richmond Hill 76 (Mike Pettit, 24), Thornhill 67 (Alex Herron, 27);

Jr. Boys' Basketball — St. Theresa of Lisieux 70 (Malik Cox, 31), St. Robert 35 (Ari Steriotis, 7); Woodbridge 59 (Daniel Reid, 10), Westmount 37 (Josh Foreman, 9); Markville 86 (Tyler Sutherland, 37), St. Augustine 41 (Bikeram Singh, 9); Thornhill 69(Stefan Nastic, 18), Richmond Hill 34 (Roman Grozman, Jae Youn Park, Imran Akhunzadre, 6); Father McGivney 85 (Jordan Watlas, 25), Trudeau 46 (Anthony Williams, 14); St. Joan of Arc 54, King City 35;

Sr. Girls' Volleyball — Mulock 2, Keswick 0 (25-15, 25-21); Mulock 2, Newmarket 0 (25-15, 25-23); Holy Cross 2, Woodbridge 0 (25-13, 25-13); Father Bressani 2, Holy Cross 1 (26-24, 16-25, 17-15); Father Bressani 2, Woodbridge 0 (25-11, 26-24);

Jr. Girls' Volleyball — Father Bressani 2, Toronto District Christian 0 (25-15, 25-19); Holy Cross 2, Father Bressani 1 (18-25, 25-13, 15-8); Toronto District 2, Holy Cross 0 (25-19, 25-13);

Sr. Boys' Hockey — Westmount 7 (Mike Hollander, 5, Jordan Custoreri, Jordan Selina), King City 4 (Steve Sovereign, 2, Jordan Ulcar, Kyle Edwards); Mulock 5 (Stu Burgon, Andrew Perry, David Kates, John Quinn, Ryan Parnell), Keswick 1 (Joesph Boehmker);

Jr. Boys' Hockey — Sacred Heart 5 (Derrick Kendal, 4, Tyler Simisky), Huron Hts 3 (Marc Banjovic, Ryan Russell, Shawn Sutcliff)

Tonight

NHL: Toronto at New York Rangers; 7pm

OHL: Saginaw vs. Oshawa; 7:05pm, GM Centre

With files from thestar.com