Public Meeting For New Community Centre & Library

The public is invited to help plan a new community centre and library in Markham.
The meeting will take place tonight at 7pm in the Council Chamber at the Markham Civic Centre (101 Town Centre Blvd).
The new community centre and library will be built in the area of Highway 7 and 9th Line.
For more information call 905-477-7000 ext. 4980.

- ER

Faulty Wiring Blamed For T-Hill Fire

Investigators believe a fatal Thornhill rooming house fire last Wednesday was sparked by faulty electrical wiring.
Flames broke out in the basement of 98 Steeles Avenue East, according to fire officials probing the blaze.
Markham Fire was called to the scene around 4 a.m..
Roberto "Ali" Maldini, 35, the landlord and a resident of the building, was found dead inside.

- ER

Sports Report

Dustin McGowan took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before surrendering his first hit, as the Blue Jays beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0.
McGowan pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout, striking out seven batters.
Frank Thomas helped out with the offense, hitting his 499th career homerun.
With the win, the Jays have reached the 500 mark for the first time since May 1.
Toronto is in Minnesota tonight, to begin a four-game series against the Twins.

Emma-Jayne Wilson made history yesterday, becoming the first female jockey to win the Queen's Plate.
Wilson rode "Mike Fox," who was a 15-1 longshot.
The resident of Bramalea, Ontario, will now prepare for the second leg of Canada's triple crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes, which will be held on July 15.

The Argonauts have decided to go with QB Damon Allen, when the season starts this Thursday against the BC Lions.
Meanwhile, RB John Avery has been placed on a reserve list

OLA Jr. "B": Markham 11 Akwesasne 1

IBL: Toronto 3 London 0; Toronto 8 London 5

- ER

Photos: CCFC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On June 20, the Christian Children's Fund of Canada officially opened their new head office in Markham. CHEV Radio was there.

Mary Ann Quagliara and Brenda Burns from the Markham Board of Trade

CCFC supporters Sanaty Nantogra, Dianne Proctor and Mr. Proctor

CCFC Chief Executive Officer Bruce Herzog

Markham Councillor Alex Chiu

Press Release: Concern about Markham pesticides up sharply

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2007


Markham, ON – Four out of five Markham residents (79%) say lawn pesticides threaten children’s health, a new poll has found.

The survey, released today, shows a dramatic increase in public concern over the use of toxic lawn chemicals. Polling done in 2005 found only 67% of residents saw pesticides as a threat to children.


"In just two years the number of Markham citizens concerned about these chemicals has grown significantly," said Gideon Forman, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. "Doctors hope Markham council will listen to the vast majority of town residents and pass a strong pesticide bylaw."

The poll found growing support for pesticide restrictions. A phase-out of pesticides on private property is supported by 76% of residents. In 2005, the figure was 73%.


Today’s poll also found:

79% of Markham residents say pesticides pose a threat to the environment.
82% of Markham residents support a phase-out of pesticides in public parks.


"We’re not surprised concern about pesticides in Markham is growing," said Bruce Turner of the Canadian Cancer Society. "When there is a potential harm to human health, the threat alone should compel us to act on the side of caution."

The poll was conducted by Oracle Poll Research, a national polling firm. A total of 500 randomly selected residents of Markham, Ontario were interviewed. The margin of error is +/- 4.4%, 19/20 times.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Canadian Cancer Society, (905) 770-1144
Canadian Assoc of Physicians for the Environment, (416) 306-2273

Sports Report

Gold Cup (Soccer): USA 2 Canada 1

MLB: Los Angeles 8 Toronto 4

CFL (pre-season): Montreal 34 Toronto 26

EOBA: Markham 9 Port Hope 4

Press Release: Hockey Greats and Magnotta Golf For Lyme Disease

For Immediate Release:

Hockey Greats and Magnotta Golf For Lyme Disease

It's a devastating illness that more and more people are getting but
few people know about, including our doctors. It's called Lyme disease.

Rossana Magnotta wants to change all that. Her husband Gabe, founder of
Magnotta Wines, has been devastated by it and is now confined to a
wheelchair. So she has set out to raise money and raise awareness. The
True North Golf Tournament on Monday was designed to do both.

At the press conference before the tournament, Elvira Caria started
things off by showing a trailer for a movie now in production. Called
"Under Our Skin", it provided a brief glimpse into the many aspects of this
disease, how it is spread, how it effects the body and how politicians
and the medical profession are dealing with it. Perhaps it would be
better to say, not dealing with it.

"If I seem bitter, angry and scared, it is because I am," said Rossana,
as she began her comments after the video. She went on to describe how
this illness has devastated so many lives, including her family's, and
yet it is being ignored by doctors and politicians in Ontario, in fact
across the country.

On hand to answer questions were Jim Wilson, president of the Canadian
Lyme Foundation, Katherine Teasdale, a former race car driver and
Stephanie Smith, all of whom are suffering from the illness. Their symptoms
varied, part of what makes the disease difficult to diagnose by the
uninformed, but a strong sense of frustration was common to all,
frustration with a medical system that doesn't want to listen.

The celebrity golfers, hockey greats Johnny Bower, Darryl Sittler, Dale
Hawerchuck and Rick Vaive, listened attentively, shocked to realize
how vulnerable they are to catching the disease. Anyone who spends time
outdoors is susceptible. That includes golfers.

The tournament culminated with dinner, attended by Gabe, where a cheque
for $30,000 was awarded to the Canadian Lyme Foundation to further
their efforts to raise awareness and bring about a change in testing
procedures. "The tests used in Canada are unlikely to identify Lyme", said
Jim Wilson, "it is one of the things we need to change. There are much
better tests available."

This event also served as the launch of Magnotta’s long-term campaign
to support the cause. The maverick winery has released a 2006 Cabernet
Sauvignon Special Reserve VQA with proceeds going directly to support
the Canadian Lyme Foundation. 


If you are interested in more information on this important topic (and
you should be) or to make a donation visit www.canlyme.com. You might
also want to purchase a bottle of wine at your local Magnotta outlet.