Press Release - Celebrate the holiday season with food safety tips from York Region

Reduce the risk of food-borne illness during the holiday season

NEWMARKET – The holiday season is a special time when friends and family get together to share good company and good food. The Regional Municipality of York Public Health branch reminds residents to prevent food-borne illness, also known as food poisoning, by using proper techniques when preparing and serving your holiday meals. Host a safe holiday gathering by following these food safety precautions:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with liquid soap and warm water prior to preparing, handling, serving and eating food• Always use clean dishes, cutting boards and work surfaces when preparing, handling, serving and eating food• Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave; never on the counter• Avoid cross-contamination of products; keep and store raw meats, poultry and seafood separately and away from ready-to-eat foods• Provide serving utensils and avoid direct hand contact with prepared foods• When possible, serve food immediately after preparation• If you are hosting a holiday pot-luck, use hot plates to keep food hot and ice to keep cold foods cold • If food is held at the proper temperature during the party, it can be stored as leftovers; if food is left at room temperature for more than two hours, it should be discarded• Uncooked eggs may contain Salmonella bacteria; Be cautious when preparing, serving and consuming foods that may contain raw eggs, including homemade eggnog and caesar salad dressing

For more information on safe food handling practices or any other health-related topic, please contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

Press Release - York Region paramedics help make Christmas Eve warm and "bear-able" for local children and seniors

NEWMARKET – York Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics will distribute teddy bears this Christmas Eve to children who require paramedic assistance en route to, or in, York Region hospital emergency rooms and children's wards.

Ganz: The Teddy Bear Company generously donated 350 teddy bears to York Region EMS for distribution. This is the third consecutive year for the Christmas Eve teddy bear giveaway.

More than 45 blankets will also be distributed this year to elderly patients in York Region hospital palliative care units. These blankets were hand-knit and donated by the "Nanny Blanket Drive," a team of York Region EMS paramedics, family and friends.

The media is invited to interview paramedics as they load teddy bears and blankets into emergency vehicles.

WHEN: Monday, December 24, 2007 11 a.m.
WHERE: EMS Paramedic Response Station 520 Cane ParkwayTown of Newmarket For more information on this or any other EMS-related topic, please contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

Sports Report

NHL: Tampa Bay 2 Toronto 1

Tonight

NBA: Toronto at Seattle; 10:30pm

AHL: Toronto at Rochester; 7:35pm

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

- ER

Tamil Festivals By Nirojan Ketheeswaran

These are some of the events that Markham’s Tamil Community Celebrate through out the year. For more information contact the Markham Tamil Senior Assoication by phone 905-474-2929/

Thaipokal - January 14
- Thanksgiving Day In Sri Lanka
- Cook Sweet Rice
- Pray God In Temple
- Spicy Food
- Fireworks

Tamil New year – April 12
- Get Money
- Go to Temple
- Special Food (eg.vadi, samosa, roll)
- Spicy Food
- Fireworks


Gunthsasti Festival – August 7th- August 14th

- Fast for 1week
- Go to the Temple everyday
- People who don’t fast eat vegetables


Diwali – November 8th

- Buy new clothes as a gift
- Go to Temple
- Special Food (eg. Burani Rice, Rotti)
- Fireworks

Press Release - Leave the driving to YRT/Viva this New Year’s Eve

Leave the car at home and enjoy a free ride after 7 p.m. on YRT/Viva services

NEWMARKET – Celebrate this New Year’s Eve and get home safely on YRT/Viva. The Regional Municipality of York will once again offer complimentary YRT/Viva rides starting at 7 p.m. on December 31st until the early hours of New Year’s Day. "We’re very pleased to offer complimentary YRT/Viva service for all residents and visitors to York Region this New Year’s Eve," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. “This convenient service provides a safe and worry-free alternative to driving during this evening of celebration.”

The complimentary New Year's Eve service is available on all YRT/Viva, TTC and Brampton transit routes operating within York Region, starting at 7:00 p.m. on December 31st. Extended late evening service will be available on select routes until approximately 3 a.m. Complimentary Mobility Plus rides after 7 p.m. will be also be available for registered Mobility Plus users.

"It’s best to leave the car at home if you plan to attend a party where alcohol is involved,” said York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge. "Using public transit is a great way to leave the safe driving to someone else — to and from your event." On Monday, December 31st, YRT/Viva will be operating on a regular weekday schedule with some minor schedule adjustments. On Tuesday, January 1st, YRT/Viva will be operating on a Sunday service schedule.

Riders are encouraged to visit the YRT/Viva website at www.yrt.ca, or contact the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978) to confirm route and schedule information.

Sports Report

NBA: Portland 101 Toronto 96

AHL: Toronto 4 Syracuse 3

York Region Athletics

Sr. Boys' Hockey - Stouffville 8 (Jamie Wise, 3, Sam Carrick, 2, Paul Geiger, 2, Andrew Tracey), Unionville 1 (Nik Perantinos); Brother Andre 3 (Evan Bruno, Steve Carroll, Chris Porter), Alexander Mackenzie 0; Denison 1 (Steve Mundy), Mulock 0; St.Theresa of Lisieux 6 (Peter Spyrakos, David Pynkoski, Mike Wills, Mitchell Gilbert, Shane Cavalieri, Justin Columbo), St.Elizabeth 4 (Steve Albanese, 2, Pat Cuddemi, Mike Conzona);

Jr. Boys' Hockey - Sacred Heart 7 (Brandon Perdue,3, Sean Malone, 2, Andrew Mackenzie, Tyler Smilsky), Keswick 1 (Dylan Stephens); Stouffville 8 (Taylor Clifford, 2, Scott Miller, 2, Brent Hewlett, Connor Cadaret, Daniel McMahon, Peter LeBuffe), Cardinal Carter 3 (Jason Lang, 2, Jeffrey DiNallo);

Varsity Girls' Hockey — Sacred Heart 3 (Leisel Schweighardt, 2, Keily Barnett), Keswick 1 (Amber Welch); St. Elizabeth 1 (Ashlyn Karapalidis), St. Robert 0;

Sr. Boys' Basketball — St Jean de Brebeuf56 (Tercio Rodrigues, 26), Maple 54 (Jarraa Waday, 20); Aurora 73 (Karl Meisel, 29), Sutton 36 (Kody Brake and Jake Leland, 10); St. Robert 59 (Jonah Deke, 24), Bayview 49 (Jeff Richter, 21); Woodbridge 78 (Mark Salermo, 33), St.Elizabeth 68 (Justin Curandang, 30); Emily Carr 89 (Elvis Yeboah, 39),Westmount 69 (Shawn Lindover, 18); Milliken Mills 73 (Bill Ceasar, 17), Middlefield 25 (Deirion Sookram, 7); King City 52 (Steph Xeureb and Steph Seamungal, 12), Mulock 45 (Devante White, 16); St. Theresa of Lisieux 47 (Nana Kusi-Asare, 11), Thornlea 46 (Malcolm Ramsay, 24); Community Hebrew-Richmond Hill 49 (Cory Capland, 18), Stephen Lewis 37 (Athevan Jeyakumaran, 21); Richmond Green 57 (Brandon Shaw, 17), Alexander Mackenzie 43 (Naveen Neethling, 14);

Jr. Boys' Basketball — Alexander Mackenzie 70 (Aleksey Fidorchik, 29), Richmond Green 62 (Daniel Mong, 22); St. Augustine A 75 (Eric Chiu, 32), Trudeau 33 (Hansel Adu, 11); Newmarket 68 (Ian Cardoza, 23), St. Joan of Arc 48 (Bentzen Takyi, 17); Unionville 52 ( Aleksa Miladinovic, 11), St. Augustine B 15 (Bikeram Singh, 6); Middlefield 50 (Mansor Sadqui, 26), Milliken Mills 43 (Max Diric, 16); Keswick 56 (Shane Burch, 20), Williams 32 (Campbell Duggan, 14); Brother Andre 104, Markham 52;

Varsity Girls' Basketball — Allstar Final — North 48 (Heather Kendall, Huron Hts, 22), East 45 (Amanda Lum, Unionville, 12); Allstar Semifinals - North 42 (Heather Kendall, Huron Hts, 22), Central 39 (Beth Hagerty, Aurora, 20); East 38 (Shauna Gibson, Unionville, 18), West 25 (Janna Issa, St Joan of Arc,10);

Sr. Girls' Volleyball — Mulock 2, Williams 0 (25-13, 25-17); Newmarket 2, Williams 0 (29-27, 25-17); Mulock 2, Newmarket 0 (25-19, 25-16

Tonight

NHL: Toronto at Tampa Bay; 7:30pm

With files from thestar.com

YRP Investigate Markham Drug Lab

York Regional Police are trying to determine what type of drugs were produced inside a Bentley Street unit.On Monday, employees of a property managment company arrived at the location to reposses it because the rent was not being paid.Once inside, the employees discovered items and equipment used to make drugs and called police.Police, Markham firefighters, York EMS, and chemists from Health Canada spent Tuesday dismantling the lab.No arrests have been made.Anyone with information, is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7817, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave a tip at www.1800222tips.com.

- ER