MEET GTA’S FIRST BORN OF NEW YEAR, PG 3 Music pg 18 Which bands will rock 2009? TORONTO • WEEKEND, JANUARY 2-4, 2009 metronews.ca Botched heist Your year’s Polar bear dip Brrr-ing in new year suspected in pay a day’s VA shooting LERIE AD work for A M CRIMEInvestigators suspect /TO am baoyt hchaveed bstereene tb reohbinbedr ay P NEW top CEOs S double shooting on the city’s east end, three hours into the new year. One As many Canadians nurse man in his early 20s is in their post-New Year’s Eve critical condition after be- hangovers and ponder ing shot in the head. The what further economic victim was on life support storms await, Canada’s top at St. Michael’s hospital corporate executives can last night, surrounded by take comfort in knowing his family. A second man they’ve already earned as who was shot in the leg re- much as the average work- mains in “satisfactory” er will earn in all of 2009. condition, said Staff Sgt. A new analysis by the left- Michael Cannon. It was leaning Canadian Centre for about 3:30 a.m. at the cor- Policy Alternatives con - ner of Danforth and Don- cludes the country’s richest lands avenues early yester- corporate executives will day when the gunfire have pocketed an average of broke out, investigators $40,237 by say. The Paradise Sports 9:04 a.m. Fri- Salary Bar and Billiards, located day morning. at 940 Danforth Ave., was “By the (cid:129) The top closing down when a fight time your earner, ac- broke out during what wit- computer cording to the nesses described as a has finished report, was private party. Witnesses re- Hundreds of people jump into the icy cold waters of Lake Ontario on Thursday at the Courage Brothers’ polar bear dip in Oakville. booting up Michael Laz - ported seeing three or four The event raised more than $50,0000, which will be used to help fund a much-needed water project in Rwanda. Canadian on your first aridis, head of men in dark clothing, ap- musician and Oakville resident Tom Cochrane led the countdown to kick off the event. day back af- BlackBerry pearing to be in their mid- ter the new maker Re- 20s, fleeing the scene. year’s holi- search In Mo- Hamas leader, family TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE day, the av- tion based in erage CEO Waterloo, Canada pg 6 would have who pocket- already ed more than Canadian banked $51 million. killed in Israeli attack what took tourists shot the average Canadian worker an entire year’s in Mexico worth of work to earn,” the report states. “Many of the top 100 in- Moviespg 14 clude Canada’s big bank An Israeli warplane rubble in the crowded town CEOs, who recently re - dropped a 900-kilogram Heavy toll of Jebaliya in the northern ceived billions in federal bomb on the home of one Gaza Strip. government bailout money of Hamas’ top five (cid:129)More than 400 Gazans have more than 60 civilians, 34 of Eighteen other people, in- to purchase mortgage decision-makers been killed and some 1,700 them children. Since Satur- cluding all four of Rayyan’s loans.” yesterday, instantly killing wounded since Israel em- day, three Israeli civilians and wives and nine of his 12 chil- Prepared by economist him and 18 others, while barked on its aerial cam- one soldier have also died in dren, also were killed, Pales- Hugh Mackenzie, the re - the Israeli army said paign, Gaza health officials rocket attacks that have tinian health officials said. A port finds the top 100 CEOs troops massed on the said. The United Nations has reached deeper into Israel man cradled the burned, of publicly traded corpora- Gaza border were ready said the death toll includes than ever before. limp body of a child he tions averaged more than Suburban for any order to invade. pulled from the rubble. $10 million in pay apiece in The air strike on Nizar bombing campaign, Israel stood ready to cross the bor- The house was one of five 2007, the last full year for nightmare Rayyan was the first that kept the way open for in- der if the air operation to bombed Thursday, among which figures are available. succeeded in killing a mem- tense efforts by leaders in the stamp out Hamas rocket fire more than 20 targets alto- Roger Martin, dean of ber of Hamas’ highest eche- Middle East and Europe to needed to be expanded. gether. Warplanes shredded the Rotman School of Man- Sports pg 12 lon since Israel began its of- arrange a ceasefire. Israel said Soldiers massed along the the houses, taking off walls agement, said the gap be- fensive Saturday. it would consider a halt to Gaza frontier said they were and roofs and leaving be- tween low-end and highest- Leafs fall 4-1 The 49-year-old professor fighting if international mon- eager to join the fight, and hind eerie, dollhouse-like end earners began growing of Islamic law was known itors were brought in to track some even cheered as they views into rooms that still in earnest in the 1980s and to Sabres for personally participating compliance with any truce. heard thunderous air strikes contained furniture. accelerated in the 1990s, in clashes with Israeli Adding to the urgency of in the distance. Israel’s military said the something Martin attri - forces and for sending one the diplomatic manoeu- The hit on Rayyan’s home attack on Rayyan’s house buted essentially to greed. of his sons on a 2001 sui- vring, the Israeli military obliterated the four-storey triggered secondary explo- Martin said current ways ShareYourViews cide mission that killed two said its preparations for a apartment building and sions from the arms stock- of thinking about CEO Israelis. possible ground assault were peeled off the walls of others piled there. compensation are “dead [email protected] Even as it pursued its complete and that troops around it, creating a field of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS wrong.” THE CANADIAN PRESS Free Daily News Group Inc., operating as Metro Toronto 1 Concorde Gate, Suite 703, Toronto, Ontario M3C 3N6. Publisher: Bill McDonald ONE WOW! DAY ONLY! 20x SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 THE POINTS when you spend $50 or more* on almost everything in the store. 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Excludes prescription purchases, bonus points, products that contain codeine, tobacco products (where applicable), lottery tickets, stamps, transit tickets and passes, event tickets, electronic gift cards, prepaid phone cards, Life Experiences® packages and Shoppers Home Health Care locations. Offer applies to photofi nishing services that are picked up and paid for on Saturday, January 3, 2009. Not to be used in conjunction with any other Shoppers Optimum Points® promotions or offers. Offer valid Saturday, January 3, 2009 only. See cashier for details. ® 911979 Alberta Ltd. †Prices in effect for Saturday, January 3, 2009 only. While quantities last. No rainchecks. See cashier for details. metronews.ca metro Weekend, January 2-4, 2009 Police say missing man ‘a potential threat to the public’ 3 Police are seeking a man they consider “a potential threat to the public” who has been missing for about three days. Garnet Nick Marziliano, 27, is wanted for an alleged sexual assault. He was last seen in the Mount Pleasant Road and Bloor Street East area. He is described as white, five-foot-11, 200 pounds, medium build, with brown hair and eyes. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE Missed shots may keep kids from school Local Thousands of students across the province may find they are suspended — or at least threatened with suspension — for not keeping up-to-date with vaccinations. Dr. Vinita Dubey, Toronto’s associ- ate medical officer of health, says each year of about 350,000 students assessed by Toronto Public Health, about 25,000 students get a suspension order. “It says that as of this date, your child is eligi- ble for suspension because they’re not up to date,” says Dubey. “As for actual suspensions, it’s about 6,000 students every year.” TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE TA VivaNext INDEX RA W A Canada Pg 6 LTO World Pg 8 N/TO to boost Comment & Views Pg 10 RSTA Sports Pg 12 R N Weekend Pg 13 EW York bus Movies Pg 14 S SERV Screen Times Pg 16 ICE Music Pg 18 service Going Out Pg 19 TV Listings Pg 20 Celebrity Buzz Pg 21 TRANSITWhen it comes to Take Five Pg 22 transit, it doesn’t get more basic than the bus. Monday’s Metro But York Region has been stepping up the basic Comment bus since 2005 with its Anne Hines branded, frequent express offers her Viva service. HineSight guide Now comes VivaNext, a to keeping plan to increase York’s new year’s mass transit. resolutions Under the plan, the cur- rent fleet of about 90 express buses will expand to about 197. They will travel on their own rights- WHAT’S ONLINE TODAY of-way lanes on the Yonge Street and Highway 7 cor- VideoThe brave and the ridors. The express service foolish ring in 2009 with the will connect with the polar bear dip at Dad Paul Gonsalves holds daughter Nyla beside mom Erica Dumont. Nyla is believed to be Toronto’s first baby of 2009. Nyla Adrian- Finch, metronews.ca/canada na Gonsalves, five pounds, 14 ounces, was born at Toronto’s East General Hospital on Wednesday night at midnight exactly. Downsview Cost VideoAtlantic Canada kicks and Don Born to ring in ’09 off 2009 with a punishing bliz- Mills sub- (cid:129) The cost of zard at metronews.ca/canada way the VivaNext VideoMaple Leaf CEO stations, rapid bus sys- Michael McCain’s plus new tem is $1.3 bil- response to liste- stations on lion. ria named the the extend- These babies were the life of the party on New Year’s business story of ed Yonge the year at and Spadina subway lines metronews.ca/ It was a close race to be- Nyla was indeed the front- around because five min- VivaNext received canada come the first born in the runner. “Right at the end of utes before New Year’s, all provincial funding from GTA in 2009, and perhaps At the North York Gener- the nurses on this floor Metrolinx, the transporta- the countdown, she Lotteries it will never been known al Hospital, Martin Liu, the and all the doctors in this tion planning agency Ontario Pick 3:5 5 0; Ontario Pick 4: 3 8 7 0 for certain which New seven-pound, three-ounce popped out.” floor came in and they did charged with easing Encore:0677446 Year’s baby came out son of Jing Ning Lui, was the countdown.” Toronto’s congestion. Paul Gonsalves, Daily Keno: 1, 9, 11, 18, 21, 23, 31, 33, 38, 40, first. born 0.9 of a second after “And then right at the The VivaNext system is 43, 46, 48, 50, 57, 60, 61, 64, 66 & 67 A five-pound, 14-ounce midnight, said a hospital proud dad of Nyla end of the countdown, she expected to reduce the Payday:8, 15, 41 & 43 girl, Nyla Adrianna Gon- spokesperson. popped out.” number of York Region These results are not official. salves, born just a hair And in Mississauga less “I had a whole audience trips taken by car and past her Wednesday due than two seconds later, day night. watching,” said Dumont. raise the number taken on date, was born at the Chantal DiMarco, who Little Nyla was quiet and Dumont and Gonsalves transit to about 30 per 3 banks robbed on stroke of midnight, ac- turned 32 on New Year’s calm Thursday afternoon, also have a 16-month-old cent by 2026, from about cording those gathered in Eve, got the perfect birth- squirming and yawning in son, Nigel, who loves mu- 14 per cent in 2006. New Year’s Eve the Toronto East General day gift when she gave the arms of her mother, sic and dancing and will But VivaNext is about THEFTThree Toronto banks Hospital birthing centre birth to her first daughter, Erica Dumont, 26, but the be expected, according to more than putting bodies were the subject of robb - for the double countdown. Milana. night before had been Gonsalves, to look out for on the bus, said Mary- eries on New Year’s Eve. But the hospital does not But one thing is for cer- much more boisterous. his baby sister when they Frances Turner, vice-presi- The first was at around record time of birth in sec- tain: There were some Nyla’s father Paul Gon- are old enough to go to dent of the York Region noon Wednesday at a Roy- onds, only minutes — very exciting countdowns salves, 27, said there were school. Rapid Transit Corp. al Bank at Bloor and Yonge making it unclear whether in GTA hospitals Wednes- “like 15 people cheering TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE “It’s an investment in streets. A suspect produ - transit and mobility, but ced a note indicating a it’s also an investment in York’s integrity questioned in wake of strike bank robbery and changing how we look and demanded cash. feel in York Region along The second robbery was these major corridors,” around 2 p.m. at a CIBC on SCHOOLMidway through the for me to imagine how, af- scrapped Nov. 6 when 3,400 sperson Alex Bilyk said she said. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE Wilson Avenue. Three final year of a course she ter two months’ absence, I teaching assistants, con- every department and fac- men entered in disguises. loves, Melanie Hague now could make up the work re- tract faculty and graduate ulty is working on a remedi- News in brief One pushed a guard to the says she may quit York Uni- quired at the accelerated assistants walked off the ation program to ensure side while the others ent e - versity’s theatre program rate they will demand if job. Talks are scheduled to the university delivers on STRUCK A collision three hours red the teller area and and switch to another they don’t extend the resume Saturday. its courses in such a way into the new year mark ed emptied the cash registers. school for her last semester school year,” said Hague, The university has un- that students get a meani n - Toronto’s first traffic fatality of Then, at 2:30 p.m., a sus- because she fears the ongo- 21. “In theatre, so much of veiled a timetable to make g ful degree and proper eval- 2009. The man, in his 40s or pect entered a Scotiabank ing strike may have cheap- what we learn comes from up for lost classes that in- uation. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE 50s, was struck by a vehicle at 2265 Eglinton Ave. ened her degree. spending time with people cludes cancelling reading Th u rsday while crossing the West. He produced a note “They can talk all they rather than books.” week, condensing both ShareYourViews st r eet in the Eglinton Ave nue saying he was armed and want about how the strike Hague is one of nearly terms and shortening both and Danforth Road area. He demanded cash. won’t affect academic in- 50,000 undergraduates exam periods. [email protected] had no ID on him, police said. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE tegrity, but it’s very difficult whose classes were York University spoke- TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE metro metronews.ca Weekend, January 2-4, 2009 4 local Man dead after car crash Roberto Ricci, 24, from Bolton is dead following a two-vehicle collision in Vaughan Wednesday morning. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE Welcoming 2009 Levees attract thousands across region Thousands of GTA PAW residents attended New EL D Year’s Day levees Thursday W U iAantn cTdiot wrieohsn iatleoc r dcoiostyzse thnhasel l lr iyenegesidtoe unrp-. LIT/TORSTA day morning, it was a R NEW lsaisnsdamugaark a os cMcaasyioorn H ina zMelis- S SERV McCallion celebrated her ICE 30th levee. About 1,000 people came out to the civic centre to offer the mayor and coun- cil new year’s greetings and watch dance perform- ances by a variety of Missis- sauga’s cultural communi- ties. Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan also hosted a levee Thursday. Some people simply wanted to shake hands with the mayors and coun- cillors. Others wanted their photographs taken, while some residents told their elected representa- tives what they hoped Beatrice Perusse, 9, has her photo taken Thursday with Toronto from the city in 2009. Mayor David Miller during the mayor’s New Year’s Day levee. Laurie Brooks, who has attended the Toronto levee Most of the people at- for four consecutive years, Tradition tending the levee said it brought her five-year-old was a tradition — to come son Isaiah. While he gave (cid:129) The tradition of the levee and meet the mayor every Miller a Christmas card (from the French verb lever, year. Others were starting and posed for photos, “to raise”) originated in the tradition. Brooks told him the city France during the 17th cen- Jeannie and Kevin Lee needs to invest more mon- tury under Louis XIV, who brought their children ey in programs for single received prominent male Irene and Jonathan for the mothers. subjects in his bed chamber first time. “There are programs for as he awoke to serve his “Irene has just started (single) moms till they people. learning about Canadian reach the age of 25. What politics at school and I do they do if they need as- thought it would be a good sistance after that, too?” what people want — after idea for her to meet every- asked Brooks. “I think he all, these are the people one here,” said Jeannie Lee. (Miller) needs to know who voted for him.” TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE Where streets have strange names Jose Cruz Jr. played six resident Sara Fattah, 13. mediocre seasons for the “They all joke about “They’re like, ‘Why? Does Toronto Blue Jays. my street.” everyone on the street have There’s a street named kazoos?’” Kazoo Court resident for him in Mississauga. Street names, typically It’s just down the road Sara Fattah proposed by developers, from Escobar Crescent, must be approved by mu- named for Kelvim Escobar, Road and Highway 401 nicipal governments. They an inconsistent former Jays neighbourhood, in which at are sometimes rejected. pitcher who was once sued least 15 streets are named Breeders Circle, the pro- for allegedly drugging a for baseball players, are posed name of a north woman and having sex with even faintly aware of the Toronto street on a site her without her consent. athletic origins of their ad- where horses were once Which is adjacent to dresses. kept, was changed in 2002 Clemens Crescent, named There are several other to Green Meadows Circle for pitcher Roger Clemens, thematically named neigh- “due to concerns from fu- who was accused in 2008 of bourhoods in the GTA. Also ture residents of the subdi- both using steroids and hav- in Mississauga, there a vision that the street name ing an affair with a country streets that are named for ‘Breeders Circle’ has deroga- singer that began when she musical instruments. tory connotations,” City of was 15. “They all joke about my Toronto records note. Few people in the Mavis street,” said Kazoo Court TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE News in brief BORDER Customs officials on third annual International Rogers Centre. According to both sides of the border are Bowl. The game, which begins U.S. Customs and Border Pro- preparing for an influx of visi- at noon, will feature the tection, the Bulls have reported tors Saturday as thousands of University of Buffalo Bulls tak- close to 12,000 tickets sold and NCAA college football fans are ing on the University of the Huskies almost 3,000. expected in Toronto for the Connecticut Huskies at the TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE metro metronews.ca Weekend, January 2-4, 2009 6 Disruptive passenger forces plane to make an unscheduled stop More than 200 airline passengers who were forced to make an unscheduled layover in the Dominican Republic because of an out-of-control seatmate landed back on Cana- dian soil New Year’s Eve. The flight was diverted to Punta Cana on Tuesday when a disruptive passenger tried to tamper with an aircraft cabin door. THE CANADIAN PRESS Insomnia costs billions per year Canada A new study aims to put a price tag on the burden of insomnia in society, and estimates the total cost in the province of Quebec at $6.5 billion per year. The study, published Thursday in the journal Sleep, says more than three quarters of that total is attributable to indirect costs — insomnia-related work absences and reduced produc- tivity. But there were also direct costs such as health-care consultations, prescription medicines and over-the-counter products. THE CANADIAN PRESS Search for missing Ontario faces tough year B.C. man called off McGuinty looking to get province back on track works in Langley, B.C., KRISTEN THOMPSON was reported missing Back in June, Premier Dal- The global financial crisis view with Global TV’s Focus (cid:129) The slumping economy Metro Canada Tuesday. ton McGuinty’s Air Canada blew wide open over the Ontario. has resulted in McGuinty’s North Vancouver RCMP flight made an emergency summer and autumn, The past few months fiefdom becoming officially SNOWBOARDER The search found his SUV in the landing in Las Vegas return- killing more jobs, shatter- have seen Ontario’s stature classified as a “have-not” for a second snowboarder Mount Seymour parking ing from a business trip to ing the stock market and as Canada’s economic pow- province — a blow to politi- missing on Mount Sey- lot with his cellphone and sunny California. leaving 2009 to shape up as erhouse diminished by sev- cal pride that will make On- mour in North Vancouver, wallet inside and prompt- Its pressure seal broken another stomach-churner. eral factors — as if lady luck tario eligible for $374 mil- B.C., has ended after po- ly called North Shore high over the coastal moun- “It’s going to be a tough was not smiling on McGuin- lion in equalization pay- lice determined the foot- Search And Rescue. tains, the jet began an ur- year, I understand that,” ty during the unplanned ments from the federal gov- prints James William Mar- Police said he’s lucky to gent descent and circled the McGuinty told reporters be- stopover in Vegas. ernment in 2009. tin saw on the mountain be alive. He’s being treat- desert to burn off fuel for fore leaving on his Christ- (cid:129) A vicious combination of a (cid:129) The slowdown and high were his own. ed at Vancouver General hours in endless turbulence mas break. high dollar, high oil prices oil prices so hobbled de- Rescue crews began Hospital for frostbite to that left dozens of passen- “I know folks have lost and cutthroat global compe- mand for automobiles that combing the mountain on his hands and feet. gers hunched over airsick- their jobs. Some folks have tition and the slowdown Ontario could see the Wednesday evening after Martin told CBC News ness bags. lost real savings. I know have hobbled Ontario’s prospect of its homegrown the 21-year-old snow- that if he had to have Life didn’t get much easi- there’s a lot of worry and manufacturing sector in the auto industry shrinking boarder, who had just spent another day on the er after McGuinty returned concern out there,” he past few years, erasing drastically. been found after three mountain he likely would to Toronto. added in a year-end inter- 200,000 jobs since 2003. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE days in the wilderness, have died. said he saw another set of He said he expected to Canadian tracks in the snow. be able to walk out of the Nova Scotia A snowy start to the new year Martin, who recently wilderness, but each day tourists shot moved to British Colum- as night fell, so did his bia from Ontario and hopes of being found. RYA N TA in Mexico PLIN Afghan drug trade may /M ETRO iCnR IcMriEtiAc aVla cnocnoduivtieorn m ina na is entice troops: Report CANA Mexican hospital and his DA friend is stable after the two were shot at a strip MILITARY There’s a “high importation for the pur- club and tourist hot spot. probability” some Canadi- pose of trafficking,” it Canada’s Department of an troops serving in reads. Foreign Affairs confirmed Afghanistan — one of the It notes that using and yesterday that two Canadi- world’s biggest sources of trafficking drugs are illegal ans were shot Tuesday in illegal drugs and “contrary Cabo San Lucas, a resort — will get in- to the ethos” town at the southern tip “Access to illicit volved in the of the Canadi- of the Baja California drug trade, a drugs in Afghanistan an Forces, but peninsula. military police is routine.” concedes A local newspaper, the report warns. some of the Tribuna de Los Cabos, re- Military police report “Access to il- 2,500 troops ported the victims are 26- licit drugs in serving in the year-old Donguyen Afghanistan is routine,” war-torn nation might not Ninhtrung from reads the report obtained be able to resist the lure. Vancouver and Michel by the Toronto Star. The findings are outlined A man walks through blowing snow near the Halifax Common on Thursday. A howling blizzard Brenhan Spowe, 28. Metro “Easy access to heroin, in a series of military police ushered in New Year’s Day in parts of the Maritimes as snow and high winds caused power out- was unable to confirm if hashish, cannabis presents documents obtained by the ages, disrupted highway travel and grounded flights at some of the region’s airports. Most of No- Spowe is also from a temptation for (Canadian) Star under Access to Infor- va Scotia was hit with whiteout conditions all day, with the eastern part of the province and Cape Vancouver. troops in the form of per- mation legislation. Breton expected to receive the most snow — up to 60 centimetres in some areas. KRISTEN THOMPSON/ sonal use and in the form of TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE METRO CANDA 3D Instructor Inspires News in brief UCPL ATSOS J SATNA 1R8TTSH LAeneim Mautirorna yIn hsatrsu jcotionre. dD uHreinrzgi nhgis C 3oDlle cgaer eTeorr ohnet oh aass wthoer kmeadi no n3 DA nimated fHoOuRgShEt SoAve br athttele f aist eb eoifn tgwo wWaesd fnoeusndda yu nmcoornnsicnigo uins the hy- Television shows, Game Cut scenes, Advertisements for Television and horses that were trapped on a dro processing area of Animated Feature films. His work includes Animation credits for a B.C. mountainside and ended Syncrude’s Mildred Lake, Alta., Television show created at C.O.R.E Animation called ‘Urban Vermin’. Lee worked as a Motion Capture Actor and Animator for ‘The Darkness’ up being rescued through a Upgrader. video game and ‘Justice Heroes’ video game. “The various areas you monumental effort by volun- can specialize within 3D is amazing, everything from a Creature teers. The owner of the horses, POWER About 20,000 Animator to a Set Modeler”, says Lee. Frank Mackay, an Edmonton- customers in Ontario remain Possessing advanced skills in many 3D software programs Lee has the based lawyer, says he wants his without power as a result of Put yourself in high know how to create and manipulate the art required for various 3D animals returned, while many fierce wind storms on Sunday demand with a career in projects. His area of expertise is Character Animation. of the volunteers who spent a and Monday — and some Game Design Classes Forming NOW! SHiins ceex tceonmsiivneg porna cbtoicaardl eaxtp Heerireznincge,, Lheise chaarsin ign stepaircehdi nthge s 3tyDle s atundde mntasn. y wdeeeepk sdnigogwi ntog far etree tnhceh hthorroseusgh won’t have it back until Friday. 1-888-NEW-CAREER years of instructing experience makes him a very popular 3D 3D Animation say he abandoned them and BODY FOUND Detectives are Animation instructor. 1-888-(639-2273) shouldn’t get them back. investigating after a body was Internship included To create your career call: found in a frozen ditch in 1-888-NEW CAREER (1-888-639-2273) DEATH An investigation is un- Hamilton on New Year’s Eve www.herzing.edu Toronto Eaton Centre Campus derway into the death of a during the day. Syncrude employee. The man METRO NEWS SERVICES metro metronews.ca Weekend, January 2-4, 2009 8 Room service with a view for Obamas U.S. president-elect Barack Obama’s family is planning to get settled in Washington to prepare for the start of school for his two daughters. The family will settle into an exclusive hotel near the White House as their temporary home when they move to the capital this weekend. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Thief has expensive taste World A suspected grocery thief still has a taste for finer cuisine, even in the struggling economy. Police in Racine, Wis., say 43-year-old Bri- an Rubenstein tried to steal $625 US in groceries. The total includ- ed $365 worth of lobster and $213 in ribeye and beef roasts. Police say he told investigators times are tough. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Club blaze kills at least 61 At least five killed in blasts New year’s horror in Thailand D PRESS It was billed as a New including citizens of Aus- ATE At least five people have Year’s Eve blowout and a tralia, Belgium, Britain, ASSOCI been killed and some 50 last-night celebration of France, Japan, Singapore, HE wounded in a string of tchlaes swyi lSdalnyt pi-opular and South Korea eadn dS ttahtee sU, naict-- AI LALIT/T bnoomrthbe asbtlearsnt s Asisna m Insdtaiate’s. kbae fnoirgeh ittclub Canadians cooffridciinalgs antdo SAKCH SaSloein isoari dp oaluicthe oroiftfiiecsi als uPs-. moved to a (cid:129) The Foreign Affairs Depart- reporters. pect the militant separatist new ment in Ottawa said it had A full ac- group the location. no reports of any Canadians counting was United Lib- Conflicts But before among the dead or injured. not expected eration the revelry for about a Front of (cid:129) India’s was over, at week since Asom was northeast is least 61 people were dead nearly 30 of the corpses behind the beset by and more than 200 in- were charred beyond attacks dozens of con- jured after they tried to recognition. Thursday flicts. More flee what swiftly became The cause of the fire in Gauhati, than 10,000 a charred, gutted ruin in a was under investigation, the state people have glitzy Bangkok entertain- with several witnesses capital. died in sepa- ment area. saying a fireworks display ULFA ratist violence Among the casualties during the new year’s wants an over the past was a Singaporean who countdown ignited the Fire and rescue officials gather outside the Santika nightclub Thursday in Bangkok, Thailand, after independ- decade. died and at least 35 for- blaze. a fire swept through the high-class establishment. Officials said at least 61 people were killed and ent state eigners who were injured, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS more than 200 injured. for the region’s ethnic As- samese and is the largest of the northeast’s many mili- Taliban launch lunchtime tant groups. The blasts went off in ambush on Afghan police crowded areas of Gauhati just hours before India’s top AFGHANISTAN Taliban mili- The attack came Wednes- security official, Home Min- tants ambushed a group of day in the small village of ister Palaniappan Chi- Afghan police while they Shaghzay in the district of dambaram, was scheduled were eating lunch in a re- Kajaki in Helmand to arrive in the city. mote and dangerous part province, said Daud Ahma- Police declined to say of southern Afghanistan, di, spokesman for Hel- whether they thought the killing 20 officers and one mand’s governor. He said blasts were connected to of the policemen’s mother, 20 police — bodyguards for Chidambaram’s visit. an Afghan official said the district chief of nearby No group claimed respon- Thursday. Musa Qala — were killed. sibility. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A Taliban spokesman, Musa Qala for many Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said months of 2007 had been Santa-suit killer two Taliban were killed held by Taliban fighters. and four wounded during The mother of one of the led two lives the ambush. Ahmadi police pleaded with the claimed 32 police were militants to spare her son’s PLOTBefore donning the killed, but that number life, and she was also Santa Claus suit that had not been confirmed by killed, Ahmadi said. would deceive his first vic- Afghan officials. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS tim, Bruce Pardo spent months plotting his Christmas Eve massacre News in brief behind a mask of friendli- ness that fooled his neigh- VIDEO Arkansas state officials Year’s Day for a very special oc- bours, lawyer and the ex- asked a judge Wednesday to casion — issuing euros to wife he killed along with take steps to remove from the citizens eager to get their hands eight of her kin. Internet a leaked video in which on the country’s new currency. As early as last summer, a teenage follower of Tony The alpine state on Thursday be- Bruce Pardo was purchas- Alamo defends the jailed evan- came the 16th country to adopt ing ammunition and guns gelist and says he would never the euro. The European Union and ordering supplies to commit the sex crimes of which currency also celebrated its 10th build a device to torch his he is accused. birthday this New Year’s Day. former in-laws’ home. In early fall, the unemployed SCIENCE Old mosquitoes usually OBITUARY South African anti- electrical engineer spread disease, so Australian re- apartheid activist Helen ordered a custom-made, searchers figured out a way to Suzman, who was one of the extra-large Santa Claus make the pests die younger — few white legislators to fight suit from a seamstress. naturally, not poisoned. A new against the injustices of racist By December — as his report Friday suggested breed- rule, died Thursday. She was 91. divorce became final — *Limited time offer. ing mosquitoes to carry an in- Suzman fought a long and lone- Pardo put the final touch- Limited seats on this fare. sect parasite that causes earlier ly battle in the South African es on his horrific plan by Plus GST. Not available on death. parliament against government renting two getaway cars all departures. repression of the country’s black and booking a flight to Illi- EUROPE Slovak banks did brisk majority. nois. business as they opened on New THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS metronews.ca metro Weekend, January 2-4, 2009 Eggs on the highway world 9 State troopers and road crews had to scramble when a tractor-trailer crashed and spilled its load of eggs on a Detroit-area freeway late Wednesday. An official said the driver fell asleep and his rig hit a guardrail that tore the trailer open and spilled hundreds of cartons of eggs along a 100-metre stretch of I-94. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Hopes pinned on 2009 Aspen bomb-threat suspect found dead Economy looms large over new year’s celebrations A man wanted for question- ing in bomb threats that Area shut down Hundreds of thousands of shut down the resort town rfreivgeidll eTrism reasn gSq inu a2r0e0 a9s f rtohme Pope’s message ATED PRESS oYef arA’ss pEevne, hCaosl ob.,e eonn foNuenwd (cid:129)o nT hfees teivvietnietss pinu t tah ed armespoerrt famous Waterford crystal (cid:129) In the splendour of St. Pe- OCI dead. town. A fireworks show was ball dropped, signalling the ter’s Basilica, Pope Benedict ASS The body of 71-year-old cancelled. Many bars, restau- ebnledd o yfe aa rh tishtaotr sica awn tdh ter oeule-c- cidaallreidty f”o ri n“s o2b0e0r9n.e sDs uarnidn gs ola- AR/THE Jlyim T hBluarnsndainyg j wusats efaosutn odf eAasr-- rpalanntsn aendd f nesigtihvtitcileusb sto t hraint gh aind tion of the first black U.S. year-end vespers service GILB pen in rural Pitkin County. the new year fell in the evacu- president and the worst Wednesday evening, the SKY Police officer Stephanie ation zone and had to close. economic crisis in decades. Pope said these times are Dasaro said she couldn’t say Former U.S. president “marked by uncertainty and how he died or exactly Eve, one of its busiest nights Bill Clinton and Senator worry for the future” but where his body was found. of the year as the evacuation Hillary Clinton helped urged people not to be afraid Police cleared a 16-block stretched into the new year. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and to help each other. area Wednesday afternoon Police released surveil- lower the ball atop 1 Times after two banks reported re- lance tape from one bank Square for the 60-second the global financial crisis. ceiving threats and pack- showing Blanning and asked countdown to midnight. “Because it can’t get ages that officials feared the public to help find him. Many other New Year’s much worse.” might contain bombs. Dasaro said the man was Eve traditions around the Six luxury cruise liners Police also found clear recognized quickly by po- U.S. were in place, but floated off Rio’s famed Co- plastic boxes containing lice as a former Aspen resi- some festivities fell victim pacabana beach as fire- holiday wrapped packages dent, though he was living to hard times, and those works erupted over heads and pizza boxes on a black in Denver. that remained felt some- of approximately two mil- sled in a downtown alley. It was unclear Thursday what subdued. lion Brazilian revellers. The threats shut down the what the packages con- Public celebrations were “I hope that 2009, which is resort town on New Year’s tained. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS cancelled in communities bringing your President Oba- from Louisville, Ky., to Reno, ma to the scene, will help us News in brief Nev., and promoters in Mia- all have a better life,” said mi Beach, Fla., reported Roberto Felipe, a 22-year-old PHILIPPINES A grenade blast the speeding car hit a railway slower ticket sales than ex- construction worker. wounded more than 20 New track and went airborne shortly pected for celebrity-studded In Athens, police said ar- Year’s Eve revellers in a park before midnight Wednesday parties that they say would sonists attacked at least 10 and a powerful bomb was night. The car was going more have sold out in past years. banks and two car dealer- found near a passenger bus ter- than 140 km/h in a 55 km/h The effects of the eco- ships amid the celebrations minal in the latest incidents to zone, according to police. nomic crisis were also felt but no arrests or injuries raise security concerns in the PIRATES Somali pirates have around the world. were reported. Cities in southern Philippines, officials seized an Egyptian cargo ship “I’m looking forward to Greece had riots recently said Thursday. with a crew of 28 aboard. The 2009,” said Randolph King over the fatal shooting of a CRASH Four adults and a child vessel was carrying 5,400 of England, whose retire- teenage boy by police. A fireworks-filled effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush burns have died in a horrific car acci- tonnes of fertilizer. ment fund was gutted in THE ASSOCIATED PRESS during new year’s celebrations in Capira, Panama, Wednesday. dent in Dayton, Ohio. Police say THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sect leader gets 10 years for sex crime COMMITTED TO PRISONAn apocalyptic reli- gious sect leader has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual miscon- PUBLIC SAFETY duct with teenage female followers. Wayne Bent was sentenced to prison Tues- day for criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a mi- TTC Special Constables nor. New Mexico prison of- ficials say the 67-year-old Bent has refused to eat Your Community and Safety Partners since his arrival Tuesday at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility at Los Lunas. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Iraq takes over Green Zone duties MIDEASTThe United States handed over control of Baghdad’s Green Zone and Saddam Hussein’s presidential palace to Iraqi authorities Thursday in moves described by the country’s prime minister as a restoration of Iraqi sovereignty. At a ceremo- ny marking the transition, Nouri al-Maliki said he will propose Jan. 1 be de- clared a national holiday. For TTC Special Constable employment opportunities, visit www.ttc.ca and click on Jobs THE ASSOCIATED PRESS metro metronews.ca Weekend, January 2-4, 2009 10 LOCAL NATIONAL Assoc MngingEditor, Tarin Elbert Art Director, Laila Hakim Associate Publisher, Irene Patterson Retail Sales Director, Tracy Day Group Publisher, Bill McDonald Assoc Night MngingEditor, Jim Reyno National Sales Director, Susan Courtney Managing Editor, Glen Miller Prod/Distribution Director, Gerry Moher Editor-in-Chief, Dianne Rinehart Enter/Lifestyle Editor, Dean Lisk Interactive/Mrktng Director, Jodi Brown Comment & Views 2008: Can we get a do-over? Omni Vision under steam, and I’ve got general was far more fes- Anthony Boekh. worst we’ve seen is mostly fect storm about to break to assume that they were tive when 1988 hove into Asked whether he’s seen cruel justice — housing over your leaky trawler. Rick pretty glum affairs. view. a worse situation, philan- foreclosures on people It might be true — I The transition from 1963 The consensus is pretty thropist who couldn’t afford their make no claims as an ora- McGinnis to 1964, when the assassi- dire; a series of interviews and Bar- homes to begin with, and cle — but it’s just as likely nation of John F. Kennedy with financial giants rick Gold the collapse of banking in- that we’re being told to was still recent and raw, that’s run in the CEO Peter stitutions who played a panic because nobody [email protected] was probably a somber af- National Munk risky game badly and lost. wants to look like Pollyan- fair, but it happened just Post for was suc- As for the crisis in the na if the worst comes to I before I was born. the last cinct: auto industry, that’s been pass. t might just be me — I’ve lived through Water- few weeks “No. But brewing for years — Perhaps we should take never underestimate a gate and the OPEC oil cri- has been de- then decades, actually — and advantage of this somber columnist’s proficien- sis, and at least two major pressing again, there have been Bernie but fortuitous mood and cy at subjectivity — recessions after the ’70s, reading. “I I’m on- Madoffs at regular inter- begin the New Year like but I can’t recall the though, so I can claim think it’s ly 81. If vals since the first man jilted lovers; skeptical of last time the transition some modest long view on tough. I think I was traded his goat for a shiny everyone, whether they’re from the old year to the history’s recent dark it’s going to 120, I bauble. peddling optimism or new felt so downbeat. patches. get tougher,” proba- It’s half real crisis and doom, and especially skep- My memories aren’t ex- I was a freelancer during said Jim Treliving, CEO of bly half coincidence, and it’s tical of our own judgment, actly long — I can’t speak the recession following Boston Pizza and Dragon’s would rather inevitable that my which got us into this mess authoritatively about any Black Monday — Oct. 19, Den star. have.” industry — the media we in the first place. New Year during the Great 1987 — and lost over half “It sounds trite but it’s a It’s no wonder, then, keep hearing is at an all- Depression, or the last of my clients in the six sub- very complex and very that we’re acting like we’re time low in public trust — Rick McGinnis writes about music, night of 1939, when a new sequent months, but I dangerous situation,” facing dust bowls and has managed to make it all movies, books and television, but not opera. world war was just getting know that the mood in warned banking analyst bread lines even when the seem like a financial per- Tree growth rooted in education Letters Bring back Canadian Idol or Have organizations apply Urban saplings for at least three volves ensuring city work- New sidewalks are laid give it to someone else for a grant from municipal Affairs years. ers and residents under- on the plastic grates, en- contributions for transit The city, which aims to stand how trees grow. suring that the soil under- I am depressed about next that is usually directed to double Toronto’s urban For the record, roots neath remains loose and summer. I will watch OC Transpo. April tree canopy to 35 per cent spread horizontally near accommodating to mean- American Idol but I always Let them provide shuttle Lindgren of territory from 17.5 per the surface, rather than dering tree roots. look forward to our ver- service between major cen- cent, is taking deep and down. Many Torontonians are sion. tres, and/or taxi car pool- other steps To know this is to already fierce tree advo- I love anything Canadi- ing service. MICHAEL YUEN [email protected] to curb know that tree roots cates. an. We need to have this OTTAWA tree are damaged whenever Others, however, still show aired; it gives every- The remnants of tinsel and abuse. the upper layer of soil is don’t get it. one hope that dreams can other holiday finery on the At the disturbed by a home reno- They complain bitterly come true. Generous act by TTC driver evergreen corpses now des- most vation, sidewalk renewal about shade on their gar- CTV got the hockey has rider in awe of attitude tined for the city’s wood basic or driveway improvement. dens, mountains of fall song, maybe they should chipper are a forlorn testa- level, The average tree’s need leaves or trees that “eat” give CBC the show for this This morning I got on the ment to the attention lav- this for at least 15 cubic me- sewer pipes, causing year. Come on CTV. Do TTC bus at Brimley and ished on Christmas trees in- tres of loose, good soil has smelly backups. The latter something positive for this Steeles for my regular com- each December. forced designers to rethink complaint is particularly country. Find ways to mute to the office. Imagine if the living, the treatment of sidewalk unjust. Trees seek out wa- make it more economical. Only seconds before, I breathing — and often suf- trees in particular. ter and nutrients. CAROLYN SAINCHUK had placed my token in my fering — urban trees in The days of plopping If the aged clay pipes in TORONTO coat pocket however when our midst all year round saplings into tiny older neighbourhoods I was to drop the token in received some of that same patches of arid dirt or weren’t deteriorating, tree How can Ottawa allow a the box, it was not in my loving care. into those ubiquitous roots wouldn’t go near transit strike for 3 weeks? pocket — instead I felt a City council moved in cement boxes that dis- them. So don’t blame the gaping hole beneath my that direction last month mayed arborists call tree. After three weeks of an Ot- glove. The light was on red when it adopted new tree coffins are grad- Hug one instead. Or bet- tawa transit strike, there is so I looked down and green development stan- ually coming to an ter yet, water it and pro- no end in sight. looked back to see if it was dards that require develop- end. tect it. My question to the city is where I stood. The driver ers of larger scale projects Streetscape im- A thriving tree cleans why isn't there backup got off the bus and bound- to plant one tree for provements along the air, blocks winter plan? ed the steps and was look- every six to eight metres downtown Bloor wind, offers summer shade In less than a week, citi- ing for the token too. I was of their street-front Street, for in- and is much more than a zens will return back to mesmerized. He went back property. stance, in- one-off holiday delight. regular schedule with po- on the bus only when the To improve the odds clude a sys- It’s a year-round bless- tentially no transit. light changed and said of survival, each tree tem of plas- ing. The city has $3 million don’t worry. must have a mini- tic grates in- set aside set for transit, Thank you to the TTC mum amount of soil stalled on April Lindgren teaches at Ryerson University's why are they not spending and to that driver. around it and develop- support pil- School of Journalism, where she specializes it to reduce the impact? in local news and urban affairs reporting. ers must water lars. Here is my suggestion: SHEILA ROBINSON, It’s your turn to tell others what you think. E-mail your thoughts and opinions to: [email protected] Letters must include sender’s full name, address and phone number –street name and phone numbers will NOT be published. We reserve the right to edit letters. METRO Toronto1 Concorde Gate, Suite 703, Toronto, ON M3C 3N6, Tel: 416-486-4900; Fax: 416-482-8097; Advertising: 416-486-4900 ext. 316 • [email protected]; [email protected]; News: [email protected]