Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
12 days of Kindness returns: Nominations now open:
Sudbury.com's 12 Days of Kindness is returning for a third year of sharing and caring. Do you know someone who is facing personal hardships? A quiet hero who gives more than they ever expect to receive? If you know someone who could use a pat on the back, a hand up or a simple smile. Sudbury.com wants to make the holidays brighter for some deserving Sudburians. Each workday beginning Dec. 6, we will bring you stories of compassion, heartache and hope as our video team surprises deserving Sudburians by lending a hand, lightening a burden or making a special Christmas wish come true. But we can’t do it without you. Nominations are now open for the 12 Days of Kindness. Go to Sudbury.com/AOK and send your nomination today.
Sudbury-born Farhan Zaidi named president of the San Fransico Giants:
The new president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants was born in Sudbury. Farhan Zaidi, 41, was named to the post Tuesday after spending four years as GM of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born in Sudbury to parents Sadiq and Anjum, but didn't live here for very long. Sadiq Zaidi worked for Inco for three years. Zaidi moved with his family to the Phillipines when he was four, although he cheered for the Blue Jays while he was growing up. According to the Giants' news release, the Dodgers won four consecutive division titles with Zaidi as GM, while advancing to the National League Championship Series the last three years and the World Series the last two seasons. During that four-year span, the Dodgers posted the second-best winning percentage in all of baseball, the release said. "I am delighted to return to the Bay Area and to join one of the most storied franchises in the game," said Zaidi. "I have watched the Giants from afar and I have great respect for the organization's culture and many accomplishments. I am excited about this new opportunity and I'm looking forward to getting right to work." He earned his bachelor of science degree in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1998 and a Ph.D in economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 2011.
Sudbury Five unveil team's inaugural roster:
The Sudbury Five basketball team unveiled the team’s opening night roster on Thursday at the New Sudbury Centre. All players and coaches were introduced to the public in the centre court of the mall. Fans and members of the public were able to get their first look at the team and meet some of the players, get autographs, and learn about the team and league. Check back with Sudbury.com later today for the full roster reveal.
Sudbury MPP Jamie West holds opioid town hall meeting Thursday:
Sudbury MPP Jamie West will be hosted a town hall to discuss the opioid crisis along with Public Health Sudbury and Districts on Nov. 8. Speakers included Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas (NDP Health Critic), Dr. Ariella Zbar (Public Health Sudbury and District), Marion Quigley (Canadian Mental Health Association), and Julie Gorman (Sudbury Action Centre for Youth). Sudbury.com will have a full story on Thursday's town hall meeting so be sure to check back with us.
Track coach and his student headed to trial in alleged sexual assault:
A trial date will be set this month in sexual assault charges against Sudbury track coach David Case and his former student, Celine Loyer. CBC Radio has reported a Sudbury judge has found enough evidence to send Case, 56, and Loyer, 29, to trial. Case was facing eight charges – six counts of sexual assault, one count of assault, and one count of assault causing bodily harm – that concern alleged incidents on Aug. 1, 1984, June 27, 1988, Oct. 1, 2009 and June 17, 2011. Loyer is facing two charges of sexual assault concerning alleged incidents on Oct. 1, 2009 and June 17, 2011. There was a ban on publication in effect during the preliminary hearing. Case coached Loyer when she was a sprinter with the DSSG Athletics Club in the late 2000s and maintained a connection with her in subsequent years. The pair was arrested a day apart in February 2017 following a Greater Sudbury Police investigation the month before.
Sudbury halts use of fake snow in film productions:
Following a decision this week by North Bay to ban a chemical used to make fake snow for film productions, Greater Sudbury has halted the use of the substance while it investigates. Meredith Armstrong, the city's acting director of economic development, said Wednesday they are investigating issues around Phos-Chek, a fire-retardant foam used to simulate snow in the movies. “We don't foresee a ban on any of these substances,” Armstrong said. “And as long as we have the time to do the proper review of the health and safety and the risks ... I don't foresee any long-term issues at this point.” A story by Chris Dawson of baytoday.ca quoted Mark Campbell, an official with Perimeter Solutions, which makes Phos-Chek, as saying the product is under strict guidelines and has been tested in a number of ways, including toxicity relating to mammals, aquatic wildlife, and product biogradability. Full story can be found here.
Sudbury hospital leading the way in writing the guidelines for rare condition:
Health Sciences North Research Institute and Health Sciences North received a significant boost from the Northern Ontario Academic Medical Association (NOAMA) recently that will put Sudbury's hospital at the forefront of setting the guidelines for Acute Aortic Dissection (AAD). Physicians have partnered with HSNRI scientists to receive a grant of more than $700,000 from two NOAMA research funds - Alternative Funding Plan (AFP) Innovation Fund, and Clinical Innovation Opportunities Fund. Dr. Robert Ohle, an emergency physician with HSN, received a grant to adapt and improve current guidelines for Acute Aortic Dissection (AAD). This is a rare, but life-threatening condition that results from a tear in the inner wall of the aorta, the body’s main blood vessel. Acute Aortic Dissection can present with a variety of symptoms that makes it difficult to diagnose. There are no widely accepted guidelines that are both safe and efficient to help guide physicians. "Essentially you have a big blood vessel which comes out of you heart (aorta) which pumps blood into your entire body. You can get a tear in the inner wall of the aorta which allows blood to go into the wall and essentially unzips it," said Ohle. "As you unzip down the aorta you block off all the pipes that come from this main one so you block off blood flow to essentially any organ in the body depending on where the tear is. It can even rupture." The difficulty in diagnosing AAD comes with the fact that it can block blood flow to a number of different organs and symptoms can mimic those of a number of other, more common conditions. Find out more about the research being done at Health Sciences North here.
GSPS Pipe Band taking part in worldwide playing of “When the Battles O’er” on Nov. 11:
This year, Nov. 11 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The signing of the Armistice of Compiègne between the Allies and Germany took place at 6 a.m. on November 11, 1918 and came into effect at 11 a.m. that same day ending the fight on the Western front. The College of Piping in the United Kingdom is spearheading a worldwide participation of pipers and drummers. They have asked that pipers and drummers attend their local cenotaph and play “When the Battles O’er” (Over). The Greater Sudbury Police Pipe Band will be participating in this event. "On behalf of the Pipe Band, we are inviting any other local pipers or drummers to attend and participate," said a GSPS news release. "If you wish to participate, please attend our cenotaph located in Memorial Park, downtown at 5:45 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11." Members of the public are also encouraged to attend.
Sudbury band Sea Perry's single used on TV series 'Shameless':
A member of the local folk/rock band Sea Perry said hearing one of their singles used as background music during an episode of the American television series “Shameless” was a “surreal” experience. The show, featuring an ensemble cast led by William H. Macy, depicts the dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher, a single father raising six children in the south side of Chicago. The Sea Perry song used on the show is entitled “Pressure,” and was released by the band in 2015. It was used in a scene in Episode No. 7 (entitled “Down Like the Titanic”) of Shameless' ninth season, which aired on Oct. 21. Sea Perry bassist Shawn Fisher said he almost cringed during the show's airing, because when “Pressure” came on, it seemed like it was all he could hear — but that was probably because he knows the tune so well. Fisher said the band uploads its music to a website called TuneCore, and a few Sea Perry songs have also caught the attention of film and television producers perusing the site in the past. He said the band's music has also been used on a few MTV shows as well as a Netflix film called “Hoovey.” You can watch the music video for “Pressure” here.
Friday Weather:
It's going to feel like winter out there today. Cloudy on Friday with periods of snow beginning in the morning, up to 4 cm falling by the afternoon. Friday's high will be sitting at zero. Snow will be heavy at times tonight with up to 10 cm covering the city. Overnight low will be -2, feeling like -8 with the wind chill. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
