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Obit: Liza Minnelli's ex-husband found dead at 62

April 12, 2016, 5:35 am
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David Gest, a music producer, reality TV star and former husband of Liza Minnelli, was found dead Tuesday at a London hotel. He was 62.

Gest's friend Imad Handi confirmed his death, remembering Gest as "a natural star and a genuine celebrity."

"David was truly larger than life. He was not just a huge talent and a dear friend but a showbiz icon," Handi said.

The Metropolitan Police force said officers were called to "reports of an unexplained death of a man in his 60s'' at the Four Seasons Hotel in London's Canary Wharf on Tuesday morning.

The force said an autopsy would take place "in due course" to determine the cause of death, but it was not being treated as suspicious.

Gest was raised in southern California, where he became friends with Michael Jackson and his family.

He worked as a music promoter and television producer, and was introduced to Minnelli by Jackson when Gest produced the King of Pop's 30th anniversary tribute concert for television in 2001.

The couple married in 2002, at a celebrity-studded ceremony with Jackson as best man and Elizabeth Taylor as maid of honour.

They separated in a burst of headline-grabbing acrimony in 2003. Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million, alleging that she beat him so badly during alcoholic rages that he suffered permanent injuries. Minnelli struck back with a $2 million suit claiming Gest had stolen money from her.

The pair ended their dispute in 2007 when their lawyers filed court papers saying they had settled their differences and agreed to divorce without fault.

Gest remained a friend of Jackson and after the singer's death in 2009 produced a documentary, "Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon."

Gest gained a following in Britain with appearances on reality TV shows including "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here" in 2006 and "Celebrity Big Brother" earlier this year.

During his stint on the show, fellow contestant Tiffany Pollard misheard news of David Bowie's death and told cast mates that Gest had died.

The incident inspired the title of a musical show, featuring Gest and a roster of soul musicians, that was due to tour Britain this summer: David Gest Is Not Dead, But Alive With Soul.

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Why Welland's Main Street Bridge will be purple this week

April 12, 2016, 6:27 am
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A bridge in Welland will be lit purple as Niagara College celebrates National Dental Hygienists Week.
 
Welland’s Main Street Bridge will be lit purple on the evening of Wednesday April 13th.
 
The bridge lighting was initiated by the College’s Dental Hygiene program, as part of a series of activities to take place in honour of National Dental Hygienists Week.

About 50 students from the program will attend the bridge lighting, to begin at dusk, along with program faculty and members of the Niagara Dental Hygienists’ Society.
 
“The celebration is an opportunity for our students to shed some light on Niagara College’s Dental Hygiene program, the profession of Dental Hygiene, and what we do as oral health care providers,” said dental programs professor Jeannette Kulik. “It is in opportunity for our students to unite and engage in celebration by infusing excitement into what is known to be a very rigorous and demanding program.”
 
The College worked with the City of Welland, the Welland Downtown Business Improvement Area, and the Niagara Region to make the bridge lighting possible.
 
“Welland Bridge 13 will be lit purple to recognize and celebrate National Dental Hygienist Week,” said Stephanie Hicks, executive director, Welland Downtown BIA. “With Niagara College being home in Welland and having one of the best Dental Hygiene programs, it is an honour to light the bridge for the hygienist and future hygienist.”
 
In addition to the bridge lighting, students will mark National Dental Hygienists Week at the College’s Applied Health Institute (Welland Campus) on Thursday, April 14 (8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) with information displays and activities to raise awareness about dental health. 
 

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Niagara's Chair lists priorities and comments on CAO

April 12, 2016, 8:53 am
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Niagara Regional Chair Alan Caslin delivered his second State of the Region address this afternoon.

The event was held at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls.

Caslin tells CKTB his main priority this year is ensuring that the region's infrastructure is maintained while still having a balanced budget approach. 

When asked about projects on the go, Caslin says they are working on an "Under 35" plan to keep young people living and working in the region.

He says they are also working on a bid for the Canada Games in 2021.

Caslin says there are a lot of things to be proud of from last year, including getting daily GO Transit mentioned in the Ontario budget.

Meantime, the region finds itself having to search for a new CAO, after current Chief Administrative Officer Harry Schlange resigned from the post last week to take a job in Brampton.

When 610 CKTB's Larry Fedoruk asked if losing our CAO will stall the process of the priorities, Caslin says there are four thousand regional employees working hard to ensure projects are moving forward.

He says it's unfortunate, but it's not usual.

Caslin says they will discuss the process of filling the position at a meeting on April 28th.

He says they are looking for the best of the best across Canada.

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Grimsby man arrested for alleged sexual offences involving children

April 12, 2016, 9:18 am
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A Grimsby man has been arrested on sexual offences involving children.

19 year old Hunter Roberts was arrested today by members of the Niagara Regional Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit.

Police say he is charged with luring a child under 18 for the purpose making child pornography, luring a child under 16 years for the purpose of invitation to sexual touching and exposing genitals for a sexual purpose, to a child under 16 years.

Roberts is being held in custody, pending a bail hearing scheduled for April 13th in St. Catharines.

It is requested that members of the public who have engaged in on-line communication or who have met with Roberts as a result of on-line communication contact Investigators assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 1-905-688-4111 extension 4436.

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Marathon meeting on Bio-diversity in Niagara Falls ends with a vote

April 12, 2016, 2:52 pm
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It wasn't as long as the Region's debate on the matter but Niagara Falls City Council spent more than two hours tackling the controversial issue of bio-diversity offsetting last night.

Council was asked to back a similar resolution to one presented last week at Regional Council. 
 
However, during the debate in Niagara Falls Councillors essentially decided any endorsement of the resolution was premature.
 
Council unanimously deferred the resolution until the appropriate planning application comes back from the developer. 
 
The resolution, had it passed, would have asked the province to allow 13 acres of wetlands on a development slated for an area near Thundering Waters Golf Course, be moved in an effort to allow a billion dollar project to move ahead. 
 
100 protestors showed up at Regional Council last week demanding the wetlands be protected.  A similar group of protesters packed council chambers in Niagara Falls.  
 
Regional Council ended four hours of debate last week on the matter without a final vote. 
 
Here is a full text of the resolution debated at Niagara Falls Council. 
 

WHEREAS a small portion of 13 acres of the Lands are considered Provincially significant wetlands (the “PSW”); and

WHEREAS despite the Project being partially encumbered by PSW, it is not old growth marshes or slue forests; and

WHEREAS a goal of the Project is to sustain and enhance the natural environment including the protection of the wetlands and other significant environmental features on the property; and

WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has identified allowing Bio-Diversity Offsetting as a potential policy direction in its recent white paper on Wetlands; and

WHEREAS Bio-Diversity Offsetting is a process that allows for the coexistence of economic development with a possible biodiversity gain; and

WHEREAS the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority supports a Bio-Diversity Offsetting that may see a three to one, Bio-Diversity gain for the Lands.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That Niagara Falls City Council support the province being requested to initiate a pilot project to allow for Bio-Diversity Offsetting of wetlands for Paradise Development in Niagara Falls, to facilitate the proponents’ proposal that increases the net area of wetland and supports and encourages the significant foreign direct investment being offered.

 

Here's a full text of the motion debated last week at Regional Council 

Whereas the Premier of Ontario has recently participated with the Mayor of Niagara Falls on a trade mission to China; and

Whereas the Premier signed a Memorandum of Understanding representing significant direct foreign investment in the Niagara Region; and

Whereas the Province has identified allowing Biodiversity Offsetting as a potential policy direction in its recent white paper on Wetlands; and

Whereas the proposed development is partially encumbered by Provincially Significant Wetlands, but not old-growth marshes or slew forests;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That Regional Council SUPPORT a pilot project and ask the Province to allow for biodiversity offsetting of wetlands for the development in Niagara Falls known as the Paradise Development to facilitate the proponents proposal that increases the net area of wetland and supports and encourages the significant foreign direct investment being offered.

 

 

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Chair Caslin reads tweets to start State of the Region

April 12, 2016, 11:18 pm
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Niagara's Regional chair raising a few eyebrows at the start of his annual State of the Region Address.

Alan Caslin opened the speech with a Jimmy Kimmel style Mean Tweets video where he read a series of tweets, some included a few expletives.

Among the comments "we all know Alan Caslin is the Devil, Jim" and "Chair Caslin suddenly lost his tongue, suddenly can't speak to media. What a POS. And HE's Chair of the Niagara Region, we should demand he resign"

Caslin then went on to outline some of his priorities for the year ahead, including transit, and an Under 35 plan to keep young people living and working in the region.

To see the full video, click here 

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Gas prices on the way up

April 13, 2016, 12:39 am
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The Canadian dollar  has surged to 78 cents U-S, its highest level in months, but the downside, gas prices are also going up.

A quick check of gas stations in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines shows more than half of those stations have increased their prices to $1.04 cents a litre.

So if you see a price under a buck, stop and top off your gas tank.

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Friend and roommate says Millard wanted to steal truck from nice guy

April 13, 2016, 12:41 am
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Another friend of accused killer Dellen Millard took the stand yesterday in the trial into the murder of Tim Bosma.

Millard and Mark SMich are both charged with first degree murder in the death of the Ancaster man who disappared in 2013 after taking two men for a test drive in a truck he was selling.

Millard's friend, and former roomate, Andrew Michalski, telling the jury just days before Bosma disappeared, Millard asked him if he should steal a truck from a nice guy

Michalski also talked about a call he got from Smich after Millard was arrested asking him to put drugs from Millards home inside a backpack and into the trunk of his car.

He also admitted to putting a toolbox into the back of another friend's trunk.

Earlier testimony has revealed there was gunshot residue in that tool box.

While the crown alleges Tim Bosma was shot by the pair, a gun was never recovered.

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Fire crews battling blaze in Welland

April 13, 2016, 3:35 am
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Fire crews in Welland quickly contained an apartment fire this morning.

Crews were called out after reports of smoke coming from a second story apartment on Wallace Avenue.

The fire department was quickly able to contain the blaze.

NRP had closed an area of Wallace Avenue between Welland St. and Hagar St while crews reponded.

No word yet on damages. 

 

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Conservative MPP in hot water again

April 13, 2016, 3:49 am
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A Progressive Conservative member of the Ontario legislature who landed in hot water last week over a sexist joke about a Liberal MP is facing another controversy.

The Ottawa Citizen reports the pictures accompanying testimonials of constituents praising the work of MPP Jack MacLaren are actually a combination of stock photos and others taken in various spots around the world, and the names are fabricated.

A disclaimer was posted on MacLaren's website after the story was published, saying stock photos and generic names were used to ``maintain the privacy of constituents.''

MacLaren, a five-year veteran of the legislature, has not responded to requests for comment.

Nor has PC Leader Patrick Brown, who last week had to censure MacLaren, the MPP for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, for a crude, sexual joke he told about Liberal MP Karen McCrimmon at a fundraising event.

MacLaren has also been criticized for helping another candidate organize a challenge to fellow eastern Ontario Tory MPP Lisa MacLeod for the party's nomination in the 2018 election, a controversy he has refused to comment on.

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Two motorcyclists charged after QEW accident

April 13, 2016, 4:50 am
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Two motorcycle drivers have been charged with Dangerous Driving following an accident on the QEW in Hamilton yesterday during rush hour.

It happened just after 5 o'clock when OPP responded to a collision involving a motorcyle rider who fell off his bike.

The incident near 50 Road sent 36 year old William Douglas Zajczenko to hospital with serious injuries.

OPP say witnesses reported two motorbikes travelling together and driving erratically.

Police have charged Zajczenko of Hamilton and 26 year old Gordon Saunders of Stoney Creek with dangerous driving.

OPP are also reminding riders out for the first time this season to use extreme caution as roads are still slick with frequent temperature changes and salt and sand still on the roadways.

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How about some ground cricket flour?

April 13, 2016, 5:42 am
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Bugs are a diet staple in many parts of the world, but most Canadians probably squirm at the thought of munching on insects.

But the Goldin brothers think it's time for people in this country to get over their squeamishness and eat the nutrient-rich creatures.

The brothers raise crickets and mealworms for human consumption on their farm near Norwood, Ontario.

Jarrod Goldin says eating insects enhances your life, enhances your wellness and helps you live longer because it's a nutritious alternative to other proteins like chicken, pork, beef and even fish.

Entomo Farms houses about 90-million crickets in various stages of development, which are raised to maturity at age six-weeks, then killed by freezing, before they are washed and roasted.

Goldin says they're either left whole or ground into a very fine powder, or flour, which can be used in a variety of foods, like energy bars, chips, cookies, pasta, bread and even smoothies.

He adds people also buy the whole roasted crickets and instead of munching on a bag of chips at night they munch on some flavoured roasted crickets or flavoured roasted mealworms

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WATCH: Woman kicked off stage in Toronto

April 13, 2016, 6:23 am
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A Toronto concert hall has banned a U-S punk band from playing there again after a video was posted online showing the singer kicking a fan as she tries to take a selfie onstage.

A YouTube video from Sunday night's show at the Mod Club theatre shows a female fan being forcefully kicked in the back by the front man for the California band The Story So Far.

Club manager Jorge Dias says there was no report of injuries but confirms the venue will not allow the band to play there again.

Toronto police have said they are not pursuing charges in this case since no one has come forward with a formal complaint.

 

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Brock gets $200,000 for smart classroom

April 13, 2016, 7:52 am
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Brock University is getting a $200,000 donation for a smart classroom.

The pledge from KPMG LLP will help complete a major renewal and expansion of Brock University’s Goodman School of Business in St. Catharines.
 
The announcement was made today by KPMG representatives Bobbi-Jean White and Ruth Todd and by Brock President Jack Lightstone.

The gift will support the Goodman School expansion project and is specifically earmarked for a new 45-seat smart classroom on Level 300.
 
“At KPMG, we are passionate about giving back to the communities in which we work and helping young people develop to their full potential,” said Ruth Todd “Our donation to the business school’s capital infrastructure campaign is just one way we can help support post-secondary education.” 

“We are thrilled that KPMG has made this contribution to Brock University,” said Lightstone. “This commitment to our business school plays a significant role in helping to develop Canada’s future leaders.”
 
The Goodman School of Business has 2,890 undergraduate and 519 graduate students. It offers three undergraduate and three graduate degrees, as well as some of Ontario’s most successful co-op programs.
 
A groundbreaking event will be held Friday to kick off the $22-million expansion project of the Goodman School.

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WOW-Wonderful Weekend Weather in Niagara

April 13, 2016, 8:44 am
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Following a fairly chilly week so far, things are about to heat up.

Environment Canada has released its latest forecast showing the temperature rising throughout the week.

Thursday's high is 10, and Friday's is 13.

The weekend looks amazing with sunshine on both days with a high Saturday of 17 and 19 on Sunday.

This follows an unusually chilly spring, with last weekend's temperature hovering around the freezing mark.

Niagara even received snow Sunday night.

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Lavish lifestyle of accused detailed at murder trial into death of Tim Bosma

April 13, 2016, 11:14 pm
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Jurors in the trial into the murder of Tim Bosma hearing yesterday of the lavish lifestyle lived by accused killer Dellen Millard.

On the stand for a second day, Millard buddy, Andrew Michalski who talked about the perks of being the wealthy aviation heir's friend.

Michalski talked about pool parties, free restaurant meals, all expenses paid trips, helicopter rides and even free rent.

In return, Michalski said when Millard needed an accomplice for a "mission" he would help.

Those missions included stealing plants from a nursery, helping steal a Bobcat and getting rid of pot from Millard's house when cops were on their way after he had been arrested for the murder of Tim Bosma.

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Drug den busted in quiet Welland neighbourhood

April 13, 2016, 11:21 pm
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A raid on an apartment in a quiet area of Welland, has ended with the arrest of three suspects.

Police say the quiet neighbourhood was plagued by a constant parade of people at a nearby apartment all hours of the night.

Yesterday, police moved in and seized a small amount of crystal meth, cocaine and prescripton pills.

Facing drug charges, 35 year old Gary Busby and 22 year old Kayla Lewis both from Welland.

18 year old Aiden Thibeault  is facing an additional charge of possession of a prohibited weapon

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St. Catharines man facing multiple assault charges

April 13, 2016, 11:23 pm
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After receiving several 911 calls yesterday afternoon around 2:30, St. Catharines police sped to an area near Lake and Carlton to find a highly agitated man wielding a rock.

Police say the man had punched a passenger in a passing SUV, then accosted two youths, punching one of them before a parent came to help.

During the arrest, one officer received a bite on his finger.

A 41 year old man is charged with two counts of assault, one count of assault with a weapon and one count of assaulting a police officer.

Police are asking anyone with information to give them a call.

They would also like to identify the passenger in the SUV.

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Grow op bust in Grimsby

April 13, 2016, 11:25 pm
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Police moving in to bust up a Grimsby marijuana grow op.

Officers went to a Ridge Road property yesterday evening where they arrested a man and a woman.

They also searched the residence and found more than 500 pot plants growing in the basement.

Police also seized close to four pounds of dried marijuana and a few hundred prescription pills.

The drugs are valed at more than $500,000.

57 year old David Warrilow and 50 year old Lorraine Sauve are both charged with the unlawful production, possession and trafficking of a controlled substance.

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Feds to debut new assisted dying law today

April 13, 2016, 11:45 pm
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  More than a year after the Supreme Court struck down Canada's ban on assisted suicide, the federal government is about to introduce a new law laying out the conditions in which seriously ill or dying Canadians may seek medical help to end their lives.
    
The proposed law is expected to say only that competent adults should be eligible to receive medical aid in dying, and won't allow advance requests from people diagnosed with degenerative, competence-eroding conditions like dementia.
    
It's also expected to tread lightly around the right of people with mental illnesses to seek doctor-assisted death.

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