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PUBLIC SAFETY
Clown costume sales up as more run-ins reported “O BY JEREMY GRIMALDI
jgrimaldi@yrmg.com
ne rather pissed off mommy,” is how Anita Newton described her emotions after she said a group of people, wearing scary clown masks, chased three nine-yearold girls around Bonnie Boats Park last week. “To the three or four friends who had nothing better to do…(than to) put on a clown costume with a rather frightening mask and chase girls to the point they were in hysterics and tears and now quite traumatized… thanks, I hope you had a good night’s sleep,” she wrote about the alleged Oct. 11 Jackson’s Point incident on Facebook. Newton is not the only one left fearful in York Region since scary clown incidents began occurring in the United States and Canada. On Oct. 15, at around 3:30 p.m. in Vaughan, a 17-year-old man was cautioned after driving around in a scary clown mask and entering a shop and restaurant with it on and frightening people in the area of Melville Avenue and Rutherford Road. Once police questioned him, the man handed over the mask, according to York police “I guess he thought it would be funny, not realizing something would come of it,” said Sgt. Kelly Bachoo, who admitted that wearing a mask is not actually against the law unless it is used in the commission of an offence.
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The incident came one day after a three teenagers were charged with careless driving by Durham Regional Police after allegedly driving around attempting to scare people. The force has received 31 calls related to clowns since the beginning of October. And although many are hoping for this trend to end, one Halloween shop owner said his sales of clown costumes have never been higher. Mel Grevler, owner of Thornhill’s Party Supply Depot, said he’s made three or four orders for clown costumes already this season. “It’s good for business, we’re selling clown outfits left, right and centre,” said the owner, adding that he considers the fear surrounding scary clowns to be overblown. “I think North Americans blow all sorts of things out of proportion.” However not all feel this way. Newton insisted that since the incident, the three girls have lost much of their independence. York police said they have received fewer than 10 calls regarding people in clown garb. Steve Somerville/Metroland Canadian Tire decided to pull creepy clown costumes from its shelves last week Karen Del Rosario and Sofia Lofranco show off three of the most popular clown masks this and Target in the United States did the same. Halloween season at the Party Superstore in Thornhill.
COMMUNITY
Residents could be allowed to park on street this winter BY CHRIS SIMON
A
Mike Barrett/Metroland
Aurora residents might not have to worry about getting a ticket for parking on the street this winter if council gives the idea a green light.
csimon@yrmg.com
urora residents will be able to park on the street this winter if council gives the green light. In May, council supported the implementation of a pilot project that would suspend winter overnight parking bylaws, except during snow storms, from Nov. 15, 2016 to April 15, 2017. During the pilot project period, residents will be able to park their vehicles on the street, which was previously prohibited during the winter season to allow for proper snow removal. During a snowfall, bylaw officers will be making the rounds when the town requires vehicles removed from streets to permit plowing, the staff report states. To make a smooth transition from the former winter parking restrictions, the town will communicate to residents prior to and during the pilot project, replace existing winter overnight parking restriction information signs with new signs asking residents to keep their vehicles off the
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street when snow is falling, and consult with Ottawa staff to learn from the city’s experience with their winter parking operations. Residents will be informed of a snow event through the use of local media and the town’s website. A new snow hotline may also be created. If there is repeated heavy snow over the course of the winter season, council would have the option to cancel the pilot project to avoid high windrows, damage to parked vehicles due to plowing and public safety issues. However, the report warns the pilot See page A10.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
York Region dancers headed to world championships BY CHRIS SIMON
csimon@yrmg.com
Over the next few days, some of York Region’s top dancers will take on the world. Nobleton’s Amanda Rea, 12, and Newmarket’s Mary-Beth Broad, 17, will compete for Team Canada at the IDO World hip hop and break dance championships in Graz, Austria Oct. 19 to 23. On the final day of that competition, Aurora residents Katie Coates and Lili Gray, 13 and 10, respectively, and Richmond Hill’s Zabrina Yousuf, 11, will begin the quest for gold at the IDO World ballet, jazz and modern championship taking place in Wetzlar, Germany. “The feeling you get on the stage is probably the most amazing thing you’ve ever felt,” Broad, who made Team Canada last year as well, said. Broad has been dancing since the age of four. At that time, she entered
ballet — but has since expanded her repertoire to include tap, jazz and lyrical styles. Then about five years ago, she tried hip hop and became fascinated by the style. Coates started dancing at the age of three and quickly excelled. “I’m a perfectionist; I always want to be the best,” she said. “I guess that pushed me to try to be better than everyone else. With Team Canada, you’re with the best. It really pushes you even more than just being at your studio.” Yousuf trains at Newmarket’s iDance studio. “She’s thrilled and honoured to represent Canada in the competition doing what she loves — dance,” iDance owner Rhonda Dimma added. Susie Kockerscheidt/Metroland
For more information on the competition, visit ido-dance.com.
Team Canada Dance troupe Mary-Beth Broad, 17, (back, left) Katie Coates, 13, Amanda Rea, 12 and Lili Gray, 10, (front). Members of the Canadian delegation are off to the IDO World dance championships.
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