Re: What is happening around you, around the world? Thread #2

[Newto]

For those of us who celebrate Hanukkah,
best wishes for a happy holiday.
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[Kashathediva]

Happy and healthy Chanukah!

[GuardianAngel]

@Newto @Kashathediva beautiful!

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate. Peace and love to all!



Wiki

[GuardianAngel]

Doing a little texting and driving? Maybe a quick call? Think it’s no big deal? If just doing the right thing isn’t enough, ask yourself how important is your time and $ Changes to Ontario #DistractedDriving Laws January 1, 2019. Details here: https://t.co/2dfHgWxnkX pic.twitter.com/DYPFGVpokl

— PC Phil Gavin (@PCPhilGavin) December 11, 2018

https://twitter.com/PCPhilGavin

[Guest]

Well with the holiday season upon us, there has been another devastating fire in my small town. On 12/31/17 and 1/1/18 there were 2 house fires in frigid temperatures that left 2 families homeless. On 12/23-12/24/18, there was a huge fire in a historical building in downtown that has left 20 people homeless. The building at one time was a hotel and the upper 2 floors of the building now contains apartments.

I received a text about 2 a.m. from a cousin that wondered if I had seen it on FB. At that time, the firefighters had been battling the blaze for over 2 hours and an additional 7 fire departments were called in for mutual aid. I kept up with information about the fire through the local 911 Facebook page until it seemed to be contained. I was able to fall asleep again about 3:30. So upon waking up this morning, I found the fire is out but our local department is keeping an eye out for hot spots. The roof has fallen in at several places and all residents did get out safely and have been relocated to local motels for the time being. Many people are wanting to donate items but with the holiday, a lot of places had previously chosen to given their employees an extra long weekend and are closed today. So there is a lot of scrambling going on to help these people. A local restaurant nearby the fire normally closes about the time the fire started but they stayed open to give food and shelter to the fire fighters and the families that were affected.

The local newspaper had an early deadline for today's edition and were working on that when the call went out. The newspaper and the fire department are within walking distance of this former hotel. So the newspaper was on scene immediately with photos being shared to Facebook. They are sharing live videos today and updates after talking with fire officials.

No official word yet but in conversation on the FB 911 page, it has been stated that an individual has been arrested for arson and incarcerated as of this morning. And, if this is how the fire started, it is ever sadder. How someone can even think of doing this, I just cannot comprehend.

Please keep these families in your prayers this holiday season. I know I am (and I do not know any of them personally).

[whit90]

Praying!

[Guest]

Update: A 19-year-old young man that lived in the building has been arrested for arson.

I went to see the damage and took some photos. I also talked with a fire fighter that is on scene. He said it started in the front of the building and for awhile they had it contained. Then it got into the attic and tore through the rest of the building. Roof has collapsed in several areas. They were on scene for 8 hours and had 3 aerial trucks in use. He was not sure if the building can be saved or not.  Time will tell. According to fire department records, the building was built in 1896.

Front of building:


Side of building:

[GuardianAngel]

Fires are so devastating. Praying for all those affected. It's great no one was injured or loss of life, but the displacement is awful. I'm sure the community will help out. I can't imagine losing everything and living in a motel not knowing what's next. Very sad. @havadrpepper thanks for sharing so we can keep everyone in our prayers.

[GuardianAngel]

To all those who celebrate and those who don't, I wish you all peace joy and love during this holiday season and beyond.

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[Guest]

Fires are so devastating. Praying for all those affected. It's great no one was injured or loss of life, but the displacement is awful. I'm sure the community will help out. I can't imagine losing everything and living in a motel not knowing what's next. Very sad. @havadrpepper thanks for sharing so we can keep everyone in our prayers.

Just in one day, over $2600 in cash and gift cards was collected for the fire victims. There were also many donations of the miscellaneous type of stuff you don't think of. The kids affected ended up getting gifts... my church was able to provide presents for 6 children and I know there were other donations of gifts as well.

Many of these residents didn't have a whole lot to begin with. Many lived paycheck to paycheck and didn't even have renters' insurance to cover what few possessions they did have. They have actually been overwhelmed by the outpouring of donations coming for our community as well as some surrounding counties. A local restaurant is covering the cost of their stay at a local motel for 7 days! Multiple places have said they will be taking donations the next few days as well for those that want to contribute but were not able to do so on Christmas Eve.

[GuardianAngel]

@havadrpepper it's wonderful to see people open their hearts and their wallets to others in need.

It's unfortunate this happens so often to those who can't afford renters insurance.

[GuardianAngel]

These $10 bills are now in circulation in Canada, and I got my first one today. It's vertical, and it's a beauty!



https://torontosun.com/news/national/old-cash-handling-machines-cant-handle-new-10-viola-desmond-bills/wcm/e164aac6-233d-497b-8181-53436f65b5e2?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1546813464

Viola Irene Desmond (July 6, 1914 – February 7, 1965) was a Canadian businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946 she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refusing to leave a whites-only area of the Roseland Theatre. For this she was convicted of a minor tax violation for the one-cent tax difference between the seat she had paid for and the seat she used, which was more expensive. Desmond's case is one of the most publicized incidents of racial discrimination in Canadian history and helped start the modern civil rights movement in Canada.

Viola Desmond

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