Daily News

Posted on July 7: A diamond in the rough

After more than 40 years, you might say they've seen it all, except for an independent umpire that is. And it's likely not for the reasons you may think. Sure, there have been battles over the years, and the Phoenix Cup has taken a beating, but players in the McMaster three-pitch co-ed softball league seem to have managed just fine to last this long. This summer, official umpires will take the place of players behind the plate to allow more playing time each night for 21 teams in two divisions. "It made the game go smoothly and eliminated rules and it means I can schedule an extra game a night and also start the games a little later," says league commissioner Andy Duncan. "It's a good-natured group and we don't take it too seriously. The umpires who have done our tournaments have told us they enjoy it. It's a very laid-back league."

Posted on July 4: Wash your hands before you go

Remember your mother always telling you to wash your hands or else you'd get sick? It turns out she was right. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care says that hand washing, when done correctly, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. The recent Ontario outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has made hand washing of paramount importance, especially for people visiting or working in health care facilities. Screen, Clean & Go, a new campaign launched in response to SARS, is designed to make everyone aware of the important role they play in infection control and preventing the spread of SARS. Everyone who enters the McMaster University Medical Centre or other health care facilities in the city are being asked to follow three simple steps before coming into the hospital. "People need to be prudent and take a common sense approach," says infectious diseases expert Mark Loeb. "The current SARS situation is under control, but programs such as Screen, Clean & Go will help us continue to fight against another outbreak."