City officials are looking at adding more outdoor ovens in City parks to see if they can collect funds from their use by volunteer and various groups.

A study is being conducted into improving the access to the large outdoor ovens in City parks. There are about 10 parks that have them now.

City staff are trying to ‘identify opportunities to reduce administrative or financial barriers to the community use of outdoor ovens.’

At the same time they said public health and safety and liability considerations have to be met.

Groups now have to pay for a permit for use of the public park ovens, which are often brick structures with an area for cooking meals.

They are often used by charities or not-for-profit organizations that enter into long-term agreements with Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

The ten outdoor bake ovens located in City of Toronto parks provide focal points in the community for gathering, preparing, and enjoying food in a park, according to the city.

“Many have active volunteer groups who regularly bring neighbours together to use and enjoy these public facilities,” according to the City.

Users are required to have proof of training on the safe operation of an outdoor oven, compliance with safe food handling and preparation requirements, fire safety measures and proof of general liability insurance

Deep-pocketed developers are dishing out $6 billion to create a new commercial and housing development dubbed The Clove at Cloverdale Mall.

The Clove is located in the Dundas Street W., and The East Mall, across from the mall.

The Clove will be two towers of 33 and 9-storey with a total of 606 mixed condo units. Units will be a mix of studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and three-bedroom layout, according to a release by Quadreal Property Group and Mattamy Homes.

The estimated completion date is still unknown.

Final designs for the development has been released into what is described as the first phase of the Cloverdale Mall redevelopment, that would see condos and town homes in the mall’s parking lot.

The property is being marketed as Cloverdale’s signature condominium project on the 2.3 acre gateway site located at 2 & 10 The East Mall Crescent, according to a September 3 release.

The development will feature a new street, community amenities and transportation essentials, according to the developers.

“The Clove’s lush courtyard offers an almost resort-like feel for residents as they pull up to the building, evoking a more urban, contemporary take on the ‘Tower in a Park,” the release stated.

“The team has worked hard to design a tower that will serve as a gateway to the rest of the development, while offering a striking presence on Toronto’s west-end skyline,” says Niall Haggart, President, GTA Urban Division, Mattamy Homes.

Ralph Giannone, founding partner, GPA Architects, said the development is part of a 32-acre masterplan community.

“The result is a signature building, and new master plan, that opens up new opportunities for long-term residents to stay in the community they love, while also allowing new residents to move into this part of the city.”

The complex will help meet the needs of the growing community, as there will be two public parks and other green spaces.

We love our beautiful trees in South Etobicoke.

The Long Branch Tree Fest is once again taking place September 22 at Marie Curtis Park. There will be many environmental types of attractions and plenty to learn about our trees.

The 6th Annual Long Branch Tree Fest takes place on September 22 from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It will be a fun afternoon of children’s activities, educational walks, urban tree canopy education, and more – all centred around the benefits that the urban canopy provides for our communities.

The event comes as there is a move afoot at City Hall to reduce the time it takes for City staff to remove a dead tree and replace it with a another on our leafy boulevards.

Many South Etobicoke residents have complained that it takes too long to obtain a new tree.

The issue will be considered at a Council meeting on November 25.

The matter was brought up by Councillor Paul Ainslie to a Service Excellence Committee in September.

“I am writing to express my concern regarding the lengthy process involved in removing a dead tree from a city boulevard and replacing it with a new one,” Ainslie wrote.

He said the City Boulevard Tree Removal and Replacement Process can take up to six visits from City staff and as long as two years for your tree to be replaced.

His motion states that now there has to be an inspection of the dead tree, staff have to remove the tree branches, then remove the trunk, remove the tree roots before a new tree is planted.

“This multi-step process can take up to two years to complete,” the Councillor wrote. “I believe this timeline is excessive and negatively impacts the aesthetic and environmental value of our neighbourhoods.”

Long Branch is home of some of the oldest and protected trees in Canada, with some more than 120-years old.

The event is sponsored by the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association

By TANYA VIVIDLY

Deals, deals and more deals.

Are you on the search for a one-of-a-kind product that ranges from homeware, clothing and electronics to name a few items.

Look no further than The Little Liquidation Store, at 2974 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

I was introduced to the business owner Denise Lam, who has been in business for two months now and loving it. She also owns the JEI learning centre, which has been in the community for two years.

The idea for the store started as a partnership between friends, one who was a great thrifter and then changed her mind.

So Denise decided to continue this venture solo.

Her helpful staff include Jacob, who is very helpful and Shreya, who also handles her social media.

As a liquidation store they operate as a bins concept. If you are not familiar with this concept, it has been compared to opening presents with each visit.

Not knowing what you will find or get builds excitement and curiosity.

Each day the deal price is different for example Monday is $7.99. During my visit I experienced Shreya putting together a Teachers box.

The ideal behind this initiative is to repurpose items that are not moving. It is also donated to schools in need of supplies.

Stop by, engage in your form of retail therapy. Thrift shoppers unite and I will see you there.

 

Toronto Police at 22 Division believe a suspected Alderwood double killer is still alive and their top priority is to put him behind bars.

They believe the heinous crime was planned and thought out. There is no motive as to why the two women were killed.

There has been a few sightings of the suspect, with one reported but not confirmed in Mississauga.

It has been almost two months since Joseph Ayala, disappeared from sight with police on his trail for two counts of second-degree murder after an 82-year-old woman and a 60-year-old woman in a home in the Sheldon and Silvercrest Avenues area.

Area residents said the deceased included the suspect’s grandmother and sister.

Police believe Ayala may still be hiding out somewhere in the community and have been searching ravines, ditches, bushes, parks and lakes for the accused double killer.

Some women and seniors in the area said they do not go out at night and lock their doors due to fears of the fugitive. Many leave their lights on and pay close attention to their sheds and backyards.

Police believe the suspect is getting food and water somewhere in the community.

He is described as around 5-foot-11 with a shaved head. He is known to wear a cowboy hat, black cowboy boots, and a jacket with tassels on the sleeves.

He was a regular in the Alderwood area and once worked at a local food store.

Neighbours said police and the media have left their community which has returned to normal.

Anyone with information is asked to come forward or call 416-808-2200.

Some Long Branch GO Train users said it was an accident waiting to happen.

Some regular train users say a local woman did not have to suffer life-threatening injuries after being hit by a train and hospitalized.

The woman, 46, was hit by a train at the Long Branch Station on September 17 around 8:15 a.m. and is fighting for her life.

Police said an express train was travelling on the Lakeshore West line, bypassing the Long Branch station, when a woman walking near the edge of the platform, was struck by the train.

They urge passengers to remain back of the platform lines and always be aware of approaching trains.

Witnesses said the station was packed and the victim’s strap got caught by the train and she was injured.

The incident has sparked many responses from irate residents on social media from residents who use the station.

Kristen Rae wrote on social media that the station gets quite crowded since Metrolinx reduced service from every 15 to 30 minutes.

She points her finger to overcrowding and construction and congestion issues at the station, which has been undergoing major work for more than a year.

Lisa Cunningham Davis said increased congestion on the Long Branch Platform has been a growing concern and danger since the Lakeshore West line was reduced from every 15 minutes 30 minutes.

“This was only further compounded by the construction at Long Branch Station which removed full platform access, and forced passengers to crowd to board fewer train cars,” Davis said on social media.

Davis said there was another similar incident at Union Station in 2015 and the number of trains should increase running during rush hour.

Some called for safety barriers be installed on platforms to protect people from being too close to the arriving or departing trains.

 

Just like some Long Branch residents were predicting.

A local woman is suffering injuries after being hit by a GO Train at the Long Branch GO Station at 8:17 a.m. on September 17.

Toronto Police said the woman was transported to hospital in serious condition.

“Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the force said in a release.

Witnesses said the woman appeared to be in her 40s and was taking the train to work.

She was apparently helped by some medical workers waiting to board, who may have saved her life.

Metrolinx said train service was shut for a few hours in the area until an investigation was completed.

As of 9 a.m., trains were delayed or stopped from Niagara Falls through to Long Branch.

Area residents have complained it was just a matter of time before someone was injured at Long Branch Station due to the congested traffic, little parking and overnight construction to complete a new station and facilities.

Residents have said they cannot sleep at night due to the construction noise and bright lights.

 

An area man is dead after allegedly falling from the 11th floor of a condo tower at Sherway Gardens.

York Regional Police said they were executing a warrant at a Sherway Gardens Road building when there was ‘an altercation’ with the 21-year-old around 5 a.m. on September 16.

Toronto paramedics transported a man to hospital with life-threatening injuries “as the result of a fall.” He landed on the fourth floor.
The man was pronounced dead in hospital, police said.

The province’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has been notified, and are investigating.

Further information is not pending.

 

BBQ man Adam Skelly fought the law. And the law won.

Skelly-owned Adamson Barbeque on Queen Elizabeth Blvd., near Royal York Road, and another in Leaside, was convicted of blatantly violating COVID-19 guidelines during the pandemic.

He was convicted by a Justice of the Peace of 17 violations of operating a business without a licence under the Toronto Municipal Code in regards to his Leaside location.

His restaurant at 7Queen Elizabeth Blvd., was the scene of a number of anti-lockdown protestors who defied pandemic bans. There were skirmishes with police and arrests made.

Hundreds of supporters showed up at his Etobicoke location in November 2020 and staged and anti-mask protest during the lockdown.

Adamson had been outspoken against the provincial government’s handling of the pandemic, lockdowns, and its effect on businesses.

Skelly’s Etobicoke location broke provincial regulations by letting customers dine indoors despite rules permitting otherwise.

People who disagreed with the lockdown showed their support by patronizing Adamson’s barbeque.

Following a lengthy battle against COVID-19 regulations and most recently Ontario’s vaccine certificate, all three Adamson Barbecue locations have shut down.

A Go Fund Me campaign raised more than $100,000 failed to help Kelly stay alive.

In addition, he was sued by Toronto Police for $187,000 for various enforcement actions.

Kelly did not show up for his court hearings and is believed to be living in a farm in Alberta.