The owner of Dakota’s Sports Bar and Grill and other area pub owners are all smiles as their COVID-suffering venues begin bouncing back to generate income this time from their curbside patios.

Dozens of clubs, pubs and other venues have taken advantage of a CaféTO program, in which patios are added on road or walkways, so extra customers can be served to make up for physical distancing.

With indoor dining still prohibited in Toronto, the patios have been a lifeline for restaurants that previously had limited, take-out or non-existent outdoor dining space in which to serve customers.

Dakota’s patio has been packed as patrons escape from the simmering heat to enjoy a pint or some food.

“Business has picked up a lot with the patio,” says owner Darlene Simpson. “People love being outdoor in a patio when it is this hot.”

It is the first time since April, when COVID-19 struck, that many of the bar owners feel they can make their bills again considering some weeks were rough without only takeout available.

Simpson is pleased that the Lakeshore Village BIA pushed and were able to get many licensed clubs or bars a patio. Many businesses have picked up due to the nice weather as well.

The City of Toronto is still working to provide some local restaurant and bar operators access to public space on city streets and sidewalks to assist with expanding outdoor seating capacity while maintaining physical distancing requirements.

The normal café permitting and application process is intended to be paused in order to provide this expedited opportunity for café operators, City officials say.

There are dozens of the patios to help small restaurants along Lake Shore Blvd. W.

Chris Korwin Kucyznski, Chair, of the Lake Shore Village BIA, says most bar owners seem to like the CafeTO program because it offers then an opportunity to earn some badly-needed funds.

Authorities out in force to curb COVID-19, the lighting of fires and partying.

Police say they’re stepping up their fight this weekend against illegal bonfires, alcohol parties and virus spreading at Humber Bay Shores and other lakefront hot spots.

Police, bylaw, parking enforcement and others are working to crack down on the shoreline lighting of fires and partying to discourage the spread of COVID-19.

There has been many complaints filed by area residents to police and Councillor Mark Grimes detailing the loud and rowdy late-night behaviour that can cause fires.

Officers will man entrances of some of parks and vehicles leaving after 7 p.m. will be able to do so freely.

Police were out in force earlier this month to step up enforcement and help with concerns surrounding fireworks, bonfires, litter, disorderly conduct and a lack of regard for public health directives.

Members of Toronto Police, Bylaw, Toronto Fire Services, Parking Enforcement and Parks staff are hoping to get the message out that visitors must be respectful of the parks, the surrounding communities, and must continue to follow public health orders.

Parking will be restricted beginning at 7:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday at Humber Bay Park West and East, and Marie Curtis Park.

Staff will be present in Colonel Sam Smith Park to deter illegal parking and manage any arising issues. Parking Enforcement will also be out to address illegal parking on surrounding streets, but if you see a parking issue that requires attention please call 416-808-2222.

A New Toronto businessman is lucky to be alive after suffering a bad six-foot fall from a ladder outside his paint store.

John Miele, owner of Harvey’s Paint and Wallpaper, shows large bruises to his feet, arm and other areas, after his step-ladder managed to break a plastic sewer clean-out cap on which it stood flat on the surface outside his 2908 Lake Shore Blvd. W., which is one of the oldest paint stores in the area.

The plastic cap allows City workers access to clean the sewers.

High-quality video from a security camera shows Miele setting up then climbing the ladder as he performed some work outside the front door.

Minutes later the video showed the ladder collapsing as the popular paint seller takes a solid fall to the ground. He laid there briefly in shock.

“I was stunned and it hurt a lot,” he says as he shows scars of the fall. “I was in pain for weeks and I am still in pain.”

He has since filed a complaint with the City of Toronto, which led to a City crew exchanging the demolished plastic cap for a large metal one, which appears to be solid.

Miele says over the years the City has had to replace the plastic caps, which he claims become weak when salted over the winter.

“All the plastic caps in the area here should be replaced with metal ones,” he swears. “We have complained many times and it could be a senior next time.’

He said no one would have believed his story or witnessed his fall if it was not for the video.