Many South Etobicoke residents are still picking up branches and litter from a vicious wind storm that shook parts of the community last Friday.

Fences, shingles, trees and branches were blown away from the terrible storm around 1 p.m. when the rain and massive wind storm wreaked havoc.

The skies were black as many as 350,000 area residents had their power shut off, with some only now regaining Hydro after a couple days of being uncomfortable.

The storm wreaked huge damages across the Greater Toronto Area leaving a “trail of wind and rain damage across Toronto and most of Southern Ontario.”

At least three people are reported dead following the thunderstorm that left more than 300,000 without power for hours.

Tragedy struck first in Brampton where police said a woman in her 70s was walking alone in the area of Belmont Drive and Birchbank Road when she was struck by a falling tree.

During the height of the extreme weather, Toronto Fire said it received nearly 150 calls from people looking for help. At the same time, the Toronto Police Service was forced to close its non-emergency due to the influx of calls.

One Toronto firefighter was reportedly injured after he was struck by a falling tree while responding to a 911 call and was transported to hospital in stable condition.

An alert by Environment Canada was dispatched to phones, TV screens, and radio stations across Ontario at approximately 12:45 p.m. warning residents to “take cover” as the threatening weather approached.

At Toronto’s Pearson Airport, winds were gusting at 120 kilometers an hour at around 1 p.m.

Popular Etobicoke pizza maker Dino Ari has donated thousands of his delicious pies to help the hungry, homeless or those down on their luck.

Today he is giving back to the community by running to represent the constituents of Etobicoke’s Ward 3 in the municipal elections in October 24.

“I live here and I have my two stores in Etobicoke,”Ari says. “People have been asking me to run for a long time now I am taking the challenge.”

He believes he can do a better job than incumbent Mark Grimes in fighting crime and helping small businesses and residents of the blue-collar riding.

“I have donated free pizzas to those in need in Toronto and in this community,” Ari vows. “Hunger is a big issue in this community and we have to do something about it.”

He will also be lobbying for more police on the streets and affordable housing for Ward 3 residents.

“My store along with others were broken into by thieves about two weeks ago and they left behind thousands of dollars in damages,” Ari says. “The thieves broke by window and cash register.”

He said a number of small businesses in the Bloor and Kipling Avenue area were damaged or subject to thefts in incidents that took place during the middle of the day. There has been no arrests.

“Where is our councillor when we need help,” Ari asks. “He is nowhere to be found.”

Ari notes that crime in the area is getting out of hand and points to the recent armed auto theft of Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner outside a movie theatre.

“We need more police or cameras in the area,” he explains. “Something has to be done about the crime in the area.”
It has been a long road for the pizza king, who arrived in Canada more than two decades ago from Turkey.

He managed to learn the pizza making trade and worked his way up to owning two stores.

“I want to show newcomers and immigrants that they too can become part of the system and help make things better in their community,” Ari insists. “I want to show them that it can be done.”

Grimes was elected in 2018 with 40.90% of the vote. He has not indicated whether he will seek re-election.

Registered candidates includes Ari and Amber Morley, a community health promoter who ran against Grimes in 2018 and placed second.

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A Toronto Police search is underway for a man who is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old-girl on a TTC bus.

Officers said they have also arrested a suspect who was sought in another sexual assault, this time involving a 15-year-old girl on a bus in Rexdale.

Officers of 22 Division said they were called on May 15 at 10:51 p.m. to probe a suspicious incident in The West Mall and Burnhamthorpe Road area.

Police said “a 12-year-old girl boarded a TTC bus and was approached by an unknown man.”

He (suspect) “had a conversation with her and during that conversation, he sexually assaulted her,” detectives said in a release.

The suspect got off the bus in The West Mall and Burnhamthore Road area.

The man is described as thin build, curly dark hair, clean shaven, wearing light coloured shorts, black high top shoes with a silver and white tag design on the back and the front of the shoes, grey t-shirt with a light coloured button up shirt on top, and black jacket.

Police are also notifying the public of an arrest in the sexual investigation of the 15-year-old.

Officers were called in November 2021 for an alleged sexual assault that took place in the Kipling Avenue and Westhumber Boulevard area.

Police allege a man boarded a TTC bus and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl. An arrest was made on May 11.

Carlos Ortiz, 48, of Toronto, is charged with sexual assault and sexual interference.

He is slated to attend a 2201 Finch Avenue W. court on June 24.

Investigators would encourage the public to come forward and report sexual assault occurrences to police. Police will ensure victims have access to support services.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Long Branch businessman Jay Francis Llave is in the Philippines this week taking bags of rice and school supplies to hundreds of poor students, whose schools are twinned with ones in Etobicoke.

The gifts are from the Lakeshore Charitable Foundation, which has been operating since 2008, and was at one time twinned two with public schools in that country.

Llave, the owner of Lakeshore Accounting, at 3421 Lake Shore Blvd. W., helps raise funds which are donated by area residents to the schools in the form of supplies, books, equipment and renovations of the classrooms.

He left in late May on his most recent visit to take supplies for volunteers and students.

“This is an important visit since it we haven’t been there in two years due to COVID,” Llave said before flying out. “We have to let them know we are still a sponsor and that we are back.”

The Foundation is in the process of twinning with a larger second school in Mindanao with 2,800 students. They already help 700 students in their first school.

They group also help in obtaining volunteers to help renovate sections of the schools to make it safer for students.

“We have boots on the ground and will continue to help these students,” he says. “Donations of funds or school items are very much in demand.”

The foundation was founded by the late Long Branch accountant Phillip Barker who made dozens of trips to the Philippines taking school supplies for two schools, which was one of his passions.

Barker adopted Bay Bay School in 2005 and donated about $25,000 of his own money and raised about the same amount to make repairs to the school buildings and furnishings and to buy books and supplies.

“It’s incredible,” he once said.  “Last year I found out that some of these children had never had a cookie before in their life.”

Barker for years put together gift bags for the children and handed them out at a festive assembly dressed as Santa.

You can get in touch with Jay at 416-251-3474 if you can help financially or otherwise.

 

The community is invited on Saturday May 21 to 22 Division Toronto Police Station for an Open House and free barbeque from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3699 Bloor Street W.

You are invited to come out and have fun and the parking is free. Some of the force’s top brass will be there to talk to.

And, on May 25 residents are invited to LAMP Community Health Centre, on Fifth Street, for a meet and greet with local political candidates running for our area.

There will also be another free barbeque as the candidates are grilled in regards to their plans.

  The Lakeshore Village BIA is proud to announce the return of the 5^th annual Grilled Cheese Challenge, proudly sponsored by Furlani. In support of Women’s Habitat, this dearly missed event will commence on Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 11:00am to 9:00pm along Lakeshore Boulevard West from Islington (Seventh St) to Second St.      

“Let the fun begin. Furlani®, a family-friendly brand, is super excited to be the title sponsor of this year’s Grilled Cheese Challenge, a community event that will bring joy to everyone. “We are proud to be partnering with Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke, an amazing multi-service organization that works hard every day for the women and children in our community, impacted by violence and poverty. Please come by Furlani booth to enjoy some entertainment, and by Women’s Habitat booth to try a new Furlani® grilled cheese sandwich creation. All sandwich proceeds will go to funding their vital programs,” says Jackie Brenkel, Head of Marketing at Furlani Foods.

   “The Grilled Cheese Challenge combines a delicious sandwich with the Lakeshore Village community. It’s been such an amazing experience being able to see not only locals, but everyone getting involved,” says Alison Tunley, board member of the Lakeshore Village BIA.

   As Ontario’s most significant celebration of grilled cheese sandwiches, this year’s festival is projected to attract 28,000+ attendees from Toronto and surrounding communities with exceptional food, live entertainment & special feature programming.

   For a unique incentive, the festival challenges local culinary enthusiasts to create one-of-a-kind grilled cheese sandwiches for a chance to win. There are  three prize categories available and each winner will have the opportunity to select a gift card to a business within the Lakeshore Village BIA.

1. Best Local – $700.00 gift-card voucher
2. Best Home-Away – $700.00 gift-card voucher
3. Most Creative – $300.00 gift-card voucher

So, are you up for the challenge?  

Many outraged Ukrainians in South Etobicoke say they are being targeted by Russian nationals who  are defacing their signs, flags and buildings with graffiti.

A large Ukrainian poster with the country’s flag was defaced yesterday with a large ‘Z’ as in the symbol used by Russia, in its ongoing war with Ukraine, that has led to millions of displaced people around the world.

Hundreds have been arriving here on special flights as refugees over the last weeks. They are being helped selected for refuge here by Canadian soldiers based in camps in Europe.

Ukraine community members said they are waiting to help resettle ailing countrymen as they arrive in Canada.

They said this sign was defaced in the Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Park Lawn Road.

One of the most brazen act of the vandalism was the painting of graffiti on a billboard outside Future Bakery, on North Queen Road.

There were also a number of cases where Ukrainian flags were torn of cars, some of which were vandalized In The Queensway and Islington Ave. area.

 

Many area residents love our coverage of the community and are saying thanks.

The South Etobicoke News is being presented with two awards by well-respected community groups in appreciation of our coverage of neighbourhood issues and history.

The newspaper, which many people eagerly await, is being presented on June 22 with a LAMP Community Health Centre Annual Award of Merit for making a difference in the community.

We are also receiving an Award of Merit from the Etobicoke Historical Society (EHS), which has been on the forefront of documenting our community for many decades.

Neil Park, of the EHS, said Publisher Tom Godfrey was selected as a recipient of the Etobicoke Historical Society’s Jean Hibbert Memorial Award for 2022.

“Every issue contains two or more articles celebrating a building, place, event or person important to the heritage of South Etobicoke,” Park said.  “Tom’s writing and research is exemplary, providing readers with entertaining and informative histories about the communities in which they live. “

He said the newspaper’s articles are openly available online creating an accessible and important body of heritage knowledge. In addition, some 1,500 e-copies of the newspaper are sent out monthly for free to readers with mobility or suffering from COVID issues.

The EHS presentation took place last week since its May 19 general meeting was held by Zoom.

LAMP official Jasmin Dooh said “LAMP Community Health Centre would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge your time and efforts towards making our city a healthy place to live.”

“ We would also like to let you know that you have been selected as a recipient of LAMP‘s Award of Merit 2022 for making a difference.”

The awards ceremony, which will recognize other community leaders, will take place on June 22 at LAMP, at 185 Fifth Street.

The South Etobicoke News has been publishing for almost four years. The paper is well-read for its coverage of local history and listings of community events taking place in Humber Bay Shores, Mimico, New Toronto, Long Branch, Alderwood and other areas of South Etiobicoke.

“These are our first awards of recognition that we will cherish and we thank the two hard-working organizations,” said Godfrey. “Our goal is to serve news and opinion that binds and keep our residents informed.”

 

It is being called the miracle on Sixth Street.

An ecstatic Warren Fisher, with wife Bente Skau, and their son Odin, and daughter Ardra, are enjoying life again and say their prayers have been answered after mom Bente was given weeks to live due to cancer; more than five years ago.

Bente, 55, of Sixth Street, is alive and well today after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, and given about six weeks to live.

“She came upstairs, crawled back into bed with me and told me,” Fisher recalled. “We were numb; frozen with disbelief. We just cried.”

The lives of the New Toronto family changed after a search was launched by
Doctors  Schimmer,  Lewtinsky, Loach and Thiyaguof of  Princess Margaret Cancer Center, who placed her case on a worldwide database seeking possible donor matches.

They received a call weeks later from a hospital in Germany which had found a possible donor, Max Ernst, a 24-year-old semi-professional soccer player from the team FSV Bad Wunnenberg – Leiberg. whose entire squad had volunteered for the registry.

Bente was hospitalized at Princess Margaret Cancer Center for more than a month for tests.

“I want people to get on the stem cell registry. It saved my life, and it meant so much to my family and friends. Just do it! It’s a powerful way to express your humanity,” she urged.

Their daughter at the time was attending her first year of post-secondary school and son entering ninth grade, Fisher said.

He said Bente was just weeks from death when she received a stem cell transplant from the unknown donor in Germany that saved her life.

“After three horrible bouts of chemotherapy and radiation, she was given the opportunity of increasing her odds of living to 32% by receiving a stem cell/bone marrow transplant,” he said.

She received his cells after a grueling and lengthy preparation procedure (for her), and beat the odds to go on to a complete cure.

“She can now watch our children grow into adulthood, continue in her job helping others as a mental health professional and carry on as the best life partner ever,” said Fisher.

In June, Max will be travelling to South Etobicoke with his mother and girlfriend, to meet Bente and her family. The family will be showing them their appreciation and love.

“We’re very excited to finally meet him in person, throw our arms around him, and tell him how much he did for us,” Fisher vowed. “Two weeks after he signed with his team for the donor registry he was told someone desperately needed his stem cells.”

The family is urging residents, especially males under the age of 35, and members of ethnic minorities, to get on the stem cells donor registry.

It is easy and only takes a cheek swab. Visit blood.ca for more information.

 

It hasn’t been a good few days for Toronto Maple Leafs’ star Mitch Marner.

His team lost their playoff bid last Saturday and the next day he had his shiny new expensive SUV stolen in a gunpoint robbery at the Odeon Cinemas parking lot at The Queensway and Islington Ave.

Police tweeted they were called to the area around 7:46 p.m. on Sunday for reports that a man was robbed of his car.

There has been a rash of postings on social media recently of residents reporting their cars stolen, or attempted thefts, in that general vicinity.

Police said they have received 36 reports of a stolen vehicles in Etobicoke between May 5 and May 11. There have been 2,854 vehicles reported stolen in Toronto so far this year, which is a 55 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2021.

Reports say the popular Marner was ‘shaken but not hurt.’

He was taken to 22 Division hours after the incident to give a statement to investigators.

Officers are searching the area for three suspects armed with two handguns and a knife, who escaped with the high-end black Range Rover.

There are reports the bandits smashed Marner’s phone as they fled to avoid being electronically monitored.

Police said the Leafs’ winger did the right thing by surrendering the vehicle, since he could have been shot or stabbed in the darkened lot.

Officers believe the crooks were watching cars entering the lot, in search of desirable vehicles that could be sold abroad.

Police were making the rounds to area shipping container companies in search of last-minute suspicious activity.

Two days earlier, two male suspects attempted to carjack a woman in the same area but were not successful.

Police officers chased the suspects on foot in that incident there were no arrests.

Marner and the Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday in a seventh and deciding game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.