The South Etobicoke News

Serving Humber * Mimico * Lakeshore Village * Long Branch * Alderwood

Toronto Public Library staffers to begin contacting seniors to get their vaccine shots

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NO pain here. The shot does not hurt.

Toronto Public Library staff are getting involved in the COVID-19 fight.

Library workers starting next week will begin contacting about 35,000 seniors to let them know they are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and to answer their questions.

Library staff will initially be reaching out to 10,000 library users who are age 80 and over, according to the city, followed by 25,000 calls to seniors between ages of 70 and 79.

A Vaccine Equity Transportation Plan was also announced to help ensure vulnerable residents and seniors can obtain the vaccinations by removing obstacles to transportation and making it easier to travel to clinics.

Officials said starting March 29, the City will have transportation options for seniors aged 75-years-old and over by extending service hours for assisted ride services provided by community organizations.

And Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) is undertaking work to help seniors in their 83 seniors’ buildings get vaccinated without delay.

The City has reached out to 40 senior-serving organization from across Toronto, offering financial support to increase staffing and redeploy staff to reach clients and support booking of vaccine appointments over the coming weeks.

The City has offered agencies up to $10,000 to ramp up capacity for this important work from now until the end of April.

“The agencies were selected to ensure the City is reaching targeted populations, including Indigenous, Black and South Asian communities and other population groups including Hispanic, Tamil, Korean and LGBTQ2S seniors,” the city said.

More than 200 pharmacies in Toronto are offering the AstraZeneca vaccine right now and the City expects that number to grow as the Government of Ontario expands the pharmacy vaccine program.

Existing Wheel-Trans customers who are eligible for vaccination can book rides to and from their vaccine appointments by calling Wheel-Trans Reservations at 416-393-4222, seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. or online at the Wheel-Trans Self-Booking

Customers who qualify for Wheel-Trans service, and would like to arrange a trip to and from their vaccination, can apply by calling Wheel-Trans Customer Service at 416-393-4111, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The easiest ways for eligible seniors to book appointments are: online (City-operated clinics): https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/

Phone (for City-operated clinics): 1-888-999-6488 (TTY 1-866-797-0007), online (hospital clinics): www.vaccineto.ca or phone (hospital clinics) at 1-888-385-1910.

“The sooner we are all vaccinated, the sooner we can bring this pandemic to an end, so when you become eligible please take steps to register and get vaccinated.” said Mayor John Tory.

 

 

Merchants examine a proposed BIA to improve the Brown’s Line area

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A flyer being circulated to explain about a potential Brown’s Line BIA being established.

A flyer is being circulated by businesses in the Alderwood area to determine if there is an interest in establishing a Business Improvement Area (BIA) in the Brown’s Line area.

The flyer said COVID-19 restrictions has had a huge impact on area businesses.

“Many had to shut down completely,’ it stated. “Our street is constantly struggling with theft, break -ins or bad experiences with landlords.”

“We are losing shops and services,” according to the flyer. “The best businesses that were the highlights of the community are leaving our street.”

Their focus is to establish a ‘new brand’ for Brown’s Line as a ‘vibrant, lively and energetic area’ and not a street for motorists to get to the highways.

There are plans to improve the streetscape, to make it more safe and pedestrian friendly and create a neighbourhood where people want to shop, work, live and open businesses.

“By working collectively as a BIA, local property and business owners have the organizational and funding capacity to be catalysts for civic improvement, enhancing the quality of live in their neighbourhood,” the flyer state.

Once approved by City Council, a volunteer Board of Management elected from its members at an annual general meeting operates the BIA.

The board works on behalf of its BIA, meeting to set priorities, develop budgets, implement capital improvements and undertake advertising and promotional initiatives.

The BIA is funded through a levy on commercial and industrial properties within its boundary. The city collects the levy and forwards the funds to the board to manage.

Merchants said BIAs can better compete in an age of shopping malls, big box retailing and on-line shopping.

“They can also help local commercial areas create thriving, competitive and safe business areas for member businesses, residents and visitors,” the flyer said.

The steering committee includes: Councillor Mark Grimes, ReMax Equinox Marta Pozniakowski, Timothy’s Pub Tim Brem, Allin Mikuna Soups Sergio Morales, Gaela Clinic Sivanesarajah Kandiah and Laser Dental Clinic’s Dr. Jack Pozniakowsi.

The proposed boundary of the BIA will take in most of Brown’s Line from Lake Shore Blvd. W., to Evans Ave.

No date has been set for a Zoom follow up meeting.

 

Go Fund Me campaign launched to raise funds for Campbell appeal to City committee

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Area resident Zsuzsanna Lichner has launched a Go Fund Me campaign to fight the city.

 

Now that the Campbell’s Soup Factory lands in Mimico have been flattened and its smokestack demolished, residents are preparing for a fight.

A Go Fund Me campaign has been launched to raise funds to pay for an appeal that has been submitted to the Committee of Adjustment, said organizer Zsuzsanna Lichner.

“The Campbell Soup Factory in Mimico has been closed down,” Lichner wrote on the Go Fund Me Page. “It is turning into a last-mile distribution center that would operate 24/7 at 86 loading bays for heavy-load trucks.”

She said “residents were not given a chance to express their views about the development that is only a few feet away from their house and school.”

The area resident said a Committee of Adjustment has approved 242 extra parking spots and a parking entrance that abuts a residential street.

“We believe that will lead to a major disruption of the local traffic and negatively impact road safety,” Lichner wrote. “We are raising funds to pay for the appeal that that has been submitted.”

The factory, which opened in 1931, has been flattened to make way for what will be a “last mile” distribution centre.”

Campbell’s 1931 and 1941 facades will be retained. One that was built in 1944 but no longer exists, will be rebuilt.

The factory operated from 1913 to 2014 and at one time employed generations of local residents and purchased crops from area farms.

Proposed by QuadReal Property Group, with Weston Consulting as planners and designed by Ware Malcomb Architecture, the project consists of three one-storey industrial warehouse buildings that will replace eight smaller industrial buildings that collectively served as the former Campbell Soup Factory.

No date has been set for a hearing.

So far just more than $100 have been raised in the campaign, which has a goal of $300.

More money from provincial budget going to health care and new hospital beds

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ONTARIO Finance Minister Peter Bethenfalvy. Photo cp24

The Ontario Budget brought good news in that more money is being spent on health care and new hospital beds across the province.

Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethenfalvy’s 2021 budget on March 24 pledges an additional $5.1 billion to create 3,100 new hospital beds.

It is part of a $30-billion, 10-year expansion and renovation plans for Ontario’s hospitals.

He said new spending in major hospital projects are underway, or in planning, and includes a rebuild of the Mississauga hospital in partnership with Trillium Health Partners.

The redevelopment plan will involve a new acute care tower at the Mississauga Hospital and new post-acute complex at the Queensway Health Centre. There will also be a new wing to be built at the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness.

The proposed projects will free up a significant amount of capacity at the Credit Valley Hospital site.

There will also be an addition of inpatient beds and ambulatory care at London Health Sciences Centre and new hospitals are planned for Windsor-Essex and Moosonee and ambulatory care centre on Moose Factory Island.

He said Trillium will continue to address capacity challenges as a result of growing demand for health care services and aging infrastructure.

Bethenfalvy said construction is underway at new long‐term-care homes in Mississauga, Ajax and Toronto under the Long‐Term Care Accelerated Build Pilot Program. Completion dates are slated for early 2022.

The province announced a second round of Ontario Small Business Support Grant payments to eligible recipients. Approximately 120,000 small businesses will receive an additional $1.7 billion through this round of support in the form of grants of a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000, bringing the estimated total support provided through this grant to $3.4 billion.

They will spend $614 million to provide workers with employment and training support, with $117 million targeted towards women, youth, people with disabilities, racialized and Indigenous people. There will be $21 billion in funding over the next 10 years to expand and repair highways and bridges and $14 billion over the next 10 years to build and upgrade schools.

“You can’t have a healthy economy without healthy people,” said Bethlenfalvy. “For the past year, we have been focused on protecting people from COVID-19. Many challenges lie ahead.”

The spending includes $1.8 billion in 2021–22 to continue providing care for COVID‐19 patients, address surgical backlogs and keep pace with patient needs, he stated.

The province will spend $61.6 billion over the next 10 years in public transit, including the five priority transit projects, which are four subway projects in the Greater Toronto Area and the updated Hamilton LRT project), the GO Rail Expansion program and the Kitchener GO Rail Expansion project.

Trillium Health Partners is one of the largest community-based hospital systems in Canada. It is comprised of the Credit Valley Hospital, the Mississauga Hospital and the Queensway Health Centre.

The hospital in the last year received over 1.7 million patient visits and 276,003 visits to the hospital’s Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centre. They at the same time  performed 65,520 surgeries and delivered 8,364 babies.

Road-builder Franceschini went from rags to riches which included a Mimico lakefront mansion

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ROAD BUILDING king James Franceschini  (left) with his brother.

FRONT VIEW of Myrtle Villa that sat on five-acres of lakefront in the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Royal York Rd. area. From City archive.

Franceschini’s backyard stretching to the lake with horse track, pool,  elaborate trees and walkway.

 

Mimico road-builder James Franceschini arrived in Canada at the age of 15 in 1906 with no money, could not speak English and had no place to stay.

He was helped by a Toronto cop who found the teen a place to sleep that first night in this city. The young man found a job the very next day.

Franceschini, who would work hard and overcome many struggles, became a self-made millionaire in less than 10-years in Canada.

The entrepreneur in 1912 founded and built Dufferin Construction, Canada’s largest road construction company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012.

As soon as he made his first millions, he lost the fortune due to a bad contract and a decline in construction due to World War 1. He had his steam shovel, horses and equipment repossessed.

No one to be kept down. He embarked on a series of small contracts with the City of Toronto, which included clearing snow and repairing roads. He also worked excavating the foundation for General Motors Canada assembly plant in Oshawa.

By 1917, Dufferin Construction won the first provincial highway construction tender to grade the Rouge Hill portion of Kingston Road, known as Highway 2.

Franceschini, and his wife, Annie, had a daughter Myrtle in 1921, and a few years later went shopping for a mansion to join their friends on the prime Mimico lakefront.

They purchased a grand manor home named ‘Ormscliffe,’ described as a California-style bungalow and renamed the estate “Myrtle Villa” after their daughter.

He made headlines in the 1930’s when a gang of extortioners threatened to kidnap his daughter and fired a shot through the window of his home.

Their Lake Shore Blvd. and Royal York Rd. area mansion stood on five-acres of prime lakefront property. A house was built for his brother Leonard and row housing for staff. Franceschini purchased land and constructed an equestrian centre for his prized Hackney horses.

The couple were devoted to charitable work, and in 1930 they hosted the Shiners’ North American Convention in Toronto, with a reception at Myrtle Villa.

In the 1930s, Dufferin was flying high. The company was building major highways for all levels of the Ontario government. Then suddenly the boss was thrown in jail.

In the 1940s, Franceschini’s company was building minesweepers for the Canadian Navy, when he was arrested on suspicion of engaging in “Fascist activities.”

He was detained for a year in an internment camp and was released to receive medical treatment. A public inquiry determined his complete innocence. Now in ill health and semi-retired, the businessman moved into a new home in Mount Tremblant, where he lived until his death in September 1960.

Myrtle Villa was sold in 1959 to Amedeo and Lawrence Longo, brothers who developed the Amedeo Garden Court Apartments on the property. They retained and repurposed most of the existing buildings and garden features, while new apartments were constructed among the estate buildings.

 

Police warn that COVID-19 vaccinations should not be purchased online

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With more people getting COVID-19 vaccines, police are asking residents to beware of crooks claiming to sell the vaccination online or from other unauthorized sources.

Police said people have received calls or emails, which claim they can receive the vaccines online by paying a certain sum.

“Never buy COVID-19 vaccines online, by phone or from unauthorized sources,” the RCMP said in a warning. “These scams can result in the purchase of an unsafe and ineffective product.”

Health Canada also warn Canadians not to buy a vaccine online or from unauthorized sources, as they can be counterfeit, dangerous and ineffective.

Health Canada, in a statement, said vaccines bought online “may pose serious health risks” and that the only way to access a safe vaccine is through authorized clinics.

“Vaccinations are not for sale and cannot be purchased online or by telephone,” says a government release. “They can only be accessed through clinics organized or endorsed by your local public health authority.”

The International Criminal Police Organization issued a global alert in December that vaccines being sold online are counterfeit; and websites associated with sales frequently contain phishing scams and malware.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) have identified several potential frauds linked to the COVID-19 vaccines.

Beware of Coronavirus-themed and COVID-19 vaccination themed emails and text messages, the CAFC said, they may trick you into opening malicious attachments or to reveal your sensitive personal and financial details.

They also received a tip from a person who had received a phone call from someone claiming to work for a pharmaceutical company offering a “vaccine system” totaling $2,500 with the purchaser to self-administer the vaccine.

You can reach the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501. The CAFC is a partnership between the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and the Competition Bureau of Canada.

Hanging with the Stars back in the day at the famous Skyline Hotel

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THE DIAMONDS at the Skyline Hotel was a fun night.

Reporter DAVE KOSONIC reflects on his days covering bands for the Toronto Star at the Skyline Hotel.

The GREAT Tanya Tucker

DAVE with the Stars at the former Skyline Hotel. That’s Rick Nelson, top, middle and Roy Orbinson at the bottom, middle.

 

When I was a teeny-bopper I loved to listen to recordings by chart toppers including Lesley Gore, Del Shannon, Ricky Nelson and other stars of the time.

I never dreamed that I would rub shoulders with them in the mid-1980s during revival concerts at the former Skyline Hotel on Dixon Rd.

Many people will remember the Skyline, which featured the Diamond Lil’ carbaret shows, with the dancing bar girls.

I did a weekly entertainment column for The Toronto Star’s Etobicoke Bureau, in which I wrote about these live shows in advance to help boost ticket sales. As part of the job, I was a guest at the VIP get-togethers with the stars.

Lesley Gore was a tiny lady and when I was introduced to her back stage she looked at me and responded “Hi Dave” like she had known me for years. She was one of three stars scheduled for the stage. Gore had requested to be last up as the concert’s high-lighter but she was escorted onstage first.

She performed four of her hits including It’s My Party and She’s A Fool quickly and then stomped off the stage. Gore died of lung cancer at age 68 in February 2015.

When I met Roy Orbison often dubbed ‘The Big O’ he had just completed his last set. He lit up a smoke and chatted with me, and my wife, Dorothy,  for several minutes. He came across as a quiet and humble man. He had a fear of flying and one of his brothers ferried Orbison and his crew to his shows in a customized bus.

Orbison had performed many of his hits including Only The Lonely, Oh Pretty Woman and Dream Baby. Some related to tragedies including the death of his wife Claudette. Orbison suffered a fatal heart attack at age 52 in 1988.

During Ricky Nelson’s Skyline show he sung many of his hits such as Hello Mary Lou, Travelin’ Man and Fools Rush In. I met him up close and he looked great almost like in his teenage days. Sadly a few months after the show Nelson , 45, and his fiancé Helen Blair,28, perished when his DC 3 airplane crashed in a Texas field on New Years Eve 1985.

Jerry Lee Lewis had the concert promoters anxious the evening of his show. The show-goers were told Lewis was to appear shortly but he wasn’t present. Promoters called his manager in The U.S. and were told that his aircraft would be departing soon to come to Toronto. The Skyline show promoters then told the audience that Lewis was running late and that the show would go on. His performance was remarkable as he aggressively pecked the keys of his piano while performing Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On and Great Balls of Fire.

The mid ‘80s Skyline retro concerts featured many other hit-makers including Wilson ‘The Wicked’ Pickett, The Diamonds, Freddie .’Boom Boom’ Cannon, Lou Christie and Brenda Lee and others of that era.

Man who tried to abduct 8-year-old was all dressed in black, police concerned

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POLICE STILL HAVE concerns about a man, dressed in black, who tried to abduct a child from the schoolyard.

Toronto Police say the attempted abduction of an eight-year-old Etobicoke girl was much more serious than many first believed.

Officers are asking the parents and teachers of young children to remain vigilant.

Police from 23 Division said the incident occurred last March 19 at around 12:27 p.m. when officers responded to a call for unknown trouble at St. John Vianney Catholic School, in the Albion Rd. and Islington Ave. area.

Duty Insp. Michael Williams said children were playing outside at lunchtime at the south end of the school, when a man approached the girl and attempted to put her over his shoulder and flee.

Williams said other children in the playground noticed what was going on and approached the man, which seemingly scared him off. Police say he left the girl and appeared to flee toward the Humber River ravine.

Police said the child didn’t sustain any injuries and it is unclear if she was targeted.

The man is described as white, six-feet-tall, with a heavy build. Officers are concerned that the suspect was dressed in all black, police said.

He was wearing a black ski mask, black baseball hat, black sweater, black gloves, black pants, black shoes and carrying a black backpack, police said in a release.

The principal put the school in lockdown immediately, and students were brought inside, police said. All children were accounted for.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board said in a statement that it is “deeply troubled” by the incident and urged anyone with information to contact police.

Several other schools in the area were also put on hold and secure. All alerts have been lifted.
Police continue to look into the reports and urge anyone who was in the area, that may have dashcam or security camera video, to contact police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.

SPORTS-Disc golf can be a sport for the family to enjoy themselves and have fun

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DISC GOLF is becoming more popular and is played at Centennial Park.

 

By REJEAN CANTLON

HAVING fun playing disc golf with your buddies. Courtesy photos.

Similar to traditional golf, the sport of disc golf involves throwing a frisbee or disc from a tee pad into a chained basket, with the objective of landing the disc in the basket in as few throws as possible.

Courses typically include nine or 18 baskets, with each “hole” ranging in difficulty and length.

Milan Zoldak, a first-time player decided to make a nominal investment into some golf discs (smaller than regular frisbees made especially for disc golf with a driver, midrange and putter).

He invited his two grandsons, Ramsey and Ronan to an afternoon round at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park Disc Golf Course (DGC) which open during year-round.

The youngsters quickly took to the game and left their grandfather in their wake.

“I was hoping to find an activity that I could enjoy with my grandchildren while at the same time get some exercise and fresh air,” Milan said. He added with a chuckle, “I just didn’t think I would fall so far behind on the stroke count.” Milan is an avid traditional golfer and regularly plays with his seniors’ league in the summer months.

The Centennial Park 18-hole DGC has been around since 1980 and is described as long and challenging with manicured fairways and picturesque greens.

Asphalt tee pads can be found on both the red and blue tees and it has professional tee signs to match with multiple pin locations on each hole.

The track plays roughly 9670 ft from the blue tees and 8704 ft from the red tees. Water hazards are in play on 6 holes. Please beware that some golf discs sink, just ask Milan. At $15 to $30 a disc, it’s wise to work on your aim and disc placement. The course has some elevation and interesting rolling fairways throughout.

To get there, the best place to park is at the Centennial Park Conservatory near Rathburn and Elmcrest for an easy and short pathway to hole # 1. Having said that, it’s free to play and tee times are not required. All you have to do is show up at any hole and start playing.

Regulars on the course explained to Milan and the boys that the sport of disc golf has increased in popularity in recent years. They went on to say that this particular course saw a notable spike in usership when pandemic-related restrictions meant many other recreational activities were not allowed. Disc golf is a naturally socially distance sport and is also easily accessible. No matter your age, gender or athletic ability, disc golf is a great way to get out there and play a game just for the fun of it. If you’re looking for something fun and different, go out and give it a try. Again, just ask Milan!

FOOD ALERT-The Tale Indian Cuisine stands out for tasty vegan curries and combos

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GURLEEN (left) and husband Mohnish own The Tale Indian Cuisine and Bar Restaurant. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

The TALE owners and chef show some of their excellent curry dishes.

New to Long Branch, The Tale Indian Cuisine and Bar sure has a story to tell.

Owners Mohnish Bhagat and his wife, Gurleen Kaur, opened their dream vegetarian eatery in January and their nice-tasting curries have been catching on.

The pair are from Brampton, but decided to open their business at 3747 Lake Shore Blvd. W., because they obtained a ‘good deal and all the good names for Indian restaurants in Brampton were taken.’

“People love our vegetarian food, all of which are gluten free,” Gurleen says. “We have been getting a lot of good reviews from people who love our food.”

Customers love their range of curries and combos, which are all under $12.

The butter soya, which taste like butter chicken, is popular; along with the Matar Panner, an exotic paneer curry cooked in tomato and onion based sauce.

Their food is quite tasty. The naan was crisp and warm and went well with the butter soya.

“We like this area and the people here,” Gurleen says. “The people have been good to us.”

The pair grew up in the Punjab and came to Canada in the last 10 years and settled in Brampton.

They did not know each other until a chance meeting on Facebook.

“We then learned that we had attended the same school in India for 12 years,” Kaur explains. “We were even together in a school picture and we did not know each other.”

It did not take long before Mohnish packed in his truck driving job and joined Gurleen in the kitchen.

“That is where the name ‘The Tale’ comes from,” she says. “Everyone has a tale and they are encouraged to talk about their tale here.”

They plan to install a board on which customers can pin a story of their tale for others to see.

The Tale can be reached at 416-546-4131 or at thetale31@gmail.com